83 - I Became a Guy Who Got Caught Up in the Summoning of a Hero

Title: Caught in the Hero Summoning - Chapter 83: Northern Bunny - Web Novel Archives ---------------------------== The Concept of Culture…? Having learned that they wouldn’t need to visit the Balsen territory, they informed us that they would spend a few days leisurely in our domain. And the seed from Mencia turned out to be indeed ‘coffee beans.’ "Impressive..." As a token of gratitude for a favorable deal, a sack was gifted to me. Bringing it up to the workshop, I wore a serious expression as I poured the beans into a wok—borrowed from the kitchen—under the heating lamp. I didn’t plan to roast a large quantity. Being my first attempt, I was prepared to encounter some trial and error, and the thought was to slowly experiment with a few things. I was ready, with a serious demeanor, to take notes on any changes in the coffee when roasted using 'mana.' Moreover, I had prepared a cloth filter, grinder, and even a mug to brew the coffee. I was thoroughly serious. "Phew... Let's take this seriously." Could one approach it with any more solemnity? With such thoughts, I seriously operated the heating lamp, placed the wok on top, and started rolling the coffee beans inside. As I began roasting them with evenly distributed mana, ensuring they didn’t burn and developed a rich brown color, the enticing aroma filling the workshop almost brought tears to my eyes. Even Seria and Ariana, who were waiting outside, peeked inside, showing interest. I considered serving them a cup once the process was complete. How long had I been rolling the coffee beans? When I deemed it sufficient, I turned off the heating lamp, poured the beans into a basket lined with cloth to cool, and then used a spoon to ensure they were roasted evenly. "Lord, what is this delightful smell?" Eventually, unable to hold back, Seria inquired. In response, I flashed her a devilish grin. "Once addicted, there’s no escape. It’s a divine gift." Though Seria looked puzzled, Ariana was brave. "If it's something like that, I want to taste it. Everything you've done has never led to regret." I couldn’t recall who said it, but indeed, there hadn’t been any significant failures thus far. Convinced this time would be no different, I told them to wait as I prepared to grind the roasted coffee beans. With a cragging sound, the coffee beans were diligently ground, releasing an even richer aroma, as if pleading to be made into coffee. The pounding in my heart began intensifying. ‘Caffeine is calling me. Stay calm, oh heart!’ Convinced that it was the will of the caffeine deity, I searched for water... when it hit me. "Darn, I forgot to boil water... Seria, could you bring me a kettle?" "Huh? Oh, yes!" Seria dashed off swiftly. The realization that it would be over with only adding water jolted my hands into a nervous tremor, anticipating the final step. Already assured by the sight and aroma of coffee, the impatience arose. Time seemed to crawl, as if frozen. After a while, Seria returned with a kettle filled with water. With thanks, I took it, set the heating lamp to maximum, and slowly poured the boiling water onto the cloth filter. ‘Since it's been a while, I want to savor it at its best.’ Desire screamed for the best, and it's well-known that pouring water slowly enhances a coffee’s aroma and flavor to the fullest. Using this knowledge, I brewed the coffee with perseverance. As I did, a different scent filled the workshop, closer to the coffee scent I was familiar with. The aroma alone seemed to bring forth the taste of coffee. As the mug filled with a reasonable amount of coffee, I removed the cloth filter and lifted the mug. About 2/5 of the mug filled with coffee, I reverently brought it to my lips to inhale the deep aroma. Truthfully, I was a ‘coffee newbie.’ Yet, as someone who loved all kinds of coffee, the coffee I brewed with care was exceptionally meaningful, and with expectations set high, I slowly tilted the mug. As the hot liquid rolled down the mug to my lips, I managed to forget past sorrows, embodying life's bittersweet moments into that singular sip. The slurping sound of drinking coffee stimulated my senses. Finally, coffee in my mouth... If the god of caffeine witnessed this reverence, he’d surely bestow praise on my heart fluttering in the torrent of awe... As I savored the bittersweet but gentle aroma enveloping me, I took the first sip. "Perfect..." No further words were necessary. Afterward, coffee established itself as the second essential beverage within the lord’s estate. The first was a honeyed rice drink, akin to sikhye, which required no elaboration. Here, the local barley differed notably from Earth's, being exceptionally sweeter and denser. Due to this, the malt extract's natural sweetness was a delight, and without requiring additional sweeteners, it became a blessing for those who struggled to consume sugars outside of fruits. ‘Is sugar considered a legal drug?’ Numerous ingredients provided sweetness. Yet, there were no pure sweeteners. Thus arose the idea of making malt syrup. Since malt extract was available, producing malt syrup to consider as a regional specialty was on the mind. It was thought to be difficult without knowing the process of making malt extract. The method was quite simple in reality, but the procedure of germinating barley for malt extract was labor-intensive. Feeling confident that it wasn’t easily replicable, production of malt syrup ensued as a sugar alternative. "By the way, are you not attending the festival again today?" I heard the festival lasts a week. It's already been three days, and even when urged to go out, I spent those days enjoying warm pancakes and coffee indoors. However, today, I needed to stir myself for work-related activities. "I need to head out, especially to check on the goods for the Dusty Sands Merchant Guild. But... isn’t coffee just wonderful?" Benny, along with Seria and Ariana, beamed at my words. "Our attempts at making coffee never quite match the flavor you produce, Lord." "So, you want me to brew it for you?" "No, not necessarily—but I wanted to express our disappointment at the different taste." After cracking a small smile, I promised to make some another time. With that, I left the lord's estate. Unsurprisingly, Demina followed me, as always, prompting me to ask, "Are you enjoying the festival?" "How could I enjoy the festival when you, my lord, are not partaking in it?" ‘She's trying to make me feel guilty, isn't she?’ If not, she might have brought it up casually, but either way, it did leave me with a bit of guilt. Demina had made herself my dedicated escort, which meant she couldn't freely decide her whereabouts as I never knew when I'd venture out of the estate. "Why don't you switch shifts with someone and take the chance to explore?" "I simply do what I'm supposed to do." "Alright, then shall we handle the Dusty Sands Merchant Guild matters and then go on a date, just the two of us?" Demina awkwardly smiled at that. Perhaps she was still burdened by what had happened before? As I pondered this, I spotted Idlen approaching from afar. She hurried over, gave a bow, and greeted me. "We were about to visit you, as everything requested has been loaded onto the carriage, yet here you are in person." "It was a great trade. Meeting you in person is the least I could do. Here, take this." I handed her malt syrup. I had originally made it to try with coffee, but its taste and aroma overpowered the coffee, leading me to conclude they didn’t pair well. "This is...?" "A magic sweetener of sorts." Curious, Idlen tilted her head, opened the lid to sniff it, then dipped her finger to taste it. An unusually bold move for someone like her. Reflecting on how the Dusty Sands guild initially approached me with caution, it was apparent how much that had changed, as demonstrated by Idlen sucking on her fingers with wide eyes. "Is this another specialty of Ingrad territory?" "I believe it will be eventually. I plan to experiment with solidifying it into different treats. If hardened, it makes a delightful snack. There are even laborious ‘snacks’ that can be made with this… called ‘Hangwa’. It’s not something I can produce immediately, but I intend to sell them after some trial and error." Hangwa wasn’t too hard to make if you had the right ingredients and patience. Yet, I would have to do all the labor involved initially. Therefore, my plan was to carefully test various simplifications that wouldn’t compromise taste or quality for a future release. ‘This world lacks entertainment and snacks—there isn’t even candy available, to my dismay...’ The development of various cookies was a small consolation. There was also a favor to ask of Idlen. "If you're heading back, could you try finding some fruits that are gray, purple, or blue in color? When ripe, they should be yellow and about this size. Could you identify them for me?" "There is a fruit that comes to mind... but it has too many seeds to be considered edible..." "Oh, so they do exist? I heard they have lots of seeds. And that a slight sweetness emanates from those seeds." "In that case... it may be the fruit children eat as snacks. It’s called 'Kanapa.'" "Oh, wonderful. Then here's what I propose: could you acquire a large quantity of those Kanapa fruits on your next journey? Additionally, I’d like to purchase Mencia’s seeds in bulk, if that's possible?" "They're common in the South... How much do you require?" With careful diplomacy, Idlen inquired, prompting a broad grin from me. "I would be grateful for whatever you could sell me. Perhaps enough to fill one of these notes?" Watching her eyes widen at the sight of the 10,000 gold coin promissory note I held, Idlen responded as if in disbelief. "To procure such a quantity, I might have to scour every estate in the South. Though... I suppose 1,000 gold notes might suffice. Truth be told, even that feels excessive." It made me wonder about the market rates, but I assured her I understood, exchanged notes, and passed one to her before speaking. "Consider it an advance payment; a merchant’s life is tethered to trust." Though Idlen accepted the note with a hint of bewilderment, the determined look she gave, promising to fulfill the mission, made me chuckle over whether I had assigned her an overly daunting task. Soon after, Idlen, citing a busy schedule, departed. Thus began our connection with the Dusty Sands Merchant Guild.