Substitute

Aira could only use Water Magic, but it seemed that the way one handled mana in magic had some common aspects regardless of attribute.

With Aira’s basic training, Fiona-chan had become able to use beginner-level Fire Magic, the kind taught to novices.

Since it was beginner level, she didn’t have the firepower to incinerate monsters in a single shot, but she could easily light a flame.

By borrowing her help to start a fire, and getting the neighborhood ladies to assist with processing, we could produce fruit tea substitutes in no time!

Since it didn’t require much strength, I figured it could even serve as side work for busy mothers or widows.

“For now, I’ll make some, so if you watch the process, that’d help.”

This time I didn’t rely on Aira’s help. I warmed the water I had drawn using a fire kindled with flint, then added the chopped-up pseudo–tea leaves.

I liked black tea, but only liked drinking it.

I wasn’t knowledgeable about brewing, so the steeping time was done rather roughly.

“Even when I say I’ll do it, he won’t let me… oh boohoo…”

“This time I’m aiming for people who don’t usually brew tea to try it, so wouldn’t it be better if I did it myself?”

“That may be true, but… for Woody-sama to do such menial work…”

“It’s fine. If I can do it, then it proves pretty much anyone else can as well.”

The people who would actually be drinking this wouldn’t have brewing or straining skills anyway, so there wouldn’t be many who took great care in making it.

So I thought this might actually become the general way of drinking it.

With that excuse, I quickly made it.

After straining it into cups, I dropped in a single raisin.

A gentle fragrance wafted softly around us.

Yeah, this felt right.

“What a lovely aroma…”

“Compared to regular tea, its stronger fragrance is definitely something to emphasize.”

Both grape tea substitutes and apple tea substitutes gave off strong scents.

Since the fruits were chopped up, the smell came through strongly.

I supposed the chopping method could adjust the fragrance, but I hadn’t gone that far this time.

That would be a task for later.

Ran-san and the members of White Silver Wings tasted it.

I had drunk enough already to make my belly slosh, so I didn’t participate in the tasting this time.

“—Yes, this is refreshing and delicious!”

“If fresh fruit is a straight punch of sweetness, this is more like a body blow that seeps in. I didn’t have a tea-drinking habit, but this might be better than mixing water with ale and drinking that…”

The sole woman of White Silver Wings, Teto-san, exhaled with a smile.

Ran-san, for some reason, compared it to boxing and asked for seconds.

As always, Ran-san was a little off, but her words actually hit the mark.

Just as she said, I believed this product had potential.

Normally, raw water couldn’t be drunk as it was.

Without boiling, it often caused stomach trouble.

But many people disliked the hassle of boiling, so generally, they diluted ale with water and drank that as ale-water.

But what if there was this fruit tea substitute?

Once people tasted its flavor, they wouldn’t go back to watered-down, unpleasant ale-water.

It took a bit of effort since you had to heat the water, but it gave a warm, comforting flavor like fruit-infused hot water.

I quite liked the taste myself.

If we set the price just slightly above ale-water, I thought this fruit tea substitute would sell like crazy.

Hearing my idea, Val-san’s eyes gleamed.

And a moment later, Ran-san’s eyes sparkled too.

Y-you’re a beat too late, Ran-san…

“I see… it’s certainly worth trying.”

“I’ll hand some over for testing, so please try it out. If it seems like it’ll sell, I’ll make a wide House Tree into a kitchen, gather idle workers, and start mass production.”

Since it was roasted, it kept even better than dried fruit.

If it could be carried for long periods, the demand would surely be great—or so I believed.

“But the name ‘fruit tea substitute’ is way too lame, so I’ll be changing that.”

“Really? I don’t think it’s that bad…”

“The fact that Garda-san thinks so only proves it’s lame.”

“Why’s that!?”

As I watched the lively White Silver Wings banter, Ran-san suddenly clapped her hands.

“Resemble… how about Fruit Tea Resemble?”

“That sounds pretty stylish.”

“Indeed, it sounds strong and good! I agree as well!”

Since Aira and Nadja both agreed, I had no objection.

And so, the fruit tea substitute—now renamed Fruit Tea Resemble—became our new specialty product, ready to enter circulation.