As the owner turned the handle, a crushing sound echoed through the store.
After the grinding of the beans was finished, the owner retrieved a strange tool.
A spherical flask attached to a special stand. Below it, a lamp is placed for heating.
On top of it, there is something like a beaker with a thin tube extending from the bottom that can be inserted into the flask. This was probably a funnel.
Made of glass, these are all similar to the kind of things that Ludwig would use as an alchemist.
Perhaps they were modified for coffee.
The owner takes a kettle from a magic stove and pours hot water into the flask.
He then wiped the outside of the flask with a dry cloth, set up the heating lamp under its base and lit it.
A cloth filter was placed in the funnel and powdered coffee beans were placed inside.
After waiting for the water to boil, he inserts the tube extending from the funnel into the mouth of the flask.
The hot water in the flask rises and moves into the funnel.
It’s simply a phenomenon caused by steam, but it’s a little interesting to watch it rise.
The owner mixes the hot water that has risen in the funnel with a wooden spoon.
He mixes it a few times to blend the hot water and beans, and then mixes it again a few more times while lowering the heat.
Eventually, the owner extinguishes the flame from the lamp and the coffee extracted in the funnel descends through the tube into the flask. Only hot water and coffee grounds remained in the funnel.
The master removed the funnel, released the grip that attached the flash to the stand and poured coffee from it into a cup.
White steam rose from the cup and the mellow aroma of coffee wafted through the air.
“Smells good.”
The owner’s face relaxed slightly at my comment.
“Here is your coffee.”
“I’ll gladly accept it.”
I picked up the cup from its saucer.
The quality of this coffee was different from the phoney coffee I’d made at home based on my own hazy knowledge. There wasn’t a strange sour scent, and the shade was also beautiful.
After fully taking in the aroma, I slowly tilted the cup back.
“……Delicious.”
The fragrance of rich coffee penetrated my mouth.
of mellow coffee penetrated my mouth. The coffee had just the right bitterness and acidity, with a hint of sweetness in the aftertaste.
“Thank you very much. Serving this to a customer who has had it before was a nerve-wracking experience.”
The owner said with a sigh of relief after hearing my impressions.
“I can frankly say that this coffee you’ve made is delicious.”
Although it was a little rougher than the coffee I’d drunk in my previous life, it was tasty enough that it could be passed off as a unique characteristic of the coffee.
What’s more, in this country where there was no groundwork for coffee, he bought and remodelled tools and through repeated trial and error was able to raise it to this level.
Considering this achievement, the owner is a great man. He’s simply worthy of respect.
“And here is the morning set.”
“Thank you.”
While I was enjoying my coffee, the owner served me the food.
As written on the menu, there was a plate of toast, salad, and a boiled egg.
And in my hand was the cup of coffee brewed by the owner.
The ideal morning had being prepared in front of my eyes.
Indeed, a morning without coffee is no morning at all.
“Excuse me, may I ask for the name of this customer? There are few of us comrades who enjoy coffee. My name is Ronbel.”
Though I was surprised by the owner’s sudden question, strangely I did not feel any displeasure.
“…… Zirc Louren.”
When I gave my name, Ronbel, the owner, pointed to the small magic stove.
“By any chance, the magic tool specialist?”
“That’s right.”
‘It’s an honour to have the famous magic tool specialist, Mr. Zirc, grace this store with your presence.”
“You don’t have to say that, it’s not such a big deal.”
It’s embarrassing to have your own work pointed out in front of you and to be treated so respectfully.
While I was bantering with the owner like this, the door to the shop opened.
An old man with grey hair and glasses entered.
Wearing a hat and a refined, brown three-piece suit.
He had a straight back that didn’t show his age, as well as a gentle face.
“Welcome. Mr. Noid, it’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”
“It has been a while, Owner. I’ve finally been able to get some time off from my Lord.”
“Being a butler sounds like a tough job.”
Judging from how familarly he speaks with the Owner, this old man must be a regular at this cafe.
I thought I’d sensed a somewhat similar vibe to Gilliam, and it seems he was a butler after all.
Though I don’t know if he’s in service to a noble or a merchant.
