Brewing Business

Are there no "We're closed" signs at the front door? He just barged in uninvited and asked for a drink! Wha—I can't just decline him the drink, right?

『No, you can't』

Exactly! He's already ordered the drink! I don't want to ruin his expectations.

It doesn't help that we're alone in the shop! This one-on-one battle of confidence is killing me! My body has yet to wake up from the nervous panic. I didn't know what to do! Only my mouth was able to give the man a nervous smile.

"O—okay, S—sir…"

『I can help you make the drink』

…

We've only been in this place for a total of 20 minutes. You think that we know how to make drinks? I know you're an AI, but that's exactly why I don't trust you!

What if we mess up and he doesn't get what he expected?

A "Slime Soda". What even is a "Slime Soda?"

It'll be on Ms. Elith's pile of complaints if we mess up!

『Trust me. I'm your AI after all. I know more about this world than you do. Also, do you really think you can improvise a recipe on your own?』

…

You're right.

I really have no choice, do I?

But if this goes down, I'm pulling you down with me!

『Don't worry. I have experience in this kind of thing』

Confused by what she meant, I let out an involuntary little scoff and whispered, "Yeah, right, 'experience'."

I hope the man didn't hear me. Since he can't hear Celeste, he would've assumed I scoffed at him if he heard what I said.

But, seems like the man was minding his own business. His hands were in his pockets, shuffling around for something inside. He was checking every single pocket he had hastily, as if trying to find something. Then, his face went into a panic. He quickly said to me, "Hey, kid. Could you… hold that order for a minute? Give me, like, five seconds. I forgot my money outside."

He ran out of the shop and closed the door as fast as he could before I could even answer him.

"Wha—wait! You—!"

『Just make his drink already. You'd rather have him wait for you to slowly make his drinks nervously?』

"…"

She's got a point.

----

It was back to just me in the shop, well, the two of us. I could, in this situation, just run out of the building and try to avoid having to meet that man again. But that would be petty, cowardly even. And also, someone's counting on me to make his drinks. I can't just run away from my responsibility (that I've unexpectedly been given out of pure unluckiness).

There was no time to waste. I should do this fast, maybe even finish it far before he gets back here.

The plan was to finish the drink and… place it on the table with a written note saying to place his Gold on the counter. Yeah, good idea!

A foolproof idea. Finishing it quickly would avoid having to meet other customers. And, I don't really need to care about the money. After all, it's Ms. Elith's shop, and it's closing hours. Who could know if I didn't take the payment?

"Alright, then. I guess we should start, Celeste."

I looked around the place to see what I was dealing with.

There were cupboards everywhere. Under the counter, cupboards hide essential tools for drink making. And above me, there were more cupboards that I can't be bothered to reach. It was a bit too high off the ground for me, which is probably why there's a stepping stool in the corner.

『Take a glass out of the middle cupboard under you』

There were stacks of glasses inside. Each stack had differently shaped glasses that made for a very neat and organized cupboard. Some were shaped like bowls, while others had more of a slim profile. "Which one do I take?"

『Actually, check the left and right cupboards as well. The shape we need isn't here』

Celeste guided me to a cylindrically shaped glass. It was a bit wide; my hand could barely grasp the glass all the way around. It was also of a fine height. The customers would be very satisfied if we filled this thing to the brim.

『Check the top left cupboard for slime』

"Excuse me?"

『Slime is located in the flying cupboard to the left of you』

"Slime?"

『Don't worry, they're basically the slime's excretion. They're extracted from living slimes. They won't spit on you』

I took the stool and checked the top left cupboard. There were bottles and jars filled with various different items, which I could only assume were mob drops. Among them, a bottle of clear liquid stood out from the rest. There was a logo of a slime pasted on it.

Indeed, when I took it out and shook the half-empty bottle, the liquid stuck on the walls and flowed down slowly like honey. It looked so gross, almost like snot in a bottle. And I guess people drink this?

『Take a spoonful of it and add it to your glass』

"Ew! You sure this is the right ingredient?"

Even in my disgust, I moved on anyway.

