Chapter 405 – Aperitif -2-

“I’ll be back soon.”

Roman gets up and says he will order a wine that goes well with the steak.

Atra said that he wanted to see it in person and decide, then lifted his butt off his chair and walked away.

“I promised to have a drink with my brother, so I’ll have to choose carefully.”

“There are products produced only in the Federal State, so it might be a good idea to look for wines that are difficult to find in the Empire.”

“Indeed…! Just as you said, there are such items!”

A pleasant breeze filled Atra’s steps as she walked down the hallway next to Roman.

As the two people checked as they entered, this store has separate places to order food and a place to sell alcohol in the form of a luxurious bar.

As soon as I step into the bar, the person who appears to be the manager and bartender is human.

It’s even nice to see a light bow and a polite greeting.

As it is, the bridge does not stop and goes straight to the place where alcoholic beverages are listed.

Atra pursed her lips in worry as she looked at the wines lined up in the glass.

“As you said, the products are completely different from the Empire. This is my first time seeing them.”

“You can choose slowly. If you are unsure, it would be okay to ask a staff member for a recommendation.”

“Mmm…!”

Although there is a brief description for each alcoholic beverage, I feel that this is not enough to decide on a precious drink.

Unable to end the conflict, Atra desperately sought out an employee.

The wine the saint chose after receiving recommendations had impressive scratches on the outside, as if a wild beast had scratched it with her claws.

The staff member explained that the sharp decoration on the label on the bottle indicates meat consumption.

Artra made the decision after hearing that it was the number one product most sought after by the Yongin people, the subject of the prayer ritual.

Hehe~ Brother. Come back quickly!”

Atra, holding her wine bottle preciously with both hands, walked ahead, humming her song.

As soon as she got back to her room, she started looking for the opener that she knew would be in the drawer.

Pong!

The familiar and welcome sound of wine being opened.

Atra’s head jerked back to her table.

“Oh! The opener was there?!”

“It was pulled by hand.”

“···?”

‘Was it pulled out by hand?’

Anyway, Atra’s eyes were fixed on the cup that was filling up one by one.

As Roman filled her glass and stepped away, the saintess, holding her glass stem, smiled as she looked at the filled red wine.

“Wine and steak, what a luxury…! I am truly grateful to my brother for allowing me to drink it. I would also like to apologize for forcing myself to drink alone…”

“There is no need to worry. In fact, it is quite common when you receive a request to escort nobles or distinguished guests.”

“I just want to thank you for your reliable escort.”

“It was nothing.”

After expressing his gratitude to Roman one last time, Atra placed his lips on the glass with an excited expression.

It only lasts so long that it wets the inside of her mouth. If that was enough, the saintess let out a voice filled with happiness.

“Hiyaa…!”

A person who uses alcohol as an escape from drunkenness or who boasts of his endless drinking capacity and pours alcohol down his throat is not considered a drinker.

That’s just a drunkard.

However, if you enjoy it even when drinking just one drink, you are an Australian and a beer drinker.

“Atra, you are a true lover.”

“Oh, is it unexpected that a saint likes alcohol?”

“It makes me uncomfortable to lie, so I’ll be honest with you. I kind of thought that way.”

Atra smiled at Roman’s honesty and placed her glass on her table, savoring the taste that lingered in her mouth.

“The church officially has the opportunity to drink twice a year.”

“That’s surprising. I knew that there were a lot of church figures in the adventurer community and that drinking was not prohibited as long as it wasn’t excessive, but I didn’t know there was such a day.”

“I think that’s because no one attaches great importance to the wine served there.”

The wine used for church events is not a luxury product.

On days when a real priest or nun is in dire need of her drinking, she is free to drink in her own room, provided in moderation, on days when she is not on duty. I am not very interested in cheap wines that have been poorly managed and have an overpowering taste.

Here, if you look at Atra one by one, the cases are completely different.

The most important thing is that a saint who cannot strengthen her body with divine power cannot forcibly drive out the spirit of alcohol from her.

It’s no different from shackles.

Since you don’t know when you’ll be called out and you’re in the spotlight, it’s difficult to get rid of the intoxication right away even if it’s a private space, so if you think about it, it’s almost impossible to enjoy drinking.

So, it’s the same as having no reason to taste wine other than the wine you receive while attending an event that can be used as an excuse.

Atra, who continued to explain this and that, opened her mouth while holding her glass.

