Reincarnation of the magicless pinoy
From zero to Hero. "No Magic?, No Problem!"
Side story 5: cola
Five Years Later
The summer sun was merciless that afternoon. Even inside the royal library—cooled by one of Rolien's air-conditioning units—the heat still crept in like an unwelcome guest.
"Man... I could really use a cold drink right now," Leto groaned, leaning his head almost directly against the largest aircon in the room. His hair fluttered from the cold air, but sweat still rolled down his temple.
"Yeah," Mira muttered, fanning herself with a book. "Hey, Roa, can't you make something to cool us off?"
Rolien lay slouched on the sofa, one arm over his eyes. "Bruh. Just ask Sophia to make you some fruit juice. I'm too lazy to move."
Princess Sophia chuckled, resting her chin on her hand. "Come on now, Roa. You always come up with something fun when you're bored. Let's make this heat worth it."
"Yeah, Rolien!" Leto added, stretching dramatically. "I swear I'm melting here, bruh. I'll do anything for a cold, refreshing drink."
Rolien sighed, sitting up a little. "Alright, alright. Let me think…" He snapped his fingers lazily. "Hey, system. Remember that thing I asked you to look for?"
"Ding! Affirmative," his system chimed in his head.
Rolien's eyes lit up. "Show me the blueprint for that one."
A translucent window popped up before him, displaying detailed notes and diagrams. The others leaned closer curiously.
"What is it this time?" Sophia asked.
"Something new," Rolien said with a grin. "A drink from my old world—something fizzy, cold, and sweet. I just need to find the right ingredients."
Mira raised a brow. "Like what?"
He scrolled through the holographic list. "Let's see… water, sugar, and something called 'cola nut'—but since this world doesn't have that, the system says there's a similar root that grows near the pine forests in the northern hills."
Leto's eyes widened. "Wait—you're saying we're going out there? In this heat?"
Rolien stood up, stretching his arms with a mischievous grin. "Exactly. We'll go on a short trip. Think of it as a quest... for the ultimate cold drink."
Sophia laughed softly. "You really are impossible, Roa."
"Hey," he shrugged, "if we're going to melt, we might as well do it doing something cool."
And just like that, the group gathered their things and set off toward the northern hills—Rolien leading the way with his usual half-smile, already imagining the taste of the world's first soda in this realm.
The trip north started like any of their usual outings—Rolien leading the way with a lazy grin, Leto complaining about the heat, and Mira carrying a small satchel of snacks that Sophia had packed for them.
The forest grew thicker as they went deeper into the hills. Shafts of sunlight pierced through the leaves, and the sound of cicadas buzzed all around them.
Sophia glanced up at the canopy. "It's hotter here than I expected. Are you sure we're going the right way?"
"Yeah," Rolien replied, holding his wristwatch-like device as the system projected a small glowing map. "System says the root should be growing near the rocky ridge up ahead. We're close."
Leto groaned. "Great. I just hope your magic soda's worth this hike."
"Trust me," Rolien smirked, "once you taste it, you'll thank me."
But just as they stepped past the treeline, the air shifted. Mira froze, her hand reaching instinctively for her short dagger.
"Wait," she whispered. "Something's moving."
A rustle echoed from the bushes. Then another. And before any of them could react, three beasts burst out—a pack of Fangmaws, wolf-like creatures with dark scales instead of fur and glowing red eyes.
"Great," Leto muttered, summoning his mana spear. "Can't even go for ingredients without monsters crashing the party."
Rolien stepped forward, calm and steady. His right hand glowed faintly with a silver hue—the mark of his Spirit Core.
"Back me up if they swarm," he said.
"Got it," Mira replied, slipping into a low stance.
The first Fangmaw lunged. Rolien sidestepped with a fluid motion and thrust his fist forward.
"Hammer Strike!"
A faint ripple pulsed through the air. The beast froze mid-leap—then collapsed, twitching, its insides crushed from the internal shockwave.
Leto whistled. "Still scary seeing that up close."
"Focus!" Sophia called, firing a burst of freezing magic that trapped one beast's legs in ice. Mira dashed in, slashing across its neck before it could howl.
The last one growled and charged at Rolien from behind—but he didn't even turn. His left hand opened slightly, his Spirit Core flaring. The moment the creature leapt, he spun and slammed his palm into its chest.
