Ch.164Moment 1

“Breaking news. All remaining members of the group led by Park Shin-ae, a Class 1 wanted criminal, have been arrested.”

“The Association has announced the conclusion of this major case after two months of joint investigation with Ilshim Group.”

A warm noon.

While walking down the street, I suddenly pulled the earbuds from my ears.

All of YouTube had been talking about Park Shin-ae all day long.

“This outfit is rather uncomfortable…”

A neat, blunt bob haircut.

I’m in my usual bartender attire.

But these stockings squeezing my legs and this skirt clinging to my thighs.

It was more than just a little uncomfortable.

And other people wear this every day!

I stopped walking.

And stared up at a store in front of me.

“Bar Moment.”

Perhaps it’s because they recently changed the sign.

Even though this place is certainly familiar to me, it somehow feels strange.

However, that feeling completely disappeared when I opened the door.

The hallway that unfolded when I entered.

And the soft music playing from old speakers.

Everything was the same as before.

Still, there were definitely some changes.

The doorbell that jingled when I opened the door.

And a staff member I’d never seen before approached me kindly after hearing it.

“Welcome.”

Beautiful long brown hair.

And subtle golden eyes.

“You’re our first customer today.”

A beauty in form-fitting slacks and a white shirt greeted me.

I smiled at her.

“Of course. You haven’t even opened for business yet.”

Jisoo grinned broadly and patted my head.

“Tsk. What employee dares to pat a customer’s head?”

I glared at her.

The employee then smoothly placed her hand on my waist with a sly smile.

“I apologize, customer. Let’s head inside-.”

Putting her hand on my waist too!

What kind of employee training did the manager provide!

I wanted to protest immediately, but decided to follow her in since I was hungry.

Besides, the warmth of her hand on my body.

Well, I didn’t exactly dislike it.

As we entered the store, I heard clinking sounds from the counter.

I calmly followed the employee’s guidance and sat at a table.

I gently rubbed the table with my finger.

‘It’s clean.’

Not a speck of dust stuck to my fingerprint.

Is the bartender the type who cares about cleanliness?

I glanced up.

And observed the bartender’s back as she cleaned the liquor display.

A slender waist tightly fitted in a blazer.

And a beautifully pronounced hip line.

I stared blankly at her figure.

Then suddenly, the bartender turned her head and our eyes met.

“Why are you staring so intently?”

Sleek black hair.

And ruby-red eyes.

Jeoksa looked down at me suggestively and said.

“Are you interested in me?”

“N-no. What interest?”

I quickly turned my head away from her gaze.

And muttered with a fake cough.

“I was just looking at the display shelf. Don’t misunderstand.”

When I said that, Jeoksa raised the corner of her mouth.

And flicked my temple with her finger as she spoke.

“Is that so-? But I could have sworn you were staring at my hips-.”

Does she have eyes on the back of her head?

I blushed as I felt her finger tickling my cheek.

“So, customer who was only looking at the alcohol, what would you like to drink?”

“W-well. Shouldn’t a bartender be able to match a drink perfectly just by reading a customer’s mood?”

I spoke to her with feigned indifference.

Jeoksa shrugged her shoulders and played it cool.

“According to the customer’s mood-.”

Jeoksa gently brushed back her hair.

Then, as if struck by an amusing thought, she surveyed the display shelf.

“Well, alright. I’ll prepare something myself.”

Jeoksa bowed her head and took ingredients from the refrigerator.

Meanwhile, Jisoo, who was standing beside me, asked in a sweet voice.

“What would you like to eat?”

“Hmm, what’s good here?”

When I asked, she confidently recommended one menu item.

“The egg fried rice is our most popular dish.”

“Egg fried rice…?”

I never imagined such a homey dish would be served at a cocktail bar.

“Yes-, it’s our chef’s specialty.”

Jisoo spoke in a slightly louder voice, as if wanting others to hear.

Then she leaned in and whispered to me while checking if anyone was listening.

“Actually, it’s the only thing she knows how to make yet….”

“Ah….”

I nodded with an understanding look.

Jisoo wrote down my order and headed to the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Jeoksa raised her head and began taking out ingredients.

‘Let’s see what menu she’s preparing-.’

I watched the bartender with a proud face like a father.

Jeoksa displayed the ingredients on the table as if showing off.

Then she took out a cold shaker and began pouring one by one.

Half an ounce of fragrant Peachtree. (15ml)

Half an ounce of nutty coconut Malibu. (15ml)

Half an ounce of tangy lemon and lime juice. (15ml)

And finally, sweet orange juice. (20ml)

Then, the shaking began.

Jeoksa shook the shaker skillfully, as if she had practiced a lot.

I enjoyed the sound like music.

“Ugh, it’s cold…”

The bartender put down the frosted container on the table.

And rubbed her reddened palms against her thighs.

I chuckled at the sight.

“Just shaking about 10 times is enough-.”

Jeoksa picked up a martini glass.

And rolled the rim around in pre-prepared sugar.

Then after adding crushed ice,

She poured in the flesh-colored cocktail she had shaken earlier.

Finally, she drizzled the prepared red syrup…

<Jade Peony>

Rank: ★★★☆ (Extraordinary)

Effect: Will +10 for 2 hours.

