Did you hear that, Val?　I heard that a delegation has been sent to seek friendship with the elves.

　That's what Balu was told by an acquaintance in a tavern in the second-class area of the Imperial City.
　Bal is one of the central figures in what he knows, but he shows his surprise at hearing it for the first time.

'Heh, I see. I wonder if we're going to get along with the elven nation?

'I don't know about you, but elves are strong, aren't they?　You'd better get along.

　The acquaintance gulps down the barley wine with a delicious smile as he says this.
　The serving girl who brought them the food comes into the conversation while placing a plate on the table.

''Eh, but we have Yagami Teru in our country, you don't have to be so freaked out, do you?''

　A man at the next table heard this and joined in with a skewer in hand.

The guy at the next table heard that and joined in. You'll be able to bite him. No one can beat the God of Light!

Isn't that a little too hard-core for your liking?

　Balu felt danger inwardly while making a gasping voice.
　It is true that Yagami Akira is strong, and if they are there, they can solve the problems that can be solved by force at first.
　However, there are some problems in the world that cannot be solved by force.

''Bal is so weak. "Isn't it because you didn't see the Lord of Light's War God annihilate a horde of demons in an instant?"

That was amazing, wasn't it? One minute the sky was lit up, and the next minute the demon was gone.

'Oh, yeah,'

　Val nodded.
　It couldn't be helped since he couldn't say that he had done it.
　The name Bal was so common in the Empire that no one doubted his relationship with the God of Light's God of War.

''Your thoughts are dangerous,''

　Furthermore, one old man joined the conversation.

''It's not good to think that just because Akira Yagami is strong, it's okay to have more enemies. I don't mind threatening someone who is hostile to me, but if they are trying to dodge the handshake of friendship, I'd rather just shake their hand normally.

　He was dressed like a traveller, wearing an old brown hat and a dingy green cloak.

'What is it, old man?　You're just as timid as I am.

　The old man shook his head slowly as the man on the spit-roast cursed him.

You can hit an enemy, but hitting a person who is not an enemy is considered barbaric. Isn't it?

　His calm demeanor and slow teaching and admonishing manner strangely didn't generate any opposition.

'Yes, we are a civilized country. We're a civilized country. It would be embarrassing if we did something like a holy country or a kingdom.'

　Val's acquaintances agreed with my intentions, and the girls in the serving room withdrew in agreement.

''That's right.

We don't want them to think we're just like them.

　The gathering naturally broke up, and Val took an interest in the old man.
　He judged the old man to have a way of talking and an air of sophistication that made it hard to believe he was just a traveler.

'Old man, if you don't mind, I'd like to buy you a drink as a sign of your acquaintance.

　The old man moves over to the table as Val speaks to him in a friendly manner.

'Thanks for that. After all, I'm a traveller, and it's costing me a lot of money.'

　But Val didn't honestly believe him.
　He wouldn't lie about being a traveler, but if he was concerned about the cost, he would avoid the Imperial City as much as possible.
　And even if it was a second class area, there was no way he would go near a tavern.
　There are several inns in Teito that offer cheap accommodation plans if meals are included.

'Would you like a barley wine?　Or is it the wine?

Hmm. Both are good, but I'd like to order the rice wine here.

You're not very good at rice wine.

　Val admires the old man's taste.
　Rice wine is made on a large island country in the east of the continent.
　It is delicious, but it is imported from far away, so it is rather expensive and not very familiar to the common people.

I thought there might be a place to drink rice wine in the imperial capital, but what do you think?

　The fact that he asked, "What do you think?" made Baru think that the old man was really a traveler.
　This is because he knows that any tavern in the imperial city will have rice wine in any bar in the imperial city.
　A resident of the imperial city would have not a few financial resources to drink from time to time.

''Master, rice wine for the old man over here.''

Every time.

　The master of the bar replied with a little surprise, and shortly afterwards a glass of rice wine was brought to us.

'It's quite unusual for Baru to buy someone a drink, isn't it?

　The serving girl who brought it in says without reservation.

'I don't make much money,'

　Val replies with a chuckle.

'I'm sorry about that,'

　The old man's green eyes fell down, as if in fear.

'No, I'd like to know what you know for that. It's an information fee.'

I understand. I don't know if I can do it, but I'll try.

　The old man ceases to refrain from laughing at Val, who says with a laugh.