372 - - 370 stories.

While making my rounds in paradise, I checked on the status of the spirit kings and found out a shocking fact. It seems that I was like a servant among the jade rabbits. Well, it doesn't matter. ...... I think some strange man once said that paying tribute to a beautiful woman is a man's true love. The other one, Tamausagi, is .......

"Thanks to Mr. Wright, I was able to make friends with the ball rabbits. Thank you very much."

He thanks Mr. Wright while paying a tribute to the tama-rabbits with fruits. Now the next time a rabbit won't run away like a rabbit, and I can't thank him enough. We can't thank him enough! We can have all kinds of desserts tonight!

"Mm. It's no trouble for me. I can't help you directly because I don't have a contract with her, but I can give you some advice as long as it's within the sanctuary. You can rely on me.

Come to think of it, a genie can't help you directly if you don't have a contract. Ruby and the others were helping me so much I forgot all about it.

In paradise, it's a sanctuary, and the land outside the base is left to the spirits, so it's quite flexible. If we act outside of the sanctuary in the same way, we might cause trouble for the spirits. I'll make sure to explain the difference between sanctuary and non-sanctuary to Gina and the others later.

But ...... the fluffed-up Light-sama is as cute as ever. I want to fluff him up so bad. If I ask him, will he let me fluff him?

"Yuta, don't go any further."

Suddenly Sylphy grabbed my wrist and stopped me.

"What?"

"Don't you dare. I'd know if you were wagging your hand like that. Yuta, you can't do that. You'll make him depressed.

He was unconsciously wringing his hands. As expected of the King of Spirits, the charm of Fluffy Fluffy is not half bad. And I guess asking him to fluff me makes him depressed. I'll be patient.

Fortunately, Light-sama doesn't notice me since he's smiling at Jade Rabbit and the others... I'll calm down and leave this place.

Light-sama! I'm going to go make my rounds. Thank you again.

"Yes, good luck."

We greet Master Light and leave Mohamofu Kingdom with our hair pulled back as we say goodbye to the jade rabbits that we finally get to touch. Now, where shall we go next?

**

I met Master Water while strolling along the canal. We parted after having a leisurely, common-sense conversation, which made me feel a little better as if we had had a more mature conversation.

Mr. Earth was sitting on the bank of a rice paddy. I thought he was taking a rest, but he told me in a few words that he was looking at the rice paddies because he liked them. We didn't have much time to talk, but he told me that he had visited a soy sauce warehouse and a miso warehouse, and he seemed to enjoy the rice paddies, so it seemed to be all right.

The other two people I haven't met are Mr. Fire and Mr. Dark. I would like to meet Mr. Fire, but I really want to meet Mr. Dirk. But I have not been able to meet Mr. Dirk after visiting almost all places including floating islands.

"Well, then, this is the place to be. ...... haha."

I never thought I would be going in here again. I know I should make the rounds regularly, but I'm kind of getting the hang of it and I didn't want to go in there if I could help it.

"What's wrong with a sigh?"

"No, I'm not good at going into breweries because the people in them are so dense."

"If you're not good at it, you don't have to make the rounds, do you?"

Sylphy asks curiously.

"That's true, but since we've come all this way, I'm going to look around until the end."

I'd like to talk to Master Dirk and .......

"Really?　Well, good luck."

I have a feeling you can read my mind, but I don't care. I stand in front of the brewery and enter with a little more enthusiasm.

Hmmm?　Somehow it seems quieter than usual. No one is paying attention to me, what's going on?　It's usually quiet, but today there is only the sound of equipment being moved. Could it be because Master Fire and Master Dark are here?

But that doesn't make sense. I get the impression that the people at the brewery are only interested in alcohol and brewing.

The spirits in the brewery are either too fond of drinking or too serious about brewing to talk much. However, when a problem arises that they don't agree with, they protest vehemently and try to make their own ideal sake.

The other spirits will not be silent when this happens, and the quiet and tense atmosphere of the brewery turns into a war-like bustle. It is safe as long as there is no physical or magic flying around, but just listening to the real angry voices is enough to scare you. I wonder if the spirits are so crazy that they will refrain from doing so, even if they are the spirit kings.

......At any rate, the atmosphere is bizarre, so let's tread carefully. I hope we can avoid stepping on the landmines of the spirits in the brewery.

When I first came to the brewery, I asked a lot of questions. The spirits of the brewery explained to me in a good mood, but other spirits objected to their explanations, and it turned into a big war. The situation got out of hand. I never want to experience that nightmare again.

I'd like to ask if there is such a difference in the way of making ale. I'm not going to tell you, because if I do, I'll start lecturing you.

As we cautiously proceeded through the brewery, we found Master Fire and Master Dark at the back of the brewery as we had expected. They are with Dine, Nomos, and If. ...... They look like they are having a good time, so I should feel safe if I go there.

