Chapter : 26
The Bachelor Finds a Bar
Happy New Year! I look forward to your continued support this year.
“Alright, I’ll see Rouge-san home and then head back myself.”
After the meeting with the material supplier concluded, the sky over the royal capital had already grown completely dark.
Although the capital’s security was relatively good thanks to guards patrolling day and night, it was still dangerous for a woman to walk alone in the dark.
Therefore, whenever work ran late, someone always made it a point to escort her.
“Tristan, you’re a bit unreliable, aren’t you?”
“It’s not that I’m weak! It’s just that Jilk-san, being a magic tool user and a B-rank adventurer, is strange, that’s all!?”
Tristan said, as if defending himself, in response to Rouge’s words.
Tristan wasn’t an adventurer, but he was an apprentice magic tool user. He could use basic defensive magic, so he wasn’t weak. Still, if I were a thug, Tristan wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Then just borrow one of my treasured tools honestly. That way, you can scatter ordinary guys without issue.”
“But defensive treasures are usually accessories, like rings or pendants, right?”
“If you want them to not get in the way of daily life, that naturally follows.”
Unlike me or Tristan, Rouge was an ordinary civilian with no combat skills.
It was clear that even if given a weapon-type treasure, she wouldn’t be able to use it properly. So it made sense to give her an easy-to-use accessory-type treasure.
“I’d get jealous if you wore one of those. I mean, wearing an accessory from another man…”
“Jilk-san’s treasures cost millions to tens of millions each. Even if it’s for self-defense, wearing an accessory from another man isn’t very appealing.”
“It’s not exactly a gift; it’s being lent for employee safety…”
“That’s not the point. It’s about a man’s feelings.”
“I don’t understand that.”
It was such an unproductive emotion. Why mix personal feelings into employee protection?
“But that’s also part of why you’re cute.”
She spoke as if it were inconvenient, but her expression and tone revealed genuine happiness.
So, being jealous means being loved that much? It was an emotion I could never understand. Being interfered with that much in everything I did would be unbearable.
“Anyway, got it. Take care on your way home.”
“Okay, thanks for your hard work! See you tomorrow!”
I waved them off firmly before they could say anything more, and Rouge and Tristan left.
Once their figures had mostly disappeared from view, I began walking home alone.
The distance from the East District to my home in the North District was considerable, but strolling while gazing at the stars wasn’t unpleasant.
In the clear, jet-black sky, the stars shone as if sharpened to perfection.
Without skyscrapers or apartment buildings like in my previous life, and with minimal lights, the stars were beautifully visible in the royal capital.
“…I might have been too engrossed in the stars.”
Looking up while walking, I found myself in an unfamiliar narrow street. I thought I could just head north, but the streets seemed more complex than expected.
It might be a detour, so I decided to turn back and go straight to the main road.
As I turned around, I noticed a sign nearby that read “Ice Rock.”
“Huh? A bar here?”
The sign was small and placed in a spot not very visible to passersby.
Maybe the owner didn’t want to attract too many customers.
Peering beyond the sign, I saw stairs leading underground, with a small door illuminated by a magic lamp at the bottom. It seemed to be a basement bar.
“…Might as well have a drink before heading home.”
Cooking at home now seemed bothersome.
I decided to grab a light snack and a good drink at the bar before going home.
With that plan in mind, I descended the dim stairs and passed through the door.
Inside, there was an L-shaped counter with seven stools. Four table seats were in the front, and at the back was something like a grand piano.
Despite being in a cramped street, the interior felt surprisingly spacious.
“Welcome.”
A cool voice called from behind the counter.
It belonged to a female elf.
She had flowing silver hair and translucent blue eyes. Her ears weren’t rounded like mine but sharply pointed.
She wore a white silk shirt and black slacks with crisp creases.
It seemed she was the bar’s owner.
Elves were said to have descended from ancient fairies, boasting long lifespans and strong magic.
Their well-formed faces often inspired envy and jealousy in women, and desire in men.
Such beauty was often used to attract customers.
“…So, this is a girls’ bar.”
Despite the good atmosphere and spacious interior, my expectations fell short.
This bar probably relied on the elf’s looks to attract customers.
I didn’t mind girls’ bars in general, but I wasn’t in the mood for one tonight.
“If you’re leaving, have a drink first. You don’t need to pay.”