Boom!
A shockwave of compressed spirit energy blasted outward, sending the monster flying back into a tree.
Silence followed. Only the wind and their panting broke it.
Sophia lowered her hand. "You could've warned us you were going to blow it up."
Rolien dusted his hands. "I told you I'd handle it."
Leto kicked one of the fallen beasts lightly. "Man… you make that look too easy."
Rolien only shrugged, eyes already scanning his device again. "Alright, enough playing around. The root should be nearby."
A few minutes later, they found it—a cluster of strange, reddish-brown roots growing beneath a pine-like tree, its scent oddly sweet. Rolien knelt down and gently cut a piece.
"System, confirm."
"Ding! Root identified. Properties match: Cola substitute confirmed."
Rolien grinned. "Perfect. Mission complete."
Sophia smiled faintly, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "All that for a drink, huh?"
He stood, holding the root up against the sunlight. "Hey, you'll see. This'll change summer forever."
Leto groaned. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just head back before another pack of those things shows up."
Mira laughed softly. "You know, for something as simple as a cold drink… we always end up fighting monsters."
Rolien smirked, walking ahead with the root in hand. "Guess that's just how adventures start."
By the time they got back to the Grand Duke's estate, the sun was already dipping behind the hills. The servants hurried to take their bags, but Rolien waved them off.
"Don't touch that," he said, holding the small pouch of roots close. "That's the key ingredient."
Leto raised an eyebrow. "You're acting like it's gold."
"Better," Rolien grinned. "This one can make people smile."
Inside his workshop, the familiar smell of oil, copper, and faint ozone filled the air. The room was cluttered with half-finished inventions — tiny drones, glowing bulbs, blueprints pinned on the walls, and a humming refrigerator in the corner.
Mira leaned against the counter. "So, what's the plan?"
Rolien rolled up his sleeves. "Simple. Extract the essence, mix it with sugar and a bit of carbonated pressure. The hard part's stabilizing the fizz without mana."
Leto blinked. "The what?"
"The bubbles, genius," Rolien said, grabbing a glass beaker. "That's the fun part."
He heated a small pot using one of his solar panels, carefully adding sliced root and crystalized sugar. The mixture began to simmer, releasing a faint caramel scent that filled the room.
Sophia peeked over his shoulder. "It smells sweet… and kind of spicy."
"Exactly," Rolien said. "That's the base flavor."
He poured the liquid through a mesh filter, then attached a narrow pipe from a pressurized chamber. "And now for the magic touch…"
He flipped a small switch. The chamber hissed. Tiny bubbles rushed into the bottle, fizzing wildly before settling into a deep brown drink that sparkled under the light.
Leto's jaw dropped. "No way you just made that from roots."
Rolien smiled proudly, holding up the chilled glass bottle. "I call it... Cola."
He poured four glasses, sliding one to each of them. "Moment of truth."
Sophia took the first sip — her eyes widened instantly. "It's… cold, sweet, and ticklish?" She laughed softly, the carbonation tingling her nose. "It's like drinking happiness!"
Mira giggled after tasting hers. "Oh wow, this is addictive."
Leto took a big gulp. "Ah! That hits the spot!" He leaned back with a satisfied groan. "Bro, this is divine! You seriously made this?"
Rolien smirked, swirling his glass. "Told you it'd be worth it."
Sophia leaned her cheek on her hand, smiling at him. "You always manage to turn boredom into something brilliant, you know that?"
He shrugged casually. "Just wanted something cold to drink. The rest is just… extra."
Leto raised his glass. "To Rolien — inventor of cola!"
The others clinked their glasses together, laughing as bubbles popped in the air.
Later that evening, as they lounged by the open balcony watching the glowing city lights, Sophia spoke quietly.
"You've changed the Empire again, Roa. First the lights, then the cool air… now this."
Rolien leaned back, eyes half-lidded. "Eh, maybe. I just like seeing people enjoy the things I make."
She smiled. "You've brought light, comfort, and now joy to everyone. If that's not changing the Empire, I don't know what is."
He glanced at her, faintly smiling. "Guess I'll take that as a compliment."
The warm night breeze drifted through the curtains, carrying the faint laughter of the group and the soft fizzing of their glasses — a quiet moment of peace before the world would call for Rolien Grey's genius once again.
