Chapter 69

"You're really starting to look the part, aren't you?"

When Nicolaus said this, Hans nodded slightly, looking a bit embarrassed.

Hans, with his brown curly hair and large eyes, had only been working as Nobu's helper for a few days after quitting the guard. However, the uniform seemed to fit him surprisingly well.

"Does it suit me?"

"Better than armor, for sure."

Hans, dressed in Nobu's blue uniform, was encountered by Nicolaus at the entrance of <Stable Inn> Street on the outskirts of the ancient city. Two moons floated in the winter sky, huddled together.

The bustling noise of the grand market, which announced the arrival of winter, had subsided, and the ancient city was about to welcome the New Year, entering its most peaceful period of the year. The cold had driven away even the thieves and ruffians, and the guard was on standby. Nicolaus could start drinking from a relatively early hour.

During this period, the logistics in the ancient city almost came to a halt. Households would stock up on food to get through the winter, but eating preserved food every day could get tiring.

For those who set out into the cold night with a hunger that couldn't be satisfied by hard-baked bread, dried meat, and pickled cabbage, the light of the izakaya was like a lighthouse in the dark night.

Merchants who had nothing much to sell during the winter and craftsmen who had finished their work early would head out to the streets of the ancient city in search of delicious drinks and dishes. Some of the people passing through <Stable Inn> Street would be drawn to the warm light spilling out from Nobu's glass door.

"Are you heading to Nobu, Nicolaus?"

"Of course. I've been working twice as hard to fill the gap left by someone, and I feel like my stomach and back are about to stick together."

He said it jokingly, but he was actually quite hungry.

Rigorous training is the best seasoning. On days like this, there's nothing better than eating to your heart's content at Nobu.

As they started walking towards the shop, their steps naturally fell into sync. They had been partners for a long time, so it was only natural. Now, one was a customer and the other was an employee. It was a strange turn of events.

Before long, a tempting aroma wafted through the air. It was the smell of stew from Nobu.

"Welcome!"

"…welcome back."

They ducked under the curtain, greeted by Shinobu and Taisho. Nobu was as lively as ever, with all the seats filled. Conveniently, two seats at the counter had just become available.

"I'm on break."

"Welcome back, Hans."

Hans, who had been walking beside him a moment ago, put on his work face as soon as he entered the shop. He looked strangely reliable.

Nicolaus, who had managed to secure a seat at the counter, was tickled by the smell of the stew.

He wiped his hands with a hot towel, and could feel the blood slowly returning to his frozen fingertips. The warmth in the ancient city's cold night was incredibly comforting.

What should I eat today? He followed the menu with his eyes, imagining various flavors in his mouth.

Should I start with a cold beer or go straight for a warm one? The choice of drink would affect the selection of dishes, but both were tempting. However, he decided:

"Shinobu, I'll have a cold beer today!"

"One cold beer coming up!"

Unable to resist the temptation, he ordered a cold beer. A few weeks ago, warmed grape wine was his winter staple, but Nobu's cold beer was the best, even in the cold. The other regulars also started with a cold beer.

A well-chilled cold beer in a warm room during the cold winter was a luxurious combination.

He confirmed the cold touch of the mug that was promptly served and took a hearty sip.

Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp.

Even the sound of his throat was pleasant. He could feel the cold beer flowing from his mouth through his throat and esophagus into his stomach.

This is it. This is the best.

The cold winter seeped into his bones, but Nicolaus' first drink was always this. As the cold, golden liquid passed through his throat, it felt as if the day's fatigue was also flowing into his stomach and disappearing.

He took another sip, savoring the bird wings that had been cooked thoroughly.

The rigorous training was bearable, thinking it was all for this one drink.

"You have a good drinking style."

The serious Hans used polite language with Nicolaus inside the shop.

However, it didn't feel unpleasant. Watching Hans, who was preparing plates in the same uniform as Taisho and Shinobu, made Nicolaus think that this job suited him better than being a guard.

At first, Nicolaus, as a customer, was worried about how things would turn out, but Hans was considerate and, perhaps inheriting his father's skills as a glassmaker, was also dexterous. At least, he seemed to fit this job better than wearing armor and swinging a sword, from Nicolaus' perspective.

The regulars and new customers alike would relax when they received a warm towel from Epha. Seeing their expressions soften was a pleasant experience for Nicolaus as a customer.

He took another sip of his cold beer while watching his former colleague at work.

After the first drink, his appetite, which he had been suppressing, started to grow.

Looking at the menu to decide what to order next, Nicolaus turned to Hans.

"Hey, Hans. What's the special today?"

"Today, it's Konabedate... No, the simmered buri with daikon is very good."

Simmered buri with daikon. The name sounded good. It must be daikon that has been simmered.

"Then I'll have that. And a warm beer. What brand do you recommend?"

"Simmered buri with daikon and a warm beer. Shinobu, please recommend a good warm beer."

After taking the order, he passed it on to Shinobu. While he was starting to understand the dishes, recommending a beer was still a bit challenging for Hans.

Recently, "specials" were becoming popular at Nobu.

While there were customers like Geaunot, the tax collector, who stubbornly ordered the same dish, there was a general atmosphere of trying different combinations of dishes and drinks. The richness of Nobu's menu, which changed with the seasons, weather, and daily purchases, was now well-known throughout the ancient city.

"What warm beer should I get? What do you think?"

The signboard girl, Shinobu, put her finger to her chin in thought.

