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He arrived after taking multiple connecting flights over 30 hours.
Despite that, he had taken the shortest course, and he rode business class instead of economy. After getting off at the airport, Yuuki’s sense of exasperation over why he was here only grew.
The Carribean Sea of South America.
It’s an island surrounded by coral reefs. The island of Martinique.
It’s the colony of a large European country that had caused Christopher Columbus to declare it as the most beautiful place he had ever seen. A location nearing the likes of heaven.
That is where Kirishima Yuuki is currently located.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t for sightseeing. Neither is it for a school trip.
It is for work.
The guide that he met up with at the airport patted him on the back, showing off his white teeth.
“Why do you look so down? You’ve come to heaven and that’s nothing to be depressed about. Get more excited!”
The heavily accented English was a bit hard to grasp, but it probably meant something along those lines.
“Hahah, that’s true.” Yuuki responded with a forced smile.
In truth, it is a great island. Emerald green seas. Glittering sandy beaches that seemed to have jewels sprinkled on them.
The cost of living being high is a small flaw in the jewel, but in return, the public order in the area is good. The spice filled cuisine often associated with many southern countries is also quite appetizing.
It is truly an amazing tourist destination.
Normally, this would be the point in time where someone should be very excited.What the guide said is true. Even if it was for work, with this many factors contributing to the situation, his mood should rise up.
That’s right. If only it was just for work.
If he came on some sort of business—if it was attracting business or investment, or even just entertaining customers. If it was anything along those lines, then everything would be alright.
The island of Martinique, besides tourism it is also famous for something else.
The production of rum.
†
“Kirishima Yuuki, you are quite the boring man.” The goddess ruthlessly cut him down with her words. As usual, she was drinking a copious amount of spirits, while smoking on her cigar. Kanaruzawa Sekai glanced at Yuuki with eyes that seemed like she was watching a bug. “The job given to you should be something quite easy to do. Drink with me, just by doing that you are able to save this world, you know? Not just easy, I would say it’s pretty reasonable is it not? What exactly are you dissatisfied with?”
The amount and frequency of drinking… That’s what he wanted to immediately reply with, but he forced himself to put up with it. If he were to further prod the goddess who was already in a bad mood, there would be trouble.
“Recently, my stomach,” Yuuki explained apologetically. “It hasn’t been in the best shape.”
“Oh?” The goddess spoke with a cold voice, “I see. Choosing not to drink is your conclusion after balancing the scales between your own health and the world. I can see that you value your own body more than the whole entire world.”
“No, I did not mean that.”
“Do you truly understand what position you currently hold?”
“I believe I do.”
“I don’t think so.”
She blew a puff of smoke out of her cigar and into Yuuki’s face. Then, she recrossed her legs in front of Yuuki, who was currently kneeling on the floor.
“I am an existence that is used conveniently by all of you, but if I so choose, I could at any moment decide to have this world disappear completely. Locking me up inside this mansion, forcing me into fulfilling an insane job, and then, even preventing me from enjoying alcohol. Exactly what am I supposed to have, that allows me to feel motivated in continuing to cling onto this present world.”
“I understand.”
“Understand? Exactly what is that you understand? Tell me.”
“I must deeply apologize.”
“I’m not asking for your apology. Answer me.”
“…”
I’ve been beat, Yuuki thought.
There wasn’t any room for argument in the first place. The goddess’ claims were reasonable. If it was required in order to have her continue her work, drinking was a must, even if he were to destroy one or two livers.
However, is that something that is a good thing?
He had only started his mission recently, but Yuuki has done a lot of research to search for an answer on how exactly he should interact with her.
To get along and drink with her—at the current moment, that was the only request that she has made. However, looking further into the future, if he were to wreck his own liver continuously, there would only be many more sacrifices after him.
…After an explanation along those lines, Kanaruzawa Sekai nodded pridefully.
“I see. I understand that you did not decide on this without any thought.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“I, in my own way, was trying to make things easier for you. Drinking some alcohol is not something that is considered work, you want to do something more proper. Is that correct?”
