Drinking Contest (End)

"I'll drink the booze you procured. You drink the booze I procured. How about it?"

"Sure, that works. Barkeep, you be the judge."

The brat accepted my terms without a second thought.

Fool. The barkeep here is in my pocket. He'll call her out for the slightest spill, tipping things in my favor.

And of course, I arranged things so I'd be drinking weak liquor while the brat got the strong stuff. Well, I'd already had a few, so it evens out. If she doesn't catch on, that's her problem.

Heh heh heh — matches are decided before they even start!

"First round. Cheers."

"Sure."

I took a gulp… Huh, not bad. Fine for women and lightweights. Too weak for my taste, though.

"Phaa — another, please."

"Same here. Another!"

The brat tilted her mug and kept drinking.

Not a bad drinking style. Makes sense, since she proposed the contest herself.

But you can't beat me.

That was decided the moment you challenged me!

"Mmm, wine really does smell nice."

"Heh. The booze you brought is crap. Can't even get me drunk."

"… Hey, would you say that in front of a dwarf?"

"Huh? Why bring up those booze-soaked freaks?"

"I bought it from a dwarven merchant."

… Dwarven stock, huh. No wonder it's good.

Could she be connected to that drunken ogre? … Nah, no way. Not some brat like this.

Anyway, we kept drinking.

Ulp. Even weak booze fills up your stomach eventually.

Meanwhile, this brat is guzzling wine like it's water…!

"Another!"

"… Another."

Right about now the booze should be dulling her palate. I signaled my men. Time for the sleeping draught.

My undefeated trump card in drinking contests: booze laced with a sleeping drug.

"Yey, cheers."

"Yeah yeah, cheers."

She raised her drink and chugged it in one go.

Without knowing her drink was dosed…

"Phaa! … Huh? What? Hurry up and drink yours. C'mon."

"Heh, don't rush me."

In a few seconds the drug should kick in… I leisurely savored what I thought was my victory sip.

"Okay, you drank it! Barkeep, another!"

"… Huh?"

She calmly asked for a refill. Completely unfazed. Even though she definitely drank the drugged one.

Was there a mistake? Try again.

"Phaa! Haa, maybe I'm getting a little tipsy? Just kidding!"

"Nng, glug… pfa. Hey, don't overdo it. Why not just admit defeat?"

"That's my line. You're slowing down. Drink up."

I knocked mine back.

Damn it, what's going on? Did the barkeep sell me out?

I shot him a glare, but he shook his head frantically. No way, he signaled.

… Damn it. Again!!

 

*

 

This is impossible…

At some point she stopped waiting for me to finish and just kept ordering refill after refill. She's emptied an entire barrel!

Where in that tiny body is she putting all that booze!? This is insane!

… Wait. It's a drinking contest, right?

Which means even if she passes out now, I'd still have to drink enough to empty a barrel too for me to win, right?

N-no! If she passes out I can make excuses… Besides, we dosed her! Fall asleep already! Why won't you go down!?

"Haa, I'm feeling a little flushed. Barkeep, another!"

"… Mon… monster…!!"

As I tried to protest, my stomach lurched. Crap…

"Oh? Oh? What's wrong, giving up already?"

"… blrghlblrgh…"

"Gross. Don't puke up perfectly good booze."

I clapped a hand over my mouth, but it was too late.

I misjudged my limit with this easy-drinking swill I wasn't used to… No excuses. A complete loss.

With my consciousness fading, I heard the brat's victory declaration.

"Yaaay, my win! Barkeep, put the tab on this guy like we agreed!"

"… Right."

"Hey you lot, let this be a lesson: don't mess with me. Anyone who has a problem can settle it with a drinking contest!! Gahaha!!"

"Grh… ngh…"

"Y-you'll pay for this!"

My men carried me back to the inn.

And I had to be paraded through the streets covered in vomit…

Damn it! Damn it! That brat! I'll make her pay for this humiliation…!