Not only was she considering what would go well with the simmered buri, but also remembering Nicolaus' taste in drinks. It was rumored that Shinobu remembered all the orders since the shop opened, and her recommendations were rarely wrong.

"How about Crow's Milk?"

The suggestion came from Leontine.

While quickly clearing a table, she was always attentive to the conversations in the shop.

She had previously worked as a mercenary but, after various events, had settled into a job as a server at Nobu. She was bold but, having been a knight, knew when to hold back.

"Black Cow, that might be good."

"I tasted the simmered buri earlier, and I think a warm Black Cow would go well with it."

Nicolaus knew from Hans that Leontine tasted various drinks after closing the shop. "I can't stand not knowing the taste of what I'm selling," she would say with a laugh. It was a combination of taste and practicality, and thanks to this, her knowledge of drinks had deepened rapidly in a short time.

Hans' slightly displeased expression suggested he felt he was being outdone by Leontine.

Hans and Leontine had started working at Nobu around the same time. However, it was clear from the outside that Hans felt he was not in the same position.

Leontine had filled the gap left by Hermine, who was on maternity leave.

While Hermine's service was quiet and steady, Leontine's was lively and enjoyable, without being pushy. As a former knight, she had a certain presence.

Given Hans' serious nature, he probably wanted to be able to do what Leontine could do. From Nicolaus' perspective, having watched him as a colleague in the guard, this was obvious.

That said, Hans was doing a good job.

If he had to switch from a sword to a knife, he wouldn't have been allowed into the kitchen so quickly. It was a sign that Taisho, who was dedicated to his work, recognized Hans' abilities.

"So, Mr. Nicolaus, would you like a warm Black Cow?"

"If Leontine recommends it, it sounds like an interesting combination. I'll go with that."

"Sure thing!"

Shinobu's recommendations were always reliable, and Leontine's combinations offered unexpected discoveries. Either way, customers could leave satisfied, and some regulars chose based on their mood that day.

If you were unsure which to choose, you could always ask Epha.

Epha, though small, was observant of the customers. Choosing based on the mood of the moment was a common practice among the regulars.

When the simmered buri and sake bottle were served on a plate with a calm color, Nicolaus rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

"Looks delicious. Did Hans make this?"

"It's just the plating for now."

"Really? Hans did the plating?"

Hans averted his eyes, perhaps thinking he would be mocked.

"No, that's impressive. You've only been in the kitchen for a short time."

"Is that so... I guess that's how it is."

While cutting the daikon into four pieces with his chopsticks, Nicolaus smiled.

"Having Taisho, who is strict about the food, trust you with something that goes into the customers' mouths is a big deal. You should have confidence."

Taisho, who was preparing the fish for Konabedate next to Hans, only smiled wryly but seemed to acknowledge it.

He took a bite of the daikon, which was full of flavor, and was enveloped in a sense of happiness that made him sigh.

"...It's well-seasoned. This is delicious."

While savoring the buri, he took a sip of the warm Black Cow. He had tried Black Cow once before, and its rich flavor went well with the simmered buri.

The well-seasoned buri was a welcome treat for the tired Nicolaus. He could feel his body craving something flavorful. Recommending it was the right choice.

It was interesting to think that Nicolaus, who hardly ever ate fish before coming to Nobu, had become a fish lover.

The movement of his chopsticks, from the fatty buri to the Black Cow, and then back to the daikon and the Black Cow again, didn't stop. This combination was a hit.

Serving the beer warm rather than cold was also good. The flavor of the beer was well-extracted, and its rich taste went well with the strong flavor of the simmered buri.

This kind of discovery was the charm of Nobu's specials.

Leontine, who had been making suggestions without hesitation despite her short tenure, seemed to be well-suited to customer service.

"Hans joining and Leontine taking over for Hermine, Nobu is still Nobu."

"It's a great compliment to hear that from a regular like you, Mr. Nicolaus."

Taisho, who had finished preparing the Konabedate for Assistant Bishop Etvin, sniffed.

Delicious dishes and drinks. This hasn't changed since the first day he ducked under the curtain.

"It'll be about a year since Nobu opened, right after the New Year."

"Yeah, it'll be about that time."

Taisho had opened this shop on <Stable Inn> Street almost a year ago. A lot had happened in that year, but Nobu was still Nobu.

"By the way, Hans, why did you recommend the simmered buri instead of the Konabedate?"

As he asked, savoring the last piece, Hans' hand stopped.

"Well, the Konabedate is for one person."

Just as he was about to ask what he meant, the glass door opened.

"Is there an empty seat?"

The moment he heard the composed voice, Nicolaus knew who it was.

"Mr. Nicolaus, can I seat a customer next to you?"

When Leontine asked, he could only respond, "Sure."

"Ah, we meet again."

The person who sat next to him was Eleonora, the master of the Water Transport Guild <Bird Maiden's Boat Song>.

"Y-Yes, that's right."

In the past few days, he had often ended up sitting next to Eleonora.

Nicolaus wasn't entirely displeased, but the frequent coincidences with the high-and-mighty Eleonora seemed too perfect to be mere chance.

Glancing at Hans, he noticed his shoulders were trembling slightly as he plated the otoshi.

He was laughing. At that moment, Nicolaus realized why Hans hadn't recommended the Konabedate, which was for one person.

Eleonora also ordered the simmered buri after hearing the recommendation.

Whether it was support or teasing, this was also part of Nobu's "specials," he thought.

While sipping the warm beer, he felt the alcohol affecting him more than usual.