Meikyuu Toshi no Antique Shop

Chapter 8

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Malmo

Note: All done, thank my insomnia! Message will be removed later if I remember this. While I’m here I might as well mention this was indeed the longest chapter to date (even in dialogue). The next is a 7-page 3000 character breeze, less than half, so don’t be surprised if I finish up the next mini arc with no issues like this chapter had.

As usual, Anemone was cleaning outside. A child began approaching the store, wearing a green vest and with his head swaying, while they moaned. They looked good, but their height was low and they were not wearing shoes yet their feet were covered in hair, the child was apparently a Halfling rather than a human.
Anemone decided to speak like normal, since the Entrance of the Dungeon was nearby, it was not unlikely that a Seeker would collapse nearby on the way to the clinic.
“I a.s.sume you’re alright?”
“Hm…nanryaa?”

When the Halfling raised its face, it let out a big yawn.
Nothing in particular seemed to be wrong, with a rather good complexion and a healthy blush to the cheek. However, there was a small of alcohol exuding from them, and in general they just seem drunk.
“It’s not good to drink too much.”
Upon hearing Anemone saying to be careful, he set askew what was in his hand and said “This is moh healing portion, not an drink”, laughing. (tl: Next set of lines are drunk gibberish and will be a pain.)

Anemone did not immediately understand.
Hiccupping, the child said “is a healing potion”
“Well, it’s a troublesome one.”

Sighing, Anemone hoped that the child would not puke nearby so she’d have to clean it up.
She suddenly picked up the Halfling by the scruff of their neck.
“One person to visit us.”
Thus, the Halfling was taken to visit “The Good Old Magician’s Shop” in a rather forcible manner.

It had the look of a reception couch, sitting in the back yard of the store. Upon it were a Halfling, with Anemone serving freshly brewed coffee from a certain tavern.

Still, it’s a good smell.
Anemone doesn’t like Bitter and is so used to pouring cream and sugar over it she doesn’t remember the original taste, but this smell she adored.
“Can you elaborate, nanrei?”
“I have heard Coffee is good for drunken awakenings, and this is good.

“Uppu… it is good indeed…”

When the Halfling got the mug, wobbling, it began drinking the Coffee noisily.
“It’s incredibly bitter though, the taste alone is crisp”

Anemone looked at the situation, nodding in satisfaction.
Needless to say, she did do this out of kindness.
She just didn’t know.
Drunken awakening isn’t something Coffee could truly do, and in fact, it’s a rather adverse effect.

“Technically, the blood vessels with alcohol content that receive coffee don’t expand, and in fact it has the reverse effect of shrinking and prolonging detoxification. Like this, the damage is prolonged.”

The messy haired Fujiwara, who overslept, explained with a smug face. Though, it was already too late to help in this state.
The Halfling had continued to empty the thermos and selfishly get refills and presently was buy working to evacuate their stomach into a tub.
Anemone, taking part in the terrible sight, was stroking the back of the Halfling briskly. Despite her helmet, a glare could be detected.

“Because the Manager is late, everything is bad.”

“…”

When Anemone is in this sort of state, Fujiwara knew not to argue, even if this was caused by the coffee she offered.
With a “Well,” Fujiwara turned and began searching for medicine to help with motion sickness, muttering to himself.

The name of the Halfling is Malmo. They’re a wanderer with the job Thief. They were looking for a party. In order to persuade people, he (note: no gender specified yet) had learned to use his dexterity and search capabilities, and he was approved by a party for the first time.
However, Malmo realized he wasn’t suitable to be a Seeker. He couldn’t bring himself to love the Dungeon, with its tedious walls and dank climate.
The labor situation was also difficult, with taut nerves day and night walking intently, and unable to sleep.
And the numbers are too numerous in that line of work, with pitfalls and blowguns and monsters you could encounter. There is nothing worse than hungry combat as far as mental and physical pain goes.

