Chapter 86: Summer Hunt (1)

Always Iced Coffee.

The reason was that I always planned to make iced coffee after making Coca-Cola was simple.

'Because there are no ice makers in this world.'

Unless one understands the principle of the ice magic, it was difficult to extract ice indefinitely.

No, it was possible.

Since it was a world where magic and alchemy existed, it was entirely possible to extract ice indefinitely.

There were even ice-type magicians who used ice as their primary weapon in this world.

I heard that among the different tribes living in the Arctic region, there are also spirit users who handle ice spirits.

It's only natural that with a little research, making an ice maker is possible.

However, ice makers have not been created in this world, nor has any attempt ever been made.

Because even such attempts would be met with wizards rushing in to oppose them.

In human society, those who could create ice in seasons other than winter were almost exclusively wizards.

The wizards, who considered ice to be their exclusive domain, would not welcome the invention of the "ice machine."

The main reason was that the concept of a refrigerator called 'Magic Cold Storage' existed, so the nobles did not feel much inconvenience.

If there was a shortage of ice, it was common sense in the Empire to go to the magic tower and buy some.

No one wanted to get into a dispute with the wizards.

Due to these 'adult circumstances,' there were no ice makers in this world, so I chose a 'polar bear' instead to be an ice maker.

"Bolitur, do you like this space?"

"...Grrr, ...it's a bit hot."

Bolitur answered while rolling on the floor.

"Lilith, could you lower the temperature a bit more?"

"Leave it to me."

Lilith, who escaped from the filming hell of the first princess, infused magic into the wall.

Woooooo.

The space resonated, and the magic circle engraved on the ground glowed blue.

"...Grrr."

Bolitur's face relaxed satisfactorily.

"Mm."

I'm freezing to death.

This space, created by Lilith's freezing magic, was the new working environment for Bolitur.

Here, the Polar Bears, including Bolitur, will serve the ordered iced Americanos through a small 'hole' connected to the hall.

There were various reasons for doing it this way.

First of all, polar bears themselves are extremely cold, so just emitting their magic power is enough to freeze the space.

Until the appearance of the vampires, I even made plans to use polar bears for refrigerated distribution.

The problem was that the polar bears were clumsy at controlling their magic, so even a little effort would freeze the magic circle itself.

Even their strong bodies meant they didn't need to use their brains, so the Polar Bear tribe was a race that didn't even have the concept of magic.

So, it couldn't be used for refrigerated distribution, but it was perfect for tasks requiring ice like now.

The character 'Polar Bear' itself was also the best box office draw.

"Why is the space leading to the hall made so small?"

"It's to consider both sides."

"I don't understand what it means."

I kindly explained to Lilith, who was tilting her head in confusion.

The Polar Bear tribe, despite their size, has many timid members. When people gather, some of them get scared and either hide or run away.

"With that physique?"

Lilith, with her eyes wide open in surprise, looked again at the Bolitur rolling on the ground.

It seemed hard to imagine that a bear as big as a house would run away in fright.

"The person who is surprised seems to be the one at fault."

"So that's why the hole is small. The guests will be surprised too, right?"

This hole was designed with consideration for both the guests and the polar bears.

What guests can see from the outside is just the thick paw of a polar bear passing drinks through a hole in the wall.

It was so-called the 'Polar Bear Cave Café.'

*

The cool spring has passed, and the hot summer has arrived.

The citizens of the Empire no longer sought hot beverages, and only those holding cool carbonated drinks wandered the streets.

It was around that time that the Polar Bear Cave Café appeared to start selling Iced Americanos.

"Iced coffee, what a unique idea."

"Are you saying that polar bears serve iced drinks?"

People wandering around in the blazing sun were lured by the words 'polar bear' and 'iced Americano' and entered the Polar Bear Cave Café.

"...Grrr, come here."

"Ugh!"

"Haha, you're really good at imitating voices."

They were startled by the lifelike voice of the polar bear, but then they simultaneously burst into laughter.

Because there was no way a polar bear would be in the imperial capital in this scorching heat.

"...Submit it through the hole."

"Please get me an iced Americano."

"I'll have the same, please."

"...Grrr, got it."

"You mimic voices really well."

"I would believe it if it were a real polar bear."

