Chapter 29
“Okay, the treatment is over.”
Chris dusted off his hands and stood up. I lifted my leg and looked at the bandaged ankle.
It seemed like I had sprained a ligament when I twisted my ankle due to the giant insect.
As soon as the conversation subtly ended and I complained about the pain, Chris splinted my ankle and wrapped it with a cloth.
‘Not to mention he also gave me a cold compress.’
My ankle kept swelling and hurting, so I was contemplating calling Doctor Unni, but this was fortunate.
“Don’t wander around needlessly today. Rest.”
“Wow, I’ve been waiting to hear those words.”
“How absurd. You spend most of the time lying on the hammock anyway.”
Christ gave me a cold look as he spoke.
In any case, due to the injury, I was forced to take the day off today.
When I took out my headset, Christ stared at me intently.
“You always wear that thing on your head. What is it?”
“Curious? Want to try it?”
I handed the headset to him, and he nonchalantly put it on. Then he frowned.
“If you wear this, you wouldn’t even notice an enemy attack.”
“But it feels great to be completely isolated from the world.”
“That’s unnecessary.”
Chris took off the headset and returned it to me.
“Plus, why is it playing love songs?”
“Don’t criticize other people’s music tastes.”
I grumbled as I glanced at the side of Chris’ face. He seemed more relaxed than before but still obsessive.
“Anyway, I’m leaving. I need to find the door I came through.”
Chris curtly replied and left. Whenever he had a chance, he always wandered around searching for doors. But he failed every time, it seemed.
Left alone, I curled up on the hammock and pondered the store’s name.
‘What should I choose? Not too difficult, but with some meaning…’
Lost in thought, a shadow loomed over me. Had Chris returned so soon? As I casually turned my upper body, I saw an unexpected face.
“Huh?”
Neatly groomed raven-black hair and calm blue eyes like the sea.
“Johan?”
“Sorry for startling you. I actually called out a few times.”
“Ah! I was listening to music…my apologies.”
“No, it’s me who should apologize for disturbing you while you were resting.”
I couldn’t just send Johan away on my day off.
I hurriedly got off the hammock. Today, Johan was quite well-dressed. The dark navy coat, which matched his blue eyes, looked sophisticated.
Plus, without any weapons, he gave off more of a ‘nobleman’ vibe than a ‘knight’ today.
But it seemed Johan was also eyeing my casual attire.
“Your clothes are different from usual.”
“Well, it’s my day off today.”
“Ah, I see.”
Instead of my bartender outfit, I was in jeans and a hoodie, with my hair casually tied up.
‘I didn’t want to be seen like this.’
I hastily tried to neaten my disheveled hair.
It wasn’t suitable attire for greeting customers, but…..
“Well, since you’re here, how about a drink?”
“That won’t be necessary. It’s a rare day off, I shouldn’t impose.”
“No way, how can I just send a regular away? Come over here…ugh.”
Conveniently at that moment, a twinge of pain shot through my foot, making me wince.
“Are you alright?”
“It’s nothing. I just had a run-in with a monster and twisted my ankle.”
“You encountered a monster?”
Knowing the danger of monsters, Johan’s expression turned grave.
“Do you have a weapon?”
“Well, not exactly a weapon, but I do have a self-defense broom.”
Johan took out a dagger from his pocket and placed it in my hand.
Ah, so he was just concealing his weapon, I see.
“I hope you won’t need to use it.”
“This is…”
“If you require an escort, please call me. I’ll do my best to be there.”
“I appreciate the offer alone.”
“I mean it sincerely.”
I suddenly realized how mature Johan was compared to others. He was incredibly dependable and trustworthy.
Johan, who had been quietly watching me, stepped closer.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes? Sure.”
I casually replied, but the next moment, my body was swiftly lifted up. Blinking in confusion at the sudden action, I belatedly realized Johan was carrying me and felt flustered.
“Ah. Um…”
“Your ankle ligament may have ruptured. Did you apply a cold pack?”
“Yes. But I don’t think it’s that serious…”
“It’s quite swollen regardless. In any case, the ground around here is uneven, so allow me to carry you.”
“Oh, yes…”
The terrain was certainly rugged, fitting for a forest. I obediently let Johan carry me to the cocktail bar.
What had initially been a strange musk scent had now become familiar.
Yeah. Johan was no longer just a customer. He was a regular.
“Here we are.”
Upon entering the bar, Johan gently set me down.
“So, um. What would you like to drink today?”
“Isn’t it your role to recommend something for me to try, Sena? There’s fun in the anticipation of not knowing what I’ll be having.”
“In that case…”
I suddenly recalled when Johan first visited and how I had chased away unwanted company with a fire show.
