Chapter 26

Rufin

The sun rose again after that all too eventful day and it turned noon.

Finally we reached the town we'd stop by.

Size-wise, it might be the same as Rinnal?

Being closer to the royal capital, it seemed livelier from the distance.

I wonder how much of the way we have behind us?

Yesterday, we've traveled from morning until after noon.

Today, we've traveled from morning once more until noon.

It was only the three of us on the carriage, so even with our luggage we should've been quite fast.

We'd mostly stuck to the main roads, too.

But from looking at it, we're still lucky if the carriage makes ten kph. Well, if you also consider the breaks...

We've come for about a hundred kilometers.

A hundred, huh...

I spontaneously turned around on the carriage and looked in the direction we came from.

 

"Onee-chan..."

 

What is this, I wonder, there's this strong pain in my chest...

When I am strong...

Strong enough to not lose to anyone on my own, strong enough to protect everyone, is it okay to return to that town?

 

"Haha, even when coming to another world I didn't feel homesick..."

"Nn... Alice-sama."

 

Ilya, who had been lightly sleeping against my shoulder, woke up.

She'd fallen asleep there before I noticed it, so I'd just left her like that.

It had consoled me a bit, too.

 

"Ah... I am deeply sorry."

 

Grasping the situation, Ilya straightened herself in a fluster.

 

"Don't mind it. I know being rocked like this makes you mysteriously sleepy."

 

I had thought the ride would be more uncomfortable, but it really didn't shake that much, this carriage.

Besides, we'd been up all night...

 

"But while you are awake, Alice-sama..."

"I... was thinking a little."

"How disappointing of me..."

 

Ilya is serious, so she's awkward about this.

Would it be my job as her master to scold her here?

Alright~

 

"Then I'll punish you."

"Y-yes."

 

Why does she look a little bit happy?

 

"Show me your forehead."

"?"

"This is an ancient and honorable punishment from my birthplace."

"I-is that so?"

"Indeed, prepare yourself."

"Yes."

 

Ilya closed her eyes and turned her forehead toward me.

Forgive me, Ilya.

I bent the middle finger of my right hand, laid it against the thumb and pushed outside."

 

Take this——Forehead Flick!

 

With a snapping sound, my attack hit Ilya's forehead!

I didn't flick her too hard, did I?

For a moment, I felt I had overdone it.

But this is also a master's duty.

They're bitter, these acts of evil...

 

"Ehm... are you going to do something?"

"...eh?"

"Eh?"

 

Not knowing what had happened, Ilya opened her eyes after hearing my brainless reaction.

What... did she say?

Is the wall I have to overcome so high it doesn't even allow for little pranks like this?

The separation between Strength 0 and Protection 5!

 

"...you are already reflecting enough. Only a fool would add a punishment on top. That's how it is."

"Alice-sama..."

 

I tried to interpret it a bit coolly.

Ilya stared at me with innocent eyes.

 

"——damn fool."

"..."

 

There was a person who had seen through everything on the coachman's bench.

 

 

Leaving the carriage at the outskirts, we checked into the inn first.

 

It was a typical inn, a three-floor building with a combination of dining hall and bar on the first.

I think it's going to be alright, but if they're noisy at night the third floor would be good.

When I told to old guy from the inn, he laughed carefreely and accepted my request.

A three person room came at 450 Rook.

150 Rook per person.

Well, it came with food so the price was appropriate.

We paid with five silver coins and got fifty copper coins as change.

Every place had a special frame for change. You threw coins in there and it had markers for ten coins, twenty coins, thirty... Like that, you could easily count the change.

A coin counter.

Well, you obviously couldn't count the coins one by one.

Even without paper money, doing it like this came with surprisingly little discomfort.

Still, did the royal capital have not enough influence to make paper money?

Or was it a problem of technology?

Anyhow, after smoothly checking in, we fetched our luggage and went up to the third floor.

And after getting into our room and putting down or stuff...

