episode_0117

“Old Fashioned…”

Ha-yeon grabbed the glass.

When you shake it back and forth, the ice inside crunches.

Soon, deciding that she had shaken the glass enough, she slowly brought it to her lips.

I take a sip and wet it on my tongue.

The artificial sweetness of sugar cubes and the rich flavor of whiskey blend together.

In the past, when Ha-yeon and Anton were rookies.

After many twists and turns, I caught my first monster mole and received 100,000 won.

They decided to buy a celebratory drink for their first expedition with the 100,000 won.

That great first victory…

A cheap 30,000 won bottle of whiskey bought at a convenience store.

Even though it was their first time drinking it, the two people kept smiling while drinking.

Then, this is the method Anton suggested to Ha-yeon.

Drinking cheap whiskey with a sugar cube for potion.

It was quite drinkable, although I felt like something was out of place.

In the first place, what was important was not what kind of alcohol you drank, but who you drank it with.

And today, despite the invention of countless sophisticated cocktails, the Old Fashioned still survives.

Maybe it’s because of the taste of these memories.

Before she knew it, Ha-yeon’s glass was completely emptied.

The empty glass is filled with the tears of a woman who lost her lover.

“…”

She couldn’t bring herself to put down the glass.

The clenched hands just shake violently.

“Fuck…”

I somehow managed to stop my sobbing throat.

She tried hard not to cry in front of her colleagues by smiling.

“This is so delicious I could die…!”

Jisoo sighed in relief at the sight.

But I neither felt relieved nor laughed.

No, I couldn’t laugh.

Because I know better than anyone else what Ha-yeon must be feeling right now.

The ranker bows his head.

She regrets wearing her ponytail today.

Because she had no hair to hide her tears.

He just lays his face on the table and sobs quietly.

“Sister…”

My younger siblings also had a hard time emptying their glasses.

I just stay by my sister’s side after she lost her colleague.

“You…”

Ha-yeon, who has finally calmed down, raises her head.

But her eyes were still sparkling.

“Yes… Feel free to speak.”

To be considerate of such rankers, I raised the corners of my lips bitterly.

Then Ha-yeon continued speaking with a decadent smile.

“There was a reason why the enemy risked his life to protect him.”

“Huh…?”

“You have a knack for touching people’s sore spots.”

ah.

Did I make a mistake?

He fidgeted with his shoulders hunched.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s a compliment, so take it.”

Ha-yeon shook her head slowly.

And then he thrust his glass at me and asked me for another drink.

I poured carefully, slurping down the huge bottle of whiskey.

The golden wine drips gently into the glass.

The ranker toasted with his two younger brothers.

And then he starts drinking in earnest.

As time passed, plates and bottles of whiskey were scattered on the table.

Ha-yeon, who was now drunk, spoke to me again.

“Is there anything else you would like to ask for?”

“What do you want?”

“Okay, since you impressed me, I’ll give you something special.”

The ranker mumbles with his tongue hanging loose.

It’s already the next day, and I don’t think I’ll remember, so what’s the point of wishing?

I tried to smile and wave my hand, at least for her sake.

“A- Okay. You’ve already increased sales enough.”

Thanks to you, I’m making a 3-star cocktail again, so that’s enough for me.

Perhaps it is I who should be the one to express my gratitude.

“No, I’m just saying. I’m really grateful. Please ask me anything.”

She spoke bluntly, sticking out her tongue.

“Please…”

I also gradually become more serious as I see her unyielding appearance.

Actually, there was one thing that was on my mind.

I look at Ha-yeon while waving both hands.

Then, soon, I steeled my resolve and mustered up my courage.

“Then…”

As I open my mouth, everyone sitting at the bar focuses on me.

Jisoo, who was washing the dishes next to me, also raises her head.

“Could you please forgive me for my actions?”

ah.

I regret it even after I spit it out.

No matter how much I impressed Ha-yeon, Jeok-sa is still her lifelong enemy.

In the first place, this happened because she killed Anton and raped his body.

Still, I ended up asking her.

Please forgive my precious person…

“Red death…”

Ha-yeon’s laughter suddenly stopped.

The bar that was once bustling with laughter soon became quiet.

All I can hear is the sound of water running in the sink that my sister left running.

Fearful of the prolonged silence, I opened my mouth again.

Unlike when I asked confidently, I spoke in a voice that was crawling on the floor…

“That won’t work… Since he’s the enemy who killed someone precious to me…”

I rolled my eyes and watched her.

The two ears on his head also tremble as if sensing the ranker’s killing intent.

“Kill him? The enemy, Anton?”

She chuckled.

And then he poured the remaining half of the whiskey into his mouth.

The sound of empty glasses clinking on the table echoes.

Then the two younger brothers sitting next to him also became silent.

“Anton did not die at the hands of the enemy.”

“Yes…?”

“The enemy was unofficially ranked 10th at the time. It wasn’t something we could approach in the first place.”

She stares blankly at her empty glass as if reminiscing about the past.

Then, as if he was dumbfounded, he shook his head.

“Because it was so crazy strong.”

As expected, the enemy is strong…

I knew she was strong, but it didn’t feel real because Anna was next to me.

“The guy just watched Anton’s body lying there dead and retrieved it.”

That’s a relief…

Only then could I take a deep breath.

“Of course, she’s not innocent. She did such a terrible thing to Anton’s body.”

“…”

“The enemy is a cruel witch.”

Ha-yeon put down her glass and got up from her seat.

I feel like I’ve sobered up from the story of the enemy.

“You too, be careful. No matter how close you are, if you die, you can end up in that bitch’s collection.”

