Ryu decided to sleep on the floor that night. He couldn’t do it. The pressure was just too much for him. He had gone from having almost no contact with human beings outside of work to making friends, learning new skills, and traveling with a beautiful companion, all within the span of two days. It was more than he could handle all at once.
Beautiful. He stared at Sylfie, snoring peacefully on the mattress next to him. He did find her attractive, but maybe that was just because she was an elf. How many sleepless nights had he spent alone, dreaming of one day being whisked away to a land full of wonder and mystery, especially by an otherworldly beauty?
Maybe this was a dream, and he would wake up back in his tatami mat like nothing had ever happened. He grimaced, unsure whether he would be able to handle such a thing. It would be like getting a rug pulled out from underneath him, except the only thing cushioning his fall was cold hard concrete. At least this dream was pleasant.
He chuckled to himself, thinking about his current situation. In a sense, he had come full circle already; he had escaped the mundane trivialities of his job as a barista, toiling away at a lifeless coffee chain, and instead acquired a new job in a fantasy world…as a barista. Was it any different, or was he just deluding himself?
He stroked Aurora’s fur as she slept soundly on his chest. For an immortal, she was surprisingly timid. She could chastise him all she wanted, but even she seemed to forget her status sometimes. Ryu didn’t believe that Aurora was as old as she implied; she was like a child, taking her first steps.
Maybe it’s the memory loss that makes her like that. Ryu wondered what she had been like before. Not much different, probably; there was no cure for being a scaredy cat.
He stared at the ceiling, listlessly, contemplating the circumstances. Things were different now, but not because of the magic and the mayhem like he thought previously. Perhaps he had received something better. It seemed like the people here all shared his love for coffee. There was so much he still had left to learn about it in this world.
The methods of brewing, the acquisition of ingredients—all of it was there for him to explore—a vast breadth of knowledge for him to consume. Like the peak of Everest, he would journey to the top, chipping away at the altitude, little by little, step by step. He would even crawl if he needed to, but he would never stop. He had people to rely on…and more importantly, people that relied on him.
Ryu shook his head. What am I even thinking? I’ve known them for two days and already I’m getting attached. His eyelids grew heavy. He hadn’t slept a wink since he had arrived in Cerulia, the fatigue of his adventures finally catching up with him. Urgh, Hazel will have to drag me out of bed tomorrow. he thought, finally drifting off to sleep.
***
“...Hey. Get up, sleepy-head. We’ve got work to do.”
Ryu groaned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as his vision refocused. Sylfie sat on top of him, jabbing his cheek impatiently. “Urgh, what time is it?” Ryu grumbled.
“[05:00]. Grandmother let us sleep for a whole day yesterday while they repaired the roof and the exterior of the café.”
“A whole day?”
“Yes, now get ready! Breakfast just started, and I’m not missing it because of you!” Sylfie stated, exasperatedly.
“Alright, alright, I’m getting ready. Here, take care of Aurora,” he said, handing her to Sylfie.
Sylfie took the still-sleeping cat and pointed Ryu to the bathroom, ordering him to get dressed. Ryu obliged, freshening up hastily and jumping into the shower; the first shower since he had arrived in this world.
He frowned, realizing that he had slept in the dirt and grime brought in from outside, making a note to wash his sheets after work. The shower was hot and refreshing, bringing him back to his senses. His sluggishness left him and he felt rejuvenated again, ready for his first day on the job.
Sylfie handed him a fresh pair of clothes, turning around as he changed and then they were off. As they hurried down to breakfast, Ryu noticed she was wearing an outfit different from her usual attire. She wore a pair of tight-fitting pants and a snug black top with the café’s logo: a purple flower on a white cup with steam rising out of it.
“What?” Sylfie asked, raising an eyebrow.
“N-nothing. The uniform suits you,” Ryu replied.
Sylfie blinked. “Thanks.”
Breakfast was well underway by the time they reached the main floor. The wait staff had already seated themselves, chatting idly and exchanging pleasantries as they enjoyed fresh pastries from the bakery across the street.
“Mia, the baker, makes these bright and early for us,” Hazel explained. “So, she gets free coffee whenever she comes in, got it?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Ryu replied.
