Chapter : 29
The Bachelor Still Isn’t Convinced
“Giving me love advice when I’m not married is pointless. Don’t bother.”
“Eh? Jilk, you’re not married?”
When I said that, Mariela’s eyes widened.
“I’m not.”
“Do you have a girlfriend or anything?”
“No.”
“You’re such a talented and good-looking artificer! It’s such a waste! If you’re fine with an adventurer’s child, I can introduce someone to you. I’m sure everyone would be happy to meet you, Jilk.”
The moment she realized I wasn’t married and didn’t have a girlfriend, Mariela looked at me with pity, as if I were some unfortunate soul, and began saying unnecessary things.
Ah, I see. This is one of those meddlesome aunties who immediately try to get someone married once they find out they’re single. Simply put, it’s annoying.
I can understand why young people in modern Japan get fed up with this and call it harassment.
Who decided that marriage is the key to happiness, anyway?
“I deliberately haven’t married. It’s none of your business. Worry about yourself instead of other people.”
“I-I see…”
When I pushed back like that, Mariela seemed to remember something and spoke again.
Damn. I thought I had ended the conversation, but here we are again.
“But maybe you’re similar to Eight. He’s already twenty-eight, yet he’s still unmarried.”
Mariela said that, looking at me expectantly as if she wanted advice.
Even if I end the conversation, she’ll probably bring it up again. Being constantly tangled in this would be annoying, so I might as well give some advice.
“There’s a certain percentage of people, like me and Eight, who remain unmarried even as they get older. But among them, some might want to get married someday.”
“So there’s a chance Eight could get married!?”
“We won’t know unless we ask him directly. It’s just that he hasn’t found a woman he wants to marry yet. Maybe he wants to someday.”
“Then, I want to ask Jilk, who’s also unmarried like Eight: how does a woman become someone you’d want to marry?”
Mariela leaned forward, listening intently.
“I don’t know if you’d become close, but if you want a long-term relationship with Eight, maintain an appropriate distance.”
“An appropriate distance?”
“A man who’s single at this age basically values his own free time. Don’t ask too much of him or cling too tightly. Keep a proper distance and meet up when he feels like it.”
I understand because I’m single too.
Single people hate being bound or manipulated by someone else.
Daily contact from a woman or sudden demands to meet would be exhausting.
They’re also not good at being swept up by emotional or illogical behavior driven by love or feelings.
If I were to marry, I’d want someone I could be with comfortably, someone mutually respectful. Someone who doesn’t act irrationally or emotionally, and doesn’t lean on me, but someone we can support each other.
“…That sounds like a convenient friend, doesn’t it?”
“Maybe. But if you rush in, Eight will definitely run away. Me too. Men who are single at this age don’t share common values.”
Otherwise, in a world that encourages early marriage more than my previous life, he wouldn’t be single.
Even if he has a different way of thinking, Eight has his own reasons.
Mariela might have a point, but someone who can’t even be a good friend can’t become a lover.
“That makes sense. Eight and Jilk are both a little unusual!”
Mariela seemed to have understood it in her own way and laughed.
I’m not unusual. Eventually, in this world, as time passes, more people with values similar to mine from modern Japan will appear.
“What’s this? You two seem to be getting along surprisingly well.”
While Mariela laughed like that, Eight returned with a cup and a small package.
“It’s not like that!”
From Mariela’s perspective, who likes Eight, seeing me getting along with him must be very frustrating. She denied it, somewhat flustered.
“She’s just laughing on her own. More importantly, what’s in that package?”
“Oh, I brought cookies from town. I thought they’d go well with coffee.”
“That’s appreciated.”
I had been focused on making the coffee and hadn’t considered a snack.
With cookies or other sweets, the coffee would be even more enjoyable.
Eight used earth magic to make two small chairs and sat with Mariela.
I took their cups and poured the freshly brewed coffee into them.
“It smells so fragrant.”
Mariela, new to coffee, seemed fascinated.
Eight, who already knew it, quietly enjoyed the aroma.
Eventually, they savored the smell and took a sip.
“Ah, this is it. This is coffee.”
“It’s a bit bitter, but fragrant—I like it.”
“See? That’s what makes it good.”
Eight let out a sigh of contentment, while Mariela sipped carefully, enjoying it.
