episode_0086

What about the boss?

From the first moment I saw him, I felt that he was quite far from the word ‘ordinary’.

Even though it was our first meeting, he rushed in like crazy, asking about the salary he would receive before anything else.

To put it nicely, he was mysterious; to put it bluntly, he was odd and strange.

To me and the other bartenders, the boss was that kind of person.

Honestly, I couldn’t understand why he asked me if I had any intention of working here as a dragon shapeshifter.

Isn’t a dragon scary?

How would we handle it if Yama turned around and breathed fire into the bar?

If he were an ordinary person, instead of offering a job, he would probably have been furious and kicked me out of the bar.

I was so curious about what made him suggest that to her.

With about 30 minutes left until closing time, when the atmosphere in the bar had relaxed overall, I cautiously approached the boss.

“…Boss? Um, is everything okay?”

“What?”

“Hiring a dragon shapeshifter as a bartender. Isn’t it risky?”

“Hmm.”

As I spoke with a worried expression, the boss began to ponder his response seriously.

Soon after contemplating, the boss smiled broadly and shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, it might be risky. But isn’t it too late to be scared now that you’re already employed as a staff member? We’ve even let vampires, considered dangerous in other countries, into the bar. Isn’t it a bit strange to discuss danger now?”

“Oh.”

Nodding in understanding, the boss continued, stretching his arms.

“You seemed curious about why I wanted to hire you as an employee, but there isn’t any special reason.”

“No specific reason? And is it because dragons are attracted to bartending? It seems like it might be something like that…”

“Yeah, you got it. That’s right. After hearing the circumstances, it seemed fitting. With more customers coming in lately and everyone feeling overwhelmed, it seemed like a good idea.”

…Was what I said really the correct answer?

As the boss looked puzzled, tears welling up in his eyes, he wiped them away and spoke again.

“I said stimulation is fuel, right? So honestly, wouldn’t being a bartender be more comfortable and better than hard labor for that customer? Every day would be new and exciting.”

“Boss, that doesn’t seem like a good thing, you know?”

“…Anyway.”

What kind of “anyway” is that?

Finding excitement in always encountering different truths and blabbering about it.

Watching the boss clear his throat uncomfortably, I sighed and slowly spoke.

“By the way, if nothing else, if that customer becomes an employee… our bar will probably become the safest place in the world.”

“That’s true, right? With a dragon present, who would dare cause trouble?”

“…Except for troublesome customers. There’s a vampire here, so having a dragon shouldn’t be any different, right?”

“Well, no.”

“Why not? Tell me quickly. What were you about to say just now?”

“Ahaha, it’s already closing time? These kids! What time is it now!!! Hurry up and leave!?”

Without giving me a chance to inquire further, the boss urged us to leave, avoiding the impending crisis.

Thus, driven out of the cocktail bar, I started heading back to my apartment with Jaehyuk as usual.

“I wonder how it will turn out…”

Muttering softly while imagining working alongside a dragon shapeshifter, I turned my head in the direction of Jaehyuk.

Unexpectedly, he showed quite a positive reaction to the idea of the arsonist dragon becoming a colleague at work.

“It doesn’t seem too bad, does it? As the boss said, we have been a bit short-staffed recently.”

“… What if a dragon accidentally breathes fire?”

“I find vampires scarier than dragons shooting breath. Vampires rushing to suck blood without warning are more terrifying.”

“Hey!!!”

Yelling sharply, Jaehyuk chuckled, avoiding eye contact.

After pausing his laughter, he spoke again with a rather serious tone.

“You said it’s fine as long as emotions don’t escalate? Honestly, it’s rare for emotions to flare up inside a shop. We’re not exactly trembling before high-profile guests.”

“That’s true… but still, I’m worried. What if something dangerous happens again?”

“You’ll manage. After all, spitting fire once landed you in debts of millions… I doubt you’d make the same mistake twice.”

Defending like a lawyer, he stood by the dragon shapeshifter he met today.

Feeling somewhat disappointed, I narrowed my eyes and lightly jabbed Jaehyuk’s side.

“…Hey, Yoon Jaehyuk. Are you acting strange?”