“Oh? There’s an individual other than me who’s ordered coffee. Well this is rare. I would like to have the same thing, please.”
“Certainly.”
The old man glanced at me with as though I was a curious creature and then sat down on a chair a little further away from me.
Sounds like this old man also enjoys coffee.
Maybe the regulars here are a bunch of strange people who enjoy coffee.
While thinking of such unimportant things, I set my hands on the morning set.
◆
After having enjoyed my morning at the cafe, I reported for work at the workshop as usual.
After returning Tristan’s listleses greeting, I sat down at my desk.
Then, Tristan gives me a stare.
“What is it?”
“You seem to be in quite the good mood.”
Tristan says in a somewhat sarcastic tone.
The person who’d cancelled dinner yestrerday could still arrive at work so cheerfully, I guess you’d be inclined to make a snide comment.
I immediately understood what Tristan was implying, but I purposely chose not to pay attention.
Just for cancelling a meal once, I didn’t want to be bothered by him.
Rather, I would unashamedly act as if I didn’t notice.
“Well. You want to know why?”
“……No, I don’t want to hear it.”
Tristan tries to end the conversation like that, but I intentionally continue.
“The alcohol sake I made yesterday with the treasure tool was delicious, and it went very well with fried chicken.”
“Didn’t I just say I didn’t want to hear it!?”
‘That’s not all. I woke up early this morning, went for a walk and found a nice cafe. Not only does it serve a special drink, it also has a great atmosphere.”
“……Heh, where is it? Please take me there too next time.”
When I told him about this morning’s cafe, Tristan’s expression brightened as he finally became interested.
“No way.”
“………….”
But when I said that, Tristan’s expression goes blank like a mask.
There’s definitely irritation behind that blank look.
“Tristan, calm down. This isn’t the first time that Zirc’s been like this, right? Here you go, a letter of request to you, Zirc.”
Rouge walked over to me and brought an envelope.
It was thick and contained what looked like several letters. There are a good number of them, and it looks like it would be a hassle to look through them.
“……Who is the sender?”
“It’s Catalina.”
Rouge’s words with a grin caused my face to spontaneously distort.
“It’s here! Catalina the Complainer!”
And here comes Tristan, who’s back to being lively as ever during unnecessary moments.
Catalina the Complainer. She’s a mysterious woman who regularly whines to our workshop.
Every time, she sends me a massive amount of writing regarding her complaints about the magic tools I’ve released.
She was a very annoying complainer.
Just when I was having such a great morning, I feel it’s all been ruined.
“Seriously, is this sender bored? Always making complaints.”
“But it seems that she’s bought all the magic tools that Zirc has developed.”
“To be able to buy all of Mr. Zirc’s magic tools, she must be pretty rich.”
The magic tools I make are not that cheap.
“It doesn’t matter how many products she buys. A complainer is a complainer.”
“Still, as far as I can see from her requests, she hasn’t said anything that wrong, right? Points about how they’re inconvenient for daily use, she’s written from an interesting point of view as a woman.”
“Nevertheless, 90% of it is that woman’s self-interest, no?”
“……Well. yeah.”
I can admit that Catalina’s written requests include some perspectives and thoughts that we’d overlooked.
However, 90% of what she’s written is purely her own desires for what’s convenient to her lifestyle and full of her biased, subjective feelings.
I can’t say anything other than that it’s troublesome to try find whether there might be legitimate requests among all the other useless writing.
“This person, even though she’s not a magic tool specialist, how can she write the same thing every time? She doesn’t know how difficult it is to make magic tools portable.”
Basically, there is nothing useless inside a magic tool. Their current forms are one where unnecessary elements have been reduced to the utmost limit. Even shaving off a few centimetres requires a great deal of trial and error along with hard work.
This woman, Catalina, is asking us to do all this without even knowing that. She is insane.
“Well, isn’t it our mission to somehow make such ideals into reality?”
“Who knows. I don’t care about that. I just make magic tools for my own sake.”
I declared and threw the envelope on my desk in the trash.
Rouge and Tristan let out hoarse cries, but I felt a little better.
–