409 - - Episode 407 The end of cherry blossom viewing

The spirit tree was blooming cherry blossoms and Sakura seemed to be satisfied with her first full meal. The problem is the spirits that Dine and Sylphy are going to get. I'm curious to see how it tastes like, but I'm also worried about the idea of using the spirits for cocktails. Let's start by protecting the liquor we're laying down.

"Well, Dolly, I don't think it's time to make cocktails with liquors that are being aged."

"Why?"

Dolly tilts her head with a scowling face. She looks so dainty, even though we are talking about alcohol.

"Yeah, I think it's valuable to have some of the liquors in the bottle, and I think we should start practicing cocktails with the freshly distilled stuff first. Besides, if you use the laid-down liquors, they may be gone before they finish aging."

Already, the spirits and rubies at the brewery are experimenting with various cocktails using freshly distilled spirits. I'm told that's pretty much all the liquor they plan to put down.

They are still mixing various fruit juices, ales and wines, but they are getting excited about the results. Needless to say, what would happen if you throw a time-consuming aged liquor into the mix?

"...... Indeed, that's true."

Dolly nodded her head in agreement as she looked at the other great spirits. She says it like she's not, but I know Dolly drinks a lot too. Well, I can read the air, so I won't say.

"But I'm curious about the aged cocktails, too, you know?"

"Yes, of course. The more kinds of drinks you can serve at the bar, the more fun it is."

"Yes, of course. I'm a big fan of ale mixed with spirits!　You drink it all at once and it'll give you a gulp!"

"Yuta, wouldn't you be willing to give it a try?"

Just when I thought I had convinced Dolly, Ruby, Onyx, If, and Nomos interrupted. I wish they'd read the air.

"If we have enough left over from this one keg, how about an experiment?"

Oh," he complained, "how can there be any left when we don't even know what it tastes like yet? A barrel of spirits is more than enough for a normal person.

"Hmmm, but it would be a waste to drink half-aged spirits halfway through the aging process, so why don't we at least wait until the minimum aging period is over?"

The Great Spirit and the senior spirits put their heads together and began to consult with each other. The sight of Belle and the others gathered together for consultation was incredibly funny, but the consultation of the spirits in front of me was not so funny at all.

It should be a beautiful sight, though, since there are quite a few beautiful women gathered here. It seems to me that the image of the genie is about to be destroyed.

"Well, Yuta is right. We can't do things halfway, so we'll discuss it again after the maturing period is over."

You seem to have made a wise decision. But you are ready to drink it after the minimum aging period. I feel that it is very difficult to make long-aged sake when the spirit is around. Well, for now, I'll just be happy to put it off. Let's enjoy the cherry blossoms this time.

******

"I'm home."

"Woohoo, I got it!"

Switching the topic from cocktails to cherry blossom viewing while having a nice conversation with the nomos, Sylphy and Dine came back. Floating next to Sylphy is a sake barrel that has been aging in the sea.

The barrels are coated with thick glass and have small shell-like creatures and seaweed attached to them, giving them the cool atmosphere of having been salvaged from a sunken ship.

"Hmm. Let's drink it right away."

Nomos shakes his right hand lightly, and the glass coating the cask melts away to reveal an ordinary cask of sake. It seems a bit of a waste.

"Oh, I can't wait to see what kind of sake it is!"

"I've had the freshly distilled stuff before, but I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out."

Even If and Vita, who have never had whiskey before, seem quite interested in it and are looking at the casks. I'll remember to have them drink some of that when I run out of patience and start drinking Japanese sake.

But I'd be happy if I could make a distilled spirit that tastes so good that I don't have to touch Japanese sake anyway.

"Here, Yuta, try some."

"What?　Me first?"

Why are you giving it to me first?

"You taught him how to make it, and Yuta is the one who has drunk the most spirits.

......I know what you mean, but I was just having fun drinking it, and it doesn't mean I can taste the finer details. But the spirits are paying attention to me, so I'll just drink it quickly.

A clear glass cup, which seems to have been made by Nomos, is filled to the brim with spirits. It's a little bit colored, but not as much as whiskey.

It tastes ...... hmmm, I think it is somewhat easier to drink than when it was just distilled. But it smells like wood, but not enough aroma.

"Hmm, subtle?"

"What's your opinion?

I got angry. I am not suited for that kind of thing, but we human beings are not suited for that kind of thing.

