CH 223

The city of Flint, one of the trading shop called <Pofupofu Mountain>. (Apparently the name is derived from a snack that goes with beer)

I went there to check the beer that I just got from Lanthanum.

Is it because it’s a trading shop, but the atmosphere inside the shop is totally similar to the <Swallow’s Repayment>, from the employers working, to the adventurers wandering about.

While inside the shop, I waited patiently for my turn.

Just so you know, Tails who is supposed to be my guide, is sitting next to me while continuing to look at me with eyes of admiration.

Being curious with his behaviour, I tried asking about it.

[What’s the matter?] (Ryouta)

[I’m really really shocked. Ryouta-san’s drop ain’t half assed.] (Tails)

[Well, I’m surprised as well. Does that happen often here?] (Ryouta)

When I said that, I was referring to the bottle shattering….well, instead of shattering, it’s more like it exploded into pieces.

When I was at the first floor, I normally defeated the Flaming footsoldiers, and got my first bottle.

When I tried to absorb the second amount, apparently it was too much for the bottle, the bottle exploded.

[That rarely happens, and most adventurers would slowly accumulate the drops before they can completely fill one bottle.] (Tails)

As Tails have put it. But instead of being shocked, it’s more like he’s looking at me with respect, and admiration as mentioned earlier.

I see….Usually they collect in margins.

Then I might not earn much here.

For both of Flint’s dungeons, both Lanthanum and Cerium drops alcoholic drops.

The drop would be in liquid form, and once it drops, it would spill on the floor, destroying it.

Hence why we need the bottle to collect them.

Even for an A Drop adventurer, it’s rare for them to fill the bottle straight, but for me, I would have a cap per bottle, and gathering another one would overfill it.

As my ability is too high, it can’t be mass produced.

The quality of the drop is high…..but if I collect too much, then it’ll explode, what a laughable situation I’m in.

Oh well, I’m here because of Eric’s request, so I’m not gonna be here long anyways.

[Dear customer!]

After waiting for awhile, the woman employee who checked my bottle came back.

Why is she in a hurry.

[It’s this Dear Customer, Master.]

Another man emerged from behind the employee.

He has an insane beard on his face, and his nose is red as if blood vessels are focusing solely on his nose.

The way he looks is something very similar to the one back in my former world.

Half-opened eyes, and with this getup, he really looks like he’s drunk.

[Did you bring this to us?]

The man held the bottle out, which was the one I handed to them.

[Yeah. Is there something wrong with it?] (Ryouta)

[Where did you get this drop from?]

[From the first floor of Lanthanum?] (Ryouta)

Answering straightforwardly, the man twitched his eyebrows.

Is there something really wrong? Was what I thought while worrying.

[The first floor of Lanthanum….That’s ridiculous…impossible…]

[What’s impossible?]

[….Let’s talk more inside.]

The man went back inside.

Then, the female employee opened the counter, and asked me to go in.

Wondering whether something has happened, I just followed suit.

Tail followed in a hurry as well.

After entering the room at the back, I was greeted with what seems to be a reception where the man was sitting there.

[What an incredible place you have here.] (Ryouta)

As I was looking around, I said while bitterly smiling.

It basically looked like a drunkard’s room.

There’s beer bottles everywhere, and the room has an incredibly strong alcohol smell.

And on top of the table, there was a small plate that was filled with salt.

Even though it was designed as a reception room, it’s completely turned into his own private room.

Looking at the plate full of salt, I asked the man.

[Salt huh?] (Ryouta)

[I just finished some distilled liquor. And liquor is best drink with salt.]

[I see that you’re a man of culture.] (Ryouta)

I wanted to ask him where he heard of that before, but it is still our first time meeting.

[The name’s Dio・Backus.] (Dio)

The man—–who apparently is called Dio, introduced himself, so I did the same. (I want to say it’s a jojo reference, but I don’t watch jojo, so I’m gonna say it’s a Black Haze reference because I just finished reading that manhwa XD)

[My name’s Satou Ryouta.] (Ryouta)

[Oh? So you’re the boss of the Ryouta・Family.] (Dio)

Dio said, and I nodded.

[Yeap.] (Ryouta)

[So that’s why.] (Dio)

Dio looked at the bottle that I handed, and nodded.

[What exactly is going on?] (Ryouta)

[It’s delicious.] (Dio)

[Huh?] (Ryouta)

[This beer, even though I just had one sip, it’s the most delicious drink i’ve drank since the day I was born. There’s nothing bitter inside this beer, but after drinking it, there’s this [bitter] feeling. You get what I’m saying?] (Dio)

[Aah, no I don’t.] (Ryouta)

There’s no bitter taste, but it’s bitter?

Da-heck is he blabbering about, but it doesn’t sound like a bad thing.

[Anyways, it’s the best beer I’ve ever had. Anyone who drinks this would without a doubt think it’s an A Rank beer, but it clearly transcends that of an A Rank.] (Dio)

[That’s amazing! As expected.] (Tails)

Dio was praising the beer left and right, and Tails became even more excited.

[As usual, I would always taste various customer’s alcohols for appraisal, but the moment I drank this, I was jumping out of the room wanting to know who brought this here.] (Dio)

I see now.

I kinda get it.

[So I want to discuss with you, no that’s not it, it’ll be regularly—-] (Dio)

[Sorry to burst your bubble.] I stopped him and bitterly smiled.

[I’m here for a different request today, so once I’m done, I would immediately head back to Shikuro. So it’s going to be hard for me to regularly send it to you.] (Ryouta)

After cutting him off and explaining it to him, he didn’t stop.

[Then, let’s make an annual contract.] (Dio)

[An annual contract?] (Ryouta)

Is that different? I tilted my head.

[Yeah. That’s right…It can be wine. There are few floors in Lanthanum that drops wine, so a fifty per year…..no 10 a year. Can we have that?] (Dio)

[10 per year? But why?] (Ryouta)

[It’s something like selling me vintage wines.] (Dio)

[…..Ah, I see now.] (Ryouta)

Basically doing business by selling rare items.

Dio leaned in front and showed me an enthusiastic eyes while half-opening.

Thinking about it, it’s different than the requests that I usually received.

Once I return to Shikuro, I can just use the Transportation room, and I don’t have to go everyday.

If that’s the case—-

[I’ll pay any amount!] (Dio)

While I was still in thoughts, Dio suddenly added more.

Seems like he seriously wants it.

[Amazing…] (Tails)

Tails who was beside me was in awe to the point where he forgot to say his signature [ssu].

[….I got it. I still have some stuff I need to consider, but if it’s that little per year, then I’ll accept it.] (Ryouta)

[Thanks!] (Dio)

Dio immediately stood up, and strongly shook my hands.

Even though I have endurance of SS, it still kinda hurts, as if I can feel his enthusiasm from the pain.