“The meat here really fills you up. It goes well with liquor, so I always end up eating too much whenever I come here…” [Serge]
“Oh, Serge-san! Will you be in your usual seat?” [Female Waiter]
The waiter here remembers Serge-san by face and name. It seems he’s a regular here.
“Yes.” [Serge]
“Alrighty then. Oh, what a cute child. Are you together with him? Is he your son?” [Female Waiter]
“Excuse me!?” [Ryouma]
“He’s… a customer.” [Serge]
I know I look young, but having it thrown at my face like that really leaves one speechless.
Even Serge-san is making a funny face.
“Please follow me to the second floor then.” [Female Waiter]
We followed the waiter up the stairs.
“? Oh.”
When the door was opened, a refreshing wind blew past me. There were no walls nor windows in the second floor, only a roof and some columns to support it, leaving the city in full view. People could be seen below going to and fro the streets under the illumination of the lightings of the nearby buildings.
The place was like a beer garden with how noisy it was, but the tables were separated by a partition woven out of hide, so there was also a hint of calmness mixed into it.
“Can I take your order?” [Female Waiter]
“Two sets of the usual please. But before you serve it, I’d like to have a drink first. What wine do you have today?” [Serge]
“You’re in luck, Serge-san. The head chef managed to snag some higher quality ale today.” [Female Waiter]
“Then give me some snacks and a beer mug full of ale. How about you, Ryoumsama?” [Serge]
“I’ll have the same.” [Ryouma]
“Ale then. I suppose you’ll be having that in a… glass?” [Female Waiter]
“A beer mug will do. Don’t worry. This body has been blessed by Tekun-sama.” [Ryouma]
“In that case, the first drink will be on the house.” [Female Waiter]
I showed my status board as proof (just the part with the God of Wine’s Blessing), and the waiter suddenly said that.
“…Is that okay?” [Ryouma]
I was just planning to use my status board like a license or ID, but for some reason, it got turned into a coupon instead. I’m not sure how to describe what I’m feeling, but I hope this is alright.
“For someone blessed by the God of Wine to visit our store on the very same day that our head chef just so happened to snag some good ale, this is clearly the God of Wine’s will!” [Female Waiter]
“The quality of wine affects the sales of restaurants, so there are many of them that are superstitious.” [Serge]
“…In that case, I shall gratefully accept.” [Ryouma]
“Alrighty then! Please wait a moment.” [Female Waiter]
I accepted the offer and sent the waiter on her way. I’ll just pay if something happens.
“What a beautiful view.” [Ryouma]
“This view is the town’s life itself.” [Serge]
“But despite all this hustle and bustle, you can still see the stars so clearly. Maybe it’s because one of the lights is weak that it’s able to naturally blend in with the artificial lights.” [Ryouma]
“Sorry to keep you waiting! Here are your ale and snacks.” [Female Waiter]
“That’s fast.” [Ryouma]
“This restaurant serves ale and snacks really quickly.” [Serge]
“People ask for them all the time, after all! So, go ahead and drink as much as you want! We’ll serve them in a jiffy.” [Female Waiter]
It seems this store is making quite a bit.
“Ryoumsama, would you honer me a toast?” [Serge]
“Of course.” [Ryouma]
“Cheers!” [Ryouma and Serge]
We knocked our beer mugs against each other and drank from our respective mugs.
“Mmm!” [Ryouma]
As soon as the ale entered my mouth, its delightful fragrance filled me. It was sweet like fruit, but there was some herb mixed in as well. Bubbles welled up around my mouth as the ale slid down my tongue and into my throat. With barely any bitterness or strength to the liquor, I allowed the ale to keep on pouring.
“…PUHA! That’s really good!” [Ryouma]
“You said it! It goes great with the snacks too… Yes. Very delicious.” [Serge]
The ale was accompanied with salted nuts. Probably lightly roasted as well, as they emanated a faint aroma.
The sweetness of the ale coupled with the aroma and saltiness of the nuts was truly a match made in heaven.
“What a perfect combination to let loose after work.” [Ryouma]
“Oh, we’re just getting started, Ryoumsama. Wait till you have a taste of their meat.” [Serge]
I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully, I don’t drink myself full before the meat arrives.
“Fuu… By the way, were those magic tools in your room earlier?” [Serge]
“You saw? How embarrassing. After our trip to Dinome’s Workshop, I couldn’t help but try my hand at it as well.” [Ryouma]
“Oh! So, they really were magic tools. What kind of magic tool did you come up with?” [Serge]
It’s not a secret or anything, so I decided to show him the smaller ones of the tools I made.
