episode_0018

After spending a soft and fluffy time together, the brown fox cheered me on to stay strong before leaving the cocktail bar.

A very informative conversation for the cheap price of 13,000 won.

If what she said was true, I promised myself to buy her another drink next time we met, and I began enjoying my cocktail once again.

“What were you two talking about? The atmosphere seemed quite nice.”

“We were just chatting about our races. Her relaxed and easygoing nature made it quite comfortable, so I didn’t feel much resistance.”

As I sipped my cocktail and conversed with other species, I could once again realize how unpleasant vampires were.

The fox spirit didn’t really have any penalties.

It was said that if they didn’t absorb energy regularly, they would enter heat and mate with any male they saw, which couldn’t be considered a penalty as long as they had a husband.

Besides that, well, there were a few inconveniences following some of the fox’s characteristics, but to me, who had all sorts of severe weaknesses, it was just amusing.

Things like becoming mischievous or disliking bathing, those minor quirks, were all within the realm of obsessive-compulsive disorder for me.

“I envy them. How nice would it be to belong to a race with such few weaknesses.”

“But wouldn’t it be not so great to become a fox spirit? If what that person said about penalties is true, then you and I…”

“Ugh, don’t say disgusting things. You imagined it, kid.”

Imagining with a disgusted expression.

It wasn’t just anyone, but writhing under that guy.

Well, apart from being repulsive… first of all, would I not suffocate because of the smell of garlic?

Sex, that is, intercourse, is an act where two individuals come close and mate.

Turning into a female vampire, her preferences were gradually changing.

One day, even her gender identity might change, and she might even start liking men, but perhaps not Koreans. Living in Korea for a long time might develop a resistance to garlic, who knows.

Was his name Jackcock? Slowly savoring the last cocktail that tasted like cola, I was lost in thought when Jaehyuk asked me a question with his arms crossed.

“So, do you think bartending is worth a try? You’ve been here for about two hours, so you should have a rough idea.”

“There aren’t many parts that I’d struggle with due to weaknesses. Getting used to alcohol might be a bit of a challenge, though.”

If you were to ask if it looked easy, it wasn’t.

Engaging in conversations with customers, making cocktails, doing the dishes.

Just doing what was visible already seemed quite challenging, so how much more tedious tasks were waiting in the unseen corners?

But there was nothing I couldn’t handle. Before becoming a vampire, I had experienced almost every dirty job, and even after becoming one, at least for a limited time during the night, my stamina was infinite.

“I should talk to the boss before leaving in a bit. Looks like I’ll be busy for a while?”

“…You’re just exaggerating since you’ll adapt quickly anyway. Within ten days, you’ll be making cocktails and earning a day’s worth of snack money.”

“Haha, then I guess I’ll slack off a bit? Can’t resist a day’s worth of snacks.”

Joking in a playful mood, as I chuckled, he poured a green cocktail into a small glass the size of his index finger.

“Here, drink up. It’ll be a good appetizer.”

“Just by looking at the color, it seems toxic. Is it safe to drink this?”

“It’s a newly developed signature menu. I’ve been having customers taste it, and they’ve all been praising it.”

“Is that so?”

It felt like I should gulp it down in one go.

Swallowing the contents in the glass without hesitation, I realized that he had deceived me.

“…Praised all around, this damn brat.”

“Why, what’s wrong? None of the customers who came by have ever said they didn’t like it, right?”

“Don’t talk nonsense! Presenting it with a taste that clearly divides opinions and then calling it praised all around!”

“…Could it be that you just don’t know good taste?”

“You!!”

What lingered in my mouth was a blend of minty freshness and chocolate sweetness.

Truly an unmatched and peculiar taste.

I narrowed my eyes fiercely.

“You don’t mix toothpaste with alcohol, you brat!”

Do you pour cola into rice as well?

I vowed not to yield at the dining table for a while.

I.

Decided as such.

—–

Securing a job was not a difficult task.

After all, the boss had proposed it first, and one of the employees at the store happened to be my friend.

Unless I showed an incredibly idiotic appearance, failing to secure the job would have been rather odd.

Although the hourly wage was set lower than the other employees, I didn’t particularly mind.

Until I grasped an understanding of cocktails and became familiar with the work, it seemed like my capabilities were significantly limited.

If the quality and quantity of work are different but you receive the same pay, wouldn’t that be strange?

