It wasn't that interesting anyway. It's best not to get involved in stories that have nothing to do with me.
I recalled my previous life when I worked at a company. I had to go hiking with my boss every Sunday after agreeing with his claim that hiking was good for health. That was a painful memory, a lesson learned the hard way.
I laughed lightly and changed the subject.
"Then, how about Hunter Han Isung coming with us?"
"Huh? Me?"
Hunter Han Isung was startled and waved his hands frantically.
"I have something urgent to take care of from now on."
"Is that so?"
"I'm sorry. Have a good time together."
...Have a good time?
I only invited him for coffee, but his expression seemed a bit off.
If he really had something to do, Hunter Han Isung left in a hurry. I thought it was a good opportunity to gain a new regular customer, but it's a pity.
* * *
After Hunter Han Isung left, I returned to the shop with Ki Yuhyeon, who was left alone.
"Hey, I'm back."
"Meow!"
"Meow (Is it that human again)!"
Mi-eum, who was welcoming me, or rather, the food I brought, saw Ki Yuhyeon follow me in and said.
She's still a bit shy. After meeting a few times, she should be getting used to Ki Yuhyeon.
"Hi, Mi-eum."
"Why are you here!"
The moment Ki Yuhyeon approached and greeted Mi-eum, she raised her front paws and delivered a "nya-nya" punch.
Pababab.
Oh, he dodged.
Ki Yuhyeon quickly dodged Mi-eum's flying front paws and gently stroked her chin. The ticklish touch gradually softened Mi-eum's irritated expression.
"Whyyyyy..."
What an easy cat. While she was distracted, I poured the right amount of cereal into Mi-eum's bowl.
"I'm going to try making a new menu today. How about it?"
"Sure, that sounds good."
Among the five basic cafe menus, the first one I decided to make was a cappuccino.
It's popular and can be considered a basic menu after Americano.
I took out a thick ceramic cup for the cappuccino and extracted a shot of espresso into it.
Next, I needed to heat the milk. I took out the milk from the refrigerator. The "fresh milk" I bought from the dimensional shop earlier was cold and looked very fresh and rich.
"You're using a unique milk."
"Hehe, yeah..."
Let's keep it a secret for now that this is the milk from the Golden Triangular Horned Cow.
'My Cafe in My Hands.'
[Recipe: Cappuccino selected.]
Following the recipe's instructions, I poured the milk into the milk pitcher and dipped the steam wand. Then I activated the steam wand.
Lowering the milk pitcher slightly, the sizzling sound began, and foam started to form. When the foam was just right, I turned off the steam wand and removed the milk pitcher.
Done, the milk foam was as smooth as velvet. The milk was at the perfect temperature and consistency.
I tilted the cappuccino cup slightly and held the milk pitcher high with my other hand.
I poured the milk in a circular motion to mix it well, and when it reached about 2/3 full, I brought the pitcher close to the cup.
I continued pouring until a white circle formed in the center of the coffee, and then I stopped. The cappuccino was perfectly made.
[Item: Cappuccino (★★★☆☆)
Status: Good (Remaining Time: 00:30:00)
Effect: Restores 20% of maximum stamina.]
The effect was to restore stamina by a percentage, not a fixed amount. Restoring 20% is quite significant, but...
'It won't be much help to me...'
With my maximum stamina of 100, drinking it would only restore 20. But for someone with higher stats, the recovery would be substantial.
'For example...'
I glanced at the opposite side.
'This guy, who I suspect is a power breather.'
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"......No, just try it."
I repeated the same process to make another cappuccino.
One cup for Ki Yuhyeon, and the other for me to taste. I was very curious about the flavor of the cappuccino made with the milk I impulsively bought.
I sat at the table and immediately brought the cup to my mouth.
"......Hmm."
A natural exclamation of surprise escaped my lips.
'This isn't false advertising.'
The taste was worth the ruby I spent on the milk. If I could easily buy such milk, the system might be quite useful.
The elastic foam first touched my lips, followed by a subtle sweetness. The rich milk flavor complemented the coffee well, enhancing the overall taste.
The cappuccino was so delicious that I could drink several cups.
"It's delicious. This... is really delicious."
Ki Yuhyeon took a sip of the cappuccino and said briefly. His smile seemed genuine.
At the same time, a golden bar appeared above his head.
I watched with a pleased expression as the golden bar above Ki Yuhyeon's head filled up.
The more cappuccino he drank, the more the bar filled. When it was completely full, a message would appear, indicating a deep bond formed through coffee.
