Chapter 87
At those words, Medusa swallowed her breath. There was a brief silence.
“…It’s not vibrant. It’s like white paint has been mixed in.”
“I see.”
I carefully selected ingredients, making sure not to accidentally look back.
‘There’s a cocktail that matches that color perfectly.’
I shook the shaker with a clinking sound.
The ingredients inside are simple. Mint liqueur, cacao liqueur, and fresh cream.
After shaking the shaker sufficiently, I poured it into a glass.
I finished it by adding chocolate shavings as a garnish.
“The cocktail I’ll serve you is called ‘Grasshopper’.”
The pale mint-colored liquid shimmered beautifully.
I lowered my eyes, set down the cocktail, and turned back around.
“Yes. This is the color. It makes me miss my luscious hair.”
Medusa drank the Grasshopper with a resigned laugh.
“Sena, make one for me too.”
“Sure.”
I made another Grasshopper at Sylvie’s request.
Sylvie sipped the Grasshopper and let out a satisfied exclamation.
“It’s refreshing and sweet! The cream makes it smooth too. Nice.”
“Right? If I had to describe this cocktail in one phrase, it’s like mint chocolate ice cream.”
It’s not overwhelming, perfect for mint chocolate beginners, you could say.
“By the way, guest. Do the snakes drink anything?”
“No. These guys don’t eat or drink anything.”
“I see.”
I nodded, having wondered if I should prepare cocktails for the snakes too.
Though I couldn’t see directly as I had my back to Medusa, I could hear her sipping from the glass.
How much time has passed like that? Without any warning, Medusa suddenly spoke.
“Five hours.”
“Pardon?”
“The petrification wears off on its own after five hours.”
“Ah, that’s a relief!”
I’m relieved there’s a solution, and it’s even easy! Excited, I cheered at the wall.
“That should cover the cost of the cocktail.”
“Yes!”
I felt relieved thinking the commotion was settled.
Now I just need to figure out how to handle things when the guests return to normal, right?
Jingle!
“It’s been so long since I’ve been here. I’ve missed the cocktails…”
Gasp! Why are more guests coming at a time like this? Medusa reflexively turned her head, and the newly arrived guest turned to stone.
“I… I’m sorry. Being on the run, I acted without thinking.”
Medusa said, banging her head on the bar counter.
“No, it’s my fault for not putting up a ‘No Entry’ sign on the door.”
I tore off a sheet from a notebook and wrote a lengthy warning. Something to make anyone think twice about entering.
<WARNING. DANGER. NO ENTRY. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK. LIFE NOT GUARANTEED.>
This should keep everyone away, right? Who would risk their life for a cocktail?
This was the best I could do without means to forcibly close the door. I felt relieved after sticking the warning on the door, but…
Jingle.
“Boss! What’s the event today? Kyaa!”
“Life not guaranteed? What’s going on? What day is it…”
Why are even more people coming?!
A mass of surprised stone faces appeared in front of the door. As if they had lined up in order!
The problem is that each one of these is my customer.
Medusa banged her head on the bar counter again.
“S-sorry… I’ve lived like this my whole life…”
“Sena. Should we tie Medusa up?”
Sylvie’s suggestion was very reasonable. If we tie her up, she won’t make the situation worse.
But Medusa has been living on the run due to her curse. For someone who jumps at the slightest sound, that would be too cruel.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll try to block the door.”
First, I replaced the warning sign that was stimulating some customers’ curiosity.
<I want to be alone. Please leave.>
Now I just need to stack furniture in front of the door for defense. Who would enter after seeing that message? Indeed, no one opened the door while I was stacking furniture.
‘This should be ironclad defense!’
Just as I was about to shrug my shoulders in satisfaction, the door shook with a thud.
“W-wait!”
Before I could even be surprised, the stacked furniture tumbled down and the door burst open.
This terrifying strength, this development… it seems familiar, could it be?
“Sena. What on earth is going on?”
Sure enough, it was Johan. I frantically waved my hands and shouted.
“No! Close your eyes! You mustn’t look!”
Johan covered his eyes with both hands without question. What a relief. Just as I was sighing in relief, his fingers started to part.
“I-I said you can’t look! I can’t lose you too, Johan!”