Word spread faster than wildfire.
Within a week, the nobles of the capital were already fighting over bottles of Rolien's new drink. "The Sparkling Miracle," they called it. Merchants offered absurd prices just to secure shipments from the Grand Duke's territory. Even taverns started copying it, though their versions tasted like burnt sugar and old roots.
By the time the Emperor's carriage arrived at the Grey estate again, half the capital was hooked.
The guards straightened as the golden carriage stopped before the gates. Out stepped Emperor Albrecht, his cloak trimmed with white fur despite the warm summer air. Beside him, Princess Sophia followed — holding a chilled bottle of cola in one hand, smiling faintly as bubbles danced inside the glass.
At the entrance, Grand Duke Edric greeted them with open arms. "Albrecht, my old friend," he said warmly. "Couldn't resist visiting again, I see."
The Emperor laughed. "Can you blame me? Your son's drink has turned half my court into sugar-addled lunatics. Even my advisors are sneaking bottles into meetings."
Lady Lirein, standing beside her husband, covered her mouth to hide a smile. "I told that boy not to experiment in the kitchen, but he never listens."
From behind them, Rolien emerged — older now, a little taller, still wearing that same calm expression that mixed curiosity with mischief. "Your Majesty. Princess."
"Rolien," the Emperor greeted, eyes gleaming. "You've done it again. Every time I visit, you seem to reinvent civilization."
"Wasn't the goal," Rolien replied, scratching the back of his neck. "Just wanted a cold drink."
Princess Sophia giggled softly. "That's what he always says."
They moved inside, and immediately the Emperor's expression softened as the cool air brushed against his skin. "It feels pleasant here," he remarked.
The Grand Duke smiled. "That's thanks to Rolien's work again. He's been making the estate more comfortable bit by bit."
Rolien handed the Emperor a glass bottle. "Here, Your Majesty — freshly made cola. Better when cold."
The Emperor took it, popped the cap, and took a sip. His eyes widened slightly as the bubbles fizzed against his tongue. "By the gods… this is even better than before!"
Rolien grinned proudly. "I tweaked the recipe a bit. Less syrup, more carbonation."
The Emperor laughed in disbelief. "You create light, then an ice box, and now a drink that has my entire palace addicted. Tell me, boy, when will you stop surprising us?"
Rolien smirked. "When I run out of ideas. So… probably never."
That earned a good round of laughter.
Lady Lirein sighed fondly. "This boy will either make history… or make me lose my mind."
"Maybe both," Elian said as he entered, holding a bottle of cola and grinning. "Either way, I'm proud."
Elera followed, handing Sophia another glass. "Here, Princess. Freshly poured."
Sophia smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Elera."
As everyone gathered in the sitting room, the Emperor leaned back with his drink. "Rolien, my friend, I must say… I envy your ability to make the impossible seem ordinary."
Rolien raised a brow. "You sound like you're about to recruit me again."
The Emperor chuckled. "Tempting, isn't it? But no — I wouldn't dare steal the Grey family's genius. Still…" He looked at Edric with a teasing grin. "You might want to keep an eye on him. I can already see merchants and guilds drooling at the idea of monopolizing his inventions."
Edric smiled knowingly. "Let them drool. I trust my son knows what he's doing."
Rolien sipped his cola, smirking faintly. "Oh, I do. I've already filed the patent."
"Patent?" the Emperor repeated, amused.
"Yeah," Rolien said casually. "Registered under my name. Anyone who wants to sell or copy the designs will have to pay a fee. It's automatic through the Imperial Commerce Guild."
The Emperor laughed out loud. "You've learned to play the game well, boy."
Rolien looked thoughtful for a moment. "Not really about the money this time. I just want people to know who made it. That's all."
Sophia smiled at him quietly, her eyes soft. "You mean, you want people to see your light again."
He blinked, then chuckled. "Maybe."
As the evening stretched on, laughter filled the Grey estate. The Emperor toasted Rolien's name, declaring that "the boy who brought light now brings joy."
Outside, the first flickers of lamplight spread through the streets — powered by the very solar grids Rolien once designed. And somewhere far beyond the horizon, the gears of progress began to turn faster than ever before.
The Empire had changed again… all because one boy wanted a cold drink.
To be continue