The master, the moment Hajime ordered, reluctantly pulled out a bottle from the shelf behind him and his eyebrow twitched slightly as he placed it on the counter with a pikui~ sound.
Adventurers were all staring at Hajime because they felt cautious that he wasn't just a kid, they understood due to the pressure he released.
Hajime picks up the bottle and abruptly cuts the tip off with his finger tips. The action itself was fluid and people who understood held their breath. Even the master's eyes were widening a little.
A strong alcoholic smell drifts from the bottle as soon as it was open, Shia and Kaori who was by his side instinctively covered their nose due to the fumes. Kouki and them also backs away while groaning "Uu".
[hey, Nagumo-kun? So, do you have to drink that? Shouldn't you stop?]
[yes, that's right. you'll absolutely vomit. Suzu already seems to want to vomit]
[In the first place Hajime, lets have it be a better liquor if your going to drink it anyways]
[Its as Kaori says, Hajime. Why did you purposely ask for that one.....]
Shizuku and them relay their complaints without restraint. Yue by his side pulls the hem of his clothes while frowning from the smell of the liquor.
[No, its bad manners to not taste liquor thats open.... are you looking down on the liquor?]
Hajime replies as they're worrying.
A smile slightly appeared on the mouth of the master from the joke. Hajime thought, I got the master to smile! There must not be a lot of adventurers who respect the taste of liquor very often.
Hajime, [ah~] Kaori and the rest let out a voice as Hajime began drinking the liquor with horrible smell. Rather than pouring it into a cup he's drinking it directly. Hajime's mind seems to be calm but deep within, "*same problem as above for this sentence*see i am a drinking master, i've definitely lived up to your expectations." As the mini-Hajime explains in the mind, his left arm begins to ache.
Only the sound of [gokyu~ gokyu~] was heard echoing within the store from his throat. And, in no time at all the whole bottle was drunk up in one go.
An empty bottle was held in Hajimes hand! When he puts it on the counter, the master looked at him while having a smile on his lips. Hajime's eyes conveyed [Any complaints?] towards the master.
[.....I get it, i get it. You are definitely a customer]
The master put up both hands and showed will of surrendering while smiling wryly. Its quite bitter sweet. Hajime's, "act with a master to gather information was finished" with that he was content with the outcome.
The liquor that Hajime drank was said to be 95 percent alcohol. [could it even be called a drink anymore?] the level of its quality was the worst as well. Its the feeling being treated to free alcohol.
They needed to prove themselves that they weren't just kids in order to get the master to have a different opinion of them.
By the way, Hajime has a constitution which will never get drunk no matter how much he drinks. The reason is because of "Poison Tolerance." Originally the delicious way of drinking liquor was instilled to him by his father while in Japan, though it was one of his best memories, its become impossible for him to get drunk completely because of "poison tolerance", so Hajime regretted for a moment.
[.....De? Is there any information on my question a little while ago? Of course I will pay a suitable value for it]
[No, I don't mind the same amount as the drinking money a while ago. .....You wanted to hear about the Hauria Usagininzoku right?]
[! .....There seems to be some information. Give me the details]
Apparently, the master actually had suitable information on the matter.
There seemed to have been a huge arrest several days ago, that time there was a group of Usagininzoku who tried to escape the empire soldiers through force. However, it wasn't possible and they were soon completely surrounded by over 100 empire soldiers, It appears that they were taken to the castle when caught.
Still, the ability to overturn the common sense of the Usagininzoku was an excellent topic, due to the unusualness of the topic there was actually a lot of information throughout the town.
[Hee~, the castle.....]
When Hajime sees Shia by his side muttering, he notices that her complexion has become cloudy. Really, what kind of treatment will a demi-human receive if they invade the Imperial capital....at the very least we can't expect a bright future.
However, the place he was taken makes me anxious. Though there's also demand for male Usagininzoku, but males of middle age like Cam doesn't have very high demand. Moreover, the existence of these excessive empire soldiers practically showing off their power. It would be natural if he was executed immediately on the spot.
In other words, the empire finds some value in Cam, they've decided to make the best use of him. The possibility of Cam being alive is still very high. It's still too early to give up hope.
