Chapter 55: Distilled Liquors (1)

"It's hot, so back off a bit."

"Just a little."

Aria frowned.

She looked burdened because Ayla kept clinging to her.

As if trying to make up for the time they had been apart, Ayla never left Aria's side.

"Hmm, hmm."

Ayla, startled by a sudden cough, fell away from Aria's side.

"Wow, you're here?"

"Yes, it seems like you two had a good talk."

"Thanks to your help."

Ayla smiled brightly.

If I hadn't brought Aria to the Blue Tower, the reconciliation between the two sisters wouldn't have happened.

Because the relationship with her precious younger sibling, which had been strained due to a minor misunderstanding, had been restored, Ayla seemed happier than ever.

Aria didn't say anything, but her expression brightened.

That's why, under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have brought it up in this kind of atmosphere...

"Suddenly, but I would like the two of you to help me a bit."

Since it was the best opportunity to speak, I brought it up right away.

"Yes?"

"Is there anything I can help with?"

I nodded at the two sisters who were looking at me with puzzled eyes.

To make distilled spirits, you need the help of two people.

*

What I found disappointing about the alcohol in this world was the lack of variety.

In this world, there were brewed drinks represented by wine and beer, but distilled drinks didn't even exist.

The alcohol needed to make distilled spirits was perceived as 'holy water.'

When used on wounds, alcohol disinfects and is also a primary ingredient in potions, so it was not surprising that it was referred to as holy water by the people of this world.

Because of this, attempts to consume alcohol as a beverage have not been made until now.

This is why I needed Ayla and Aria's help.

Seeking the Blue Tower's cooperation and making distilled liquor was not something I could do alone.

It was unlikely that the Blue Tower would easily accept my opinion of turning holy water into alcohol.

Even if they accepted it, it was a problem.

"Even if you can't distill it, it needs to be aged for several years to be complete."

A typical example is whiskey.

Whiskey that is aged in oak barrels must wait at least several years for the taste and aroma of the oak to permeate the whiskey.

It takes a long aging process for the taste and aroma to fully develop.

"This is difficult to replicate even with alchemy."

Even alchemy, the science of imitation, found it difficult to replicate the distilled spirits that had extracted their flavors through years of maturation.

Even if it could be expressed similarly, there was no need to do so.

'Because Aria is here.'

Aria's magic had the trait of inducing illusions, regardless of what the target was, as long as it possessed 'magic.'

And everything in this world is imbued with 'magic.'

Passing dogs or cats, insects, and even stones by the roadside.

'Oak barrels' were no exceptions either.

The oak barrel, or more precisely, the magic of oak barrels, can create the illusion that its magic causes its components to be imparted to the whiskey.

Of course, even without the casks, one could deceive others into thinking they were tasting whiskey aged in alcohol.

However, in this case, the effect does not last long.

That's why I want the oak barrels to spit out the flavors to infuse it themselves.

Of course, Aria is not omnipotent, so it would be possible with various auxiliary aids, but...

'It should be fine after a few tries.'

If you succeed in replicating that process with a magic circle, a semi-permanent aging magic circle would be completed.

It meant that the aging period, which takes place over several years, could be reduced to a matter of months.

And for this, the cooperation of the Blue Tower was essential.

In the empire, the only organization legally allowed to produce 'alcohol' besides the church was the Blue Tower.

So.

"Ayla, I would like to ask you for a favor."

If Ayla, who is mentioned as a candidate for the successor of the Blue Tower, were to help, it would be a great benefit.

If you just help me, I was confident I could persuade the rest...

"I also want to help, but it seems difficult."

Ayla refused my request with an apologetic expression.

"Um, can I hear the reason?"

"There's no holy water right now."

"...Yes?"

What on earth is this?

"They say the grapes used to make holy water has dried out, so they won't be available starting next month."

It is said that all the grapes in the north has dried up due to an unknown pestilence.

*

The Blue Tower was currently facing a predicament.

The supply of 'holy water,' the main ingredient used to make potions, was being disrupted.

The grape drought in the north was the cause.

Since they were a temple that produced holy water by fermenting 'grapes,' the grape drought was nothing short of a direct hit for them.

"Of all the times, there are no grapes in this situation."

A petite girl with the horn of a blue dragon frowned. She was none other than the Blue Tower Master, Myrtienne.

"It will be hard to even fill the number of potions we promised to hand over to the enemy tower."

Myrtienne's worries deepened.

Due to the sudden absence of grapes, they were unable to produce the potions that had been pre-ordered.

Since there were already several contracts for which the full payment had been received, Myrtienne was left in a difficult position.

If they cancel the entire contract like this, she would have to pay several times the penalty fee.

That would be a huge loss, enough to make the Blue Tower stagger.

'...It wasn't about giving holy water to the church.'

It was a mistake to generously provide holy water for the church's event.

If it weren't for that, then she wouldn't have had to worry about the holy water like this.

But what's done is done.

This month, she can somehow manage, but next month will be the real challenge. Until then, she had to somehow find the means to procure the holy water.

"...This is a big problem."

Myrtienne had to rack her brains for several days over the holy water issue.

One day, a person appeared who said they would solve Myrtienne's troubles.

