Chapter 84: Coffee (3)

If there is anything the frugal pope indulges in, it is the dessert he enjoys as a treat: gelato.

Within the Empire, Paul XIII loved gelato so much that it was called the "Pope's dessert."

He personally visited slums and orphanages to distribute gelato to children, and the Holy See provided gelato for free so that anyone could enjoy it.

The Pope, who loves gelato so much, has recently developed a fondness for a new drink.

It's 'coffee' right away.

Bitter 'espresso' was the coffee the pope enjoyed drinking.

When eating gelato, the Pope always drank espresso without fail.

The sweetness of the gelato was balanced by the bitterness of the espresso, creating an astonishingly wonderful harmony.

"Truly marvelous. The drink of the heathens can pair so well with the Eucharist."

As the Pope leisurely spent his time, marveling anew at the harmony of gelato and espresso.

─Your Holiness, may we enter?

"Please come in."

As the door opened and the newcomers appeared, Paul XIII stood up and greeted them warmly.

"Everyone is coming to see me even from early in the day; it seems like something good is going to happen to me today."

"I am honored to meet Your Holiness."

Those who visited the Pope's office were the archbishops responsible for each diocese of the Empire.

"Everyone, please sit down."

At the pope's invitation, the archbishops sat down at the table facing the pope.

"Alright, what brings you to see me?"

"We came to see you to hear your response to our petition."

"You're talking about the pagans of the East."

"Yes, that's right. Their drink, 'coffee,' is trending in the world..."

The archbishop, who had opened his mouth, trailed off.

The Pope was sipping the drinks of those pagans.

"Are you saying it's a trend?"

"...Yes. That's right."

"Would that be a problem?"

"Yes?"

"Your Holiness, what is that...?"

The archbishops were quite taken aback by the Pope's question.

Of course, the "pagans" they were talking about referred to the Samarians of the East.

They were a people with brown skin and red eyes who did not believe in the Heavenly Father, and for that reason, they were called the "Eastern Devils."

"Coffee is a drink that the demons of the East consume."

"Then I must be drinking the devil's beverage."

"Th-that is..."

The Pope is the representative of God on Earth.

The Pope's words were the very essence of morality and ethics.

Can we really call the drink that such a representative of the Lord drinks the drink of the devil?

When the archbishops, lost in thought, fell silent, Paul XIII smiled kindly.

"I'm not trying to criticize the archbishops. Coffee is indeed a drink that pagans consume."

The Pope knew the reason the archbishops had come to see him.

The heads of each diocese submitted a 'petition' to the Pope asking him to ban coffee, but the Pope did not respond to the petition.

He thought it was too much of a waste to ban such an amazing drink just because it was considered a pagan beverage.

So he thought a lot about it.

And the answer to that concern was surprisingly simple.

"Then I will ask the archbishops."

Rumble.

The Pope poured espresso from a coffee cup into gelato.

And asked.

"Is this food of the devil, or is it the Eucharist?"

"...."

"Your Holiness, this is..."

The pope who had posed the question arrived at his own answer.

"I cannot know."

"Well, since there's no answer, how can one know?"

The archbishops were left speechless.

If you answer it's not the Eucharist, it means you're denying gelato, and if you answer it is the Eucharist, it means you're acknowledging coffee.

It was a miraculous logic, as if facing an impenetrable shield and a spear that pierces through everything.

"…Can't we just say it's a contradiction?"

"Whose is it?"

"Someone has to tell the truth."

In the face of the imminent contradiction, the archbishops only watched each other.

Because there was no archbishop who wanted to be the first to do something that would get them on the Pope's bad side.

It was a difficult position for the parish leaders to step forward, especially with the promotion to cardinal approaching.

Breaking the awkward silence, the Pope's kind voice emerged.

"Just because the pagans drink it doesn't mean it can only belong to the pagans. Like this gelato and espresso."

"...."

"All things were created by God, and therefore all things belong solely to God."

The archbishops' heads spun as they interpreted the pope's ambiguous words.

─Just because the pagans drink it doesn't mean it belongs only to the pagans. Like this gelato and espresso.

