Chapter 99

Upon arriving in Kicca, I got off the carriage with Rumba and started walking down the road.

Tori will take care of the small tasks like arranging tonight's accommodation and sorting the luggage, so there's no problem.

We'll stay here for one night, restock on food and other necessities, and then set off for the port town of Esport tomorrow.

Aubin and Ilya are guarding the Triella Chamber of Commerce, while Alyusha and Molt are out buying things we'll need in the future.

Since there's not much for Rumba and me to do, we're walking around the town together.

On either side of the main street, various stalls line up, filled with the smells of grilled meat, fruits, and alcohol, which stimulate people's appetites.

People of all kinds walk through the area, and the overlapping sounds of their conversations, merchants' calls, and laughter fill the air.

"Quite a lively town, isn't it?"

My field of vision is filled with many people. There are women in ethnic clothing with tanned skin, a man with pale skin wearing an unusually thick coat, and a man with a bare upper body covered in tattoos. It feels like there are more diverse ethnicities gathered here than in the capital's shopping district.

"This town connects the Kingdom of Aldonia and the Kingdom of Misfit, so various people and goods gather here."

Rumba has been to Kicca many times and walks through the crowd with ease.

When Rumba walks, people naturally make way for us because of his appearance and presence, making it easy for me to walk as well. It's a cliché, but we don't end up holding hands to avoid getting separated.

Well, with this height difference, it would be better to get a piggyback ride rather than hold hands.

While thinking about how nice it would be to get a piggyback ride when I get tired, I let my gaze wander over the stalls and shops lining the street.

"Hey! That looks delicious!"

In the midst of this, Rumba, who is a head taller than the people around us, seems to have noticed something and starts pulling me along.

In the end, we ended up holding hands.

However, walking hand in hand in a crowd takes up quite a bit of space.

Some people who are trying to avoid Rumba look annoyed.

"Rumba, it's hard to walk holding hands. Can you give me a piggyback ride?"

"Sure, got it!"

Rumba, agreeing with my words, puts his hands under my armpits, lifts me up, and places me on his shoulders.

My viewpoint suddenly rises, and I go from looking up to looking down.

I can clearly see the tops of people's heads and the shops and stalls beyond.

This is a good spot. The ride is also quite comfortable. Rumba's body is well-trained, so there's almost no wobbling, and it doesn't shake much.

As a result, I can sit more comfortably than on a horse. I should have done this from the beginning.

While thinking about this, it seems we've arrived at our destination.

"Welcome!"

The uncle grilling chicken skewers on a grill greets us energetically.

For a moment, I thought it was yakitori, but it seems to be seasoned with salt and pepper.

If I'm going to eat, I'd prefer a sauce, but the salt flavor is also refreshing and not bad.

The customers in line take their chicken skewers and move on, and we discuss how many we'll eat while waiting our turn.

"Hey, how many do you want?"

"Six chicken skewers!"

"Got it!"

Of course, it's not three each; Rumba takes five, and I take one.

Since we're in Kicca, I want to try dishes I haven't eaten before. I plan to try a variety of different dishes, a little bit of each.

Chicken skewers are common, but after a carriage ride, I do crave fresh meat. One skewer won't hurt.

I could use spatial magic to get ingredients, but I'm enjoying the carriage ride, so I'm not using it. Enjoying the atmosphere of the journey is also nice.

Most likely, I'll use it on the way back, though...

"Are you two father and son? Your hair color is similar, but your faces don't look alike."

The uncle, rolling the chicken skewers on the grill, starts a conversation.

"No, we're not. This kid is my best friend's son. He's not my child."

Rumba says with a wry smile, and I nod in agreement.

"Oh, I see. That's why I thought you didn't look like a father and son."

"He doesn't even look like his real father."

What a thing to say. The uncle and Rumba laugh.

If I had inherited my father's Nord blood more strongly like my brother Silvio, I might have been born more handsome. Then my life might have been easier.

While the uncle and Rumba chat, the chicken skewers are soon ready, and we exchange them for coins and leave.

"See you again!"

"Sure! I'll come back on the way home!"

I like these small encounters and farewells, which were fading in my previous world.

While eating the chicken skewers, Rumba points to a stall ahead, apparently thirsty.

"Hey, there's ale and fruit juice over there! I'll go get some!"

He might just want to drink alcohol because of the salty chicken skewers.

Since we're just sightseeing today, there's no problem with drinking alcohol in the afternoon.

Even if Rumba drinks a little, he's a lightweight, so he won't get drunk.

At the stall selling ale, Rumba happily takes a wooden cup and immediately takes a sip.

"...It's warm."

A dissatisfied murmur.

"Well, it's ale from a stall. They can't cool it with ice or a water magic device."

