Ch.64Soju-Beer Mix 2

The Pojang Macha Street in Sindaebang.

This place is lively and crowded even late at night.

Since the Security Force patrols frequently, monster appearances are quite rare here.

In the past, when I formed a party with Jisu noona.

When our rank was low and work was scarce, we often came here to unwind after missions.

The savory smell of food and the bustling sounds of people.

It’s exactly as I remember from those nostalgic days.

“Nice-.”

I took a deep breath.

But the expressions of the women accompanying me weren’t so bright.

“When you said you’d treat us, I wondered where we’d go…”

Jeoksa had never been to a place like a pojang macha in her life.

She’d always eaten healthy food prepared by her father, and when being entertained, she only drank high-end food and whiskey.

“…”

Anna was the same.

She’s an extreme value-for-money enthusiast who doesn’t enjoy alcohol or dining out.

How efficiency-focused must she be to have lived her whole life eating tasteless protein bars?

That must be why she went crazy over fried rice with eggs and hoarded all those onions and eggs.

“W-well, try it first before judging. This place is better than you’d think, you know?”

Embarrassed by their cold reactions, I deliberately linked arms with both of them.

The two predators reluctantly allowed themselves to be dragged into a pojang macha.

“Auntie, it’s been a while!”

I waved cheerfully at the middle-aged woman who was flipping pajeon alone.

Hearing my voice, the wrinkled auntie turned her head energetically.

But she soon tilted her head in confusion.

The person waving happily at her was a young woman she’d never seen before.

“Have you been here before, miss?”

Usually, even when she doesn’t remember a customer, the auntie would smile and let it slide.

But this young woman before her was truly a complete stranger.

“Ah…”

Only then did I realize.

My appearance had changed dramatically.

“Ah… I guess it’s been too long for you to remember…”

Trying to brush it off, I claimed a spacious corner seat.

The auntie, puzzled by my behavior, brought out side dishes and water while tilting her head.

“That can’t be right. I remember every customer who’s ever visited.”

“Ahaha…”

I laughed awkwardly as I poured water.

Then I ordered something familiar from the menu on the wall.

“I’ll have somaek and cheese pork ribs, please. Extra cheese- lots of it!”

I’ve been loving cheese lately.

But Anna seemed dissatisfied with my order, staring intently at the menu.

“Don’t you like pork ribs, Anna?”

“No. I’ve never tried them, so I don’t know. But…”

I followed her gaze to examine the menu carefully.

‘King-sized rolled eggs…?’

Right.

She likes eggs.

“Auntie, one rolled eggs too!”

“Well, you must have been here before if you know our pork ribs are good.”

Satisfied with my order, she went into the kitchen to cook.

Soon, the auntie brought out the soju and beer first.

“It’s been so long since I had somaek-.”

I picked up the beer bottle covered in white condensation.

The charm of this place is that they keep the beer almost freezing cold.

“Where’s the bottle opener?”

Jeoksa asked with her chin resting on her hand, looking unimpressed.

I smirked at the rich young lady.

“Our executive must have been raised too preciously to know-.”

I took out a spoon and casually popped the cap off.

Her eyes widened at the sight.

“Hehe, surprised already?”

I prepare the beer glasses.

First, I pour soju about a quarter of the way into a glass.

Next… I cover the mouth of the beer bottle with my finger.

Then I shake the bottle vigorously.

When I spray the erupting foam directly into the glass with the soju…!

<Cream Somaek>

Grade: ★★☆

Effect: Will increases by 5 for 10 minutes.

Info: An upgraded version of somaek. Filled with creamy beer foam for a smooth drinking experience.

But be careful, as it makes you drunk more easily.

“This is. Cream Somaek.”

I give a thumbs up with a serious expression.

The two women watch curiously.

“It’s surprising that someone who looks like they’d get drunk after one glass knows such things.”

Jeoksa observes the creamy drink with her arms crossed.

Anna does the same.

Her eyes sparkle like a cat’s at this bartending technique she’s never seen before.

The two killers take the drinks I made.

They slowly sip the foam.

White foam clings to both women’s lips.

Anna licks hers off with her tongue, while Jeoksa’s remains.

I move closer to her.

I wipe her lips with the handkerchief I had been wearing while bartending.

“I-I’m fine.”

She startled and tried to push my hand away, but when I narrowed my eyes and pointed at her lips, she finally allowed me to touch her face.

“Now, next is- Uiju!”

“Uiju?”

Anna tilts her head at the unfamiliar term.

Jeoksa seems momentarily stunned.

I prepare three soju glasses.

I place two chopsticks across one glass.

Then I balance another glass on top.

And one more in the same way.

This creates a three-story tower.

“Then I pour the soju in like this-!”

The soju overflows from the top glass like a waterfall, filling the glasses below.

<Uiju>

Grade: ★☆

Effect: Will increases by 1 for 1 hour.

Info: It’s called “loyalty drink” to sound fancy, but it’s just regular soju.

“Here, take a glass each-.”

I push the glasses toward the two women in a historical drama tone.

Anna, seemingly unfamiliar with soju, rotates her glass curiously.

“Keu-.”

I grimace after drinking the shot.

Seeing this, Jeoksa smirks.

“Between this and how you ate that pork cutlet before, you’re just like an old man.”

“Right. Like Manager Daehyuk.”

Anna agrees, mentioning the Moment restaurant owner.

My face reddens at their comments.

“What do you mean ‘old man’? This is how you properly enjoy alcohol. Come on, try it.”

But the two killers ignore my suggestion.

They just stare intensely at the glasses in front of them.

These two are too quiet for their own good.