As I turned to leave, the elf said something almost like a provocation.
She seemed to mean I shouldn’t judge the bar by its appearance alone, but rather by trying a drink.
Although her expression didn’t show it overtly, her sharp eyes conveyed that strong intention.
“…Alright. I’ll have one.”
The bar owner was confident in her skills. If she spoke so boldly, I didn’t mind accepting her challenge.
I sat down at the counter obediently.
“What will you have?”
“Surprise me with your recommendation.”
“Understood.”
The elf smiled slyly and immediately began using magic.
Ice formed instantly in her hands, then was quickly crushed to pieces.
“Ice magic, huh…”
It looked as if she were crushing ice in a blender, yet she managed it skillfully with magic alone.
Magic had basic elements like fire, water, earth, wind, light, darkness, and none, with derivatives such as ice or lightning.
Ice magic, a derivative of water, was difficult to control, and being able to use it marked a skilled mage.
Moreover, she controlled the ice shards perfectly without scattering a single piece. She was clearly an expert mage.
Even among skilled mages, her technique was impressive.
As I admired the ice being crushed, it eventually reached the perfect consistency.
She placed the ice in a sieve for a moment, then prepared the alcohol for the cocktail.
Opening a bottle of white rum, she measured 45 ml using a jigger.
She added about a teaspoon of Maraschino liqueur and 15 ml of fresh lime juice.
At this point, I could tell what she was making—likely a frozen daiquiri.
I sometimes made frozen daiquiris myself at home using ice magic, mostly in summer, but occasionally in late spring as well.
Next, she would probably add syrup.
As expected, she pulled out a small clear bottle.
But the liquid inside was pink, unlike normal syrup.
“Wait, what’s that?”
“It’s honey from the thousand-day flower.”
The thousand-day flower blooms only once in a thousand days. The honey collected over such a long time is exquisite, but it can only be harvested during the few hours it blooms, making it extremely rare.
“You’re really using that…”
“This honey pairs best with this drink.”
I muttered in disbelief, but she seemed unbothered, letting the honey drop into the mixture.
Her confident attitude reflected the pride she took as a bartender, focusing solely on making the drink perfect.
But how would she mix it? There was no blender here, and frozen daiquiris require proper mixing to combine ingredients evenly. Perhaps she would use shaking magic?
Indeed, she used magic to mix the crushed ice in the cup.
This time, she used water magic to vigorously stir the cocktail.
I was surprised by her magical blending technique. Watching the ingredients mix on their own was oddly satisfying.
Once evenly mixed, she retrieved a chilled cocktail glass from the fridge and poured in the drink.
She added a spoon, then garnished with mint leaves and lime slices.
“Your frozen daiquiri, ready.”
With a calm voice, she presented the glass, looking like soft snow piled delicately.
The cocktail reflected the ceiling lights, making it sparkle slightly.
Though I knew the cocktail, the preparation had relied on advanced magical skill, which was entertaining to watch.
But taste was the most important. No matter how skilled the technique or high-quality the ingredients, a bad taste would ruin it.
Even with good ingredients, poor shaking or stirring can ruin a cocktail.
Would the flavors be evenly blended? Was the frozen texture correct?
Despite these doubts, I took a sip.
Fine ice crystals slid smoothly into my mouth.
Not just ice, but ice with a delicate, refreshing sweetness balanced with mild tartness.
The fluffy snow melted instantly from my mouth’s warmth.
The tartness and bitterness were pleasantly carried away by the icy texture.
Frozen daiquiris are typically strong, but this felt effortlessly smooth.
The ice consistency was perfect, and the flavors blended harmoniously.
It was nothing like the ones I made at home; mine only approximated the result.
I felt humbled by how incredibly delicious it was.
“…Delicious.”
“Right?”
I muttered my praise, and the elf smiled proudly.
A cocktail made with magic was impressive, but the taste reflected her knowledge, experience, and skill.
Even the best magical technique alone couldn’t produce this flavor.
I had been completely defeated.
“…Sorry for judging this place as just a girls’ bar.”
“Well, many are like that, so it’s understandable. And I apologize for being provocative too.”
We both laughed at the awkward apology.
“May I order something else?”
“Of course.”
I finished the frozen daiquiri quickly, and she kindly offered a plate of dried fruits without any hesitation.
