Ch.82Cocktail Chocolate 3

“Hey, hey- Mr. Siho.”

“Yes-, Ms. Misha.”

“This is so wonderful. Please say my name one more time.”

“Ms. Misha?”

Every time I called her name, Misha twisted her muscular body, expressing happiness with her entire being.

Just like a black twisted pretzel…

Perhaps that’s why I got goosebumps.

I pulled up my shirt to cover my shoulders.

It’s already cold with the chilly air leaking from the laboratory entrance…

Misha’s eccentric behavior makes my body feel even colder.

I stare blankly at the white laboratory entrance.

What on earth are they researching in there that requires being on the 10th underground floor and even having a dedicated cocktail bar?

Suddenly curious, I look at Misha.

To the shy woman, I ask gently.

“Um, Misha. Can I ask you something?”

“Yes-. Anything.”

“What kind of research does our lab do?”

There was a specific reason why I was asking so persistently.

It was the memories I had seen from Anna.

According to those memories, they kept people confined and forced them to fight each other until they awakened.

And in the end, they even administered drugs…

Surely this place isn’t like that…?

Judging by Misha’s bright demeanor, it doesn’t seem like that kind of place…

But honestly, I’m a bit anxious after seeing that doctor who drank a Gin Fizz before leaving work.

If the blood on that doctor’s coat was human blood…

“Our institute mainly educates and manages hunters who are unskilled at controlling their abilities.”

She raised her finger and muttered as if reciting a clause.

“We manage, monitor, and protect.”

Protect, huh…

So that means there are numerous hunters being housed in there?

Surely they’re not forcibly injecting drugs like they did with Anna?

Maybe I should ask for a tour just to be sure.

I am a proper association employee now, after all.

I opened my mouth to ask Misha.

But before I could finish speaking, Misha suddenly froze as if time had stopped for her alone.

What’s going on…?

“Yes, Mother. Yes. I understand.”

She muttered to herself as if receiving some kind of revelation.

Eventually, Misha turned her head mechanically and looked down at me.

“Mr. Siho, I need to go inside (the laboratory) for a moment.”

She speaks to me with a serious expression, unlike her cheerful demeanor from earlier.

I nodded reflexively, and soon she heads toward the laboratory door that I was so curious about, with heavy footsteps.

“If there’s any problem, press the counter bell three times in succession. I’ll come running right away.”

“Ah, okay…”

Her advice makes my body tense up involuntarily.

When she says it like that, it really feels like something might happen…

Misha bowed her head and entered through the door.

I stood on my tiptoes hoping to catch a glimpse of the interior through the opening, but I couldn’t see anything.

It was because the inside of the laboratory was very dark.

That just makes me more curious…

Putting aside my disappointment, I started wiping the glasses.

Even the glasses here are top-notch.

One of these could buy two full sets of glasses at our Moment…

Suddenly, I miss Moment.

Of course, I’ve arranged to work there at night after finishing here…

This bar has too few customers.

After the doctor who visited earlier, no one else has come.

It’s already 6 PM.

At this rate, I might as well just go home.

I stretch out fully.

As I stretch, my sleeveless shirt rolls up.

Startled by the sudden exposure of my navel, I quickly pull down the rolled-up shirt.

Why did Jaehee pick out clothes like this…

Does she think I’m an idol like her?

I looked around, worried that someone might have seen that unsightly display.

And then I was startled.

Someone had arrived at the counter without making any noise and was staring blankly at me.

A short-haired woman with freckles and glasses.

“What’s this? I heard you get free cocktails if you come here, but there’s only some part-timer?”

She glares at me with a face full of discontent.

I quickly compose myself and greet the customer.

“Ah, I’m actually the bartender. What would you like to drink?”

“You’re the bartender? Come on, and why are you dressed like that?”

“The council member told me not to come in formal attire.”

The woman nods at the mention of the council member.

But soon, true to her vicious face, she crosses her arms and glares at me again.

“Well then, let’s see you pour some drinks.”

My lips twitch at the research assistant’s rude attitude.

But… I can’t cause trouble on my first day.

“What would you like?”

“Do I have to tell you that? I heard a bartender should be able to make something just by looking at a customer’s mood.”

This person must have only seen bartenders in comics.