Catalina had twisted her face after just one sip, but Mariela seemed fine.
She might have been trying to match Eight’s pace, but she didn’t seem to be forcing herself.
I poured some into my own cup and inhaled the aroma.
“Mmm, smells good.”
Compared to Rondel’s brewing, it might be rougher, but it had a fresh, strong aroma.
I took a sip, letting the flavor spread across my mouth. Rich, with a unique bitterness.
It felt more bitter and full-bodied than the coffee at Rondel’s café.
Even though the beans were the same, the taste impression was completely different.
It’s probably due to the difference in skill, and also the grinding and extraction methods.
Even with the same ingredients, the taste can vary greatly—like alcohol, it’s a deep art.
“Ah, this goes so well with cookies.”
Mariela exclaimed after tasting coffee with the cookies.
I also nibbled on the cookies Eight brought.
The sugar and butter made them sweet, but with bitter coffee, the combination was perfect.
Even without milk or sugar, beginners could enjoy this coffee properly with these cookies.
“Jilk, is there no more coffee?”
Eight asked, looking at the empty glass pot.
The manual grinder is portable and can’t make much—about three cups at most.
“There’s still some, so drink as much as you like.”
“That’s a relief.”
Eight sipped, comforted by the fact there was a refill.
Mariela smiled gently at him.
While they casually sipped coffee and chatted, I brought out the automatic grinder.
Since the manual grinder worked well, now I’d try this one.
I opened the lid and put in coffee beans for everyone.
Pressing the switch instead of turning a handle, the internal blades automatically rotated, crushing the beans.
“I hear something being crushed. Is Jilk crushing the beans?”
“Not me. The artificer is doing it.”
“Eh? That’s a magical tool?”
“Yes. This grinder has a neutral magic stone. The magic activates the internal blades, crushing the beans automatically.”
Unlike the manual grinder, it can produce consistent coffee easily and in quantity.
For occasions like this, when many cups are needed quickly, it’s very handy.
“As expected from a famous artificer.”
“Even so, it’s a simple structure. Anyone could make it if they tried.”
I focused on minimizing size, but the structure itself is simple. Tristan could probably make this.
While talking, the glass container below filled with grounds.
The speed compared to the manual grinder is incredible.
Checking the grind, I continued the tool, and soon had a large quantity of coffee grounds.
I put them in the siphon, poured hot water, and brewed the coffee.
Once brewed, I poured the second cups for Eight and Mariela.
They enjoyed the aroma again and sipped.
“…This one’s fresher and easier to drink, maybe?”
“It’s more acidic and crisp.”
“You can tell the difference. I used a lighter roast and a coarser grind this time.”
Compared to the previous coffee, this one was lighter in strength.
Changing the concentration drastically alters coffee’s flavor.
I wanted to make a slightly different taste rather than repeat the first one.
“I think I like this one better. It’d be refreshing in the morning.”
“I prefer the rich, strong bitterness from before.”
Changing the flavor revealed each person’s preference—one of coffee’s joys.
“Jilk, which do you prefer?”
“I like something in between.”
Balanced in bitterness and acidity, neither too strong nor too weak—capturing all flavors.
The lighter one is nice, but I want to enjoy all flavors.
“Middle, huh… then make that next time.”
“If I make more, three people can’t finish it.”
From the amount of grounds, there were probably five more cups possible.
Too much for just the three of us. Evening might be different, but we’re not staying that long.
“Then can you sell me the beans and the tool?”
Eight asked sincerely, and I thought for a moment.
“Sorry, it’s still a prototype. I’ll sell it once the quality improves.”
“Eh? It already tastes great, isn’t it enough?”
“I want to check durability, blade materials, and grind quality.”
How much use will wear down the blades? Is the current material okay? Can the grind be adjusted properly? There’s still work to do.
I also want Rondel’s opinion, since he has long experience with coffee.
“Understood. Then sell it to me first when it’s ready.”
“Fine. In the meantime, I’ll tell you a café that serves coffee.”
“That helps a lot!”
I told Eight about Rondel’s café, and a calm moment passed.
I couldn’t relax alone, but with company, we made and drank a lot of coffee.
Coffee at a café is nice, but enjoying it outside is good too.
