episode_0009

Rating: ☆

Effect: None.

Information: A cocktail made by mixing stout and champagne in a 1:1 ratio simultaneously.

However, due to a failed attempt at controlling the quantity, it overflowed.

It’s a properly ‘ruined drink’ with a messed-up ratio.

“Here is your Black Velvet.”

I handed Anna the sticky cup blankly.

Anna gazed intently at the dirty plating before asking me,

“Are you telling me to drink this?”

“Yes.”

I said calmly while wiping my hands with a towel.

Judging by her expression, she seemed to have trouble recalling a time when she was truly happy.

Understandable.

The girl I saw in those memories still retained some rationality.

She wasn’t a psycho who would kill people without hesitation like she does now.

“Really? A cocktail made with cheap champagne?”

It was a valid question.

Given Jiwuk’s words, she must have tried all the expensive drinks in countless inns she visited.

But none of those places survived.

After all, her definition of ‘good alcohol’ wasn’t based on price.

“Sometimes, I miss drinking soju with friends more than expensive drinks I have alone.”

It was the last thing I could say to her.

Now, all that matters is the outcome; all I can do is silently pray.

Anna brushed aside her silky silver hair and sipped from the glass.

As she tilted the glass, my heart started pounding like crazy.

Please just finish it…

“—!”

However, Anna barely took a sip before placing the glass straight back on the table.

It was such a small amount that it seemed like she hardly drank any.

The faces of the musicians and the lady paled at the sight.

“How is it…?”

I asked Anna, looking into her dull white eyes.

Her dilated pupils stared blankly at me, devoid of any emotion.

She was the Angelic Hand who pushed away my drink.

I had no idea if my drink reached her emotions.

Eventually, the killer rose silently from his seat.

And he picked up the sword he had placed on the floor.

“—!”

The staff recoiled in shock, taking even more steps backward.

They soon found themselves pressed against the wall.

“We have nothing to do with this. She just drank the damn drink like a dog!”

Anna didn’t react to the outburst.

Instead, she slowly leaned towards me.

As if observing me.

Her smooth, white skin filled my entire vision.

A faint scent of soap lingered at the tip of my nose.

“It’s a mess.”

Anna said quietly.

Soon, her dark shadow loomed over me.

My eyelids trembled.

Resigned, I simply closed my eyes.

Feeling the blood in my body sink, anticipating the imminent pain, I humbly held my breath.

“—?”

No matter how long I waited, the blade did not pierce my throat.

Instead, a sensation I had never felt before lingered at the tip of my chin.

Her gentle touch grasped my chin and turned it slightly.

As if inspecting a doll to purchase.

“Why?”

Soon, an emotionless voice tapped my ear.

“W-What… What do you mean?”

“Why did you give this to me of all people?”

I avoided her gaze with clasped hands.

And spoke softly.

“Somehow, it seems like you’ve tried beer before, but champagne seems new to you.”

As I said that, small waves appeared in Anna’s cloudy eyes.

I gathered courage and lifted my head.

Meeting her gaze and the waves, I smiled subtly.

“It tastes good when mixed together.”

Anna’s petite lips trembled subtly.

She bit her lip forcibly to suppress the tremor.

Then, to hide that reaction, she turned her head.

Only after the killer’s cold hand fell away could I finally breathe.

“It’s an unpleasant taste.”

The dull thud of footsteps faded away.

With her silver hair, the killer left those words behind as she walked out.

The sound of the front door slamming reverberates throughout the store.

No sound of the door returning.

It remained broken from colliding with the wall.

In any situation, she was always unflappable, but this time she slammed the door so hard it shattered.

“Sigh.”

That sound released the tension that had been gripping my body.

Thanks to that, the strength in my legs completely gave out.

I collapsed on the floor like a newborn deer.

Did I survive at least…

I never thought I would experience such terror again.

My limbs just wouldn’t listen to me.

“She’s gone…?”

Jiwuk emerges from the kitchen unsteadily.

Even as he comes out, he double-checks if Anna is not there.

“Yeah… seems like it.”

“How did you manage to satisfy Anna?”

Is that what satisfaction looks like?

Breaking the door and leaving.

Well, at least she didn’t kill us, so maybe it’s some sort of approval from a crazy killer’s perspective.

“Sometimes, home-cooked meals are more nostalgic than eating out.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It’s just… something like that…”

I grasped his hand and struggled to get up.

Meanwhile, the store had become a complete mess.

Thanks to Joksa’s interference and Anna’s appearance.

“Even the senior didn’t manage to escape.”

“I’m already three months behind on my salary here.”

I chuckled.

