Vampire and Chocolatier 〜The genius alchemist’s sweet quest〜

“This is chocolate? I thought it was supposed to be made as a warm drink, just like the ones you bought me at the coffee shop.”

“Now that’s something that an alchemist shouldn’t say. For you, isn’t solidity the most stable state – the perfect state, so to speak?”

Sin immediately seized the opportunity to show off his knowledge. Although it was amusing to hear chocolate being talked about in the same manner as the philosopher’s stone, it was appropriate, since Leonardo was an alchemist. 

The solidified chocolate was among the things he had tasted last night, but both the texture and taste left something to be desired. But since it was supposed to be the magnum opus of over two hundred years, those issues must have been overcome. 

“I have saved the last piece for an occasion just like this. I want you to taste it and refer to it as a baseline. It’s sensitive to heat and melts at body temperature, so please be careful.”

In other words, the time was flowing again for Alfred to have a chance to eat it.

He took the piece like he was told and examined it up close. Black in color. There was a tinge of red, again like the legendary philosopher’s stone. The surface was glossy and it had a high-class, unapproachable feel to it, like a work of art. 

It smelled very much of cocoa with a hint of milk, vanilla, and spices he couldn’t recognize. But aside from the stronger aroma, what made it different from normal chocolate?

The answer arrived as soon as he put it in his mouth.

“What is this?! It’s so absurdly sweet!”

“Not a romantic way to put it, but it does show the true nature of chocolate. Yes, that is indeed the ‘pleasure’ of sweetness pushed to the limit!”

Even if he was just sampling it for reference… The complexity made him so ecstatic that before he knew it, the chocolate disappeared from his mouth. All that remained was a feeling like waking up from a dream and a strong craving for chocolate.

“Was it all of it? If you are hiding anymore…”

“I see you now know how I feel. There is nothing more left in this world, so if you want to taste it once more, you will need to make it yourself.”

Alfred fell to his knees. Even though he was told to make it himself, he was too overwhelmed to do an analysis. It was nothing like he had ever tasted – a sensation from another dimension.

All that was left was the texture lingering on his tongue, the alluring sweetness making his head blank. But it would be no good to settle for just the sweetness. The bitter taste of cacao of fine quality and the flavor of spices made the inconspicuous sweet taste stand out. He could now understand why it wasn’t liquid – the chocolate disappearing inside the mouth was so fleeting and lovely. 

For a second, he was immersed in the aftermath. However, as he came to, fear and impatience started to slowly come to him. If he couldn’t do something like this, his life would be over. 

“I was not satisfied with Leonardo’s. You must make the best one, the one that surpasses it.” 

“Huh? I told you, no unreasonable demands, didn’t I?!”

“I’ll give you the time until the next full moon to make it. Of course, I won’t allow you to refuse or run away. After all, the vampires’ motto is, ‘Worthless things should be burned to ashes.’”

When Alfred thought about the werewolves, who were told the same thing, he shuddered. 

Sin had nothing of the sweetness of chocolate even towards Alfred, whom he self-proclaimed his “beloved.” Maybe it would have been easier to be treated as cattle after all… But even though it made him feel faint, his pride as an alchemist urged him to move forward. 

“Excellent. I won’t make the best chocolate – no, I will make the ultimate one.”

　◇

But, of course, the chocolate-making process was rough from the start.

“If I don’t get at least a recipe, I don’t think I’ll make it.”

Since he was just a beginner, there was no way he would be able to catch up without the wisdom of his predecessors. 

The place where he was was an old workshop of Leonardo’s located in the mansion. It was a simple vacant space, mostly white, but it was stacked with equipment and materials needed to make chocolate. All he needed now was ingenuity.

Three days have already passed since he shut himself in the workshop and started working. It wasn’t like he hadn’t made any progress – he had mostly learned every recipe that Sin got him. He would have no problem working at the coffee shop and showing off his skills. The basics were not that different from alchemical experiments and were easy enough to remember.

But Leonardo’s chocolate was probably based on some revolutionary ideas. To compile them all by himself couldn’t be realistically done given the time limit. 

