146. Information Gathering - Night Part 1

I left soldier-kun before noon just like the last time. I'd feel sorry for him if he spends too much time for me on his long-awaited day off. Of course, I paid the meal this time too. I already taking his time, so I can't trouble him more than that.

And before I left, I handed the knife as a present. I left without the telling the content, I hope he liked it though.

In this country, it's common to open gifts on the spot and thank them right away, but I handed it right before we parted, so I left just like that.

Soldier-kun wanted to make another appointment this time too, but in the first place, he wasn't informed about the plan of the boat.

When I mentioned that, he reluctantly gave up.

Well, He's seems to be a little relieved to know that I've been waiting for a few days trying to meet him while I refused everyone else in the meantime.

It's the [She's already my woman] thing.

Girls aren't the property of men you know! Huff!

(Note: I won't give you my daughter you b.a.s.t.a.r.d!!)

Well, it would be nice to return to j.a.pan or my territory right away, but since I came already, let's go investigate a bit and do some shopping. This kind of leisure investigation is important, Yup. …well, I just enjoy visiting shops, I'm sorry.

… And the night come.

This time, I will investigate in the night too.

Preparation is complete. I have obtained recommended places and necessary information from senior navy officers. No, I won't go to parties for the time being. Until I lose a lot of weight… No, actually, I got a lot of fat, but… why is it sticking to my stomach instead of my chest! …No, anyway, I got this information by sacrificed something important to me, so if I don't use it effectively, my lovely body proportion wouldn't be able to rest in peace. d.a.m.n.

Kararan (Doorbell SFX)

The doorbell of a bar rang, and the old bartender and a few regular customers glanced at the door… and they opened their eyes wide.

This is a place where burly old men, especially navy soldiers, often hang out. Also, senior officers visit this place often, so beginners, non-commissioned officers, and common soldier would not get close to this place. It was not decided by anyone, but it was somehow known as a bar exclusively for senior officers.

That would make it less accessible to civilians, but it located near the port where the naval base is located, which has more senior officers going around and they pay better. The old bartender, the owner of the bar, was pleased with this kind of customer base because they don't get drunk or make troubles.

In addition, it has been several decades already.

A place with calm atmosphere where a gentleman can rest peacefully.

And then, a foreign ent.i.ty has invaded.

The foreign ent.i.ty walked in, sitting on a counter chair, and ordered a drink.

"Mixed Juice. Shaken, not stirred. Two olives" (Mitsuha)

" " " " " "What the h.e.l.l is that!!!" " " " " " (bar customers)

The customers shouted loudly.

I always wanted to say that line someday since I read the 007. However, it was a medium dry martini in the original line, and it was ruined by mixed juice….

The bartender did the job silently, with his face twitching.

This is the first time someone ordered mixed juice at this bar, but it's not like he doesn't get the concept, so the appropriate amount of juices that were prepared for c.o.c.ktails are mixed in the shaker while imagining the taste based on his own intuition. Just think of it as a c.o.c.ktail without alcohol.

Mixing two juices is already makes it a [mixed juice], but the bartender mixed three juices for better taste and aroma. And he shakes it.

Then the bartender pours the mixed juice from the shaker into a tumbler gla.s.s with ice, instead of a small c.o.c.ktail gla.s.s, and silently slides the gla.s.s across the counter towards me.

"I don't need the change" (Mitsuha)

The [Foreign Ent.i.ty] who received the gla.s.s said and presented the coins from her pocket to the bartender, sliding it across the counter with her finger.

As expected, even the bartender who were always looking calm and settled, opened his eyes wide.

It was gold coins that were offered. Sensibly, it is worth around 100.000 yen in j.a.pan.

"What are you!? Captain Weralda!?" (the Bartender) (Note: Doesn't look like a reference)

The bartender shouted a retort. It was a failure for the first time in decades, such as exposing his emotion to the customers.

"Oh. Are you talking about Uncle Tirado?" (Mitsuha)

And the [Foreign Ent.i.ty] returns the retort calmly.

Tirado Weralda.

Formerly a captain of a wars.h.i.+p from this port city, then he became a squadron commander in the royal capital.

He is a n.o.ble, but when he received the t.i.tle, he didn't put the letter [de] in front of the house name. He said, [I don't need any extra modifiers to represent myself as a soldier].

Captain Weralda… currently a Major General, is a quite remarkable character, but he has one weakness. It is that he can't drink at all, in other words, he's a [non-drinker].

The reason for whether one can or cannot drink is due to various factors such as const.i.tution, gene, physique, physical, illness, medical conditions, etc., it is absurd to a.s.sociate one's capability to drink with masculinity. There is no reason to do it. Forcing the impoverished to drink is the same as forcing poison, including the consequences of Inflicting injury or attempted murder.

… sometimes it's literally [murder] without the [attempted] part. For example, acute alcohol poisoning, drunk accidents, choking on vomit-stuff in the throat. (Note: What? Someone died from that?)

However, sailors in such an era had a strong image of being [resistant to liquor = masculine]. It may be just the ego of those who are mortified that they don't have anything to boast other than drinking….

Anyway, in [Such a business], Captain Weralda, who can't drink, seemed to have some ideas.

[How to get in a bar, a place for information exchange and negotiations, without being ridiculed by others]

And what he did was, [Order a drink without alcohol], [Order it, as if you're ordering booze, try to show off while at it, put a peculiar request, act like a know-it-all], and [Pay more than the boozes].

The first order of Captain Weralda at this bar was [Pure milk, steer. With two drops of lime]. And he paid one gold coin, no change.

The order of [Foreign Ent.i.ty] earlier was enough to remind the bartender of that man, and the words she returned were [Uncle Tirado?].

"You're a relative of that man?" (Bartender)

The customers do not use honorifics in this bar. The customers and the bartender are all equal, and their occupations and ranks in the outside world have no value the moment they open the door until they leave the bar.

"I'm not blood related with him. Just a referral of this bar. Well, Hoeffel-san, Erasmus-san, and Kellberger-san also introduced this bar…" (Mitsuha)

Bufu~!! (Spurt SFX)

Gehogoho~!! (Cough SFX)

"It's the Navy's big names, isn't it… Who are you, Miss?" (Bartender)

The [Foreign Ent.i.ty] is rejoiced.

(Wh-what an unexpected turn of events, the day that I can say one of the lines inside [The lines I want to say someday] series is coming!) (Mitsuha)

"Sometimes a sculptor. Sometimes a shopkeeper. And Sometimes a n.o.ble daughter. And that ent.i.ty is!! A Navy-and-uncle-loving girl, Mitsuha!!" (Mitsuha)

(Note: Why… Oji-sama suki? Just, why…)

"O…., Ooh…." (the bartender)