─We can't let the heathens monopolize coffee. Everyone, give it a try. The combination of gelato and espresso is absolutely amazing.

─All things were created by God, and therefore all things belong entirely to God.

Coffee belongs to all of us.

"Are you saying that you wrote the theory of everything to advocate for coffee?"

'It seems you genuinely liked it.'

The theory of the universe was the logic put forward by the Church to achieve its goals.

Everything in the world comes from God, so it was argued that the Church must also have a connection.

It was also the main reason why the leaders governing the country disliked religion.

"But Your Holiness. Coffee is the drink of the Samarians who deny the Lord. Your Holiness's words are indeed correct, but there is concern that the congregation may not be able to accept them."

"Then, I suppose I should proceed with the baptism."

"...?"

"Are you talking about baptizing the coffee?"

The Pope nodded towards the archbishops who were looking at him in disbelief.

"There is no reason we cannot baptize coffee just as we would baptize a whiskey cocktail."

"...Uh, then it doesn't seem like there will be any problems."

If coffee were to receive the Pope's baptism, the archbishops would have nothing more to say.

There was indeed a tendency to abuse baptism, but this was ultimately the Pope's prerogative.

"I will bestow a blessing upon this coffee."

Thus, the "coffee baptism" was decided by Pope Paul XIII.

*

"The Pope has baptized coffee...!"

"Coffee is a baptized drink!"

The rumor that the Pope baptized coffee spread throughout the Empire.

"His Holiness baptized coffee...?!"

"This, this is a lie!"

"Are you doubting His Holiness the Pope right now?"

"Step aside!"

"Ah!"

The parishioners, who were fervently engaged in the coffee boycott by blocking the entrance to the coffee house, initially denied the reality, but when it was confirmed that the Pope had blessed coffee, they had no choice but to remain silent.

Rather, the fact that the Pope baptized coffee spread by word of mouth, and even those who didn't know about coffee came to learn about it, resulting in an enormous promotional effect.

"Coffee? What is that?"

"Didn't you hear? They say it's the drink that the Pope himself has blessed."

"Are you saying that the Pope baptized the drink?"

"I haven't been baptized yet either..."

The citizens of the Empire, intrigued by the claim that coffee was a drink blessed by the Pope, flocked to the coffee house.

And.

"Add espresso to the vanilla gelato."

"I'll ask for it separately. I want to try pouring it myself."

Those who visited the coffee house ordered vanilla gelato and espresso, the recipes recommended by the Pope.

"This is the new sacrament...!"

"Indeed it is worthy of the Pope's baptism."

People couldn't help but admire as they poured espresso over gelato and enjoyed it.

Smooth gelato is drizzled with rich, hot espresso, creating a perfect harmony of flavors.

The sweet yet slightly bitter gelato delighted the tongue, and the faint aroma of coffee brought a smile to their faces.

The new sacrament, enjoyed through smell and taste, instantly washed away the negative perception of 'coffee.'

Enjoying gelato has become inseparable from coffee.

Of course, opinions about the coffee itself were still divided.

"Ugh, fine."

"Is this really a drink that has been baptized?"

People who tried coffee out of curiosity often grimaced at its bitterness.

Coffee was purely a drink to enjoy the atmosphere of the coffeehouse or to chase away sleep.

Above all, there was the inconvenience that to drink coffee, one had to go directly to the coffee house.

"Ah, I want to try some coffee too."

"Why isn't a coffee house coming to our neighborhood?"

Coffee houses were located only in a few major cities, including the capital, so there were many more people who had never tasted coffee than those who had.

It was one of those days when the citizens of the Empire either avoided coffee or could only imagine it.

"It's coffee, coffee! Everyone, please take one!"

The shops along the main street started handing out yellow striped bags, claiming they were coffee.

"Is this coffee?"

"Hey, how did the coffee end up looking like this?"

The people who received the envelope with suspicion soon widened their eyes in surprise.

[ Maxim Mocha Gold Mild Coffee Mix! Coffee that you used to enjoy only at the coffee house, now you can experience it at home through the White Tower! ]

"Wh-White Tower!"

"Coffee!"