The dwarves were tireless in their efforts to brew sake.
But that wasn't the extent of it.
They were also constantly researching the best ways to actually enjoy the drink. While it was a given that they would strive to make the sake itself delicious, they spared no effort in finding the perfect foods to pair with it.
Recently, however, I had opened a new frontier for them.
"The flavor changes based on the environment in which you drink. I understood the concept, but to think you would actually curate a space specifically for that purpose..."
Donovan, the leader of the dwarves, stared at me with a look of pure astonishment.
Now, now, there was no need for such shock.
It was really no different from a banquet. While tastes varied from person to person, I figured most would agree that drinking in a clean, pleasant room was far better than drinking in a filthy one.
And how did a clean room compare to the great outdoors? While factors like temperature and humidity certainly played a role, there were undeniably specific environments where a drinker simply felt the sake tasted better.
A banquet was essentially the result of creating an environment conducive to drinking with a crowd. For those who enjoyed boisterous, lively company, a banquet was the ideal setting to make sake taste its best. Conversely, for someone who preferred to drink in quiet solitude, a banquet was a poor choice.
This time, the environment I had prepared was the Universal Ship.
I arranged seating for a party on its deck. The concept was to board the Universal Ship on a sweltering summer night and enjoy a drink while feeling the high-altitude breeze—much like a sightseeing cruise or a rooftop beer garden.
Granted, the ship was protected by defensive magic, so we wouldn't actually feel much wind, but I figured we could still enjoy the atmosphere.
After consulting with the crew, we finalized the layout. We lined up long tables and chairs across the deck. Since we would be flying at night, I had been worried about how to light the area, but Lu solved the problem with her magic. My thanks to her.
I left the sake to the dwarves and the cooking to the High Ogre Maids. Since we planned to depart after dinner, I didn't think we would need a massive spread, but I ordered plenty just in case.
I had originally intended for this to be an "adults-only" outing for the sake-lovers, but I found myself unable to resist the pleading looks of the children. Consequently, I set up a dedicated children's space. I also prepared a cabin inside for any of them who got sleepy.
Then, I folded under the stares of Kuro’s children and Zabuton’s children, so I made space for them as well. What started as a deck-only plan eventually expanded to include the ship's interior.
I had also meant for this to be an intimate, "inner circle" affair, but the Demon King, Beezel, Dos, Giral, Draim, Progenitor-san, and Suarlou were already on standby before I knew it. They must have caught wind of the plan from somewhere. Oh well, they were essentially family at this point, so I didn't see any issue with it.
I heard that Yoko, Saint Seles, and Yuri would be joining us as well. They planned to rush back as soon as their work in Village Five was finished.
Many other residents also expressed a desire to join, but space was a limiting factor. We simply couldn't fit everyone on board at once. Thus, it was decided that we would hold multiple flights over the course of several days.
Good grief. I had only intended to do this once as a little excursion...
Night fell.
I made sure everyone ate a hearty dinner before we left, as there was a limit to how much food we could ferry onto the ship.
Then, the first flight began. The itinerary called for a two-hour sightseeing flight.
Before the opening toast, I said a few words.
First: Absolutely no falling overboard. Second: Even if no one falls, if I catch anyone acting recklessly, future flights will be canceled immediately.
With that, we raised our glasses. "Cheers!"
Morning arrived.
I certainly drank last night. In fact, I drank far too much. I must have been swept up in the atmosphere. My memory was a complete blur.
I really hoped I had not done anything dangerous. If I, the one who gave the warning, had acted recklessly, I would be the laughingstock of the village.
As I strained to remember...
Yes, it was a typical drinking party. We were all quite boisterous.
The children were happy with their juice. Hakuren and the Ogre Maids, Ann and Ramrias, kept a close eye on them, so they were in safe hands. I recalled the Fairy Queen getting quite competitive while playing games with the kids.
As for the adults... they were enjoying their sake against the backdrop of the night sky. Several members of the Harpy Race flew alongside the Universal Ship, keeping watch for external threats and making sure no one accidentally tumbled over the side. My thanks to them.
In the center of the deck, several people were performing for the crowd.
Oh, that's right. Suarliu and Suarkou had appeared with towels stuffed under their clothes to bloat their bellies.
"I'm pregnant!" they announced in perfect unison.
In that exact moment, Suarlou sprayed her sake in a grand, spectacular fountain. I wondered if the joke was a hit or if she was simply horrified by her daughters' bizarre behavior. Probably both.
At the ship's bow, Kuro and Yuki sat side-by-side, gazing up at the stars. It was a lovely, serene moment.
Zabuton’s children were hanging from the sails. I had worried they might get blown away, but the ship’s protective magic kept them perfectly safe. They eventually clustered together and began weaving an intricate pattern onto the fabric of the sails. It was a magnificent sight.
Yes, yes... everything seemed fine. My own behavior didn't seem to have been a problem.
...Wait.
Something was wrong. Why was I currently in Village Four, the Sun Castle?
The Universal Ship was anchored nearby. All around me, the passengers from the ship and the residents of Village Four were slumped over, passed out drunk. Even Bell, Gou, and Kuzuden were out cold.
...
...Did I get drunk and shout something like, "Let's raid the Sun Castle!"?
I went to check with Yoko, who was still conscious and drinking.
"We ran out of food halfway through," she explained calmly. "So, the conversation turned to getting supplies from the nearby Village Four."
I see.
"Once we arrived, you said that having a banquet here was basically the same as having one on the ship anyway. At least, that's how I remember the Village Head putting it."
...Now that she mentioned it, I did have a vague memory of saying that.
Good heavens, Hiraku.
I really needed to cut back. Or at least, I needed to learn when to stop. Moderation was key.
I woke up Bell, Gou, and Kuzuden to offer my apologies. Apparently, they found it quite enjoyable since they rarely got to host such extravagant parties at the Sun Castle.
Well, that was a relief. I promised to replenish all the sake and ingredients we had consumed later.
I also apologized to the High Ogre Maids. I had left them stuck with the cooking duties the entire night.
And then there was Donovan. I asked him what he thought of drinking while watching the sun rise. He told me it was the absolute best.
Well, I had wanted them to enjoy the night air, but I suppose if they were happy, it was fine.
Regardless, we needed to head home immediately. The rest of the village was likely worried.
Over the following days, more Night Flight Banquets were held on the Universal Ship. We prioritized those who hadn't participated yet. I joined them as well, though I strictly refrained from drinking.
Meanwhile, the dwarves had become obsessed with the idea of "curating drinking environments."
I had to tell them that they couldn't just pick any spot. They had to avoid being a nuisance, and they had to stay away from dangerous places.
Their ideas were creative, certainly, but I drew the line at drinking in treetops. You'd fall the moment the alcohol hit you. The same went for small boats in the middle of the reservoir; those were guaranteed to capsize.
I didn't hate the enthusiasm, though. I decided to try and steer their creativity toward interior design—perhaps creating specific tavern atmospheres to match different types of sake.
I spent the next few days working hard to keep the dwarves' wild ideas on the right track.