"Are you saying you will solve the holy water issue?"

"That's right."

The one who appeared was a young man in a white robe.

Yuri Grail.

He was a wizard of the White Tower, and his name had recently been frequently mentioned in the Union as well.

He was also a disciple of Ranya McDowell, a long-time friend of Myrtienne.

"I have tried Snoopy."

"How was it?"

"It didn't work at all."

At the Blue Tower, they were in an uproar over Snoopy, but Myrtienne, who actually held the contest, saw none of the benefits from Snoopy.

Since it tasted good, she often used it, but it only made her sleepy.

Myrtienne's evaluation of Yuri was that he was a wizard who made 'delicious' drinks. That was about it.

The reason was that even after hearing that Yuri would solve the holy water problem, she couldn't have high hopes.

Still, since he was Ranya's student who she bragged every day, she held a slight expectation...

"Did you say to use barley?"

"Yes, it seems we can produce holy water using barley instead of grapes."

Even the slightest bit of hope turned into disappointment the moment she heard Yuri's words.

'The fool was me for having expectations.'

She also knew that alcohol could be extracted from barley.

If it were the empire's barley production, there would have been enough to replace the insufficient grapes.

But.

"The short dwarven bastards are refusing to give me even a single grain of barley, so how the hell am I supposed to make holy water out of it?"

The race that tightly held the empire's 'barley' was none other than the dwarves.

As soon as the grape drought began, the first place Myrtienne contacted was the dwarves.

But those short-statured dwarves flatly rejected Myrtienne's request, saying they didn't even have enough barley to make Guinness.

The barley fields in the north have been unusable lately because the white bears, which have started moving south due to climate change, have been lurking around, and the dwarves wouldn't share the little barley that was left.

'Even so, other types of grains don't have enough supply.'

The story was that Yuri brought as a solution was of no help at all.

Does he even understand Myrtienne's frustrating feelings?

"Um, let me give it a try."

Myrtienne almost chuckled at Yuri's attitude, as if he was determined to smooth things over.

This was so ordinary, as if saying, "I'll go ask what the breakfast menu is."

"If that were possible, I would have brought the barley long ago."

Even while watching Yuri leave, saying he was going to the northern dwarven forges, Myrtienne had no expectations whatsoever.

Because those stubborn dwarves wouldn't suddenly give up their barley just because they were persuaded.

After about an hour, Yuri, who had gone to the blacksmith shop, returned. But.

"Since it's late today, they said they would contact the village tomorrow and send the barley."

"???"

A question mark suddenly appeared above Myrtienne's head.

"R-really?"

"Yes, go check it out for yourself."

Myrtienne's blue eyes widened as she looked at the paper Yuri handed over.

"This is real."

The paper that Yuri handed over was a certificate with the clear seal of the northern dwarven blacksmith.

"Uh, how did you get this..."

'I never would've received it even if I died, you know?'

"I have a bit of an acquaintance with the dwarves."

"...."

Is this something that can be done just because we have a bit of a friendship?

In a series of absurdities, Myrtienne stared blankly at Yuri.

But Yuri's shocking remarks were just getting started.

"Are you saying you want to make alcohol with holy water?"

"The dwarves offered it as a condition for giving up the barley."

Myrtienne was so flabbergasted that she was at a loss for words.

Make alcohol with holy water?

"How did such conditions suddenly come up?"

"It seems they liked it when I made alcohol with holy water drawn from barley."

"...."

Even though it was absurd that they made alcohol with holy water, the dwarves who liked it were equally astonished.

'These land-dwelling fools have lost their minds.'

If the church finds out that she made alcohol with holy water, they would have sent a protest letter to the Blue Magic Tower.

It was something she didn't want to experience more than the problem of the lack of holy water.

Myrtienne hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"If it can replace the insufficient wine, I will allow it."

At first glance, it seemed like a conditional permission, but it was actually Myrtienne's gentle refusal.

That makes sense, since the only alcohol consumed at the union was 'wine.'

However, with the grapes being completely destroyed, it seemed that we wouldn't even be able to see any wine next year.

One way or another, it was time to come up with an alternative plan.

Of course, Myrtienne didn't think that Yuri would be able to come up with an alternative plan.

Even the cola that became a sensation in the empire couldn't replace wine.

'It's a shame, but the insufficient holy water will help the church─'

"I brought a bottle to give as a gift to the master of the Blue Tower, even though I wasn't planning to."

As if waiting, he pulled out a glass and a bottle of alcohol from the inner pocket of his robe.

Transparent amber-colored liquor was poured into the glass.

"This is the drink that was said to have been tasted by the dwarves."

"That's right."

Myrtienne lifted the glass filled with amber-colored liquor with a curious look in her eyes.

"It looks good at first glance."

Amber-colored liquor flows over the red lips.

"Rather than wine..."

And then Myrtienne's words were cut off.

"...."

A smooth swallow, the honey-like sweetness enveloped the mouth in a bright embrace.

Myrtienne's eyes wavered at the subtle yet deep scent of apples.

"...What is this?"

"It is a liquor with added fruit flavor."

Yuri was smiling gently.

"It's called blended whiskey."

As if he knew from the beginning that it would turn out this way.