Imperial Sake

The Biya region of the Northern Plateau.

A large expanse of rice paddies has appeared, a rarity in the Northern Plateau ravaged by demons.

There is also a sizable town.

After entering the town.

"So there are towns in the Northern Plateau after all," Stark remarked.

"There are so many taverns here," Fern remarked, looking at the numerous taverns lining the street.

Frieren explained softly, "This is the only grain-producing region in the Northern Plateau. Brewing has been a thriving industry here since ancient times."

"Let's try the bar here too," Rienta said, pointing to a shop that looked like an old tavern.

The other three also wanted to relax, so they followed Rienta into the tavern.

Inside the tavern.

Rienta and his three companions ordered some local specialties and drinks.

While waiting for the food to be served.

The sounds of people drinking and chatting at the bar drifted over.

"I heard that Lord Fass will soon be able to find that [Emperor's Wine] he's been talking about."

"Really? My grandfather has been searching for [Emperor's Wine] since he was a child, hasn't he?"

After all the dishes were served.

Rienta immediately began to taste it.

He was very curious about what the unique cuisine of this other world, a grain-producing region, would taste like.

Hearing the chatter around him, Stark asked curiously, "What is [Emperor's Wine]?"

Fern took a bite of the dish and explained to Stark:

"I heard about this wine from Lord Heiter. It is said that there was once a vast empire that ruled over most of the continent, and [Emperor's Wine] was a supreme wine offered to the emperor of that time."

After explaining, Fern turned to Frieren and said, "Lord Heiter also said it was all Frieren's fault that he missed the chance to drink [Emperor's Wine]."

"This matter is rather unusual..." Frieren didn't elaborate on the reasons behind it.

Seeing this, Fern didn't press the matter and focused her attention on the specialty dishes in front of her.

After enjoying the local cuisine, the four left the tavern.

Just as I was about to look for a hotel.

A voice came from inside.

"Frieren! Isn't that Frieren?"

The four looked in the direction from which the sound came.

The visitor's features were quite distinctive.

He was short in stature, but had a very long beard.

He was a dwarf.

"It's been a hundred years," the dwarf said, looking at Frieren with some emotion.

"It's eighty years, Fass," Frieren said softly.

Phos said in surprise, "This is so unlike you, Frieren, that you're actually concerned about such a small detail."

His gaze then swept over Rienta and the other two beside Frieren, and he said, "They're all unfamiliar faces."

"Didn't that guy who likes to drink come with you?"

Frieren was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Heiter is dead."

Upon hearing this, Phos said with some regret, "... Oh, I see. It seems I'm a step too late."

For a moment, everyone fell silent.

A moment later.

Phos looked at Frieren solemnly and said, "Frieren, I've found the location of [Emperor's Wine]. Can you help me out?"

"I remember you're a magician, right?"

"What does [Emperor's Wine] have to do with magic?" Frieren looked at Fass, puzzled.

"Come with me and you'll understand."

After saying that, Phos led the four of them, including Rienta, in one direction.

Inside a passageway that resembled a mine shaft.

The five people had been gone for quite a while.

Rienta asked with some curiosity, "Is this a mine?"

"No, I dug this all by myself," Phos explained to the others.

"When it comes to dwarfs, most people probably think of miners first, but unfortunately, I grew up in the city."

"In order to find the legendary supreme wine [Emperor's Wine], I learned all the relevant knowledge about mining from scratch."

Stark leaned closer to Frieren and whispered, "Who is this old man?"

Frieren said softly, "His name is Phos, and he's a drunkard. He's been searching for [Emperor's Wine] for over two hundred years."

"The last time we met him, he also asked for our help, but we refused because we were on our way to defeat the Demon King."

"Why do we need to dig a mine to find [Emperor's Wine]?" Fern asked, somewhat puzzled.

At this moment.

Phos stopped in front of a stone tablet.

Legend has it that [Emperor's Wine] is buried in some ruins nearby.

"I discovered this stone tablet two hundred years ago. This confirmed to me that the legend was true."

Fern stepped forward and looked at the inscription on the stone tablet, exclaiming in surprise, "This is ancient Elvish!"

After a cursory glance, he said, "The inscription praises [Emperor's Wine] as a supreme nectar and a delicious brew."

"The last signature was Milie Alde..."

Upon hearing that familiar name, Frieren was momentarily dazed.

Phos looked at Fern beside him and said, "Little girl, you know quite a lot. You're so young, yet you've already mastered the ancient Elvish language."

Fern explained somewhat helplessly, "Because Frieren insisted that my brother Rienta and I learn Ancient Elvish when I was little..."

Rienta also recalled the pain she had endured while learning the ancient Elvish language.

If Frieren hadn't mentioned that almost half of all spellbooks are now written in Ancient Elvish, he wouldn't have forced himself to learn this foreign language.

At this moment.

Frieren also came to her senses and walked towards the stone tablet to look at the last signature on the inscription.

She murmured, "... It really is Miliearde..."

Rienta and Stark, standing a little further away, did not hear Frieren's mutterings.

But Fern, who was right next to Frieren, heard it.

After Frieren finished reading the inscription, Phos said, "It all started when I saw this inscription."

"I dedicated almost my entire life to finding [Emperor's Wine]."

"Now, it's within my reach."

Upon hearing this, Frieren fell silent for a moment.

She already knew the truth about [Emperor's Wine].

It was Millie Alder, the author of the inscription, who told her this herself.

But now...

"Phas, have you found the ruins yet?"

"Yes, I've successfully reached the ruins." Phos nodded.

He then led the group toward another passage.

At the end of the passage is a stone gate.

Phos looked at the stone gate and said softly:

"As you can see, I cannot open the door to this stone chamber. It is protected by a powerful barrier to store the supreme [Emperor's Wine]."

"However, if it were you, you would definitely be able to break this barrier."

Phos looked at Frieren with a somewhat excited expression.

Even though he was obsessed with finding the Emperor's Wine, he had heard about the Hero Party defeating the Demon King.

After carefully examining the stone door with her hand, Frieren...

He said to Phos, "I can't do it either."

"How could you possibly not be able to do it?" Phos looked at Frieren in bewilderment.

Frieren explained softly, "Removing this barrier will take quite a while, and the children don't like me wasting too much time."

Phos looked intently at Frieren and said, "I will pay the appropriate reward."

"Use a magic book?" Frieren, somewhat expectantly.

"Money. I'll give you twenty Larsi Gold Coins as payment," Fass said solemnly.

"It seems there's no point in continuing the talks."

Now that she was not short of money, Frieren turned around without hesitation and prepared to leave.

Looking at Frieren's retreating figure, Fass said with some excitement:

"Please, Frieren!"

"To drink [Emperor's Wine] is my lifelong dream!"

"I have been searching for this for over two hundred years!"

"I refuse." Frieren remained unmoved.

Just then...

Having successfully persuaded Fern, Rienta approached Frieren and whispered:

"Lady Frieren, I think you can accept this request."

"But Fern, she..." Frieren hesitated.

"I've convinced Fern," Rienta said with a hint of pride.

"?!"