Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: The Heretic of the Magic Tower (14)
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While bustling around preparing to welcome the scheduled guests, time flew by in a flash, and word arrived that visitors from the Magic Tower had shown up. Guests from the Magic Tower might not be on the emperor's level, but they were VIPs in their own right. Even if no one seemed to make a big fuss, rumors always got around.
Of course, I learned about it from Leimi big sis, not from any rumors.
The other guests didn't head straight to the cafe. They wanted to wander the streets of Labyrinth City Astraea, since visits like this were rare for them.
In the end, the only one who showed up at the cafe right away was Dalia.
"Hmm. As expected of the main branch, huh? It tastes better eating it here than what I took home."
"There are actually a few reasons for that."
"Now you're making me curious again. What are they?"
"The biggest one is probably the aroma escaping."
Coffee has incredibly strong and varied aromas. And scent is detected when certain substances stick to the olfactory cells in your nose.
Naturally, those aroma compounds come from the coffee itself, and since the flavor components gradually evaporate into the air, it's normal for the taste to fade no matter what you do.
Of course, that's not the whole story.
"Aroma escaping, huh. That makes sense. Any other reasons?"
"Coffee has a lot of oil in it. You know how cooking oil goes rancid if you leave it out too long?"
"It has oil?"
"That golden foam floating on top is a mix of fats and other components. And that slight heaviness you feel when drinking it? That's from ingredients that don't dissolve well in water—oil's influence."
"Fascinating."
There were other reasons too, like how chlorogenic acids in coffee break down after hot-water extraction, changing the flavor; or how as the temperature drops, solubility decreases for many compounds, causing some to precipitate out; or how temperature affects taste bud activation, shifting the perceived balance. But explaining all that would just lead to awkward questions about how I knew, so I skipped it.
Anyway, there's a good reason why so many cold brews taste relatively sour.
Chemical reactions that happen quickly when hot slow down in the low temperatures of cold brew, allowing longer storage, but it inevitably leans toward acidity overall.
Still, the absolute best is drinking it fresh, brewed by a barista from properly rested beans after roasting.
Dalia, who had been savoring the coffee's aroma with her eyes peacefully closed, flashed a playful smile and spoke up.
"So, Leimi. How far have you two gone?"
"...You said you'd just quietly drink your coffee and leave."
"Aw, come on. What's the harm? You're both adults."
This was the woman who'd planted weird ideas in Leimi big sis's head and nearly ruined her for a bit. She caught my expression and averted her eyes at first, then met them boldly.
"It wasn't like I did it for fun, okay?"
"Then why'd you say weird stuff to big sis?"
"...Huh? What? I didn't explain it properly?"
What was this? Was there some backstory I didn't know? I thought I remembered most of their conversations, but I didn't recall hearing the full details on why Leimi big sis had suddenly started acting that way.
"No, it just feels like there was some ulterior motive behind saying that."
"Ugh, you blockhead."
"What happened?"
"Well, it's like this."
What Leimi big sis had told her sounded pretty minor depending on how you looked at it. Back when big sis was at the Magic Tower, she shared a research topic with one professor.
That professor had a solid position in the tower at the time—a nut obsessed with results and prestige, looking for students to help with his work.
"But that professor knew my parents. So, while working together, we got kinda close."
"Yeah, that can happen."
"But he was way more obsessed with results than I imagined, and he started pressuring me into some special 'arrangements.'"
Like solving his meals in the lab or staying at his house.
"Either way, it doesn't sound like it'd end normally."
"Right? Plus, there were testimonies about him repeatedly getting improper with female students."
"So that psycho prof got suspended for kidnapping and locking a female student in his lab to force research after results didn't come. He's back now, though."
"And after reinstatement, he came looking for me. Told me to make a strong reason to never return—like getting a lover or husband."
"Which led to that ambiguous something."
"What? What? Did Leimi do something naughty?"
"Even if I did, I'm not telling you."
Unlike our regulars, Dalia was a natural social butterfly. She'd been a prim lady while drinking her coffee, but now she was like a girl hanging out with peers.
"Anyway, barging in like this midway through, she'll probably make Leimi an offer that's hard to refuse."
"So your goal is to block that."
"Exactly. And the easiest way is to have a husband or lover who's settled here."
"I can play that lover role, right?"
"Of course. You're the only one Leimi's ever said she likes."
"Hey!"
Pretending wouldn't be an issue, but even if Leimi big sis cut ties and went back, her parents might not fully give up. If that professor snitched to them, they could pop up demanding to vet her marriage prospect.
Leimi big sis came from nobility, so if her parents sketched my face and spread it in noble society, that'd be trouble.
But whatever.
"Sure, let's do it. I'll think about my own situation slowly."
"Oho, confident. Not the type without a girlfriend, but you don't play the field?"
"Just one fiancée. People around said I treated her well."
"... 'Had,' huh."
"It was just a broken engagement, no big deal."
Some risks were worth taking.
Rather than worry about my identity getting exposed after some roundabout mess, seeing Leimi big sis look at me—embarrassed but happy—made the minor stuff irrelevant.
With my ready agreement, Leimi big sis turned away, face flushed, while Dalia gave a thumbs-up with an impressed look.
"Now that that's settled, wanna try some experiments?"
"Huh? Like what?"
"I processed beans in various ways to tweak the flavors. I'll grab some fully rested ones first."
I hurried up to the loft behind me and brought down only medium and dark roasts that had finished resting, with their deep colors.
Basically, coffee resting degasses the beans internally and stabilizes flavors, so beans with larger holes from roasting rest faster.
The more you roast, the more the structure shrinks, carbonizes, and gets riddled with air pockets, so dark roasts rest way quicker than lights.
The ones I pulled used honey process—half the fruit pulp left on during fermentation.
"How's it different from the last one I had?"
"Taste it first."
"Aw, don't act all smug or it'll be embarrassing if you're wrong."
She grinned teasingly, sipped the coffee I'd brewed, swirled it in her mouth, closed her eyes thoughtfully, and gave her verdict.
"Sweet. Heavy. Not sticky, but it coats the tongue."
"Pretty much spot on."
"How'd you get that sweetness? Doesn't seem like you tampered with the beans."
I explained my collab with Eli, who I had some confidence in. Starting with how leftover pulp alters flavors during fermentation, I rattled off the details. Dalia listened quietly, then dropped one line.
"Cafe manager, personality-wise, you could fit right in at the Magic Tower."
"Huh? I can use combat magic decently, but researcher spells? Total flop."
"Anyone with magic aptitude, curiosity, and enough patience can do it."
"I'm kinda short on patience..."
Rias's face flashed in my mind. Her causing trouble, then wide-eyed shoving blame my way.
If I'd endured that for 15 years, I'd have patience, right?
"...Nah, guess not."
"Heh. Call me if you change your mind?"
"Didn't I just answer?"
"You never seemed keen to leave anyway."
Dalia flicked a sugar cube sweetly to Leimi big sis and said,
"What's the point of leaving your boyfriend? And until we boot that pervert prof from the tower for good, I don't want Leimi anywhere near it."
"Dalia."
"Yeah? Touched?"
"No. Nosy much, you?"