A continuation from the previous story in 007!
Beverages
“Umu, tis most pleasant.”
“It’s better than most restaurant-grade coffee. In fact, the only thing similar is the one I had at a nobleman’s office…”
“To think that I would get to enjoy a delicate and refined scholar’s drink from a priceless cup in the dungeon… sob.”
“It’s so fragrant~”
”I can feel the energy coursing through my brain. Like I could solve several puzzles in one go.”
“…it’s kind of bitter…” Izutsumi muttered as she wiped her tongue on the back of her hand. Bleh.
Crick.
Izutsumi flinched as hostile gazes suddenly fixed themselves on her. For a moment, she shrank back before baring her teeth at them. So what if she doesn’t like this stupid drink? It really was bitter! Did she say anything wrong?!
“Ahah, it certainly tastes a little different from how it smells, right?” Mukouda said. “Now, now, there’s no need to make a fuss. We all have our own tastes.”
“Except some people’s tastes are wrong…” Senshi muttered.
“Oi, what was that?” the Fenrir growled over his brown fizzy drink.
“You trying to say something, Dwarf?” the big dragon rumbled over his bowl of cider.
Even the two little monsters were quivering angrily at her party. Actually, Izutsumi was kind of envious of them. She would like to have some cider too, please.
“Now, now,” Mukouda said, “Let’s not fight. Like I said, everyone has their own tastes.”
“Hmph, some people just-”
“No dissing other people’s tastes when you’ve just lost your temper over sweet cider,” Mukouda said firmly.
Senshi looked like he wanted to say more, but Laios and Falin had already bodily thrown themselves at him to hold him down and cover his mouth. Chilchuck’s quick fingers made a grab for the flying coffee cup that flew out of Senshi’s hands.
Unfortunately, Marcille happened to scream and dive at the cup at the same time, shrieking something about, “Priceless porcelain!!”
The word ‘priceless’ caught Izutsumi’s ears and she quickly hurled forward as well and just managed to catch the cup with her foot before it was dashed to pieces against the stone floor.
“My coffee!”
“The cup!!!”
All eyes turned to glare at Senshi this time.
“Humph, ahem, erm. May I have another coffee please?”
“Only if you promise not to make any disparaging remarks from now on.”
“Tch, fine.”
Mukouda looked at Senshi uncertainly, but must have decided that it was too much trouble to think about it anymore as he turned to smile at Izutsumi and said, “Now, there are lots of ways to enjoy coffee-”
“Hurrrmmpphh!”
“… how about trying it with a little warm milk?”
Izutsumi watched as Mukouda poured milk from a paper box into a mug, which began to steam lightly before pouring the warmed milk into her cup that contained just a little bit of coffee. Is that a self-heating mug? How useful.
The black liquid in her cup that had smelled so nice but tasted like burnt rice turned a rich brown colour.
“Go on, give it a taste.”
Izutsumi sniffed the milky coffee nervously. The assault on her tongue still felt fresh, however, the smell of the coffee mixed with sweet warm milk was irresistible. Her tongue flickered out almost unconsciously and dipped into the brown liquid.
“!!!”
“It’s good, right?”
But Izutsumi was no longer listening to him. She was alternatively gulping down the milky coffee and trying to savour the taste without actually swallowing.
“Oi, gimme that too!”
“Master, I would appreciate some as well…”
The Slime and the little dragon had also gotten closer, presumably hoping for a taste of the milky coffee as well.
“Wait, you guys want coffee? That’s…”
“What? Don’t tell me you’re out,” said the Fenrir with a growl.
“No, but it’s kind of strong… tell you what, instead of just milk coffee, how about having some dessert that’s made with coffee?”
“Yay!”
“Dessert?!!”
“Coffee Dessert??!!”
Well, that got everyone’s attention.
“Ahaha, well, we can’t just have coffee on its own, right?” said Mukouda with a little laugh. “That said, um,”
“I want the white cake with red fruits!”
“I’m fine with anything from Master…”
Izutsumi thought she could hear ‘Pudding! Pudding!’ but when she looked around, she could not see who said it. However, all those superfluous thoughts soon disappeared as Mukouda started pulling out little containers and tubs out of something he called [Item Box].
“I have a few things here. I don’t have a lot of the same thing, so you guys will have to share-”
“That white cake is mine!!”
“Yes, yes, I have more than a few of those, so don’t fuss. Ah, your pudding is here, Dora-chan.”
The rich smell of eggs tickled Izutsumi’s nose and she cried, “I want the pudding too!”
For a moment, things descended into chaos as everyone rummaged through the little pile of desserts.
“Humph, just look at those savages.”
“Indeed, how uncouth.”
“Oi, I don’t think you guys have the right to say that with cream and anko all over your mouths,” Mukouda said.
“Th-this– this is the legendary Anpan!!”
“I don’t know what I’m eating, but I like it!!”
“Uwooohh!!! Uwoohhh!!”
“Oi! That’s mine!”
“Umu, coffee goes really well with this sweet and rich cake…”
Izutsumi ignored them all as she flicked open the tough, yet oddly yielding stopper over a glass bottle. Instantly, a rich, sweet yet curiously savoury scent permeated her being.
She touched the creamy yellow surface with her tongue. It tasted a little sweet, and its texture yielded slightly, but bounced back quickly enough. She had seen how the little dragon ate this ‘pudding’ thing. Therefore, with a little slightly transclucent spoon, she cut a slight dent into the pudding and scooped out a small spoonful.
“Hm~?”
The texture was creamy, slightly sweet, without the slight fishiness one usually associated with eggs. Then, just like how she seen what the little dragon did, she slipped her spoon through the creamy yellow pudding all the way to the bottom of the jar where a brown substance lay and excavated it carefully.
The brown substance oozed gently over the pudding. Izutsumi could feel her mouth water as she looked at the brown sauce thing.
“!!!”
“What the heck, it’s delish!!”
Izutsumi was so engrossed with her pudding that she did not notice the self-satisfied smile on the little dragon’s face.
[Gumihou: Izutsumi strikes me as someone who would like sweets and eggs]
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