I forced a smile and asked her kindly.

“I’m sorry, do you have any preferred flavors or alcohol content?”

The short woman bounced her feet for a moment, thinking, then finally spoke.

“Something sweet.”

“Understood.”

Right, something sweet is best when you’re irritated.

I chuckled inwardly and picked up a glass.

I know just the cocktail for someone like her.

I elegantly flick my fingers.

Then I place the glass in the center of the bar table.

In a clean glass…

Filled with clear ice cubes.

Sweet and creamy chocolate Baileys, 1/4.

Smooth milk, 3/4.

Gently stir it all together…

<Baileys Milk>

Rating: ★★★☆

Effect: Increases Calmness by 5 for 1 hour.

Information: A flawless Baileys Milk. The alcohol content is so low it’s almost like chocolate milk. It’s smooth and sweet enough for even children to drink.

“Here’s your Baileys Milk.”

I slowly pushed the glass toward the woman.

However, she didn’t immediately pick up the glass.

She stared at the brown drink I gave her as if suspicious.

“Is this really alcohol? It looks just like chocolate milk.”

“Haha… Yes, it is. It’s a smooth and sweet cocktail.”

I met her suspicion with a smile.

It’s much tastier than chocolate milk, though-

I closed my eyes, anticipating the researcher’s smile.

But the response that came from the woman after taking a sip was…

“Hey, what kind of drink is this! Are you messing with me?”

Her saliva mixed with Baileys Milk splatters on my face.

Seriously, this person…

“I’m already stressed enough, and now the drinks are terrible too? If I’d known, I would have stayed at the island research facility…”

What did I do wrong…?

My brow furrows involuntarily as I watch the woman venting her work stress on me.

But I can’t get angry here.

I’m a professional now.

Perhaps it’s because of the compliments Misha gave me earlier.

Somehow my patience has risen to match her praise.

Alright, let me be patient one more time…

“Ma’am, so you want something with moderate sweetness but where you can feel the alcohol?”

“Isn’t that obvious? It’s alcohol after all.”

She pointed at me, spraying dark saliva.

I took a deep breath and nodded.

Right…

I get it… I get it…

Let me gather my thoughts for a moment.

Despite her appearance, she likes drinks with a decent alcohol content, so a vodka base would be good.

And it needs to be sweet too.

For this type of customer, the perfect cocktail would be…

In a clear glass…

Place one clean, large ice cube.

Pour 1 and 1/2 ounces of pungent vodka over it.

1 ounce of fragrant coffee-flavored Kahlúa.

Finally, gently pour 1 ounce of dairy cream on top…

<White Russian>

Rating: ★★★★

Effect: Instantly removes 70% of bleeding status.

Information: A perfectly made cocktail according to the recipe. However, since the customer was unlikable, it wasn’t made with any particular affection or care.

“Here’s your White Russian.”

Black liquor at the bottom, soft cream on top.

An impressive black and white drink was completed.

Gritting my teeth, I handed the glass to the rude woman.

This time, she seemed to like the appearance and nodded.

You could have just said that from the beginning.

“This one looks a bit better…”

She picked up the glass with expectant eyes.

And immediately took a stance to drink it.

“Uh, wait… You should stir it before drinking for better…”

She already drank it.

She gulped down the glass with cream all over her lips.

Why does everyone here down cocktails in one shot… Ugh!

What I feared happened.

The woman seemed fine until she swallowed the cream.

But as soon as the strong vodka poured into her mouth, the cream she had swallowed erupted from her throat like a volcano.

In the end, the counter table became a mess of cream and black liquor.

“Hey, why is this drink so strong!”

She pointed at me, panting.

“But you asked for something stronger…”

As I mumbled with my hands clasped together, her voice grew even louder.

“I told you I wanted something sweet! Isn’t this just alcohol with some cream thrown on top?”

That’s what this cocktail is…

“You’re just being careless with me because you think I’m easy to mess with, right? Because I’m just a junior researcher…!”

Her face turned bright red.

Her freckles looked like they were about to burst.

I can’t believe there’s a customer like this.

Even Moment didn’t have people like her…

I sighed deeply.

Then carefully pressed the bell.

3 times.

I’m not sure if this bell sound will reach inside the laboratory.

