It seems that it had already been decided in advance, which also explains the extra bed that was prepared and the empty seat for me.
Once I sat down, the pleasant aroma of different fragrances gently embraced me and the maidens in front of me, intoxicating... it is the visual ecstasy... This is the pinnacle of every man's life!
"It's natural that you seem confused, but I'll explain," Ryujinzhu said and continued. "This is a pajama party prepared by Ruby, and its purpose is to taste the famous alcohol of the Metal Kingdom: we will taste the Dwarf-style alcohol of the Mining Continent, and the last one standing is the victor. We all gathered our courage and had a pajama party before the preparations. Ruby made a comment about the men of her kind being invincible when it comes to alcohol but that human men were also formidable drinkers and Galystia confirmed this."
And so Ruby came up with the idea of inviting me. Some people objected to inviting a man to a girls' night out, especially if the category of that night was about drinking alcohol. But others also found it interesting about my ability to drink alcohol and compete against Ruby; so it ended up in a decision guided by the majority vote, with me winning in favor of participating.
I have nothing to say, and these girls have some worrying ideas, but what makes me uncomfortable now is the Beast girl beside me: Farys of the Golden Fox Clan. Who moves her three tails with a smile and a carefree look.
I read a little about their species and it seems that Beast women have a very dark forbidden ability: they can release toxins that can make people's lust go wild, like a strong aphrodisiac. People under their affection seem to lose control and go wild. The limit of people affected depends on the power of their bearer, and that is why Beast people are often seen in places that merit their powers, charging handsomely for their services.
The fact that Farys is here makes me feel anxious. I don't think she's crazy enough to cause a massacre in this place.
If Farys wanted to, she could start an orgy. A battle of all against all with unprecedented results.
"I see, I guess there is no need to object if you have already decided." Were my words as I remained silent in my seat.
That's still no excuse, my resistance to alcohol is not very high, so it's a waste of time to have tried to bring me. But I will try to fulfill the will of those who summoned me in the first place.
Give me strength!
Now that the formalities were over, the princesses began to eat the sweets on the table. From cookies to very juicy cakes, buns and other snacks from this kingdom: also combinations of sweet seaweed from the ocean, seafood, and animals with sweet and sour preparations.
All of this is, in conclusion, preparations before alcohol.
To avoid getting drunk early in the morning, it is always advisable to eat something before drinking alcohol; in this case, sweets are also a good option.
That's why they're getting ready. If this is Ruby's idea, then she's pretty considerate... and she's prepared to go all out...
The girls talked amongst themselves about unimportant topics while waiting for the alcohol to arrive. I just listened and didn't participate, which was the most modest decision for now.
"What do you think of the sweets here, Lucius?" Galystia asked, sitting to my left.
The question was directed at me.
"I'll be honest, I think the texture and taste is different than I remember."
"Isn't that right?" Galystia said with a smile. "These are different."
"Do you miss home, Galystia-sama?"
"Uhm, a little. But I don't dislike this place either, it's fun to spend time with my friends."
I won't deny that I also miss my old friends, with whom I laughed and shared every moment. But now it's a thing of the past. A memory that only I am aware of.
Now my present which is my current past, never existed... but still, a strange feeling prevails inside me...
When the doors opened, a small group of stewards carrying a barrel entered and placed the alcohol in a corner of the room alongside eight thick, traditional-looking wooden glasses on the table. After an order from Ruby, they left.
It seems that she will be the one to take care of this...
Next to a large wooden decanter with a beautiful sculpted shape, Ruby poured her alcohol inside and proceeded to serve each of us a full glass serving.
The beer was bubbling and foam was slowly spilling from the crown of the glass while a perfume-like scent came from the thick liquid; its color was a bit orange with a certain reddish hue and its smell was sweet and peculiar. This was the famous alcohol of the Dwarves: their nectar of life.
They say their alcohol is the best in the world and gives the Dwarves their strong vitality.
I'm not a seasoned alcohol drinker, so my assessment will be a bit vague...
We all looked at each other with determination before starting. Once we accepted the possible consequences that it could bring us, we raised our glasses and drank it to the bottom.
Round 1
The liquid that ran down my throat left me with a refreshing sensation and the slight sweet taste was peculiar: I could feel the strong concentration of alcohol after a few seconds of drinking it. But it has a balance and its taste is addictive, it makes you want to keep drinking while your body slowly warms up.
It's light...
I think I have a general idea about its high rating, it is considered so good for its ease of assimilation when consuming it and its effectiveness in tasting strong alcohol. I can't find a clear definition, but it is exotic compared to the common beer you can find elsewhere.
"Now we will proceed to talk about our homes, do you agree?" said Ruby, the orchestrator of this meeting.
We all nodded and then they began to tell about their kingdoms...
Hey...?
They're all looking at me.
"Since you're new, we'll let you start first," Ruby added with a smile.
Oh?
This is problematic.
They are probably aware that I can't explain many things. But I guess being vague in my words won't make any difference.
"Well… I don't think I can answer some questions very well, since I don't really know about the kingdoms of any continent," I said, tilting my head slightly as I thought. "But I do remember certain feelings: summer is warmer if you're with your friends: I used to live surrounded by very kind people with whom I enjoyed my days of plenitude. My surroundings were beautiful and there was no lack of good values within the community, so mischief was also an innocent act."
So many things will remain written in stone no matter how much they are altered. Feelings are things that will not be forgotten as easily compared to a memory.
"Oh, that was nice, Lucius," Ruby said with a smile. "Sounds like you lived in a lovely place."
"I won't deny it, it has its charms and the differences with these places are noticeable from my perspective, but it is still just as common."
After I finished, the next target was Farys, who was sitting to my right. She just started wagging her tail as she thought about what she would say.
"The people in my Kingdom are very strict with some customs if I compare them with the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Atlas. They live in packs and the strongest is the chief, but at the same time they are protective and affectionate with those they consider part of their pack. Outsiders are treated more coldly but they do not do it with bad intentions, it is just that their strange smells, which are different from the one we usually know, make us raise our guard and be cautious; but once we meet them and confirm their intentions, we welcome them to our pack. The forest is a magical place with peculiar cities and they are all linked together."
"Sounds like a good place to visit sometime"
"If you want to do it, Ruby, or anyone else here, you're always welcome. I promise!"
"Thank you," Ruby said, then continued. "Now it's your turn, Asthia."
"My home is certainly the most peculiar one known so far, as each part of the continent is ruled by different demon kings and each culture is different. They are not typically united, and the big cities can have strong division complexes, but they are not aggressive towards foreigners and almost all are kind demons. The landscapes are not the best but their communities are original, fun and with a strong sense of will, you could come to like it depending on where you are."
"Interesting, it sounds like a home with a lot of diversity," Ruby continued.
"That makes it a bit special. Some breeds can be problematic, but there are others that are just too good."
I remember reading that the Demon Continent is the only place in the world with so many races inhabiting one continent. Those lands are divided into several departments that are ruled by a political style Demon King in each area. The title of Great Demon King is given to the most powerful of them all and he is the owner of every corner of the continent. The ruler over all the demons.