While digging up his memories, covered in more and more soot and mud as time passed, he analyzed each type of aroma that formed Leonardo’s chocolate and drew a diagram on paper with a fountain pen. 

It’s a common belief that people perceive taste with their tongues, but the aroma and texture also have a strong influence on the perception of taste. Leonardo’s chocolate was outstanding in terms of tactile sensation, or other words, the sense of touch on the tongue. As for the aroma… It would probably be best to just go at random, as bad as that sounded. He could narrow down the choices if he kept analyzing and repeating the process.

The main issue was achieving that mouthfeel of a melting sensation. He knew it was possible to roast and bake the cocoa into fine grain. When it’s heated and ground, the fats and oils would melt and become a sticky paste. 

The paste-like cacao was solid at room temperature and melted to a liquid state when heated. But it was incomparably bitter when pitted against Leonardo’s chocolate, and was all in all inedible. With sugar and milk added to the mixture the oils and fats prevented them from combining properly, clumping together. The result was a dry, muddy lump. 

Alfred dissolved the failed mud in hot water and whisked it with all his might. Maybe in the liquid form, the texture could be improved when turned into a meringue. This was how chocolate was drunk since ancient times. Utterly primitive and unbecoming of an alchemist.

When he was getting annoyed by the shrink of failures, Sin came with a smirk on his face. A vampire’s sense of smell was formidable. Especially when concerning cocoa.

“Ah, I see you are relearning the basics today as well. Not bad, but soon it’ll be time for a revolution. The dawn of civilization is near, my dear student.”

“I wonder if I could mix gunpowder in there and pulverize you. I’m sure you would eat anything chocolate-flavored… Wait, what are you wearing? What is that?”

“You are asking about the apron? I tried to be like you and cook as well!”

Sin was wearing a cute frilly apron over his suit and was carrying a basket as if he were going on a picnic. Alfred tended to forget to eat when absorbed by his work, so Sin took it upon himself to bring him food every day, but today he had the mood of a tidy little lady.

“You are the city lord of Ruviria, you should at least hire a waiter. Or get a familiar.”

“I do not like socializing. I want only ones that are close to me to be nearby.”

In that case, it would be disastrous if he came to like someone.

Alfred shuffled through the contents of the basket while disposing of the failures. It was simply bread with lettuce and roasted chicken, but it was unexpectedly delicious. Even though Sin said he wasn’t good at being ingenious, following a recipe the vampire could cook just fine.

Since Sin would only put blood and chocolate in his mouth, he had been bringing food from the city just for Alfred. But he said he would like to cook by himself after today. When Alfred said to him to do as he pleases, Sin replied, “We’re more like a married couple that way, aren’t we?” It annoyed Alfred so much that he wanted to punch him. 

But that was beside the point.

“Permit me to go out. I’d like to go to the Academy to look through some materials.”

“Alright. Let’s go tomorrow, then.”

“I’ll go alone. You’ll be bothering me while I’m trying to research.”

“Do you think I could bear you doing something I don’t want you to?”

Sin silently stared at him. Perhaps sensing the murderous intent coming from his little pet dog, Sin reluctantly agreed. While bickering like that, Alfred almost forgot he was talking to a vampire.

“But it’s dangerous out there. Your life was threatened once before, so you should carry a gun for self-defense. Here, take it.”

“This is the revolver I borrowed back then. But the bullets are sterling silver.”

“I’m not going to cut corners. You could kill almost any monster, except me.”

“May I try it out?” 

When Sin nodded, Alfred didn’t hesitate and shot him right between the eyes. The vampire fell backward with a startled look on his face, perhaps mistakenly thinking he was aiming at the nearest wall. But Alfred was not a man to miss an opportunity so clearly presented to him.

He hoped it would be enough to finally kill, but it was not. Sin stood up quickly and fiddled with the hole in his forehead while bringing his cup of chocolate to his mouth. 

“It’s the first present you’ve given me. I will treasure it.”

With that, the vampire gulped down the sterling silver bullet.

There was no way out of this, it seemed, except for making that ultimate chocolate.