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Volume 11 Chapter 4 Part 7

It is said that Dwarves drink alcohol instead of water, and this drink seems to be able to make dwarves wasted, so I guess that must be a testament to how strong it is.

The new members’ bullying doesn’t seem to have ended with just us having to confess our embarrassing secrets. Now they want to bully us with alcohol as well.

「Stark Seltzer?」

Even though Stark Seltzer has been listed as an alternative to Dwarf killer, I am still the one who
Does not drink alcohol at all, so I should probably still be careful about drinking it.

Yeah, now I am sure that this is definitely a part of the new members’ bullying.

Sebastian returns soon after and serves the drinks to all of us.

I am sure both the Dwarf Killer and the Stark Seltzer had been prepared beforehand.

Is bullying the new members some kind of custom in the Empire Liberation Society?

「This is the Dwarf Killer and this one is Stark Seltzer.」

Two small jars have been placed in front of each of us.

It isn’t bisque but a glazed jar. It has a luxurious feeling to it.

「We still have work to do after this.」

The Emperor picks Stark Seltzer up. The bodyguard, too, picks up Stark Seltzer, just like the Emperor. They won’t be able to do their job if they are drunk, so I guess it makes sense for them to not drink the Dwarf Killer.

「Same for me, too, then.」

「Oh, what is this? Why is nobody willing to try Dwarf Killer? I did not even remove the cork out of it yet.」

When I pick Stark Seltzer up, Ester expresses his displeasure. I knew I wouldn’t be able to avoid drinking it, but I really don’t want to do it, since just the name of it already sounds like trouble. I mean really, Dwarf Killer?

If this stuff is supposed to be so strong that even Dwarves can get drunk from drinking it in no time, then surely it has to be lethal to humans, right?

Or maybe the name is just for show and it isn’t actually that strong? Or, is Stark Seltzer perhaps the drink that is used for the purpose of bullying the new members?

Is it possible to be direct here? Or am I overthinking this?

「Fair bit of advice: once you remove the cork, you need to drink this in one gulp.」

「You should also shake the jar before drinking it.」

Instructions on how to drink it were given to me by the Baron and the Duke.
Shake the jar? I didn’t know that the Duke can be so devilish.

「Then, to celebrate the admission and the future accomplishments of the new members of the Empire Liberation Society… Cheers!」

「Cheers!」

The President toasts with everyone.

I remove the cork-like stopper and tilt the jar, pouring some of its content into my mouth. And what I immediately felt as soon as it touched my tongue… was the taste of carbonic acid.

This is literally carbonated water. It really was a non-alcoholic drink all along. I can feel the bubbles run around in my mouth, so I guess this has to mean that this stuff is also quite strong.

If I were to compare this to anything from my old world, then I would have to go with a cheap ripoff of a Cola imported from America.

But it tastes like simple water, not Cola, since it contains no sugar at all. It is merely carbonated water.

「Gaius should already know about it; however, Michio, did you know about it, too?」

As I drank Stark Seltzer without a surprised expression, Ester asked if I had it before.

「I didn’t know about it, but I drank something similar back in the day. It wasn’t anything even remotely as strong as this, though.」

「Right? Although it is the same kind of spring water, that you can find pretty much anywhere, it certainly tastes stronger than the rest when you prepare it in such a way.」

Does the carbonated water spring out naturally in this world or what?

At any rate, they would perhaps mock the person who drank it for the first time, which makes them serving this to a new member of the society no less mischievous.

「So what you are saying is that I should have chosen Dwarf Killer after all?」

「Dwarf Killer is a strong liquor, too. I have never heard of a person who can drink the jar in one gulp. Supposedly, such a thing won’t be easy for Dwarves either, hence the name.」

So whichever drink I chose, it would be a trap, huh? These guys are truly evil.

「We have heard a story that a Dwarf once downed Dwarf Killer in one go. We would like to meet such a brave person, assuming that they really do exist.」

「I didn’t know that something like that was possible either, since there is no one amongst the elves who could do that.」

The Emperor and The Duke don’t know anyone who could pull such a stunt either.

Just because they can drink doesn’t make them that great. It just means that they don’t have that many Dwarven acquaintances who could compete with them either.

「Don’t tell me that Sherry actually ordered it.」

I asked Sebastian about it, because I was worried that right now Sherry is drinking Dwarf Killer in the reference room. I would be troubled if she drank such a strong liquor and started acting violently towards the other guests there.

「Lady Sherry said that if she drank Dwarf Killer, it might have affected her work and said that just water would be fine for her.」

「Might affect her work」, she said? It is her day off, though, not a workday, so maybe that would have been okay?

Well, her water may not necessarily be H20 kind of water, so this is a reply that can be taken in more ways than one.

「As expected of our senior member. You know such a bold person!」

「Not really. I don’t know whether she can drink it in one go or not.」

「Because she is on a level where drinking it might actually affect her work in a negative way?」

I knew someone would delve into it.

However, I have a bad feeling about letting the small breasts loving masochist Emperor meet Sherry in person.

「I wonder about that.」

「So you are saying that it would be bad for Us to meet her?」

「Sebastian, can you please do me a favor and check if Sherry is free at the moment?」

Because the Emperor started being disquieting, I ask Sebastian to check on Sherry.

He might be a pervert that’s rotten to the core, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is still the Emperor, and it would leave me in a tight spot if he felt offended by my actions, so I can’t not change my attitude here.

A wise man changes his mind, while a fool never does that. A fool just puts on a face. A splendid person reforms his attitude, a person who isn’t fixes nothing but their appearance.

I am not the one who ordered her to come here. If Sherry declines on account of being busy, no one should raise their brows at her. A competent General Secretary must surely be able to read the mood and understand that.

「Did you call for me?」

Despite that, Sebastian brings Sherry right away.

I should have expected the General Secretary to be on the Emperor’s side. And it was fast, too. I wonder if he hurried her up, but when I looked at the Emperor’s face, nothing about him seemed to particularly change.

Be glad, Sherry, for you seem to be safe from his clutches. It looks like you didn’t pass the Emperor’s small breasts exam.

The Earl guy would be like 「Jesus! Lolita no touch!」

「Ah. Sherry, do you know of a liquor called Dwarf Killer?」

「Yes, it is a famous one amongst Dwarves. Even when I used to drink together with my grandfather, I didn’t drink that liquor as much. It is a delicious liquor that burns your throat.」

Didn’t Sherry’s grandfather pass away a long time ago?

Yet they used to drink together? I have heard that this world doesn’t have any laws that prohibit minors from drinking alcohol, but still…

Is the phrase 「burns the throat」supposed to be used to describe how good a liquor is?

「This one here is Dwarf Killer. Do you think you can drink it?」

「I don’t think this quantity will have much of an effect on me.」