Chapter 53: Brewing Bonds

The room was wide enough to house the brewing equipment I’d envisioned.

I tucked the diary under the bar’s storage and got back to work.

“I’d like to keep about ten casks in reserve.”

As I pictured the items, I sent out causality. Two glowing orbs flew to opposite walls.

A massive brewing machine appeared, taking up half the space. I was grateful for the café’s high ceiling. Below the vat’s outlets, a drain formed unprompted, as if part of the set.

On the other side, ten wooden casks and a barrel rack for horizontal storage materialized. With barrel taps on the lids, I could easily pour liquor into cups. Seeing something I’d only glimpsed on TV was thrilling.

Perfect.

The new space was now a flawless brewing room.

More work awaited.

Good thing each only took one measure of causality…

Since the last level-up, I’d used seven measures in the café, already over halfway to the next.

“Bernell, come check this out!”

At my call, he hopped over the bar into the brewing room.

“What do you think? Looks good?”

“Impressive. You’ll make fine liquor here.”

“Shall we start brewing?”

We moved the berry baskets into the room.

First, a crushed-fruit liquor without jewel berry sugar.

The brewing machine wasn’t designed with my height in mind, making it hard to load without a stepstool. Bernell took over.

He effortlessly dumped a basket of berries into the vat.

Peeled berries for juice and smoothies poured in with a rustle.

Whirr.

Testing with two baskets, I activated the grinder. Through the transparent window, rotating blades pulverized the berries, like a giant blender.

The sweet berry scent filled the café as the jewels were crushed.

“Now add water and fermentation agents,” Bernell said.

He fetched a bucket of water and poured it in.

I unhooked the Essence of Serenity necklace.

“Half a vial for one cask, so… a quarter for this?”

On tiptoes, I poured about a quarter of the essence. The vat’s contents sparkled.

“Wow… amazing.”

After mixing, I placed an empty cask under the outlet. Turning the valve, the liquid gushed out.

“Oh no!”

Opening the valve fully caused a chaotic spill, splattering red liquid on Bernell and me.

“Sorry… pfft.”

I only got some on my clothes, but Bernell, holding the cask, was drenched—face and hair a mess.

I stifled a laugh, expecting him to be annoyed, but he laughed along.

“You look happy,” he said.

He left the liquid on, refusing a towel, saying he’d wash later—a surprising move for a former noble.

“Let’s be careful next time. I didn’t expect it to gush like that.”

Thankfully, causality-made uniforms cleaned easily. Normal clothes would’ve been a hassle.

We emptied the vat, sealed the cask, and moved it to the rack.

“Now, the whole-fruit liquor.”

I decided the brewing machine wasn’t needed.

Opening an empty cask, I poured in jewel berries, filling it halfway.

I added half that amount of finely crushed jewel berry sugar, then enough water to submerge the berries, and poured in the remaining essence.

“Beautiful…”

The cask glowed, like a milky way inside.

Bernell sealed it and placed it on the rack.

“It’ll take a while,” he said.

“I’m excited. I’ll make a bathroom upstairs. Want to wash up while I clean the vat?”

“I’ll help.”

We finished and used the new upstairs bathroom in turn.

I kept laughing at juice-soaked Bernell, who seemed to enjoy it, dawdling toward the bathroom until I pushed him in.

The next day, checking the casks after work, I was shocked by the alcohol smell.

As Wishstone said, the Essence of Serenity drastically sped up fermentation.

“Wow, it’s already liquor?”

I grabbed a wine glass from the kitchen and poured a bit.

The red liquid in the clear glass shimmered, with comet-like streaks swirling around. It looked like a liquid gem.

“Gorgeous…”

Registerable Menu: Jewel Berry Wine

Ingredients & Method: Jewel Berries / Brewing

Quality: C+ (B)

Tip: Longer aging improves the liquor.

Status: Matched with suitable glassware.

Effect: Pending

Evaluation: Pending

Preferred Guest Type: Pending

A transparent menu card appeared. As expected, the liquor could be registered.

“Let’s try…”

A sip filled my mouth with fresh berry aroma—subtle sweetness, a hint of tartness, and a slight alcohol sting, with warmth spreading down my throat.

“Nice!”

Drinking after so long was exhilarating. A post-work drink was like medicine for fatigue.

Memories of late-night beers with friends surfaced.

The sugar-soaked berry liquor didn’t produce a menu card. It needed more aging, tasting bland, like watery syrup.

“The wine could use more aging but tastes decent now… One more?”

I grabbed another glass and poured.

“Bernell, want a drink?”

I set two glasses of berry wine on the bar. He gladly sat on a stool.

“I’ll join you.”

I hopped over to sit beside him, and he naturally turned toward me.

“It’s not perfect, but it tastes good.”

“Already aged?” he asked.

“A bit of magic. Try it.”

He sipped skeptically, then his eyes widened.

“It’s… really liquor. In a day.”

“Surprised? Told you. Been ages since I had a drink.”

I only knew beer and soju before coming here, not fancy wine etiquette. I’d learned some at a high-end restaurant job but never used it.

So, I drank like it was soju, while Bernell savored his elegantly. The class gap was embarrassing. Typical noble.

“Finished. One more? Feels lacking.”

“Wait here. I’ll get it.”

Bernell downed his wine in one go, stood, and returned from the brewing room with two refilled glasses.

“Here’s your jewel berry wine.”

“Pfft. Fits you. You’re less awkward now. At first, you hated it, saying it’s servants’ work.”

His looks made him oddly suited for it.

With a staff like him, the café would be a hit.

He handed me a glass but stayed put.

“Still playing manager?”

“Seeing you enjoy yourself, a day like this feels fine.”

The wine loosened my smile, lips curving freely.

“Alright, then.”

I don’t love sweets, but as liquor, it went down easily.

A well-ended workday, calm ambiance, Pig-Bird’s soft snoring…

Most importantly, I wasn’t alone anymore.

Keeps me drinking.

“One more” became four glasses. At this rate, I’d empty the cask before it fully aged.

I needed to pace myself, but it was hard. Maybe the magic liquor had some strange power.

Bernell matched my pace, emptying his glass with me. He was a solid drinking buddy.

“You really like when I ask for help,” I said, tracing the glass rim, blurting it out to ease the silence.

Talking openly while drinking was a habit from friends. Maybe my drinking quirk.

But now, I was the talker, not the listener.

“Helping you is my small joy,” he said.

“Because I’m Aileen to you?”

Silence. I felt a bit miffed.

“I was born with a name—Kongyun. I thought about pretending to be your sister, thinking you’d protect the café if I did. To protect me too. Evil gods are terrifying.”

I regretted saying it. Bernell’s face was unreadable.

“Just… thanks for helping. I don’t say it enough, but I’m grateful. Bathing Pig-Bird must be tough—it’s so big—but you don’t complain…”

Ugh, whatever.

“One more.”

“You’re drinking too much.”

“Right, gotta work early…”

He snatched my glass, refilled it, and returned.

“Thanks.”

My cheeks warmed. The buzz was hitting.

This wine must be strong; the sweetness masked it.

Fruit liquors sneak up on you, I’d heard. Never tried them—too pricey.

“It’s weird. I never thought I’d ask for help so easily.”

“Why not?” he asked.

“It might burden someone.”

His face now read, What nonsense?