Chapter 161: Permission
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 161: Permission
We decided to split the coffee shop for the festival into two sections: men-only and women-only.
Limiting the customer base to half would be a foolish move, so we couldn't afford to miss out on male customers. However, I couldn't exactly give Magic Coffee to men, so I had to provide them with a different kind of incentive.
"If we separate men and women, will the guys even show up?"
"Maid cafe."
"APPROVED!!!"
It’s a staple of Japanese festivals.
The Comedy Duo, who had been skeptical, shouted their approval with eyes wide as soon as I gave them the right answer: a maid cafe.
Bukgeuk-jwa’s reaction was lukewarm at first, but as soon as I stood behind Angelica and showed her a picture of the maid outfit she’d be wearing on my phone, she immediately flipped her stance and voted yes.
Once the plan was set, everything else went smoothly.
After all, I could just throw money at any problem.
It was technically a loss, but everyone felt the same way. Most people attending Yggdrasil were quite well-off—excluding outliers like Rio or Pauper—so money wasn't the priority.
What mattered was how much attention they could grab and how well they could show off their magic. Other participants were also pouring money into their booths, keeping product prices incredibly low. That’s why you’d see things like an elephant in a bottle being sold for a mere 10 Wit.
I ordered only the best.
Since Yukina and Angelica were the ones wearing them, I couldn't settle for cheap cosplay outfits. These were high-end maid uniforms made from top-tier fabric, commissioned from a first-class designer to improve upon the outfits real maids wore.
However, the coffee served in the women-only section was just instant powder.
Since my Semen Magic would completely overpower the taste anyway, there was no need to use high-grade beans that were a pain to manage.
On the other hand, the men-only section would get the good stuff.
I couldn't use my Semen there. Just the thought of a man accidentally drinking my Semen... it made me want to gag.
There was a difference in quality between the coffees being served, but as long as everyone was satisfied, it was fine.
I thought the preparations would continue without a hitch, but then I hit a snag.
"Aww, come on, Teacher. Why are you refusing us~?"
"I'm not your teacher, I'm your senior."
"Oh, it’s just an expression of respect, Senior Clyde. But isn't it a bit much to deny us a permit for the cafe? Tell you what—let's do this. I'll name the cafe 'Black Dragon.' Isn't Black Dragon such a cool, proud name? Don't you think so, Senior?"
"Do you want to get hit?"
He was the one who used that name during the Tournament, so why was he getting mad? Did he realize how embarrassing it was only after the fact?
"This is discrimination. Everyone else got approved, so why am I the only one being denied? Are you still salty about what happened back then?"
"Sigh..."
Clyde pushed up his glasses and sighed, looking at me as if I were pathetic.
"What exactly do you think of me?"
"A narrow-minded, tactless, obnoxious guy with glasses?"
"..."
"...is what I almost said. You're a senior I respect immensely. I love you~!"
I even sent him a finger heart, but Clyde’s scowl didn't budge.
Say what you want, but it’s true he has no naming sense. And those horn-rimmed glasses don't suit you, so change them.
"This is Yggdrasil, a place renowned for magic."
"I know that."
"Listen until I'm finished. There are too many booths this year involving food and drinks that have nothing to do with magic. As a member of the student council concerned with the school's honor, I cannot tolerate this. Everyone is so addicted to social media these days that they only want to do the easy stuff."
Clyde shook his head, preaching like a total fossil.
"Both you and Akito have great magical skills, so why are you running restaurants? Think about upholding the school's reputation for once."
"Akito is running a restaurant too?"
"Yes. He has great research skills. He could easily make magical tools that would amaze people, yet he’s running a food stall."
Hmm. So Akito decided on a restaurant.
This will probably do incredibly well since the timeline matches up, regardless of part-timers. Is his food as amazing as my Magic Coffee? No.
It’s just that while Akito is wandering around having sex with everyone, he finds Mia and helps her find her parents. It turns out her parents are actually big shots, and they bring all their subordinates and employees to his stall to boost his sales.
Since it’s a game, there’s a minigame for cooking and serving, but even if you get a zero on that, you’re guaranteed at least third place.
In short, it’s not skill; it’s just pure luck. Cheating bastard.
"Well, maybe Akito will do so well that some important figure will establish a good relationship with Yggdrasil."
"Through a restaurant?"
Yes, through a restaurant.
To Clyde, who doesn't know the future, it must sound like nonsense. Anyway, whether Akito sells food or sells his dick is none of my business.
"My coffee is related to magic. Though it's only for the women's section."
"Don't create elements that cause discord. Make it unisex. It's annoying, but if you do that, I'll grant the permit."
That’s a bit much.
Watch men drink my Semen with looks of pure bliss? I’d rather hang myself.
"No, I told you, it's related to magic! It's not just coffee; it involves magic, so you can give me the permit."
"That's why I'm telling you to make it unisex."
"Ayy—men might die if they drink it."
Do you want to see me commit suicide?
"How can you sell something so dangerous at a festival? Are you crazy?"
"Sigh... fine. Actually, they won't die. It'll just taste incredibly bad. But this coffee is formulated specifically for female genetics; it involves some very high-level magical theory."
Do you have any idea how much money I've poured into my dick? Items and elixirs that magic PhDs spent decades researching and suffering to create are concentrated in my member.
"Why on earth would you apply that theory to coffee?"
"Anyway! I'll show you, so please gather the student council members for a meeting. Just give the female members a chance to taste my Magic Coffee. If they still object after that, I'll accept it."
