Chapter 62
The next day, I was astonishingly healthy again. My body felt so refreshed that instead of lounging in bed, I could spring right up.
Unsurprisingly, Shu was gone. He likely left as soon as I passed out.
‘But did he really come in person? Or was it just a dream?’
Dreaming about Shu seems random, but his visit itself was unexpected to begin with.
Puzzled, I furrowed my brow and headed downstairs, where an ornate medicine bottle sat on the bar counter.
<Drink it!>
There was even a note written in cute handwriting.
It seemed like Shu really did come by himself.
I opened the cap and quickly drank the medicine.
“Ugh, it’s awful….”
The taste was so horrible that it made me nauseous. I hurriedly put a piece of chocolate in my mouth.
‘Johan gave me this medicine and also gave me candy.’
Shu lacked that consideration.
But it was somewhat surprising. Shu actually came to help me.
‘Ah, maybe I pay him a portion of the coins I earn?’
Could it be that the coins I pay for subscriptions go into someone else’s pocket?
“Just what currency are these ‘coins’ anyway?”
I’ve been through countless dimensions and seen all kinds of money, but never ‘coins’ used as currency.
I might not have discovered that place yet, but….
“Anyway, I feel refreshed.”
Should I start the day with an invigorating sand bath?
I hummed a tune as I buried my body in the desert sands, heated by the sweltering warmth.
Time passed into the afternoon.
As business hours began, customers started trickling into the Milky Way Lounge one by one.
‘The number of customers who waited for the opening hours and came immediately has increased.’
It gets too cold for desert sightseeing later, after all.
The regulars have also steadily brought along friends and acquaintances. Today, there were familiar faces mixed with unfamiliar ones.
One of the unfamiliar faces, looking rather tense, approached me.
“Excuse me, I’d like a non-alcoholic cocktail please. I can’t drink due to health issues.”
“Sure, what flavor would you prefer? Tart, sweet, refreshing…or maybe something warm?”
I smiled as I deflected the question, causing the customer to tilt their head in puzzlement.
“Huh. Warm ones too?”
“Yes. There’s ‘Bangcho’ made by simmering red wine with lots of apples, lemons, cinnamon and spices. The heat makes the alcohol evaporate, so it’s non-alcoholic.”
“Ahh, I see. Then I’ll have Bangcho….”
Just as the customer was about to order after my explanation, a man rudely butted in, slapping the customer’s shoulder.
“Hey, Owner! Serve me the most unusual drink here.”
“Oww…”
“Are you okay?”
As I went to check on the shoved customer, the intruding man narrowed his eyes at me.
“You ignoring me now?”
“Please wait a moment. This customer was about to order first.”
“What? But I came in here first!”
The man shouted arrogantly.
He did arrive at the bar well before the other customer, admittedly.
However.
“While you visited first, this customer was about to place their order before you…”
“You just admitted it, didn’t you? That I came first!”
The man shouted unreasonably.
Just because he’s loud doesn’t make him right. This type is common but troublesome to deal with.
“Ah, so noisy…”
“Why do people like that always show up?”
It also disturbed the other customers who were enjoying their cocktails.
It is better to resolve this quickly before it escalates further and disrupts everyone’s experience.
Most importantly, I had to let it go quietly. Otherwise…
“The important thing is the order of who was about to place their order…”
“What’s with that guy?”
An arrogant voice cut me off, drawing everyone’s attention.
There stood Sylvie, her cold, sharp gaze sweeping over us as she slowly rose from her seat where she had been quietly sipping her drink.
I knew something like this would happen if I didn’t handle it carefully.
“Who’re you to butt in?”
The man snapped his head around, leering up and down as Sylvie entered his view before licking his lips with a sneer.
“Whoo… what a beauty. Hey, wanna keep me company while I wait? Let me hold that pretty hand of yours?”
“Sure, I don’t mind.”
Sylvie readily agreed before continuing,
“Why don’t we make it an arm wrestling match while we’re at it? If you win, drinks are on me.”
“Heh. And if the lady wins?”
“Well, there’s no need for me to bet anything, is there?”
The man rolled up his sleeves, showing off his muscular arms.
“Hurry up and give me your hand.”