“Brother, have you ever thought about alcohol?”

“Drinking… I’ve never had any deep thoughts.”

“When I was young, I had an aversion to alcohol.”

“I think that’s entirely possible. It’s natural for your mind to change one day.”

Roman focused on Atra’s voice, which became much softer after taking a sip of wine.

The saint recalled her past as she swirled the red liquid in her glass.

“There were many reasons. If I had to pick one… It is a luxury item that creates a happy and exciting place, but it can also be the beginning of unhappiness by causing an accidental explosion of emotions. Church members who come with hurts related to alcohol, whether directly or indirectly. Because I saw it often.”

“There are a lot of guys in the adventurer’s guild who fight while drunk. They say that most of the guys who fight over trivial things have red noses.”

“Many injured adventurers come to our church, so I remember seeing them in the past. Still, the reason why I like them as much as I do now is… Can I call it forgiveness or understanding…”

The corners of Atra’s mouth were still smiling, but I could feel that depression was spreading through my mind as I remembered a certain thought.

“Atra-sama. Do you like cooking?”

“Ah yes!”

Satisfied to see Atra bringing her spirit back before falling into the swamp, Roman pushed her menu and held it out to Atra.

“If it’s not enough, I’ll order more. You can eat as much of the food as you want, except for the alcohol.”

“···Brother, you are kind.”

“I think it would be unfair to say that he is so kind as to treat me to a meal.”

“No. Thank you for that, but you know that’s not what I meant, right? Hehe… Be mischievous.”

Roman simply answered with a silent smile.

Afterwards, the topic changed and continued with Atra and Saddam.

“Phew…”

Before you know it, the breath coming out of your lips is hot.

Atra felt her face heat up and her senses dull as she looked at the bottom of her exposed glass.

‘If you drink any more than this, you’ll be in big trouble.’

The saint likes to drink, but she is not a strong drinker. She is rather weak.

It varies depending on the alcohol content, but the glass of wine I filled now made me feel just right, even though it made my appetite tingle with regret.

Lingering and sorrow remain, but the saint has a pulpit where she can bid farewell to the remaining wine.

It may be because of an embarrassing experience she had in the past, or her strong endurance may have overcome the instincts fostered by alcohol.

Isn’t it very clear what it will look like if you drink more here?

‘I would never do that to you, not to Magella, but to my brother…’

One of Atra’s minor strengths is that her memory is not lost even when she drinks heavily.

That is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Because she remembers, she is embarrassed and cannot be shameless.

There was just one day when she exceeded her drinking limit and became a nuisance due to her complacent perception. Atra’s temperament and conscience made it impossible for her to bring up her drinking as a topic of conversation in front of Majella.

Her only vivid memory is of waking up that morning, burying her face in the church’s pillow and screaming.

“Would you like to take a walk around the prayer hall? It’s noisy outside, so it looks like the things to see start in the evening, and the wind will be cool.”

“It would be nice to take a leisurely look around. Thank you… And I enjoyed the meal.”

Atra stands up, holding her hand as Roman approaches her and offers her.

She walked out of the outhouse, walking carefully so as not to fall.

“I want to eat something cool. My face is hot…”

“I’m sure there are street vendors. I remember seeing a store on the way that sells ice cream or fruit juice.”

“Ice cream… That’s good!”

She said she would treat her and Atra grabbed Roman’s arm and pounced on her like a rabbit.

*****

“Damn it…! You crazy monster…”

The saint let out a harsh voice as she threw off the circlet she wore on her head.

Nothing special was done in the bell tower. It was simply located a short distance from Theodor Spenta.

How much is that in terms of time? The strange heat under her skin does not go away.

Even in the cold wind, she was sweating and her clothes were damp, which made her feel doubly bad.

Still, Verois Blanc, who only received orders from Theodore Spenta without any room to resolve her doubts, was in a state of anger in his heart.

Her frustration rose to the top of her head due to a number of factors, and the news that Atra had not returned to the church even after the sun had set added fuel to the fire.

This is the 3rd time today.

Blanc’s elite gathered as ordered, and the saint did not speak for long.

“Find it. I believe it won’t take long since the specific elements are clear.”

“””Yes!”””

“You are a distinguished guest, so if you find him, report it immediately. I will come to meet you politely.”

Even if lunch is scheduled for tomorrow.

The excuse that they were looking for a distinguished guest of the empire because he didn’t show up until late at night would work.

For Atra.