What will happen to his dimension if Johan turns to stone for five hours? Monsters might suddenly flood in!
“Please go back!”
I blocked Johan’s path. But my height was far too inadequate to obstruct his view.
“What on earth is happening?”
“I’ll explain later, so today…”
“Calm down.”
“If you make eye contact with that person, you’ll turn to stone. So hurry!”
Johan lowered his eyes and scanned the surroundings. He must have grasped the situation by now.
“That woman… she’s the witch we saw before. Is this her doing?”
“What? No. What happened is…”
I calmly explained the current situation. Johan nodded and listened attentively to my story.
‘I never expected Johan to treat Sylvie Unnie like a dangerous person.’
Weren’t they on good terms?
“Fortunately, time will solve the petrification. But we can’t operate the bar today.”
“I’m glad it’s nothing serious. I opened the door despite the inconvenience, fearing there might be trouble.”
Johan’s words touched my heart. To think there’s someone who worries about me like this.
“Since it’s come to this, I’ll help you.”
Johan smiled at me and started restacking the furniture. He seemed quite skilled at it, making it look like a sturdy fortress wall.
Watching this, Sylvie giggled.
“My, does he think he’s some knight protecting Sena?”
We can’t have a fight breaking out in this already chaotic situation! I unconsciously grabbed Johan’s hand.
But was I worried for nothing? Johan retorted nonchalantly.
“Isn’t that right? Here, I am a knight protecting Sena.”
He even went a step further, interlocking his fingers with mine and asked me,
“Don’t you agree?”
“Ah… yes? You said it’s also your role to protect civilians in danger.”
“Yes. A true knight always has a lady to protect.”
While I would shrink with embarrassment if someone teased me, Johan responded without hesitation.
That maturity, that composure… I thought it was cool. Is this what chivalry is?
“This is awful, just awful.”
Even as Sylvie shook her head, my thoughts didn’t change.
Still, Johan probably doesn’t have immunity to petrification like Sylvie, so we need to be careful.
“Um, for safety… shall we go over there?”
I gently pulled his hand, leading Johan to the bar counter.
“So, what should we do?”
“Hmm, for now, let’s turn our backs and look at the display shelves. If you’re bored, you can look at the bottles.”
“I’m starting to recognize quite a few of these bottles now.”
It’s a shame, but there wasn’t much else to do. We could only wait.
I lowered my eyes and quickly checked the glasses, noticing that Medusa’s glass was almost empty.
‘Should I offer her another drink?’
At first, I was flustered, but as time passed, I felt sorry for Medusa.
I hoped that at least for this moment, she could enjoy some leisure. It’s not like anyone else would come anyway.
The door remained quiet with no signs of opening—
“La la la.”
Just then, someone came in humming a tune.
Huh? The furniture blocking the door was still standing like an iron fortress.
Ah, this isn’t the time for that!
“Excuse me, guest! Please close your eyes first. We’re not open today due to circumstances…”
“I’m not a guest though.”
“Shu?”
Has there ever been a day when I was this glad to see Shu? Forgetting all about my previous anger towards him, I clenched my fists and my eyes sparkled.
‘He must have come to solve the petrification problem, right?’
Yeah, yeah. At times like this, the system should step in a bit. I thought it just sent quests and dumped everything on me!
“….”
Excited by Shu’s appearance, I didn’t notice Johan glancing at me from the corner of his eye.
Shu boldly approached Medusa. Unfortunately, that’s as far as I could see with my own eyes.
But I could still hear. Judging by the continuing humming, it seemed Shu hadn’t turned to stone.
“This is perfect timing. Shu will solve this quickly.”
“…Who is that person?”
“Oh, he’s Stark. He’s kind of like an investor for Milky Way Lounge? That kind of person.”
Not knowing how to describe Shu, I just lumped him under ‘investor’.
“Investor?”
“Oh my.”
Just then, Sylvie let out a surprised voice. What could it be? What is Shu doing?
“Ouch!”
“What happened? Is the petrification solved?”
I asked urgently. Did Shu’s plan fail?
When no answer came, I was anxiously tapping my foot when Shu called out, “Noona..,” dragging out the end of the word.
“What, what? Say something.”
“A snake bit my hand. Sob…”
Why did you come here?
🥂
Thank you for reading! ♡
