Chapter 133: Layla, Al, and the Vintage Sake
[space_man][space_man]”Speaking of Layla.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Marie, who didn’t seem drunk at all despite having opened countless sake bottles, called out to Layla.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Yes?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Have you confessed to Al?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Layla sputtered at the sudden question.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Huh!? What are you saying, Marie-Senpai!?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ehhh, Layla-chan, do you like Al-sama~?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Moira’s words were starting to slur, suggesting she was quite drunk.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”No, I don’t particularly have those feelings……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Oh really? Then I can tell Al about the marriage proposal I received from His Majesty.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Eh!? A marriage proposal!!?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Layla was flustered.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Yes, a marriage proposal. Al is turning 26, and His Majesty wants him to get married, you know, parental love and all that. Apparently, she’s an Ojou-san from a good family, but she’s quite sheltered. I’m a bit worried if it’ll work out with Al, who works in a place like this~.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Marie took a swig of sake.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”On the other hand, if it were Layla, you work in the same place as Al, and I’ve been watching you since our academy days, so I thought it would be nice~.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Layla-chan is so devoted~.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Layla’s face flushed red.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”So, what will you do? If you don’t have any feelings for him, I’ll tell him first thing tomorrow morning……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”W-wait!”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Layla shouted, interrupting Marie.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”P-please give me some time to think……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”……Alright. But the deadline is while I’m still here.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Saying that, Marie patted Layla’s head. Layla’s face turned even redder.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ufufu, Layla-chan is so cute~.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Moira giggled and took another gulp of sake.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I’m back~.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Just then, Eld returned, carrying a rather large sake bottle.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ah, e-Eld-Senpai is back, so I’ll excuse myself!! Good night!!”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Layla gathered the empty sake bottles and dishes into the box she had brought and left the room.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Layla’s face was red. How much did you make her drink?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”It’s not like she was blushing because she was drunk.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Is that so? Well, that’s good then.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld placed the sake bottle he was carrying on the table and sat down on the sofa.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”What’s this?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Al gave it to me. There was a lot of sake in the former Commander’s private room, and this was there. Al probably doesn’t know its value, so just say something appropriate.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Is it that valuable?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Valuable? That’s too cheap a word to describe it. It’s a sake that was first made after asking the Goddess of Sake for the recipe. It was made normally for about 100 years and was affordable even for ordinary households, but then the recipe was lost, and they couldn’t make it anymore.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”After that, its value skyrocketed. I don’t know exactly how much it’s traded for now, but the very first bottles that were made are apparently traded at prices comparable to the national budget.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”T-that much……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Marie was stunned and looked at the sake bottle.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”But if it’s that old, wouldn’t it be undrinkable?”
[space_man]
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Originally, this sake is supposed to get better the longer it’s aged. And this is one of the very first bottles made. Probably one of the less than five that exist in the world.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Marie was speechless.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”But well, let’s not drink it today. I’ve had quite a bit to drink myself, and it would be a waste if I couldn’t appreciate the taste properly.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Saying that, Eld stored the sake bottle in his subspace. Marie breathed a sigh of relief when Eld closed his subspace.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Sake worth the national budget…… I’d certainly like to try it. But it’s unusual. Eld wanting to drink a specific type of sake.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Maybe so. But I really wanted to drink that one…… My father always told me about it……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld gazed into the distance.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Well, we’ll be busy tomorrow, so let’s get to sleep…… Huh? Where’s Moira?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”She went to the toilet while you were giving your passionate speech.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Just as she said that, Moira came out of the toilet.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”What’s up, you two~? Oh, did you want to use the toilet~? It’s free now~.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”No, we were just talking about going to bed.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld stood up and stretched. Then he turned towards the bed.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ah! No, Eld~. You haven’t taken a bath yet~.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”You’re drunk, it’s dangerous to take a bath.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”It’s okay~. I’m circulating recovery magic now, so I’ll sober up soon~.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Fufu, I’m not drunk, so I think I’ll go in.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Marie went to prepare the bath.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Come on~, one person is going in, so let’s all go in together~.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Sigh. Fine.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld shook his head in resignation and agreed.