Chapter 16
I poured brandy and sweet vermouth into an ice-filled mixing glass and shook it.
I transferred it to a glass and topped it with a cherry.
“The second drink is the ‘Carol’. I dedicate this cocktail to your friendship.”
The brandy and sweet vermouth in the Carol have strong distinctive flavors.
Even when mixed together, their unique tastes remain intact, and the harmonious Carol resembles the friendship of the two.
“You’re saying pretty cheesy things too.”
The fox stared at the long-stemmed cocktail glass. Though not intense or flashy, the faint reddish liquid looked alluring.
“But this cocktail isn’t bad.”
The fox slowly sipped the Carol, savoring the deep flavor. Slowly, even licking his lips at the end, seeming reluctant for it to diminish.
“…Sometimes I wonder. If I hadn’t invited you to dinner to get revenge by pulling the same trick, we may have become friends sooner.”
“Huh? Already drunk? After just two glasses. Looks like I’ve won today.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Your face is as red as a tomato.”
“Ha! Your tongue is all twisted. Try saying this: ‘The factory manager of the soy sauce factory is Mr. Kang…”
“Shut up.”
It seemed like they were about to have a conciliatory atmosphere for a moment, but no chance.
‘It must be this kind of relationship that has kept their friendship going for hundreds of years.’
I chuckled, watching the two continue to bicker.
How much time had passed?
The noisy sounds faded into the night.
“I should head back too.”
“It’s gotten quite late.”
Even the loudest, most boisterous gatherings have their end.
The two, who had been bickering endlessly but strangely looked refreshed, simultaneously offered me silver coins.
“the bill, please.”
“Bartender, take from the better looking one.”
Oh my.
I couldn’t help but laugh. They were just two animals to me.
“I’ll take from whoever gave me more.”
“What? That’s not fair…”
“Here! I gave more.”
“Then…”
As the cunning fox took out more silver coins, the crane also hurriedly opened his wallet.
“Hey! I’ve got my purse out now!”
The two seemed to compete as they put out more silver coins. It was a scene reminiscent of an auction house.
‘Wow, how much is that?’
I wanted to take it all, but a bartender can’t scam drunk customers.
I reached out with both hands and took exactly half of the silver coins they offered.
<Notice> The reputation of the cocktail bar ‘I don’t know. Stuff like that bar’ has increased by 500. (Total 2,550)
<Notice> You gained 500 coins!
Maybe because the protagonists of ‘The Fox and the Crane’ were both here? The day’s earnings were quite good.
“Bill settled. Dismissed!”
“You’re really going to do this?”
“Cheap trick!”
Anyway, those were the customers and that was the bartender.
Once the two left, a stillness as if I was left alone in the world descended. They were customers with such a strong presence.
“Should I start cleaning up slowly…?”
I pushed the tables to the corners and swept with a broom. At times like this, I miss the robot vacuum cleaner I left at home.
“Ah, what a hassle… But now I’ve only got the dishes left.”
In the kitchen, piles of dishes were stacked up like mountains. All this was made by just the crane and the fox.
As I wiped the glasses sparkling clean, the bickering scene of the crane and fox came to mind.
“…Sometimes I wonder. If I hadn’t invited you to dinner to get revenge by pulling the same trick, we may have become friends sooner.”
Did they really think that?
Rather, it was because they made the same choices that the two immortals became friends. Isn’t there a saying that birds of a feather flock together?
‘Suddenly I miss my friends.’
We promised to meet at the end of the year and enjoy Christmas together.
But we may never meet again. The wistful thought ended on a gloomy note.
I moved my hands busily. I felt like having one more drink before going to bed. If I hurry and clean up, I can have one refreshing drink…
Bang!
Then I heard a loud noise. It seemed something had crashed into the door.
What was it? I cautiously approached the door. First, I peeked through the window to check the situation outside…
“Gasp!”
A man was collapsed in front of the store. Hesitating to open the door, I watched as he slowly raised himself and pressed his palm against the window.
A distinct bloodstain marked the otherwise spotless glass.
At that moment, I was wide awake.
“Ah, no matter how many strange customers come, no zombies!”
I hurriedly looked for something to barricade the window, when the man groaned and knocked on the glass—a clear call for help.
I approached the window and examined the man. His elegant silver hair was so drenched in blood it looked crimson. As I tried to check his face further, the man’s body slumped over.
“If he was a zombie, he wouldn’t just collapse like that.”
Right. This man wasn’t a zombie, but an injured person.
‘Ah, geez. I don’t want to get caught up in something troublesome…’
Still, I should try to save him first.
