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Chapter 31




Chapter 31
The glass shattered so cleanly that the shards were as small as fingernails.
Choi E-chan, pale with shock, nervously scratched his head.
“Ugh, I’m sorry! I just wanted to put it down gently.”
Choi E-chan fumbled to clear away the broken glass with his hands. But the more he touched it, the more the glass shattered into even smaller pieces. A few more times and the glass would turn into sand.
I tried to calm him down.
“Calm down. It’s okay, really.”
“Ugh, I’m sorry. I really am. I didn’t mean to...”
Even though I said it was fine, Choi E-chan kept apologizing. While I was cleaning up the glass, he fidgeted and then spoke hesitantly.
“Actually, ever since I awakened, I can’t control my strength, so sometimes this happens.”
“Ah, I see. I’ve heard that can happen.”
When you awaken, your strength, agility, and other stats increase overnight. So it’s natural to need time to learn how to control them properly.
By the way, this didn’t apply to me, who had no particularly high stats even as an awakened person. I should be grateful that I didn’t break the cup, or maybe I should be disappointed...
“I try to control my strength by exercising every morning.”
“Exercise? What kind?”
Now that I think about it, he was jogging when we met in front of the <Silver Guild>.
“Hmm, let me see... First, I do 100 squats, 100 planks, and 100 burpees every morning, then I run a full marathon, and then I repeat the squats, planks, and burpees, and then...”
“...What?”
“But today, I only did half because I came here, so I guess I wasn’t as tired.”
“I see...”
I felt a bit of a distance growing between Choi E-chan and me.
I think if I added up all the exercise I’ve done in my life, it would still be less than what he does in a day. In high school, I was always the first to get tired and fall behind in PE class.
Not only that, but his broad shoulders and firm muscles had completely changed his appearance. If he used to be like a small puppy, now he’s more like a large dog...
Choi E-chan, who was carefully eating the new ice coffee I made, suddenly asked.
“So, what’s the name of this cafĂ©?”
“Ah, well, that’s...”
I was quite flustered.
“Why? Haven’t you decided yet?”
“No, it’s not that... Well...”
After hesitating for a moment, I finally answered in a mosquito-like voice.
“CafĂ©...”
“Huh, what?”
“<CafĂ© Ri>...”
The name of a café is very important.
I tried to come up with a name with a very strict, serious, and solemn attitude.
But none of the names that came to mind were satisfactory.
<Dungeon CafĂ©> didn’t seem right. <CafĂ© Abyss>, hmm, it feels like it would go out of business quickly. <Dungeon Gate CafĂ©>... hmm...
My creativity is only at this level. I should have done those learning materials to boost creativity when I was younger.
After much deliberation, I even asked the two animals.
“Do you have any names that are flashy yet simple, memorable and unique but not too flashy, appropriately distinctive yet familiar?”
“Use my name!”
“Meeow...?”
As expected, they were no help.
I spent the whole day thinking but couldn’t come up with a good name, so I decided to name it after myself.
The idea of putting my name on the sign made me feel overly self-conscious and embarrassed.
“Meeow (CafĂ© Mee would be better)!”
I ignored the cat, who was butting in as if kneading bread.
“Really? That’s great!”
Choi E-chan’s reaction was completely normal. Thank you, it’s a bit comforting.
“So, how are you doing lately? Since you’ve awakened... are you going to join a guild?”
After some small talk, I cautiously brought up the main topic. He laughed awkwardly and shook his head.
“Haha, no, I’m E-rank. It would be hard to find a guild that would take me.”
I felt a bit relieved, but also a bit sorry for Choi E-chan.
“Still, you’ve awakened. If there’s someone who needs help, you’d want to help, right?”
“...”
Choi E-chan chuckled and patted my shoulder.
“Sure, if you need help, just let me know. I have plenty of strength to spare.”
“Really? Then next time... next time, I’ll ask you. You have to come, okay?”
I said it with the desperation of grasping at straws.
The dungeon Choi E-chan was involved in before the regression happened in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. It’s quite far from here in northern Seoul. So at least this place should be safe for him.
The thought that I might not see him again once winter comes and the snow falls made me feel a sudden fear.
“Of course. If you call, I’ll come right away, so definitely call me.”
Choi E-chan smiled broadly, made the promise, and left.
* * *
[Congratulations! You have completed the side quest: 'Ultimate Coffee.'
Please claim your reward.]
[Skill Points: 1]
[Please select a skill to level up.]
After Choi E-chan left, a quest completion notification appeared, and I received a skill point. It seems I completed the quest by giving him the ice coffee.
So, what exactly makes it 'ultimate'...
I had some questions, but it wasn’t a critical issue.
With a pounding heart, I used the skill point to level up 'Barista’s Skill.'
