The search for the Fifth Apostle takes Shizuku beyond Japan and into the shadow of the Matterhorn, where every step toward the summit could decide the contest—or cost him everything. As storms gather, the line between passion and obsession grows dangerously thin.
The episode 16 of The Drops of God starts with the competition for the Fifth Apostle reaching a turning point as the reading describes a lonely mountain whose breathtaking summit rewards only those willing to risk everything. The mysterious passage compares the wine to an unforgettable peak that remains beautiful, distant, and almost impossible to conquer, immediately convincing both Shizuku Kanzaki and Issei Tomine that the answer cannot be found through ordinary wine tasting alone.
Old Robert quietly watches the contestants absorb the reading before reminding them that searching for the Fifth Apostle is no ordinary challenge. According to him, anyone determined to uncover the wine must be prepared to stake their own life on the journey ahead. His warning hangs heavily over both rivals, transforming what seemed like another tasting contest into a dangerous personal trial where conviction matters just as much as knowledge.
As Shizuku reflects on the poetic description, memories of his late father guide his thinking toward the Matterhorn, the legendary Alpine peak famous for both its beauty and deadly reputation. Meanwhile, Tomine reaches the same conclusion independently. Realizing experience alone cannot defeat his rival, he decides that the only way to sharpen his greatest weapon—his senses—is to experience the mountain for himself rather than relying on imagination or books.
Shizuku admits he is deeply conflicted because climbing the Matterhorn could still fail to reveal the wine described by Kanzaki Yutaka. Even worse, if the mountain does not provide the answer, he fears the Fifth Apostle may remain forever beyond his reach. Despite everyone's concern about the danger, he refuses to abandon the idea, believing the truth may be hidden somewhere within memories he has yet to recover.
The pressure affects Tomine even more severely. During hypnotherapy meant to recover forgotten childhood memories, disturbing visions suddenly overwhelm him. He sees himself as a frightened child following his mother across a freezing mountain while a terrifying white figure waits ahead. Panic forces him to beg for help before the psychiatrist immediately ends the session, fearing the emotional strain could permanently damage his mind.
Even after regaining consciousness, Tomine refuses to give up. He insists on continuing the search despite the doctor's warnings and soon announces that remaining in Japan is pointless because the Fifth Apostle lies elsewhere. Without hesitation, he orders preparations for a week-long trip to Switzerland, leaving his colleagues to manage his work while he pursues the answer waiting beyond the Alps.
Landing in Switzerland, Shizuku immediately notices how different the atmosphere feels from Japan. During the flight, his remarkable tasting skills unexpectedly draw attention after he vividly describes the airline's recommended red wine, comparing its bright spice notes and colorful personality to a lively totem pole. His enthusiastic explanation impresses nearby passengers, who quickly begin ordering the same bottle, leaving the flight attendant pleasantly surprised by the sudden wave of interest.
The following morning, Shizuku accidentally meets the same flight attendant again near the Matterhorn. She introduces herself as Maki Yamashita from Swiss New Airlines, while Shizuku reveals that he works for Taiyoh Beer's wine division and is the son of the legendary wine critic Kanzaki Yutaka. Having admired the Alps for years, Maki happily offers to guide him around the region since she regularly visits Switzerland.
Standing before the towering Matterhorn for the first time, Shizuku is struck by its overwhelming presence. The mountain looks even more majestic than he imagined, yet he calmly explains that he has not come simply to admire the scenery. His true goal is to climb the famous peak because he believes the mystery surrounding the Fifth Apostle can only be solved after experiencing the mountain with his own senses.
His determination quickly runs into reality at the local guide center. Every professional guide refuses his request because climbing the Matterhorn requires advance reservations and proper preparation. They remind him that the mountain has earned the nickname "Devil's Mountain" through countless fatal accidents and refuse to risk taking an inexperienced climber, no matter how desperate he appears. Shizuku leaves disappointed, realizing he had underestimated the challenge awaiting him.
Maki refuses to let him lose hope and brings him to a small establishment that doubles as both a wine bar and a guide service. Its owner, Andrew "Andy" Stalden, initially dismisses Shizuku without hesitation, insisting that he only guides climbers who genuinely respect the mountain rather than reckless tourists chasing excitement. His blunt attitude immediately creates tension between the two men.
Everything changes after Shizuku honestly explains that he is risking his life to find a single wine capable of defeating his rival in the Fifth Apostle match. Curious about the young man's conviction, Andy pours him an unfamiliar bottle and proposes a challenge. If Shizuku can identify the wine's country of origin, Andy will personally become his guide for the dangerous Matterhorn expedition, setting up a crucial test before the climb can even begin.
