Chapter 39
“You’re joking. I’m not for sale.”
As Rubiana tugged on Chris’ clothes, persistently demanding to buy him, the Regent wore an awkward expression.
“You said you’d do anything!”
Rubiana insisted, stomping her feet.
“Well, you see… He’s not for sale. You can’t buy him. He’s not an object.”
The Regent struggled to deter Rubiana, who was pleading to buy Chris.
‘Parenting really isn’t an easy task.’
It’s one mountain after another, so to speak.
These father and daughter will likely face many large and small issues ahead.
But their love for each other will help them overcome whatever comes their way.
Rubiana’s 7th birthday party came to a successful close.
Before leaving, the Patriot pressed a gold coin into my hand.
<Notice> You have received 1,000 coins!
“You worked hard.”
“I love you, Father.”
“You don’t need to say that.”
As the warm atmosphere drew to a close, Chris, standing by the entrance, blurted out.
“Treat her well when you’re by her side. That kid really likes you.”
“Of course. Rubiana will be the happiest child in the world.”
The gruff regent hugged Rubiana and nuzzled her cheek.
“Isn’t that right, my princess?”
“Ow! Dad’s beard is scratchy!”
Watching the squirming Rubiana made me naturally smile.
I waved energetically at the departing father and daughter with a bright smile.
🫧
After they left, the once lively cocktail bar fell quiet.
“Cleaning’s done.”
While I was lost in thought, Chris finished tidying up. His perfect cleaning skills, leaving no trace behind, had to be acknowledged.
“Thanks for the hard work. Ah, I’ll take out the trash.”
I was still riding high from earning so many coins.
I did a proper job. It may not have been a full-fledged cocktail party, but it was certainly a party of sorts.
“What’s this? You’re helping clean up instead of lazing around?”
When I returned from taking out the trash, Chris looked at me in disbelief.
“If you put it like that, it makes me sound like I slack off all the time.”
“You do become one with the floor all the time.”
“Not all the time!”
I retorted in a crawling voice, having some sense of shame. Chris snickered and turned his back to me.
“Well, get some rest. Good night.”
“Hey.”
After a moment’s thought, I called out to Chris.
“Let me treat you to a drink. What do you say?”
It was a sort of post-work celebration.
While I couldn’t really afford a company dinner, I could at least make him a delicious cocktail. Chris worked hard too, after all.
“Sure.”
Chris responded as he sat down at the bar.
“Since it’s a special occasion, how about something strong?”
“If I get drunk, I can just sleep on the floor like someone I know. There are walls and a ceiling, so what’s the problem?”
His elegant appearance contrasted with his rough way of speaking. Chris rested his chin and stared at me intently.
“It’s really strong. It has absinthe in it.”
“Is it that strong?”
“Yes. It’s notorious enough to be called the ‘Green Fairy’ because it can cause hallucinations.”
Hearing my words, Chris seemed interested in the absinthe, picking up the bottle and examining it from different angles.
“With this drink, I could knock a few guys out.”
Seeing Chris’s eyes light up, I realized I needed to correct his misunderstanding.
“Ahem, it used to be like that in the past, but nowadays, they use verified herbal mixtures, so it’s safe.”
I opened the absinthe and tilted the bottle slightly towards Chris so he could catch a whiff.
“It has a strong herbal scent, making it a very polarizing drink.”
“It’s just an extremely potent drink with an overpowering herbal aroma that sharply divides people’s preferences.”
“The scent is certainly unique. Well, if I pass out, just cover me with a blanket.”
“I’ll put a pillow under your head too.”
I smiled as I filled the shaker with ice and added absinthe, whiskey, and gin in turn. In the silent cocktail bar, the sound of ice clinking was clear and crisp.
‘Strain out the ice with a strainer.’
As I poured it into a cocktail glass, a beautiful amber liquid glistened.
“The Earthquake. It’s called that because it’s so potent that it makes you stagger like an earthquake hit.”
“Let’s see how formidable this thing is.”
Without hesitation, Chris downed the Earthquake in one gulp.
His torso swayed instantly after draining the glass.
“Ugh! This stuff makes your tongue feel like it’s coated in alcohol. I just felt dizzy for a second.”
“That’s why I warned you it’s strong.”
“The boss is really going after the part-timer…”
Chris collapsed forward onto the bar counter. His breathing became ragged.
“There’s a strange bitter taste in my mouth, like medicine?”
“That’s because herbal spirits are used. Your tongue must be more sensitive than it looks? Are you perhaps a chef?”
“No.”
Chris denied it flatly and chuckled as if it was absurd.
“Well then, what kind of person is Chris? You never really talk about yourself.”
“Why are you curious about what kind of person I am?”
“Just wondering.”
We’ve gotten friendlier now, so I thought I could get to know him a bit.
As I sipped the Earthquake, I observed Chris’s slender outstretched fingers. You can tell what kind of person someone is by their hands.
Chris’s hands were sturdy yet beautiful, like a sculpture meticulously crafted to match the human ideal of beauty.
The only flaw was the various small scars scattered here and there.
“Looking at your hands, it seems you’ve been through a lot, but your movements have an unexpectedly graceful air, like a nobleman.”
