Chapter 363
In this past week, I was able to interact with Nell, Amina, Ingrid, Claudia, and Esmeralda, and I think we deepened our relationships in many ways.
Then, next it should be straight back to the pioneering work... but that's not quite the case, is it?
If I've shown care to the female members, I need to properly show care to the male members too.
"So, cheers to your daily hard work!""Cheers!!"
Judes suggested that a one-on-one meeting between two men might lead to awkward rumors, so the drinking party ended up being the four of us: Judes, Sharia, Genjirou, and myself.
"Are you truly sure this is alright, Master?""It's fine, it's fine. This is to thank you three for your usual hard work. Tonight, I'm going all out with the cooking!"
Although, rather than eating and drinking together, the style was me standing at the grill cooking, while the three of them ate.I prepared all the food and drink, which seemed to make Genjirou rather apologetic.
"That's right, Genjirou. Liberta says he's treating us. Refusing would be more impolite.""Exactly! ♪ Besides, this is our official reward. It'd be worse not to accept it.""Hmm, if that's the case then..."
In contrast, Judes and Sharia were full of enthusiasm to enjoy themselves.You could sense their determination to arrive hungry and relish this feast.
Frankly, I'm happier if they simply enjoy it.
"Alright then, I'll start cooking. Snack on these for now, and let me know if you want more drink.""Understood.""I'm going to drink my fill tonight!!""We should drink properly for our efforts."
Inspired by those two, the tension left Genjirou's shoulders.After setting aside the cup of fruit water I had for the first toast, I served a dressed salad as an appetizer.
I had ale ready for the "arrival toast," and it was premium stuff I had the spirits make for us.Seeing all three of them open their eyes wide and down it in one go, I had already refilled their mugs.
"Whoa! I've never had ale this delicious!""Truly! I drank a lot as an adventurer, but after tasting this, I can never go back.""Hmm. In the eastern regions, it wasn't very common, so I haven't had much. But compared to what I drank then, this is a world of difference.""I have a whole keg ready, so drink up. Also, Genjirou, I have some liquor procured from the east, and I've sent some to the Oniwaban Corps as well.""You have?!"
On the magically heated griddle, I started searing large steaks, and in the oil set up next to it, I began frying. These three are physical laborers; they'd want hearty food over dainty dishes.
"Huh? Only for Genjirou?""That's right, that's right!! Be fair!"
The liquor Genjirou would want is precious in the southern continent.For that, I asked the Duke, who secured a port on the eastern continent, to arrange it.Of course, I prepared some for Judes and Sharia too.
"I know, I know. I asked the Duke for premium wine, and sent some to the entertainers as well.""Excellent! You understand.""Geez, I might fall for you, Liberta-kun."
Satisfied with that response, the two nodded, their cheeks full of salad as their drinking pace picked up, and mugs kept emptying.
As for the dishes, I made a magical device like a dishwasher; you just toss them in, and the mugs get washed and dried automatically.The spirits also seem to enjoy making these convenient gadgets rather than weapons, and happily took on the task.
"Hmm... Sir Sharia, are you truly a man? Even seeing you up close, I truly cannot tell.""Right? I sometimes get confused too, like, 'Huh? Is Sharia a woman?'"
Once alcohol enters the mix, the atmosphere starts to change in various ways.We've just started, so there's no drastic change yet, but everyone gets a bit more cheerful.
Genjirou, his tongue loosened, looked at Sharia, exuding a strange allure, and became so bewildered he started questioning Sharia's gender.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm a man, but when I try to change clothes with the entertainers, they all look away.""You need to understand you're more beautiful than the women around you. Have some sympathy for me, who gets consulted by members worried they might 'open a new door.'""Sorry for being cute~ ♪"
With light jokes flying back and forth and alcohol flowing, the party quickly heated up.
"Here, the first dish. High Horn Bull steak. It's seasoned with rock salt, but if it's not enough, use this sauce.""Class 6 monster meat served just like that...""As it is a dish prepared by our Master, it's to be expected, but is it really alright to consider this normal?""I get it! We can never go back to our old lives, right? Life here is too good. I reunited with my parents and came right back.""In your case, you just came back immediately because you're more comfortable in your cross-dressing attire, right?""That's part of it too!"
As their excitement rose, the conversation content became more revealing.
"Here, the second dish: fried chicken.""Ah, this is the kind that makes the ale go down easy.""Hmm, it pairs well with rice wine too.""Ahahaha! This makes you drink more!"
With a *clink*, I placed a large plate piled high with fried chicken.
"Since we've had greasy food back-to-back, I'll also put out some chilled tomatoes and lightly pickled cucumbers.""You get it!!""Hey, Sharia, are you drunk?""I am drunk!! Or rather, if not now, when should I get drunk?!""Don't let your clothes come undone! Your skin is dangerous!!""Hmm... So this is the bewitching charm that confuses comrades. To think it comes from a man, how fearsome."
