Chapter 65
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Where a New Culture Takes Root (1)
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"How on earth did you realize it might be connected to the elves?"
The moment they returned to their lodgings, Dominic was seized by an excited Karim.
The ecstatic gleam in his eyes was utterly overwhelming.
The scene of Dominic exchanging words with Sahar just moments ago was the very image of the ideal advisor Karim had always dreamed of.
'That commanding presence, unflinching even before someone of immense wealth and power—what is it? No, before that, the insight to deduce from tiny clues that this ancient city belonged to the elves! And to have anticipated it all so far in advance that he even prepared a communication orb ahead of time! Ahh—! Could I ever surpass this man?'
It was no coincidence that Karim, who had always been extremely friendly toward Dominic, had now transformed into his most ardent fan.
"What's with you? Seriously, back off a bit. Aren't you too close? Karim?"
Regardless, Dominic—shoulders gripped tight, staring into those blazing eyes—did his utmost to wriggle free from the discomfort.
"Ah, sorry. And please stop using casual speech with me now, my liege!"
"...Please drop that word."
"My liege, casual speech...!"
"I'll use casual speech if you stop calling me 'my liege.' 'Mayor' is fine."
Dominic still couldn't get used to things like unwavering loyalty.
"But are you really planning to keep the secret?"
"...? Of course."
"I thought you'd sell the information."
"What do you take me for?"
Ian tilted his head.
If the desert kingdom truly pierced that barrier and discovered the elves' city on their own, then formed an alliance with them, it would be a grave concern for the Empire.
Discovering new territory meant immense wealth.
And elves, no less!
The mysterious other race known for living unimaginably long lives and developing their own unique culture.
Dwarves were often mentioned alongside them and, though few in number, did interact with humans—but elves hid themselves thoroughly, living quietly. So the desert kingdom was likely prepared to offer enormous concessions just to keep this secret.
'Yet he swears to keep it for the buying rights to a single fruit.'
Ian suspected some hidden motive behind Dominic's decision.
"Is it to burden the desert with a debt of gratitude?"
"Oh dear, our knight is still so naive. It's not like we're lending money between friends—do you expect something vague like a 'burden on the heart' in a deal like this?"
Dominic clicked his tongue, and Ian's ears turned bright red.
"Then why use this useless fruit as an excuse to keep quiet?"
"It's not an excuse?"
"...What?"
"Do you know how much brainpower I poured into securing this in that short time?!"
Dominic jumped up.
Then, gazing at a single sack of seeds the workers had brought, he broke into a grin so wide it split his face.
Anton, watching from a step away, briefly thought even a father seeing his long-awaited child wouldn't smile like that.
"This was really your goal...? What even is it...?"
Ian sounded incredulous, his tension melting away in his tone. It felt like the first time he'd used casual speech.
"Just watch. This fruit's about to sweep the Empire's culture."
An unbeatable game was about to begin.
The import rights for the kafam fruit were finalized by Anton and Karim.
What Dominic wanted was simple.
He couldn't demand they never sell the fruit to other countries, but at least within the Empire, only he and his agents could distribute it exclusively.
The desert side found the condition suspicious but nodded, mesmerized by Dominic's bold assurance that they'd thank him later.
Piii—.
Right now, Dominic was holed up in his lodgings, boiling water.
As it heated, the kettle whistled shrilly from its narrow spout.
"Around 80 degrees is best, they say, but—argh, no thermometer makes this so annoying."
Grumbling nonstop, Dominic repeatedly poured the boiling water between two bowls to cool it slightly.
On one side of the table sat a thick pile of coarsely ground black powder, like dust.
This was the result of his early-morning frenzy.
While others slept, driven by his unyielding resolve to brew morning coffee, Dominic rose before dawn to hand-select the kafam fruit seeds.
It had been since he'd made black bean paste for jajangmyeon that he'd worked this diligently.
Dominic never voluntarily did anything unless it involved food.
'Not perfect, but this'll do.'
The herbalist had dried seeds on hand, so Dominic gladly paid extra for the well-preserved green beans.
Roast these green beans, and you'd get the source of modern life's elixir: coffee beans.
But there was no professional roaster here to slowly cook them evenly to the core.
