Chapter 1

"Recently, there's a store in the ancient city that's been getting a bit of attention."

Just hearing that made Hans' stomach growl.

It was after a rigorous training session.

Hans was a guard in the ancient city, hired at a low salary, and his pay included mandatory training. Thanks to that, he felt his physique had become a bit more solid, but his brown curly hair and large eyes made him look a bit younger than his age, even though he was over twenty.

The new centurion was a former mercenary, and the training was exceptionally strict. Today, Hans' unit had marched out of the ancient city's walls, through the fields, and all the way to the Alburk Forest. The training, which was as intense as actual combat, had a bad reputation.

But, regardless, it was dinner time now.

Fortunately, today was payday, and the weight of Hans' purse was somewhat reassuring.

With that, there was no need to go to the usual tavern that only served cheap, sour ale. There was no reason to hesitate about visiting the store that was getting attention.

The store was located in a remote part of the ancient city.

And it had a peculiar appearance.

In a city where stone houses lined the streets, this one alone was made of plaster and wood. The roof... was it slate, which was popular in the imperial capital? It had a strange, wavy shape and an unusual charm.

And the sign.

While most stores would have a bronze sign hanging out over the street, this one had a large wooden board with something written in a foreign script.

"Hey, Nikolaus, what does that sign say?"

"Oh, it says 'Izakaya Nobu' or something like that."

Nikolaus, who had a mustache and was from the same regiment, seemed to know everything.

"Nobu? Is that a person's name?"

"Yeah, it's the name of the owner. Nobu Taisho. Just call him Taisho in the store."

"Really?"

Nobu Taisho.

It was clearly not a local name. He must be from one of the border tribes.

"By the way, Nikolaus, what kind of food do they serve here?"

"Don't know. It changes every day."

"Changes every day? What do you mean?"

Would they serve meat or fish? Each store had its own specialties. Some were known for their good drinks. It was impossible for a store to be good at everything.

In the ancient city, there weren't many dishes to begin with. The most common were sausages, cheese, soup, and stew, along with potatoes and pickled cabbage.

"Well, we'll find out when we eat, Hans."

"If you say so, Nikolaus. We eat potatoes every day at the barracks. I'd be happy with anything but potatoes."

At that moment, Hans noticed something strange.

(...Is this glass?)

The wooden sliding door had a lattice pattern, and something that looked like glass was sandwiched in between. It was cloudy, so he couldn't see through it, but Hans, whose father and brother were traveling glassmakers, recognized it at a glance.

"...Hey, Nikolaus, is it really okay?"

"What's not okay?"

"The payment. Even though it's payday..."

"Don't worry. They accept tabs here."

Patting Hans' worried back, Nikolaus opened the sliding door and entered the store.

"Welcome!"

"...Welcome."

Two voices echoed from inside the store.

The first, polite one, was a woman. The second, deeper one, was a man.

The store wasn't very large, with six seats at the counter and two tables. It was cozy and clean. Fortunately, there was only one other customer in the store.

Nikolaus slid into a seat at the counter and ordered, "A draft, and one for him too!"

"Hey, wait. What's this 'Triaezuna'?"

"It's Triaezuna. Try it, even if you think it's a scam. You'll be surprised."

"Drink? Is it ale?"

"Yeah, ale."

Ale.

That was fine. Hans loved drinking ale before his meals.

But he was picky about it. He had tasted some good ales thanks to the remittances from his father and brother. If the ale was bad, he wouldn't care how good the food was.

"Here are your two drafts. Excuse me as I place them down."

A server, presumably a woman, brought the ale in glass mugs.

More glass. And this one was clear and well-shaped. It was clearly not ordinary craftsmanship. Unlike ceramic or wooden mugs, the clear yellow, or rather, golden color of the ale, especially the Triaezuna, was clearly visible. The foam was also fine, unlike in bad ales. Hans reached out to examine the mug's surface,

"Cold!"

He instinctively pulled his hand back. The mug was cold. What was this?

"Haha, I was surprised the first time too. Just drink it. Cheers!"

"O-Okay, cheers."

Watching Nikolaus swallow the ale with a satisfied sound, Hans took a deep breath.

Cold ale was a new experience. How good would it be?

It was hard to imagine it surpassing the Koenigsbroy, which was made in a town near his hometown.

*Gulp.*

*Gulp.*

*Gulp.* *Swallow.* *Swallow.* *Swallow.* *Swallow.*

He drank it all in one go and stared at the mug.

What was this?

It wasn't just good or bad. The throat feel, the finish, everything was in a different league from the ales he had tasted before.

"Hmm, how is it, Hans? Good, right?"

"...Cow's urine."

"Huh?" Nikolaus looked puzzled.

"I'm saying the ale I've been drinking so far is like cow's urine!"

"Hehe, you liked it that much? Another draft?" the server asked, and Hans nodded vigorously.

"Yes, another Triaezuna!"

"Thank you. One more draft coming up!"

Looking at Nikolaus, he was already munching on some string beans with a satisfied look.

"Hey, what's that?"

"These are Otoshi. Salted boiled beans."

"Beans. Are the skins left on for convenience?"

"No, it's not that. The salt is sprinkled on the skins. When you eat them like this... the saltiness is just right."

"Interesting."

He tried one.

The bean popped into his mouth with a satisfying texture.

*Plop,* one bite.

*Plop,* one bite.

*Plop,* one bite.

It was fun and delicious.

This was cheating. If the beans were all shelled and eaten with a spoon, it wouldn't be as impressive.

"Nikolaus, I can't stop."

"Yeah, you can't stop. They're delicious, and they go well with the Triaezuna."

"That's unfair, you're the only one!"

"Here you go."

As if sensing Hans' request, another cold Triaezuna was brought to him.

He put an Otoshi in his mouth and drank the Triaezuna,

"Delicious!"

"Right?"

Nikolaus, looking pleased, patted Hans' back.

Wonderful. It was a wonderful store.

He didn't know which brewery made this mysterious ale called Triaezuna, but it was truly wonderful.

Feeling content, Hans looked around the store.

The server, with nothing to do, was wiping the tables and clearing glasses.

Her black hair was tied back, and she wore a white triangular headscarf, giving her an exotic charm. Her black eyes were distinctive. Despite her slender face, her figure was curvaceous, but it didn't feel lewd.

In contrast, "Taisho" behind the counter looked like a seasoned warrior.

His black hair was cut very short, and his eyes, which scrutinized the ingredients, had a battle-hardened look. His clothing was also unique, suggesting he was from the borderlands.

"By the way, Taisho, what are you serving today?"

Without looking up, Taisho answered.

"Today, it's oden."