Ch.151Kiss of Fire 2

“Hmm- this isn’t right…”

I muttered while sipping my failed cocktail.

Maybe because it was vodka-based, I was starting to feel a bit tipsy.

Perhaps it was the slight intoxication.

I sniffled and checked my wristwatch.

“1 AM…”

I wonder if the Ansan situation was resolved well.

It seems to be taking longer than expected, which worries me.

“They’ll be fine, unnies…”

I lightly slapped both my cheeks to regain focus.

What am I saying with this “unnie” business?

Somehow that word has stuck to my lips without me realizing.

I tried to erase that word from my mind.

Then I started making the cocktail I was researching again.

I applied lemon juice to the rim of the chilled martini glass.

Then I turned it upside down and pressed it into a plate of sugar in a circular motion.

Next, I prepared a shaker filled with ice.

Into it went one ounce (30ml) of strong Absolut vodka.

Then half an ounce (15ml) of plum-scented Sloe Gin.

Half an ounce (15ml) of dry vermouth.

Finally, a light squeeze of lemon juice and shake.

After pouring it over the sugar-rimmed glass…

<Kiss of Fire>

Grade: ????? (Immeasurable)

Effect: Only certain individuals can experience its effects.

Info: A cocktail Siho made while thinking of someone.

No effects can be known until the intended person drinks it directly.

A passionate red like flames.

And sugar piled like white snow around the rim.

I thought of several people while making this drink.

“It’s complete…”

I picked up the beautiful red cocktail.

And swirled it around to check its color.

Red and white have somehow become my favorite colors.

“Since it’s dawn now, I should make it for them this evening.”

Just thinking about those three people makes the corners of my mouth turn up.

I decided to have one last drink before going to bed.

And just as I was about to take a sip of the freshly made cocktail…

“—.”

The doorbell rang.

“Who could it be at this hour?”

If it were Jeoksa, she would have easily opened the door lock and entered.

The Vice Chairwoman would have done the same.

Then perhaps it’s Heuksa?

I set the Kiss of Fire down on the table for a moment.

If it’s Heuksa, I should offer her a taste.

With that thought, I calmly opened the front door.

And at that moment,

I felt a brief chill.

Because the silhouette visible through the door crack wasn’t Heuksa.

But I was soon able to breathe a sigh of relief.

When the door fully opened, the person standing there was none other than Yeji.

“Yeji-ssi, you startled me. You’re still awake?”

Yeji was smiling at me.

With her hair down, she looked somehow more feminine than usual.

“Yes, maybe because of what happened today, I couldn’t sleep…”

An anxious voice.

Being a civilian, she must have been quite shocked by today’s events.

“Would you like to come in for a bit?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Yeji slowly entered the penthouse.

I seated her at the table and checked the refrigerator for something to drink.

“Did you try what I sent you earlier through Heuksa?”

“Yes, it was sweet and delicious.”

Yeji gazed intently at the Kiss of Fire on the table.

She seemed fascinated by the red drink and tapped it lightly with her finger.

“Actually, I came to have another glass.”

“Really? Just wait a moment. You’d like a Midori Shower, right?”

“Hmm- that’s good too, but what’s this?”

I turned my head to look at the cocktail she was touching.

And with a smile, I kindly answered.

“Oh, that’s ‘Kiss of Fire.’ It has a high alcohol content, so it’s not good as a nightcap. Please don’t drink it.”

“I see-.”

Yeji didn’t try to drink from the glass.

Thanks to that, I prepared to make a Midori Shower.

I washed a glass and dried it thoroughly with a towel until it squeaked.

But my busy hands soon came to a halt.

“How do you make such delicious drinks?”

I smiled warmly at the question.

Yeji-ssi seems quite generous with her compliments.

“You think so? I used to be better, but I’ve lost my touch now.”

I scratched the side of my head and answered shyly.

Then Yeji began to question me more persistently.

“What happened?”

What happened…

It was probably because of Park Shin-ae.

She stole most of my abilities.

Of course, even fragmented abilities can be rebuilt with effort and practice.

The rising grade of my cocktails is proof of that.

But.

If I hadn’t lost my abilities…

I wonder how far my cocktails would have developed.

“I lost some of my abilities.”

“You were an ability user too, Siho-ssi? I didn’t know since you always used potions…”

“Yes, actually, I made all those potions myself.”

I set the dried glass down on the table.

And at that moment,

I met Yeji’s eyes, which had taken on a strange look.

“Making potions-. What kind of ability is that exactly?”

What kind of ability…?

How should I explain my ability?

I’m not sure.

When I wanted to help someone, healing activated.

When I wanted to know someone’s story, I could read memories.

When I wanted to make a delicious cocktail, it got a taste buff.

When I put all my desires into a cocktail, a new cocktail potion was created according to those desires.

If I wanted to use fire abilities, Faust.

If I wanted ice abilities, Alaska, Blue Lagoon, and so on…

Come to think of it, my ability fulfilled most of my wishes exactly as I wanted.

“May I guess?”

Yeji asked in a calm voice.

But I felt something off about her voice.

