Ch.81Cocktail Chocolate 2

“What are you doing, not following?”

The child with the hat gestures to me.

I stare blankly outside the elevator for a moment, then carefully follow him.

The reason for my hesitation is simple.

The scene that unfolded when the elevator opened was extremely bizarre.

A long corridor stretches out, with a modest door embedded at the far end.

Moreover, the corridor is surrounded by opaque glass walls.

It’s like a path leading to an experimental lab you’d see in a zombie movie.

“—.”

I let out a yelp when we reach the end.

White gas was spraying from above.

“That’s funny. Everyone who comes here has the same reaction.”

Following his finger, I look up to see a sharp sprayer.

Fortunately, it was just disinfectant gas.

“But the lobby isn’t bad. It’s an exact replica of a five-star hotel.”

He opens the door with an air of boredom.

And at that moment.

Unlike the sci-fi movie atmosphere I’d seen until now, an elegant hotel lobby unfolds before me.

The contrast leaves my mouth hanging open.

Am I dreaming right now?

A hotel lobby on the 10th basement floor…

“Well, as you can see, our baldy has quite refined tastes.”

The boy shrugs and points to the restaurant entrance on the left.

From inside, I hear a familiar sound.

The clinking of glasses.

The sound most familiar and comforting to me.

Going inside, I couldn’t help but be surprised.

A lounge bar.

On the 10th basement floor of the research facility was a cocktail bar lined with bottles.

In the center, a man polishing glasses.

A tanned, muscular bald man whose entire body looked like it might burst.

His biceps were so massive they strained his shirt, making it hard to breathe.

Could this be the baldy I was warned about…

“03, I brought the stray.”

“A stray?”

He asks in a deep voice befitting his appearance.

Soon, the muscular man raises his head to look at me.

“Wait a minute… Could that person be…”

He stutters as if experiencing lag when he sees me.

“Ah, hello… I’m Han Siho, starting work here today.”

I bow my head in greeting.

But I soon had to raise it again.

The man who saw me had completely frozen, as if he’d malfunctioned.

The boy standing next to me heaved a deep sigh.

“When you leave, just go back the way you came.”

“Okay, thanks for guiding me.”

“Don’t mention it… Next time we meet, let’s have a good round.”

He waves the phone in his hand.

I make a finger gun gesture and wink at him.

The boy smirks and heads out of the lounge.

The man called 03 watches our interaction intently.

Soon, he parts his thick lips.

“How fascinating. You’re the first person to become friends with 07 so easily.”

“Really? He seemed very kind and friendly.”

“Th-that’s… because Siho is so pretty, kind, and cute…”

Did I hear that correctly?

I turn around at the embarrassing voice behind me.

The man who met my eyes quickly averted his gaze.

Then he bit his finger shyly like a young girl.

No, why is a grown man acting so girlish?

A strange discomfort makes my body tense up.

He slowly approaches me.

Being at least 190cm tall, his dark shadow looms over me.

“Why… why are you coming closer?”

Instinctively feeling afraid, I stammer and step back.

But I soon understood why he approached, so I stopped retreating.

The man extended a piece of paper and pen with his enormous hand.

“P-please sign this…”

“Sign…?”

My brow furrows.

Ah, is he talking about a contract?

But for a contract, there’s nothing written on the paper…

It’s completely blank.

“Actually, I’m a huge fan of yours!!”

He shouted so loudly that the lounge bar echoed.

I almost covered my ears with both hands.

“A fan of mine…? But I’ve never been on TV or broadcasts…”

The man smirked at my confused reaction.

Then he gestured for me to follow him behind the bar.

When he opened a side door and turned on the light, an unimaginable sight unfolded.

The small room was covered with photos of me.

From pictures taken at the academy to ones of me bartending at Moment Bar.

Some were even taken secretly.

“Actually, I was the one who asked the councilman to recruit you.”

The man smiles at my shocked expression.

Then he explained how much he admired me.

“You even gave lectures at the academy recently. I’ve watched your Rainbow Aide demonstration video hundreds of times!”

He twisted his body in ecstasy at the thought.