 

"One will be heading out. We will be staying three nights, do as you like in the meantime," Till said, so we saw her off.

And what about my practice?

For now, my Thunder had reached proficiency 99.

As for what's changed, the cooldown has halved.

That meant I could use it with more energy efficiency.

Whether its power has changed, I don't know.

It's just, lately I've keenly felt just how important that energy conservation actually is.

If I start panting every time I fight someone a little strong and it draws out a little bit, I can't ever be the strongest.

 

"Now then."

 

I took a good look at the three beds next to another.

The room was wider than expected.

That being said, due to the three beds it still ended up narrow.

Still, hotel rooms with three beds had been rare in my original world, too.

In tatami rooms you could spread out futons and give any number of people room for the night, though.

But well, let's leave the impressions of the room for later.

 

"For now, let's sleep," I declared to Ilya and decided to honor Till's instruction.

Free time, YAY!

 

When I woke up, the evening sun was alright shining in through the window.

When I looked around the room, I noticed Ilya had put a chair next to my bed and was sitting there motionlessly.

 

"Ilya?"

"You have awoken, Alice-sama?"

 

Don't tell me, all the time she's been...?

When I looked at her curiously, she returned a cheerful smile.

 

"Sorry, Ilya, I should've told you you're free to do as you like, too."

 

I had clearly intended to do so, but I suppose for a slave is a problem if the the master leaves it at the intention.

 

"Hehe, I could watch your sleeping face forever, Alice-sama. I considered pinching your nose a little."

"So you are angry."

"I wonder?"

"Come on..."

 

She was quite the mischievous slave.

 

"I was joking, Alice-sama."

 

But when she laughs like that, she's cute.

 

"But during your sleep-talking, I was a bit jealous."

"Eh?"

 

Had I said something?

Ilya formed a troubled smile and shook her head, saying it was nothing.

For the time being, I got up and stretched.

My sleep deprivation was gone and I felt refreshed.

 

"Till?"

"Has not returned yet."

 

What was she doing?

She had quite a lot of secrets.

Oh, well.

 

"It looks like it's just the right time. Let's go have dinner."

"Yes."

 

Ilya was a slave, but she slept where and ate what I did, of course.

I've already told her so.

For example, what if I kicked her out of this inn for the three nights and some strange man attacked her?

No... uhh, leaving the result that she'd take him apart in return aside.

What I want to say is that if that happened, it would just increase my mental burden so it's pointless.

It's important for Ilya to be by my side, so I'll not unnecessarily treat her like a slave.

In the beginning she did show reserve, but as a result of my persuasion, she relented.

It was fine like that.

 

"By the way, how's this town called?"

"We are in the town of Rufin."

 

Rufin, huh...

What was it this time?

 

Going out would be annoying, so we decided to do the quick and easy thing and get food in the dining hall on the first floor.

We could always go for a walk after dinner.

Seeing the special of the day we ordered, I couldn't help but think of fried chicken.

Seeing the salad coming with it, I thought they should stop putting the dressing on beforehand, I like it better without.

While getting those impressions, I enjoyed dinner with Ilya until——

 

"YOU BASTARD!!" someone shouted loud enough to make the bustling dining hall fall silent. Two men were having a fight.

What? What?

At a closer look, they were boys rather than men?

They seemed younger than Blackie, which made them around my age, maybe?

Their fistfight began escalating while a girl, again around the same age, tried to stop them.

 

"A love triangle, huh..."

"They are that age, Alice-sama."

 

After arriving at that conclusion in an instant, we started eating again.

We didn't care.

But speaking of which, just how would my love affairs turn out?

Is it okay for me to like girls?

Is it not?

If it's not, then...?

 

"...the thought gives me goosebumps. Thank god, I'm still normal."

"?"

 

I'll protect it, this mindset.

 

"You! You said you loved Cyra! And yet you want to hit on that woman? What's wrong with you!"

 

Oh, he totally pointed at me.