I almost reflexively denied that.

However, considering her position as the victim, I ended up keeping my mouth shut.

I feel guilty because I feel like I made the guests’ drinking party bitter.

“Sorry for saying bad things.”

“No… I’m talking nonsense…”

She mutters, smoothing her collar.

I almost didn’t hear what he was saying because his voice was so small.

“I just said that because I was a little jealous.”

“Yes…?”

“I bet even a girl like that has a good person like this.”

I almost hiccupped at Ha-yeon’s words.

I watched her leave blankly, holding both hands together.

In the end, I wasn’t forgiven…

Something is bitter.

Well, the world of rankers is a cold one.

Where can there be forgiveness in a life-or-death situation?

I turned my head, biting my lips.

Then suddenly I lock eyes with Jisoo noona.

“Ah…”

“Why are you so gloomy?”

She smiled broadly and nuzzled my ear.

My whole body became sensitive to that sensation, and I quickly turned my head away.

“No…I’m just a little tired.”

“Then, shall we go back now?”

“Yes…”

I unbuttoned my apron.

I’m hungry… and I want to rest for a bit now.

「—.」

On the way home.

Since we didn’t have a car, we leisurely strolled down the street.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to travel without a car.

I’ve been able to travel comfortably thanks to Anna and the enemy.

That’s okay too.

Because it’s been a long time since I walked with my older sister.

But that refreshing feeling quickly disappeared.

The problem is that I’ve changed so much again.

My ears perk up at the sound of cars passing by.

People passing by would occasionally glance at my fox ears.

I felt burdened by that gaze, so I grabbed my ears and held them close to my head.

But no matter how hard I tried, my ears would stretch out again as if I was being teased.

With her ears shaking from the recoil, my older sister covered her mouth with the back of her hand and sniffled.

“Don’t laugh…”

“But, you’re so cute… You don’t have to hide it…”

But.

But I don’t want to show this side of me to my sister.

As manly as possible.

I wanted to show a solid voice…

My face turns red.

I turned my head away, clenching my fists.

“Hmm… What should I do…”

My sister follows me slowly, carrying her luggage on her back.

Then suddenly I stopped in front of a store.

“Ah- It’s a cake shop.”

cake?

Those three letters made my ears perk up without me knowing.

ah!

I tried to cover my ears somehow, but it was no use.

My older sister opened her eyes half-heartedly and moved her eyebrows sinisterly.

“Do you want to eat-?”

“Ah, no. It’s not even a child. Who would do something like this…!”

But, contrary to what I said, as I got closer to the store, my nose started sniffing.

Damn fox instinct…

My older sister, who saw that sight, secretly linked arms with me.

Always positive and cheerful.

That’s another great characteristic of my older sister.

Eventually, I was led into the cake shop by her power.

Soon my hands were full of boxes of cakes.

I was going to eat just one…

I’ve been craving something sweet so much lately that I can’t stand it.

How can you resist the taste of matcha?

“Haa…”

My older sister follows me, laughing heartily.

I tried to ignore her, feeling resentful, and walked forward as fast as I could.

“Let’s go together, Siho-.”

She followed Dodo with a playful voice.

As I continued forward, looking straight ahead, I arrived home before I knew it.

When I return home after a long time, the faint scent of soap and perfume wafts through the air.

Did the enemy hear you coming out while you were looking for me?

I remember their faces as they came to me with anxious expressions.

I took off my shoes and went inside.

Then suddenly I got goosebumps and stopped what I was doing.

for a moment.

I never told them my door lock number…?

“Wow, is this Siho’s house?”

“…”

I pretended to be an adult and didn’t answer.

Just nod.

Then, the older sister looks around curiously and asks.

“The house is more ordinary than I thought?”

“Then, did you think you’d live in a mansion?”

“No, I like it because it’s friendly.”

She looks down at me, smiling faintly.

Was this what Anna and the Red Squad felt when they saw me?

The appearance of just smiling without knowing a single thing about the world.

Something insignificant but cute.

“The shower room is right next to the door. Most of my clothes are large, so choose what you want.”

“Thank you-.”

Jisoo carefully opened the closet.

And then he took out a thick sweatshirt and short shorts.

“Then, excuse me-.”

My sister goes into the shower room.

Soon the sound of water pouring can be heard cheerfully.

This is the first time.

My sister came to my house.

My heart is pounding.

I’m so excited I feel like I’m going to fall down and run outside.

I tried to clear my mind.

My heartbeat is so loud because of those damn fox ears.

Let’s calm down.

I’m not the Do-Hyeon of the past.

Now he’s just a regular bartender.

I have to somehow divert my gaze from the sound of the shower.

The two pupils wander madly.

Then suddenly, my gaze stops on the cake placed on the table.

Drool drips from its elongated canines.

Sihoya, come to your senses.

Just now, I saw many ugly things because of the cake.

I take a deep breath and tense my whole body.

When I come out later, I’ll eat with my older sister.

I held my breath and stared blankly at the cake box.

Until the sound of my sister’s shower ended.

“Siho-ssi, I’m out.”

The shower noise stopped.

Soon the bathroom door opens and a gentle stream of steam wafts out.

The steam has a sweet banana scent.

Soon, Jisoo appears wearing a thick sweatshirt.

Clearly, the clothes that were too baggy for me fit perfectly on her.

Enough to highlight the feminine body.

She rubbed her hair with a towel.

And then he comes into the living room to find me without answering.

“Siho-ssi…?”

Soon she stopped walking.

And then, his expression hardened at the strange sight he encountered.