Chapter 89
I knew I was the only one who could do it, but….
When I hesitated to step forward, Sylvie chuckled softly.
“Why, are you afraid you’ll turn to stone? It’s okay. Even if our Sena turned to stone, she’d be the cutest stone in the world.”
“I’m more scared of what you might try, Sylvie Unnie, than turning to stone.”
I remembered the face that said, “Let’s just smash it because we don’t know,”
I just hoped her words hadn’t reached those who had turned to stone. It would surely be traumatic.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility and protect Sena from the witch’s mischief.”
“It’s reassuring to hear you say that, Johan.”
I meant it sincerely. My tense feelings melted away, you could say.
Honestly, I wasn’t comfortable just handing over sunglasses and sending Medusa away.
So let’s do it. Even if I fail and turn to stone, so what? They say you return to normal after some time.
“If Noona doesn’t return to normal, I’ll polish you until you shine every day.”
“Please don’t make such assumptions, it’s making me anxious.”
Shu’s words made me tense up again slightly.
Ahem. I cleared my throat and addressed Medusa.
“Customer, have you put on the sunglasses?”
“Yes.”
I covered my eyes with both hands and turned around.
Now Medusa was in front of me. My hands covering my eyes were the last line of defense.
What would it feel like to turn to stone? It would surely be strange. Your body wouldn’t move. Your thoughts might stop altogether.
‘Uuhh.’
I took a deep breath and slowly removed my hands from my eyes. I opened my eyes wide and met Medusa’s gaze.
The pitch-black sunglasses didn’t reflect the eyes that must be behind them.
“Unnie. Am I turning to stone?”
“Huh? No.”
“How about now?”
“You’re still soft and squishy Sena. What a shame! Stone Sena would have been cute too.”
Sylvie giggled nonchalantly while Medusa was surprised and kept fiddling with her sunglasses.
“I can’t believe it. You met my eyes but didn’t turn to stone?”
“Phew, what a relief. But it’s probably not foolproof. It might be dangerous if viewed from the side. I won’t experiment that far though.”
“What is this special eye cover? Is it a magical item?”
“No. It’s just sunglasses I bought to use at the beach.”
Medusa kept opening and closing her mouth. It seemed she had a lot to say, but couldn’t quite form the sentences.
“…It was so painful to see my loved ones turn to stone, I once considered gouging out these cursed eyes.”
Medusa’s lips trembled faintly as she spoke.
“But there was still so much I wanted to see with these eyes. I was scared too. So even while being chased, I couldn’t give up. Ah…”
Medusa buried her face in her hands and sobbed. The regret and pain of her past years were palpable.
I waited for Medusa to fully express her emotions before slowly speaking.
“The cocktail you had earlier means ‘grasshopper’.”
“Grasshopper? You mean that jumping insect?”
Shu asked instead of the weeping Medusa.
“Yes. That grasshopper.”
“That’s quirky and fun. Who knew such a pretty drink would be named after a grasshopper.”
Sylvie said, idly swirling her empty glass.
“When I drink a Grasshopper, I imagine a grasshopper freely roaming a vast field.”
I continued calmly.
“I hope you’ll jump like a grasshopper, keeping all possibilities open. While achieving everything you want to do.”
“Could I… really do that?”
Medusa mumbled in a hoarse voice. It wasn’t a terrifying monster’s voice. It just sounded awkward from lack of use.
‘Can Medusa really do it?’
I had no way of knowing what future would unfold for Medusa. As a mere bartender, the only answer I could give was:
“I’ll be cheering for you to do so. If things get tough, come by anytime to talk. I’ll have a cocktail ready for you.”
“Pffft.“
Just as the mood was improving, Sylvie suddenly burst into laughter. When I looked at her with disapproval, she kept laughing, pounding on the bar counter.
“Our Sena sure talks well. ‘Come by anytime’… You’re always skipping work! Milky Way Lounge isn’t a place you can just drop by whenever you want.”
“Ah, Unnie!”
And I’d finally set the mood!
“Still, the door seems to be open when it’s really needed.”
“…I understand what kind of place this is now.”
Medusa wiped her tear-streaked face with both hands and smiled faintly.
“Huh? But were there times when I absolutely needed to come?”
“Whether you did or not. Our Sena is essential, right?”
Sylvie smiled triumphantly. Strangely enough, Johan nodded in agreement too.
I wonder if there were moments when Johan really needed me too?
Somehow, a smile crept onto my face. How should I put it… I felt like I’d become someone a little special.
“That’s great! But Snake-head Noona, you’ll have to leave that weird decoration behind, right?”
“Shu, watch your… Oh.”
