Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 315

The alcohol consumed in this town is primarily beer made from barley. 

Of course, it doesn’t have the refined taste of my original world, but its simple flavor is favored by workers and adventurers. 

On the other hand, nobles and wealthy merchants often prefer imported wine over beer. 

The climate around this town seems unsuitable for grape cultivation, so most of the wine is imported from the southern regions, making it a more expensive drink due to the added distribution costs.

Swiberry’s father-in-law, a great merchant, has cleverly studied the methods of winemaking and seems to have obtained a wine press through some connection. 

Thanks to successful negotiations, he is lucky enough to borrow it from the other party.

Up until the very end, everyone is suspicious about what the press will be used for. 

The wine press, delivered to the newly expanded company workshop, looks like a giant screw-type bottle opener. 

The principle is simple: there is a massive wooden screw running from the top to the bottom of a U-shaped wooden frame. By turning the screw, pressure is applied downward. At the bottom of the press, barrels and grapes are placed, and the system is designed to crush them.

The huge screw is now being turned by a craftsman, making a grinding noise as pressure is applied to something other than grapes.

“Okay, this should be fine. Just keep it like this for a little while. Have you counted the rotations?” Gorgoro warns in a nervous voice.

“Yes, but it smells nice. It makes me want to drink wine,” replies a craftsman, who is immediately teased by another.

“Shut up! You don’t have the slightest chance of drinking the noble’s wine!”

A craftsman jokes about the faint aroma of wine coming from the press, and another craftsman heckles him. 

No matter where in the world, drinkers’ habits remain the same. 

However, despite their jokes, the craftsmen’s eyes remain fixed on what is coming after the crushing machine.

◇　◇　◇　◇　◇

Three weeks earlier… 

In the baron’s atelier, which I visit with Jilboa, I am completely overwhelmed by the baron’s unexpected curiosity and his highly detailed and realistic sketches, created with delicate brushwork.

As expected, the baron is the only one who can draw the monster illustrations for the booklet.

Fortunately, Jilboa explains that it will take three months to prepare for the capture of the man-eating giant, so I am able to get the baron’s time.

“However, so far, I’ve only been able to observe goblins and magic wolves,” the baron says, sounding somewhat dissatisfied, but based on the requests to the Adventurer’s Guild, nearly half of them are related to goblins and magic wolves. 

If we categorize the requests by their place of origin and limit them to those from rural villages, that percentage likely increases even more.

“Baron, let’s look at this differently. There’s never enough time to explore all the monsters. Isn’t it necessary to reveal the greatness of your work to the world as soon as possible?”

The baron seems to have a tendency toward perfectionism, typical of researchers and artists. He likely wants to keep things private until he is completely satisfied with the results.

However, that would only cause trouble for the farmers and adventurers waiting for the booklet. 

A day’s delay means more victims of an inefficient system. 

My desperate plea seems to have worked, and the baron reluctantly agrees to start by drawing the magic wolf.

At that point, I drop a bombshell on him.

“Baron, are you not interested in new painting techniques?”