With that huge frame twisting around, it’s as uncomfortable as watching a bodybuilder strike a pose.

“Plus, you received the highest rating in power blogger Jung Gil’s ‘Cocktail Journal’! As expected… I knew Siho would get a perfect 10…”

His rapid-fire mumbling makes my head spin.

It’s nice to have a fan in this wide world, but this is too scary…

I deliberately steadied my voice.

I picked up the pen to escape this bizarre room quickly.

“Ah, okay… I’ll sign it.”

I placed the pen tip in the middle of the blank paper.

But I couldn’t draw anything readily.

I never had a signature to begin with.

Damn, what should I write?

Maybe I should draw a character.

After wracking my brain, I drew a wolf face with a cocktail glass next to it.

There’s no particular reason I drew a wolf.

Maybe because of Anna who wore a headband at the amusement park a few days ago.

“What’s your name?”

“Oh my, my name…”

He had an ecstatic expression as if he’d been singled out by an idol.

It’s clearly a positive expression, but somehow it’s burdensome.

“My name is Misha… Misha Danilova.”

The man slowly shook his head with his hands on his cheeks.

I slowly wrote the name in the corner of the signature as he said.

Misha… Danilova…

Wait, Danilova?

Something’s off.

It’s strange.

The name is too feminine for a man.

But more than anything, her full name sounds too familiar.

Danilova.

Wasn’t Anna’s surname also Danilova?

While I was frowning and deep in thought,

A bell rings from the cocktail bar.

“Oh my, a customer has arrived!”

His deep voice broke my concentration.

The man rushed to the cocktail bar with heavy footsteps.

Going outside, indeed, a man was standing in front of the counter.

A middle-aged man in a white coat, with red bloodstains scattered across his clothes.

Wait a minute.

Is this really a customer…?

“Isn’t it our doctor-.”

But the man greeted him as if nothing was unusual about his appearance.

The man also smiled lightly as if familiar with the situation.

“Misha, you’re not alone today?”

“Yes, this is the bartender I’ve been wanting to recruit.”

“Ah, the one who even gave lectures at the academy?”

“Yes-.”

I don’t know how to react to this sudden shower of praise.

I forced a smile and waved my hands dismissively.

“Then, can I finally have a proper cocktail instead of that dog-awful Gin Fizz?”

“No way-. First, I need to demonstrate to Siho myself.”

Dog-awful Gin Fizz…?

While I tilted my head in confusion, Misha prepared for bartending.

“Do I really have to drink it… I’m really exhausted today…”

The man asks Misha with an anxious expression despite coming here himself.

What’s this? If he doesn’t want to drink, can’t he just refuse?

“No way. Don’t you remember Rule 1 of employment?”

Misha shook his head firmly.

“Everyone working in the research facility must mandatorily drink Misha’s special cocktail.”

What kind of ridiculous rule is that?

I pressed my lips together in disbelief.

“Sigh… Fine. Just give it to me quickly. So I can drink it and go home.”

Now I understand the man’s attitude.

Having to drink something you don’t want to… I’ve never seen such a workplace before.

What kind of workplace forces alcohol on people?

He blinks his elongated eyelids and glances at me nervously.

Due to his enormous fingers, the glass looks as small as a soju shot.

Gin, 1 ounce in a clean glass.

Sugar syrup, 1.5 ounces.

Carbonated water, fill up.

The ingredients are the same, but…

It looks really sloppy.

Whether it’s because the glass is too small or his fingers are too large,

He struggled terribly just to make a simple Gin Fizz.

“Ah, right. I forgot the lemon juice!”

He was about to serve the precarious Gin Fizz to the doctor but took it back.

Then he pours lemon juice over the transparent glass.

“With lots of love-.”

A murky liquid pours into the Gin Fizz.

Wait a minute… is that right?!

“Here… customer! Your Gin Fizz is ready!”

<Gin Fizz of Doom>

Grade: ☆

Effect: Discomfort increases by 2. Mental strength increases by 5 for 5 minutes.

Info: A messy Gin Fizz made by Misha. Not only did he not follow the recipe, but he also poured in sour lemon juice, making it unpleasant to drink. However, thanks to the intense sourness, it does temporarily increase mental strength.

