CH 184

“Wow, so this is what a tavern looks like.”

Makina stood at the entrance and opened her mouth while looking inside. I peeked in from behind to see what was going on, and saw a large tavern with many tables and chairs crowded together, and a lot of people enjoying drinks.

I’ve never had a drink here except at weddings, so it was a bit like the other side of the world, which made my heart skip a beat.

“It seems like a lot of adventurers are drinking with their equipment on.”

“That’s what a tavern is for. I’m sure it’s too much for you two young lady and young master who went to the academy, so I’ll escort you here as a mature woman!”

“Please!”

“That looks delicious ……”

We seated at a table near the counter, and as soon as we seated, Basleigh-sensei called out to the waitress.

“Hey, sis! Three beers, edamame, assorted sausages, cheese, and beef rectangle steak!”

(T/N: In Japan, immature unopened green soybeans are called edamame.)

“Yes, understood! I’ll bring it right over!”

“So fast!?”

Basleigh-sensei catches the waitress like a flash of lightning, and Makina rolls her eyes in surprise as she finishes her order.

“It’s hard to catch a waitress in a busy place like this. You have to call them out loud and order a good amount of food. I order what I can serve right away and what might take a while, and wait for the food while I drink! A hungry lamb like me needs to have something to eat first!”

You’ve got a point there, I think. It’s not uncommon for people to order a drink and not receive their food, especially if the place is crowded. By the way, a square steak is synonymous with a dice steak.

And after Makina clapped her hands in admiration, she looked at the menu and clenched her fists.

“Oh, I see! H-Hey! Hey, girl!”

“Makina, I think it’s fine to call the waitress as you normally would.”

“Um, lamb ……”

As soon as the beer was delivered and the golden water was placed in front of us, we were through with the lamb part, laughing and chiding the serious Makina. 

“This is the …… beer ……!”

“It’s the water of life! Let’s celebrate the journey of the three of us!”

“We’ve never had beer here before, so I appreciate it. Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

I gulped down the beer and slurped a mouthful or two. It was cold and chilly, more bitter than I remembered, but it made me feel nostalgic …… The first time I drank in my adult life was at a part-time job party.

“So bitter …….”

“Mfufu, maybe it was too early for Makina-chan. Another round, Sis!”

“Too fast!?”

“Let’s have an apple cider for Makina, I’ll have this one.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll do my best ……!”

“Ehhh …… are you okay?”

While worrying about Makina, who is tipping her mug with a mysterious determination, I also put some cheese in my mouth and drink a beer. Beer that isn’t bubbly is still delicious.

“Hmm, I don’t understand why they say this tastes good. Now that I’ve drunk it all, I think I’ll have some apple cider.”

“A lot of girls and people who are just starting to drink don’t like it, so I think it’s okay.”

“Yes, I’ll have an apple cider.”

“Yes, yes, yes! I’ll leave the sausage platter here, okay.”

“Oh, delicious.”

I like the ones with the herbs mixed in …… I don’t know what it is about snacks that makes them so appetizing. 

“Here, another one.”

“That’s a really fast-paced ……”

Basleigh-sensei added more with a red face, and soon the square steak arrived. Just as I was about to order something else, there was a loud voice at a table near the center of the room.

“Don’t be ridiculous, I thought what we’re going to talk about, but go back to Oriola Territory!? You’re the ones who kicked us out, though!”

“N-No, you’re right, but …… the Lord doesn’t want us to come back until we bring you back ……”

“I refuse. The lord probably didn’t want to pay you, so he agreed with you, didn’t he? There’s no need to go back to that place. It’s more comfortable in Gust territory, after all.”

Oh, I don’t know what it is, but the enraged person says that our territory is better. And there are three other men facing him.

They all have their swords propped up on the table, giving the impression of a quarrel between adventurers.

They seem to be from a neighboring territory, but I can’t help but hear some disturbing words about being kicked out. In the meantime, as I was trying to avoid getting involved, they’re trying to hold back the man from leaving, and a heated argument broke out, causing a commotion in the store.

“Just follow us quietly! My lord wants to see you!”

“Shut up, you’re disturbing the other customers, you know? I’m going.”

“Bastard, don’t get carried away!”

“O-Oi, guys, that’s not a good idea!?”

I looked at them again and saw that they were just about to take their swords out of their hands. If you swing it around here, it won’t end with just injury, you know!?

“Don’t do something stupid ……!”

“Just quietly–“

“You’re the ones who should be quiet, right? I was just enjoying my first time in a tavern, and you’re ruining it.”

I disappear with Invisible, place my hand on the sheath of one of the men’s swords to prevent him from pulling it out, and then call out to him. The man next to me, with a startled look on his face, rolls over in his chair and reaches out to pull out his sword. 　

“W-What the hell are you!? Where the hell did you come from!”

“Who knows, just stay quiet for now ……! .”

“Uwah!?”

“What!? Guah!?”

I used the magic, strength, which I’ve acquired over the years to strengthen my arm strength, and I threw the man, knocking them both down as they knocked over the table. 

Strength, which is one of the auxiliary magic, is not that much higher than Kudelica’s [Superhuman Strength], but it can be enhanced to lightly lift a man. The best part is that I can put it on someone else. 

“Now you did it, you little brat ……!”

Then, the other man who was left in the room attacked me. But his fist never reached me.

“There’s another one over here.”

“What ……?!　Guhe …….”

Makina came out from the side and put her foot on him, and the man dived face first into the floor, and the table collapsed again, and the mug hit his head.

“D-Damn it …… I won’t forgi- …… Hiii ……!?”

“If you keep this up, we’re not going to stay quiet, you know?”

“You’re going to pay for my drink, aren’t you ……?”

“And our food!”

The three adventurers that Makina and I defeated were surrounded by customers staring at them. The men fell back on their asses and hurriedly got up to flee.

“We’ll get you back definitely, Conrad! Let’s go, boys!”

“Damn it ……!”

“I’ll remember this ……”

“……”

The man called Conrad glares at them, then waves the men off. He then immediately turned to me and Makina and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, it almost turned into a lot of trouble because of my slowness. Thank you.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m just glad we stopped it before it turned into a fight and people got hurt.”

“I’m sorry again. I’ll pay for you guys.”

As Conrad was handing the waitress his money, a face popped up from the side and the person opened his mouth.

“Treat …… Is it a treat!? Now that I look closely, you seem like a nice guy! Let’s drink together, together!”

“Whoa!? Where did you come from!?”

“…… You seem to have a lot of information about the Oriola territory, okay?”

“……”

Basleigh-sensei glanced meaningfully at him and put his hand on Conrad’s arm.

Now, is it the smell of a case?

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“TEMPLATEEEEEE!”

But Basleigh-sensei is keeping a close eye on him.

“She must’ve fallen for the right guy, didn’t she?”

Did you see the last line correctly!?