They grabbed a few pastries and a hot cup of coffee each from a nearby table and took a seat next to their coworkers. They were friendly and polite, but what struck Ryu as odd was that they seemed full of energy. They were happy to be there. At Java Roast, Ryu would have been lucky to get a word out of any of his coworkers; every person there was preoccupied with their own miserable existence.
Sylfie nudged Aurora awake, placing a small saucer of Taurus Milk in front of her. The little cat yawned sleepily, lapping at the milk with her eyes half-closed.
Ryu inspected his coffee. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, and it didn’t have a purple hue like the espresso Hazel had made. He took a sip, smiling as a familiar flavor enveloped his tongue. It was a simple pour-over, like the one he had made for Sylfie in Kodama Forest, the name of which he had finally learned while drinking with Jörm. At least I know how to make this.
[06:30] arrived shortly, prompting everyone to get to their stations.
“Since you’re still [Level 1] I’ll just have you make the pour-overs for now. You won’t need any spells for it,” Hazel instructed. “Sylfie will be watching you, so if you feel like letting her try making a cup, do so at your discretion. Oh, and get changed into a proper Coffee Brewer’s outfit. You should have one from the [Level 1 Bonus].”
Ryu nodded, donning the [Brewer’s Attire] he had acquired from reaching [Level 1]. It reminded him of a bartender’s uniform: a vest over a white button-up and a tie. He rolled up his sleeves, grinning. Today was going to be a cakewalk.
Then, the first patrons started rolling in. Many ordered a specialty coffee from Hazel, though a few came to Ryu for a simple brew, making small talk with him and Sylfie. Maybe it was because there was a new face in the café, or maybe this was the usual order, but there was a sudden shift in patrons swarming Ryu’s station around midday.
Sylfie and Aurora hid behind him as he fought valiantly against the horde of customers, furiously churning out brew after brew. By the end of the day, he was slumped over the counter, run ragged by the amount of orders he had received.
“What was that?!” he complained.
“We’ll need to increase your level before you’re able to learn any new brews so I figured offering a free cup from our newest Coffee Brewer would do the trick,” Hazel chuckled.
“You’re evil,” Ryu groaned.
He checked his statistics, invoking [Insight].
[Coffee Brewer card for beginners. This card certifies that the carrier in question is a novice in coffee brewery]
[Current level: 3]
“[Level 3]!” Ryu whistled.
“It takes one hundred cups of coffee to reach [Level 2] and about a thousand to reach [Level 3],” Hazel explained.
“A t-thousand?! Those customers—they’re insatiable!” Sylfie shook.
“M-monsters,” Aurora agreed.
“You could say the same about Ryu for matching their orders,” Hazel pointed out.
Ryu looked over his newly acquired skills and bonuses, eager to see what he had earned this time.
[Skill Acquired: Petrify]
[Skill Acquired: Nullify]
[Level 2 Bonus: Coffee Food Infusion]
[Level 3 Bonus: Coffee Jelly Recipe]
“Oh! Coffee jelly! I love this stuff! We used to have it back home!” Ryu exclaimed. “I could whip up a batch right now. Do we have any agar?”
Hazel shook her head. “We ran out a few days ago. I was going to make a request about that, actually. This’ll be a good opportunity for you to learn about sourcing ingredients. You’ll need to go to the Slime Forest to get agar for coffee jelly.”
Ryu and Aurora exchanged a glance. The Slime Forest; what was supposed to be their first stop on this adventure, ended up being skipped over altogether. They would finally get a chance to explore the Wildlands again, this time in the correct order.
“You’ll be safe for the most part. It’s an easy area to explore. Plus, Sylfie’s with you,” Hazel remarked. “I don’t think I really need to warn you about this, but just so you’re aware, the Slime Forest shares a border with Demonia’s Lair. The border is divided by a sheer rock face, though, so unless you’re extremely unlucky, you won’t need to worry about running into any high-level monsters that have crossed into the area.”
“Don’t worry, Gramma Hazel!” Aurora exclaimed. “We’re the luckiest adventurers out there, nya! No monster’s gonna sneak up on us!”
