episode_0054

The atmosphere was quite pleasant until I savored the taste of the cocktail.

As someone experiencing the place called ‘bar’ for the first time, the bartender who seemed like a vampire kindly explained many things to me.

The cocktail she recommended suited my taste perfectly, allowing me to let go of some of the frustration I had been feeling while working part-time.

A warm and gentle atmosphere.

With a hint of an exciting mood.

Was it thanks to that pleasant sensation of relaxation in both body and mind?

I slowly began to engage with the bartender as my guard came down.

The initial conversation naturally revolved around cocktails.

Given how much my mood improved thanks to the cocktail recommended by the bartender, it was no exaggeration when I poured out praise and expressed gratitude to her.

Trying to convey my gratitude without making it too burdensome, I thanked her and said it was fortunate, flashing her a bright smile.

Although for a moment, I felt a warmth in my head from her enchanting smile, but after sipping on a cool cocktail, the warmth vanished in an instant along with the refreshing taste.

Yes, up to this point, the atmosphere between me and the bartender was not bad at all.

…The problem arose as the topic of conversation changed.

“Customer, or should I say, Doolahan, do you find living difficult?”

“…”

Whether she looked pitiful in her cat-like appearance or not, the bartender gazed at me with eyes full of concern from the moment we met.

Receiving attention from a beauty akin to one from a torn-out comic book was certainly a good thing, but receiving such worried attention was rather unpleasant.

Moreover, who was the other party?

[Damn Koreans are really annoying]

Author: Gaebokchi.

(The air here is so filthy it’s suffocating)

Hey Garlic Blood bastards, ease up on the garlic a bit!!!

You know it contains allicin in the air!!!

Also, why are there so many churches and cathedrals?

Believing in Jesus, what difference does it make???

You bastards… believing in that won’t get you to heaven…

It’s better to seek enlightenment through Buddhism and become a Buddha!

Honestly, isn’t it better to achieve something on your own like a real man rather than relying on salvation from others???

Recommend 15, Not Recommend 82

– You’re doing well with your nonsense today ~

– Hilarious ㅋㅋ Today’s menu is garlic fried rice ㅋㅋㅋ

– I’d rather just be a bastard… Too lazy to seek enlightenment…

ㄴ That’s right

ㄴ They say they’ll save you if you believe, why study then? Seriously ㅋㅋ

– Really, the starch-eating idiots who freak out over a potato peeler are a retarded species ㅋㅋ

ㄴ Seems better than the pathetic species that can’t even fit a hamster in a cage, right? ㅇㅇ_(Author)

ㄴ Where do you live? I’ll send you a cactus and a hedgehog.

ㄴ In your heart ㅎ_(Author)

With so many weaknesses, aren’t they a pathetic species that needs to be careful every time they move?

Of course, unlike the vampires we always see in the community, the vampire in front of me looked elegant and mature.

However, the fact remains that she is a member of a pathetic species.

I didn’t want sympathy even from a species that struggles more than me.

So, trying to reassure her, I was about to say, “Talking about difficulties in front of a vampire feels like nitpicking in front of a maggot.”

…Unintentionally, my words came out a bit blunt.

Realizing my mistake, I tried to quickly correct myself, but the warmth had disappeared from the bartender’s eyes, and she no longer treated me gently. She only stared at me with cold eyes, like an emotionless machine.

Ugh, how can I only speak like that?

Even I think my vocabulary is idiotic, truly.

Self-flagellating internally, I start pondering ways to revive the atmosphere.

What should I say to make that bartender lady treat me warmly again?

When Durahan mentioned that vampires might be better than werewolves, her expression soured. Should I say the opposite then?

Carefully considering, I cautiously spoke while glancing at the bartender.

“…Come to think of it, Durahan seems to have a tougher time, doesn’t she?”

“Exactly right?! Vampires are…! Ahem, I apologize, guest. I got carried away without realizing it. So, could you tell me in what ways she seemed to struggle?”

Seemingly pleased and bright, as if it was the correct answer.

Although I felt like the tables had turned inexplicably…

Well, if she returned to her original compassionate and elegant demeanor, wouldn’t that be enough?

I heaved a sigh and began to confide in her about my difficulties one by one.

By the late night when I left the cocktail bar,

I felt a weight lifted off my chest.