Without harboring any doubts while signing the contract, the boss asked in amazement.

Aren’t you agreeing too easily? Why aren’t you demanding better conditions?

To which I replied.

Isn’t this already excessive for a newcomer, overestimating my own value?

I reviewed the contract several times, but there were only decent terms available.

This seems fair enough, yeah. Honestly, I’ve never encountered better conditions during my part-time jobs until now.

After expressing that we could discuss the hourly wage later if it bothered me, I finished signing the contract and started walking towards the cocktail bar and my studio apartment.

In the early hours, the alley was quiet.

As I pondered while looking at the flickering lights, nearing the end of their lifespan.

“I need to get blood packs as soon as possible.”

Due to still retaining a sense of being human, there was still a reluctance towards the act of drinking blood.

But if what the fox shapeshifter said was true, proper bloodsucking needed to be done as quickly as possible.

The passive allure had been activated, meaning it was starting to attract prey like a hungry carnivorous plant.

“…But there doesn’t seem to be a straightforward way to get blood packs. And they have to be from foreigners. How do I find a supplier?”

Bloodsucking is inherently illegal.

All I, who had lived a normal life, could do was politely ask a passing foreigner for a sip or resort to drinking animal blood.

…I don’t like the idea of drinking animal blood; it seems unhygienic in some ways.

“Damn, really losing my mind. Isn’t there a kind foreigner willing to sell me blood?”

Walking slowly, consumed by frustration, I suddenly felt a vibration in my pocket.

At this late hour? Isn’t Jaehyuk busy working?

Taking out my phone to check, the caller was my brother.

Receiving a call from someone I hadn’t thought about, I answered with wide eyes.

“What’s up at this late hour, bro? Is everything okay?”

When someone who had never contacted you suddenly does, it tends to evoke worry rather than joy.

Asking with a concerned tone, my brother, sounding tired, inquired about my well-being.

[…Nothing urgent, just called to check on you. Are you doing well? Is your health okay?]

“I’m doing alright, nothing too bad. Slowly getting used to things. How about you?”

[It’s just like usual. Helping out with my parents’ farm, then coming back at sunset to laze around in my room.]

A voice much softer than when we first met.

In a moment of comfort from the slightly closer distance between us, my brother relayed news to me in a stern tone.

[“Oh, right. This isn’t important, but Mom mentioned she’s going to visit your place tomorrow.”]

“Mom? Isn’t it too soon?”

[“She’s worried, what can I do? I tried to stop her… You know how stubborn Mom can be.”]

“You called just to tell me that?”

[“Well, if things are a mess, she’ll nag endlessly again. And if that happens, it’ll affect me too, so I thought I’d give you a heads-up.”]

In essence, a clear message to get things in order on my end.

But upon hearing about Mom’s impending visit, the thought that things wouldn’t resolve easily was the first thing that crossed my mind.

“Hyung.”

[“What?”]

“I’m actually sharing my place with Tudeori because my apartment disappeared. Mom won’t say anything, right?”

[…]

After a brief silence, my brother let out a sigh and spoke up.

“If it’s Tudeori, it’s Jaehyuk, right? That friend who’s always complaining.”

“Yeah.”

“Ah, Han Jiwu.”

“…Yeah?”

A voice turning cold in an instant.

Quietly answering due to an inexplicable unease, my brother started questioning my sanity.

“Logically speaking, if a man and a woman share an apartment, wouldn’t Mom worry? Or not?”

“But, we’re just friends! Besides, since Mom knows him, wouldn’t she worry less instead?”

“You really… Never mind, my mouth will just hurt more if I continue. Anyway, take care of yourself when Mom comes tomorrow. I’ve said what I needed to, so I’ll go now…”

“Just a moment, Hyung! I have one more thing to ask!”

“What now?”

My brother asked with a voice tinged with annoyance and fatigue.

Trying to keep my voice as low as possible so no one else would hear, I asked him.

“By any chance… do you know how to get blood packs?”

“What?”

“Oh, never mind. You wouldn’t know. Just pretend you didn’t hear what I said earlier.”

A slip of the tongue driven by urgent need for blood.

However, my brother’s response surpassed my expectations.

“Why do you need it?”

His words sounded like he would help if I provided a valid reason.

I glanced at my phone screen with a momentarily dumbfounded expression.

You’re not my brother, are you?

My brother couldn’t possibly be this competent, could he?