Yeah, money is important.

Especially for us insignificant individuals.

Come to think of it, that woman left without even paying…

If she was a contractor, she must have had a lot of money.

Thinking about money even after going through a tense situation.

I must have turned into an NPC already.

“It bothers me to leave you here alone…”

“That’s quite touching.”

Jiwuk takes the lead and starts cleaning up the broken chair and bloodstains.

I stagger towards him to help.

“No, you go rest. Leave the rest to me.”

“But it might take a while to clean all this up.”

“Don’t worry. Consider it as payment for saving my life.”

He raises his thumb, telling me to trust only him.

Expressing gratitude wasn’t the only thing he did.

The debt collectors who were recently ready to kill us now approach.

Having already been intimidated by Anna, they no longer had any airs to put on in front of me.

“Hey, how did you manage to persuade that crazy killer?”

“I’ve never seen such a performance in my life. Did you learn that at a famous bar or something?”

The thugs excitedly keep bombarding me with questions.

Their loud voices were grating on my ears.

“We want to try that too, exploding and overflowing, it was fun.”

The decibels in the store skyrocket like crazy.

At that moment, a man who seemed to be their leader coughs loudly.

The bear-like employees who were just making noise politely clasp their hands together and close their mouths.

The middle-aged man with scars on his face awkwardly expresses his gratitude to me.

“Well, thanks for keeping us alive.”

“Indeed.”

I chuckled.

Seeing these guys who were ready to confront a crazy killer, I felt strangely relieved.

“I don’t know what you did to Anna, but ultimately you managed to drive her away. The boss must be satisfied.”

He says, looking at the head of Joksa hanging from his waist.

“He thanked you for ensuring his subordinates didn’t die. He said he’ll visit again next time.”

What’s with him talking with the dead boss’s neck? This guy doesn’t seem normal either.

The giant men bow respectfully to me.

Feeling uncomfortable with their manners, I scratch my head.

I wish they’d just forgive the debt instead of all this.

Jiwuk, seeing the scene, proudly crosses his arms as if he accomplished something significant.

He guides them out with a relaxed tone, “Ah- it’s okay. You can leave now.”

Next in line are the only customers in the store.

The lady who almost suffered a terrible fate today speaks to me with a grateful expression.

“Thank you for today. Thanks to you, we’re alive.”

“Thank you, unni. You were totally awesome.”

A girl, several times prettier than me, says.

“Sure, it might have been a compliment, but something feels off.

‘Unni,’ huh.

It’s the first time I’ve heard that title in my life…

Thanks to that, my whole body feels ticklish.

“The food at the restaurant was really delicious. I’ll come by often.”

The young lady left those words behind as she exited the establishment.

In particular, even as the girl left, she glanced back frequently and waved her hand.

“I’ll help promote your restaurant, so cheer up!”

I waved my hand in gratitude to her.

But at the same time, I had this thought in my mind.

After seeing this scene, would I ever come back to the restaurant?

The girl’s words were probably just a formal expression of gratitude.

Dealing with loan sharks and even killers, the number of customers will probably decrease drastically.

Well, it’s better this way.

With the boss gone diving, having fewer customers might make things easier.

When he comes back later, as long as I can easily collect my wages, that’s all that matters.

The next day.

I set out on my way to work, looking forward to a quiet restaurant.

Took care of the debt collector.

The place is still a mess due to the bloodstains, so there probably won’t be any customers.

I was happy at the thought of enjoying Jiwuk’s stew before heading home.

Until I could see the silhouette of the inn, that is.

“…?”

What’s this…

Why…

What on earth is this line I see in front of me now?

From the entrance of the restaurant all the way outside, numerous hunters and ordinary people stood in line.

There must be at least ten of them.

After barely making my way through the crowd into the restaurant, Jiwuk greets me with a very pitiful face.

“Siho, why are you only coming now! Hurry to the counter!”

“Well, how did this happen? Why are there so many customers?”

“I just found out too; apparently, our restaurant is famous on the internet right now.”

“What? Why?”

I have no idea either, just hurry up and prepare the drinks!”

He says frantically, shaking the wok.

I hastily tied on an apron.

In front of the counter, it’s crowded with hunters.

They touch, lick, and take pictures of the bloodstains where the enemy was killed.

Why are they licking that…

As I look at them with a strange gaze, I lock eyes with a female hunter.

“…?”

“Oh, could it be that person!”

The woman who caught my eye approaches me.

“Yes, the bartender recognized by Ranker Anna!”

As she shouts, all the customers’ attention turns to me.

The moment my cozy inn life… gets destroyed.”