 

"The fight's spreading, Ilya."

"It cannot be helped, Alice-sama. It is your fault for being too beautiful."

 

But even if Ilya tells me so...

 

"——hold it, boys," a man sitting at the counter, apparently drinking alcohol, called the boys to a stop. His voice rung awfully clear through the noise.

It sounded impressive enough to suddenly gather the eyes of all the eaters.

The man looked like an adventurer with the longsword on his back.

When I turned around to him, he was rather handsome.

While I was just observing the events, our eyes met.

He winked at me.

Ahh, like a foreigner.

Although we're in another world.

Just let me eat my fried chicken.

 

"Before you punch it out in a bar like this, booze is the perfect appetizer! How about it! If you're men, show some guts already!" the man heartily slammed the mug he had drunk from onto the counter and smiled daringly.

Challenging minors to a drinking bout, is this guy going to be alright?

Although there might be no such regulation in the first place.

 And when do you become an adult anyway?

 

"Hm, fine. I grew up in this town! If it's a drinking match with lufin wine, I can lose even less."

"...no objections from me. If I win, I won't let anyone interfere with who I fall for."

 

The surrounding people had changed into spectators in the blink of an eye.

They easily went with the mood.

 

"By the way, Ilya, what is lufin?"

 

Eh?

That's what her face said. Ilya pointed at the dessert coming with the food.

 

"These fruits. They are this town's special product. If you press the fruits and ferment what you get, you get an alcoholic drink."

"Isn't that..."

 

...grapes!

Waitwait!

How can you move a hundred kilometers from the town of rinnal and get to grapes as a specialty product?

Or is the difference in altitude big enough to make that work?

Just what's going on with this world's climate...

 

"Bring on the big mugs!"

 

On the other hand, the other guys were getting fired up more and more.

Come to think of it, I don't know if I can take my liquor or not.

That needs finding out.

 

"Ilya, may I drink something, too?"

"I think it will be fine. I think you will be very cute when you're drunk, Milady."

"No... I wonder."

 

Isn't this the time when I have to display a manly drinking manner?

Shouldn't I assert my manliness sometimes?

Well, in the worst case, even if I get smashed I have a reliable partner by my side.

 

"——I'll treat you!"

 

At some point, the handsome guy had put down the big mug he had just ordered on our table.

What's with this natural and mature consideration?

When I looked up at the man loitering next to me, I got a good smile in return.

His teeth were pure white.

Hmm...

 

"You're not going to make me drink alone, are you?"

"What, you're game?"

 

The handsome guy used his free hand to imitate drinking from a mug.

The corners of my mouth lifted.

 

"You're on."

 

Like this, we lit the fuse to a match a man definitely couldn't lose.

34 thoughts on “Chapter 26

  1. GameDrifter

    Ok so is this a case of Stupid MC or does he really want to encourage guys by getting drunk in public? A Clear invitation to odd social situations if he is truly strait still. aka A man stuck in a female body but not interested in other men. At this rate he's going to find himself in some unpleasant moments with his horrible decision making skills. Best bet stick with Ilya since they seems to click and like each other. Stay low key and un-inviting to the male population.

    Reply
  2. Allister Hale

    am i the only one who noticed that alice knows nothing about where apples and grapes grow? i looked it up to be sure but there is no reason you couldn't grow apples and grapes in the same area, any where grapes will grow apples will grow too

    Reply
    1. Kadi

      But grapes still prefer warmer climates and while apples deal pretty well with colder ones, right? And if we're talking about "specialty products"... that probably was Author's idea behind it.

      Reply
      1. Aereus

        Where I live isn't really known for grapes, but we do have a handful of vineyards that I can think of. Apple orchards are fairly plentiful though. And like 2 hours north is where cranberries are a specialty, actually.

        Reply
    2. Evasio

      True, just look at France. Champagne is a place where red and white wine can be brewed (it's brew right?) And to southern regions apples can be grown too!

