Chapter 310: This Alcohol Is…

I nodded at Fia’s words. Hiero said "This way!" and started guiding us to a nearby room.

Apparently she had gotten permission from Atla. I suddenly cared and asked Hiero "Maya?" She grinned and told me "Thanks to the Handful she is short on sleep!"

So the one who tidied the room and our appearances was Maya?

I have to say thanks later... I thought, rubbed the back of my neck with one hand, and smiled with a troubled face.

Maya, Niche, and Sera are in morning prayer in the sanctuary... true it is that time.

Hiero opened the door two ahead, beckoned me and Fia, and the two of us looked at each other and smiled.

Hiero who shows a lively smile changes a gloomy mood into a fun one.

Entering the room the inside was like a reception room, and two-seat sofas were set facing each other.

Between the sofas there was a low table. It was a make like anywhere.

Maybe Hiero is brewing tea. She headed to the nearby desk, pata pata, and started making kacha kacha sounds.

Haha. Were you not not to make much sound?

Hiero preparing tea hard with an unaccustomed touch. Looking at that back I naturally smile.

Fia who entered the room and closed the door also looked at Hiero’s look, laughed happily, kusu kusu, sat on the sofa first, took out several cookies from a pouch-type Magic Bag, and set them on the table.

I also sat facing Fia, glanced at Hiero’s back, then opened my mouth.

"So, what was the content of the letter?"

"I want you to read it first. I and Elysia have opinions, but first I want to hear Raide’s opinion."

"Mm... show me."

I was handed the letter from Fia, started reading the contents, and ended up letting out a big sigh.

Fia told me what she investigated while I was reading the letter, but apparently the meeting matter flowed to the adventurers as we expected.

As a result customers left, and several taverns that were there closed.

...Pathetic. A really pathetic story.

I do not mean to make fun of the thought of protecting the tavern, but what they did was the worst deal.

They prioritized protecting the tavern too much, and could not see what they should really protect.

How many times was I told by Dad. A tavern is a place of rest for those exhausted, a place that brings momentary peace...

If pulled by an event I would yield a hundred steps and think, but this time it happened by their judgment.

While reading the letter’s contents I set one hand on my forehead and let out a big sigh once more.

"Apology for what happened last time, and help the tavern...?"

"Yes. I asked Nimi’s opinion for form, but she said she leaves it to you. I and Elysia the same thought. We leave it to you. What will you do. Help?"

"Haa... impossible."

I looked at Fia, smiled as if tired, and shook my head sideways. Fia who saw that smiled wryly and said "I thought so."

There Hiero brought tea. I said thanks, received it, drank a mouthful, and wet my throat... un. Good.

Fia also drank a mouthful elegantly, smiled, and said thanks to Hiero. Hiero who was thanked smiled happily and sat on my right.

I set the cup on the table, handed it to Hiero who tried to peek at the letter, and she started reading the letter hard.

"Bis’s request is not to change the shop’s name, and want to raise profit again... first the rumor that flowed to the adventurers will not disappear easily. Even if the sign is changed, just the owner being Bis, the rumor will flow again."

"That is so. There was a person who actually changed the sign, but he closed the tavern."

"Probably... if I am let say the real feeling, I also think it is a convenient talk. Even though they tried to take the lives of my precious ones, wanting their own lives helped is arrogant."

Even though they aimed at our lives for the continuation of their own shop, now they want help?

How much of a pathetic figure do they have to show to be satisfied... just because they apologized does not mean they are forgiven.

Us being safe is a result. If they had tried to injure Fia or Elysia I would have killed them.

Feeling myself that my heart was getting blacker and blacker, suddenly my head was gently stroked and I turned my face sideways.

Then Hiero smiling with a troubled face was gently yet a little strongly stroking my head.

"Raide. Calm down. Come. Let us deep-breathe. A wrinkle between the brows looks old?"

"That is so. As Hiero says. A good man is ruined?"

"...Fuha. Aah... thank you."

Fia also floated her body in the air, moved to the opposite side of Hiero, my left, and stroked my head.

Thanks to the two the heart that seemed about to sink black calmed.

