Menu no.26 - Learning the Ingredients

In the central hall of the guild, with only Alisa accompanying me, I began experimenting.

Spread across the table were small plates, vials, jars, and wrapped bundles—ingredients I had never encountered in my life, not even in the dungeon’s depths. Jams with unfamiliar hues. Syrups that caught the light strangely. Leaves, twigs, powders, and creams that carried scents ranging from comforting to outright suspicious.

I had asked Alisa to prepare samples for developing new coffee drinks.

She sat across from me, arms folded, watching with a faintly amused expression as I picked up my spoon.

“All right,” I said, bracing myself. “Let’s begin.”

I dipped the spoon into the first jar and tasted it carefully.

“This is called Dämmerzimt,” Alisa explained. “A spice harvested at dusk.”

The flavor bloomed slowly—warm like cinnamon, but deeper, almost smoky. My eyes widened. “This would be incredible with milk-based coffee.”

Next.

“These are Frostbjörn Berries,” she continued. “They grow near the northern cliffs.”

I chewed thoughtfully. Sweet at first, then sharply refreshing, like cold air rushing into my lungs. “Local berries… but with personality.”

Then came a bundle of dried twigs.

“Eisren Twig,” Alisa said. “Used to make the guild’s traditional tea.”

I sipped the infusion. Bitter, earthy, steady. “Reliable. The kind of taste that keeps you grounded.”

She nodded approvingly.

Next was a small crystal bottle.

“Skymjöd,” Alisa said. “It’s sweet. Restores stamina.”

I tasted it—and immediately blinked. “Oh. This is basically honey.”

Alisa smiled. “Refined cloud nectar, actually.”

“…That explains a lot.”

Then came a pale powder.

“Runeskal.”

I touched my tongue to it. Salty, but with a faint acidic bite. “Like salt… that’s been thinking too hard.”

Alisa laughed softly.

“And finally,” she said, lifting a vine soaked in cream-colored liquid, “Snegova Creamvine.”

I hesitated.

“…Alisa.”

“Yes?”

“…Why does this look dangerous?”

She only smiled.

I tasted it.

“HOEEK—WHAT IS THIS?!” I choked, pointing accusingly at the vine.

Alisa burst out laughing. “That’s fermented frostroot cream. Adventurers love it.”

“They are lying,” I gasped. “They are all lying.”

She wiped a tear from her eye. “You get used to it.”

Despite that, I diligently took notes, recording each flavor, texture, and potential pairing. Alisa patiently guided me, explaining the origin and common usage of every ingredient.

For once, she had time—and she used it to teach me.

“I’ll tidy up the storage room for a moment,” she said eventually. “I forgot a few samples.”

“Okaaaay,” I replied, already scribbling notes.

She disappeared through the back door.

The hall fell quiet.

Then—

Ding.

The customer bell rang.

I froze.

No door had opened.

My heart skipped as I hurried behind the bar.

Someone was already seated.

“Good afternoon,” I said carefully. “What can I get you?”

The figure wore a thick brown cloak. Their body was small. Too small.

A dwarf.

“Young man…” the dwarf said, voice wheezing slightly.

“Yes… sir?”

“If possible…” He shivered. “Warm tea. I’m cold. Heavy rain outside. Front door was locked, so… apologies. I used the back entrance.”

Oh. Right.

Only then did I notice the faint sound of rain against the windows.

I prepared the tea quickly.

When I served it, his posture relaxed almost instantly.

“Thank you,” he said, smiling faintly.

Then—

“Excuse me,” another voice spoke.

I turned.

“…Huh?”

A woman sat at the far corner of the bar.

I was certain she hadn’t been there before.

She wore all black—tailored clothes like a fitted shirt and coat. Over her face was a white masquerade mask, etched with eye patterns that looked like they were… laughing.

My skin prickled.

“Yes…?” I asked.

“If you don’t mind,” she said pleasantly, “I’d like to order as well.”

Her voice was smooth. Too smooth.

I swallowed.

“What would you like?”

“Whatever you think suits a rainy day.”

I nodded slowly.

As I turned to prepare her drink, something about the air felt… wrong.

Too still.

When I glanced back—

The dwarf was gone.

No sound. No movement.

The tea cup remained, still steaming.

“…What?”

I stepped closer.

The chair sat empty.

Then the woman spoke again, calmly sipping from a cup I didn’t remember serving.

“You should lock the back door better,” she said lightly. “Strange folk wander in, otherwise.”

Cold crawled up my spine.

“…How long have you been here?”

She tilted her masked head. “Long enough.”

The bell rang again.

This time, the door opened.

“Daiki?” Alisa’s voice called out.

I nearly collapsed in relief.

“Yes—here!”

She stepped in—and paused.

Her eyes locked onto the woman at the bar.

The woman raised her cup slightly.

“Oh,” she said. “Perfect timing.”

Alisa’s expression hardened.

“…Who are you?”

The masked woman smiled beneath porcelain.

“A friend,” she replied. “Or an omen. Depends on how today goes.”

The rain outside intensified.

And I realized—

This wasn’t just another customer.

Something had just entered the guild.