Chapter 30 - Bliss: This Beer Can is Chilled to Perfection!!!

Self-edited.

“Good job today~!!”

“Huh… Oh, um. You too… Good job 1 ?”

It was night, after they had visited the neighboring village, and dinner was just winding down.

Sakito Nikokado took a can of beer out of the refrigerator. For some reason, the various infrastructures of the lodge that had come with him to this other world were still functioning.

—But that isn’t important. What matters is that the can of beer is chilled to perfection.

Sakito believed that one’s most important things were always simple and within reach.

“Come, Ambient- san , have a beer!”

“Beer?” Ann looked at the cold metal can handed to her with a puzzled expression.

“It’s alcohol, you know, a drink. Does ‘ale’ ring a bell?”

“ Un , I know ale. The foamy, bitter stuff.”

“That’s right! Ah, here, you pull the tab like this, okay?”

Mimicking Sakito’s actions, Ann pulled the tab. The hiss of escaping carbonation reached her ears, bringing with it a fragrance that tickled her nose.

“Alright then, cheers to a job well done!”

“Ch-cheers?”

Sakito, unable to control himself, pulled his tab and clinked his can against Ann’s. Ignoring Ann’s confusion, he eagerly lifted the foaming can to his lips and took a big gulp.

Gulp, gulp. Gulp…!

Despite his thin figure, Sakito drank like a seasoned drinker, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down with each swallow. Ann, swayed by his enthusiasm, brought the beer to her lips.

Ann honestly didn’t like ale. She found it bitter and unpleasantly grassy 2 . However, if she didn’t drink now, Sakito would probably hold back from drinking as well. He was kind, but stubborn.

She didn’t want to spoil his obvious enjoyment.

With that thought in mind, Ann forced herself to swallow the beer—

“!!!”

Delicious—the ale was crisply chilled and aromatic, free from any unpleasant bitterness or grassy smell.

“Phew!”

“……”

Sakito exhaled deeply, as if he had been holding his breath underwater.

Ann stared wide-eyed at the can of beer in her hand.

They both then took another swig of their beers.

Gulp, gulp.

“Hahhh…!”

“…Delicious!”

Sakito made a noise of satisfaction, while Ann exclaimed in amazement.

“…”

“Hahaha!”

“Ahaha~”

An old man and a young woman, a human and an elf, a man and a woman—they shared something beyond their differences.

Using grilled fish as a side dish, the two of them continued to drink heartily.

§ §

“What is this? The ale’s bitterness mixed with the salty, rich grilled fish… it’s strangely delicious!!”

“Great, isn’t it? Ann-san.”

“Amazing, Sakito… I’ve never had anything like this before~!”

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Footnotes

Raw “オツカレ、さま” (read: otsukaresama ), which was used to convey appreciation, gratitude, and acknowledgment of someone’s efforts or hard work, was written in katakana. In this case, the usage of katakana signified that the speaker isn’t familiar with Japanese (since they’re a local of this other world). Raw was “青臭い” (read: aokusai ), which can mean either “naive; green” or “grassy-smelling; smelling of raw vegetation.” “Grassy” is a term that’s used to describe beverages with the scent or flavor of freshly cut or dried grass/green leaves. In this case, the ale of this other world is probably “grassy-smelling.”