Trois-san was an exceptionally smooth conversationalist—a master of both speaking and listening. He had an incredible knack for steering a conversation in a way that made you feel comfortable opening up to him.
When I had plenty to say, he took a step back to listen, punctuating my stories with perfectly timed nods of surprise or admiration. He was so adept at it that it felt like he was effortlessly drawing the words right out of me.
And on the flip side, if I had finished speaking and the momentum began to stall, he would seamlessly introduce a fresh topic.
"Oh, that reminds me. I heard you've been introducing the Dual Star Trading Company's new products all over the place, Kaito? Thanks to your efforts, their sales are reportedly doing quite well."
"No, I really only suggested them to a few acquaintances... Oh? Wait a second. Trois-san, are you involved with Dual Star as well?"
"No, it's not that I'm directly involved in their sales operations. It's just that several of the children I've mentored—my disciples, to put it simply—are part of that company. I heard the news from them."
"I see. Since both are part of Kuro's Trading Company, it's not surprising there would be a connection like that."
"Most of Chrome-sama's family members belong to a trading company in some capacity. Not every single one, of course... but changing the subject, Kaito, how do you feel about coffee?"
"I like it well enough. I wouldn't say I'm a fanatic who’s incredibly particular about the beans or anything, though."
Trois-san was apparently a legendary figure in the sales world, so it made sense that he had a vast network of disciples.
"Ah, I understand. When people get truly dedicated to coffee, they bring a level of passion to it that's almost intimidating."
"They really do. The obsession some people have is incredible... It feels like they can taste subtle differences that I could never distinguish. As for me, as long as it's reasonably delicious, I'm satisfied. I have a friend named Amel-san from the Winged Race who has a magic tool that automatically brews coffee from the beans. I was thinking something like that would be perfect for me."
"There are certainly magic tools of that type, and they're quite popular because of how easy they make the process. What did the model you saw look like, Kaito?"
"Um, if I recall..."
I walked him through the details of the coffee-maker-like magic tool I'd seen at Amel-san's house. Trois-san listened, nodding with a gentle smile and offering a few encouraging remarks. Once I had finished my explanation, he spoke up.
"What you saw was a basic model."
"Huh? Does that mean there are more advanced versions?"
"There are indeed. In fact, a state-of-the-art model was just released recently. Let's see, my sales kit should have... Ah, here it is. This one."
"Oh, wow. The size hasn't changed much, but... are those multiple magic crystals?"
The device Trois-san pulled out was roughly the same size as the one at Amel-san's house, but it was studded with several magic crystals. He'd mentioned it was multi-functional, so I assumed these extra crystals were the source of those various features.
"I believe the model you saw was limited to just brewing coffee from beans. This one, however, can also add sugar and milk—you just adjust these dials to your liking. In the back, next to the intake for the beans and water, there are separate slots for milk and sugar."
"Wow, so it's fully automatic. But wouldn't the milk spoil if you put in too much and didn't use it all?"
"You'd think so, wouldn't you? That's where the high performance comes in. This magic tool is designed to automatically apply status preservation magic whenever it isn't in use. Because of that, you can load it up with beans and milk all at once and enjoy a fresh cup whenever you feel like it, without worrying about anything going bad."
"Oh, that's fantastic. That means I wouldn't have to pull it out of a Magic Box every single time..."
The feature sounded incredible. Knowing it would stay fresh while sitting out in my room meant I could have coffee the moment I wanted it. I was starting to really want this thing.
"However, there is a catch. To make all these features work—grinding the beans, adjusting the milk and sugar ratios, brewing espresso, detecting a mug to pour the exact right amount, and maintaining the status preservation—requires a significant number of magic crystals. Naturally, the price has to go up to match."
"I see. Just out of curiosity, how much are we talking?"
"For this specific model, it's two gold coins."
"...Ah, I see. So it's around that much."
"Hahaha, I'm sure that isn't a staggering amount for you, Kaito. But for a coffee lover willing to drop two gold coins just for a machine, you’d usually prefer the ritual of grinding the beans yourself. This magic tool is primarily aimed at nobles who find it a hassle to call for a servant just to brew a cup when they wake up, or other wealthy individuals of that caliber."
"Ah, when you put it that way, I guess it would be hard for anyone but the very wealthy to pay two gold coins for a luxury like this."
While it was far cheaper than a Magic Box or a teleportation magic tool, two million yen for a coffee maker was undeniably steep.
But honestly, I still wanted it. Waking up in the morning, letting this machine brew a fresh cup, and sipping it while looking out the window at the garden bathed in the early sun... It sounded like bliss.
"...Um, Trois-san, is this magic tool sold at the Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company?"
"Normally, these are made-to-order, but if you want one, I can arrange it. I have a few kept under my personal authority, so I could sell one to you right now."
"Oh! In that case, I’d definitely like to buy it."
"Of course. Since it's for you, Kaito, I’d like to throw in a little extra service. I doubt a discount would be particularly exciting for you, so instead, I'll provide a unit with some extra convenient features for the same price."
"Convenient extra features?"
"Yes. An automatic filter replacement and cleaning function. Once it’s finished, it discards the used filter and the spent coffee grounds into an attached box, then sets a new filter automatically. It also cleans the internal pipes at the same time, funneling any residue into that same box. All you have to do is empty the box once in a while."
"That sounds incredibly convenient! Thank you so much!"
"I'm happy if you're happy. I'll send word to have it ready for you. Just stop by the reception at the Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company headquarters on your way home, and it’ll be waiting for you."
"Understood."
Man, I’d been thinking about getting a coffee maker for a while, so I’m glad I found such a good one. It sounds like I can pick it up today, too. I’m already looking forward to trying it out.
Maybe I should pick up some nice coffee beans on the way back... Either way, this was a great find. I really owe Trois-san one.
...Wait. I came here to ask about bakeries. Why am I leaving with a coffee maker? Well, whatever. I wanted it anyway.
Serious-senpai: "Come to think of it, Kaori mentioned that talking to Trois usually leads to buying something before you even realize it... He fell for it hook, line, and sinker."
???: "Well, it's not like he’s tricking him. He just skillfully sensed what Kaito-san wanted and made a casual suggestion. It was Kaito-san who made the final decision to buy it, and he’s genuinely happy with the purchase, so there's no harm done."