Sharia seemed to get tipsy more easily than expected, starting to show signs of being a cheerful drunk.However, since there was no sign of consciousness fading, it seems he has a certain tolerance for alcohol.I think his level-up strengthening means there's no worry of him passing out, but levels are mysterious in many ways.He should be stronger, yet he can still get drunk like this.
Intoxication could be considered a type of debuff.And yet, he can get drunk to enjoy himself.
In FBO, you could consume alcohol but couldn't get drunk, so that logic remains unexplained.
If I get the chance, I'd like to look into it.
Thinking such thoughts as I cooked dish after dish, gradually the three of them filled up, and drinking gradually became the main event over eating.
"Haaah... Really puts my adventurer days into perspective, huh?""I know, I really do! Even though I'm a noble, albeit a low-ranking one, this life is infinitely better! Once the village develops a bit more, I'm bringing my whole family here!""Truly so! This humble one also has nothing but gratitude for the generous treatment received from our Master since arriving here!"
And sharing a drink brings people even closer.
Perhaps heated from the alcohol, Sharia's shoulder slipped, unleashing a dangerously alluring charm. Judes, patting Sharia's back in agreement, and Genjirou, nodding vigorously.
Three drunks, complete.
"When do you think you can bring your families? Mine is staying with the Duke for now, but I plan to bring them here once some buildings are up.""This humble one plans to fetch his family around next week. Originally, they were supposed to come with Lord Zinc and the others, but even for our move, preparations are necessary.""Must be tough. Well, in my case, there are things like renouncing noble status, so it's taking time. I can't very well live on this land while still holding noble status."
Having common topics meant the conversation never died.I was clearing dishes and serving drinks, starting to have a bit of free time. And then, a perfect topic came up.
"Hey, can I ask something?""Yes! This humble one will always listen to our Master's words!!""You don't need to answer with that much vigor. What about you two?""Woo-hoo!!! Say it!!""The entertainer element is showing."
It's not entirely unrelated to bringing families, but it's not directly connected either.However, if these three bring their families, it's a topic that might be relevant for future use.
"I wanted to consult about... the entertainment district.""Entertainment district...""It's a naughty shop!!""See, Liberta-kun is a boy too!""Alright, alright. Even if you're drunk, that's fine. Listen up. This is the kind of topic you can only really talk about among men, and not sober."
After consulting Claudia, it's basically decided that we'll set up an entertainment district in the pioneering town we'll build.
"Well, I understand it's necessary.""It's necessary, right?""I knowww."
Genjirou's drunkenness seemed to cool slightly, and he started sipping his drink slowly.Sharia, perhaps remembering his adventurer days, also focused his gaze a bit.Only Judes, perhaps still quite drunk, listened while swaying his head unsteadily.
"When you say 'entertainment district,' shady people tend to get involved easily, right? So the idea is to manage it ourselves from the start.""It seems we'll likely be involved in maintaining public order, then.""Ah, right. If it's underworld-related, we'd be involved too, right?""If it's that kind of serious talk, shouldn't it be done *not* over drinks?"
As the talk turned serious, the atmosphere started to become sober, the sense being this wasn't talk for drunks.
"Ah, no, not about building it. I just want you to tell me about ordinary, known entertainment districts. I don't know much about them."
Not about construction, but about the entertainment districts of this world.This is something I absolutely cannot ask the women, nor bring up in a serious atmosphere.
"Ah! Right, Liberta is a child!""Eh? You've never been?""I see! If that's the case, then this humble one is not reluctant to recount his own experiences!"
To understand the *intimate* affairs of this world and prepare a good environment, even crude talk is necessary.If I built an entertainment district based solely on my own ideas without knowledge, problems would erupt everywhere.Surely, I can't just drop a Japanese-style entertainment district into this world.
There are aspects like hygiene and public safety where I can't compromise, and I think support systems need to be robust.
Genjirou, breathing heavily with a "mufufu," has a tough appearance but surprisingly had many chances to visit such places?And Sharia, your wide-eyed surprise is fine, but I'm a kid, I can't go to such places, you know?The rudest one is Judes, really. His reaction made it seem like he thought it was a given I'd frequent such areas.
And thus began the crude talk.
"What!? The eastern continent is like that?!""So the southern regions are like that, huh.""The best one I went to was in a town to the west...""Tell us more."
Guys, in the end, they get excited about this kind of stuff.If the women were tolerant of such talk, it might be fine, but it's precisely because it's among guys that we can talk about this.
Well, the most knowledgeable one turned out to be Sharia, the cross-dressing man who traveled the world as an adventurer. So I ended up witnessing the strange spectacle of him holding forth about entertainment districts.