The Multidimensional Cocktail Bar of the Other World

Chapter 66

 

“If you don’t know, you should ask instead of judging rashly.”

More surprising than the fact that my wonderful Unnie was a witch, was realizing the supposedly fearsome witch was actually quite eccentric.

Just a brief conversation made it clear, so why did Sylvie get labeled as a wicked witch?

“Could it be that you were blamed for another witch’s misdeeds?”

If that’s the case, it would make sense. People tend to view things through tinted lenses once someone has a record.

“Witches don’t interfere with each other. We strictly respect our domains.”

Then, it must be an issue within the fairy tale dimensions under Sylvie’s domain.

“By any chance, did you wrong someone who now bears a grudge?”

“Is there anyone who goes through life without wronging someone?”

“Can’t you think of anything specific?”

“I don’t know. Oh!”

Sylvie suddenly clapped her hands as if she had just remembered something.

“There was this one time I turned all the strawberries at a farm into rubies.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Why not? I thought they’d look beautiful with the green stems adorned with rubies. Do you think the farmer resented me for losing all his lovingly grown strawberries?”

Sylvie asked with a serious expression. This Unnie may lack more common sense than I thought.

“No, I’m sure the farmer would have rejoiced like they hit the jackpot.”

I envied that faceless farmer.

‘I have to work to the bone just to earn money, while someone else has strawberries turning into gems by doing nothing.’

At the same time, I suspected that there might be someone’s intentional interference behind the false accusations.

If one knows Sylvie is somewhat eccentric despite her fearsome witch reputation, she wouldn’t seem so scary.

‘But who could it be?’

The culprit’s identity eluded me. Sylvie herself seemed clueless too.

“Sylvie Unnie, everything you said earlier…was it all true?”

At my question, Sylvie let out a hollow chuckle as if utterly deflated.

“Why? You don’t believe me either…”

“Then I’ll help clear your name.”

That should resolve the bad rumors swirling around Mirinai Lounge.

Sylvie, unfairly blamed and criticized, would also feel better.

Suddenly, I had a thought. Maybe the desolation of Sylvie’s castle was due to such misunderstandings.

Sylvie, who brought gifts every time she visited because we had gotten closer. Sylvie, who made a gingerbread house for hungry children. Sylvie, who created a stage for a princess longing for true love… She wouldn’t have chosen to be alone out of dislike for people.

Sylvie moved her lips hesitantly before asking.

“Why? Why would you go that far?”

“Because I like you, Unnie.”

“You…”

Sylvie gazed at me, unable to tear her eyes away with a touched expression.

Ding!

 

<Notice> Quest Available!

You have discovered the circumstances of a witch wrongly blamed due to misunderstandings.

Help Sylvie clear her name.

Reward: 3,500 coins, 1,000 reputation, removal of nasty rumors about Milky Way Lounge

Will you accept the quest?

[Y]                                   [N]

 

The mention of 3,500 coins made my eyes light up.

‘Yes, this is it!’

It was as if I could hear coins jingling in my ears.

The overwhelming coin reward fueled my motivation.

‘If I complete this quest, I’ll take a vacation!’

With a resolute expression, I vowed to protect the coins… no, Sylvie Unnie.

🫧

Was it the impact of the rumors? Not a single customer visited after Sylvie left.

No matter. I should indulge in the leisure I hadn’t been able to enjoy for a while.

“……”

But why did I feel conflicted despite expecting this situation?

I poured myself a cherry wine to settle my nerves. Drinking one or two glasses would make time pass quickly.

Just as I finished two glasses, the door opened.

‘I wonder who’s here?’

Though the rumors may not have spread to every dimension, since my customers rarely overlapped.

I nonchalantly turned my head towards the door.

“Johan?”

As our eyes met, Johan greeted me with a nod. The tension that had crept up to my throat instantly dissipated at the sight of him.

Perhaps I was more affected by the rumors than I thought.

Johan, seated at the bar counter, glanced around.

“It’s quiet today.”

“Ah, there’ve been quite a few happenings…”

I slumped against the wall in a melancholic mood, then quickly straightened up.