I was so tense thinking I might turn to stone that I hadn’t properly looked at Medusa, but Sylvi’s decorations on her were… a bit disastrous.
Softly glowing lace ribbons adorned the snakes.
‘The ribbons alone look pure…’
But this is too discordant, isn’t it?
Plus, with yellow ribbons and polka dot ribbons all over, it was excessive.
The shiny jewel decorations are pretty, but the snakes seem to be weighed down…
‘We really can’t let her leave like this.’
After pondering for a moment, I turned to Sylvie and suggested:
“Since we’ve got the sunglasses on, why don’t we match the whole look? Let’s go for a cool vibe.”
“What’s that?”
“It means something like stylish and awesome.”
“Alright.”
Taking my advice, Sylvie added more sparkle to Medusa.
“Wow! You look great!”
The snake hair was styled like dreadlocks, with hair clips placed here and there.
Medusa’s clothes were close to rags, but with the matching atmosphere, it looked like a vintage style.
“I can’t go back to being an ordinary human, but maybe I’ll live my second life as a monster like a grasshopper.”
“Monster? This is an era where individuality is respected.”
Medusa chuckled at my words.
“Don’t you find my head terrifying?”
“Where else would you find someone with snake hair? This is your symbol. If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.”
Medusa silently played with her snake hair. Responding to her touch, the snakes flicked their tongues.
“I like you.”
“Haha. Thank you.”
“Our snakes like you too.”
Sn-snakes? Is this something I should be happy about? I guess so?
After saying that, Medusa stood up. She headed for the door without looking back.
“I’ll try living coolly. I’ll come back again, so…”
Standing at the door hesitantly, she finished her sentence.
“When I desperately need a cocktail, I hope the door will be open.”
I could only see her back, but Medusa was surely smiling.
<Notification> The reputation of cocktail bar ‘Milky Way Lounge’ increases by 300. (Total 7,530)
<Notification> Quest completed!
You found a way to save the petrified customers.
Reward: 1,000 coins, rumors spread of a brave bartender who saved customers.
Looking back on it, it was ridiculous. What good is a rumor about being a brave bartender?
I thought that, but a gentle smile appeared on my face as I cleared Medusa’s glass.
‘Even if it’s uncomfortable, with sunglasses she should be able to enjoy daily life.’
If people don’t turn to stone, heroes won’t attack Medusa anymore. She’s avoided the fate of being remembered only as someone’s achievement, on top of an unfair curse.
We couldn’t break the curse, so it’s not a perfect happy ending, but…
‘As long as it’s not a bad ending, it’s fine.’
Creating a happy ending was beyond my abilities. You should be satisfied if you’ve done your best.
“By the way, how long until the petrification wears off?”
“Hmm. Still four hours?”
Checking the clock, there was an hour left until closing time. But there’s no way I could leave with customers still here.
‘My… my leaving…’
I slumped to the floor, completely drained.
My hope, my light—leaving work—being mercilessly delayed.
“Sena, I’ll wait with you.”
“Sylvie Unnie, you’re the only one for me.”
Sylvie said she’d give a surprise gift and started wrapping ribbons around the petrified customers.
“I’m here too!”
“You go to bed. You won’t grow if you sleep late.”
“By that standard, shouldn’t Noona go to bed first?”
Shu shot back without backing down. It hit a sore spot and I almost got angry for a moment, but…
“Sena needs proper rest. If you’re worried about the petrified customers, I’ll wait and explain the situation.”
“No, I want to explain to the customers myself.”
“Well then, since business seems difficult anyway, why don’t you change into comfortable clothes and rest? You have those bear pajamas, right?”
Should I? I am tired, so resting while waiting might be good. It’s not a short wait either.
“Alright, I’ll go change clothes and…”
As I headed for the stairs, Sylvie blocked my way. She stared at me intently.
“Unnie?”
“Oh my, even I don’t know what our Sena’s pajamas are, it’s top secret. Sena, what’s going on here?”
“Ah, well!”
Before I could say anything, Shu raised his arm and shouted.
“They had a hotel staycation together!”
“Staycation? What’s that?”
“It’s when you play and eat at a hotel!”
Shu cheerfully dropped the bomb with an innocent face. Sylvie looked at me with narrowed eyes.
At the same time, Johan, who seemed shocked, also looked at me.
The gazes of three people with different expressions all focused on me.
“…Sena, how does that little one know about this?”
“I didn’t tell him…”
“Which means it’s true? Oh my.”
Ah, this is so confusing and chaotic.
From now on, these three must never meet. Some action needs to be taken. Urgently!
🥂
Thank you for reading! ♡