“What’s this? Are you trying to guess who I am?”
“Should I take a guess?”
Perhaps it was the alcohol speaking, but I found myself being quite talkative.
“Go ahead and guess. If you’re right, I’ll tell you.”
“Um, well…”
Not knowing what dimension Chris was from made it difficult to speculate. So I decided to start with a lighthearted guess.
“Ah, the way you so casually pinned me against the wall earlier was quite skillful. Are you perhaps an assassin?”
“No.”
“You seemed unexpectedly soft toward kids. Maybe a teacher?”
“No way.”
Chris chuckled. The idea of him being a teacher did seem far-fetched.
“Do you perhaps use magic or something?”
“You think there’s something like a magician even though I’m an adult?”
Hmm, it seems Chris is from a dimension without magic.
“Are you perhaps a priest from a temple?”
Thinking a priest was going too far, I shook my head as I spoke, but Chris chuckled.
“Why? Do I look holy to you? Does looking at me fill you with religious devotion?”
“Ah, never mind. Judging from your irreverent way of speaking, you definitely aren’t.”
“You know, I was wondering why you still had energy left even after closing up shop. Turns out you were just trying to pick a fight.”
As we bantered back and forth, our exchange quickened.
“Am I the only one acting differently? You’ve gotten quite relaxed too, Chris.”
“What are you talking about?”
Chris snorted derisively.
‘The fierce person who held a knife to my neck seems to be gone.’
While Chris was still gruff and sensitive, at least he had let his guard down around me.
“Another drink?”
“Go ahead and pour it.”
We continued our conversation over more drinks, until late into the night.
🫧
“Cold…”
Shivering from the chill in the air, I stretched while my body trembled.
“I can’t believe I forgot to put more fuel in the furnace before bed.”
I put on a thick coat and went downstairs.
But it was strangely quiet. There was just a disheveled blanket, and Chris was nowhere to be seen.
“Where did he go?”
Worried that he might have collapsed somewhere, I checked every nook and cranny outside, but he was nowhere to be found.
Instead, the dagger I had given him was lying discarded in the forest, as if abandoned.
Picking up the dagger, I returned to the store and spent time in a daze. Eventually reaching a conclusion.
“Looks like he found a way back.”
He must have found a way to return home, so why would he hesitate? Judging by how he left without tidying the blanket, he must have been in a hurry.
“Typical final boss. My 3,000 coins…..”
Running off without paying back.
I tidied up the abandoned blankets. Not a trace of warmth remained in it.
“Without even telling me…”
Though I kept grumbling, somehow, a part of me felt a sense of disappointment and emptiness.
Even if you’re leaving, you should at least say goodbye.
He could have at least taken a bottle of whiskey before going. Did he think I wouldn’t let him leave before paying me back?
‘I guess I really didn’t like being left alone in this strange place.’
With those thoughts, I lay down in the hammock.
Feeling too lazy to do anything, I even postponed my occasional visits to the “Knights of the Round” dimension and just lay there, hoping time would pass.
Eventually, the sun rose high in the sky.
“Hey, Nuna?”
Hearing a familiar voice, I sat up to see Hansel and Gretel waving at me.
Though my motivation was still at rock bottom, their presence brought a smile to my face.
“Long time no see. How have you been?”
“We’re good!”
“Not bad.”
Gretel replied in her typical curt manner, contrasting with Hansel’s cheerful demeanor.
“Come inside. Since you’re here, I’ll prepare some cocktails for you.”
The timing was perfect, as I had cocktails ready that the kids would likely enjoy.
I presented Hansel and Gretel with a fizzy Fruit Punch with bubbles on top.
Sipping their non-alcoholic cocktails, they began sharing their tales.
“A lot has happened recently. We met this really scary witch and…”
Hansel animatedly recounted their exciting adventure of outwitting the wicked witch and stealing her treasure trove before escaping.
Gretel then quietly filled in the aftermath details in her typical understated way.
“By the way, you were right, Unnie. We shouldn’t have forgiven our parents so easily.”
“What happened?”
“Just in case, we only took one treasure, but they just took the treasure and abandoned us again. Can’t trust anyone in this world.”
“That’s too much.”
Though Gretel seemed unfazed, as if she wasn’t hurt, her nonchalant attitude only fueled my anger.
Despite knowing Hansel and Gretel’s parents were terrible people, I was speechless.
Isn’t that going too far? To such young children!
However, I couldn’t just feel pity for them, as their appearances had greatly improved.
Clearly, that wasn’t the end of their circumstances.
“And then?”
“So we figured there would be plenty more treasure anyway. We’ve adopted an adult and are raising them now.”
Huh?
🥂
⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊ Translator Note ₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆
The Earthquake cocktail, also known as “Tremblement de Terre” in French, is a classic drink believed to have been created by the famous French painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. This potent cocktail is known for its simplicity and strength.
Some variations might slightly alter the ratio or presentation, but the essential combination of absinthe and cognac remains the same. Given the strong nature of both ingredients, this cocktail is not for the faint-hearted and should be sipped slowly.
🥂
Thank you for reading! ♡