In a high-end restaurant, it might be possible, but it's difficult to serve cheap ale from a stall ice-cold. It's not impossible, but it would definitely result in a loss.

"Al! Can I have my usual?"

"Sure, sure."

Rumba hands over the cup, and I activate the ice magic.

A faint coldness leaks from the cup, and it quickly cools down.

Since I've done this many times at the Celia cafeteria and the mansion, I won't make the mistake of freezing the ale solid.

Our villagers love alcohol, so they often ask me to do this.

In this world, only the slightly wealthy can afford to drink cold beverages unless they use ice magic, so it's understandable.

As a result, I get invited to parties and birthdays, but they always share fresh vegetables, fruits, and meat, so I don't mind.

"Ah! This is it, this is it!"

Rumba, receiving the cooled ale from me, gulps it down and exhales with satisfaction.

I used to drink alcohol in my previous life, so I feel a bit envious. In this world, adulthood is considered to be at fifteen, and it's possible to drink alcohol around that age.

It's not strictly forbidden until you're fifteen, but it's a relatively vague rule based on the idea that it's bad for a child's body, so you might be allowed to drink around thirteen.

I don't know if my tongue and body will find it delicious at that age, but it's a long wait of two more years. It's quite a lonely feeling.

Besides, I'm thirsty too.

"Rumba, I'm thirsty too. Let's go buy some juice."

"Huh? Oh, sorry. The cold ale was just so good. Well, let's go buy some Kicca's special grape juice."

I pull on his mane-like brown hair in protest, and Rumba starts walking.

If he didn't notice, I would have pulled the rubber of his eye patch and snapped it at him.

"Grape juice can be found in the capital too, right?"

We can't grow grapes in our village, but they are available in the capital. Since we can store them with spatial magic, it's not really a Kicca specialty. I'd prefer to try something I haven't seen before.

"The grapes here are from Aldonia. To be honest, they're better than our country's grapes. When mixed with alcohol, they become a rich and easy-to-drink drink, and as juice, they become a thick and concentrated drink."

"...I see. If you say that, I'll look forward to it."

If it's not much different from the grapes in the capital, I'll snap his eye patch.

With high expectations based on Rumba's words, we pass five stalls and find one that looks like it.

It's a simple stall with three large barrels lined up, but it's bustling with people.

Compared to the chicken skewer stall and the ale stall we visited earlier, there are many more people holding cups and lining up.

"A cup of rich Aldonian grape juice for six copper coins! If you think it's expensive, try it and you'll see! I guarantee its deliciousness!"

A female employee calls out energetically to attract customers.

Even fruit juice in the capital costs only about three copper coins, so this is twice as much. It's enough to buy two regular juices.

However, there are so many customers lined up that they don't seem to mind the price.

A young man, different from the one attracting customers, collects money from the people in line and hands them cups.

Then, the customers take the cups and pull a lever on the barrel. A thick, dark purple juice flows out.

I see, you have to pour it yourself after paying.

"See? It's popular, right?"

"Yeah, let's get in line quickly!"

I urge, and Rumba joins the back of the line.

There are quite a few people, but since it's a self-service system after paying, the line moves quite quickly.

While watching people drink the juice from their cups, I wait with high expectations.

After about ten minutes, it's our turn. I was worried the barrels would run out, but there's still plenty left, so I'm relieved.

Since it's hard to pour the juice while on a piggyback ride, I get down from Rumba's shoulders. I pay six copper coins to the employee and receive a special cup.

Just as I'm about to pour the juice, the employee stops me.

"Ah, no, you can't use the ale cup!"

"Huh? Can't I?"

"The ale cup is twice the size of the special cup. Please use our cup."

It seems Rumba was stopped because he tried to use the ale cup.

The price changes based on the volume, so they're quite strict about it.

What is Rumba doing, though? He's not drinking it for the first time.

As I wonder, Rumba comes back with the special cup.

"...It worked last time."

I see, he used the crowd to his advantage and poured it into the ale cup last time. He's surprisingly clever.

When I pull the lever, thick grape juice flows out from the barrel. I'm impressed by the thickness of the liquid, which doesn't seem like juice, and pour it without spilling.

Looking at the stone pavement below, sadly, there are many stains from wasted grape juice due to overpouring.

It must be that delicious.

Holding the cup of grape juice, we walk to the side of the road, and Rumba follows slowly.

The reason is that the surface tension was almost at its limit, and it almost spilled on the way, so he sipped it while walking.

"You poured too much."

"It's that good. Try it."

Encouraged by Rumba, I take a sip, and a thick, heavy liquid enters my mouth.

The rich aroma of grapes overwhelms my mouth, and the sweetness spreads like it's seeping into my tongue.

The grape juice is even more concentrated than I imagined.

"It's really thick."

"Haha, right