      Reply
      1. will

        France is about 1000 kilometers from north to south. Also the best apples are found in colder climates, though there are varieties specific to warm ones. common varieties such a Macintosh and Big Red, grow best in mildly snowy areas. Grapes on the other hand grow in warm temprare climates. They are very picky. even if you have a grape plant, if it ins't in the right climate, it will mt bear fruit.

        Reply
  3. Evasio

    Thank you for the fluffiness!!!
    I just hope this fluffiness won't get drunk. Drunken fluffy is no fluffy!

    Reply
  4. Kensei Seraph

    I must know what happens next.
    I will wait impatiently for the next chapter.

    Reply
  5. Hans

    I so hope Alice will make a successful advance on Ilya in her drunken state. Alice x Ilya shipping fan here.

    Reply
    1. Mage-kin

      wellllll, there's a guy and a drunken pretty half -elf. alice even said he was handsome despite herself being a man (that souds awkard). maybe we will not see some yuri right now. just hoping alice don't swing to the guy side *lay down, try not to cry. cry a lot*

      Reply
  6. gohanish

    are we going to get female version of shield bro. well its going to be interesting anyway

    Reply
  7. Shiikun

    Hmmmm... What's this? Alice? drinking? Uh oh... Dis Gonna Be Gud~…
    I demand new chapter now! Now! NAAAAAOOOO! haha… JK
    Thanks for the new chapter Kadi-san~ ^^

    But seriously, Dis Gonna Be Gud~!.

    Reply
  8. Loco15

    Ahhh, what is this? I haven't felt this since when? This insatiable thirst for new chapters. I need the next chapter. Drunken Alice is something I HAVE to see.This fluffiness heals me.

    Thanks for the chapter Kadi!

    Reply
  9. Irina_Akashira

    Thanks for the new chapter

    Pd: Certainly is "awesome" (I've read the pseudo-translated japanese version)

    Reply
  10. Rockmosis

    Thanks for the translation! Some suggestions:

    'it seemed livelier from the distance.' might be better as 'it seemed livelier from a distance.'

    'I wonder how much of the way we have behind us?' might be better as ''I wonder how far we've gone already?''

    'We'd mostly stuck to the main roads, too.' might be better as 'We mostly stuck to the main roads, too.'

    'laid it against the thumb and pushed outside."' might be better as 'covered it with my thumb and pushed out.' (also extra quotation mark at the end)

    'When I told to old guy from the inn' to 'When I told that to the old guy from the inn'

    'I can lose even less."' might be better as 'there's even less chance that I will lose."'

    'with who I fall for."' to 'with whom I fall for."' (GRAMMAR lol)

    'from the town of rinnal' to 'from the town of Rinnal'

    Reply
  11. Kaiflame

    So place your bets on what kind of drunk Alice will be. The drunk who ends up going berserk and we never speak of again? The crying drunk? Or is she the person who's doesn't get drunk at all? :P

    Reply
    1. Sanngrior

      hopefully not the drunk-immune type like me. it's rather boring to drink, enjoy the taste and yet not feel even slightly different at all :(

      but i want to think she is the rumored "super-lightweight" who passes out after a few sips xD though her stats might just make her immune :(

      Reply
    2. Sonoda Yuki

      The "mean-but-nonviolent drunk" or the gabbing drunk are my top two contenders

      Reply
  12. Bareus

    Gosh, I really hope Ilya has enough wisdom to stop her master from going nuts... Alice seems to forget, that her body is female so I doubt she can hold her liquor
    =======================
    Ilya, who had been lightly sleeping against my should, woke up.
    Ilya, who had been lightly sleeping against my shoulder, woke up.

    And what my practice?
    And what is with my practice?
    OR And what of my practice?
    -> last one I'm not sure if you can say it like this

    Reply
      1. kazu

        Very true. My mother is a twig, yet she can drink most men under the table. With her stats Alice is probably a lightweight, while Ilya will probably never get drunk no matter what she drinks.

        Reply

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