I took one of the ready spoons on the counter. As I unplugged the cork off the bottle, I could hear the squirting of slime sloshing around. It was so repulsive to look at, yet it smelled better than it looked. There were flavors of strawberry and mint going through my nose.

There's no way in hell this snot tastes anything like that!

After pouring a spoonful of slime, I immediately plugged the bottle and placed it back in the cupboards.

『Take scoops of water from the well on your left and add it to the glass until full』

There was that well of water Ms. Elith used yesterday. Well, it looked more like a sink than anything. There was a glowing crystal at the bottom of it. There was a wooden ladle on the side that I probably needed to use.

It looked full to the brim with water. Yet when I took a scoop out, it neither overflowed nor did the water height go down. Even as the ladle went in, the surface was very still, and there were no ripples or waves that were induced.

It looked like a solid sheet of liquid, which, in itself, is a paradoxical statement.

I used that water to fill the water to the brim. As I was doing that, Celeste gave me more info about the well.

『The crystal produces an infinite amount of special water. Whenever you add that water to a glass filled with ingredients, it will flavor itself and enhance the drink.

That's why this water is almost always the final ingredient when making any drink. And that's also why Elith's shop has the best drinks in town. No other shops, stalls, or bars have this kind of crystal.』

"Interesting… How do you even know all this?"

『…』

"Well, alright then, the glass is filled. Is it done?"

『No』

"What now?"

『We'll add the carbonation in. It's a soda if you remember』

"Right."

『If you look to your right, you may see magic-circle-looking drawings on the wall』

I looked around to find the magic circle she's referring to.

『One of these circles is the Carbonation Circle. Use it to—』

"I'm sorry, where did you say the drawings were?"

『On the wall. Now find it and use it to—』

"What wall? There's no wall here. You mean the big chest in front of the wall?"

『No, on the wall』

I couldn't figure out what wall she was talking about. In front of me was a wooden chest. Sure, there was a wall behind the chest, but why would Ms. Elith hide a tool behind a gigantic chest?

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing? There's a chest right in front of me!"

Suddenly, I hear a little bell ring. It was the door; the man had walked back in, carrying a pouch in his hand. "Yo! I've brought the money," the man said.

"Right away, Sir!"

Aw crap! Celeste, figure it out! Quick!

『I was sure it was drawn on the wall there. Where did it go?』

What are we even trying to find? Damn it, AI! We just need the carbonation, right? Don't stagger when we're this close!

『A circle. Find a circle. Maybe it's behind the chest』

I'm not moving that! It looks heavy. Are you sure it's behind the chest and not inside it? I'll check inside first.

『Wait! I don't even know what's inside! It may be a secret stash you're not supposed to see!』

Ignoring her suggestion, I opened up the chest anyway. It's a good thing that the chest wasn't locked. If anything, it not being locked is a sign that I'm supposed to open it.

Inside the chest were stacks of paper. There were stacks and stacks of disorganized paper that looked quite yellow. But as I looked closer, some pieces of paper had little bits that looked red, as if something was drawn on it with red ink. I picked up one of the papers and looked at the drawing.

It was a circle! Just like what Celeste told me.

Is this it?

『Try looking at the other ones. The one you're holding is the Heat Circle. It warms up the drink it's casted on』

I rummaged through the pile and picked up another piece of paper. This one had a different shape compared to the first one.

This?

『No, that's an Ice Making Circle. You can take it out in advance. I've just remembered that some customers ask for ice in their drinks』

I took out another one. This one clearly has a pentagram shape drawn above the circle.

And this is a Demonic Circle?

『Close. Some people want their drinks to have a little spice in them. In that case, we'd need this Spicy Circle to enhance their drinks』

"How many circles are there? Geez…" I whispered.

Finally, I took out another piece of paper that had a different design on it. This one is approved by Celeste.

『That's the Carbonation Circle. You'll need this one for the soda』

Finally. So, how do I use it?

『I have no idea』

What?

『I've never used a circle like this before. Well, I've never used a circle at all. Since I'm an AI. But usually, if it's drawn on the wall, you simply need to hold your drink next to the circle and it'll cast itself』

Oh wow. That sounds interesting. Then all I need to do is place the paper close to the drink, and it'll cast itself?