“What do you think?” [Ryouma]
“…I say, Ryoumsama, your imagination is truly unique. I’ve always felt that about you.” [Serge]
“What do you mean?” [Ryouma]
“For example, this ‘electric fan’ and ‘ventilation fan’ of yours. Both magic tools are meant to move wind, yes? Ventilation magic tools aren’t rare, but it’s very rare to see something that incorporates the rotation of a blade like yours does.
After all, if all one wants to do is to move wind, then enchanting a tool with wind magic would more than solve the problem. That’s common sense among magic tool artisans. In doing so, not only do you save on the costs of making a blade, you also make it easier to mass produce your tool. Of course, there are also those who try to prioritize user-friendliness, but they’re a minority.” [Serge]
Huh. I guess that was the cheaper way to do it.
“This way of doing things is somewhat similar to the magic car though.” [Ryouma]
“I agree. In the first place, magic cars were first invented based on a memo found in-between the pages of an important historical book. That memo contained ideas for several magic tools, but didn’t include any details. Fortunately, we were able to make some of them a reality.
For example, the ‘heater’ magic tool, which raises the temperature within a room, or the ‘air conditioner’ magic tool, which does the opposite. There’s also the ‘cooler box’ which cools food and keeps them fresh.
Although these magic tools all function differently, they follow a similar philosophy to yours, Ryoumsama. A philosophy most similar to the person who wrote that memo…” [Serge]
…Based on that naming-sense, I’m guessing that person is an otherworlder like myself.
Of course, I can’t tell him that, so I just nodded and did my best not to let anything slip.
“Well, I didn’t really think I would be able to make something good right at the start.” [Ryouma]
“Oh, actually. This one is pretty good.” [Serge]
“Huh? This one?” [Ryouma]
Serge-san pointed at one of the magic tools I laid out on the table. It was a misshapen music box that looked like a toilet paper holder with a small comb attached to it and an uneven surface.
When mana is coursed through it, the gears within turn, and a children’s song can be heard playing from the uneven surface. But the melody played is nothing more than a simple tune that can be played with one finger on a piano.
“You sure about that?” [Ryouma]
“Of course. I’ve seen many magic tools as a collector, but a magic tool that can play music on its own is really interesting. It may not be very useful, but as a toy, I believe it has more than enough value. There are many nobles that fancy toys like these. If you take better care of the design, I’m sure it’ll sell.” [Serge]
When Serge-san started talking in hushed voices, I knew for sure that he was serious.
The music box was invented around the middle ages in Earth’s Europe. But the prototype, Carillon (a church bell meant to inform people of the time [1]), existed long before that. At least, that’s what I recall from one of my classes in college.
Anyway, they took that prototype, made it automatic and outfitted it with a clock—
—Wait. Didn’t the Jamil Household give me a magic tool clock? If I recall correctly, it’s supposedly so complicated that there was nothing else like it. [2]
“Are there really no magic tools like this that make sounds? Like for example, the bell church. I hear it a lot, and it would be a huge hassle if it was late for even a moment, so maybe something like this is used there?” [Ryouma]
“…Nothing really comes to mind. Magic tool alarms that use a whistle are a thing, but a magic tool that gives a musical performance on its own aren’t. Normally, commoners would invite a travelling entertainer or a troubadour, while nobles would invite a musician if they wanted to listen to music.
The church bell is tended to by the friars and the nuns. It’s a systematic part of their lives, so there’s no magic tool to substitute for them. I haven’t really looked into it, though.” [Serge]
So, I guess they don’t have any recording technology? In that case, maybe a gramophone or a recorder would gather attention. I don’t need to think about that now, but I do understand that the music box is surprisingly valued in this world.
“It seems you weren’t planning on selling it, but I think it would be a waste to just leave it to dust.” [Serge]
“…If I were planning on selling it, how would that work? I can’t exactly mass produce it by myself.” [Ryouma]
“Well, we…” [Serge]
“Sorry to keep you waiting! Here’s the store’s special steak, Herb Pork.” [Female Waiter]
Oh, the food is here.
The fragrant aroma of the pork and the herb emanating from the steam really whets one’s appetite.
“Let’s continue this topic after the meal.” [Ryouma]
“Of course. More ale please.” [Serge]
As Serge-san ordered more ale, I quickly cleaned up my stuff on the table.
[1] – Author’s note.
[2] – See chapter 5 for the moment when he received the clock and chapter 8 when he talks about it. CTRL + F ‘clock’ for your convenience.
Tl Notes: ePUB and PDF updated credits to a kind anonymous reader.