Yuuki looked at the goddess with a puzzled face.
The goddess responded with an exaggerated nod, “Then, let’s measure your worth as a human. At the same time, we can see if there is any worth in me pouring my blood, sweat, and tears into maintaining this world. We’ll be able to kill two birds with one stone.”
The conversation was going in a weird direction.
Though, with what has already been said, there was no way he could pull back.
“I understand what you are saying. Then, what should I do?”
“Hmmm. Let’s see…”
Kanaruzawa Sekai formed a pensive look. After waiting a bit, her expression gradually broke into a smile before she spoke.
†
“‘Go find me alcohol that can satisfy me’, she said.” Yuuki muttered while swaying to the rust covered truck that he was sitting in. “Additionally, it must be ‘by your own hands and feet’.”
“Of course that’s how it would be. She’s trying to measure your worth, Yuuki-kun.” His companion, Koiwai Kurumi, laughed in the seat next to him. “There’s no meaning unless you search for it by yourself. Of course, if you were to use the organization’s wealth or connections, you will be able to gather the highest quality of alcohol. However, that’s not what she’s asking for.”
“I know that.”
“How do I put it? It’s like how cooking isn’t just about how it tastes, there’s also this spice called love. It’s kind of like that.”
“I know that as well.”
He looked out the window while grumbling.
There were fields of sugar cane as far as the eye could see to the left and right of the exposed dirt road. The expansive scenery of overgrown leaves seemed to give off a leafy smell despite the windows being closed.
“Isn’t that fine? It’s just like a goddess, assigning a difficult mission like this.” While adjusting the straw hat that she wore on her head, Kurumi spoke. “Just like gods and goddesses in myths, they always end up requesting the impossible. To the point where you would wonder what they were even thinking.Well, of course it would be like that though. Despite being in the form of a human, Kanaruzawa Sekai isn’t really human.”
“She used to be human, right?”
“If you’ve lived for thousands of years you aren’t human anymore.”
“…”
Yuuki made no argument against that statement.
All the while, the Martinique sun mercilessly burned their skin. Since they hadn’t put on sunscreen, they would probably have the same skin color as the locals by the time they returned to their home country.
“You might be thinking too hard about this,” Kurumi shrugged. “Can’t you be a bit more relaxed? If you don’t relax, your body might not hold out, you know. There’s still a long way ahead of us after all.”
“Is that really the case?”
“Yes, that’s how it is. If you really think about it, we’re basically just listening to the whims of a selfish lady. All we really do is say yes to everything that she asks for. Rather, we have to do that, or else the world will be destroyed.”
Yuuki had to admit that she did have a point.
Thinking over his interactions with the goddess, he would definitely need to loosen up a bit at some point. If he were to face everything with full intensity and effort, he will definitely reach his limits eventually.
(As expected of Kurumi.)
Despite how she looks, Kurumi is a super agent that has trained for a very long time. The statement that she nonchalantly made is very much correct.
“Anyways, things are going great,” Kurumi continued. “On an official mission like this, we can openly go on a date. It’s even on this amazingly beautiful island. I’m completely satisfied.”
“…That statement really made me feel that I made a mistake praising you in my mind just now.”
“Also, I bought a new swimsuit too. Let’s go to the beach, the beach! There was that nice looking one outside the hotel, right? Let’s go to that one!”
“Okay, okay. I’ll think about it after we finish our work. Also, this isn’t a date okay?”
At the end of the dirt road, a building could be seen within the sugar cane field. It was a moderately sized building with white plastered walls that seemed to have quite a bit of age to it.
This was their destination, their next battlefield.
†
Based on the results, negotiations were difficult. It was a tremendously difficult task at that.
Yuuki’s target wasn’t one that even produced a lot of alcohol. Even compared to other places in Martinique, it was a small scale, almost unknown distillery. However, according to the information that he so desperately gathered, this hole in the wall distillery has recently come into a new light in the past few years.
“This is juuust a bit tough.” Kurumi dragged out her blunt impressions. In reality, Yuuki’s mind was in a similar state.
