Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The Heretic of the Magic Tower (15)
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Magic Tower professor Elvin Clask rose in the morning and finished washing his face. Stray white hairs peeked through his prized blue locks, but to his eyes—which were confident he'd aged quite dashingly—it wasn't much of an issue. If anything, it struck him as a symbol of his seasoned gravitas, and he rather liked it.
His mind wandered back to the previous evening, when he'd taken a short stroll through the streets after arriving in Astraea, the city commonly known as the Labyrinth City. It lacked the refined elegance of the imperial capital or the areas around the Magic Tower, but it had its charms in the rare goods and vibrant energy.
It must hold its own appeal for hot-blooded youths.
A place this unique would naturally inspire ideas like turning coffee into a beverage—and one with such diverse allure, at that.
Today, the entire group had agreed to visit the cafe that researcher Dalia had discovered, so he straightened his attire to ensure he wouldn't be embarrassed anywhere. People had to uphold their dignity more as they aged, especially someone like Elvin, backed by influential nobles and building a track record. Even in places that seemed to lack discerning eyes, it was necessary.
He'd once been demoted over a minor blunder, but those in power could never ignore the profits tied to magical engineering. With no one matching his achievements, reinstatement was the inevitable outcome.
"What a pointless waste of time that was."
Once he finished grooming and stepped out of his lodging, Dalia—the researcher most familiar with the local layout—stood waiting at the front.
"Now that Professor Elvin has arrived, shall we head out?"
"Let's do that."
There were no objections, nor any reason for them, so he followed right behind Dalia. Glancing around as he trailed her, he noticed rundown alleys that contrasted with the main thoroughfares they'd stuck to earlier.
Tsk tsk. Every place has its slums, it seems. The labyrinth's blessings don't reach everyone equally.
Beyond that, Dalia—mindful of standing out, no doubt—had dressed in attire similar to the locals'. She was already striking enough to draw attention from several male researchers back home, but unlike her usual tightly wrapped robes for lab work, her more open outfit today added a different allure.
His eyes naturally drifted to the sway of her hips ahead of him, but he quickly looked forward again.
I can't afford to get caught ogling over something trivial like before.
Unable to resist sneaking glances despite himself, he kept following until a shop came into view that looked no different from any ordinary tavern on the outside.
Dalia pushed open the door, and the bell attached to it tinkled as a voice called from inside.
"Welcome. Seven people, just as you mentioned last time?"
"Yes."
Elvin was quietly impressed. Contrary to his expectations of a messy dive bar based on the exterior, the place was impeccably clean, with ample space between seats creating a relaxed atmosphere. And the cafe manager had such a soft, refined beauty that he could almost be mistaken for a woman.
For a split second, he wondered if the man might be nobility—his unassuming yet impeccably groomed appearance and the shop's interior design showed real taste.
At the bar counter—likely where the manager chatted with customers or served drinks like a bartender—sat a familiar face.
"It's been a while, excluding Dalia."
"Still as laid-back and curt as ever. Leimi Kaisra."
"Haha. You have to scrap with rough types if you're sticking around Astraea long-term."
"Wasn't that always your style? Suits you perfectly."
Elvin bristled without realizing it at the appearance of the woman tied to his own demotion, but mindful of decorum, he cleared his throat and took his assigned seat. Even the chairs felt premium and comfortable.
After a short wait, the cafe manager came out to take orders.
He asked each person about their preferred flavor, aroma, and additions like milk, jotting it all down before beginning to brew the coffees one by one.
A silver machine he'd never seen before, a peculiar setup linking flasks like those used in alchemy, and even a slow hand-pour method.
To be honest, he hadn't expected much, but the visible performance was impressive. Wasn't it said that half of a meal was in its presentation?
The aroma of the coffee was exceptional too—vastly different from the few times he'd tried it at the Magic Tower.
The taste of the cup he served with such care matched his expectations perfectly.
Wondering if he was overreacting, Elvin glanced around. Aside from Dalia—who seemed unsurprised—everyone wore expressions of mild admiration.
It was obvious that a single ingredient could yield different flavors depending on preparation. But this was Awakening Fruit most people used as a stimulant, and extracting it as a beverage with varied tastes was another matter entirely.
Flavor came down to chemical components, and the Magic Tower naturally researched that in alchemy.
He didn't know how much the manager himself understood about coffee brewing techniques, but this was undoubtedly valuable.
Of course, even if something came of it, he had no need to hype it up considering the profit shares.
"Ahem. The concept and technique are both excellent. I was initially worried that former researcher Leimi had been drawn here by looks alone, but the visual flair of the brewing process, the enticing aroma as it extracts, and the final taste— all superb."
"Right?"
"Where did you learn such skills?"
"No master. I developed them through my own experiments, to bring out coffee's unique qualities."
"Self-taught research? Hard to believe."
"Doesn't passion drive us in things we love? Surely you pour tremendous zeal into your own field, Professor."
"Er, ahem. I always deliver results."
The manager smiled and retreated, soon returning with another brew using the same beans but a different method. He called it hand drip—controlling the water stream by hand, as the name implied.
Wondering if the hand movements affected the taste, Elvin watched closely, but as a layman, he couldn't discern much.
Eric had just drunk something diluted from a machine-extracted concentrate, but this time it was straight hand-brewed.
A single cup brought without explanation—a test for his palate.
He took a sip, holding it briefly to savor the aroma through his nose before swallowing.
"Sweeter, and... lighter, I suppose. Clean fits too."
"Exactly. This time, I used a filter paper that absorbs the coffee oils carrying much of the aroma, to eliminate any bitter notes."
"I see. Changing the filter alters the flavor profile."
"Precisely. Sharp as ever."
Though a man, his refined youthfulness and flattery—however slight—lifted Elvin's spirits. The manager even brought out simple snacks, prepared in advance, and their quality was top-notch.
And since coffee was typically seen as an awakener, pairing it with pastries or cakes was a first for him—but it could easily replace the black tea at tea parties.
Just how much commercial value would there be if coffee caught on? What significance if the Magic Tower refined its taste and aroma?
As these calculations danced behind his smiling facade, Dalia dropped a bombshell.
"Oh, right. Leimi's place and this cafe—weren't they the spots His Imperial Majesty praised and noted during his last visit?"
"...Something like that."
"I wasn't here at the time, so not entirely accurate for ours, but yes."
"Is that so. Any reason not to relocate a shop like this?"
"Probably all the ties here. Leimi doesn't want to leave either."
"Ho ho?"
The still-nameless manager approached with refined poise, gentlemanly helping the bashful Leimi from her chair, then naturally slipping an arm around her waist.
Eric was instantly reminded of his patron, the Duke of the Empire's northern reaches.
The way he stood with his wife at balls sometimes.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself to Leimi's former mentor. I'm Julio, her lover and the humble proprietor of this cafe."
"I see. Truth be told, Leimi's talents are wasted despite her free spirit, so I was thinking of asking if she'd consider returning—should she be open to it. Doesn't seem likely."
"Yes. She loves the city's vibe and my cafe, so not for now."
Truthfully, this wasn't the answer he'd sought. He'd planned to leverage Leimi's family and the Magic Tower's power dynamics to pressure her back into line.
But the aura Julio exuded wasn't mere forceful intimidation. It was the natural presence of someone accustomed to command, casually gazing down at those beneath him.
Better withdraw for now. Retreating from a bad situation is a gentleman's virtue too.