Andy hands Shizuku the mystery wine without offering a single clue. Instead of relying on technical knowledge alone, Shizuku closes his eyes and lets the wine paint a picture in his mind. Familiar European landscapes appear one after another, yet none feel completely right. France, Germany, and Italy all seem possible at first, but each image fades away, leaving him frustrated as he struggles to understand the bottle's true identity.
Rather than inventing an answer, Shizuku openly admits defeat. He explains that although he cannot identify the country with certainty, the scenery revealed by the wine feels completely different from every European landscape he remembers visiting with his father. His honesty catches Andy off guard because most experienced tasters would have guessed instead of accepting failure so quickly.
Andy finally reveals the answer. The wine comes from Central Otago in southern New Zealand, a region known for its vast open spaces and cool climate. Shizuku immediately realizes why the wine's imagery felt unfamiliar. The rolling hills and chilly wilderness he sensed perfectly matched a country he had never experienced before, proving his instincts had led him away from Europe even without complete knowledge.
Impressed by both Shizuku's honesty and extraordinary sensitivity, Andy introduces himself properly and agrees to become his guide. After learning that the young man is Kanzaki Yutaka's son and has been studying wine for less than a year, the veteran mountaineer becomes even more interested in helping him. Maki happily celebrates the breakthrough, knowing their difficult search for a guide has finally come to an end.
Andy immediately shifts the conversation from wine to survival. He explains that climbing the Matterhorn cannot begin right away because Shizuku has only just arrived in Zermatt. Before attempting the ascent, his body must adapt to the thinner air at high altitude, or he could develop altitude sickness that would make the expedition extremely dangerous. Maki also asks to join the acclimatization hike, hoping to gain valuable mountain experience for the future.
Elsewhere, Tomine pushes himself just as relentlessly. Ignoring concerns about the side effects, he requests medication that can shorten the time needed to adapt to high altitude because he refuses to waste precious hours. His guide reluctantly agrees while warning that the pills are no substitute for proper preparation. Tomine accepts every risk without hesitation, determined to reach the Matterhorn before his rival does.
After completing their initial altitude training, Shizuku, Maki, and Andy reach the mountain hut that will serve as the base for the expedition. Although Shizuku feels encouraged by the progress, Maki struggles with a headache and dizziness caused by the thin mountain air. Andy advises her not to push herself further, assuring everyone that a full night's rest should help her recover before they begin the descent back to Zermatt.
Just as they begin discussing the next day's climb, Andy returns after checking the latest conditions with troubling news. The weather forecast has changed unexpectedly. Instead of the clear skies everyone expected, a low-pressure system is rapidly approaching the Matterhorn. Once the storm arrives, the famous peak will become the dangerous "Devil's Mountain," making the planned ascent far too risky for a beginner like Shizuku.
The announcement crushes Shizuku. Andy estimates that another safe opportunity may not come for at least three days, but waiting that long is impossible because the Fifth Apostle contest cannot be delayed. Refusing to surrender after traveling across the world, Shizuku declares that he will climb the mountain alone if nobody is willing to guide him, even knowing the decision could cost him his life.
Andy angrily stops him, insisting that the Matterhorn cannot be treated like an ordinary mountain. He explains that experienced climbers follow one absolute rule: if conditions become unsafe, they turn back immediately regardless of how close they are to the summit. Hearing Shizuku admit that he is staking his life on wine rather than glory finally makes Andy realize just how serious the young challenger truly is.
After carefully studying the mountain map, Andy reluctantly changes his mind. He explains that the standard Hörnli Ridge route would be directly exposed to powerful eastern winds generated by the incoming storm, making it almost certain that climbers would be blown from the mountain. Instead, he proposes a much longer western route that offers greater protection from the dangerous weather, though it demands considerably more time and physical endurance.
Before agreeing to lead the expedition, Andy makes Shizuku swear one important promise. If he judges at any point that continuing would no longer be safe, they will abandon the climb immediately without argument. Shizuku accepts those conditions without hesitation, knowing this compromise is his only chance to continue the search for the Fifth Apostle. As the new strategy takes shape, he quietly reflects that his rival, Tomine, is likely risking just as much somewhere on the Matterhorn itself.
The Drops of God Episode 16 shifts the Fifth Apostle contest from a battle of tasting skills to one of determination and courage. Rather than relying on dramatic confrontations, the episode builds tension through the dangerous climb awaiting both Shizuku and Tomine. The Swiss setting, the mystery surrounding the Matterhorn, and Andy's realistic warnings create a constant sense of danger, while Shizuku's honesty during the wine challenge becomes one of his strongest moments. Tomine's obsession with winning adds another layer of suspense, making it clear that both competitors are willing to sacrifice everything for victory. By ending just before the ascent begins, the episode delivers an effective cliffhanger that raises anticipation for the life-threatening climb and the mystery of the Fifth Apostle.
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