Chapter 84 - Guinomi for Eastern Liquor
While making their way through stores dealing with glassware and ceramics, Dahlia and Volf continued along the road.
Though each store had beautiful pieces, they couldn’t find exactly what they were looking for.
What they wanted was a "Guinomi," a cup for Eastern liquor, larger than a typical Eastern cup.
Even when they held the items they thought were beautiful, the feel of it didn’t sit right with them, leaving them uncertain.
The shopping district stretched on for quite a distance, but as they walked further, the number of people gradually began to thin out.
In addition to shops, there were more and more buildings that appeared to be warehouses or offices. It seemed the shopping district would soon end, leading to a road that headed toward the harbor.
"This looks like a store specializing in utensils for Eastern liquor."
The small, old wooden shop had only the faint, white lettering of "Eastern Liquor Utensils" on a black sign.
The sliding door at the entrance was open, but there were neither hanging banners nor any displayed products.
"It seems the shop is further inside. Let's give it a try."
Following Volf through the dimly lit corridor, they emerged into a shop filled with a gentle, soothing light.
A thin white cloth hung in front of the windows, softening the strong sunlight to a perfect level.
A gentle breeze flowed through the space, keeping the shop cool. It was likely using a combination of an ice magic stone and a Cool Wind Fan.
Though not many, there were rows of Eastern bottles, guinomi cups, and Eastern cups neatly arranged on black shelves.
"Welcome."
They were greeted by an elderly man, probably the owner, seated cross-legged on a rug on the wooden floor at the back of the shop. He wore a loose navy blue robe, a style not commonly seen in this kingdom.
With his pure white hair and beard, he appeared to be quite elderly, and his black eyes looked slightly drowsy.
"Good afternoon."
"We only have utensils for Eastern liquor, but feel free to take your time and browse, even if you’re not buying anything."
In response to their hesitant greetings, he replied in a relaxed tone, his wrinkled face breaking into a soft, crinkled smile.
Without standing up, the shopkeeper continued:
"Pick up any pieces that catch your eye. You won’t know if it suits you otherwise."
"We’ll do that."
It was Volf who responded.
He gave a slight bow and then walked over to the shelves, with Dahlia following him.
There weren’t many flashy or eccentric items, just practical and easy-to-use designs.
She tried picking up a few cups that caught her interest, and each one felt comfortable in her hands.
Perhaps due to the recent heat, her eyes were drawn to the glassware.
The pieces that caught her attention the most were a guinomi made of transparent glass, with several red lines running through it, and another one with deep blue lines.
When lifted, they had a decent thickness, and they felt comfortable against the pads of her fingers. Volf, standing beside her, was examining the other one with similar interest.
"These are beautiful. The feeling when holding them is calming."
"I like these as well. Let’s go with these. Do we need an Eastern liquor bottle?"
"I wonder.... I drink quite a bit, so..."
"If you drink a lot, I recommend a 'lipped bowl."
Before they knew it, the shopkeeper had moved and was standing diagonally behind Wolf.
"A 'lipped bowl'?"
The shopkeeper pointed to a piece that resembled a larger glass.
The difference was that the rim of the vessel had a spout, and the handle had a subtle curve.
The glass was slightly thicker, with opaque lines running through it in places, creating a beautiful pattern.
It was large enough to hold about one and a half glasses of liquid.
Volf had a fairly fast drinking pace.
Though an Eastern liquor bottle would work, using the lipped bowl to release the aroma before pouring it into the guinomi to drink might be a nice touch.
There were no rules on how to drink alcohol, so they could pour directly from the bottle into the guinomi or even use a large cup.
Despite that, the lipped bowl in front of them had a lovely, refined shape.
Fortunately, even with all three items, they were still within their budget.
Just as Dahlia was about to ask the shopkeeper for the total, Volf moved toward the edge of the shelf, almost as if drawn to it.
"So there are also metal utensils for Eastern liquor."
"Is that tin?"
A soft, tasteful silvery metal was displayed at the farthest end of the shelf.
On a black cloth, there were small, round guinomi that resembled a silver moon.
"I've seen silver glasses before, but a tin glass, huh?"
"I’ve heard they make the flavor more mellow, though I’ve never used one."
This was the first time in this life that she had seen a tin guinomi.
In her past life, her parents had used them.