Info: A cocktail created in Busan. It got its suggestive name because you have to lick the sugar on the rim.

The bottom of the glass is red and the top is flesh-colored, resembling a woman’s breast. So whose did Jeoksa imagine while making it?

My eyes widened at the status window information appearing in my mind.

Since escaping from Sky Island, this guy keeps adding strange information.

“Here’s your cocktail.”

Jeoksa gently placed the cocktail down with her long fingers.

I stared blankly at the peculiar glass.

“Excuse me… bartender?”

“Yes, what is it?”

Jeoksa narrowed her eyes as she answered my question.

“What does this cocktail have to do with my mood?”

When I pointed at the Jade Peony, the bartender approached me again.

And gently took hold of my pointing finger.

“When did I say I’d match it to your mood?”

Jeoksa brought my captured finger to my lips.

And whispered softly.

“I made this according to my mood.”

The bartender’s gaze moved to my body.

Specifically, toward my chest.

I turned away in shock.

“Just kidding.”

Jeoksa chuckled and patted my head.

“You can’t handle alcohol well. That’s why I made this.”

So she chose something with low alcohol content considering my tolerance.

Well, not a bad decision as a bartender.

In these two months, Jeoksa’s skills have improved a lot.

“By the way, don’t you need to go to Ilshim?”

I asked quietly while holding the Jade Peony.

“It’s fine, they can manage perfectly well without me.”

The bartender picked up an empty glass.

And shook her head as she wiped off dust with a dry cloth.

“They told me to come by if they ever get stuck. Like a consultant.”

So she really quit her job.

Jeoksa was like the star player at Ilshim, yet she quit so easily.

“Well, I’ve earned enough to support you anyway.”

Her mischievous comment.

That one sentence made me hiccup.

“W-what…? I never said anything about living together.”

“Didn’t you know? I bought the apartments above, next to, and below yours-.”

A chill ran down my spine.

No wonder the cigarette smell from the neighbor next door had stopped a few days ago!

“Isn’t it weird to live in such a monthly rental apartment after living in a penthouse?”

I asked with a forced smile.

Jeoksa replied nonchalantly.

“Not at all, I slept there yesterday and it was quite cozy.”

“Oh, by the way, I moved into the apartment above yours.”

Jisoo wrapped both hands around my shoulders as she spoke.

“You too, noona…?!”

Then who’s in the apartment below…

I glanced toward the kitchen.

The sweet smell of fried rice wafting from there.

The flashy wok tossing with flames rising.

After the flames died down, someone walked out of the kitchen.

A white apron.

Silver hair even whiter than the apron.

And cloudy white eyes.

“Phew…”

Anna Danilova.

She came out wiping her forehead with the back of her hand.

With her hair tied in a ponytail, her other hand held a plate.

And on that plate…

There was the egg fried rice that had connected us.

“Your order is ready.”

Hands that once only killed people.

Those hands approached me with the dish.

The fluffy dish placed before me.

I stared down at it blankly.

<Egg Fried Rice>

Rank: ★★★★ (Perfect)

Effect: Strength +10 for 2 hours.

Info: Egg fried rice carefully made by Anna. You didn’t see it in the kitchen, but she mistook oyster sauce for soy sauce and frantically made it again.

“Smells good.”

In the past, it comforted Anna.

Now, it comforts me.

I slowly scooped up a spoonful.

And savored it slowly in my mouth.

“Delicious…”

I couldn’t help but smile.

Anna quit her contract killing job last month too.

And was hired as the chef at our Bar Moment.

Of course, Senior Jiyook strongly objected during the hiring process.

But after seeing her quietly making fried rice, he finally acknowledged her.

“This is good enough to sell right away.”

And I…

Became the manager of Bar Moment.

“So, Manager. Did we pass?”

I pretended to think with my hand on my chin.

I never thought the day would come when I would evaluate these rankers.

It feels strange yet satisfying.

“Hmm-.”

As I looked around wondering what to evaluate first,

I suddenly noticed Jisoo holding the menu.

“First, the service. Your smile is pretty and you’re very kind, which is great.”

Jisoo scratched the side of her head and smiled innocently.

“However, placing your hand on a customer’s waist is inappropriate.”

Anna and Jeoksa glanced at Jisoo.

She covered her lips with the menu and shook her head.

“And the cocktail, it tasted good. The proportions were right and I could feel the care put into it.”

I looked intently at Jeoksa as I spoke.

“But teasing customers and giving uncomfortable stares should be avoided.”

Anna and Jisoo glanced at Jeoksa.

She just shrugged her shoulders.

“Finally, the fried rice. It was delicious!”

Anna held the tray at her waist with the same expressionless face she might have had after slitting dozens of throats.

“Of course it was. I made it.”

At that sight, the two rankers beside her snickered.

“But it would be nice if you smiled a little when bringing out the food.”

I placed my fingers at the corners of my mouth and pulled them up into a wide smile.

Anna tried her best to smile, twitching the corners of her mouth.

Thanks to that, I discovered for the first time that she has a dimple on one cheek.

“Anyway, you all did great.”

I stood up from the counter stool.

“Now we’re ready to open!”

I clasped my hands together and told them.