Chapter 55

Adventurers, seeking alcohol, rushed forward in a frenzy.

At first, I was overwhelmed by their momentum,

"Shiro will not give you alcohol if you cause trouble, nya,"

Kiki said.

Puffing out her cheeks and placing her hands on her hips in a 'mad pose,' Kiki glared at the surging adventurers. The effect was immediate.

The adventurers, looking uncomfortable, began to form a line.

"......Now it's all good,"

Neska said, seeing the line form.

In her hand, a bottle of chocolate liqueur was firmly held, perhaps out of fear that her share would be taken by the surging adventurers.

"Then, let's start over..."

I put on a business smile.

The first customer was a bearded warrior.

"Welcome. What kind of alcohol would you like?"

"Give me the best one! The absolute best!"

"Hmm, that's a tough one, sir... All of our alcohol is delicious. Plus, the 'best' can vary depending on personal preference."

"Is that so? Then what should I do...? Hey, what's that! What's the alcohol soaking in that ice water!?"

"That's 'beer.' It has a unique, easy-to-drink flavor. Right now, we're offering a fruit called lime as a free addition. Squeezing the juice into the beer enhances its flavor several times over. It's one of my recommended drinks. How about it?"

My talk made the bearded adventurer swallow hard.

"Alright! Then give me that one!"

"As you wish."

I signaled Aina with my eyes.

Aina nodded and brought a bottle of beer from the bucket serving as a cooler. She wiped the water off with a towel, opened the cap, and inserted a wedge of lime into the bottle's mouth.

"Here you go, sorry for the wait."

She handed it to the bearded adventurer.

"Thanks, miss."

"Sir, when you squeeze this 'lime,' it makes the alcohol taste even better..."

Aina explained the drinking method, flustered.

The beer I just handed to the adventurer is the most popular Mexican beer in Japan. It's almost always available in bars, and you can even find it in convenience stores and supermarkets.

"Hmm. Like this?"

The bearded adventurer squeezed the lime, and the juice mixed with the Mexican beer.

The adventurers watching the process let out a collective "Oh..."

The method of squeezing fruit into the drink was probably new to them.

"Alright, let's take a sip...!"

The bearded adventurer's eyes widened.

"......Phew! What is this drink!? It's fizzy, light, yet the sourness of the fruit juice makes it even more delicious... Plus, it's so cold that you can drink it endlessly! ---Nod, nod, nod--- Phew... Delicious. This is the first time I've tasted such a delicious drink!"

"You seem to like it. Actually, this beer becomes even more delicious with a pinch of salt. Would you like to try it?"

I placed a small dish of salt (rock salt) on the counter.

The bearded adventurer swallowed again.

"Salt, huh. I can't not try it---but, wait, you're a merchant, right?"

The bearded adventurer's eyes showed a hint of caution.

"Hey, boss, you're recommending salt so easily, but how much do you plan to charge for that pinch of salt? No matter how good it makes the drink, if it costs more than the alcohol itself, it's not worth it."

On my first day here, I bought skewers that lacked seasoning, which shows that in the border town of Ninorichi, salt and pepper are expensive luxuries.

It's understandable that he's cautious.

So I clicked my tongue and shook my finger.

"Of course, the salt is free."

"Really!?"

"Yes, really. However, be careful not to add too much, or it will taste bad. Also, try licking the salt before drinking the beer."

"Got it."

The bearded adventurer hesitated for a moment, then took a pinch of salt.

"Is this enough?"

"That's about right."

He added it to the beer.

"Let's see... Nod, nod, nod...!?"

"How is it?"

In response to my question, the bearded adventurer had a blissful look on his face.

"What is this refreshing feeling? Salt and ale---oh, beer. I never thought salt and alcohol would go so well..."

After staring at the empty bottle,

"Give me another one! I can't be satisfied with just one of such a delicious drink!"

He leaned over the counter, pressing forward.

However---

"Hey Japas! If you've had your drink, move to the back! You're holding up the line!"

"Right, right!"

"We've been waiting for you to finish, you know!"

"Right, right!"

A chorus of boos from the adventurers.

The final straw was a comment from an old, strong dwarf.

"......Japas, I'll let you off this time. Move quickly."

The intimidating dwarf's deep voice made Japas retreat to the back of the line.

"Next, please!"

From then on, it was like a battlefield.

It might have been the busiest time of my life.

"I want the same as Japas!"

"Understood. Aina, can you take care of it?"

"Sure! This way, please!"

I left the Mexican beer requests to Aina,

"I don't like ale. Do you have any other good drinks?"

"How about wine?"

"Come to think of it, you mentioned last night that there are various types."

"Yes. Today, we have the classic red, white, and rosé, as well as orange wine."

"Since it's a special occasion, I'll try the 'orange wine.'"

"Understood. Stella, please pour the fourth bottle from the right into this glass."

"Got it."

I left the wine requests to Stella.

"Next, please!"

As I continued to serve the line,

"Hey, kid, you're quite popular."

"Ah, Ria!"

The leader of the Blue Flash, Ria, was finally up.

She had been waiting in line after all.

"What will you have, Ria?"

"I'm not that knowledgeable about alcohol, so can you choose for me?"

"Understood."

I nodded and took a bottle of whiskey from the box.

---Sakiyama 18.

Sakiyama Whiskey is a representative single malt of Japan, known for its deep flavor and delicate, refined taste.

I made a serious face, opened the cap, and poured a double into a whiskey glass with a few ice cubes.

"Here you go, Ria. A double of Sakiyama 18 on the rocks."

"I don't understand what you're saying, but I'll take it."

The Sakiyama lineup includes 'Sakiyama,' 'Sakiyama 12,' 'Sakiyama 18,' 'Sakiyama 25,' and 'Sakiyama 55.' The 18-year-old I prepared is priced at 25,000 yen, but it sells for more than three times that on online marketplaces. The 25 and 55-year-olds are so popular that they are hard to come by.

Its complex and layered flavors, which never get old, continue to captivate many whiskey enthusiasts---

"Nod! ...Phew. As expected, it's delicious. But the amount is a bit small, isn't it?"

Ria drank it in one gulp without savoring it.

A drink that would cost 6,000 yen for a double in a bar was finished in one sip by Ria.

"..."

"What's wrong, kid?"

"..."

"I don't understand why you look so sad, but cheer up."

Ria patted my shoulder in a comforting manner and moved to the back of the line.

In front of me, now overwhelmed with sadness,

"...Kid, it's time for our deal. I want to try that drink that's as strong as fire."

Finally, the old, strong dwarf stood up.