If you don't want to just drift through life, you have to go through time.

Sensing something was amiss, Truman didn't show any distress. Instead, he genuinely laughed and said, "What? Haita, finally decided to get out of bed?"

"Hahaha, it feels so good to be taken care of. I wish I could be taken care of by Philon for the rest of my life." Haita laughed heartily, his voice completely different now.

"Stop acting all cute, you old geezer."

"That's really going too far. But... he's definitely an old man."

Haita even winked playfully.

Then, he looked at Frilian and Philon, who looked somewhat tired, and asked, "So, is the sparkling wine ready? I can't wait to taste it!"

"The magic will last until evening. Be patient until then, you stinky monk," Frillian said bluntly, as if she wanted to vent her resentment from the past seven days.

"Is that so? Is that so?"

Haita just chuckled.

Truman then noticed Philon's hesitant expression and, after letting out a soft sigh, said, "Philon, leave this place to me and Frilian. You go and keep Haita company. Letting this elderly woman with mobility issues wander around will only cause us trouble."

"...Okay, I understand."

Philon nodded.

The two walked towards the back mountain. Haita didn't even need Philon's help. Was his leg walking nimble?

"Truman..."

"Ah, I know."

It'll probably be tonight.

Truman and Frilian thoughtfully gave them time and didn't presume to disturb them. Around noon, Haita and Philon returned. Frankly, they had expected it to take a little longer.

But Haita spoke up, "Truman, Frillian, let's go play in the water!"

"...stinky monk."

"We are very busy too."

Despite what Frillie and Truman said, they still accompanied the willful Haita to play in the water.

Not only that.

The group also went fishing at the pond, where Philon danced, the same dance as 4 days ago... no, 4 years ago, but this time she danced it perfectly.

Truman recorded the footage, intending to re-encode it in high definition and release it online later.

Haita smiled with satisfaction.

After catching several large fish and reaping an unexpected surplus of ingredients, the group returned to the mountain cabin.

"I'm having a really lucky day!"

"yes."

"It feels so good to relax my body after so long."

"I've been trying to meet your requests all along."

"Haha, sorry~"

Haita's apology lacked any sincerity; she was more like a childish old woman. Her boundless energy was truly a stark contrast. Having such a lively character at home must be a real headache.

Dinner was exceptionally lavish.

Philon made a lot of food, and every dish smelled delicious and looked very appetizing.

Truman wolfed down his food.

Haita also joined the ranks.

The two seemed to be competing, as if they were seeing who could eat more, until they were so full they vomited at the same time. Truman and Haita exchanged a glance, then burst into laughter.

"You guys are still the same as before."

Frillie couldn't help but say that.

After dinner.

Philen returned with some difficulty carrying the brewing barrels and said, "Lord Haita, the wine is ready."

"Great! I've been waiting impatiently!" Haita rubbed his hands together, looking as eager as a fly.

They pried open the wooden barrel with force.

The aroma is tangy.

The wine tastes wonderful.

Haita carefully took the glass of wine from Philen, swallowed hard, and then downed a large glass in one gulp. After that—

"Pfft! This is it, it's delicious!!"

He let out a comfortable groan.

"Is it delicious, Haita?"

"Delicious!"

Haita drank three large cups in a row.

Honestly, he was making a bit of a fuss. That long-lost enjoyment made Truman seem to see an old chain smoker named Carlos who "lit up a bomb before smoking a cigarette, and one puff was better than being a god."

"You guys should drink too! Philon! Frillie, Truman, have a taste!"

"They're just reaping the benefits without lifting a finger."

"Why are you talking like you brewed it yourself, you stinky monk?"

Truman and Frillie were slightly helpless, but after exchanging a glance, they also raised their glasses and took a sip.

Philon also took small sips.

Despite her young age, under Haita's patient guidance, she had already grasped the principle that alcohol is the best of all medicines, and her alcohol tolerance far surpassed that of Truman and Frilian.

I took a sip, and it really tasted good.

It has a low alcohol content, but a rich flavor, and the dense bubbles feel like a comfortable massage as they slide down your throat.

"Phew, this is so delicious!"

"Since Haita likes to drink so much, then let's put all the remaining wine in the basement. You can drink it whenever you want."

"Really!? Thank you so much!"

Haita was overjoyed, just like a little old child.

His insatiable love of alcohol was finally fully revealed at this moment.

"No, that's not enough!" Haita clicked his tongue and said, "We can't do without snacks! Frillie, could you please get some snacks?"

"Huh? Me? Let me tell you beforehand, my cooking is terrible."

"It's good that it tastes bad! That's why I want to eat it!"

"You stinking monk, how dare you say that... Fine, I'll put in my best effort and make the worst-tasting thing ever!"

"Oh, please!"

Frillie walked toward the kitchen, wondering what kind of awful dish she would make.

Philon thought for a moment.

"I'll go help."

Actually, it's more about taking care of things. If they bring out something indescribable, the wine will taste bad.

Speaking of alcohol.

Haita had drunk more than half of the barrel of wine at some point, which was hard to imagine how he had finished it so quickly, and his stomach hadn't even bulged.

"Hiccup~!"

He let out a foul-smelling burp.

Truman fanned himself with a look of disdain.

"It's so good, Truman." Highta lay back in his chair, looking relaxed, and murmured as he raised his glass, "It's so good to be able to drink the sparkling wine I've been craving, it's so good to be able to drink my fill before I die, it's so good that you and Frilian are still the same as before, it's so good that Philon has finally grown up, it's so good to die without regrets..."

"Haita..."

"Listen to me, Truman. The church often says that people can see their entire lives before they are born, but in reality, most people go through countless hardships in their lives, yet they still choose to be born because there are one or a few moments that make them feel it was worthwhile... Truman, even if it was only for a short ten years, I was able to embark on the journey with you to defeat the Demon King... It was truly... wonderful..."

His hand gradually fell down.

The cup in my hand fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

Truman pursed his lips, picked up the blanket beside him and covered him with it, saying softly, "Goodnight, Haita."

Truman silently sipped his bubble wine.

Not long after.

Frillie came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of charred remains and said instinctively, "I made some roasted mushrooms, do you think that's okay, Haita... Haita?"

"He's asleep."

"Really? That's great! I thought my cooking skills would be laughed at in the end."

"They'll probably laugh at me mercilessly."

Frillie sat down with her plate in hand.

"What should we do?"

"We can't waste it, can we?" Truman said, then shrugged. "Ugh, it's a bit cold... Oh, the fire in the fireplace went out."

The fireplace beside him had gone out completely sometime earlier. Truman picked up a piece of wood, lit it with fire magic, threw it into the fireplace, and then shouted towards the kitchen:

"Philan! Come quick!"

"Coming right away, Lord Truman."

Unlike Frilian, the cookies Philon brought out looked much better. She sat down and placed the cookies on the table.

"This is the real accompaniment to drinks!"

"How dare you say that... Fine, Truman, you're punished by eating all the roasted mushrooms."

"What kind of punishment is this?"

"—This tastes awful." Philen took a bite of the mushroom, and her calm face turned into a bitter one. "Lady Frilian, you really shouldn't cook anymore. It's such a waste of food."

"Even Philon despises me!?"

"Hahaha----"

As new firewood was added, the fireplace burned brighter and brighter, bringing warmth back to the cabin, and once again, the sounds of conversation and cheerful laughter filled the air.