episode_0081

“…I’m tired.”

Awakening to the bustling chatter of people on an early evening.

Grasping my throbbing head due to a hangover, I slowly walk out of the tent.

“How much did you drink yesterday, seriously?”

It’s surprising how I managed to hold it together.

Or maybe it’s natural to keep it together now that I know the truth?

Chuckling to myself, as I look around, I spot Jaehyuk using a gas burner to cook hangover ramen.

Drawn by the tantalizing aroma, I approach slowly, and the moment he senses my presence, he turns his head to greet me.

“Did you sleep well?”

“…No, couldn’t sleep properly because of someone bothering me. Where are Hyeun and Junhyun?”

“They went for a short walk. They’ll be back soon.”

An awkward silence settles in immediately after our brief conversation.

As I gaze endlessly at the ground, I request a cup of broth from him, taking out a paper cup from a plastic bag.

“Let’s see if it’s cooked well. Pour some broth here.”

“It’s probably fine. Here.”

“Then where…”

Without hesitation, I gulp down the broth as soon as I receive it.

The warm ramen broth travels from my mouth, down my throat, and into my stomach.

As my insides warm up, the hangover begins to subside gradually.

Feeling my energy returning, I slump back in my chair.

“Ah… this feels good…”

Isn’t this what they call a small but certain happiness?

Briefly smiling with contentment, a sense of injustice creeps in, and I let out a long sigh.

If only we hadn’t done things like courage tests or truth games, wouldn’t this have been a perfect healing trip?

Returning to everyday life laden with stress and burdens.

Gazing wistfully at the empty cup, I see Angel and Devil approaching, having finished their walk in the distance.

“We’re back! Mmm ~ smells delicious! Can we eat right away?”

“Yes, eat before it gets cold. Han Jiwu, aren’t you eating?”

“Oh? I’ll just have a little. Don’t worry about me.”

Thus began the final mealtime at the campsite.

We exchanged light conversations rather than engaging in provocative stories like yesterday.

A simple evaluation of this trip.

Points of dissatisfaction felt during camping.

Complaints about having to return to work tomorrow.

Fortunately,

While I was asleep, unaware of the conversations my friends had, no one mentioned yesterday’s events.

Well, that suited me just fine.

Honestly… whenever I think back on yesterday, I still feel confused and dizzy.

Finishing the meal amidst a cheerful atmosphere.

Having completed the final itinerary, we began preparing to return to our daily lives.

Packing up didn’t take too long.

Given the high price of spending a night, most things were already provided, so there wasn’t much to pack.

“Ugh… don’t want to go to work…”

Heading home after finishing glamping.

Leaning back against the train seat, I briefly imagine what will happen tomorrow evening.

“Mixing cocktails, listening to customer woes, kicking out unruly guests…”

“What was that?”

“Just thinking about what I’ll be doing tomorrow. It’s kind of funny how it plays out in my mind.”

“Still, isn’t it better to have something ordinary than special? I prefer peaceful even if it’s boring.”

“True. Hmm, I hope tomorrow passes calmly and uneventfully.”

A small wish cautiously expressed.

But it didn’t take long for me to realize that it was a futile hope.

“…”

“…”

Awkward and uncomfortable.

I try not to pay attention, but it keeps bothering me.

Can we continue our peaceful cohabitation with him as we did before the trip?

“Sigh…”

“Why the sigh?”

“It’s nothing.”

Was it necessary to refuse that proposal back then?

Wasn’t I too hasty in my judgment?

As self-doubt and regret deepened, my mind began to grow increasingly complex.

In an attempt to shake off the endless intrusive thoughts, I tightly shut my eyes.

Let’s just go to sleep.

My mind is filled with all sorts of thoughts due to feeling unwell.

A journey left with nothing but endless complexity of thoughts and emotions.

The short vacation of two nights and three days, which was special yet confusing, came to an end in such a quiet silence.

—–

[Shouldn’t we just kill off all those different species?]

(Deleted post.)

Author: ㅇㅇ(87.249)

Honestly, what’s the point of having welfare policies or special laws for different species?

Can’t we just get rid of them all at once?

If only those different species disappeared from the world, everything would return to normal.

Why do we make things so complicated?

They all have weaknesses, right?

Those without weaknesses are beings that can be killed even with modern firearms.

And those with weaknesses, if you exploit their weaknesses, they immediately die or become incapacitated.

Why leave them be like that? I really don’t understand.