I grabbed the first aid kit and went outside, standing in front of the man while holding my breath.
There was a long gash on his upper body that was bleeding, and blood trickled from his legs too. He was covered in minor injuries all over, like he had been through something terrible.
“This is more serious than I thought.”
I poured clean water on the wound to disinfect it, but I could see the bone through the split open gash.
“I need to find a doctor…”
“Food and weapons. I can give you anything.”
At that moment, the man I thought was unconscious muttered faintly.
“Are you conscious?”
“So I propose…an alliance…”
“Sorry, what did you say?”
I called out loudly, but after those words, the man fell silent again.
He couldn’t be dead, could he? My trembling fingers reached under his nose.
‘Phew. He’s still breathing.’
Still, I couldn’t feel relieved. His condition was so dire, it wouldn’t be strange if he stopped breathing at any moment.
At a loss, I pressed my hand against my forehead.
<Notice> Help!
Shall we call a doctor? (Service fee: 3,000 coins).
[Y] [N]
“This can’t be a scam, right?”
3,000 coins? Paying that would leave me broke.
But the man lying powerlessly was surrounded by a pool of blood.
His condition required an immediate trip to the emergency room.
“Check character information.”
<Character Information>
Name : Christide
Age : 23
Dimension : A dimension yet to be entered.
Role : Final Boss
Affinity : ♡♡♡♡♡
He was the final boss of some unknown dimension, no less.
‘Should I really save him?’
I hesitated. What if the hero of that dimension resents me for recklessly saving their enemy?
Maybe this was the price he paid for his misdeeds.
‘Still…’
I didn’t want to witness someone dying right before my eyes.
To be more honest, I’d rather save him and send him off than have to dispose of a corpse. I could just get the money from him after saving his life.
‘If he’s the mighty final boss, he should at least have that much money.’
I’ve seen broke protagonists, but never a broke final boss.
In the end, I chose Y.
<Notice> 3,000 coins will be deducted.
Where the notice window disappeared, a magic circle appeared, and a woman in a white coat materialized.
“Yawn…”
Her disheveled hair suggested she was summoned from sleeping. The woman wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth and looked at me with dazed eyes.
Then in an instant, her eyes lit up.
“Oh my, aren’t you just the prettiest princess?”
“P-Princess?”
“Don’t worry, darling. This big sis will fix everything!”
“Uh… thank you?”
Being called a princess was a first for me, so I was flustered.
But I didn’t have time to stay flustered.
“What’s our princess’s name? I’m so blessed to be summoned by such a beauty!”
“It’s Sena…”
“Sena, how lovely. You can call me Doctor Unnie.”
The self-proclaimed Doctor Unnie shook my hand enthusiastically.
“Heheh. I’ll never wash this hand again…”
“But you’re a doctor. You have to.”
“Then will you hold my hand again next time?”
“Ah, yes…”
Put off by her forwardness, I answered meekly and took a step back.
“Huhu. How about a nice cup of coffee first?”
“Sorry, but that man over there is dying.”
“Don’t worry! As long as he’s breathing, I can save him… Oh my! This one’s a beauty too? That dazzling silver hair! I wonder how gorgeous those eyes must be?”
Doctor Unnie sat down in front of the man and rummaged through her bag.
Can I really trust this person? I hope my life savings wasn’t wasted on this.
“Wait, can I check this person’s info too?”
As I muttered, the familiar notice window popped up.
<Character Information>
Name : Choi Mal-sook
Age : 47
Dimension : A dimension yet to be entered.
Role : Protagonist
Affinity : ❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎
Seeing her name, I understood why she insisted I call her Doctor Unnie.
‘We just met today, but her affinity is maxed out.’
She must really have a thing for pretty faces.
“I have to save him. I must save him. It would be a loss for the world if such a beauty perished!”
She kept making a fuss throughout the examination.
“……”
I stared at her, feeling skeptical, and Doctor Unnie, noticing my gaze, turned her head.
“What? Worried? I have lots of experience. There’s no disease I can’t cure.”
“I see. Please take good care of the patient.”
“I’m unlicensed though!”
“Excuse me!”
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⋆｡‧˚ʚ Translator Note ɞ˚‧｡⋆
The Carol combines the robust flavors of brandy with the sweet and slightly bitter notes of vermouth, creating a balanced and harmonious drink. The cherry garnish adds a touch of sweetness and a classic finish. This cocktail is dedicated to the enduring friendship it symbolizes, where each component retains its distinct character while blending seamlessly together.
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Thank you for reading! ♡