While I was unwillingly becoming her emotional trash can…

The woman suddenly stopped her barking.

Because a massive footstep sound was coming from the laboratory.

A magnificent vibration, like a dinosaur approaching, gradually gets closer.

“—!”

The laboratory door shatters.

Eventually, Misha with fiercely bulked-up muscles appears.

She approaches us, exhaling white steam from her mouth.

Both the woman and I showed relieved expressions at the sight.

“Misha!”

“Deputy Director, you’re here!”

The female researcher calls out to him first.

“Look at how this so-called bartender treats customers.”

But Misha ignored the junior employee’s words.

The person he approached first was me.

“Mr. Siho, what’s the matter?”

He looks at me with an apologetic expression, hands politely folded.

I gave him a dejected look.

“What should I do… I guess my drinks aren’t good enough… As you can see, the customer is very upset…”

When I pouted my lips, Misha responded with a deeply sympathetic expression.

“That can’t be! Who would dare to… to a 10-point review bartender!”

Misha’s face contorts severely.

He turns his head 180 degrees like a ghost to look at the research staff.

“Uh… Deputy Director?”

The female staff shows a bewildered expression at Misha’s completely changed attitude.

“Who do you think you are… to dare speak rudely to our Mr. Siho?”

“Don’t… don’t you remember me? I just joined…”

She stutters, pointing at herself.

“Ah, you? I remember. You’re the one who acted all high and mighty because you’re an academy researcher, then caused a test subject to go berserk.”

“I was going to fire you, but the research team leader begged me to give you one more chance considering your background.”

“I was planning to smash your head if you messed up one more time, but you’re giving me the opportunity on your own.”

It’s a voice I’ve never heard before.

Misha usually speaks so gently that I didn’t realize how terrifying he could be when angry.

“De-Deputy Director… I’m a valuable employee of the research institute. Why are you defending a mere bartender instead of me…?”

She appeals as if wronged.

In response, Misha raises his massive arm into the air.

“—!”

Soon that arm falls onto the counter table.

And…

The table was completely crushed like tofu.

The strike was so powerful that blue sparks rose from Misha’s biceps.

“Interns like you… can be replaced anytime…”

His voice distorts like a broken machine.

Perhaps because of this, a female voice seems to mix with his masculine voice.

“But Mr. Siho is the only bartender of his kind in this world…”

A flash of light emanates from his black pupils.

The woman fell backward at the sight of the bizarre Misha.

“Understand…?”

He approached the fallen woman with heavy steps and thrust his face close to hers.

The terrified employee shakes her head frantically.

“Then get out now!”

His voice is so loud that the entire lounge bar shakes.

Startled by the voice, the employee staggers to her feet.

Then she scurries away toward the elevator passage.

Now I understand.

The reason why employees don’t last long and flee from the research institute…

Seeing it firsthand, it all makes sense.

“Why does Mother only recruit such personnel…”

Misha still growls, seemingly not having calmed down.

Then, realizing I’m still around, he immediately softens his expression.

“Oh my, I’m sorry, Mr. Siho… Did I scare you?”

“No… Actually, I feel a bit relieved thanks to you.”

Having witnessed Jeoksa and Anna’s spectacular show before, I’m not particularly fazed.

I’m just worried about Misha’s tattered arm.

“Misha, your arm…”

“Oh no… What should I do, I was so angry I used maximum output…”

He scratches his bald head anxiously.

“This was expensive…”

He kneels his heavy knees on the floor for a moment.

Soon, strange metallic sounds start coming from his body.

What, what is this…

His back muscles begin to twitch.

Eventually, he stops functioning completely as if the power has been cut off.

Then, his spine slowly begins to split open.

Soon, a fair arm suddenly pops out from that muscular body.

My mouth fell open at the sight I’d never seen before.

The person emerging from the muscular Misha.

Was a small girl with long golden hair.

The girl with her forehead clearly exposed crawled out of the muscular body holding a Phillips screwdriver. Then, in a tank top that clung to her body due to sweat, she inspected the man.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll make a new table for you right away.”

The girl, who was about 150 cm tall, said to me.

She wiped the sweat pouring from her forehead with the hand holding the screwdriver.

It must have been very hot inside.

“Uh… take your time…”

I responded to her in a daze.