Two years have passed since the announcement of the magic meter.


　Arx is twelve years old this year.
　He's grown (a little) taller.
　His physique has grown closer to that of a man (albeit modestly).
　When he looks in the mirror, his biggest problem is that his face has not become more masculine.


　My larynx is filled in.
　His eyes are full.
　My eyelashes are long.


　The fact that I can't get rid of my girlishness makes me wonder if it's some kind of curse.
　Recently, I've been looking at my face in the mirror more and more often and jiggling my face.
　...... Although I know that doing so will not change my face shape.


　The environment surrounding Arx is also changing little by little.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.
　In doing so, I was concerned that nothing special would happen.
　If you ask me if Joshua was able to identify the creator, I would say no.
　He seems to be very careful about keeping it a secret.
　He didn't seem to take it out on Lisha, so I guess his father was decent in that respect.


　He seems to have become stricter in teaching magic, but other than that, nothing much has changed.
　Risha hasn't told me anything about it either.
　The only change I can think of is that I see Risha less often than before.
　The reason for this is that Joshua has put more effort into teaching Risha magic, but the main reason is that he has been making more visits to other families.
　She attended mages' salons and soirées, and even greeted the branch of the Raytheft family.
　It seems that Risha's ability has already been recognized by the other families, and her position as the head of the family has been solidified in terms of magic skills alone.


　On the other hand, the number of things Arx has to do, such as making a magic meter, has increased and it has become difficult for him to find the time.
　He has to go out and stay at his uncle's house, so he can only see him about once a month.
　Some months I don't see him at all.
　It would be easier if my father Joshua and mother Celine weren't around, but those opportunities don't come around very often.


　The only other thing that has changed is that we have started correspondence.
　The other person is Charlotte Cremeria, the eldest daughter of the Countess of Cremeria.
　She is the girl I rescued from the Marquis' case before.


　It was her wish to correspond with me.
　The correspondence began after the announcement of the magic meter.
　The reason why the communication took the form of correspondence was because we were both busy and it was difficult to meet in person due to the family's social status.
　She is two years older than me, so she is fourteen now.
　She is two years older than me and is now fourteen years old.
　She doesn't use magic, but she is learning to fight against magic.
　Naturally, she is also training with her sword.
　He also said that he would like to have a sword fight one day.
　Although she looked elegant, she was the daughter of a samurai family.


　And now, about myself.
　The operation of the magic meter is going well and there are no problems.
　I've been able to read and understand the scrolls and create spells without any problems.
　I'm also accumulating a lot of money, including a huge reward from the guild.
　Currently, he is asking Noah and Kazui to help him find a place in the capital.


　...... Arx does not intend to stay in the Raytheft family forever.
　You can't just stay in your uncle Clive's house forever.
　He also has his own business to take care of, such as the magic meter, so he needs a proper base of operations, even if it is to be a separate residence of the Arbent family.
　As for money, as mentioned earlier, we have savings, and if we don't have enough, we can borrow.
　If I still can't make ends meet, I can sell off some of my magic to the guild.
　This is my dream home plan (seriously).


　The other thing I have achieved is the brewing of sake.
　It's not so much trial and error as ......, but I've worked on it several times to get it close to the quality described in the book, and it looks like it.
　Now, as before, he rents a room in the basement of the Crabbe house for brewing and storage.
　The walls of the room are engraved, and the room temperature is kept cool all year round.
　The humidity is kept as constant as possible.
　The barrels are also marked with engravings from the book to facilitate the fermentation process.
　People who have been in here say that the engravings are almost painful to the eyes.
　Anyway, in the mini-brewery in the basement.
　Open the top of a barrel that has been in storage.
　Inside, there's liquor.
　It seems to be divided into an upper layer and a lower layer.
　The upper layer is the clear, so-called supernatant, while the lower layer is cloudy and white due to the accumulation of lees.
　The ratio is about 20% supernatant and 80% sediment.


　In our world, liquor is usually honey wine, ale, or wine, but the supernatant alone reminds us of vodka, gin, or sake.
　In the case of sake, you need to squeeze out the unrefined sake, which is the precipitated layer - but that's beside the point.
　I thought it would only be a doburoku, but it turned out to be something more like it.


This is the most beautiful sake: ......


