episode_0092

[A drunk dwarf is worse than a dog.]

It’s been less than a month since the racial mutation incident occurred, and this saying has already spread among the people.

Just how bad must their drinking habits have been for such words to come out in such a short time, causing so much trouble?

It was a fact that had already been proven several times, and I had seen it with my own eyes.

I was waiting for the dwarf guest to cause a ruckus, not letting my guard down.

However.

“Why do you think they set up a workshop in such a remote place? Don’t you know anything about romance, miss? Hahaha!!!”

“It’s like a hidden gem that only those in the know can find! A remarkable workshop that will listen to your requests and make anything you need! How romantic is that just to think about?”

“Money? Hahaha! That’s not a problem at all! When a dwarf decides, do you know how much money they can spend? You’re not unaware of that, are you, miss?”

Despite appearing intoxicated, the dwarf guest only raised their voice and energy levels, showing a rather calm demeanor.

…Are they not fully drunk yet? Or are they a dwarf impersonator with dwarfism?

The former seemed more likely.

Unless they were someone with an incredibly high tolerance for alcohol, they wouldn’t be able to drink half a glass of that crazy cocktail and act like that.

If they were a regular dwarf impersonator, they would have already passed out on the floor or been babbling nonsense.

I found myself inexplicably fascinated by the dwarf guest.

As we continued our conversation, the dwarf guest tilted their head and asked me a question.

“You were looking at me like I was a monster earlier, and now you’re looking at me like I’m some kind of fascinating creature. What’s so fascinating about me that you’re giving me that look?”

“Ah… I’m sorry, guest.”

“I’m not looking for an apology, I’m genuinely curious. I won’t be offended, so can you tell me why you were looking at me like that?”

Emptying the contents of their glass into their mouth, the dwarf expressed curiosity.

Glancing around for a moment, I confirmed that the dwarf was smiling kindly and immediately began to answer their question.

“It’s rare to see a dwarf as composed as you after drinking. Most dwarves… you know, once they start drinking…”

“Ah, if that’s the reason, it’s definitely fascinating to look at me like that. Yeah, I understand now why you were looking at me so sternly earlier.”

“S-sternly? I-I must have seen it wrong.”

“Hmm, it was definitely a look that said you wouldn’t stand for any nonsense… Well, I guess I’ll just let it go. Even if I were a lady, I don’t think I could look kindly on a guest who might cause trouble.”

Nodding in understanding, the dwarf got up slowly after venting their frustration for a while.

Then, they suddenly rummaged through their pockets, took out a business card and a 50,000 won bill from their wallet, and placed them on the table.

“This is a tip. Don’t refuse it, take it as a thank you and an apology. The workshop… will be ready soon, so drop by when you have time. If you need anything, I’ll make quality goods at a reasonable price.”

“I’ve only listened and responded to what you said.”

“Haha! Who would listen to and respond to a drunk dwarf? Although my sincerity may have been lacking, think about it again. Don’t you think I have enough qualifications?”

“…Thinking about it, it seems worth accepting.”

If you’ve accommodated the drunken dwarf’s drinking, you definitely deserve a tip.

After taking the bills and business cards, the dwarf calculated the cocktail cost and flashed a warm smile.

“I should come by more often. Oh, and… next time, please be a bit more gentle. I felt unwelcome, to be honest.”

“I’ll do better. And I’ll let the other bartenders know too. Don’t be too guarded.”

“Alright then. Well, see you next time.”

Waving goodbye, the dwarf guest vanished from the cocktail bar in an instant.

As I watched him disappear, I took a moment to reflect.

No matter how many times I’ve been wronged, I shouldn’t treat guests with prejudice.

I need to be cautious but also kinder to the guests.

I vowed to improve for the next guest, so that such dissatisfaction wouldn’t arise again.

With determination, I waited for the next guest.

“Is this what you call a drink? And why is the quantity so little again? With this money, I’d rather have a beer!”

“Then go have a beer, sir.”

“What!?”

“Why come to a cocktail bar and pay a high price if you’re going to complain? The money you’d spend on a martini is worth several beers. Please leave and go to a food truck instead. You’re not welcome here. Please leave now.”