Hmm.
But no matter how long I waited, the message didn't appear as it did with Choi Echan.
Why?
I frowned and stared at the bar.
'100%... but not quite.'
At first glance, it seemed 100%, but it wasn't. The bar stopped at about 98%.
I thought it was 100% at a glance, but there was actually a slight gap.
Ki Yuhyeon closed his eyes and slowly savored the cappuccino. His expression was relaxed and gentle.
But...
Although he said it was delicious, it wasn't...
100% satisfying 'ultimate coffee'.
A sense of determination arose in me. I wanted to see a fully filled golden bar, just like when I gave coffee to Choi Echan.
This delicious cappuccino isn't 100% satisfying. What's missing?
I asked Ki Yuhyeon, who had finished his cup.
"Actually, I'm researching a new menu. Is there anything lacking in the cappuccino?"
"No, it's an excellent taste. It's the best coffee I've ever had."
But the bar didn't move from 98%.
"Do you have a favorite drink, Yuhyeon?"
"Huh? Well, I drink most things."
"Hmm..."
Saying he drinks most things means he doesn't have a particular preference.
This is the opposite of Choi Echan, who only likes sweet drinks. It would be easier to find the 'ultimate coffee' for someone with a clear preference like Choi Echan.
The condition for the skill 'A Cup of Coffee Bond' is to copy the skill of someone who has drunk the 'ultimate coffee'. To copy the skill, I need to make them drink the coffee.
So, I was curious about the skill of this man, Ki Yuhyeon, whom I suspect is a power breather. Perhaps he has an incredibly strong skill that I could copy and use.
No, it's too early to be discouraged. I've only made the first of the five cafe menus.
The next menu will surely elicit a different reaction. I can't accept that this cappuccino only reached 98% satisfaction.
I decided to make the next menu right away.
The next one was a cappuccino.
While similar to a cappuccino in that it involves adding milk to an espresso shot, the ratio of milk foam is different.
'My Cafe in My Hands.'
[Recipe: Cappuccino selected.]
First, I took out a smaller ceramic cup and filled it with espresso. Then I heated the milk again.
This time, I injected air for a longer time to create a richer foam. I scooped the foam with a wide spoon and placed it on top of the espresso, then poured the remaining milk into the cup to complete it.
A golden circle formed by the coffee appeared at the edge of the cup. After sprinkling cinnamon powder, the status window appeared.
[Item: Cappuccino (★★★☆☆)
Status: Good (Remaining Time: 00:30:00)
Effect: Restores 20% of maximum health.]
This time, the effect was to restore health by a percentage.
It wasn't a significant effect for me, but the coffee was delicious. The rich milk foam was light and smooth.
"How is it?"
I looked at Ki Yuhyeon with a pounding heart.
But the bar above his head stopped precisely at 98% again. No matter how long I waited, it didn't move.
"I drank it well... Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Um..."
I forgot to answer Ki Yuhyeon's question and got lost in thought.
Was the problem that it wasn't a sweet drink?
Everyone likes sweet things. Even if they say it's bad for you, sweet flavors still sell well.
Even that cat prefers chocolate chex among the various cereals.
"Meow (Why are you suddenly looking at me)!"
After detaching the aggressive Mi-eum, I took out the ingredients I bought from the dimensional shop today from the cabinet.
It was chocolate sauce.
[Item: Hell's Chocolate Sauce (★★☆☆☆)
A sauce made from the pitch-black fruit found in the Hell Dungeon.
Its sweet and rich flavor can be used in mocha coffee and various desserts.
Choose the Number One Premium Brand's chocolate sauce.]
The description seemed like a cheap ad, but the smell from the bottle was very rich and sweet.
For the third menu, I decided to make a cafe mocha. With the chocolate sauce, it would be sweet, and I thought this time it would achieve 100% satisfaction.
First, I poured the chocolate sauce into the cup and added the espresso. I stirred the sauce well with a teaspoon and then poured the steamed milk to complete it.
When he tasted it again, Ki Yuhyeon's sip of the cafe mocha seemed to be in slow motion.
Just the act of lifting the coffee cup to his mouth felt like a commercial. His eyes sparkled, and his expression was rich.
No, I shouldn't be lost in his face.
The important thing is... satisfaction.
After slowly savoring the cafe mocha, Ki Yuhyeon put down the coffee cup. He said something, but I didn't hear it. I was focused on the bar above his head.
The bar above his head shimmered beautifully. Seeing that beautiful light, I felt an unfounded confidence that it would work this time.