　Ingredients needed.
　Temperature control.
　Regular stirring.
　The finished product.
　The brewing time specified in the book has been met.
　This is probably the end of the process.


　...... As I watch the contents of the barrel, I hear footsteps coming from the stairs.
　There are two of them.
　Eventually, two of his attendants appeared at the bottom of the stairs.


　On one side, a young man with a face and good looks that could pass for a woman.
　He was in his early twenties.
　The right side of his hair is cut long enough to reach his shoulders, and the left side is braided in a short braid next to his ear.
　A monocle over his left eye.
　A thin sword at his waist.


　On the other hand, there is a man with black hair and bangs.


　On the other hand, there is a man with dark hair, bangs pulled back in an all-black bun.
　He was in his thirties or so.
　Three-blind eyes, slit eyebrows.
　A sarcastic smile is always noticeable around his mouth.
　His shirt is open at the chest, and his tie is loosened to match, suggesting that he is dressed to the nines.
　A scarf on his arm.
　A bunch of keys at his waist.
　In addition, he is carrying a number of props.


"Noah and Kazhi.


　I call out to Noah Ingveen and Kazi Guari as they come down the stairs.
　Kazi's brow furrows and he asks a question.


"What are you doing?

I'm a creator.

What?

What?" "Making things.


　He asks me back, and I rephrase.
　I tend to speak the language of the man's country, perhaps because it has a strong influence on me.
　Although my basic language system is that of my kingdom, I suddenly find myself speaking the language of men.
　I have to be careful, but I can't resist the ease of speech.


　Noah suddenly came up to me.


Noah came up to me and said, "By the way, you made me gather materials before. What is this after all?

It's alcohol. Liquor.

Liquor?　You're making liquor?

That's right.

A kid who doesn't even know what sake tastes like is making sake. ......


　A subtle exhale from a subtle expression.
　You can certainly understand Kazi's dismay.
　I can't help but think he's crazy to think that a kid can make sake.
　Next to the man with the disturbed expression on his face, Noah makes a rather grandiose gesture and says sadly.


I can't help but feel helpless as a person who has played a part in educating him, that he would turn to alcohol at his age.

"What the hell are you talking about? Besides, I'm not the one drinking it, I'm the one making it.

"So you're saying that since it's difficult to buy it yourself, you should make it. I thought it was more sinful.


　How do you call it sinful?
　Well, as far as sinfulness goes, it would certainly be a violation of the liquor laws of a man's country.
　And drinking is a surefire way to get in.
　But there is no such law in this country.
　In some parts of the world, it is even popular to have alcohol in drinks to preserve water.


Besides, it's not much more than a home brew.

But I'm sure they're working on it.


　Noah is right about that.
　He has used all of his experience to engrave everything from the interior to the tools.
　The basement is almost completely covered in them.
　The basement is almost completely covered with it, to the point where Kazui looks around and says, "Wow," and gets fed up.


So?　Are you working on the sake today?

No, we've finished it today, so we thought we'd have a tasting.

Huh?

So we're going to taste it now.


　As he said this, he scooped up the top of the sake from the cup he had prepared.
　When I presented the cup to Kazi, he laughed in his usual disconcerting way.


"Way to go. Kihihi.

"Let's eat.


　Noah, who had been given first place in the tasting, accepted the cup.
　He puts the cup to his mouth and tilts it slowly.


"Hmm. Hmm.


　The words that came out of his mouth.
　He held his mouth with his hand and his eyes showed surprise.
　The way he was looking at me, I could tell it wasn't bad, but I asked him.


"How is it?

"...... It's good. I don't know much about alcohol, so I can't describe it in words.


　A man as wise as Noah can't describe it.
　If you don't know much about alcohol, you can't blame him, but this is promising.
　Suddenly, Kazui asked Noah.


"Is it different from white wine?

Yes.

What about sweet potato distillate?

No, it's not. It has a lower alcohol content and a mellower sweetness.

Wow.


　Kazui made a curious sound and rubbed his chin.
　I took another cup and scooped up the top.


Where's Kazui?



I'll take the last one.


　So, I'll have a drink.


"Oh!


