Whiskey

Personal Info

Formerly the trusted personal steward of the Rothsbear family's eldest son, Whiskey is witty, sharp-minded, and possesses exceptional overall capability.
When Estella set out for the Abyss, he was entrusted by the eldest son to accompany her as a guard. From that point on, he has continued to operate under the identity of an explorer.
He is currently a member of the exploration organization known as the Nightfall Attendants.

As an explorer, Whiskey has taken part in numerous missions, all of which were completed with remarkable success.
What raises suspicion, however, is that his reputation has not grown accordingly. Within the guild's various records, Whiskey's expedition yields have long remained at a middling level, scarcely different from those of an ordinary explorer.
This has inevitably led some to wonder whether he is deliberately concealing his true strength.

Chronicles

Mr. Whiskey gives off an air of mystery—both in personality and in strength.
He is always smiling, making it impossible to tell what he is truly thinking.
Whether handling missions or sparring with others, he always emerges victorious, regardless of his opponent's strength—yet he rarely seeks a swift conclusion.
Everyone agrees that he is certainly not weak, and yet no one can quite imagine just how strong he truly is.
— An Explorer

He has been at my side since childhood—training and studying alongside me, offering counsel whenever it was needed. He is exceedingly reliable.
His strength is formidable as well. With him protecting my younger sister, I can rest far more easily.
Still, now that he has left, my days have become noticeably busier. Without him at my side, it truly feels... unfamiliar.
— The Eldest Son of the Rothsbear Family

Whiskey's strength, cunning, and nerve are all quite impressive—but for some reason, I never feel entirely at ease around him.
It's not that I dislike him. It's just that every time I see that ever-present smile of his, I can't help wondering if he's plotting something unpleasant.
After all, someone like him would usually be cast as a top-tier villain in most stories, wouldn't they?
— Estella form Nightfall Attendants

To the Rothsbear family, he is an exemplary steward—meticulous in thought and thorough in consideration.
With him assisting the eldest son, many family affairs can be entrusted to them with complete peace of mind.
To me, he is an outstanding junior, possessed of a steadfast will and an unwavering drive to pursue perfection.
For that very reason, I believe he is more than capable of handling any task, no matter the nature of the work.
— ??? from Nightfall Attendants

Record

Whenever Whiskey takes part in team operations, he always appears completely at ease—yet he somehow fails to leave a strong impression.
Even though he consistently completes his assigned tasks flawlessly, and often has spare capacity to assist others, when members later reflect on the operation, he is rarely the first person to come to mind.
This has led many members to speculate whether he is deliberately downplaying his own presence.
Though such speculation is difficult to verify, when considered alongside Whiskey's habitually modest manner of conduct, it does seem plausible.
During his spare time, Whiskey will occasionally handle additional commissions in the name of the Nightfall Attendants, helping to build the organization's reputation; at other times, he devotes himself to refining his "Tian cuisine."
At first, many members were quite curious about "Tian cuisine," but after tasting it once, almost no one was willing to try it again.
Left with little choice, Whiskey began seeking assistance from newly joined members.
Over time, sampling "Tian cuisine" seems to have become part of the initiation process for joining the expedition team—and to avoid any uncontrollable incidents, it has become necessary to have a talk with Whiskey.

Anecdote

This day, after completing a commission, the expedition team set up camp on the spot to rest. Whiskey volunteered to prepare a meal for everyone.
Looking over the carefully selected ingredients, Whiskey was confident he could create an exquisite dish of "Tian cuisine."
However, just as the cooking was nearing completion, the member on watch suddenly sent out a signal—monsters were approaching!

After a fierce battle, the group returned to the resting area, ready to enjoy their meal, only to find the place in complete disarray.
"This is bad—monsters attacked our camp. Everyone, check the damage!"
"Wait, why are there several monsters lying on the ground?"
A quick inspection revealed no obvious external wounds on any of them.
"Could they have died from poisoning?"
"Most likely. They may have ingested something toxic and succumbed when they came to attack the camp."
"I never thought monsters could be poisoned..."
"Alright, everyone check the surroundings first. If everything's clear, let's eat—I'm starving."
"N–No! This is bad! Mr. Whiskey's cooking is gone!"
"What?!"
The group stared at the empty iron pot, then at the monsters collapsed on the ground, and couldn't help but draw a sharp breath.
"Don't tell me they ate what Mr. Whiskey prepared—"
"No. I found several very small bite marks on their legs. They were likely bitten by some poisonous creature."
Whiskey interrupted the speculation and shared the information he had observed with the others.
"I–Is that so? Heh... heh heh."
"Those wretched monsters—ruining the dish I worked so hard on. Please wait a moment, everyone. I'll prepare another batch."
"No! There's no need, Mr. Whiskey. You must be tired as well. Besides, this place still seems dangerous. Let's endure a little longer and eat once we reach the outpost."
After this incident, rumors that "Tian cuisine" could poison monsters quietly began to spread. Although Whiskey attempted to explain the situation, he was ultimately unable to stop the rumors from circulating...