Ryu decided to sleep on the floor that night. He couldn’t do it. The pressure was just too much for him. He had gone from having almost no contact with human beings outside of work to making friends, learning new skills, and traveling with a beautiful companion, all within the span of two days. It was more than he could handle all at once.
Beautiful. He stared at Sylfie, snoring peacefully on the mattress next to him. He did find her attractive, but maybe that was just because she was an elf. How many sleepless nights had he spent alone, dreaming of one day being whisked away to a land full of wonder and mystery, especially by an otherworldly beauty?
Maybe this was a dream, and he would wake up back in his tatami mat like nothing had ever happened. He grimaced, unsure whether he would be able to handle such a thing. It would be like getting a rug pulled out from underneath him, except the only thing cushioning his fall was cold hard concrete. At least this dream was pleasant.
He chuckled to himself, thinking about his current situation. In a sense, he had come full circle already; he had escaped the mundane trivialities of his job as a barista, toiling away at a lifeless coffee chain, and instead acquired a new job in a fantasy world…as a barista. Was it any different, or was he just deluding himself?
He stroked Aurora’s fur as she slept soundly on his chest. For an immortal, she was surprisingly timid. She could chastise him all she wanted, but even she seemed to forget her status sometimes. Ryu didn’t believe that Aurora was as old as she implied; she was like a child, taking her first steps.
Maybe it’s the memory loss that makes her like that. Ryu wondered what she had been like before. Not much different, probably; there was no cure for being a scaredy cat.
He stared at the ceiling, listlessly, contemplating the circumstances. Things were different now, but not because of the magic and the mayhem like he thought previously. Perhaps he had received something better. It seemed like the people here all shared his love for coffee. There was so much he still had left to learn about it in this world.
The methods of brewing, the acquisition of ingredients—all of it was there for him to explore—a vast breadth of knowledge for him to consume. Like the peak of Everest, he would journey to the top, chipping away at the altitude, little by little, step by step. He would even crawl if he needed to, but he would never stop. He had people to rely on…and more importantly, people that relied on him.
Ryu shook his head. What am I even thinking? I’ve known them for two days and already I’m getting attached. His eyelids grew heavy. He hadn’t slept a wink since he had arrived in Cerulia, the fatigue of his adventures finally catching up with him. Urgh, Hazel will have to drag me out of bed tomorrow. he thought, finally drifting off to sleep.
***
“...Hey. Get up, sleepy-head. We’ve got work to do.”
Ryu groaned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as his vision refocused. Sylfie sat on top of him, jabbing his cheek impatiently. “Urgh, what time is it?” Ryu grumbled.
“[05:00]. Grandmother let us sleep for a whole day yesterday while they repaired the roof and the exterior of the café.”
“A whole day?”
“Yes, now get ready! Breakfast just started, and I’m not missing it because of you!” Sylfie stated, exasperatedly.
“Alright, alright, I’m getting ready. Here, take care of Aurora,” he said, handing her to Sylfie.
Sylfie took the still-sleeping cat and pointed Ryu to the bathroom, ordering him to get dressed. Ryu obliged, freshening up hastily and jumping into the shower; the first shower since he had arrived in this world.
He frowned, realizing that he had slept in the dirt and grime brought in from outside, making a note to wash his sheets after work. The shower was hot and refreshing, bringing him back to his senses. His sluggishness left him and he felt rejuvenated again, ready for his first day on the job.
Sylfie handed him a fresh pair of clothes, turning around as he changed and then they were off. As they hurried down to breakfast, Ryu noticed she was wearing an outfit different from her usual attire. She wore a pair of tight-fitting pants and a snug black top with the café’s logo: a purple flower on a white cup with steam rising out of it.
“What?” Sylfie asked, raising an eyebrow.
“N-nothing. The uniform suits you,” Ryu replied.
Sylfie blinked. “Thanks.”
Breakfast was well underway by the time they reached the main floor. The wait staff had already seated themselves, chatting idly and exchanging pleasantries as they enjoyed fresh pastries from the bakery across the street.
“Mia, the baker, makes these bright and early for us,” Hazel explained. “So, she gets free coffee whenever she comes in, got it?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Ryu replied.