"Well, you should try it and see," he said.

At my words, the Great Spirits and the Senior Spirits sip from their glasses.

"...... Oh, it really changes the taste. It's not as good as the whiskey Yuta let me drink, but I think it's closer to the freshly distilled spirit.

"Sis, I like the freshly made one, but this one tastes good too!"

Sylphy and Dine gave me a pretty positive assessment.

"Yes, the taste has improved, ...... but it is still rough and the aroma is simple. Yuta, is it really possible to produce such a variety of aromas like that whisky just by letting it sit?"

I don't know anything about how to make whiskey except what I've seen in comic books and on TV, so I don't like it when you ask me questions with such a serious face.

Well, I heard that the flavor and aroma varies depending on the wood used in the barrels, but I haven't heard of anything special being added to the whiskey. But I've never heard of anything special being added.　I've heard that in some countries you have to age it that long for it to be considered whiskey, so I guess it's not matured enough."

"Hmm. I guess we can't draw any conclusions until the aging process is complete. But I agree with Sylphy that the taste has definitely improved. We should change the type of wood in the barrels and make more.

After Nomos came to a conclusion, Sylphy, Ruby and the others started discussing some kind of future brewing policy. It's going to be a long talk, so I'm going to drink some more while watching the cherry blossoms and go to bed.

**** I'm going to have a drink while watching the cherry blossoms.

I woke up refreshed and not too drunk last night, and when I went out of the room, Bell and his friends gathered around, cheerfully greeting me in the morning. They are full of energy from this morning.

As usual, the belles gathered around me, equipping themselves ...... as usual, but not quite as usual. Unlike usual, they have one more piece of equipment. It seems that Sakura will be one of my equipment.

When I went to the living room fully equipped, Sara and Fuchu were already awake and gathered there. Gina and the other great spirits are all gone. Sylphy always shows her face even if she doesn't have breakfast with us, but is she still drinking if she's not here?

It was a cherry blossom viewing party, so they put out a lot of sake barrels and even added some spirits. I think it is very possible that they are still drinking. But what about Gina?　When I went to bed, Gina said she wanted to drink some more, so I left before her, but ...... is she still drinking?

"Sara. Where's Gina?"

"I tried to wake him up a few minutes ago, but he couldn't seem to get up. I'm thinking of asking Pru to help me after breakfast, if that's okay?"

Sara answered my question with a wry smile. Gina had had a little too much to drink. Well, she just got back and has no plans for the rest of the day, so I guess it doesn't matter.

"Okay. If you have any trouble with Pru's treatment, let me know and I'll ask Moon to take care of her.

"Yes."

Well, let's serve breakfast to the little army first, and I'll go outside to check on them. Belle and the others are working hard, so I'm sure Sakura will be fine.

I go outside and look at the cherry blossoms blooming in the morning sun, but the Great Spirits are still drinking, as they should be, so I head for the table.

"Oh, Yuta, good morning. Is it morning already?"

"Good morning, Sylphie. It's already morning and the kids are having breakfast, so let's end the cherry blossom viewing.

It's getting light out, and you didn't even notice. You have a red face. Are you quite drunk?　The last time Sylphy and the others got into a drunken mood was when they materialized and drank alcohol, wasn't it?

Since then, we haven't seen them drunken as if they got used to it, but the addition of distilled liquor might have disturbed their pacing.

"Heh. That was a fun hanami!"

......Dine is making funny noises too, and she's definitely had too much to drink. I'm not sure if she really understands the meaning of Ohanami, but the other spirits seem to be in a good mood, so I'll call the Ohanami a great success.

I'm glad you had a good time. What about Ruby and the others?

"They went home before we did because they had to prepare the store."

I see...the spirits are coming to visit us...so we need to get ready. I think it's great that the spirits are able to end the banquet when they have something to do. I wonder if the great spirits would stop feasting until morning if they had a role to play.　......Well, we don't have to force ourselves to make work.

Since this is a paradise for the spirits, it's best to let them have fun freely as long as it's not bad for their children's education.

"Understood. Let's make this quick and easy.

I was going to take it easy and look around the paradise today, but since the spirits are coming to visit us, we should look around the paradise to some extent in the morning. Mohamofu Kingdom is popular among the spirits, and I should pay my tribute to them before they come to visit me. Surprisingly, you don't have much time.