I've been thinking that for over a decade now. My name is Setsu, a former corporate slave who was transported to another world and is now a perpetually F-ranked adventurer.
I clear out about thirty jobs of cleaning sewers all at once, and then just rest for a while—that's my basic style. Thanks to that, I slept soundly until after noon today.
"Faa... I slept well."
I got up, washed my face quickly, and munched on leftover bread from yesterday. Considering how much I realized the importance of health management in my previous life, I should probably make breakfast properly... well, I guess this is lunch now.
Anyway, today is my long-awaited holiday. Yesterday, I finished three days' worth of sewer cleaning, so I won't be chased by requests for a while.
"Now then... shall I make some coffee?"
I must have come to this other world to enjoy this kind of leisurely time.
Actually, I have a little hobby. It's roasting my own coffee beans.
Coffee beans also exist in this world. It seems they can only be harvested in the highlands, so they're not very common in the market, making them quite a luxury item. But I've been buying them little by little with the small savings I've made from cleaning sewers, and challenging myself to roast them on my own.
Apparently, the taste changes drastically depending on the degree of roasting, how the beans are ground, and even the temperature of the water and how it's poured. The taste changes just with my tinkering, so it's quite profound.
"...Hmm, okay, let's rotate the beans manually... strengthen the flame a bit more... no, should I go for a light roast today to bring out the fruity aroma..."
I set up a small roasting pot on the stove in my room and enjoy the changing aroma while turning the beans. My commitment is to focus and carefully adjust the heat so as not to miss the brief moment when the beans pop.
When the coffee beans pop with a 'pop' sound, I finish them to a light brown color and then cool them quickly. I immediately grind them in a mill, then lower the temperature of the water slightly and slowly extract the coffee.
"Phew... this aroma is irresistible."
The fragrant aroma wafts up with the steam. In addition to that, there's a fruity acidity that tickles my nose. After slowly pouring it all, I bring the mug to my lips... a gentle bitterness and moderate acidity spread gently in my mouth.
"Yummy. If I can enjoy this luxury, then just lazing around is enough for me..."
I don't gulp it down, but rather savor it little by little. This leisurely time is a form of happiness that I could never have obtained in my previous life.
Making a living by cleaning sewers? That's fine, it's easy and I can do it at my own pace.
Now, as I was checking the notebook placed on the workbench and starting to plan the roasting for the next beans,
"Darling. You're drinking something that smells awfully delicious, aren't you?"
At the suddenness of the voice, I almost dropped the pen I was holding. I'm sure I closed the door and windows tightly, so who is it? And why are they in my room?
"...Huh, uwa!"
When I turned around in a hurry, there was a small woman standing there.
Despite her girlish appearance, she had a sword firmly attached to her waist, and was dressed in light adventurer's gear. Contrary to her cute appearance that could pass for a child at a glance, she was looking at me with an unusually calm gaze.
And what I disliked most of all was the casual way she called me "Darling."
"Hey, what are you doing coming in here without permission, Sheena? I should have locked the door, right? And I told you before to stop calling me 'Darling' out of the blue."
Yes, her name is Sheena.
About the same age as me... well, I don't actually know her exact age, but when I call her a kid, she insists on correcting me, saying, "I'm about the same age as you," but I don't know the truth.
"Oh, I don't think there's anyone more suitable for your excellent genes than me. Could it be that even I'm not good enough for you? As expected of the man who defeated me. I might just fall in love with you all over again."
Sheena puts her hand on the hilt of her sword and smiles meaningfully.
Her face is certainly cute, but I don't like the strange provocative atmosphere that drifts within it.
In the first place, I didn't challenge her to a match or anything. I just happened to find her rampaging in the forest, and I didn't want to get involved, so I neutralized her.
...Since then, Sheena has been calling me "Darling" without permission, which is a confusing situation.
When I asked her for details before, she said, "I decided to marry someone stronger than me." It makes even less sense.
"No, I don't remember ever fighting you."
"Hehe, does that mean even I wasn't a match for you? This humiliation... haah, it's arousing. I'm falling in love with you all over again."
Sheena says that and twists her body on the spot.
Honestly, it's troublesome because nothing I say gets through to her.
"More importantly, what's that black liquid...? It smells so good. It's been drifting around in Darling's room, so I was drawn to it."
Her gaze is on the mug in my hand. It contains a slightly lighter-colored coffee. It's a cup of my own making, finished with a light roast earlier.
"...Oh, this? It's called coffee. You roast the beans, grind them, extract them with hot water... well, to put it briefly, it's a drink that's my hobby."
Sheena hmm's in admiration, brings her face close to the edge of the cup, and sniffs. But how did she get into my house?
