episode_0052

A secluded alleyway.

Flickering streetlights.

A severed head nestled in the shadows, almost eerie enough to instill fear in anyone lacking considerable courage.

“Meoooowwww – !”

“Dukkiyaaaaahhh!!!”

Dura-han, clutching his head in agony while being pummeled by a black cat and enduring relentless meows and punches.

The horror that had been creeping over the surroundings due to this comical scene, reminiscent of a B-grade comedy movie, quickly dissipated.

As fear subsided, it was replaced by relief.

Feeling sorry for the pitiful sight of Dura-han being mercilessly attacked, I hurried over to separate Nero from Dura-han’s head.

Once the cat that had been striking him was pushed away, Dura-han finally relaxed.

After making sure there were no injuries on his head, I cautiously inquired about his well-being.

“…I apologize, our shop’s cat misbehaved. Are you okay, aside from your head?”

“Yeah, my head’s fine, quite resilient actually. But have you seen my body around here? It should be nearby…”

“We just left the shop, so we haven’t seen your body… Oh, is that it? White t-shirt, black slacks?”

“Yes! Phew, thank you for helping. I almost had a tough time next to the trash can.”

Upon reuniting with his head, he breathed a sigh of relief, showing signs of exhaustion.

Having found the cocktail bar mascot and resolved the incident, it was time to return to the shop. However, concerned by Dura-han’s tired and gloomy appearance, I sent the other bartenders back first and began talking to him.

It wasn’t unreasonable to think it was unnecessary meddling.

With nothing but a weakness in grooming to worry about, isn’t it strange for a species that only needs to take care of their heads to fret like a species riddled with weaknesses?

However, having recently experienced how even a small act of kindness could be empowering during difficult times, I wanted to lend a helping hand to the visibly weary Dura-han.

“…You don’t look too good, is everything alright?”

“Oh, no need to worry. I’ll just go now, thank you for your help.”

“Don’t be like that. How about coming in for a drink before you leave? Even if it was the cat’s fault, a wrong is a wrong. Treating you to a drink would ease my mind.”

“I-I’m really okay…”

Dura-han, looking awkward and avoiding eye contact, eventually sighed and accepted my offer.

“Alright, just one drink then.”

“You made the right choice. Follow me, it’s in the building next door.”

What stories will this guest from another species share with me?

As I glanced at him with a mix of anticipation and concern, a single question briefly crossed my mind.

…But wait, his head and body are separated.

How on earth does he drink?

Every time I see members of this different species community, I can’t help but think.

The Dura-han species is truly.

A mysterious one.

After asking a passerby who witnessed the incident to find the person who had lost their head due to the aftermath, it was reported that the witness saw Dura-han in the middle of the night and ran away in confusion.

In a difficult situation, fortunately, I confirmed that the head was near a cat.

The angry cat, Nero, apparently rolled the head around and took it to a thinner place.

What unfolded afterward was exactly as I had seen it.

Nero snarling and wildly punching like crazy, while Dura-han screamed as he was hit by the front paws.

Listening to the whole process, I couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

Dura-han, could it be a race worse than vampires?

Although it felt sad and proud to know that there is a race worse than vampires.

Given the circumstances, I cautiously asked, suppressing my emotions.

“…Do you often experience such things? Even experiencing it once would drive one insane.”

“Not often, occasionally. I raise a dog at home, and that darn… no, the dog keeps playing pranks with my head.”

“Seems like a friend who really likes the owner. Quite mischievous too.”

“It’s too much, really.”

As it was a short distance, we arrived at the cocktail bar before exchanging a few words.

After informing the owner of our return, I immediately handed the menu to the accompanying Dura-han.

However, seemingly inexperienced with bars, Dura-han guest made a puzzled expression upon opening the menu.

Wanting to assist with the menu selection, I asked as usual.

“Is this your first time at a bar?”

“…Yes, I don’t have much connection to this side.”

“In that case, could you tell me your preferred taste and current mood? I’ll recommend some items.”

“Um…”

Tapping his head in contemplation, Dura-han soon finished his thoughts and slowly placed his head on the table.

Maintaining a business smile amidst his rather eerie demeanor, he finally answered the question.

“To be honest, I’m not feeling great… and my favorite would probably be mint chocolate flavor. Do you happen to have mint-choco flavored alcohol here?”

“…You’re a mint-choco fan?”

“Yes, that’s right. If you’re going to ask why I eat toothpaste-flavored things…”

“I won’t, I won’t. Regardless of whom I’ve met so far, I’m not that kind of person, you know?”

“Well, that’s a relief then.”

How much must he have struggled to react so sensitively to just the word ‘mint-choco’?

After serving some hardtack snacks, I began thinking about recommending a cocktail to him.

A mint-choco flavored cocktail… There is one cocktail that gives a similar taste.

Yes, refreshing oneself from a heavy and stuffy feeling wouldn’t be bad.

.

I recommended him a cocktail that would drive him crazy if he liked mint-choco.

“If you like mint-choco flavor, Grasshopper would suit your taste. Shall I prepare that for you?”

“Grasshopper… isn’t that a grasshopper? Does it contain actual grasshoppers in the ingredients?”

“Haha, it’s just named that because the color resembles a grasshopper. There are no real grasshoppers in it, so don’t worry.”

“If it’s mint-choco flavor, there’s no reason to refuse. Sure, I’ll go with that.”

“Alright, I’ll prepare it for you right away. Please wait a moment.”

With a tired voice, he replied, picking up a hardtack snack.

Rather than his neck, what bothered me was how he brought the hardtack toward the head placed on the table.

Forcing myself to look away, I started preparing the Grasshopper cocktail.

First, I put ice in the cocktail glass to make it cool.

In the shaker, I added an ounce each of mint liqueur, cacao liqueur, and cream, along with ice, closed the lid, shook it vigorously, and then…

Pour out the ice from the cocktail glass, strain the contents from the shaker to remove the ice, and transfer it to the glass. The swift completion of making a “Grasshopper,” I extended the cocktail glass to the stern customer.

“Your Grasshopper is ready. Would you like to try it?”

“The color is really pretty. As for the taste, hmm…”

With a rather eerie gesture of burying his head into his chest, the stern customer gulped down the cocktail.

I couldn’t quite grasp the principle behind it, but there was no spillage of the consumed cocktail under his chin.

Seems like there’s some peculiar setting unknown to me.

As I blankly watched this strange spectacle of defying all rules along with other bartenders, the stern customer, who had been savoring the taste for a while, opened his mouth with a smile.

“It’s a very refreshing taste that somewhat lifted my gloomy mood. Thank you for the delicious drink.”

“Not at all, I’m glad your mood has improved.”

His demeanor had softened considerably since our first encounter.

Feeling it might be okay to start a conversation, I filled a plate with gingerbread and initiated a conversation with him.

“If you don’t mind me asking, is life very difficult for you, or rather, for Du Rah Han?”

“…Go ahead.”

“Does the guest, or should I say Du Rah Han, find life very challenging?”

…

Gulp, gulp –

Instead of answering, he began pondering deeply while drinking his cocktail.

Was it too difficult to answer? His lips dried up at the thought of asking a pointless question.

Fortunately, it seemed not as I feared, and Du Rah Han responded seriously to the inquiry.

“Discussing difficulties in front of vampires feels like picking a fight in front of a tiger…”

“Isn’t it? Rather than living in constant fear of when and how you’ll suffer, isn’t it better to accept whatever comes your way?”

A sudden onslaught of facts.

Silently, I glanced at Nero, who was baking bread at the dedicated table.

Nero, want a snack from me?

That annoying headache, should I give it one more whack?