After finishing our shopping at the high-end chocolate shop, I received an elegant membership card on my way out. The staff invited me to make use of it whenever I next found myself at the store.
I had picked up several pieces of their finest chocolates, along with a larger quantity of items like chocolate truffles intended for Tre-san and Alice.
With a gift for Tre-san secured for the time being, we moved on toward the cafe Fia-sensei had recommended for its delicious herb tea. We weren't in any particular hurry, so we took a leisurely pace, peering into various shops as we walked.
"Oh? Miyama-kun, I wonder what that is?"
"Eh? What could it be? There's something set up over there."
As we strolled, a stand placed in front of a storefront caught my eye. If it had been just a stand, I wouldn't have given it a second thought, but a tall banner stood alongside it. Intrigued, I drew closer.
The banner read: Royal Capital Stamp Rally in Progress.
"...A stamp rally, huh? I didn't know they held events like this here."
"There’s a stamp sheet and a map. Let's see... 'Collect all stamps to receive a participation prize. Those who correctly answer the Super Difficult Quiz included with the prize will receive a Super Luxurious Prize'..."
"That actually sounds kind of fun."
"It does... Oh, look, there’s a stamp stand right near the cafe we're heading to. The others, though... they're quite spread out. It covers areas far beyond the North District, so clearing this in a single day would normally be quite a challenge."
Just as Fia-sensei noted, while the high-society Central District was excluded, the stands were distributed across the North, South, East, and West districts. It seemed like a fairly large-scale event.
"Miyama-kun, since we're here, why don't we give it a try?"
"It does sound interesting, but we won't be able to hit every spot in one day, will we?"
"Oh, don't worry about that. After we finish at the cafe, we can just use my teleportation magic to make the rounds."
"Ah, I see. In that case, we’ll be done in no time."
Unlike magic tools that required a location to be pre-registered, Fia-sensei’s teleportation worked via world coordinates. As long as she knew the location, she could warp anywhere instantly, provided there was no interference to block the path.
We would likely have all twenty or so stamps collected in the blink of an eye.
"...But I wonder what this 'Super Difficult Quiz' is like?"
"Hmm, since it’s a rally for the capital, the questions are probably related to the history or trivia of the Sinfonia Royal Capital."
"By the way, Fia-sensei, are you any good at quizzes?"
"It depends on the topic. Given my profession, I’m quite knowledgeable about diseases or the physical traits of different races, but I don't have much confidence when it comes to recent trends."
Well, we would get a participation prize just for collecting the stamps, so I wasn't too worried if we failed the quiz. Since they went to the trouble of calling it "super difficult," it was bound to be a real head-scratcher.
Having decided to join the rally, we stamped our first spot and made our way toward the cafe.
After stopping to get our second stamp along the way, we finally reached our destination... and it was every bit as stylish as I had imagined.
The interior was built with warm wood and decorated with numerous ornamental plants, creating an atmosphere of refined taste. It was the kind of sophisticated place that would have made me hesitate to enter if I had been by myself.
Once the staff guided us to our seats, I opened the menu... and found a staggering variety of choices.
"I haven't really had much herb tea before. Do you have any recommendations?"
"Hmm, if you aren't used to it, I think the classics are your best bet. Chamomile or Rooibos are easy to drink because of their clean sweetness. If you want something refreshing, maybe Peppermint?"
"I see... Then I think I'll go with the Chamomile."
"Even with Chamomile, the flavor changes depending on whether it’s a single-leaf tea or a blend... Miyama-kun, you like the scent of Ripple, don't you? In that case, I think this specific blend would suit you. Its aroma and taste are quite similar."
"Then I'll have that, please."
I was completely out of my depth, but Fia-sensei lived up to her reputation, providing a fluent and detailed explanation. It seemed herb tea was a world with a surprising amount of depth.
While I was busy being impressed, a waiter came to take our order. Fia-sensei handled it for both of us.
"We’ll have the Chamomile Blend No. 2, the 100% Raspberry Leaf, and an order of herb cookies."
"Certainly, right away."
Watching Fia-sensei order with such poise made her look sophisticated and cool.
As I sat there admiring her, she noticed my gaze and turned toward me, her expression shifting into a lovely, cute smile.
"I’m looking forward to this!"
"...Yeah, I'm really curious to see how it tastes. By the way, what exactly is the Raspberry Leaf you ordered?"
"Oh, well, as the name suggests, it’s a tea made from the leaves of the raspberry plant..."
She had gone from a cool, mature woman to a girl with a beaming, affectionate smile in the blink of an eye. Both sides of her were wonderful, and I found myself momentarily enchanted.
Getting to see so many different facets of her personality made me feel incredibly lucky.
Serious-senpai: "Just a bit of trivia—100% Raspberry Leaf has a very distinct bitterness. If you aren't used to it, I highly recommend starting with a blend instead. Single-leaf teas are also usually more expensive and harder to find outside of specialty shops, so beginners almost always start with blends. Kaito didn't pick it this time, but Rooibos is another one that's very beginner-friendly due to its light sweetness. Since it's caffeine-free, it’s perfect for relaxing before bed!"