CH 24

“…The best booze…”

That’s a hard task for someone like me. It’s all the same to me.

I stop by Miss Esmeralda’s shop again and explain everything, but she tells me she doesn’t know what he likes, so I’m out of leads.

I’m sure he’s not going to be happy with something bought on the market. The only thing I learn here is that the old man’s name is Romero, but that’s not going to help me.

“Daddy, is booze tasty?”

“It is, but you’re too young for it.”

“Buh…”

I look around stores in the commercial street that sell alcohol but… Nothing catches my eye. Asking shopkeepers only leads to them recommending what they’re selling, so that’s no help.

Ririi is sulking because she says she wants ‘booze’, so I drag her home.

Is there something really convenient like a legendary alcohol or something like that?

◆

“…I might have something in mind.”

“Really?”

Sieglinde stopped by with her uniform of the ministry of magic still on, after Ririi fell asleep. When I saw she came here right after leaving work, I braced myself for an emergency, but apparently she’s just here to visit.

I told her about what happened earlier today, thinking she wasn’t going to be able to help… But she actually has a lead on some legendary alcohol.

“Can you tell me about it? I need the best alcoholic drink out there.”

“Sure… But I’m not sure if it’s what you’re looking for.”

“That’s fine, I’ll take any information I can get.”

Sieglinde thinks for a bit, and then starts mumbling.

“It’s not legendary or anything… But the one made through our ‘special’ route…”

“Our… The ministry of magic’s?”

“No, my family.”

“The secret alcohol of the Floyd family?”

“I guess. My father likes alcohol, so he makes it for his own amusement.”

Sieglinde’s family, the Floyd family, is one of the leading families here in the capital. I don’t know a lot about it, but apparently they were deeply involved in the founding of this city.

And these incredibly rich people are making alcohol in secret. If that’s not a ‘legendary booze’, I don’t know what is.

“Can I have some?”

I ask, and Sieglinde lowers her head a little.

“…I don’t know. It’s not like we’re on bad terms, but he’s weirdly strict when it comes to alcohol. Maybe he’ll trade it if you bring him a present.”

“A present… That doesn’t sound simple.”

I mean, he probably won’t accept something that can be acquired with money, no matter how high-class it is.

He’s really rich, so it has to be something he can’t get with his money.

“But what… Ah…”

I start racking my brain to think of something, and a brilliant idea pops into my head. I get up without even thinking and run to the kitchen.

I look around the shelves… And find what I’m looking for.

“Sieglinde, can you take this to him?”

I go back to the living room, and place a bottle the size of the palm of my hand on the table.

Sieglinde looks at it with a quizzical look on her face.

“…What is this? Some kind of powder?”

“It’s salt.”

“Salt…? Weiss, are you messing with me? Sorry, but my father really isn’t the kind of man that likes jokes…”

“It’s not simple salt. Just give it to him. If he likes alcohol, I’m sure he’ll like this.”

It’s something called ‘snack salt’ that Loretto made and served with drinks in his bar.

Everyone in Zenith drank their alcohol with this. I remember Loretto lamenting that this salt was so good, that people wouldn’t order any food.

This is made by mixing salt with several medicinal herbs, but I don’t know the exact recipe. He gave me this bottle as a farewell gift when Ririi and I left Zenith.

Sieglinde grabs the bottle and shakes it.

“…It just looks like salt to me. What is this?”

“It’s… Really good salt. I’ve been having it for these past few years. It’s like the taste of my second home.

It’s really good when you eat it as a snack while drinking… Insanely good even.”

“I see… And there isn’t anything weird in it?”

“I can vouch for that.”

I actually can’t, because I don’t know the recipe… But I’m sure it’s fine. I had it for years and nothing happened to me.

“…All right. I’ll take it to him… But don’t get your hopes up. He probably won’t accept it.”

“Sure. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”