They both lack human warmth.

I observe the two women with my flushed face.

The executive with her elegant long black hair and captivating red eyes.

Plus her haughty demeanor and perfect body in that tailored suit.

The beautiful silver hair and mysterious white eyes.

Contrasted by her toned physique and decadent aura.

They’re pleasant to look at, but drinking with them makes me feel suffocated.

Besides Jisu noona, I haven’t really spent time with other women.

Their lukewarm response makes me sigh.

Even though I suggested this drinking session, it’s too difficult.

Perhaps due to that fatigue, I kept drinking alone.

The alcohol tastes sweet after finishing a hard day’s work.

Even after the food arrived, I was drinking more than eating.

Seeing me like this, Jeoksa asks with concern:

“Aren’t you drinking too much?”

“I’m fine- fine. I used to easily handle two bottles by myself back in the day.”

Of course, that was when I was a man.

I raised my glass to drink again.

But then…

“Ugh!”

“What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly like this?”

Jeoksa and Anna’s eyes flash at my sudden expression of pain.

My pupils shake violently as I look at them.

“Is it a side effect of the aphrodisiac?”

“Damn. I thought you were drinking too much.”

The two women approach and grab my small shoulders.

I look at the killers pitifully and say:

“It hurts so much…”

“Where?”

“H-here.”

With trembling fingers, I point somewhere.

The two women lower their gaze following my finger.

It’s my left chest.

“My heart hurts because you two won’t drink with me.”

My tear ducts contort as if they’re sad too.

Seeing my expression, Jeoksa and Anna both become serious.

“Did they. Teach you. That in Chinatown too?”

Anna stabs first with her words.

“You definitely used to be like a squirrel, but now you’ve become a complete fox.”

Jeoksa delivers the finishing blow.

Unlike their earlier awkwardness with each other, the two are now united in poking at my heart.

Still… this is what I wanted.

If the atmosphere can liven up even at my expense…

The two seem to appreciate my effort, as they pick up their glasses.

Jeoksa tilts her glass first.

It’s like watching a CF photoshoot, and I stare at her blankly.

Anna is even more of a sight.

She downs her glass, imitating me.

And then…

“Keu.”

For a moment, I thought I’d misheard.

“Did you just imitate me?”

Anna silently nods.

With a completely expressionless face and tone.

I burst into laughter at her awkward effort.

“What was that- I thought you were a machine!”

“I’m trying. To understand you all.”

“Yes, good job, well done-.”

I pat Anna’s shoulder like a child.

She touches the shoulder I patted.

Their efforts warm my heart.

This is how a drinking session should be—bright and cheerful.

“That’s not it. Move your face more to show a refreshed expression. Yes, like that.”

At Jeoksa’s request, Anna closes her eyes.

She furrows her white eyebrows and makes a sound.

“Keu.”

“That’s it. When drinking, making a face makes you more charming.”

As expected of a former model, her expression coaching is impressive.

Satisfied with the drinking atmosphere, I half-close my drowsy eyes.

Usually, Jisu noona always played this role…

Now I’m doing it myself.

Maybe I’ve grown a little, just as noona said.

I sit up and grab the pork ribs that arrived.

I enjoy tearing into the meat with stretchy cheese using both hands.

To avoid getting drunk quickly, I need to eat plenty of food.

Another piece of meat with plenty of cheese lands on my plate.

It’s one I had my eye on—with less bone and more meat.

“You eat well.”

Jeoksa somehow knew what I was thinking and looks down at me with her chin resting on her hand, smiling.

As expected of a corporate executive, her heart is as vast as the ocean.

I immediately picked up the meat she gave me and ate it.

“What are you going to do from now on?”

Is she asking about my future vision, as befitting an executive?

I pondered what to answer to Jeoksa’s question.

Come to think of it, I can’t remember what I wanted to do besides bartending.

My healing abilities as a Healer have become quite decent.

I’ve decided not to use it much, but I can also read memories.

I can make potions for combat use too.

What should someone like me do from now on?

“I don’t know. I’ll probably keep making cocktail potions…”

Seeing my uncertainty, Jeoksa sipped her soju.

She wiped her lips lightly with the back of her hand and asked:

“What about becoming a Potion Master?”

“Potion Master?”

“Yes, ability users officially recognized by the Association for making potions.”

I think I’ve heard of it.

While low-grade potions are cheap, high-grade ones are premium items that only Potion Masters can make.

“Honestly, your potions. It’s a shame to just sell them as a wandering street vendor.”

“That’s true…”

“If you’re recognized as a Potion Master, the Association will provide funding, and you can regularly supply potions to rankers.”

Master… it does sound appealing.

If that happens, rankers would come buy my potions without me having to find them.

“The problem is that I can’t help you with that.”

Jeoksa flicked her gold-plated lighter.

That makes sense.

After all, Ilshim is the Association’s greatest enemy.

“No, you’ve helped me so much already. I should handle this myself.”

I forced a smile and shook my head.

I’ve already received a lot of help from Jeoksa.

She sold me alcohol at a cheap price.

She rescued me from Chinatown…

The memory makes my body tingle.

I shiver involuntarily, squeezing my thighs together.

“Anna, are you an unaffiliated killer?”

Jeoksa asks Anna, trying to find some connection.

Anna shakes her head while chewing on a large piece of rolled eggs.

“No, I have. An affiliation.”

The killer with puffy cheeks says calmly.

“I regularly receive. Requests from a Councilor.”

Wait, a Councilor…?

Then she’s affiliated with the Association.

And at the highest position.

As it turns out, the killer before my eyes had closer ties to the Association than anyone else.