While performing reconnaissance, he had suffered a serious injury from carelessly alerting a multiplying swarm of lethal bees.
That situation still plagued Malmo’s nightmares, and he had never wanted to experience the Dungeon again.
◆

“I won’t go to the go to the dungeon any more… There is only an stone walls, and it’s boring and I’m afraid of… monsters and… UPPU”
The Halfling was currently on the couch rattling their trembling knees under a blanket, muttering something to themselves and grumbling. They’re likely now in a state of fully acute alcohol poisoning.
“Hmm.”
Fujiwara placed his hand on his chin, considering.
It was a very interesting sight to see the Halfling rattle out their unscrupulous story, in such a negative state.
In the first place, Halflings were said to have excellent digestive organs, drinking like dwarves or eating meat in cold blood. This is good, and in fact, hangover and drunkenness is uncommon for them. Although the coffee stopped coming, the little guy was still in such a state.

“Sorry to ask to sate my curiosity, but have you drank any liquor?”

“No, don’t a.s.sume so… I was just drinking this Healing Potion…”
He held out a t.i.tanium flask, staggering.

According to the story he suffered a serious injury in battle while exploring, and he couldn’t get to the Inn.
He had been forced to drink the potion his Party had given him, and made it out today, getting a cheerful feeling and walking about.
“Hmm.”
Fujiwara received the flask with a scowl, smelling it and raising his nose to the spout.
Despite it being rude, Fujiwara dripped only one drop onto a fingertip, and upon drinking this, his face was full of disgust, saying “Wow” at the agony.
“Store manager, what is it?”
“He’s not lying, this is indeed a potion.”
“Then why were you making that face?”
“Yes, however the potion in this state is changing into distilled liquor… straight alcohol.”
“In other words, it’s ‘Healing Potion Liquor’, or what?”
“Yes, it is also quite strong.”

Potion acts on the magic in blood and uses a portion of it to activate a mechanism that triggers the healing effect.
It’s strange for it to become alcohol. Since he hasn’t expected this Tool, it is not certain, but this magic is not ordinary alcohol, but the magic in the blood is also affected.

“How much will it leave for one as potion, and how much is liquor?”

Fujiwara inspects the flask. It looks ordinary, but upon inspection it is actually quite senile, badly bruised and terribly uneven.
“Malmo, where was this purchased?”

Malmo was still trembling under the blanket, giving voice.

“It was picked up in our previous exploration.”
“Did you get it appraised?”
“It’s worth nothing… isn’t great at all… probably…”

“May I look at it a little?”
“Yeah… It should be fine…”
Malmo continued grumbling, no longer saying anything audible.　Fujiwara fit the monocle to his eye, tracing the carved surface of the flask, stopping every once in a while at the center of the convex side.

He muttered the spell of concealment removal, as per usual.
When blue magic is transmitted into it, it begins glowing an a pattern appears vaguely in silver.

Undeniably, it was a magic circuit.
This is indeed a Granting Antique.
“Apparently, this is the cause.”
◆

When Malmo pa.s.sed through the door of a certain pub, a familiar hustle and bustle as well as delicious looking cuisine greeted him.

“Welcome”
The daughter of a familiar waiter greeted him.
The ale stein she had in her hands smelled good. Malmo unintentionally swallowed thinking of the wheat-colored liquid and its white foamy bubbles.

It’s as so, but Malmo shakes his head, casting away the thought. He had not come to drink in particular, and in fact he had promised himself he wouldn’t drink alcohol till’ doomsday not long prior.

“I have company, is it available?”

“You were here just a short while ago, the usual table is open.”

“Thank you very much.”
With the latest events, Malmo now knew the negative sides of alcohol.
It was as painful as being hit over the head with a hammer and being frozen while puking. It’s a hundred times better to never drink again, he decided.

Of course, he sold off that Flask.
It was a joke in the first place to put the medicine in the flask. He had not expected it to become pure, distilled liquor, and after that much drunken sickness he did not have any inclination to keep it on hand.

After finishing the exploration of the day, his companions were camping out at the usual table and the feast had already begun.

“Today we celebrate Malmo’s recovery from illness.”
“So~rry, I’ll request the ale for this shorty.

“Empty the mug, let’s toast for the time being.”

