Chapter 29. A Golem’s Jealousy Is Not a Crime (1)
“Hm.”
Yukgap fiddled with the business card No. 7 had left behind.
[Dr. Mozg]
That was all it had on it besides a large illustration of a brain.
There was not even a simple map or address.
And strangely enough, that made it feel even more trustworthy.
For some reason, Yukgap had the feeling that if he went there, he might finally find information connected to himself.
“What’s wrong?”
Victoria noticed the serious look on his face.
Yukgap showed her the business card and answered casually.
“I was thinking maybe I could find something about my past there.”
“The Crescent Moon Auction only opens on nights when there’s a crescent moon. There’s still some time before the next one, so think about it carefully.”
“They’ll charge for information.”
“Then we’ll earn the money.”
Victoria answered as if it were nothing.
Sometimes Yukgap envied her ability to brush off almost anything so lightly.
“Can’t you just make gold or something? Isn’t that what alchemy is supposed to do?”
Victoria stared at him in disbelief.
“If I could do that, I would’ve done it ages ago! Why does everyone immediately think of that when they hear the word alchemy?”
While they were talking, voices came from the restaurant hall.
“Thanks for the meal!”
“It was delicious as always.”
It was the Salmon Rice Bowl Brothers.
Yukgap quickly shoved the business card into his pocket and laughed.
“Yeah. Come again.”
After finishing their meal, the brothers looked around curiously.
“By the way, don’t you have one of those coffee vending machines for dessert?”
“Yeah. Most restaurants have them.”
Apparently, they were looking for the small coffee vending machines commonly placed in restaurants.
Robert, now fully repaired and functioning again, approached with a mechanical hum.
[Do you lumps of flesh require coffee? One cup costs five thousand won.]
He held out a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
The Salmon Rice Bowl Brothers did not look interested.
“Come on, that’s too expensive. Who pays for dessert coffee?”
“Exactly. We’d rather use a hundred-won vending machine.”
Robert beeped indignantly.
[You people have the mindset of thieves.]
The brothers answered together.
“But places that serve set meals give that much for free.”
“Trying to sell ordinary coffee for five thousand won is the problem.”
Red light flashed in Robert’s eyes.
[It is the selling golem’s decision. If you do not wish to drink it, then do not.]
The brothers then turned toward Victoria and made an enthusiastic suggestion.
“Boss, why not install one of those vending machines?”
“They aren’t that expensive. Customers would like it.”
Victoria slowly became interested.
“Hm. Really?”
“Yukgap! Yukgap! Come out here!”
Yukgap was preparing ingredients when Victoria’s excited voice reached him.
For some reason, uneasiness immediately filled him.
Victoria called for him often enough.
The problem was that every time she did, something completely unexpected usually happened.
“What now?”
Yukgap left the kitchen and asked suspiciously.
A bizarre machine stood in front of him.
It was covered in gears of different sizes and blinking lights.
Victoria proudly presented it with an excited expression.
“Ta-da! What do you think?”
What the hell was that supposed to be?
Yukgap stared at it suspiciously.
“What unforgivable weapon did you make this time?”
“A weapon?! This is an ordinary coffee machine!”
Victoria shouted angrily.
Yukgap stared.
“This is?”
“Yes! I heard what the Salmon Rice Bowl Brothers said, so I made one. It’s a masterpiece of the age that lets you choose everything from the shape and aroma of the beans to the caffeine concentration!”
Victoria proudly explained her invention.
To be fair, the machine really did smell like coffee beans.
“Hm. Really?”
Yukgap tapped the touch panel on the front to inspect it.
A message appeared.
[Please select the flavor and concentration level of your coffee.]
Apparently, it allowed users to directly adjust the strength and flavor.
For something made by Victoria, it seemed surprisingly normal.
“This is more serious than I expected.”
Then descriptions of the available coffee levels appeared on the screen.
[Level 1 - Want some milk, baby?
Level 2 - Pfft. Coward.
Level 3 - Now this is more like it.
Level 4 - Oh? You’ve raised it this far? Not bad.
Level 5 - You bastard, just how high are you planning to push the caffeine concentration?!
Level 6 - I’ll sleep when I’m dead.
Level 7 - Restaurant Shelley assumes no responsibility beyond this point.]
“What the hell is this?!”
Yukgap stared in alarm.
Victoria chuckled.
“Hehehe. Think of it as a test for people who drink coffee without sufficient resolve.”
“Why does coffee need a test?!”
When had coffee become such a dangerous beverage?
Yukgap had countless questions.