The citizens of the Empire exchanged words with a slight smile.

"...Grrr, it's an iced Americano."

"Thank you... Ugh!"

Then, when a polar bear's paw suddenly popped out through the hole, They were startled as if they were about to faint.

"...Take it."

"Th-thank you."

Iced coffee and polar bear.

The beginning of Always Iced Americano.

*

"Ice drinks are this cheap? This is a revolution!"

"How did you come up with the unit price?"

The introduction of iced Americano, which cools off the heat, was met with cheers from the citizens of the Empire.

The very idea of an iced Americano wasn't surprising, but the fact that they added 'ice' in the summer was indeed revolutionary.

That makes sense; in the Empire, "summer ice" was a rare commodity.

They said you just need to freeze water in the icebox, but it took a long time.

If you wanted to get ice separately, you had to buy the ice sold at the Magic Tower, but since it wasn't cheap, iced drinks in the summer were considered a 'luxury.'

However, at the newly opened Polar Bear Cave Café in the capital, Americanos with ice were being sold at the same price as regular coffee.

In the summer, you can enjoy ice to your heart's content.

As the name "Cave Café" suggests, the inside of the coffee house was even cool.

"...Grrr, iced coffee."

People burst into laughter at the sound of the polar bear coming from beyond the hole.

"Haha, your voice is really the same."

"Look at this, the meat is so tender."

"Is this for real?"

"Come on, no way."

People thought the polar bear concept was a fun event and received it cutely.

The cool polar bear and the iced Americano filled with ice were perfect for blowing away the sweltering heat.

But.

"It's real! I clearly saw with my own eyes the polar bears coming to work in the early morning!"

"Huh, stop lying already. How can you say that polar bears roam around in the summer?"

Reports have emerged of sightings of polar bears heading to the Polar Bear Cave Café in the early morning.

The citizens of the Empire laughed it off, saying it was just bragging.

A polar bear commuting to and from the Empire? It was a nonsensical story.

However, some curious people visited the cave house just in time for closing hours.

"Oh my, it was really true...!"

"Wow, a polar bear!"

They were astonished to witness a polar bear walking out through the back door while drinking cola.

Indeed, as it turned night, the polar bears was finishing its work.

And.

Flash─!

The wizard, who was waiting with a crystal ball, captured the image of the polar bear heading home.

And so, the scene of the polar bears leaving work spread throughout the entire Empire.

[ Polar Bear Cave Café! A real polar bear commuting to work...?! ]

In the Empire, polar bears sell coffee...!

A rumor spread that if you visit the Polar Bear Cave Café, a real polar bear will make you coffee.

"Ah, just one iced Americano, please."

"...Grrr, wait."

"Ahh! The polar bear answered me!"

It was instantaneous for the cave café to become a landmark in the capital.

The bear's paw, popping out of the hole and waving goodbye, was an interesting sight.

And it was on one of those days when the cave café was gaining fame for its polar bears when "that" appeared.

"What is this?"

As usual, the official who came to order an iced coffee at the cave café blinked at the small menu board attached to the corner of the house.

Shh.

[ Give the polar bear a finished Maxim Coffee and ask it to make a summer hunt for you. Then the polar bear will make a special secret ice cream for you. ]

"Summer hunting?"

The bureaucrat, tilting his head in curiosity, mixed some Maxim coffee and approached the hole.

"Bolitur, could you hunt down summer for us?"

"Understood."

In an instant, a bear paw suddenly emerged from the hole and grabbed the hand of the bureaucrat holding the coffee.

"Huh!"

The startled bureaucrat flinched at that moment.

Szzzzt!

The bureaucrat's Maxim coffee froze solid.

The bureaucrat carefully scooped up the frozen coffee with the spoon he had used to stir it. And then his eyes widened.

"Why does this taste so good?"

"Bolitur, I also want a summer hunt...!"

Awesome!

"Huhhh!"

It was the moment when the polar bear's secret recipe, "Summer Hunt," began to spread.

***

Translator's Note: Summer Hunt (더위사냥) or "Hunting Heat" in English, is a non-specific coffee blend made into a Korean coffee-flavored ice cream designed to cool a person down during the hot summer season. The name "Hunting Heat" itself signifies the idea of "hunting" down the heat with a refreshing cold treat.

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