"Hello. What are you talking about?"

"Oh, Yuta, you've come to see your sister, haven't you?"

When I call out to her, Dine says some crazy and confident things. It's pretty off the mark, but I still sometimes envy her confidence. Life seems so much more enjoyable with such positivity.　

"No, I'm on patrol in paradise. So, what were you talking about?"

"Boo, Yuta, you're not being honest with me, so I won't tell you!"

What do you mean by "honest"?　You don't mean I'm here to see Master Dirk. So you want me to tell him that I came to see Dene?

I like Deene even though she's a clunker, and I don't mind her saying she came to see me, but the look on her face like, "Look, it's okay to be honest, I'll take it from you, sis. I've made up my mind.

"Nomos, what were you talking about?"

Nomos is making a face like why are you talking to me? I can't talk to Fire and Dirk, of course, and I'm sorry to drag Dolly and If into this. Deanne is grumbling, but I'm going to pretend I don't hear her.

"...... I was talking about that new drink Yuta mentioned."

"Nomos-chan has betrayed her sister!"

I see. That's why the brewery was so quiet. It's impossible for the spirits in the brewery to have missed the news of the new brew. Normally they'd be swarming around Nomos, trying to get a word in.

The fact that they are quiet suggests that there was already a commotion and they were repulsed. Iff seems to be in a good mood, maybe he hit them a few times. It's sad that my image of the genie is shattered when I come here.

"You're talking about something other than whiskey. Are you really going to make that?　You know the only thing I know is the ingredients, right?　And for one, I didn't even know what the ingredients were."

"That's terrible!"

I told him the ingredients of rice, sugar cane, potatoes, corn, and other major liquors, but I couldn't remember the ingredients of tequila. I had seen it on TV several times. Will I be able to remember someday?　Those spiky things that look like swords.

"Well, that's why I've asked Dolly to join the conversation. As long as we know the raw materials, even a rough story Yuta told us will give us a good starting point for trial and error.

"Yuta, Nomos-chan, you can't pretend not to hear your sister's voice!"

He pretends not to hear Deanne's voice, but judging by the way Nomos's face is rising, I'd say he's nearing the end of his rope. Fire and Dark don't seem to be trying to stop Deene, and Sylphy and Dolly are smiling. Sylphie and Dolly are smiling. If is smiling, maybe she's hoping for another upheaval.

I'm the one who will break in the end. I should have said I came to see Dine from the beginning instead of being so stubborn, but every once in a while I get stubborn for no good reason. I should be more mature.

"Huh, I was a little shy to tell you the truth, but I came to see Deanne."

"Uh-huh, Yuta, you're so shy."　

I feel sad for myself for being so stubborn, when my mood is so easily restored.

"Hey, Yuta. So, what does this new sake taste like?　You've had it before, haven't you?"

Master Fire asks me with great interest. It is true that I have had most of the major alcoholic beverages, but don't expect me to be able to describe them in words. That is the job of a professional.

"Oh, I don't know how to say it, I know the difference in taste, but it's hard to describe it. But all the drinks are popular, so I'm sure everyone likes them, right?"

"What's the matter with you, you're so unreliable. Well, if you can tell when you drink it, it won't be a problem if you make sake and taste it. Nomos, I'm counting on you to make the sake.

"Mm. I'd like a drink. I promise to do my best.

Nomos is very motivated. I can handle tequila, bourbon, rum, and vodka, but I can't imagine Chinese baijiu and old wine. I've heard that people who like them like them very much, but I don't know much about them because I don't like their unique flavor.

And gin is another problem. I don't know the source of that herb-like flavor. I think it's some kind of medicinal plant. It's amazing that these spirits can think of making alcohol with such little knowledge.

Yuta. Yuta, out of all the alcoholic drinks I taught Nomos, which one do you like best?

"The most?　Most of them are very strong drinks, so it's hard to say which one I drink the most, since most of them are made into cocktails."

"Cocktails?"

Ah, all the spirits in the brewery are staring at me like I'm the one who's being poked and prodded. That's right, it would take too much time to explain cocktails, so I decided to keep quiet. That's why I left out liqueurs and the like, but the bewitching ...... of Mr. Dark made me slip up. Is it possible to escape from this place?

"Yuta, what kind of drink is this cocktail?　I didn't ask, did I?"

Sylphy's grip on my arm is strong. And her eyes are saying, "Why didn't you tell me?

"Cocktail is not the name of the drink itself, but the way you drink it.　Something like that. I didn't hide it from you, okay?"

I managed to explain in a squeamish manner, and Sylphy's hands loosened.

"I see. But it sounds interesting, so I'd like to know more about it."

......The spirits nod in agreement with Sylphy's words. Haha, will we be done talking by dinner time?　I'm glad I made the last trip to the brewery. No, I shouldn't have come.