‘He seemed to quite enjoy that too.’
This time, why not make a cocktail featuring fire as the main element?
With the menu decided, I just needed to prepare it. Soon I presented the finished glass to Johan, but well…
“You want me… to drink this?”
Johan’s eyes widened as he stared at the glass I offered.
To be fair, it was an odd sight—a small shot glass with a three layered colors, and a bluish flame flickered atop the glass.
“Just use this straw and take it all in one go.”
“Um…”
“Trust me and do it quickly!”
Urged on, Johan squeezed his eyes shut and slurped up the cocktail through the straw in one breath.
As his eyes opened again, his sapphire-blue irises sparkled even more vividly.
“Surprisingly, it’s not hot. What kind of magic did you… Ugh.”
Johan, who had been casually handling the glass, quickly pulled his hand away.
“Hehe. The glass is hot though?”
“I was startled. At this temperature, the drink itself should have been hot too. How did you do that?”
“That’s a trade secret.”
I playfully squinted my eyes at him.
The B-52, a liqueur-based cocktail, is characterized by its layered appearance.
One layer of jet-black coffee liqueur.
One layer of pale brown cream liqueur made from whiskey, cream, and chocolate.
Finally, a layer distilled from orange peels.
Carefully layered and then set aflame to finish.
“It starts sweet but the alcohol really kicks in at the end. Intense. Both the sweetness and bitterness.”
After calmly evaluating the B-52, Johan looked up at me.
“What is the name of this cocktail?”
I had made the B-52 to serve Johan a flashy drink, but truthfully, I didn’t particularly like this cocktail.
I didn’t dislike it, but there was something about it that made me feel uneasy.
The problem was its name—B-52.
‘Named after the bomber plane.’
The taste is strong enough to live up to its name, but I found it unsettling to name a drink after a weapon used in war.
“It has an original name, but I don’t really like it. Why don’t you give it a nickname, Johan?”
“A nickname…”
Johan stroked his chin, seeming contemplative.
“I tasted coffee, orange, and chocolate.”
“Yes, those flavors.”
“Then, Coffee Orange Chocolate.”
Johan said with a serious expression.
Is he serious?
He’s joking, right?
…He looks serious.
Hmm. I tried to maintain my poker face. Johan’s naming sense was worse than expected.
Still, it was straightforward and easy to understand, so it wasn’t too bad.
“Alright. Coffee Orange Chocolate. This cocktail is for you, Johan.”
“I’m honored.”
As I made a Hendrick’s Tonic for Johan’s second drink, I continued the conversation.
“Since it’s a day off, this one’s on the house.”
“Is that so?”
Johan casually replied as he finished the cocktail. Then he reached into his pocket.
“Consider this a gift then.”
He placed some coins on the bar counter.
<Notice> You received 500 coins!
<Notice> The reputation of the ‘I don’t know. Stuff like that’ cocktail bar has increased by 300. (Total 4,250)
Currently, it’s at the level of ‘A place worth recommending to others without embarrassment.’
Startled, I almost dropped the tonic water I was mixing with cucumber-infused gin, but then Johan suddenly smiled.
“Indeed.”
“Hm?”
“You have the prettiest smile at times like this.”
“Saying that makes me sound like I’m obsessed with money.”
Johan suppressed his smile and composed himself.
“I apologize if I offended you.”
“Oh no, it’s fine.”
Did I really look that delighted every time I received money?
I should work on managing my image better. I’m not actually money-obsessed.
‘If I was, would I have become a bartender?’
The only reason I became a money-grubbing survivalist was because of that damned system.
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⋆｡‧˚ʚ Translator Note ɞ˚‧｡⋆
The B-52 is a popular layered cocktail typically served as a shot. It consists of three ingredients that are carefully layered to create a visually appealing drink. The key to a perfect B-52 is to pour the ingredients slowly and carefully to create distinct layers. It’s a visually striking shot with a rich, sweet flavor that combines coffee, cream, and orange liqueur.
The exact origin of the cocktail’s name is somewhat debated, but there are a few theories:
- One popular theory is that the cocktail was named after the B-52 bomber due to its powerful impact, much like the aircraft. The B-52 bomber was known for its impressive capabilities and long range, and the cocktail is known for its strong and rich flavors.
- Another theory suggests that the cocktail may have been named after the band “The B-52s,” who were popular around the time the cocktail gained fame. This theory is less substantiated but adds a fun twist to the possible origins.
- It’s also believed that the B-52 cocktail was created by a bartender named Peter Fich at the Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta, Canada, in the 1970s. He named many of his drinks after his favorite bands, albums, and songs, which might explain the name B-52.
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Thank you for reading! ♡
