In a corner of the royal palace at Verbeau, deep in the country known as Yorland, I catch the rare sight of a paradox.

On the one hand, the pristine and soothing royal gardens, a finely crafted gazebo in the middle. But this place stands in contrast to the person in it.

I met the Priestess, as expected, a woman of saintly countenance like a sweet lullaby. Well, that lullaby changed tunes midway to loud death metal.

What am I talking about? My mind is denying the reality in front of me. My rambling is just another sign that I’m trying to escape from this moment in time.

But I have to face the facts. The Grand High Priestess, a sworn sister to the Dragon God, is chugging ale from her 9th mug like it was milk. There’s even a foam mustache etched on her upper lips.

She exhales in satisfaction and precariously places the empty mug on a pyramid of mugs, like stacking a house of cards. She seems fairly experienced in this.

I give the Dragon God Abaleyn an inquiring look, to which she returns a shake of the head and a sigh. She understands what I’m feeling and can only reply that I should accept it.

Dionyss「 Hm? Hey, girlie! You haven’t touched your ale yet? Or are you a wine type? 」

Becca 「 … I’m good. I’ve got my own drinks. 」

I bring out some cans of soda from my Inventory. I crack open the can with a familiar spray of bubbly sweet air.

Dionyss 「 Oh? Is that...? That shiny colorful cup, is that soda? 」

Becca 「 You’ve heard of it? 」

Dionyss 「 A dwarf fellow from Frosthill has been talking about it recently. Word of it has spread among the alcohol lovers of the capital, but no one can find one. 」

It must have been Gosler, the lord of Frosthill, who spread word of the soda that I served him. I never expected that it would become a famous rumor even in the capital.

Abaleyn 「 Sister Dion, you haven’t even let me introduce my companions yet. Could you slow down on the drinks? 」

Dionyss 「 If I slow down I’ll die, you know? Besides, Abby, you’re only on your 5th cup. Drink up some more! It’s not often that we meet like this. 」

The girls and I can’t even keep up with their pace of drinking and speaking. I’m sure none of us could anticipate walking into a drinking party like this.

Actually, I’m still confused where all this liquor and cups keep coming from? I can’t sense anything while more cups and barrels are pulled from thin air.

It’s different to my Inventory menu. When I pull stuff out of it a magical distorted hole appears before I reach into it. But in this case the Priestess pulls it out of air like some cheap movie effect, no signs of anything being there when it suddenly appears.

Dionyss 「 So, anyway, that soda thing right? Well it’s become a ghost drink that some are debating if it really exists or not, and some collectors are searching for it. I bet you could earn a fortune with it. 」

Hang on, are those alcoholics really that interested in trying soda? I mean, if they want to pay me in gold coins for it then tell me where I can find them.

Becca 「 Well you can have this can then. It’s a soda called ginger ale, but it’s not alcoholic so I don’t know if it’ll suit your taste. 」

Dionyss 「 Nonsense! I’ve drank every drink known to man, be it from the soup bowl of the ancient Dwarf King, or from the Fountain of Youth. There’s nothing I wouldn’t drink. 」

This priest has a serious drinking problem. Is she some sort of God of Drinking?

Dionyss 「 The Dwarfs used to consider me as the Goddess of Liquor, to answer your question. 」

Becca 「 Did you just read my mind? 」

Dionyss 「 What, Abby does it too, you know? 」

So Granny Abaleyn can read my mind, like I thought! These two are quite the godlike beings.

Now that my suspicion is sated, I toss the can at the priest who catches it and takes a small sip from it. Her eyes bloom wide in astonishment and she tilts the cup back and drinks more of it.

Eventually her head is thrown back and I can hear her gulping the soda down in quick succession. She drinks the last drop and slams it down on the table with an ecstatic expression.

Dionyss 「 Wow, an intriguing drink if I’ve ever had one. Only a few drinks come to mind, and that bubbly nectar jumping around my tongue, leaving a sweet aftertaste; I like it! 」

It seems she’s taken to the drink better than I could hope for. I hope this doesn’t lead to more rumors and troubles.

Alice, the little girl in my party, tugs on my shirt for attention.

Alice 「 Can I have some soda too? The one that goes on top of the ice cream? 」

Becca 「 A root beer float? Sure. 」

I bring out a bucket of ice cream from my Inventory that has been perfectly preserved and chilled. I scoop some out with psychic control and pour a bottle of root beer over it. I pass the bowl over to Alice while also bringing out some snacks and drinks for the girls.

Thanks to Alice breaking the ice metaphorically with ice cream, the others ease up and make small talk. We in turn introduce ourselves.

I notice that Dionyss is staring passionately at the root beer float like she wants to devour it in one bite.

Abaleyn’s smiling poker face is also failing to hide her longing gaze at the ice cream. Is it an instinct in these gods that desire new stimulating luxuries?

I share some with them in the end as well and they receive it favorably.

The discussion was derailed with all the drinking and ice cream, but now it’s concluded and the table is cleared.

Abaleyn’s butler serves tea in fancy white cups on plates to each of us. The taste is mild and cleanses the palate.

Dionyss 「 So you’re the girl that Abby mentioned? The interesting one who was brought here from another world? Certainly, it’s pretty obvious. 」

Is it? Do I stick out like a traveler?

Dionyss 「 You’re party is pretty funny to watch, especially that one guy. 」

What guy? Oh right, Adder was here the whole time. The scholar who hitched a ride with us to the capital. In a corner of the gazebo is Adder’s lifeless body slouched over in his chair. I can practically see his spirit tethered to his body by a thin string.

He was dragged with us all the way to the royal palace and forgotten somewhere in the back of my mind. I guess he passed out again at some point in this farce.

I can hear a murmur from his pale face.

Adder 「 ...The Grand High Priestess… a drunk? ….. Not possible….. a shocking secret…. I must be dreaming or… dead… 」

Rest in peace, Adder’s common sense. I offer no apologies.