“How so?”

“Wasn’t it a lie when you said you liked me? Seeing you praise that girl now makes it seem like you like her instead of me.”

“…”

As I teasingly questioned, his face began to contort into a grimace.

Touching something I shouldn’t have.

Feeling uneasy, he suddenly closed the distance and whispered love into my ear.

“Why, do you need proof? Should I kiss your forehead?”

“Eek…?”

“If you want, just say it. I can prove it however you like. I’m accommodating.”

“St-stop it! Why are you being so cringy…!”

Shivering, I pushed him away while he expressed disappointment, licking his lips.

“Was this what you wanted?”

“As if! Do you think I’m crazy to want that…”

“I thought you seemed really upset, so I thought you wanted it. Never mind then.”

With a mischievous smile, he hurriedly moved away as if fleeing.

Feeling like I had been played, I ground my teeth in frustration.

“…I really dislike this.”

Do they think I’d be thrilled by such cheesy lines?

Not at all, right?

Ugh, it’s so exasperating.

Did they think I’d fall for such an easy vampire?

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

“…”

Damn.

—–

Dragon hesitated when offered a job at the bar by the boss, saying they needed time to think.

But did they get swayed by the high pay within a few days?

Two days later, she showed up an hour before the store opened, expressing her desire to work at the bar.

“Oh, I’ll do my best from now on! My name is Naye Jin, I’m twenty-two years old! Yes, I’ll work hard!”

Though concerns lingered, once the decision was made to work together, there was no point in complaining.

So, just like two days ago, I welcomed the new employee with a warm attitude, explained her tasks in detail, and changed the store sign to ‘Open.’

“Phew… Unnie, it feels real now. Just adding one more staff member makes such a difference.”

“…I don’t recall hearing such words when I started working.”

“Well, honestly, it was quite relaxed before, wasn’t it? And actually, ever since you came, the cocktail bar has become really busy.”

“So, you’re saying I’m the root of all evil?”

“Oh, why are you saying it like that ~”

Simply delegating all the odd jobs, her presence was much larger than anticipated.

During busy peak hours, there was enough room to joke around and make silly remarks.

Finally, I admired the boss’s foresight and silently thanked them.

I was foolish, boss.

May no punishment befall this utterly clueless vampire.

As the somewhat relaxed peak time passed, the early morning hours arrived faster than usual.

With only a few customers at hand, I cautiously touched the thick, smooth tail of the dragon under Yejin’s permission.

Though unsure of the purpose, suddenly the boss called all the staff, including Yejin, together in one place.

“Sorry to interrupt your break, but someone needs to teach the newbie how to bartend. Who will do it?”

“…”

Who would split this golden rest time to teach cocktail making?

Naturally, everyone just looked around, silently urging someone else to volunteer.

Eventually, the boss, realizing the dilemma, sighed and gave Yejin the chance to choose.

“If no one steps up, we have no choice. Let’s leave the decision to the newbie. Yejin, go ahead and pick someone without hesitation.”

“Yes, me?”

“You guys, can’t even speak up if chosen? Well, what else can you do besides watching? If you’re not interested, move to another bar. Come on, make a choice. Except for me.”

“Uh, um…”

As the boss pressured for a choice, the dragon slowly unfurled its tail, scanning me and the other three bartenders.

Seemingly searching for who might kindly guide.

Seeing that, I believed I would be chosen without a doubt.

…Yejin had conversed with me the most, and I had always treated her kindly.

But.

“I-I’d prefer if the handsome bartender over there teaches me.”

“Are you serious?!”

“Oh, uh… Sorry, but I meant this side, not that one…”

“Oh…”

Can’t the dragon escape superficial judgments?

Her choice was Jaehyuk, who had been avoiding eye contact with me.

Of all people, she picked him.

He truly is a peach blossom in full bloom.

A truly regrettable choice.

It should feel pitiful.

“…Why don’t I like this?”

“What? Unnie?”

“It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”

Why does this feel so uncomfortable?

With a suffocating feeling akin to a stubborn sweet potato lodged in my throat,

I silently gulped down a glass of cold water.