They grabbed a few pastries and a hot cup of coffee each from a nearby table and took a seat next to their coworkers. They were friendly and polite, but what struck Ryu as odd was that they seemed full of energy. They were happy to be there. At Java Roast, Ryu would have been lucky to get a word out of any of his coworkers; every person there was preoccupied with their own miserable existence.
Sylfie nudged Aurora awake, placing a small saucer of Taurus Milk in front of her. The little cat yawned sleepily, lapping at the milk with her eyes half-closed.
Ryu inspected his coffee. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, and it didn’t have a purple hue like the espresso Hazel had made. He took a sip, smiling as a familiar flavor enveloped his tongue. It was a simple pour-over, like the one he had made for Sylfie in Kodama Forest, the name of which he had finally learned while drinking with Jörm. At least I know how to make this.
[06:30] arrived shortly, prompting everyone to get to their stations.
“Since you’re still [Level 1] I’ll just have you make the pour-overs for now. You won’t need any spells for it,” Hazel instructed. “Sylfie will be watching you, so if you feel like letting her try making a cup, do so at your discretion. Oh, and get changed into a proper Coffee Brewer’s outfit. You should have one from the [Level 1 Bonus].”
Ryu nodded, donning the [Brewer’s Attire] he had acquired from reaching [Level 1]. It reminded him of a bartender’s uniform: a vest over a white button-up and a tie. He rolled up his sleeves, grinning. Today was going to be a cakewalk.
Then, the first patrons started rolling in. Many ordered a specialty coffee from Hazel, though a few came to Ryu for a simple brew, making small talk with him and Sylfie. Maybe it was because there was a new face in the café, or maybe this was the usual order, but there was a sudden shift in patrons swarming Ryu’s station around midday.
Sylfie and Aurora hid behind him as he fought valiantly against the horde of customers, furiously churning out brew after brew. By the end of the day, he was slumped over the counter, run ragged by the amount of orders he had received.
“What was that?!” he complained.
“We’ll need to increase your level before you’re able to learn any new brews so I figured offering a free cup from our newest Coffee Brewer would do the trick,” Hazel chuckled.
“You’re evil,” Ryu groaned.
He checked his statistics, invoking [Insight].
[Coffee Brewer card for beginners. This card certifies that the carrier in question is a novice in coffee brewery]
[Current level: 3]
“[Level 3]!” Ryu whistled.
“It takes one hundred cups of coffee to reach [Level 2] and about a thousand to reach [Level 3],” Hazel explained.
“A t-thousand?! Those customers—they’re insatiable!” Sylfie shook.
“M-monsters,” Aurora agreed.
“You could say the same about Ryu for matching their orders,” Hazel pointed out.
Ryu looked over his newly acquired skills and bonuses, eager to see what he had earned this time.
[Skill Acquired: Petrify]
[Skill Acquired: Nullify]
[Level 2 Bonus: Coffee Food Infusion]
[Level 3 Bonus: Coffee Jelly Recipe]
“Oh! Coffee jelly! I love this stuff! We used to have it back home!” Ryu exclaimed. “I could whip up a batch right now. Do we have any agar?”
Hazel shook her head. “We ran out a few days ago. I was going to make a request about that, actually. This’ll be a good opportunity for you to learn about sourcing ingredients. You’ll need to go to the Slime Forest to get agar for coffee jelly.”
Ryu and Aurora exchanged a glance. The Slime Forest; what was supposed to be their first stop on this adventure, ended up being skipped over altogether. They would finally get a chance to explore the Wildlands again, this time in the correct order.
“You’ll be safe for the most part. It’s an easy area to explore. Plus, Sylfie’s with you,” Hazel remarked. “I don’t think I really need to warn you about this, but just so you’re aware, the Slime Forest shares a border with Demonia’s Lair. The border is divided by a sheer rock face, though, so unless you’re extremely unlucky, you won’t need to worry about running into any high-level monsters that have crossed into the area.”
“Don’t worry, Gramma Hazel!” Aurora exclaimed. “We’re the luckiest adventurers out there, nya! No monster’s gonna sneak up on us!”
