#565 Leaves vs. Beans

To celebrate the completion of the coffee, we decided to have various people drink it.

Our first target was Pops Edward.

Why him, you ask?

Because he built the coffee grinder for us, and besides, as someone with an artisan’s spirit, I think he’ll like the coffee very much.

And I was right.

“Mm, it’s good.”

Pops takes a sip of his black coffee and says in a relaxed voice, “This intense bitterness clears my head and perks me up! This might be the perfect thing to wake me up in the morning!”

“Right?”

I knew Pops would like it.

It was worth inviting him over today.

“We dwarves prefer drinking alcohol to anything else, but this could be our new favorite.”

“Both alcohol and coffee are for grownups, after all.”

Men who know how to appreciate the finer things in life enjoy conversation with other men.

That is the world of adults.

“When you wanted me to make another machine with mana metal, I thought my soul would leave my body. But this coffee tastes wonderful... It calms me down and grounds my soul.”

That’s good to hear.

I hoped that this part of him that sends him to heaven every time he sees mana metal would change.

If coffee is the catalyst to that... maybe, just maybe... coffee can become an elixir for soul suppression?! 

“Still, I simply adore this bitter taste. This rich flavor can only be understood by a veteran like me. That puny elf can’t possibly appreciate this.”

Ah.

Must you have to say something that could be a flag, Pops...?!

“Says the uncouth dwarf.”

Here she comes.

The speed at which she collected that flag was as fast as an arrow.

Pops Edward’s enemy, Aileron the elf, makes a gallant appearance.

“Dwarves who have no elegance think you can beat us in gastronomy? You’re so arrogant.”

“Cheeky as ever, elf! Why are you always so full of yourself?!”

“Because I do hold pride in what I do! I, Aileron, a true artisan, seek true beauty!”

“How funny you have the gall to call yourself a true artisan! The true artisans are us dwarves!”

As usual, a fight broke out.

Elves and dwarves... or perhaps just Aileron and Pops?

They are both stubborn artisans, and when they meet, they always quarrel because of their different artistic views, and then they get into a fight.

Just watching them stresses me out...

But I have recently come to think that the two of them are at their liveliest when they are arguing with each other.

“If you’re so stubborn, why don’t you take a sip of this coffee and see for yourself? You better not say it’s too bitter for you!”

“Hehehe...”

“?!”

Edward flinches at Aileron’s fearless laugh.

“What’s with that laugh? Don’t tell me you’ve got a thing for coffee too!”

“Your naivety knows no bounds, eh, dwarf? Jokes on you, but my art has already transcended coffee!”

Aileron takes out the chawan for matcha.

Where did she keep something that huge?!

Without giving us time to question, she takes out a tea jar and a flask, pours matcha and hot water respectively into the bowl and whisks them together.

“Have a taste of this matcha!”

“Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!”

Edward was shocked to see the instantaneous creation of matcha tea.

“That’s right! I had reached a higher state of being before things like coffee enamored me! I found that in this very drink!”

“Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!”

Pops Edward wasn’t expecting to be confronted with a concept similar to coffee.

Their argument no longer revolves around coffee; it has taken on a new dimension!

In other words, coffee vs. tea!

This long-running battle to determine the winning beverage will now take place in a different world!

And it’s not just any battle, it’s a confrontation between two seekers who have long been at odds with each other! It’s inevitable that this battle will intensify!

“But! I already know who the victor is.”

“What?!”

Oh? Aileron sounds sure of herself.

“I already have a tea jar, a chawan, chasen, and chashaku, various tools needed to brew tea. Thus, my repertoire of utensils is complete.”

“Ngh...!”

“You, on the other hand, have only just reached the stage of making good coffee. That’s it. When in reality, it’s more than just that. I find it absurd that you would try to compete with me, a lady who is now pioneering the art of tea ceremony.”

“Gaaaaah!”

Did Aileron just start a crazy cult?

“B-But I made the necessary machine to grind the coffee beans at Lord Saint’s request! It’s not like I haven’t made anything myself!”

“That’s it? Even coffee requires many other tools before it is ready! Above all, the cup for pouring the coffee is the most important thing!”

“Ngh...”

“You can’t make that, though. Because you can’t do pottery!!!”

When it comes to cups for drinking coffee, mugs are the standard.

Some cups and saucers are the same as those served at coffee shops for tea, but they’re all ceramics.

However, Pops Edward’s main occupation is smithing, not pottering.

He doesn’t know how to knead the clay and bake it to make ceramics.

It is the sole domain of his rival, Aileron!

“So? What do you think? If you want, I can make you a customized mug if you get down on your knees and ask for it. Hmm?”

“Graaaaaaah...!!!”

Yes, now that things have escalated to this, Pops Edward cannot get a coffee mug except by bowing to Aileron.

What an unexpected turn of events. 

Aileron really took this opportunity to mess around with Pops...!

“Don’t you want it? Hmm? Don’t you want a nice coffee mug to go with your coffee?”

“Aghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”

Finally, Pops Edward goes into a frenzy.

“Lord Saint! Please let me use your forge!”

“Oh, uh, okay, sure...?”

We’ve always had a forge to make simple kitchen utensils and farming tools.

Pops went there and swung his hammer in a frenzy... 

“Anguirussssssssss!!!”

With a strange voice, he strikes the metal!

“Oshamambeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!”

Can’t he do something about that weird shouting?

Well, anyway, after an hour or so...

* * *

“How’s this!”

What Pops created was...!

“A copper mug?!”

I’d be surprised if he made anything other than a coffee mug judging by the current situation.

But it’s also not every day that you see a mug made out of metal.

“But you pour hot water into the mug. By using metal, the heat will be transferred to the mug, which will also make it hot.”

It’d be too hot to hold it.

“Hmhmhm, oh, Lord Saint. It appears to me you’re unaware of how well copper retains heat!”

“W-What?!”

“Copper containers have excellent insulation, so the temperature of what’s inside will stay the same! In other words, it’s the perfect material for holding drinks!”

I guess there’s nothing to be worried about if you put a handle too.

“Above all, copper has a mild taste no other metal has! Though I doubt those who think only ceramics matter may not understand that, hmm?”

“Grghhhhhh...!”

Now it’s Aileron groaning.

As an artisan, she knows how good the copper mug is, so it’s hard for her to criticize.

“So? You thought that making cups was your exclusive domain, didn’t you, young lady? How does it feel to have your pride crushed?”

“Nghh!!!”

I pour coffee into the copper mug and drink from it.

It is indeed delicious.

The cup does not drastically change the taste, and the metallic finish gives it a cooling effect when pressed against your lips.

It retains heat well too, so it would be perfect for drinking from it while working.

“Now that it has come to this...”

“We have to settle this argument once and for all...!” 

Oh?

What is Aileron and Pops up to now?

“Tea?”

“Coffee?”

“WE’LL MAKE IT CLEAR WHICH IS THE SUPERIOR DRINK!!!”