『Try it. Maybe place the paper under the drink. It's probably more effective that way.』

I picked up the glass of slime water that I had made. Then, I placed the Carbonation Circle paper on the table and placed the glass on the paper.

As I let go of the glass, the circle and the glass of juice started glowing. It shined a bright white light into our eyes, temporarily making me think I'd messed something up. However, my worry soon faded.

The bright light dissipated in a matter of seconds. I can finally see the glass of drink that I've made.

Lo and behold! A glass of carbonated slime juice! It was bubbling like a typical glass of sparkling water. And the paper under it had turned to ash, glimmering away as it disappears into thin air. I guess it's a one-time-use circle.

Finally, I've finished the drink. Perfectly timed as the man reached the counter.

"Here, Sir! A glass of Slime Soda." I guess…

I handed the glass over to him.

『Aren't you going to ask him about the ice?』

Oh! Right!

"Ah, err, um," I stuttered as I retracted the drink. "W—would you like some ice… on top of that, Sir?"

"Oh! Of course! That would be great, thank you."

I took the Ice Making Circle from the table and placed it under the glass. In seconds, the glass became filled with bubbly ice. Bubbles rose from the drink; it fizzed out into the open air. The glass itself became so cold that water started condensing on the surface.

"Here, Sir."

"Thank you, newbie." The man took the glass and flicked 5 golden coins to my table. "You're new here, right?" He said as he leaned on the counter and drank the soda.

"Yes…"

Considering this man has already gotten his soda, it's definitely prime time for me to go and meet Star at the gate. I've been here long enough.

So, I said to the man, "Sir, please excuse me. I need to go somewhere else right now, and I'm very behind my schedule."

"Hmm? Aren't you gonna make sure that I return the glass first?"

Good point. But my friend has been waiting for long enough.

"What's your name, sir?" I asked.

"Killen_Killen, Killen for short," he answered. "Why do you ask?"

I continued talking to the man as I walked around the counter towards the exit. "Mr. Killen. Please put the glass behind the counter when you're done, and wait until Ms. Elith logs in. I counted a total of…"

『148』

"… 148 glasses in all of the cupboards. If the total amount is not equal to that by the time Ms. Elith arrives, I'll have to report you to the police! Wait… I guess I don't know whether there are any policemen in this world. I'll report you to Ms. Elith! She'll probably know what to do.

Point is, I've gotta go now. Please keep the store safe from thieves."

I quickly left the man inside the store alone. By this point, I couldn't care less whether or not he steals a glass. Star is probably going to be fuming at me for being super tardy.

----

"Hey, Celeste. Which way to the town gate?"

『Just climb up the roof and see for yourself. It should be somewhere East』

"Good point."

I quickly found a building and climbed it to reach the roof. The gate was large enough that from this position, I could see it clearly. It's just a matter of jumping on roofs and sprinting as fast as I could.

----

"By the way, nice save there, Celeste."

『You're welcome』

"How do you even know so much about the shop? Can't you only see things that I see?"

『I know more about this town than you do. Even as a simple guide AI, I have the privilege of knowing about most of the things happening in town. It actually makes sense if you think about it』

"I guess that's fair. I noticed you were very sure about some of the commands you gave me that were clearly wrong. Like the circle on the wall thing. What was that about? You were completely wrong. Well, not completely. You just missed the mark a little."

『…』

…

『Take an AI's word with a grain of salt. I can't always be right』

"That's fair."

----

Finally, I've reached the front gate.

From the roof, I can see a bird's-eye view of the people walking in and out of town. It's not too dense, yet not too empty either. There was a healthy amount of people living their own lives.

Among them, there was someone who stood still on one end of the gate arch. She had red hair and wore fancier clothes than me. She even had a sword sheathed on her back. Her appearance just pops out among the crowd.

That must be who I think it is.

I found a ladder down to the ground. I quickly walked to the gate and searched for the girl.

----

Out of nowhere, a familiar face popped up right in front of me.

"WHERE. WERE. YOU. LUCY?!?!!"