Her father enjoyed sake or whiskey, while her mother, who didn’t drink much, preferred diluted plum wine.
"That tinware is also recommended for warming Eastern liquor."
"Warming?"
"Eastern liquor can be warmed to a warm or lukewarm temperature."
"Oh, it seems the young lady might be the one bigger on Eastern liquor. Tinware is great for warming with hot water. At this time of year, it's also nice to place the vessel on a bed of ice and enjoy chilled Eastern liquor. Among the liquors from this kingdom, brandy pairs well with tinware too."
The elderly man slowly explained, occasionally moving his deeply wrinkled hands.
"But, you see, tinware is soft, so if you apply too much pressure, it will deform. Also, you can’t heat it too much or freeze it—it will change the tin. It’s just like how you treat your lover. You must handle it gently and carefully."
"...That sounds rather difficult."
"That’s what makes it delicious. Wait here for a moment."
The elderly man disappeared through a door at the back of the shop, only to return shortly with a glass Eastern liquor bottle.
He handed the tin guinomi cups to the two of them, slowly pouring clear liquor into them.
The sound of the liquor being poured from the glass Eastern liquor bottle was something Dahlia found deeply nostalgic.
"Thank you... This Eastern liquor is quite clear."
"It’s 'seishu' from the Eastern country. It’s difficult to manage the temperature, so it’s only just started to be shipped by boat this year. It’s still rare here, but since it’s from my homeland, I'd like to promote it."
The shopkeeper seemed to be from the Eastern country.
The distinctive aroma of the Eastern liquor filled the air, and the coolness of the liquor was transmitted from the guinomi to their fingers.
"Now, take a sip, and then let’s wait a bit."
"Take a sip and wait?"
"Yes. Men should silently wait for women while they shop, change clothes, and do their makeup."
In response to the shopkeeper’s serious tone, Volf smiled wryly.
Still, both of them took a sip of the liquor, savoring it slowly.
The taste was sharp and distinct, hitting their tongues directly.
After drinking, there was a fleeting bitterness, and the warmth as it went down their throats felt a bit stronger.
It was delicious in its own way, but those who weren’t accustomed to strong drinks might end up coughing.
"I think this is good as it is, but..."
"Is that so? But if you wait a bit, it’ll taste different. Oh, but I shouldn’t keep a woman waiting. Here, Young Lady, try this."
"Thank you. Is this sugar candy?"
"Yeah, it's a candy made from crystallized sugar. It's a bit too sweet for me, but it's my wife's favorite, so I always keep it around. Would you like to try some as well, Young Man?"
"No, I’m not much of a fan of sweets."
Volf seemed to have already guessed the taste just by looking at the white, angular candy.
Dahlia gently ate the sweet-looking candy that was offered to her.
"The candy was entirely white, with only a few points, but its taste and texture were almost identical to 'Konpeitō (TL/N: A type of Japanese candy.).'"
After the sharp-tasting liquor, the sugar candy felt even sweeter.
"Alright, it should be ready now. Try drinking it."
When Dahlia put the tin guinomi to her lips again, the tin cup felt colder than before.
The sharp taste was unchanged, but the way it hit her mouth felt different this time.
The sake, which seemed to have mellowed out, passed through her throat with a refreshing aftertaste instead of bitterness.
"It’s not sweet, but it does feel smoother."
“It’s like the sharpness has been softened... Although it's the same liquor, this one actually tastes better."
Volf curled his lips into a smile and gazed intently at the silver-colored guinomi.
He seemed to like it.
"If you prefer this one, it seems this tinware suits you."
However, this tinware was a bit expensive.
It's nearly double the price of the two glass guinomi cups and the lipped bowl from earlier.
"If you buy two of the tinware, I’ll give you a 30% discount. How about pitching in so you and your little sister can enjoy warm sake together?"
"I’ll do it."
"Volf!"
At the man's immediate response, Dahlia couldn't help but call out his name.
"Oh, sorry. Were you two a married couple?"
"No, we’re not."
"I’m sorry for the continuous mistakes. Old folks like me can be confused sometimes. But you know, the more time people spend together, the more alike they become. Whether they’re friends, lovers, or married couples..."
The elderly man smiled warmly, narrowing his eyes, and poured the remaining liquor from the bottle into both of their guinomi cups.
"You two really do seem quite similar."
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