[Barista’s Extraction (D)
Details: (Lv.2) Extracts the desired substance from a mixture.]
“Mwahaha...”
As I suspected.
With this skill, I wouldn’t have to go through the hassle of trimming the stems, squeezing the sap, filtering the residue, boiling, and boiling, and boiling (and so on) to make sugar.
There was no reason to delay. I picked up the pre-cut stems of the dungeon sugarcane. Before Mee could be distracted by the rustling leaves and pounce, I used the skill.
‘Barista’s Extraction.’
[Extraction complete.]
The stems of the dungeon sugarcane disappeared in a flash of light, leaving only the sap.
A deep brown color, appropriately sticky, and a sweet aroma that filled the air. I tasted a bit, and it had a rich sweetness.
Success!
“It smells good!”
“Meeow!”
With the sap extraction complete, the remaining process was simple.
I poured the sap into a square bowl and placed it by the window where the air circulated well. After feeding the cat and slime, I came back for dinner, and it had solidified perfectly.
The sap had turned into a hard caramel-like substance, which I cut into small squares with a knife. I put the square pieces into a blender and ground them, turning them into fine sugar.
[Item: Magic Sugar (★★☆☆☆)
Natural sugar made from the sap of dungeon sugarcane.
Sweet but good for your health. No blood sugar worries, no matter how much you eat.
Following a recipe, you might even get a special effect?]
Sugar has many uses, but there was something I wanted to make first.
The next day, I called the cat and slime in front of me and asked with a solemn expression.
“What do you think is one thing missing from this cafĂ©?”
Mee and Lime gave lukewarm responses.
“Mee...?”
“What are you talking about, why...”
“Tell me. What’s missing from this cafĂ©, which is about to officially open?”
After lying on her belly and thinking for a while, Mee raised her paw.
“Mascot?”
“Meeow.”
“Indeed, a cute animal mascot would be nice, wouldn’t it?”
“...Not that.”
“Interior?”
“Meeow.”
“No, not that. Think harder.”
I shook my head. Mee, thinking she had the right answer this time, raised both paws.
“Customers!”
“Meeow, Neeow!”
Lime agreed by bouncing vigorously.
“...”
You think of this place like that? ...I’m a bit hurt.
Giving up on getting an answer from these animals, I placed the plastic bag I was holding on the table and took out the contents one by one.
Eggs, butter, flour. All freshly bought from the supermarket.
And I placed the magic sugar I completed yesterday next to them.
“What’s missing from this cafĂ©... it’s dessert.”
Indeed, a café should have not only drinks but also dessert.
The Americano is delicious, really delicious... but I felt a bit disappointed. If only there were dessert here, it would be perfect.
A sweet dessert and a rich Americano. The clean finish of the Americano after the smooth sweetness is, needless to say, a perfect combination.
So, with the sugar completed, I decided to make a dessert to go with the coffee.
“...”
I waited for a moment, but the system had no reaction. It was the perfect time to start a new quest.
It was a bit strange, considering how the system used to be so annoying with notifications. Maybe it’s neglect after obsession. Did it give generous rewards at the beginning and then gradually reduce them? I was a bit suspicious.
Anyway, the menu I was going to make today was butter cookies.
The recipe is simple and not too difficult, so I could make it. The soft, melting texture would go well with coffee.
First, I put the softened butter in a bowl and whipped it with a whisk. Then I added the sugar and mixed until there were no more gritty sounds.
After the butter was creamy, I added the egg and flour in order and mixed them to form the dough.
“It’s done... Wait, Mee, stop!”
“Why?!”
Mee tried to taste the dough with her paw. She’s a cat I can’t let my guard down with.
Even though I tried to act nonchalant, the yellow dough on her paw was undeniable evidence.
While I was dealing with Mee, Lime went for the dough. The bowl wobbled dangerously as it hit Lime’s bouncy body.
“...Oh!”
Luckily, I caught it just in time. It almost fell to the floor.
“No, you have to wait until it’s baked.”
“Meeow...”
“Meeow, no!”
I isolated the two animals who were only causing trouble. Then I started squeezing the dough into round shapes on the baking sheet.
“Ugh...”
At first, it was difficult, but soon I could shape the dough into the right form.
Next, I preheated the oven and put the dough in. The small home oven was just the right size for a batch of cookies.
Soon, the cookies started to turn golden in the oven, and a fragrant aroma filled the café. Mee and Lime, unable to wait for the cookies to finish baking, pressed close to the oven.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Looking at the clock, it was exactly on the hour. I hadn’t realized so much time had passed while I was focused on baking the butter cookies.
I quickly ran to the door and opened it.
“Please come in.”
“Hello.”
The customer I was waiting for, Jina, stepped confidently inside.