"Y-young Master? Is there a problem?"
It was because Riley suddenly leaned in towards the driver’s seat with two sparkling eyes.
"W-what you said...is it true?"
As Riley stuttered his question, Ian also stuttered his answer.
"Black sugar beer?"
"Yes, that is the name of the drink I've told you. That's how it is called in Solia."
Iris showed a reaction to the word ‘beer.’
"Beer?"
Although, that was excluding the previous life he had.
As Iris only knows the Riley of this world, her thoughts weren't entirely wrong.
"You're going to make Riley drink beer?"
That is what Iris thought was norm.
"Even five-year-olds?"
That's how Coke should be.
It's so devilishly addictive that you could even believe it was made by the gods.
Riley loved that drink over every other food and drink in the world.
Ah, that fizziness.
"...?"
Because the carriage began to knock about as Ian looked back, he quickly looked forward and answered Riley's question.
"Yes, you seem to know it well?"
Ian scratched his head as his Young Master who had never seen black sugar beer before seemed to know about it better than he did.
"Well, it's as you say. The sweetness cannot be compared with the likes of fruit beer and it goes well with salty food. Not to mention it's quite cheap, so the children love it. It is delicious."
The black sugar beer was something you could only obtain in the capital, Solia.
"Well, the nobles don't seem to like it very much though."
As Sera joined in on the conversation with those words, Riley quickly turned and looked at her.
"It feels like peasant food."
"Dumbasses!"
Iris frowned at the unintentional swear words.
"Ah, sorry."
Riley quickly apologised as he scratched the back of his head sheepishly and took his seat again.
"It's just a surprise that what I dreamed about actually exists here."
A drink called Coke in his previous life.
Riley simply talked his way around it as there was no need to complicate things.
"Can't you tell us more beforehand?"
As Sera promised them with a sly smile, Iris began to ask for more stories with a face full of curiosity.
"Hmm, I could tell you more..."
Sera's face became mischievous.
"Haha! I agree with Sera. It is always exciting to discover new things. Solia's peculiarities will make for good memories."
"I will be your guide. But, I shall only watch."
Truthfully...
It crushed their hearts to watch them be oppressed by Lady Orelly and her two sons... So they at least wanted to show them some happiness.
"Hmph, alright! Fine! So mean..."
Although her voice was sharp, there was a smile on her face.
'Coke... Coke...'
With a serious face and a finger to his mouth, he was thinking.
He was excited.
He wanted to drink it soon.
***
"Mmm, Coke..."
Iris, who was lending him her lap, playfully poked at the boy's cheek, and the sleeptalk stopped.
It was Riley.
"No, I'm fine. I could ask you the same."
"We've only just swapped, it's alright."
It was thanks to the special horses pulling the carriage.
Not only that, on the roof there was also an invention made by the wizards, a creation made thanks to their sweat and blood which allowed for safe travels even at night.
"How long until our arrival?"
Iris turned and faced Ian who was sitting across from her.
"There is still some distance. You should sleep as well."
Ian, who was sitting with his arms crossed, looked at the map after Iris' question and answered.
"That sounds nice, but shouldn't we register for the swordsmanship tournament first?"
In order to be registered, they must send news of their arrival to the castle in Upper Solia, and request for a pass.
"That can be done by either Sera or me."
It was about rest.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping too, Ian?"
Ian held out his hand at Iris' question.
"There are times I've been awake for a week straight during wartime. This much is a walk in the park for me."
He began to work as a mercenary when he was a teen, and participated in many battles.
Comparing the days he spent next to a corpse with all his senses sharp and unable to sleep, this truly was a walk in the park.
"But that was in the past."
Thanks to the training of his body and mana, he was healthy compared to others of his age, but Iris could not hide her worry at the sight of Ian's white hair.
"Haah..."
It's good to rest when you can but they are too stubborn.’
After arriving as Stein's concubine, she was so busy trying to recover from her sickness that she, who hadn’t learned swordsmanship, couldn't comprehend many of their aspects.
"If you can't sleep, then how about a chat?"
Ian began to search through their packs to prepare a good tea to drink before sleep and handed one of the cups to Iris.
"Ah, thank you."
Iris had a proud smile on her.
"My lady."
While they were waiting for the tea to cool down, Ian asked Iris a question.
"About the tournament?"
"Yes."
Iris paused for a short moment then answered.
"...No."
Although she knew nothing about the sword, she gave an answer so unwavering, it was as if she would never back down on this matter.
"I...see."
"Ian. If you truly serve Riley, you shouldn't push him into this. You should support him."
Iris tried to convince Ian.
"You know, don’t you? That Riley is worried. That he's worried about how everyone looks at him."
Even when he would doze off on the mansion's apple tree.
Ian knew that Young Master was reading the atmosphere.
And he also got the feel that he was hiding something.
"...I guess with age comes anxiousness."
Ian broke the silence in the carriage.
"Ian..."
Ian's face became bitter, as he seemed to remember the time he collapsed before.
"There's nothing I can do. There's nothing I can do but have hope in the Young Master."
I saw hope.’
He was excited, and delighted that Riley would attain what he could never achieve.
"You just told me, right? That I shouldn't push him into this, but support him instead."
Iris nodded her head.
"I am the same as you my lady. It may not be identical, but it is very similar. Just as you were resolute on declining his spot in the competition, I was hoping for his participation."
Iris's eyes seemed to ask that question.
Ian replied with a detached look on his face.
"...Placing hope on the next generation is the duty of the old."
As Ian muttered those words.
Dulkung!
The carriage was knocked about.
"...?!"
At the sudden shaking, Ian and Iris looked at Sera who was driving the carriage.
"...Ian-nim."
Sera had a sharp look on her face, which wasn't her usual look.
"..."
Riley who was sleeping on Iris' lap narrowly opened his eyes.