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odorekijin[Western Country—Rural Town]
Bradley: Damn, drinkin’ in broad daylight sure hits different. ‘N look at that, there’s shit-tons of wine here to wet yer windpipe with.
Akira: (So he left everything up to Murr; he’s not even serving customers. I wonder if they’re going to be okay… Maybe he’s not taking this whole competition seriously...)
Nero: Tch… So that’s how you’ll play it, huh.
Bradley: Wheeew… Man, this one hits the spot! It goes right down the hatch, I could down twenty o’ these.
Customer: …Just lookin’ at that fella kinda makes me wanna stop for a drink.
Other Customer: Yeah, me too…! I guess I’ll get a bottle to try out.
Taking another look at the scene, simple passersby were gradually gathering around the stall to see how much Bradley could take.
Akira: Don’t tell me… That was his strategy to begin with…!?
I instinctively glanced back to Bradley, who answered me with a triumphant smirk:
Bradley: There are lotsa ways to run a business, kiddo.
⁂
Next to Bradley's stall, Shylock’s sales were not to be outdone.
Older Customer: This is… This is incredible...! Such rare finds, I thought they existed only in myths...
And these… These are wines from Eastern wineries that closed business decades ago... Are you certain that these are for sale?
Shylock: Indeed, they are. They will be available today, and today only, so do not skip on the opportunity.
Female Customer: Oh my, this wine can’t be… No, it is the brand my grandfather favoured the most when he was still alive.
Shylock: Ah, your grandfather must have had quite the eye for fine wine. This one is rather young compared to our other bottles, but it’s an excellent vintage nonetheless—they even say that a single glass can be enjoyed for over a century.
This round wine leaves a soft, supple feel on the palate... You could taste the very memory of your grandfather, if you wish to do so—perhaps you could even fall in love with it yourself.
Thanks to a collection that would make any wine lover and connoisseur’s jaw drop, the bottles rapidly flew off the shelves, aided by Shylock's sophisticated reception.
The other wizards and I helped around the stall, contributing to the sales in our own way.
Nero: There we go, this one’s ready for serving. It’s just grilled bacon and cheese, but I think it’ll pair just fine with the wines we’ve got.
Passerby: Wow, they even serve appetizers? They don’t do stuff by halves around here.
Customer: Boy! We’ll have the same over here!
Faust: More of them are coming in… I think it would be quicker if you were only in charge of the kitchen.
Nero: Then you’ll have to serve these plates around, Teach. You’re dealin’ with customers there, so try to be as hospitable with ‘em as you can, alright?
Faust: Hospitable…?
Nero: Oh, come on, don’t look at me like that. We’re just actin’ like a food stand would in a festival, ‘s nothin’ too fancy. Just be friendly and take it easy.
Faust: You say that as if it’s nothing, but taking it easy is what I’m worst at.
Nero: You’re a smart guy, you’ll do just fine. Look, more guests for ya.
Entering Customer: Over here, sir!
Faust: …
Nero: Welcome! Hang on a sec, this guy will bring you the snacks.
Faust: …Here you go. We hope you’ll like it.
⁂
Customer: Heh, looks like you can hold your drinks pretty well. Alright, let’s open this one too then.
Rutile: Thank you, but you’ve been treating me so much… Is that really all right with you?
Customer: Of course, seeing you drink so easily even makes my glass taste better. Come on now, let’s drink up!
Rutile: Well, don’t mind if I do! …Haa~ it’s delicious.
Other Customer: That lad’s really going at it... He’s chugging them down like nothing, and he doesn’t look tipsy in the slightest...
Just how many bottles did he empty all by himself?
Bradley: …Hm?
Hey, Murr, grab me another ten bottles of the Calamity Wine. Can’t be beaten at my own game by a newbie.
Customer: Wow, that one’s got it in him too...! Look, he’s downing tons of bottles...!
Rutile: Well, aren’t you a hearty drinker, Mister Bradley!
Bradley: Duh, of course, who do you take me for? That booze ’s like water to me.
Rutile: That reminds me of something Doctor Figaro said once, something about how drinking alcohol can be purifying and spiritual. ...Haa~, whew! Refill, please!
Bradley: Over here too.
Customer: Hey, who do you think will win? I’m puttin’ it all on the blonde lad!
Female Customer: Then I shall bet on the handsome gentleman with the scars!
Before we had even realised what was going on, bets had begun feeding the impromptu drinking contest, rousing the small crowd in front of our stall.
Rutile: It’s a shame that I’m the only one who's drinking so, here, Sir Oz: a recommendation from Mister Shylock.
Oz: Shylock’s…
Rutile: You don’t strike me as the type that would discuss flavours since you’re such a quiet person, Sir Oz, but you have a rather refined palate, according to Mister Shylock.
Oz: My long existence simply brought plenty of opportunities to sample different drinks.
Rutile: Surely there are subtleties that only people like you can grasp.
So, what would you say about this wine, Sir Oz?
Oz: …
Oz brought the glass he was offered to his lips.
Oz: …It has an opulent texture and the depth of a night’s darkest hours. That is no wine to be emptied in a second’s matter; rather, it should be slowly savoured and appreciated.
Rutile: That description is spot on…! It certainly encapsulates this wine’s rich flavours.
Your words are concise but all the more effective, Sir Oz, I expected no less. Then, what do you think of this other wine?
Oz: …What a peculiar finish. Its fruity aroma lingers on the palate, even after a single sip. Only those who have tasted this one can understand the depth of this sensation.
Customer: Wow… It’s pretty rich… He got to the point and he’s got me convinced.
Other Customer: Who is he, some kind of wine appraiser? He’s even got the dignity and presence to pair with the title, somehow!
Customer: Yeah, no doubt about it. He must be hella famous in his field, I can tell.
⁂
Child: Aaah, it’s sooo boring, there’s only alcohol and nothing for us…
Arthur: Here, have this. You must be thirsty, no?
Child: But that’s wine, right? Children can’t drink that, you know?
Akira: Don’t worry, it’s only grape juice in a wine glass.
Arthur: Drinking from this glass gives the illusion that you are drinking wine like everyone else. It also makes you look pretty cool, don’t you think?
Child: Hm-hm! Kinda like the grown-ups…!
Child with their Mother: Me too, me too, can I have grape juice, please? I want it in that glass too!
Mother: Ah, so I see they have drinks other than wine. Hello, do you mind if I bring my child in?
Akira: You are most welcome to do so! Come on in!
Arthur: Madam, you seem to be carrying quite the heavy load. If you’re not in a hurry, allow us to offer you a seat for you to rest a moment.
Mother: Goodness, yes, thank you very much.
Child with their Mother: Sir, sir, you’re very handsome, you know! Almost like the prince in my picture book!
Arthur: Ahaha, what an honour to be referred to as such.
Akira: (He is a real prince in the flesh, though…!)
With the wizards’ joint efforts and cooperation, the customers followed one after the other: both businesses were meeting sensational success.
The juxtaposed stalls allowed the customers to call out to one another. Thus, a guest stopping by one stand would inherently pass by the other, and vice versa.
Akira: (Our sales look relatively even so far, but...)
Faust: This is looking bad. The wines—we’re about to…
Shylock’s specially provided collection was almost entirely exhausted.
At this rate, our stall would soon run out of wine to serve.