Desert folk didn't bother with such hassle for kafam fruit.
It was mostly an herbal remedy, not for common use, and even then, they crushed the flesh for juice as a stimulant, discarding the seeds.
So Mariam the old quack keeping dried seeds was pure luck.
[Why dry the seeds? Well, I thought I'd try them on patients sometime...]
Dominic had spotted the quack's secretly hoarded stash for his wannabe-healer dreams and shouted "jackpot!"
Having secured his coffee this way, his hands trembled selecting the finest beans.
'Finally, Americano...!'
From the moment he learned of the kafam fruit, Dominic's mind had been filled with visions of slurping an Americano.
That longing let him tirelessly stir-fry the beans in a pan for over ten minutes without fatigue, humming as he ground the roasted beans in a stone mortar.
'Using silk cloth like this makes it feel like brewing herbal medicine.'
Now the final step.
He carefully placed the finely ground coffee on silk cloth and poured a bit of hot water from a long-necked desert teapot.
Psssh—.
The grounds swelled like rising dough, bubbles foaming up.
A phenomenon when extracting fresh coffee.
Drip, drip, drip.
Dark, glossy droplets began falling below the cloth.
Dominic's face tensed with impatience as he held the teapot, extracting the coffee.
Chocolate notes? Nuts?
No—hints of floral and tropical fruit too.
His senses sharpened at the aroma teasing his nose.
Gulp.
Recognizing the scent made saliva surge uncontrollably. He couldn't hold back.
Luckily, yesterday's ice haul hadn't fully melted.
He filled a glass with ice, then gently poured the coffee extract over it.
One perfect cup complete.
Dominic gazed at the glass, letting out a soft sigh.
'All this for one sip...'
He lifted it to his lips.
The first bitter sip lingered on his tongue before sliding down his throat. Dominic felt the coffee spread through his body, trembling with satisfaction and fullness.
Building the resort?
Becoming mayor?
This fulfillment matched—or surpassed—those moments.
Winter passed, and spring returned.
Evergreen no longer resembled its old fishing village days.
New shops lined every alley, crowds overflowed everywhere, and vitality buzzed.
After city promotion and annexing surrounding land, Evergreen had expanded several times over. The old windy cliffside coast, once worthless, now boasted the highest foot traffic.
Thanks to Evergreen Academy's opening.
The clifftop academy housed study halls, training grounds, labs, dorms, and a cafeteria, surrounded by stalls and shops catering to students, enjoying unexpected boom times.
Most buildings were city-built and rented to merchants; some jokers claimed all Evergreen's money circled back to the mayor's pockets.
"Lunch bento for sale! Sandwiches, arancini, salads too!"
"Got coffee?"
"Of course! One for you?"
"Yes. Here."
Around the academy, unfamiliar sights abounded, unseen elsewhere.
One: students sipping black "coffee" from personal cups while walking.
Zombie-like students clutching coffee cups, shuffling to class with bleary eyes!
"Heh, Dominic was right again. Who'd think this would catch on."
"...I tried it, but it never suits my taste. Inexplicable."
The Old Lord chuckled, watching every third student with a coffee cup. As chancellor, he spent more time at the academy than the resort lately—and held a cup himself.
"Well-made, this."
He held up his cup.
The cute ceramic cups varied in shape and color, with hollow tube-handles for sipping like straws.
[Can you develop a cup like this? Doesn't have to be you. Ceramic's fine.]
[Humans potters could manage with practice. But why this shape?]
[Easier for on-the-go.]
Upon arriving in Evergreen with coffee beans, Dominic had sketched this for Stonehammer: portable straw cups.
'Needs a straw, but no clue on plastic. No choice.'
He'd considered reed plants but dismissed it—unprofitable.
'Coffee biz means merch sales, right?'
Inspired by Czech Lazenksy Poharlek hot spring cups for carrying and sipping mineral water, they'd become Evergreen icons.
"Tomorrow, right? Limited-edition cups at the central square teahouse?"
"...Yes, Master. Thinking of buying?"
"Ahem. Not exactly, but... Heard they inlay desert-imported blue gems? You know, always glued to Dominic."
"......"
Evergreen's top mark—beloved by Dominic—was ready to open his wallet wide once more.