Except for the fact that the stray dog licked and nudged my head relentlessly due to returning home too late.

Still, it wasn’t such a bad day after all.

—–

Durahan’s guest had gone back home, and it was nearing the end of the workday.

With nothing else to do after finishing up, I started checking the notifications that had piled up during work.

“There’s nothing special… Wait, it’s already exam season? Ugh…”

Deleting them one by one from the top, a familiar notification caught my eye.

After confirming the contents of the notification labeled [Final Exam Notice], I let out a quiet sigh.

“It feels like the interspecies crisis broke out just yesterday, how is it already the end of May…”

With less than a month left until the end of classes.

Feeling the cruelty of time passing swiftly, Jaehyuk, who had finished preparing to leave, quietly approached me and spoke.

“What are you doing instead of getting ready to leave?”

“Just feeling disappointed that it’s already the end of May. And I’ve already prepared to leave, just need to change clothes.”

“…I see, there are only a few days left until we stop living together, huh?”

“A few days indeed, but we still have over a week until the end of classes, right? Anyway… Haha, why do you look so regretful?”

“Regretful? Who said anything about being regretful? It’s noisy here, let’s just go home. The boss wants us to leave.”

Teasingly laughing, he made an excuse to leave, avoiding me more frequently lately.

Puzzled by his increased avoidance recently, I changed into different clothes and headed home with him.

Thus, ending quite a terrifying day, on the way back to my place.

Had I seen too many eerie sights recently? A sense of unknown dread crept up as I looked down the dark alley.

Quietly and discreetly, I closed the distance between Jaehyuk and me.

“…Aren’t you scared?”

“I-I’m scared because it’s dark. If you saw a severed head in a dark alley, you’d react the same way, right?”

“That guy who brought the severed head even served as a waiter. Haah…”

“T-That’s because there were many people around! I-It’s scary to be alone in the da-dark…”

Though I sighed, touching my forehead with my hand, my trembling figure seemed pitiful.

Even though he showed signs of annoyance, Jaehyuk didn’t move away from me.

As we emerged onto a well-lit main street, the fear of being exposed subsided.

Feeling embarrassed about briefly relying on him, I quickly distanced myself from him.

“Sigh, not scared anymore?”

“…Noisy.”

“Haha, you’re so cute ~ ”

“You call this noisy?!”

As soon as we distanced ourselves, Jaehuk teased me with a mischievous face.

If only I had stayed still, how dignified and cool would I have been… Truly, there’s a reason why I don’t have a girlfriend.

In a Korean webnovel:

I didn’t want to engage in childish banter, knowing well that keeping quiet would only prolong the ordeal.

Bringing up recent events, I began to confront him.

“Hey, anyone would think you enjoy horror movies, huh?”

“Enjoy them? And not cling to your friend like a scaredy-cat after watching something eerie?”

“Well, the Yoon Jaehyuk I know went to see a horror movie with his friends back in high school…”

“That’s enough.”

Seemingly realizing he was at a disadvantage, he stopped teasing.

However, stopping after just one jab didn’t suit my temperament, so I pretended not to hear and continued speaking.

“Surely, a scene where a child is dragged into darkness and faints -”

“…You wanna try it now?”

“I’m kidding. Oh, just so you know… Do you have more embarrassing moments than me? If we dig deep, you’ve probably got more painful memories.”

“…”

“You can do whatever you want. But hey… Is there something stronger than your crush story?”

“You son of a b****…”

Feeling embarrassed just thinking about it, Jaehyuk shivered and quickly ran off into the distance.

Well, that was anticlimactic.

If you throw the first punch, you should see it through like a man. What good is running away?

…But well, there’s no escaping the embarrassing crush history.

It’s too pathetic and pitiful that no matter what embarrassing story you bring up, it can’t beat that.

“I won today.”

Using the shameful trump card of embarrassing stories, but a win is a win nonetheless.

Filled with joyous triumph, I walked down the street happily, then suddenly stopped as a strange thought crossed my mind.

“…Wait, if I had stayed still, what was I going to say?”

A sudden rush of heat as I realized what I almost blurted out.

Unknowingly, I had that thought.

“Gyah, aaaaaah…!”

Staring blankly at the crescent moon, I screamed for the sky to disappear.