The woman standing before me introduced herself as Mishard Lowe Michedd.
The younger sister of the lord and the guild master’s wife was filled with presence and vitality, and she looked youthful. She did not look like someone in her mid-forties at all. She looked like she would suit armor and a sword, charging across a battlefield.
「So you are Takato the Goblin Killer. You are younger than I expected」
From your point of view, almost everyone would look young. But saying that would definitely lead to my death, so I kept my mouth shut.
「People from my country tend to look young regardless of gender. Even so, I am already past thirty」
「Past thirty? I thought you were about twenty」
I had heard that people with Eastern features look younger to those from Western regions, but I never thought I would be seen as ten years younger.
「Misha. This is a gift from Takato. He says it is alcohol」
「Oh. That is a welcome gift. You have my thanks」
She was far friendlier than I expected of an acting lord. She did not feel like a noble lady born and raised in luxury. She really did seem like someone who had lived on the battlefield.
The acting lord took the bag and pulled out whisky, brandy, umeshu, and wine.
「This is alcohol? Such clear bottles are rare even in the royal capital」
They had the technology to make wine bottles, so I assumed clear bottles existed as well, but apparently not. Well, it did not really matter.
「The alcohol content is high and tastes vary, so please sample them little by little. Do you have ice?」
「I will have it prepared」
So they could prepare ice. Would they have a mage create it?
When I was invited to sit, a maid or servant appeared and began setting dishes on the table. Dinner already? It was not even six yet.
「We usually eat later, but since we called Takato here, we moved it earlier. Misha. Just one glass. Make sure you eat properly」
The acting lord lined up the bottles, grinning as she debated which one to choose. Like a child.
「I know. But my instincts are telling me this will be good」
「In that case, why not start with the wine? My companions said it was delicious」
「I see. Then I shall begin with the wine」
She had a maid or servant prepare a glass. It was cloudy, but it looked expensive. She opened the seal herself. Honestly, I was impressed she managed to twist off the cap.
「It is rich」
You would expect someone of her status to drink fine wine, yet a thousand-yen bottle was stronger.
「Yes. It is good」
I was glad she liked it.
The guild master encouraged me to eat, so I did. The flavor was light. It was not bad, but it lacked punch. The meat was tender, yet it was seasoned only with salt. I really wanted to drown it in yakiniku sauce and dig in.
Still, I ate what was served and washed it down with the low-alcohol wine.
Perhaps it was considered bad manners to talk during meals, because the entire dinner passed in silence. There was no dessert. Instead, something like milk warmed with honey was served. It tasted like it would put you right to sleep.
「Cy. I may drink more now, yes?」
「Yeah. Go ahead. Takato, do you have anything sweet you could serve? Something to finish the meal」
So they had the concept of a finale here too. What kind of culture was that?
The apport pouch was rolled up at my waist, so I loosened it and took out pudding and Häagen-D○zs. For myself, I brought out some whisky and soda water. I had a maid prepare the glasses.
「Is this a frozen sweet?」
「They are called ice cream and pudding. They are sweet and delicious」
She peeled back the lid, scooped some up with a spoon, and after her eyes went wide, she began eating with complete focus. Then she immediately reached for the pudding. Please eat more slowly.
When ice was brought over, I dropped some into a glass and poured in whisky and soda to make a highball. I am the type who does not add lemon or lime.
「This… the ice is good」
The acting lord pondered different ways to drink whisky. I wondered why I had been called here in the first place. Well, I supposed I would treat it as a simple introduction and leave it at that.
「Takato. Sorry about this. I had you come all this way, but once Misha gets like that, she loses sight of everything else」
「It’s fine. I understand what kind of person she is now」
A capable person who loves her alcohol.
「Fufu. Being weak to drink is her flaw, but Misha is an excellent acting lord. You probably think she is someone who cannot even deal with goblins, but the territory still functions without the lord because she is here. Anywhere else would have collapsed by now」
「Relying on a single capable person, huh. Just like you, Guild Master, she probably hoards all the work herself」
「You really do not hold back」
「If I was rude, I apologize. I have never had contact with people of status before, so I do not know where the line of disrespect is」
「Is that so? You had enough learning and manners that I thought you might be a noble」
「I am just an ordinary commoner. I am not educated either」
With only a high school education, it would be hard to call myself learned. My grades were average at best. He probably thought that because I had experience as a working adult.
「Well, if you are a goddess’s apostle, that level of conduct would be expected」
「I am just a goblin exterminator. Please do not overestimate me」
Seriously, stop putting me on a pedestal. I am just an ordinary guy.
「Fufu. You are truly a cautious man. If you do not carry yourself more boldly, people will look down on you」
「I do not have any pride that would be hurt by being looked down on, so that is fine. Unless they try to harm me, of course」
That is why I am training under Kainzel-san, and why I always carry weapons for self-defense. I can buy enough time to escape to Home.
「That is what makes you frightening」
Frightening? I think I am just a coward. Really, I am not some misunderstanding-type protagonist, so I would appreciate it if people evaluated me accurately.
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