Chapter 9

"It's been quite a while since I last came to this place."

Standing in front of the sliding glass door, Hans couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Izakaya Nobu.

The unusual izakaya, built with plaster and wood, has now become a well-known spot in the ancient city, known only to a select few.

Ideally, he would want to visit every day, but a city guard's salary isn't that generous. Nobu is a conscientious establishment, but even so, it's a bit of a luxury for Hans with his current earnings. He also wanted to enjoy his meal without worrying about his budget, so he limited his visits to this place.

And today is payday.

He put extra effort into his training to avoid being kept back by Captain Berthold, all for the sake of coming here. Thanks to that, he managed to come here before it got dark.

"Welcome!"

"…welcome back."

As he opened the sliding door, Shinobu's bright voice and Taisho's gruff voice echoed.

The seats were mostly full, but fortunately, there was still an empty spot at the counter.

"Oh, Mr. Hans, it's been a while, hasn't it?"

Hans waved his hand in response to Shinobu's smiling face. He had almost given up, thinking she had forgotten him, but the shop's signboard girl remembered his face clearly. Such small things made him inexplicably happy.

"Hey, Shinobu."

"Are you doing well? Here, there's an empty spot at the counter."

As he sat down, a dish of otoshi was brought to him with smooth efficiency.

It wasn't prepared in advance. Taisho would prepare it after seeing the face of the customer who slipped through the door.

For customers coming from work, he would add a little extra. For those who were already tipsy, he would serve a normal amount. Regulars had a vague sense that there was a difference in the portion sizes.

Today, it was not beans but a simmered dish of chicken and taro.

The dish, cooked slowly in a sweet and savory broth, was served in a small bowl, which was also slightly warm.

Even though winter was ending and spring was approaching, it was still chilly at night. The appearance of such a warm dish when he was thinking about having something warm was a thoughtful touch unique to this place.

"Would you like a draft beer, Mr. Hans?"

"Sure, a draft beer."

While ordering a beer, he brought the contents of the bowl to his mouth. He used "chopsticks."

Recently, not only had Nicolaus but even Captain Berthold learned how to use chopsticks, so Hans had secretly practiced at home. He was still clumsy but managed to pick up the chicken.

"…It's soft."

In the ancient city, the only chicken available was tough, aged chicken. Even when simmered, it wouldn't become this soft. The well-seasoned chicken melted in his mouth like fibers falling apart.

And then, the taro.

It almost slipped from his unaccustomed chopsticks, but he managed to bring it to his mouth. This taro, which he had been told was called "satoimo," had a unique, sticky texture that was quite interesting. It was a different kind of texture from the potatoes he had eaten so often. It was also well-seasoned, making him want to eat more.

However, the amount was just right.

Not too much, not too little. This otoshi helped settle his stomach a bit, allowing him to take his time deciding what to order today. If he liked it, he could order the same thing again. It was a well-thought-out system.

"Here's your draft beer, sorry for the wait!"

"Thanks."

Hans gulped down the contents of the mug. This was it.

The cold, bitter taste spread in his mouth and rushed down his throat.

He had come to this place for this one drink.

While ordering another draft beer, Hans looked around at the menu on the wall. The menu, which used to be written in Taisho's native language, was now completely rewritten in the language of the ancient city.

What should he order today?

The simmered dish of otoshi was good, but since it had been a while since he last came, he wanted to try various dishes. Oden sounded good, and Dote-yaki was also tempting.

The number of menu items seemed to be increasing day by day, and there were one or two dishes that Hans had never seen before.

"Shinobu, what's the recommendation for today?"

"Sure, today's recommendation? Let me see."

Shinobu's voice was as bright as usual. No, to Hans, it seemed even more joyful today.

"Shinobu, did something good happen to you?"

When he asked, Shinobu hid half her face behind the tray she was holding and smiled.

"Can you guess? Today is, well, 'Kiss Day'!"