Heinrich had never been fond of drinking. After all, alcohol dulls the mind, a severe disadvantage for a Wizard and Scholar.
But before him stood a glass of wine personally crafted by a god—a drink countless mortals dreamed of tasting yet could never obtain. If he missed this opportunity, he might never get another chance.
Previously, when the Goddess of Magic offered him tea with the power to transform a mortal into a god, Heinrich had refused, choosing to let her live a little longer. But this was merely a cup of 'ordinary' wine with no special properties. After a moment's thought, he decided not to decline.
He slowly raised the glass to his lips and took a sip. Instantly, an indescribable sensation—a cool, refreshing exhilaration—washed over him.
Heinrich set the glass down and couldn't help but exclaim to Hysilens, "This is truly delicious... thump!"
Before he could finish the sentence, he collapsed face-first into his plate, utterly motionless.
Hysilens wore a bewildered expression. "?"
Melly, who was closest to Heinrich, sized him up and remarked, "He's out cold? Such a lightweight!"
As she spoke, Melly picked up the glass in front of her. Hysilens had just claimed this wine was superior to any other in the world, a claim Melly regarded with skepticism.
A seasoned drinker, Melly had always adored wine. She took a small sip to see what the fuss was about.
Her eyes widened instantly, and she froze for a few seconds. After setting the glass down, she cleared her throat and said, "Well, to be honest, it's... just okay. Not as good as the wine Teacher Tribbie makes."
Tribios's lips twitched slightly. Melly's expression betrayed her true feelings—the wine was clearly extraordinary—but her stubborn pride wouldn't let her admit it.
Melly insisted, "You wouldn't understand. Wine isn't just about the taste; it's about the atmosphere! Drinking in different places with different people changes the whole experience!"
Just as she was about to say something more, another thump echoed through the room. Melly slumped face-first onto the table, instantly falling into a deep slumber.
Hysilens still wore a puzzled expression. Wait, I didn't put any sleeping pills in their drinks! What's going on with these two?
She left her seat and went over to Heinrich and Melly, checking them again. She confirmed that they had simply passed out from being too drunk.
Since the wine had been brewed by a god, its potency was far beyond what ordinary mortals could withstand. Tribios, Hysilens, and even Cerydra had remained unaffected earlier only because they were all divine beings.
But Heinrich and Melly were different. The former was a mere mortal, so a single sip had been enough to knock him out. Melly had lasted a bit longer, but she too couldn't escape her fate.
Of course, a major contributing factor was Hysilens' inexperience as a bartender. This was her first time mixing drinks, and she had focused solely on the flavor, completely neglecting the alcohol content.
"Ah, geez," Hysilens muttered. She had planned to discuss matters concerning the Northern Territory with Heinrich during this banquet. Well, there goes that plan.
Tribios approached and opened two Century Gates, sending the pair back to their respective residences. She then turned her gaze to the remaining two figures at the banquet—the other two versions of herself.
After a moment of silence, Tribios and Hysilens returned to their seats. What else could they do? The food and drinks were already prepared, so they might as well eat and drink as much as they could. As for the Northern Territory matters, they could discuss them later; there was no rush.
Tribios and Cerydra ate normally, enjoying the various delicacies. Hysilens, however, downed cup after cup of wine, quickly becoming tipsy.
Everyone's alcohol tolerance varies based on their individual constitution. Hysilens actually had a fairly high tolerance, but even she couldn't withstand such relentless drinking.
It's worth noting that, although they were the same person, Hysilens' drunken state didn't synchronize with the others. It was like wearing glasses where the left lens remained perfectly clear, providing sharp vision, while the right lens fogged up, blurring everything into a hazy, indistinct blur. Hysilens' body was like that right lens.
Perhaps it was simply because the wine was too delicious, or perhaps out of curiosity about what it would be like when she couldn't drink anymore, Hysilens finally gave in after another glass. Her body went limp, and she collapsed against Tribios beside her. From her personal perspective, blacking out felt like her "computer" had simply shut down, while the other versions of herself remained unaffected.
Tribios caught her effortlessly. Perhaps due to the unique nature of the wine, or perhaps due to Hysilens' constitution, Tribios didn't detect the usual pungent alcoholic odor. Instead, a refreshing scent of seawater mingled with mint emanated from her.
As expected of someone made of water, Hysilens's body was remarkably soft. Tribios couldn't resist gently pinching her flushed cheek, like poking at a jelly, the texture was wonderfully satisfying.
Finally, Tribios scooped Hysilens up in a princess carry, opened the Century Gate, and transported her to the Golden Courtyard outside Okhema City—the villa where all her selves resided together.
Time passed, and the next morning arrived. Both Heinrich and Melly woke up early. Despite having drunk themselves into oblivion the night before, they felt no hangover whatsoever—no headache, no muscle aches, just a refreshing clarity and complete comfort!
Leaving Heinrich's reaction aside, Melly's first act was to pull out her phone and text Tribios: "To be honest, Teacher Tribbie, I still think your wine tastes better!"
Upon seeing this message, Tribios wore a bemused expression, caught between laughter and exasperation. Since Melly was awake, she surmised Heinrich must be stirring as well. She opened the Century Gate and appeared before Heinrich's room.
After knocking and receiving a response, she pushed open the door and entered, ready to discuss the matters of the Northern Territory that had been left unresolved the previous day.
Heinrich, of course, had no reason to refuse and replied decisively, "Absolutely no problem!"