While his friends were waiting, Malmo rushes up and began shaking both his hands.
“Eh, no, I won’t drink alcohol anymore.”
“What happened to the unity?” (tl: best I can read it, ‘why won’t you drink with us?’)
“Are you OK, are you in good health yet?”

Malmo decidedly did not hate this group.

A picky girl, a guy that couldn’t listen, and a nagging girl, all had different personalities but Malmo in the end was basically the ‘good natured’ kind.
Their time together when drinking and making noise was fun, and in the end, they were also fun and reliable in the dungeon.

But, that kind of talk is for one suitable to be a Seeker.
Malmo didn’t come here to drink alcohol, it was to tell them he was resigning from being a Seeker.

Today he had to tell his companions.

“…”

But, with the situation before him, he could not force “I resign” from his quiet throat.

“Ah, we should report that to Malmo.”
“Oh yeah. Now that he’s healthy, let’s give him the good news.
“You know that rumor about the hidden treasure on the ninth floor?”
“Well, yes…”

It was a widespread rumor amongst Halflings
The Bad Foot Brothers.
A band of Halfling robbers that existed long ago. They loved to play pranks and robbed many of their gold coins before being eliminated by a falling out amongst them.
The rumor itself said that there was much of their wealth in the ninth floor of the Dungeon.

A face grows near Malmo so that no one else nearby could hear, confirming that no one was too close.
“Somehow, I found its most likely location.”
“It’s nearby something northwest of the stairs.”
“The door to get in still hasn’t been found, though.”
“It’s really true.”
“He found it by falling into a pitfall by chance, and well, it was found at the bottom.”
“But, the door is likely covered by powerful traps.”

“The trap removal will be somewhat dangerous, so we can’t do it.”
“It’s your turn, Mr. Malmo.”
His friends came to report unanimously, smiling.
The leader forcibly put the map on the table, expanding it out. He pointed a place out that Malmo was suspicious of previously, and he began glaring.

“…”

Malmo thought it was strange.
The search was canceled until Malmo’s injury was healed in the first schedule.
They should have been planning to rest until he was healed.

He was certain he suggested a holiday, but they had even went to the dungeon looking for the hidden wealth.
Of course, that could be to cheer up Malmo, who’s vigor was dented by the injury.

Malmo used both hands and called the waiter with a “Hey,”.

“Here, b.u.t.terfly Ale. A big stein, of course.”

“Eeh, Didn’t you give up drinking?”
One companion commented “It’s different than what you were just saying” quite quickly.
“No one said such a thing. If you don’t drink Liquor in advance for celebration, what else would you drink?”
“Is that so?”

They tilted their head to one side, but Malmo being capricious was not unusual, so the companions didn’t bother examining the situation intently.
Though, Malmo had not freely changed their mind.
He had no intention to become a serious Seeker, and even if he died a hundred times, his fear of monsters would not heal.
The very first place he’d like to avoid would be a hidden room. Gold and Silver treasure doesn’t fall from trees, the Labyrinth City Malmo knew was not so sweet a place.

It wasn’t all bad though, even with a little concern.
When would it even be possible to return to the wandering family business? Instead he decided to go in one more time, because…

Because above all, Malmo wanted a little more adventuring with his fellows above all else.

“Let’s drink until morning today.”
“Okay, then lets toast once more.”
“”“Cheers!”””

All of the companions downed their mugs, which were carried away, and Malmo drank several more.

Discrimination Ticket “Drunken Flask (good)”
“Offer one thousand, one hundred, and thirteen drops of blood of a descent whom is loved, and rub the flask. The world will propagate sugar and ferment, distilling, a barrel like no other.”
This is a strange improvement on the ‘Fermented Flask’ by an alchemist named House, produced by his youthful spirit, which converts and liquid into brew.
The number of these is few, but several other Antiques can distill. However, this one’s quality is verified “Good”. In addition, water poured in changes to luxury whiskey immediately, but it does not appear to give a hangover no matter how much you drink.
However, do not put medicine in. When changing the magical portion of the potion, it will act on the magic that affects the blood, and it will have an unknown effect will occur from this. A Halfling that drank this mix had acute alcoholism and a terrible hangover was reported.
※In addition, this cannot be sold to minors, please understand.

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