Chapter : 18
When working part-time at a café, there’s one task that people often say is difficult.
That task is milk steaming.
If done even slightly wrong, the milk could taste off, or it could ruin the flavor of the coffee. It also requires delicate control, as the foam can become too rough or uneven.
For that reason, there were countless videos teaching how to steam milk.
There was even a story in a game where the milk-steaming mechanics were so detailed that real-life café workers were reportedly frustrated.
It was a finicky task, but at the same time, it could be fun once you got the hang of it.
‘I actually kind of enjoyed it.’
Not everyone understood that…
So, I had memorized the proper way to steam milk very well.
There were many methods people taught, but…
The most important part of milk steaming is the “right amount of air” you put into the milk.
If you add too much air, the bubbles become large and uneven, the milk won’t mix properly with the foam, and foam will only form on the surface.
If you add too little air, you won’t get enough foam.
The best sign is when the machine makes a calm, almost rice-cooker-like “siiii-” sound. The quieter, the better.
If you can just get this right, milk steaming is almost guaranteed to succeed.
Oh, temperature is important too.
Too hot or too cold will ruin it.
“Milk temperature should be around 55°C—just right.”
If you follow this, steaming milk should be no problem.
I had taught my junior part-timers exactly like this many times.
But no matter how much you explain it, the feel at your fingertips is crucial… so practice was very important.
Anyway.
With a solid grasp of the theory and plenty of hands-on experience, I assumed I’d have no trouble with milk steaming.
But then.
“…Millan, can I ask you just one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“Uh… how do I use this?”
Millan’s steamer looked completely different from any steamer I’d ever used.
I mean…
‘Should I even call this a jug?’
Or maybe a pitcher?
It had an odd shape somewhere between a jug and a pitcher. I just blinked at it.
There was no steam nozzle, steam wand, or handle for injecting air—nothing at all. It was a smooth, jug-shaped steamer. In the end, I had to ask Millan for help.
Along with his answer came Millan’s sharp, piercing gaze.
“Why would I be a master of magical tools if I made them exactly like the originals? A tool is only meaningful if it’s more convenient than the original.
Convenient, but easy to use. That’s the kind of tool I make. With a bit of magic added.”
“Ah…”
“So just think of it simply. I’m not a kind tool master who gives you instructions for everything.”
Even if Koreans don’t read manuals!
‘…Shouldn’t the manual come with it, you crazy guy!’
I forced back my words and gave a strained smile.
Millan smirked and nodded as if to say, try it then.
“Ha, you think I can’t do it?”
As I looked around the steamer, I suddenly remembered something.
“That’s right. I can just check it like a universal hammer.”
The instructions would probably show the method.
I chuckled and whispered “Instructions” softly. Then, with the familiar notification sound, an instruction window appeared.
Master’s Steamer
- Steams anything!
- Created by the hands of a brilliant artisan.
- Performance varies depending on the user.
Usage: Not disclosed
Duration: Permanent
“…”
But it didn’t say what I wanted to know.
‘Usage: Not disclosed? Seriously. How does everyone buy this tool?’
I couldn’t believe Millan was such a successful tool master. I glared at him for a moment. But all I got was his cold stare.
‘Yeah, I’m the only one in a hurry.’
Grumbling, I fiddled with the steamer. As I suspected, there were no buttons.
‘Then maybe I just have to say “steam” out loud? Or maybe it works if I pour in the drink?’
On a whim, I opened the shop window.
Shop!
- Sells anything!
- Milk 500ml: 20 gold
- Bag of premium aromatic beans: 30 gold
- Bag of ice: 10 gold
- Fresh cream 100ml: 25 gold
- Orange juice 100ml: 30 gold
- Feed for happy hamsters: 200 gold
- Snacks for stylish hamsters: 200 gold
- 50 Energy Drink: 2 diamonds
- 100 Energy Drink: 3 diamonds
Current funds: 1,030 gold, 1 diamond
I had seen this shop once before when buying ice, and the prices were indeed high.
If I bought milk at the capital’s grocery store, 500ml wouldn’t cost more than 5 gold… but here in the game shop, it was four times as expensive.
Ice was harder to get, so I could accept the price, but…
“…Sigh. Too expensive.”
My hands shook from the high price. It was a little sad that I had to experience this even while trapped in the game.
But I had no choice.
I had used up all the leftover milk during the sunset event for handing out ice cream. And it was almost midnight, so I couldn’t go outside to buy some.
So the only option left was to purchase milk.
“500ml should be enough for a few tries.”
Determined to get it done in one go, I bought just one. My slightly trembling hands pressed the purchase button, and the milk appeared right above my hand, like receiving a reward.
Worried the precious milk might fall, I grabbed it tightly.
“Alright, let’s do this.”
I poured the milk into the steamer. I hoped it would start steaming automatically… but surprisingly, nothing happened.
‘Maybe it’s because I’m not holding the steamer properly? If I hold the handle, maybe it’ll work.’
“…Not this either.”
That method was wrong too.
“Then what do I do?”
I glanced between the steamer and Millan. He was still watching me struggle.
“Come on, just give me a hint.”
“Basha used it without any instructions.”
“Don’t be so finicky, Millan. We’ll be working together a lot. I’m your business partner, so help me out.”
“…We’re business partners?”
“Then we’re not?”
I remembered the reward promised me: Millan Basha.
Millan approached me slowly, stretching his mouth in a long line.
“I usually charge money even for teaching how to use my tools.”
“Then just give it to me. I’ll do something for you later.”
“How do I know I can trust a verbal promise?”
“Do we need a contract?”
If you want, we can.
I nodded slightly. Millan waved his hand as if to say that was enough.
“That’s enough. I’ll show you just once.”
“Alright!”
Millan lightly gripped the steamer’s handle. I stared wide-eyed.
He tapped the steamer lightly on the floor and shook it a couple of times.
Then, suddenly, a siiii- sound came, and the aroma of rich milk filled the air.
“…Huh?”
‘It’s really this simple?’
I stared at the steamer, still in disbelief. Millan shook his head to show that it had worked perfectly.
It was perfect steamed milk.
The foam was smooth, and the temperature was just right.
“…Haha, ha!”
Is this magic?
Where had all my previous milk-steaming efforts gone? At this rate, latte art might even happen automatically—haha!
Feeling strange, I quickly grabbed a cup. I didn’t have espresso, so it wouldn’t really show, but I poured the milk anyway.
Then…
“…Crazy.”
The latte art appeared automatically.
More precisely, the steamer adjusted itself to produce exactly the art I wanted.
This was a whole new world.
With this, latte art wasn’t scary anymore. For someone like me with poor art skills, this was revolutionary.
Even finicky Millan started to look impressive.
I smiled contentedly and muttered quietly,
“Tomorrow, I just need to go to the grocery store.”
Only one step left to fulfill Freesia’s request.