1 like 28 dislikes

– @MonmusuIsTruth @SpeciesExclusiveDealsToo @HumanFurBallOfFury

– Idiot

– Haha… Is this a template? Seriously, just say it’s a template, dude. Lol

– Did you time-travel from the Joseon era or something? Planning to round them up and burn them if an epidemic breaks out? And did you fail the civil service exam by any chance? Just curious.

– Your thoughts are seriously disgusting;; Can you really think like that even if your family turned into a different species?

ㄴ Leave me alone lol. It just feels somewhat nostalgic lol

– But there are people who think like this subtly. Didn’t some cult come up with some new doctrine?

ㄴ Given that guy caught last time was saying the same thing, there’s a high possibility…

– Should we hang this bastard by his badge? Ha… should we?

ㄴ F***ing sick.

.

.

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“Well, did everyone have a good vacation? Huh? Why does everyone look so downcast? I was told that if I looked like I’ve chewed on crap after my vacation, what would happen?”

“Haha… Maybe they had too much fun? You know, after eating something really delicious, you want to eat more. It’s kind of pitiful and longing… a bit of that feeling.”

“Hmm, is that so? If they’re feeling regretful, there’s nothing we can do about it. But now it’s time to come back to reality! Come on, everyone, cheer up, sit up straight! Let’s get ready to greet the guests, got it?”

“Yes, boss!”

The day back to work after the vacation.

With a booming voice, all the bartenders prepare for the opening without hesitation.

Having left it unattended for over three days, there’s more to prepare than expected.

However, with busy movements, we were able to finish the preparations on time.

As we had a little time left before the opening to take a brief rest, the youngest who had just finished his task approached me cautiously.

“Um, Miss Jiyoo? Sorry, is it okay if I ask you something?”

“Hm? Sure, what’s on your mind?”

“Uh, I was wondering if anything happened between Hyuk-hyung and you during the vacation. Was there something unpleasant?”

“…Youngest.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“You’re not filling the bread basket with bread? Isn’t that your responsibility today?”

“Oh, I’ll fill it right away. I forgot again.”

As I tapped the empty bread basket, he quickly ran to the storage room, probably fearing my wrath.

Watching the youngster run off, I sighed as I gulped down the chilled water I had stored in the fridge.

…I thought I had hidden it well, but it seems like it was quite noticeable.

If that clueless kid knows, then it’s safe to assume that everyone else has already caught on, right?

Let’s take a slow look around. The sight of the protagonist and the boss, pretending not to notice while exchanging glances, catches my eye.

Even when looking elsewhere, occasionally seeing them glance in my direction piques my curiosity about what might have transpired between them.

However, with no desire to speak at the moment, I deliberately ignore their gazes and begin waiting for the incoming customers.

“Welcome, it’s Midnight! Oh, another guest has returned! What menu would you like to order today?”

As opening time arrives, customers start trickling into the shop.

But is it because it’s Monday? There aren’t as many guests seeking the cocktail bar as expected.

Most of the customers are regulars who visit this place only at night.

I greet them with a bright smile and hand each one a menu.

“Um… are you visiting our store for the first time?”

Among the regular customers to whom I handed menus, there was a peculiar guest with a perplexed expression.

As I tried to serve him gingerbread on a plate and hand him a menu, instead of responding, he tilted his head quizzically.

“Strange, isn’t it?”

“…Yes?”

“Why do you seem unfazed?”

Though he hadn’t taken any action yet, his pretense was palpable.

This guest, with a 99.99% chance, exuded the unmistakable aura of a genuine customer, a trait common among employees.

…But what the hell is this guy up to?

In a moment of bewilderment at this unprecedented type of behavior, the guest—or rather, the peculiar man—rummaged through his pocket and scattered something towards me.

The object in question was none other than grains of rice.

Given my aversion to consuming human blood, the compulsion to count them naturally surfaced, but after briefly chewing my lip to dispel the compulsion, I stared back at the guest with a cold gaze.

“If you’re not a customer, please leave. Otherwise, I will call the police immediately.”

“…”

“Boss? Should I call the police…!?”

Attempting to follow the manual taught by the boss, a man now brandishing a wooden cross rushed at me as if to kill.

Despite trying to evade, was it due to the close proximity that the man’s cross swiftly swung towards me.

Soon enough, a dull thud echoed through the cocktail bar.

Thud – !

A sound of impact so heavy that it couldn’t have been caused by human strength.

…It was an incredibly dull thud.