It seemed like Rudi wanted to say something, but he swallowed his words and offered me a seat.
A bit dispirited, he was making a bit of a disappointed face.
I wonder if I intruded on something?
It's alright isn't it?
I sat down on the chair and took off my sunglasses.
After that I took the two bottles of alcohol from my bag and put them on top of the table.
In regards to snacks, I made a bit of trifling cooking and brought it along.
I seasoned, salted, and fried a variety of different nuts.
Just in case it occurs that they don't match with Rudi's tastes I brought some smoked meat as well.
"That is?"
"Umm, look, for the time being, that is, I thought we should celebrate our reunion."
"..Ah, I see. If we don't do something like that..."
Rudi was scratching his cheek and sat on a chair himself.
And then at this point I realized that there were no cups.
Oh no!
It's not like we can just drink it straight from the bottle.
What should I do, should I return to get some...
"It's fine, I have something like cups."
It seems it was showing on my face.
Rudi made a bitter smile and picked up some cups from a shelf on the side of the room.
They were grey cups. The surface is smooth.
I guess the material would be stone. They're just a bit heavy.
Excluding the weight, it looks like something that wouldn't be strange for the nobles of Asura to be using.
"It's an expensive cup isn't it."
"It's a cup I made. With earth magic. The cost is priceless." [7]
"Ah, is that how it is. He~, that's amazing."
So it's Rudi's own work, then I can understand it.
While thinking that, I broke the seal on the alcohol and poured the contents.
It was pretty amber colored liquid that filled the cup.
Rudi narrowed his eyes as he watched that.
"It seems like considerably strong alcohol."
"Yeah. I don't know very much about alcohol, but I bought the expensive kind."
"Is that alright?"
"Hn? Yeah, it's aright. Since today is a celebration."
I'm sure he's worried about the price.
I'll stay quiet about how I received money from Ariel-sama.
Rudi is always mindful over those sorts of things after all.
After pouring the alcohol I prepared the snacks to go with them.
Alright, it's perfect.
Umm, the medicine is for a bit later in the plan was it?
"Well then, now, let's toast. To the reunion of us two from Buina Village of the Fedoa Region."
"..And then, to Sylphy and my future."
"Ch..cheers!"
Awuu.
Future he says.
Rudi occasionally says those sorts of amazingly embarrassing things...
Uuu...
I felt my face getting hot as I filled my mouth full of the alcohol from the cup.
"..!![Cough]!![Cough]!!"
I choked.
Wh..what is it this!
Painful, the inside of my mouth hurts!
"Are you alright? After all, wouldn't it be better to dilute it?"
"Dilute it?"
"When it comes to these kinds of strong alcohol, it's fine to dilute them with cold or hot water."
Is that how it is, I didn't know.
Rudi made a bitter smile while giving of an "it can't be helped" kind of feel.
"I can't help it can I, I've never drank anything like alcohol up until now you know."
"No, I'm not blaming you, just wait a bit."
While saying that Rudi poured some of the contents of my cup into his own, then poured warm water in my cup.
With chantless magic that is.
From my cup there was vapor from steam rising from it.
"Please try it."
I timidly tried to drink what was offered.
Then the way too strong scent from just now that was remaining in my mouth was washed away.
And then, a scent with a tender feeling wafted deep into my nose.
Ah, it might be delicious.
"Come to think of it, the trigger that lead to me learning magic from Rudi was hot water wasn't it."
"Was that how it was?"
"Geez, did you forget? Look, you used chantless melded magic and Rudi said something unreasonable."
How nostalgic.
Rudi used chantless and melded magic like there was nothing to it, but even now I can't do that.
Though given a time difference I can reach the same result.
Rudi is skillful.
"Yeah, that sure is nostalgic."
"Yeah."