They had only been able to open discussions after bowing and begging, yet the owner still stubbornly refused to nod and give the okay.
“These types of family owned businesses, you know,” While sipping on a cocktail filled with fruits, “They’re quite stubborn. Preferring to honor previously made obligations, they won’t easily give in.”
“…” Yuuki stayed silent as he stared at the shell of a peanut.
It was nighttime. They were at the beach just by the hotel. Just as Kurumi had declared, she was in a new swimsuit. Yuuki followed along and wore swim trunks.
“Yuuki, what do you want to do? There are a few different directions we can attack from.”
“For example?”
“Appeal to some important person on the island. That would probably be one of the most normal approaches. You could also just bring out the money.”
“You know they won’t give it over with just money. That’s just not the type of people they are.”
“I’m not talking about having them sell you alcohol. I’m trying to get you to just buy the whole distillery.”
“…”
“Another easy and quick option would be to just attack the distillery and steal what we want. As long as we tie up any loose ends it’ll be just fine.”
“…”
“Well, that isn’t something that you would do though.”
“If you already know that then don’t bring it up. Weren’t you the one that says cooking isn’t just about making something taste good, it’s also about the spices?”
“I do believe that alcohol gained by drawing blood is quite spicy as it is.”
“…”
“Alright alright, don’t make such a terrible expression.” Kurumi waved her hand as she joked around.
Yuuki expressionlessly stuffed some nuts into his mouth.
“Anyways, why don’t we take it easy tonight. We have the time to think about this after we unwind and recharge ourselves.”
“…I didn’t really come here to play around.”
“You’re so stiff. Isn’t it fine? It’s a rare chance. There isn’t a luckier life than this even if you were to try a million times. Unfortunately for you, I’m going to take my time and indulge. I’m going to enjoy this date to the fullest.”
“Didn’t I tell you this wasn’t a date?”
A tanned boy came over and exchanged Kurumi’s cup with a new one. This time, it was a brightly colored blue cocktail.
“Yuuki-kun?”
“Hmmm?”
“Are you anxious?”
“Is that how it looks?”
“Yeah, just a bit.”
“I see. That’s not how it really is though.” He temporarily stopped his hands that were originally occupied with peeling nut shells and looked up at the night sky. A sky full of stars as if studded with white sand. You could hear the sound of gentle waves as they came in across the beach. “I don’t know why, but I have this mysterious feeling of impatience.”
“Oh?”
“The feeling that I would need to hurry, or else I wouldn’t make it in time. It’s really weird. I don’t understand where it’s coming from.”
“I wonder? Is it the pressure from being entrusted with a role in taking care of the goddess? Still, you’re not exactly someone who is sensitive to that sort of thing.” Kurumi stretched after sipping deliciously on her cocktail. “Anyways, this isn’t something that you can settle in one or two days. There’s no point in panicking.”
“I know.”
“This is all a farce in the first place. Coming all the way to an island this far in the south. Well, I do believe that you understand that already.”
Yuuki didn’t respond to that statement. Instead, he said, “I wish I could’ve brought Haruko.”
To which Kurumi responded, “Well, this isn’t a vacation after all.”
Today would probably be the only night that would pass by so peacefully. The real fight starts tomorrow. The fight for the goddess’s offering.
†
“—so, this is that alcohol.”
Back at the goddess’s mansion within the 24 wards of Tokyo. Kanaruzawa Sekai narrowed her eyes at the bottle placed on the table.
The trip over to Martinique took about 2 weeks. He had finally returned to his home country but was asked to visit without a moment’s rest.
“Still, you really made me wait, you know?” The goddess sat down on a chair, leisurely crossing her legs while letting out a voice of complaint. “I never imagined that you would make me wait 2 weeks. Well, I wouldn’t have said anything if you got tired and didn’t want to fulfill the request anymore.”
“I was told this was the best alcohol, after all.” Yuuki explained while lowering his head. “There were a lot of steps to obtain it. I do apologize for making you wait, but that is how much worth I believe it has.”