“If you don’t leave peacefully, I’ll call the police.”

Not long after the departure of the dwarf guest, a shabbily dressed man with a strong smell approached, confirming my expectations.

Thanks to that guest showing up as expected, I could forget about my resolution.

…Let’s just say that dwarf guest was a special case like me.

Whether it was Monday blues or dealing with difficult guests from the start, it was an unusually tiring day.

After letting out a sigh to dispel the exhaustion, I greeted the next guest with a smile for business.

—–

“I’ve almost told you everything, so from now on, it’s just practice. Do you have any questions?”

“Oh? Ah, no! Thanks to your clear explanation, I understood everything! Hehe…”

“That’s good to hear. Practice hard, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask me or any other bartenders.”

“Got it!”

After the peak time ended, it was time for a break as usual.

While looking up information about the comics event on Sunday, I turned my head quietly towards a cheerful voice.

Jaehyuk, who was thanking me and moving away, and Dragon, who was starting the practice immediately.

For some reason, the sight of them made me feel relieved, and I found myself smiling and shaking my head vigorously.

“…I must be crazy, really.”

I knew why my body was reacting this way due to some emotion.

It was nothing more than an indirect experience through novels and comics, but indirect experiences were still experiences.

Because I had experienced countless things.

I knew very well what emotion caused this tingling sensation.

But.

“Why on earth?”

I just couldn’t figure out the reason.

Because I didn’t know the reason, it was confusing.

Until just before receiving the confession at the campsite, it was fine, wasn’t it?

Clearly just friends.

Neither more nor less.

Why in the world.

After receiving the confession, why did my body and mind end up like this after a few days?

“Sigh…”

It was annoying to have a cluttered mind during the rest time.

After forcibly clearing my mind, I focused on finding information about the comics event, when unexpectedly, someone approached me.

“Um, excuse me, senior? Do you have a moment?”

“Yes, Yejin. What brings you here?”

The dragon, who had been avoiding me except for greetings, what could be the reason for his visit?

With a puzzled look, Yejin flashed a charming smile and cautiously began to speak.

“I, I heard while working that you were looking for comic book information… So, I thought I could give you some useful tips…”

“You’ve been to comic book stores a lot? That’s great! I needed something like this!”

Yejin hesitated but managed to say what she wanted to say.

Understanding the intention behind her words, I smiled brightly and immediately asked for her help.

Seems like she wants to break the awkward relationship by giving tips.

Was it because there was no way to break or solve the awkwardness we had been experiencing?

Although our first meeting wasn’t that great, it’s a job that can’t be ignored to try to untangle the complicated relationship.

I treated her as gently as possible and continued the conversation with the dragon.

“Instead of calling me senior, just call me sister. We’ll be working together for a long time, and calling me senior might create some distance, don’t you think?”

“Okay, sister… And you can speak informally! I feel more comfortable when you do…”

“Yes, I’ll slowly get used to it. So, can I ask you some questions now?”

The offer to give useful tips is just a prelude to start a conversation.

After briefly discussing comic books, the conversation naturally transitions to a different topic.

“How did you get into subculture? Oh… Maybe a friend showed you an anime as a starting point. Ugh, I shouldn’t have hung out with that person.”

“I got into it because of my brother… I mean, my older brother. He said if you don’t watch it, you’re missing out on half of life, so he forced me to watch it…”

“Really? What was the title?”

“I can’t remember clearly… Was it this one?”

Perhaps because we have a lot in common, the conversation with Yejin was quite enjoyable.

Was it because of that? The awkward and uncomfortable feeling between us quickly disappeared.

As we continued to converse without feeling awkward, it was nearing the time to leave work.

Thinking that this was enough, I was about to end the conversation and prepare to leave work.

“Oh, by the way, sister. Is it okay if I ask you one more thing?”

“What is it?”

“You’re close with Jaehyuk senior, right? I was wondering…”

I couldn’t help but freeze at the question that followed, forgetting that I needed to leave work.

“Does Jaehyuk senior have a girlfriend?”

I had thought there might be a possibility based on her actions.

So, she’s interested in Jaehyuk after all.

After a moment of silence, I slowly opened my mouth to answer her question.