Chapter : 28
The Bachelor Noble Gets Asked for Love Advice
“Alright, let’s try making some coffee.”
I set up a tent and chairs a little distance away from Eight’s group and prepared the tools needed to make coffee.
That said, you don’t need anything too elaborate. Just a hand grinder and an automatic coffee mill, some coffee beans, a cloth filter, and a glass pot for the brew.
With just these few tools, you can make coffee even outdoors. Thinking about it this way, you really realize how amazing a coffee mill is.
“First, the hand grinder.”
Like a smoker, it’s compact and cylindrical so it can be easily used outside.
However, if it’s too small, the handle is hard to turn, so it’s curved to make it easy to grip. You could say it’s shaped somewhat like an hourglass.
Having adjusted and shaped it many times while testing, the assembled mill fits perfectly in my hand.
The principle of a hand coffee grinder is simple. It’s just a tool, not even a magical one.
The blades that grind the beans are in the center, with a compartment below to catch the ground coffee.
A handle for turning the blades is attached on top.
Once you know the structure, anyone with basic craftsmanship could probably recreate it.
Of course, you won’t get the refined, uniform grind you might have in a previous life, but it’ll let you grind coffee conveniently at home, at work, or on the go.
I scooped out two servings of coffee beans, a gift from Rondel, and poured them into the grinder.
The beans rattled pleasantly—a very satisfying sound.
After putting in the beans, I firmly closed the lid and attached the handle.
Some grinders don’t have lids, but I prefer them because otherwise beans could spill or dust could get in.
“Time to grind.”
This is the most fun part of a coffee mill.
Excited, I grabbed the handle and turned it while resting it on my thigh.
Garri-gori, ga-ri-gari-gari-gari.
The blades turned and crushed the beans inside, producing a satisfying sound.
“…I love the feeling of crushing these beans.”
Occasionally, a bean would catch slightly, but feeling the beans being crushed in my hands was so satisfying. They’re probably being ground finely inside the mill right now.
Some might find hand-grinding tedious, but for people like me, this is fun.
Garri-gori, ga-ri-gari-gari-gari.
I kept turning the handle, grinding the beans. I tried to keep a steady rhythm.
If the grind is uneven, the flavor suffers, so consistency is key.
Turning too fast can cause the handle to slip, which also results in an uneven grind.
Finding the right speed is tricky, requiring trial and error, which is part of the joy.
Opening the lid to check, a rich aroma wafted out.
“Ah, it smells like coffee.”
The intense fragrance of freshly ground beans—something you can only experience right after grinding.
This is one of the perks of a hand grinder.
“Hey, what are you doing grinding beans with that noise?”
As I enjoyed grinding the coffee, Eight appeared again—this time with Mariela behind him.
Well, I guess it would catch their attention if someone was happily grinding beans by a quiet lake.
“I’m crushing coffee beans to make coffee.”
“Coffee!? You’re really making it that way!?”
Eight’s reaction was dramatic. Mariela, tilting her head, seemed curious, but Eight clearly knew about coffee.
“Yep.”
I opened the grinder’s lid and let him smell the beans being ground.
“Whoa, it really is coffee!”
“Coffee is a drink?”
“Yeah, it’s a little bitter and has a unique flavor, but I like it.”
“Uh… wow.”
Mariela looked slightly confused by Eight’s enthusiastic tone.
“Zilch, can I have some too?”
“Me too!”
“I was just testing the tools. Sure, bring a cup.”
I intended to try both the hand and automatic grinders. More people just means more trials.
“Thanks, Zilch! I’ll go get a cup!”
“Get one for me too!”
“Got it.”
However, Mariela surprised me with an unexpected move.
She should’ve gone with Eight to the tent to fetch cups.
Sure, one person can manage cups easily, but I don’t have much to say with Mariela alone, unlike Eight.
“…….”
Mariela kept looking my way as if she wanted to say something.
She opened her mouth a few times, then closed it again—yet she said nothing.
I decided to ignore it and kept grinding the beans.
“Alright, that should do it.”
The beans were ground, and the coffee powder settled into the glass compartment.
I placed the powder in the filter and slowly poured hot water over it.
The brewed coffee dripped into the glass pot below.
I repeated the process, pouring water and extracting slowly, when Mariela finally spoke.
“Hey… Zilch, have you known Eight for a long time?”
At first, I thought she asked just to fill the silence, but looking into her eyes, it seemed she had a more important question in mind. This was probably just a lead-in.
“No, I’ve only met him twice. I don’t really know him well.”
“Then how come you seem so close to Eight? I’ve never seen him sparkle like that…”
“Isn’t he like that normally?”
“Not that he’s cold—he’s kind and reliable—but even with me, his party member, there’s a wall… Today, I only tagged along because I pushed myself a bit.”
From my perspective, Eight is curious and friendly, like a dog that immediately warms to someone.
But from Mariela’s words, it seems he’s different outside of adventuring.
“Eight has a wall? When I first met him, he immediately came over for my cooking, and now he’s here for coffee too.”
“Yeah… so I was surprised. He seems to trust you, Zilch.”
Watching Mariela, she seemed amazed at today’s Eight too.
She never imagined that the dog-like, friendly Eight could act cool outside.
“So… I want you to teach me how to get close to Eight. I like him…”
Mariela confessed, blushing.
Ah, so that’s why she stayed behind—to ask me for advice.
I thought she might be his girlfriend, but it seems their relationship isn’t that deep. Mariela apparently has a crush on Eight.
Sigh… first I get dragged into women’s composition drama, now love advice.
All these troublesome matters women bring me—ugh.
Wanting to help someone because you like them. Wanting to get close to someone because you like them. I just can’t understand such feelings.
Now then… what to do about this…