The tone was slightly different from usual.

A more feminine and lower voice.

She was starting to feel less like Yeji and more like someone else.

“Perhaps it’s ‘Angel’s Touch’?”

“Angel’s Touch…?”

That’s a somewhat cheesy name.

I looked at her with a slight smile.

But that smile soon disappeared completely.

A chill ran down my spine at her next words.

“The cocktails you make have a subtle glow around them. Like they were made by an angel.”

A subtle glow…?

“L-light…? You can see light coming from the drinks I make?”

“Yes, I can see it clearly. Even this Kiss-whatever sitting here.”

“But that’s something only I should be able to see, how…”

Looking at my confusion, Yeji rested her chin on the back of her hand on the table.

And narrowing her eyes, she gazed at me suggestively.

“Why? Because I have that fragmented ability of yours too.”

“What…?”

Yeji’s voice had completely changed.

She was telling me in a voice I’d never heard before that she had Angelic Hand.

“Ah, don’t you believe me?”

Yeji smiled brightly.

Then she raised her hand and emitted a subtle light as if to show me.

A familiar glow.

That’s right.

That’s Angelic Hand.

But how could Yeji have that…

“You still don’t seem to believe me. Shall I show you directly?”

While I was still confused,

Yeji placed her palm on the chair she was sitting on.

Soon, a subtle light began to envelop the entire chair.

“Hmm-, something interesting happened on this chair.”

Something interesting?

I tried to think if there was anything special about that chair.

I couldn’t recall any particular memories associated with the chair?

With a pounding heart, I simply waited for Yeji’s answer.

And at that moment,

She smiled and answered me.

“So your mouth is your weakness, Siho-ssi? How very naughty of you to enjoy being pounced on.”

“What…?”

At that moment, I thought my heart had stopped.

Yeji had discovered what had happened between me and Jeoksa.

“Amazing, isn’t it? If you upgrade Angelic Hand, you can even read the memories of objects.”

“Where did you get my ability? Please tell me quickly.”

Overcome with anxiety, I noticed my phone in the corner of the kitchen.

For now, I should distract her with questions.

Then secretly grab my phone and make an emergency call.

“Where did I get it? Shin-ae gave it to me.”

She spoke the name Park Shin-ae with familiarity, like a friend.

At the same time, she pulled out a blood-stained dagger from her pocket and held it up.

Then she lightly threw it toward my hand reaching for the phone.

“—!”

The dagger landed precisely between my index and middle fingers.

I stared down at the blade firmly embedded in the marble.

“Don’t try anything foolish. I could kill you right now and absorb your ability.”

Yeji slowly rose from her chair.

And showing off her flexible hips, she approached me smoothly.

Soon her long fingers touched my face.

Yeji grabbed my chin as if appraising me and examined my face.

“Y-Yeji-ssi… We were fine together until we escaped, weren’t we? Please don’t do this…”

At my stammering words, Yeji snorted as if finding it ridiculous.

Then she whispered softly.

“You were quite cute back then.”

She grabbed both my hands with just one of hers.

A completely different grip strength than when I first met her.

Soon, as she circled her fingers around my captured hands, a white ring-like thing formed and constricted my arms.

“How is it? Amazing, right? I thought about binding your arms, and it happened just like that.”

Yeji showed me the angel ring restraining my hands as if to demonstrate.

But I could no longer hear her words.

The memories of being confined in the laboratory came flooding back, making my heart pound unbearably.

Seeing my state, Yeji shook her head as if pitying me.

“My, you seem frightened.”

Yeji grabbed my chin again.

And bringing her face close to mine, she whispered.

“You know what? This frightened expression suits you much better than that silly grin.”

Her red lips gradually come closer to me.

Soon Yeji lightly kissed my forehead.

At that moment,

My head began to feel hazy, just like when I was hit with Hypnos.

My tense legs gave way, and I half-knelt down.

“Now, shall we go?”

Yeji dragged my dazed self toward the living room.

Suddenly, the Kiss of Fire on the table caught her green eyes.

Yeji picked up the drink and took a light taste.

But perhaps because of the high alcohol content,

She threw the drink she had just sipped onto the floor in annoyance.

The red liquor spilled across the floor.

“I really hate cocktails like this. It tastes weird, like shampoo or something.”

I stared blankly at the spilled drink with unfocused eyes.

I need to escape somehow…

Why am I always so weak?

Anna, Jeoksa, and Jisu unnie…

Please…

Help me…

I learned then for the first time that even in a dazed state, I could still cry.

And just as my tears began to roll down my cheeks,

The fresh sound of a door lock opening echoed through the penthouse.

Then came the sound of someone staggering in.

I know those footsteps.

The woman who comes to Jeoksa’s place instead of her own home every night and dawn after drinking.

“Hiccup…, what’s going on here?”

The Vice Chairwoman enters the living room with a flushed face.

And soon she…

Made eye contact with Yeji, who was holding me with one hand.

“Who are you to be holding our darling?”

She paused in thought for a moment, then her green eyes flashed as if something had occurred to her.

“Ah, is this the kidnapper?”