“You don’t say.” Sekai laughed at his words, but her eyes stared at the bottle with curiosity.
“It has a nice color.” She said, “The barrel has affected it in a good way. A beautiful brown color with a slight red tinge. It’s been aged for quite a while…”
“It’s the first vintage batch from a particular distillery.”
“From what year is it?”
“It was kept 50 years in a barrel before being switched into a glass bottle and kept for 50 years. In total, it’s a 100 year old rum.”
“Ho hou.”
“By the way, this vintage rum is part of the distillery’s private stock. Including the bottle in front of you, there’s only two left in the world. They have also been gracious enough to give us that last bottle.”
“Oh?” The goddess’s voice had a bit of surprise mixed into it. “I see, this certainly can be called the world’s finest alcohol. It may be worth the two weeks of wait that I had to experience.”
“I’m honored for you to say that.”
“And? How did you end up getting your hands on this?” The young silver haired girl displayed a sneer. “This is quite the valuable alcohol, there’s no way you would be able to obtain it easily. Was it money? Authority? Or did you bring up violence?”
“None of that. I obtained it in a legal manner. Moreover, it was free.”
“I see. I guess as part of the Tsukumo organization it isn’t hard to come across such a connection.”
“No. It’s not that either this time.”
“Oh?” The god expressed interest, “Then how did you do it?”
“We became friends.”
“Friends…?” She tilted her head. “When you say that you became friends, you mean with the distillery’s owner?”
“That’s right.”
“Is that person young? Around you in age?”
“No at all. He said he was turning 56 this year.”
“…”
Sekai stayed silent with a bewildered expression on her face.
Yuuki tacked on an explanation, “Truthfully speaking, I became friends with the owner’s whole family. After that, it was just a matter of having them gift it to me as a friend. It still seems weird like that, but all it means is that if something were to happen to their family, I would drop anything to help them. That’s the type of bond that I’ve formed with them.”
“You did that in two weeks?”
“That’s right.”
“Is that even possible? That strong of a bond, in that short of a time.”
“I believe that I had good luck.”
“I see.”
The silver-haired girl narrowed her eyes and picked up the glass with her hand. After swirling the glass a few times and enjoying its smell, she wetted just a tiny bit of her lips.
“——”
She closed her eyes. It was as if she was remembering a fond memory of the past, or as if she was staring into some southern tropical paradise.
A moment passed.
She slowly opened her eyes and leaked out a voice. “Amazing.”
She lowered her eyes onto the contents of the glass. Her gaze was one that seemed like she was staring lovingly at a young child.
“It would be uncouth for me to describe this alcohol with distasteful words. It’s truly amazing.”
After saying that, she brought out another glass and poured alcohol into it.
“For you, Kirishima Yuuki.”
“Yes?”
“You drink as well.”
“…”
“Don’t make such a face. I’m only trying to express my gratitude for this alcohol.” She smiled, “I won’t drink this alcohol like a whale sucking in water. I’m going to take my time and savor it. And you have the right to do so as well.”
“But…”
“Rather, it is your duty to do so. This is alcohol given to you by a precious friend, right?”
Yuuki picked up the glass with his hand. Its fragrance tickled his nose. He was aware that his friend’s distillery was top-class, but this alcohol was on another level. It was enough so that even an amateur like Yuuki could tell.
“To start, you, as part of the Tsukumo organization, are an enemy to me.” The goddess said, “However, I have respect for you as an enemy. Not to mention the respect and admiration I have for this alcohol. In front of alcohol with such quality, there is only one thing we can do, and that is to taste it. Do you understand, Kirishima Yuuki?”
“Yes.”
The goddess looked at the glass with an ecstatic expression.
“I believe I understand you a little bit more as a man.” She then said, “I guess I’ve once again been able to confirm the value of what it is I protect.”
Yuuki had the same mentality. The worth of his role. The size of what he holds. All of that has been condensed into the few millimeters of liquid that had burned going down his throat.
It is currently the peak of spring. Only a week since Kirishima Yuuki had met Kanaruzawa Sekai.
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