"Darling said earlier that you 'locked the door'... honestly, the entrance is a trivial matter for me. Well, if you want to know the details, give me a cup of this drink?"
Sheena smiles and looks up at me.
Why do I have to offer something to someone who casually commits residential trespass?
"So you came to steal a drink? Geez, why would I do that?"
"Isn't this fate? Don't be so stingy, just one sip. Please, Darling?"
I can't help but sigh at Sheena, who is making her eyes sparkle in an annoying way.
I want to drive her away, but it's troublesome if she gets stubborn and rampages. I just happened to brew extra coffee, so if it's just one sip...
"Geez, I can't help it. Here, sit in the chair. Don't spill it."
"Yay! Hehe, Darling is so kind. I love you!"
"Please, please stop calling me that 'Darling' thing."
Reluctantly, I prepare a spare cup and pour the coffee I brewed earlier into it.
"Wow, it's kind of a grown-up drink, so I'm a little nervous."
Sheena carefully brings the cup to her mouth and takes a small sip. The moment she did, her eyes lit up.
"Wow, what is this!? It's kind of bitter, but the aroma is so elegant, and the aftertaste is refreshing... it's strange, it feels a little tingly on my tongue. Does this kind of drink exist in this world?"
She seems genuinely surprised. Most people who drink coffee for the first time usually make a face at the bitterness or want sugar. She's shining her eyes and taking another sip as it is.
"...Ooh... ahaha, it's kind of addictive. This aroma, if I had to compare it... let's see, it's like when pollen softly dances in the deep forest when the wind blows? I'm sorry, I don't really know, but I like it!"
"That's an abstract impression. Well, I'm glad you liked it."
At the unexpected high praise, I can't help but relax my cheeks.
It takes effort to brew coffee, but it doesn't feel bad to have someone enjoy it like this. I was pleased by those around me for making programs in my previous life as well... but in the end, that was the beginning of suffering. I want to keep it as self-satisfaction for now.
"Hehe, that's good, Darling. Hey, can I have a little more of this?"
"Hey, hey, are you sure you're okay with a beginner guzzling that much? It's got quite a bit of caffeine."
"Hee, caffeine, huh. Sounds kind of difficult. Well, my body is tough, so I'm fine, I'm fine. Here, I'll tell you about the story from before, so pour me some more?"
Sheena says brightly while tilting her cup. It seems she's going to explain how she broke into the room. She's been using the coffee to negotiate for that.
"...Well, I'll listen. So, how did you get in?"
When I pour more coffee into the cup, Sheena puffs out her chest proudly with a "hmph". It's a confident smile that's disproportionately large for her small body.
"Actually, I'm quite good at infiltrating buildings. So, I climbed up the walls of Darling's house and went through the small window on the second floor..."
"The second floor...? No, that's not a window, it's mostly a vent, right?"
"That's right! That's why I thought someone with a small body like me could get through that size. You see, the vent has a surprisingly easy-to-remove metal grate, and when I forcibly pushed it with my hand and loosened the screws, I slipped right in. I'm good at scouting and stuff."
Listening to her story gives me a headache.
Just in case, I had locked the windows to prevent crime, but I hadn't taken care of the vents. I didn't intend to make it that secure, and I didn't think there would be anyone who would try to enter and exit through such a place.
"Haa... I guess there's no way to prevent it if you go that far."
"Right? I didn't think Darling would be indulging in something stylish like coffee, but I was drawn in by the aroma wafting through the room... I couldn't help myself. Thank you for the meal!"
Sheena smiles as she empties her cup.
I didn't expect her to finish up to the second cup, no matter how much she liked it. Or rather, it's not something you'd gulp down that much.
"Well, the coffee is free... but next time, knock on the front door properly. I'll open the door for you."
"Eh, does that mean Darling is finally going to put me on the registry!? Good, I'm always ready for it."
"Hey, how did you interpret it that way!? Hey! Don't go into my bed without permission!"
"Hehehe, Darling is getting embarrassed. I like that side of you too."
Tch. Annoying.
Seriously, I can't communicate with this girl.
"brat, get out of this house immediately."
"Hehe, to call me, who holds the alias of 'The Witch of Absolute Isolation', a brat. When was the last time I was so insulted? I think I'm falling in love with you even more."
An alias, is she a chuunibyou? Creepy.
I grab the Witch of Absolute Something-or-other by the scruff of her neck and kick her out.
"Hey, don't you ever break into my house again."
Saying that, I forcefully close the door.
Even then, Sheena was muttering something at her own pace, but I didn't feel like listening.
Haa, I hope I never have to deal with someone like that again.
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