"Sigh... how many people do you think come to me with stubborn protests like yours? The members are all busy preparing for the festival."
"Aww, please. Come on, are you really going to be like this between us?"
"Between us, we're enemies."
"What do you mean enemies? We're a respected senior and a lovable junior. If you gather the members, I'll name the cafe 'Black Dragon.' I'm even going to have a custom sign made with 'Black Dragon' plastered all over it."
"...I'm only doing this because it's you. If they object, you have to accept it."
This guy still thinks 'Black Dragon' is a good name.
Clyde contacted the members as if he had no choice and gave me a time.
When the time came, I poured in the instant coffee, added hot water and hot Semen into a thermos, gave it a good shake, and headed over.
Ugh, they were sitting at a U-shaped table, watching me stand in the center. The pressure was real.
"Yeon-woo, why can't men have it?"
Willas, this guy still seems to like me.
"Opposed. Absolutely opposed."
As soon as Mer saw my face, she crossed her arms in an 'X' and shouted her disapproval.
Scarlet, sitting next to Clyde, gave me a warm smile and a small wave.
All the members I saw during the Tournament were here. There were many others besides those four, but I didn't know their names.
"Now, I'd like to thank the council members for gathering here despite their busy schedules. I, Seo Yeon-woo, will now present the coffee I'll be offering at this festival."
"Why all the fuss over just coffee?"
"You there, the skeptical one! I, Seo Yeon-woo, say with confidence that your mind will change once you taste this coffee. It is a supreme coffee that cannot be tasted anywhere else. I guarantee it on my name and the name of my grandfather."
Not that I know who my grandfather is.
Showing my confidence, I intentionally placed paper cups in front of the female council members and poured the coffee.
"Though it's in a paper cup now, if you visit our cafe, 'Black Dragon,' during the festival, you'll be able to taste it in the finest Hermesh cups. Oh, and don't worry—our takeout cups are made from eco-friendly materials."
"..."
Was I laying it on too thick? The female members all looked at the paper cups with uncomfortable expressions. Even Scarlet was glancing around with an awkward smile.
But it was fine.
My Magic Coffee—my Semen—was the best in the world.
Starting with Scarlet, they each took a cautious sip, and their eyes widened.
Even Mer, who had been shouting her opposition, looked stunned and stared blankly at the coffee before gradually becoming addicted and sipping it continuously.
I turned around and spoke to the male members, who were watching the women's shocked expressions.
"The expressions you see now are the same ones the guests visiting Yggdrasil on the day of the festival will have. A class that can only be tasted at Yggdrasil—that is Magic Coffee."
I emphasized 'Yggdrasil' and threw in the word 'class.' It was a brilliant presentation. My skills from being chewed out by my Team Leader weren't going to waste.
Since Clyde held immense power, I decided to throw in some more flattery.
"Imagine it. The guests will taste the Magic Coffee and return home soaked in happiness. And they will say: the coffee I tasted at Yggdrasil was the best coffee of my life. The cafe 'Black Dragon' at Yggdrasil will remain in people's memories for a long time."
I worried I might have overdone it and stole a glance at Clyde, but he was nodding with a satisfied smile. He really must love the name 'Black Dragon.'
Alright, the male members were mostly convinced. Next were the female members, but what was there to worry about?
I looked at Mer, who had been so against it. She was still sipping the coffee with a frustrated expression.
"Ugh... I... app-prove..."
She desperately wanted to object, but Mer, completely captivated by the Magic Coffee, couldn't betray her own tongue and finally gave her approval.
It was a turn-on, feeding my Semen to a woman who disliked me.
Give me more of that hateful expression. Give me that look of someone who doesn't want to submit but is forced to say what they hate because they're addicted.
While I was savoring Mer's expression, Willas chimed in.
"So men really can't have it?"
"Yes. It's a magic designed specifically for female genetics, so men can't drink it. I don't recommend it. My research isn't quite there yet to match it to men, but if this goes well, I might be able to develop a coffee for men next year."
There's no such thing. Don't get your hopes up. I'm selling this at this festival and then I'm out.
"Genetics... isn't interfering with genetics a very high-level form of magic? Oh, I'm not trying to criticize. You're not interfering with individual genetics; it's more like the coffee reacts to the concept. I just thought it was unique that you'd think to use that for coffee."
"All great things have humble beginnings. I believe that by accumulating and researching things like this, we can eventually create magic that truly helps humanity."
I don't know anything about research. I don't even know theories that a middle schooler would know.
But my Team Leader used to say: a real presentation is about dumping all the feasibility issues onto the technical staff and just blathering on about what people want to hear to win the contract.
...Thinking back on it, my Team Leader was a piece of trash.
"I believe that magic should be more integrated into people's lives. Of course, in our current situation where we have to fight demons and monsters, that might sound too idealistic or naive. But magic is a tool to make people's lives easier, and I don't think Yggdrasil needs to focus only on grand things."
Damn, I nailed it.
'Integrated into people's lives'—even though I said it, it was a fantastic excuse.
As I made my case with a dash of emotional appeal, the looks in the student council members' eyes changed.
"True. If you continue your research, it could be applied in many different areas. I'm looking forward to it."
"I approve too. Yeon-woo, you have such wonderful thoughts."
"Something that can be grand but doesn't necessarily need to be. It's truly fitting for someone leading the way in magic. Approved."
The student council members looked at me and smiled, their eyes full of dreams.
I felt a bit guilty, like I was tricking good people, but I got the permit, so that's all that matters.