　The first thing you notice is the fragrant aroma that spreads in your mouth.
　Then, the mouth feels thick, with sweetness and umami in the mouth.
　The umami is much stronger than the sweetness, but thanks to the presence of both, the sweetness is very strong.
　It is different from sake, whiskey, and fruit wine.
　There is also a hint of milky flavor.
　It has a mysterious atmosphere.


...... is bad. This is really bad.


　The man wasn't much of a drinker either, but he could tell.
　This is a type of liquor that is not found in the world of men, where there are many different kinds of liquor.
　It makes you want to keep drinking forever.
　It was as addictive as a drug.


　Then, Noah suddenly said.


"Mr. Arx, what was that expression you just used?

What?　Oh, no, it's nothing. It's just that it tastes so good.

Oh, I see.


　I used the language of the land of men again, probably because my vocabulary had died out.
　I guess Noah has gotten used to it, and he seems to have come to accept it as such.
　Finally, I scooped up Kazi's portion and handed it to him.


"Wow, it smells like fruit.

"Oh, that's a bit connoisseur-y.

Right?　You should learn to drink. If you drink, you should learn to act like one.　Khihihi.


　While they were talking, Kazui took a sip.
　His eyes widened in surprise.


"Whoa!　This is awesome. ......

"I knew it.

"Yeah. All the alcohol I've been drinking seems like muddy water. No, it's probably because it was cheap alcohol. ......


　Cazi said, drying his cup.
　Then he exhaled ecstatically to the ceiling.


It's sweet. But this sweetness is unlike anything I've ever felt before. ......


　Perhaps it was because it tasted so good that he forgot the disturbing smile that he usually wore.
　But don't tell me that this sweetness comes from a magic doping plant.
　Anyway, during this conversation, he was sipping on his drink little by little.


"Hey.

What's wrong?

Doesn't this give you a little extra magic?

You mean ......?

I've used a lot of it in training today, so I have some idea.


　Then Noah and Kazui both became aware of it.


Speaking of which...

You're right, it does seem to have increased.


　As expected, the magic power has increased by a small amount.
　I'm not sure what to make of it.
　Then, I suddenly realized.


"Ah!　Maybe if I drink this after I run out of magic power!


　It could replenish my magic power.
　However, such a naive imagination was rebuffed by the two seniors.


You can certainly replenish your magic power, but ......

I'm sure you'll have to gulp it down first.

It's ............, right?


　Yes, when you think about it, it's not realistic.
　If you're looking for the best way to get the most out of your wedding, then you're in the right place.
　The first thing that would happen is that you would get drunk and collapse.
　You are on the verge of acute alcohol poisoning.


"So it's just a luxury item after all.

"It's good enough if it tastes this good. That's a bit greedy, don't you think?


　You're right.
　The original goal has been completely achieved.
　It's absurd to ask for a different outcome.


How about this for Kazui's salary?

"That's fine. I'm sure we can make a lot of money selling this.　Khihihi!

That's a good idea.


　We joked about it.


I'd like to give it to my uncle.

I'm sure he'd like that. I'm sure if he knew about it, he'd drink it up.



Yeah.

Yeah, that guy's a drinker.


　This drink is too good.
　It's obvious that a person who loves alcohol would be bleary-eyed if he drank it.


I got some, so I thought I'd share.

I can easily imagine Arx-sama's clownish appearance as he's being asked about the source of it all and he can't hide it.

That's too specific.

I think you're right.


　"That's too specific.
　Noah dismissed it with a sly smile, but he knew he couldn't argue with that.


"So, Mr. Arx. What's the name of this drink?

"It's called soma.

Soma? ......


　That's what it's called in the book of Botter Klink.
　Its origin and effects are reminiscent of a mythical drink from the world of men, but I guess it's different.
　Anyway, the drink is now complete, but what to do with it will be a future issue.


Yummy.

"Yeah. This is good ......".


　While I was thinking about it, there was a man who drank heavily and a young man who drank elegantly.
　At this rate, it will be gone before we can think of a use for it.


　Looking at them, I pumped out the white lees that had accumulated at the bottom and wrapped them in a clean cloth.
　When I hung it on a string above the container, a clear drop fell from it.
　Noah, who had spotted it, said, "What are you doing?


"What are you doing?

No, I'm doing something that looks like horseradish. ......


　No, I'm going to give you something that looks like arabash.