As Hiero said I deep-breathed, then smiled, turned my face to the two, and said thanks.

Fuu... receiving that Bis apologized, what I can do for him is only one method.

If he accepts, though...

The time was past 9:00. Around when the academy starts.

After that I said morning greetings to Atla and the others, told them I was going out, and by the way told them I could not change Milish and Kuna’s necklaces yesterday.

I said to the three next time I will change Milish and Kuna’s necklaces. The three smiled gently and said they would wait so I let out a breath of relief.

Then I, Fia, and Hiero visited Bis’s tavern.

Outside was heavier rain than I thought. Even with an umbrella we would have gotten wet.

Thanks to Fia casting magic so we would not get wet, the three of us arrived at the tavern without minding the rain.

I had Fia and Hiero follow behind, let out a small breath in front of the entrance, and entered.

Inside the tavern there was not one customer. The shadow and shape of once being lively even from this time were not there.

I sent a gaze to the two to sit at a nearby seat and wait. They smiled and nodded.

I turned my face forward, sighed, and approached Bis who was sitting with his back weakly turned to the counter.

Bis seemed to be drinking alcohol. He noticed me approaching, glanced with a side eye, turned his face forward, and started talking.

"...Will you help?"

"No. Impossible. That is something Bis who has more experience and knowledge than me understands best?"

"..."

On the way to Bis’s tavern I thought with a calmed head.

If he really wanted help he would not take a means like a letter, and come running to Rude Tavern...

So the letter was an invitation letter by a stubborn one, roundabout wanting us to come to the tavern.

When I sat beside Bis, Bis poured alcohol in a glass and handed it.

Not thinking from morning alcohol... or something, it is a man’s pride I thought, and without saying anything lightly clinked the offered glass and drank a mouthful.

A mellow tongue feel, easy to drink, and yet solidly feeling the alcohol.

The look was a transparent golden color like whiskey, and I understood at once it was high-class alcohol.

"This alcohol. Your dad liked it."

"...Is that so. Good alcohol..."

"I... seem to have mistaken the way of a tavern..."

"Just noticing is good, is it not. Rather than continuing to show an ugly figure without noticing. Right?"

"Fu. Aah... exactly."

Then for a while, without either opening their mouth, we drank the alcohol in the glasses.

The last alcohol he drinks in this tavern, I quietly accompany without saying anything.

Around when each other’s glasses emptied, I took out 3 white gold coins from the Magic Bag, set them in front of Bis, and opened my mouth.

"I will have this shop purchased. I heard the amount from Thomas. It should be enough."

"...Several times the amount of purchasing here, Thomas taught you?"

"After receiving go check. Even if you confirm I will not accept return, and Bell House will not receive either. Tavern owners have many stubborn ones. I and Bis are no exception. That is so?"

With Bis smiling self-mockingly at my words in the corner of my eye, I turned my face forward and closed my eyes a little.

Arriving at the tavern becoming 9:00 was because I stopped at Thomas’s and the bank.

I had Thomas investigate the tavern’s price. The amount when Bis purchased was told as 7 gold coins.

Location-wise it would be about that, and thinking normally customers not coming in is odd.

Handing Bis 3 white gold coins is confidence I can take the capital, and so he can spend his remaining life calmly.

He should have had a daughter. With that much he will not cause trouble.

My consideration for him apologizing... more than this there is nothing I can do for him.

A sound of paper being set, pasa. I quietly opened my eyes and dropped my gaze.

The paper set on the counter was like a tavern rights document, a document claiming ownership.

Bis quietly stood, set one hand on my shoulder, then without either saying anything, without exchanging words, he left the tavern.

...Even if the form is different, seeing someone off is hard... and I am not used to it.

"I think you did your best. So stop making that face."

"That person was very relieved. If Raide makes that face it will not be repaid?"

"Aah... that is so."

When Fia and Hiero sat on both sides they stroked my back as if to comfort me.

Grateful to the two I smiled, turned my face, said thanks, and for a little while talked to the two about memories of this tavern.

We locked the tavern door and went out past 11:00.

Even past 11:00 outside was heavy rain. Like... heavy rain expressing a sad feeling.