The Legendary Hibiscus Stag was immolated in a glorious blaze, burning to a crisp instantly. A cool wind blew away its ashes, leaving only a pile of antlers and a stray hoof. Ryu stood with his mouth agape, marveling at the spectacle.

“Oh! We’re still alive, nya! G-guess you’re pretty lucky, huh, Ryu?” Aurora said apprehensively.

Ryu sighed, flopping to the floor. He was overcome with fatigue. Now that he could relax for a moment, the physicality of the day's events had finally caught up with his body. I really need to get some exercise in. Sylfie stood over him carrying a satchel with what appeared to be the antlers she had collected. She tossed the hoof into Ryu’s lap.

“That’s your cut.”

Ryu raised an eyebrow. He sat up, hesitantly biting the hoof when Sylfie wasn’t watching, spitting to the side when she looked up from her satchel.

“Gross!” Aurora chimed.

“Oh, shut it, will you?”

He checked his Knowledge Base. Sure enough, there was an entry for the item.

[Hoof of the Hibiscus Stag: This item has a moderate chance of dropping when defeating the Legendary Hibiscus Stag. It has long been believed to possess potent medical benefits when ground into a fine powder. This item is also used as a key ingredient in Spicy Hoof Curry, a southeastern delicacy in Cerulia]

Another tab appeared underneath the item’s description.

[Recommendation for the item usage: Sell to an accredited apothecary for 66,000 Cacao Nibs or a licensed restaurant for 100,000 Cacao Nibs.]

“You know, for monster drops you don’t have to put it in your mouth right? Just coming into contact with the item should do the trick,” Sylfie mentioned.

Ryu turned red. She had seen him bite the hoof.

“T-thanks for saving us,” he mumbled, trying to change the subject.

Sylfie shrugged. “Don’t mention it. You were of use to me. Night will fall soon. I’d suggest finding a safe place to camp.”

Ryu and Aurora exchanged a glance. Sylfie’s eyes twitched as they laid before her, prostrating themselves at her feet.

“Please take us with you,” they said in unison.

Sylfie ground her teeth in frustration. “Absolutely not! I’m sorry, but we had a temporary truce that’s all. The stag is dead—you’ve repaid your debt, so we can go our separate ways,” she huffed, picking up her equipment.

“She’s walking away! Quick, Ryu! Seduce her, nya!”

“Wha—? I can’t do that!”

Aurora poked her head. “No, wrong word. Impress her, nya! With your coffee brewing skills!”

Sylfie's head snapped a hundred and eighty degrees. She bolted towards him, stopping just inches from his face, her eyes burning with intrigue.

“Can you really make coffee?” she asked him.

“Y-yeah, I can make coffee—”

A fire was lit at their feet as Sylfie settled down on the grass, resting her belongings against the nearby trunk of a worn tree. She poured water from a thermos into a kettle, bringing it to a boil over the flame. Sylfie motioned for them to sit as she procured a sealed container filled with roasted coffee beans.

Ryu watched her patiently as she placed the beans in a grinder. It seemed to run on some sort of internal battery, or perhaps magic—there were no outlets out here, after all. Now that Ryu thought about it, did this world have electricity? Or even more pressingly, plumbing?

Sylfie stopped the grinder, placing the grounds in filter paper. She set the paper over an empty coffee pot, gently pouring the water over the grounds in circular motions. They waited patiently for the pot to fill; only the crackling of the fire and the chirping of crickets could be heard. Three—four minutes had passed. When the pot was filled, she poured a single cup of coffee, handing it to Ryu.

“Here, tell me what you think.”

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Ryu took the cup graciously, though he knew immediately how it would taste. He took a sip, pursing his lips as he handed it back to Sylfie.

“It’s that bad, huh,” she said, her ears drooping as she emptied the mug.

Ryu took pity on the elf; he could tell that she had tried her best, yet an earnest effort wasn’t enough to make up for her lack of basics. “You clearly care about the quality of your brew, but you missed a lot of crucial steps. Let me show you.”

Sylfie’s eyes lit up as they switched places. She watched him with intense curiosity, ignoring her surroundings. She remained fixated on Ryu as Aurora curled up in her lap, yawning. Ryu started by bringing the water to a boil. After dumping out Sylfie’s brew—much to her dismay—he placed a piece of filter paper over the empty coffee pot and poured boiling water over it.

“This type of filter paper needs to be rinsed before it’s used,” he explained, dumping the residue that formed in the pot. He shook a few beans into the grinder, watching the grounds carefully before stopping the blades. “Your grounds were too fine, so it took a while for the coffee to pour through. Keeping them coarse, but not too coarse is the key. A good middle ground is best, so aim for a pour that lasts around three minutes.”