Hajime clenches Shia's hand under the counter in order to reassure her. Yue also does the same for her other hand. Hajime and Yue's feelings were transmitted to Shia, power returned to her eyes and she nodded.
The master looks at Shia's hair-color which is rare for demi-humans. The relation of the Usagininzoku that was caught could be guessed. Hajime suddenly asked an unexpected question to the master in a light tone.
[Master, if i paid the price, the Imperial castle, would you give me information on it?]
[! .....Though your question sounds like a joke.....It doesn't seem like a joke when i look at your appearance....]
Though Hajime was smiling, the eyes that looked straight at the master wasn't laughing at all.
Due to the strange pressure, even masters expression stiffened up a little. The content of the question is tricky as well, If answered unskillfully, the intention of aiding a rebellion will appear.
Mostly, because the adventurers guild is an independent organization, so there is no actual reason to have a "rebellion" in the empire. Hajime, having based his assumption of this, asked his question and put the master in a bind.
However, though the master is someone that belongs to the adventurers guild, it's also his home country, if it's known that he sold information on the castles stronghold, he wont get away scott free, therefore he cannot easily pass on that information. Because Hajime was starting to understand what the master was thinking he started applying pressure which caused the master to hesitate even more.
So, the master finally decided on telling Hajime of someone else who knew of the information to his question.
[......There is a man by the name of Nedeiru in the fourth unit of the patrol group. He's a former jailer]
[Nedeiru. Alright, i'll visit him. We're indebted to you, master]
Because Hajime didn't think that master would tell information about the imperial castle to him, the next best thing would be telling him of someone else who knew.
Hajime left the adventurers guild and walked out onto the main street. Meanwhile, Shia asked Hajime about the exchanges from a while ago.
[Ano, Hajime-san. Being introduced to a former jailer person a little while ago, by any chance....]
[Ah. In order to hear about the details of the place, i intend to invade it tonight. Now then, Yue and I will go and collect information, you guys go off and eat a meal at a suitable place. We'll be back in two or three hours]
Shia's face changed to doubt after hearing Hajime's instructions.
[? Why is it only you two? ....Ha!? Surely, your not just trying to get some time alone with Yue!? Always! Always!!]
[Na!? Is that so Hajime-san!? No, that's no good! Just what are you thinking in this situation!]
[Mu? Its always only Yue~. ....hey, husband. May i participate in the battle too?]
[Th, there's no way that would happen! How are we going to do that with the amount of people here. I'm not a guy who can't read the air]
With the suspicion of Shia and Kaori who sensitively reacts to it, and, to Teio that demands a 3P, Hajime instinctively threw out a tsukkomi.
Kui~Kui~ Hajime's sleeve was pulled. It was Yue with blushed cheeks glancing upwards at Hajime.
[.....We're doing it outside?]
[No, because we're not doing it]
[.....Then, we're doing it indoors?]
[No, its not a problem of where we do it. Please just leave it there]
[.....Muu, i understand. I'll prepare for the battle at night]
[The battle at night, you’re talking about the invasion of the Imperial castle right? that's what you mean right?]
Yue's joke is clear. .....It must be a joke. Though her eyes had a sharpness to them which resembles a wild wolf about to prance on its prey with a bewitching atmosphere.
On the other hand, Shizuku who had been watching the exchanges of Hajime was considerably confused.
[O, How mature! It should be a conversation between classmates, but its a mature topic *slightly improvised*, what do we do Shizuku!]
[....Afterall what can i do. ....But, Kaori still? .....What should i do? should I be supporting my best friend here? Or should I scold them while its not too late? ....I don't understand. The level of the conversation is too high for me!]
With Suzu who was blushing and hiding herself behind Shizuku while squirming to keep the ero inside, and Shizuku was muttering things, [Are you Okan ka!*Probably a refference to something*] I tsukkomied. The hero was blushing slightly and the muscle for brains and passbyers A-B-C- through Z was affected by Yue's bewitching atmosphere.
[You guys stop it already.....The reason why its just Yue and me is because if Nedeiru isn't obedient, a politer "talk" will be needed, Yue who's accustomed to Reproduction magic will be useful.....]
[Even i can use Reproduction magic.....]
[Kaori, you should leave it to Yue this time.]
[Shizuku-yan.....]