No way, a half-star cocktail…

My eyes widen at this grade I’ve never seen before.

But the doctor picked up the glass as if used to it.

Then he downed it in one go like beer.

As if trying to end a terrible moment all at once…

“Gahk!”

His reaction is like he just drank poison.

He clutched his throat and collapsed into his seat.

Is he going to die like this?

“Was my love too much…?”

He tilts his head with a strange expression.

Well, of course it’s strange. What on earth did you learn if you’re my fan!

As if drugged, the doctor’s expressions varied wildly.

From grimaces to hollow laughter, he went back and forth between heaven and hell.

“But you still have to finish it. It’s a cocktail filled with my ‘abundant’ love.”

At these words that sound like a death sentence, the doctor’s expression becomes distant.

He looked up at me intently.

An expression desperately pleading to be freed from this hellish bar.

That expression makes me acutely aware of what must have happened here all this time.

“Shall I give it a try?”

I ask the customer with a forced smile.

He nodded desperately in response.

“Oh my, a cocktail made directly by Siho!”

Misha’s black eyes sparkle.

He quickly grabs his phone and presses the record button.

“Gin Fizz isn’t that difficult.”

I smile slightly and take the equipment Misha was using.

Somehow, all the equipment is high-end.

A jigger made of copper, the most expensive brand of lemon juice on the market.

Even the gin is premium Hendrick’s. (Nearly twice as expensive as other gins)

I skillfully flick my fingers to grab the jigger.

Then I pour gin into it.

Let’s get started.

First, put ice in the shaker.

Next…

Hendrick’s gin, 1 and 1/2 ounces.

Lemon juice, half an ounce.

Add a bit of sugar syrup…

I shake it vigorously enough to make my ponytail dance.

Misha and the doctor stare blankly at the sight.

When the exciting shaking is done…

Put more ice in the glass.

Then use a bar spoon to stir the ice quickly.

Remove the ice from the chilled glass and pour in the shaken liquor.

Finally, fill it to the top with carbonated water…

<Gin Fizz>

Grade: ★★★★★

Effect: Mental strength permanently increases by 10. (Not stackable)

Info: A flawless Gin Fizz made by Siho. She used less lemon than usual for the doctor who experienced strong acidity from Misha’s drink. To even show such thoughtful consideration, quite impressive-.

“Your Gin Fizz is ready.”

I politely push the glass toward the doctor.

He adjusts his glasses and stares at the cocktail.

“Yes, this is a Gin Fizz. Look at the color. It’s transparent!”

The doctor exclaimed as if he’d made a great discovery.

But due to his recent intense experience, he seemed uncomfortable drinking another Gin Fizz.

“However, I’m not sure if I can properly taste it in my current state.”

“I anticipated that, so I used less lemon than usual. Please give it a try.”

I smile brightly and pull up my flowing shirt.

“I see-. Indeed, a proper bartender is even thoughtful.”

He sighed with relief at my words.

Then slowly brought the glass to his lips.

The doctor’s Adam’s apple moves.

Unlike Misha’s Gin Fizz that he spat out after one sip, this is different.

The glass gradually emptied until the bottom was visible.

“Ahh-.”

He let out a refreshed sound.

The doctor slammed the glass on the counter and exclaimed loudly.

“This is a Gin Fizz! Truly… this is the taste I wanted…”

The middle-aged man’s eyes well up with tears.

As if all his years had been nothing but suffering, he removed his glasses and wiped his tears.

No, just how terrible was Misha’s cocktail…!

I looked at Misha with tension.

The dark-skinned man smiled broadly and met my eyes.

He gave me a thumbs up as if he knew nothing.

“As expected, it’s Siho’s cocktail!”

“A cocktail that moves people!”

He quotes the phrase that appeared in the Academy News.

I shook my head in embarrassment.

Fortunately, my first day at the research facility wasn’t scary.

But I’m extremely tired because of this energetic, large man.

Wait, is he even a man?

The feminine name and the way he chatters like a woman…

It feels like there’s some secret hidden here…