The rain finally lifted on the third morning, leaving the air thick with the scent of wet earth and fresh green. Puddles dotted the stone paths of the village, reflecting the sky like scattered mirrors. Birds chirped with renewed energy as though they, too, were eager to get back to work.
Ryuuji stood with Duncan just beyond the rice paddies, boots squishing in the soft mud. He squinted at a gentle slope near the creek—a clearing framed by tall trees, with a view of the mountains in the distance.
"Here," he said.
Duncan crossed his arms. "Why here?"
Ryuuji jabbed a thumb at the creek. "We'll need clean water. A lot of it. Also, the shade from the trees will keep the fermenting cool. And the slope gives us natural drainage."
Duncan gave a low hum of approval. "Alright. I'm convinced. We build here."
The Village Rallies
Word spread quickly.
By noon, a handful of villagers were already gathering to help with the brewery foundation. Hernan, a quiet but sharp-eyed woodworker, arrived with a measuring rope and two assistants.
"We'll need strong timber," Hernan said, kneeling to inspect the ground. "And insulation. You don't want temperature swings if you're brewing."
"You've done this before?" Ryuuji asked.
"My grandfather used to make plum wine every spring," Hernan replied. "It's not rice-based, but the principles are the same. Keep it clean. Keep it cool. Keep it quiet."
"Sounds like raising a baby," Duncan muttered.
Hernan laughed. "A little less crying. A lot more mold."
Sierra and Reina came by to offer spells that would strengthen the roof beams without affecting the air inside. They couldn't resist teasing Ryuuji about his newest "obsession."
"You started with fishing," Reina said dryly. "Then miso. Now sake. What next, fermented dragon eggs?"
"I'm not ruling it out," Ryuuji said, deadpan.
Framing the Dream
Construction began that afternoon. The villagers worked in easy rhythm—cutting, sawing, stacking. Duncan supervised the support beams while Ryuuji sketched out internal shelf plans for the fermentation crocks. The building was small, but it had character already—thick timber walls, wide eaves, and a double-door front like a little barn.
Kiko stopped by with a basket of onigiri and dried fish, proudly declaring she was their "Brew Witch Assistant." Her apron was already dusted with rice flour.
"Did you clean the buckets like I asked?" Ryuuji asked her with a grin.
Kiko gave a dramatic nod. "Yes, sir, Brew Chief!"
Suzu and Maru, the wolf pups, followed closely behind her, one of them dragging a wooden scoop.
"Those two want to help too," Kiko explained solemnly. "They're very passionate about mold."
Duncan nearly choked on his rice ball.
Building the Koji Room
Inside the half-built structure, Ryuuji explained the heart of the process to those helping: the koji-making room.
"We'll need a warm, humid space with good airflow," he said, drawing lines on a piece of oiled parchment. "That's where the rice gets inoculated with the mold. It's the start of everything—the miso, the sake, even soy sauce if we go that far."
Hernan tapped the design. "You want a low ceiling to hold the heat, right?"
"Exactly. And trays—shallow, wood ones. I'll make those myself."
Reina glanced at the plans. "And once you have this mold rice… then you mix it into the cooked rice and let it ferment?"
"Yup. Add yeast. Then wait. Carefully."
Duncan exhaled heavily. "So basically, it's a glorified waiting game."
"But a tasty one," Ryuuji said.
A Village Effort
By the time the sun dipped behind the mountains, the walls were up and the roofing frame was halfway done. Everyone was tired but smiling. Little Lina cooed in Jarred's arms while Marla handed out warm barley buns to the workers. Raphtael and Reina had even started humming a soft work song as they helped secure the crossbeams.
There was laughter in the air.
Kiko walked around proudly with a homemade "Brew Watch Captain" badge made from a wooden spoon.
"Papa, do you think the sake will taste like the ones from your old world?" she asked.
Ryuuji crouched down beside her, brushing hair from her cheek. "Maybe. But even if it doesn't… it'll taste like this place. Our place."
Kiko nodded seriously. "Then it's even better."