No matter how close we’d become, Johan was still a customer. I shouldn’t be too casual in front of a customer.

“Have a seat here.”

Johan patted the seat next to him as he spoke.

“That’s for customers.”

“But it’s just the two of us, isn’t it?”

He had a point. After a brief hesitation, I grabbed the chocolate cup and cherry wine I had prepared earlier and sat beside Johan.

We usually faced each other across the bar counter, so sitting side-by-side felt strangely unfamiliar.

“Then let’s share some cherry wine today.”

I poured two servings of cherry wine into the chocolate cups. We toasted with the tiny chocolate cups, smaller than soju glasses, and downed them in one shot. The chocolate cups crunched deliciously as we bit into them.

Doing this made it feel like we were friends rather than a bartender and customer.

“Sometimes, this kind of drink is nice. Though, of course, the cocktails you make are still the best, Sena.”

“I’m glad you think so highly of them.”

I lightly bantered with Johan’s remark and broached the main topic, as if I had something to tell him.

“I think I’ll be taking a break for about three or four days.”

“Is something the matter?”

Johan asked as he poured cherry wine into a new chocolate cup for me.

“Something came up that I need to resolve. Have you ever had an experience like this?”

“What kind of experience?”

“Meeting someone that makes the world feel turned upside down the moment your eyes meet.”

Johan stroked his chin before answering a beat later.

“That sure sounds a lot like falling in love.”

“Huh? No, it’s not like that. It’s more like cocktail ideas suddenly gushing out…Um, like I met my muse?”

I quickly added as if making an excuse.

“Isn’t it a bit funny for a bartender who isn’t an artist to talk about a muse?”

“Well, how should I put it? It doesn’t seem all that different.”

Really?

As I silently studied Johan, sensing my explanation was lacking, he opened his mouth again.

“A bartender combines liquors and ingredients to create a cocktail, an art piece capturing aroma, appearance and taste.”

“You make it sound quite inspirational when you put it like that, hehe.”

I chuckled sheepishly while scratching my nape.

“Although it’s a pity I’m not the one who inspires you.”

“But you’ve done more than that for me.”

You saved me, financially.

If Johan hadn’t provided a huge sum of coins on his first visit, I might not even be here now.

Staring intently at me, Johan asked:

“Out of personal curiosity, who is it? This person.”

“You wouldn’t know them. A wonderful witch named Sylvie.”

“A witch?”

His slightly hardened blue eyes widened in surprise.

Was his expression only cute to me because I was a bit tipsy?

“Yes. How should I explain it? She has special powers…”

“Is she a woman?”

Johan abruptly changed the subject as I fumbled with my explanation.

“Yes! That Unnie is really beautiful. She has a bewitching, haughty aura, but is unexpectedly cute too. Like crispy on the outside, soft on the inside.”

“Crispy…outside?”

“Ah, it means having a crunchy exterior but a moist interior. Um, maybe I should say she seems dangerous on the outside but has a soft core…”

I stumbled through my explanation. It was harder than expected to interpret the slang phrase I casually used.

“I see. I think I understand what kind of person she is.”

“Anyway, that Unnie has been tragically misunderstood as a villain. On top of that, her boyfriend even cheated on her, so she’s really devastated.”

“I see.”

Since Johan was listening attentively, I ended up oversharing unnecessary details.

“She’s such a wonderful Unnie that anyone would fall for her, so I don’t know why that guy cheated. Ah, I’m sure you’d find her very pretty too, Johan?”

I wondered what would happen if Johan met Sylvie.

‘They would make a great pair standing side-by-side.’

If Sylvie met an impressive man like Johan, wouldn’t she realize how inferior Cedric is and lose interest in him? If I introduced Sylvie to Johan…

It was just a hypothetical thought, yet it stirred an indiscernible feeling within me.

“Who knows?”

Johan let out a low chuckle and stroked his chin.

“I do have rather high standards.”

He muttered while staring straight at me intently. A faint smile played on his lips—an expression no different from usual, yet his gaze felt strangely heated.

🥂

Thank you for reading! ♡