Sylfie simply nodded as he continued. Ryu poured some more boiling water over the grounds, letting it sit for half a minute before pouring again. He poured in segments, waiting a few seconds each time until the water sank down, mimicking the circular motion Sylfie had employed.

When the pot was full, he poured the coffee into the same cup. Sylfie extended her hands stopping short when Ryu pulled back the cup.

“Do you carry spices with you?”

Sylfie nodded, pointing to a small pouch with various spice containers. After sprinkling a pinch of salt into the coffee, the brew was finally complete. Ryu handed the finished product to the Dark Elf who caressed the cup delicately. Her eyes were wide, drool forming at the corner of her mouth as a heavenly aroma wafted through the air.

“Why the salt?” she asked.

“Taste it,” Ryu implored her.

Sylfie took a sip, squealing in delight. “I-it’s so good! And sweet?”

Ryu chuckled at her reaction. It was just a simple pour-over, but to Sylfie it might as well have been a rare delight. Something he had taken for granted in his world was so cherished in this one. It was bizarre, yet charming somehow. “The salt cuts through the bitterness, bringing out the fruitiness of the bean.”

“It’s wonderful!” Sylfie exclaimed.

“It’s all yours,” Ryu said.

“T-thanks.” Sylfie finished Ryu’s brew, savoring each sip. She handed the empty cup back to Ryu, her cheeks ruddy. “So, there’s the matter of payment…” She fidgeted for a moment, looking embarrassed. “I-I propose a partnership.”

“Partnership?”

“Yes! And I won’t repeat myself. Look—” Sylfie showed him her skill card.

[Coffee Brewer card for beginners. This card certifies that the carrier in question is a novice in coffee brewery]

[Current level: 0]

[Skill acquired: None]

“You’re good at making coffee, and I want to learn how to make it well so I can take over my grandmother’s café in the future. I want you to teach me.”

“What’s in it for me?” Ryu raised an eyebrow.

“O-of course, I wouldn’t expect you to do it for free. In exchange, I’ll teach you how to become an adventurer. Does that sound like a deal?”

Ryu scratched his chin, still unsure. The prospect seemed like a win-win, but one small detail bothered him. “I’m a [Level 0] Coffee Brewer too. Wouldn’t it be better for you to learn from someone more qualified?”

Sylfie shook her head. “Check your skill card.”

Ryu dug through his pocket again searching for the parchment. This is getting old real quick. There’s got to be a better way to check my stats. He checked his Coffee Brewer Card, a dull glow emitting from the printed text.

[Coffee Brewer card for beginners. This card certifies that the carrier in question is a novice in coffee brewery]

[Current level: 1]

[Skills acquired: Pour Over Brew]

[Level 1 Bonus: Brewer’s Attire]

“I leveled up? From making a single cup of coffee?”

Sylfie shook her head again. “Don’t you see? I made a cup of coffee as well, but I didn’t level up. That’s because I didn’t make it right. You were able to create a cup with skill and care. That’s not something many can manage, even with the simplest of brews.”

“She’s right, nya,” Aurora chimed in sleepily. “Coffee takes a lot of skill here.”

“Unlike adventuring skills, making coffee isn’t something you just will out of thin air once you acquire it. The process of making a cup must be undertaken every time. Genuinely, it’s a labor of love and dedication to the craft,” Sylfie explained.

Ryu was surprised by this detail. This meant that the barrier for entry was actually at its highest from the start. It was just like the Battle Mage Class in World of Glory—a class with mediocre statistics that possessed limitless potential above the other classes. The strength of the character was highly dependent on the player in control, not only on his levels or acquired abilities. Many people practiced for years but only few were able to master it in the end.

Grimm Leaf—the strongest Battle Mage main. That’s what I’ll aim for. I’ll become this world’s greatest Coffee Brewer. This is something that only people like me can do!

Ryu grinned. “Alright then, I accept. I’ll teach you how to brew coffee and you can teach me how to become stronger. I’m aiming to be the best: one of the king’s Royal Brewers.”

“That’s a lofty goal,” Sylfie returned a smile. “I’m aiming to be the greatest adventurer; it seems we both have quite the journey ahead of us.”

“It seems like we do.”

They shook hands, exchanging looks of resolve. Sylfie’s eyes suddenly bulged out of their sockets, staring past Ryu.

“Gyahhhhh!!!” she screamed.

Don’t look. Don’t look. Don’t look. Ryu looked anyway. A face had emerged from the tree’s trunk, wearing a hideous grin.