“You must really want me to buy you a drink, huh?”
As the man extended his arm, an arm wrestling match began on the bar counter.
“Are those two going at it? Is this going to turn into a fight?”
“Shh. Keep it down.”
The curious customers at the bar hushed their voices, their eyes fixated on the scene.
At that moment, Sylvie curled one corner of her lips upwards.
Crunch.
A sickening snap echoed loudly, like bones breaking.
“Aaaargh!”
Winning or losing was no longer important, as the man screamed in agony, his fingers gruesomely twisted.
“Ah, my bad. Let me fix that up for you.”
Sylvie smiled slyly as she fiddled with the man’s hand. While the fingers were put back in place, they were left mangled.
The man, his face drained of color, stared at Sylvie in disbelief. Sylvie then tilted her head and grinned wickedly.
“What are you looking at? Want to go another round?”
“N-no, thank you!”
Hiccuping with sheer terror, the trembling man fled without looking back.
<Notice> Troublemaker has been driven out!
The reputation of the cocktail bar ‘Milky Way Lounge’ increases by 50. (Total: 6,750)
The customers who had witnessed the scene gaped at Sylvie in astonishment.
Sylvie, however, paid them no mind and elegantly returned to her seat, finishing her drink.
I figured this would happen. I approached Sylvie with a sigh.
“Sylvie Unnie, I asked you not to physically drive them out, remember?”
“Sorry. I’ll use magic next time…”
“Couldn’t we find a more peaceful way?”
“I’ll think about it.”
I’m pretty sure she gave me the same answer last time.
“Still, ever since Sylvie Unnie started coming here, we’ve had way fewer troublesome customers.”
In a way, she was like a totem that warded off annoying people.
Sylvie had paid a hefty 3,000 coins upfront to secure her favorite spot and frequented the Milky Way Lounge like it was her own home.
Maybe that’s why female customers felt safer and started visiting more often.
‘She’s also a totem that attracts customers.’
In short, she was a remarkable presence.
Female customers who used to come to see the handsome part-time worker stopped coming after Chris left, but thanks to Sylvie, we were able to keep business going.
“Oh, right. The Bangcho!”
I was so distracted by the arm-wrestling that I nearly forgot the order.
The customer looked dazed from the match, but I had to stay focused as the bartender.
‘In a heat-proof glass with a handle, since it’s hot.’
As I poured the Bangcho, the rich aroma of spices filled the air.
‘Nice….’
Enjoying the scent, I garnished the drink with a slice of fresh citron, a long cinnamon stick, and a star anise.
“Sorry for the wait. Here’s your Bangcho.”
Perfect for cold weather or when you’re feeling chilly.
‘It’s like a Western herbal tonic.’
I added a touch of honey while heating it up to bring out the sweetness, so it’s not too heavy.
“Sena, I’m ready for my next drink.”
Sylvie swirled her empty glass lightly.
“Sure. Oh! How about a tea cocktail today? I prepared some since you said you liked tea last time.”
“Aw, how lovely. You remember what I like?”
Sylvie smiled brightly and playfully poked my cheek with her finger.
‘Where did the fierce woman who scared away that customer go?’
Oh well, that’s just part of our Sylvie unnie’s charm!
‘Hehe. I infused some chamomile into the gin for today!’
Feeling excited, I took out the bottle I had prepared.
Infusing—the process of extracting the aroma or flavor of a specific ingredient into a distilled spirit.
Just like steeping tea leaves in hot water to make tea, you can steep tea in spirits.
Gin infused with the fragrant aroma of chamomile had an irresistible charm that captivated with its scent.
🥂
⋆｡‧˚ʚ Translator Note ɞ˚‧｡⋆
Bangcho is also known as “Vin Chaud” in French, “Glühwein” in German, or “Mulled Wine” in English.
In this case, “Bangcho” is made by simmering red wine with apples, lemons, cinnamon, and other spices. The process of heating the mixture causes the alcohol to evaporate, resulting in a non-alcoholic version of mulled wine. This drink is typically enjoyed warm and is known for its comforting and aromatic qualities, making it a popular choice during cold weather or festive seasons.
🥂
Thank you for reading! ♡
