odorekijin

chapter one

[Manor’s Hallway]

Akira: Phew, another tough day at work.

One night, as I had finished my business for the day, I decided to take a stroll around the Manor—that is, until a cheerful and spirited conversation made its way to my ears.

Akira: (...Hm? Pretty lively for an evening… It’s coming from Shylock’s bar.)

[Manor—Bar Bennett]

Arthur: The night is host to such a different atmosphere, I expected no less! Someday, I, too, would like to share a drink with Master Oz in such a place.

Rutile: Being in a bar makes you feel more adult than usual, doesn’t it? Mitile told me the same thing once: that he’s looking forward to the day he can drink by my side.

Shylock: Well then, while we wait for that day to come, why don’t we toast with these non-alcoholic cocktails for now?

Murr: Yes yes, let’s! Everyone with me, on cue! On one, and two, aaand… Cheeeers!

Oz: …Cheers.

Faust: Cheers…

Nero: C-cheers, I guess…

Man, I didn't expect Oz to be there... ‘S not everyday I toast feelin’ like I’ve got a knife at my throat.

Arthur, Oz, Murr, and Rutile were gathered within the bar, along with Nero and Faust, who were seated further inside.

“That is an unusual group of wizards if I’ve seen one”—the thought had barely crossed my mind before I was met with Murr’s face crowded next to mine.

Murr: Hey, welcome! Don’t be shy, come in, come in!

Akira: Wah…!

Murr pulled me by the arm, dragging me into the bar.

Faust: Sage?

Nero: Oh, hey, look who else showed up.

Akira: So-sorry… I heard people talking from the hallway, but I ended up just snooping on you.

Shylock: On the contrary, you arrived right on time: I was serving a prototype of this non-alcoholic cocktail just a moment ago. Here, help yourself to one.

Akira: Thank you very much. Um, are you… meeting for something in particular tonight?

Murr: Nope! Arthur and Oz were there first, that’s it!

Arthur: I had mentioned to Master Oz how I wished to experience the mature atmosphere of a tavern, so he kindly accompanied me here.

Oz: I had originally planned on visiting tonight—I simply told him that he could follow me if he wished.

Akira: I see… And so, you two…?

Faust: Murr invited us earlier; he asked if we wanted to follow him to the bar since they were about to serve “great wine,” or something along those lines.

Nero: He brought up some kinda rumour ‘bout how hard it was to get ahold of it too, so…

Murr: Yup! I said I’d treat everyone to some Bacchus Wine, and they all came!

Rutile: That we did! So we all wound up here!

Actually, I’ve heard that, around this time of year, Mister Shylock always receives a bundle of those rumoured bottles.

All three of them seemed to be looking forward to this so-called “Bacchus Wine”.

With his natural conviviality, Rutile was no stranger to these sudden antics. But for Nero and Faust—who prefer the quiet of enjoying a drink by themselves—to answer Murr’s upfront invitation was quite the feat.

Akira: (This must be a pretty rare drink, then?)

Arthur: What kind of beverage is this “Bacchus Wine” you speak of?

Shylock: It is a wine made by a friend of mine, a wizard called Bacchus.

Since I usually receive plenty of bottles from his yearly cuvée, it has become a tradition to treat my dear customers to some of his products.

Which brings us to my conversation with Murr about how we could enjoy this year's bottles with everyone at the Manor.

Nero: So you get that precious wine delivered to you every year just ‘cause you two are tight, huh?

Shylock: Indeed, but there is something more to this entente.

That man offers his wine not only to celebrate our friendship, but also as a form of challenge.

Murr: Bacchus’ wines are the by-product of his little rivalry with the Bennett’s after all, isn’t it?

Akira: What? A rivalry?

Shylock: Bacchus is a wizard who devotes his life to wine-making, so much so that the very fragrance of alcohol has seeped deep into his skin, following his every step.

However, connoisseurs were always unanimous: all associate wines with the Bennett’s viniculture.

The Bennett lineage has owned vineyards and produced wine since time immemorial, and their reputation has yet to fade with the flow of time.

Undoubtedly, this must have hurt Bacchus’ pride.

One day, he apparently intruded on Bar Bennett.

Murr: I remember it like it was yesterday! He was all, "What the hell is different with your wine? I'll settle this here ‘n now. Get me a glass!" I could just about walk right back into that room!

Akira: You remember a story… from your past?

Murr: I sure feel like I do, anyway!

He swaggered in, all big talk and loud declarations, but after he drank the wine that was served to him, he settled down and went quiet.

Shylock: Because his whole existence is dedicated to wine-making, Bacchus must have immediately realized why Bennett's wines are so highly regarded.

After draining vexation along with his cup, he solemnly declared that he would surpass this wine of ours one day.

Since then, Bacchus has never failed to send me a bottle each year, and I give him the privilege of estimating his craft in return.

Rutile: Wow…! So that means that you are Mister Bacchus’ direct rival, Mister Shylock!

Faust: ”Bacchus Wine” has this reputation of refining its taste year after year, but I would never have figured that this was the reason behind it.

Nero: Honestly, I can see where the guy comes from: taste something outta this world once, and you’ll never be the same again.

Arthur: Competition and pride feeding the drive to forever produce even more and improve himself… I find that ambition wonderful.

Have you ever tried this “Bacchus Wine”, Master Oz?

Oz: …I may have heard of that name before in passing. However, I cannot say where or when.

Shylock: “Shall we rejoice in its taste once more tonight?”...is what I would love to say, but unfortunately…

I have yet to receive this year’s wine from Bacchus.

Murr: Oh? Really? How so? Wasn’t it supposed to be there already?

Akira: Perhaps he fell behind schedule…?

Shylock: If that were the case, I would have been notified of its delay by now, yet not a word has reached my ears… I have mused over many plausible explanations, and awaited an answer for quite a stretch, but to no avail.

Bradley: …ACHOO!

Rutile & Akira: Eep—!?

A booming sneeze, and Bradley suddenly appeared out of thin air.

Bradley: …Hm? Oh wow, looks like I’m back. Shit–ughhh, fo’real? Oz, here? Well damn, there goes ma luck.

Nero: Got blasted away again, huh?

Bradley: Yeah. Mithra, that bastard, he picked up a damn flower ‘n got pollen flyin’ left ‘n right.

Welp, can’t really complain, I wasn’t sent to some kinda shithole, ‘n I made it back in one piece this time.

One hand rubbing his nose, Bradley held a bottle of wine in the other.

The bottle’s label drew the eyes of the other wizards in the room, leaving them stupefied.

Arthur: Could it be that this is…

Murr: That’s the one! It’s Bacchus’ wine!

Akira: Is it, really?

The bottle’s label seemed to read “Bacchus”, although I couldn’t actually decipher it myself.

Perplexed by our sudden surprise, Bradley dangled the bottle upside down.

Bradley: What’s up, y’all wanted some of this? Ma bad, but looks like it’s a’ready drained ‘n dry—yer man ‘ere chugged it all down, actually.

Apparently, Bradley had materialized into a rural town in Western Country where Bacchus owns a vineyard.

Bradley: These guys were goin’ wild with the damn noise back there ‘n I was totally stumped, but turns out they’re just preppin’ for their harvest festival or sumthin’.

There was tons of wine layin’ around, so I did what I had ta ‘n snatched a bottle as a souvenir.

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