episode_0115

I stared down at the completed victory report.

My sister looked ecstatic at the beautiful cocktail color.

But I couldn’t smile the same way as her.

Because my cocktail has lost its shine.

Just like back in the day when I first got iced.

Everything was reset, just like in the past when I stayed as Do-hyeon.

Look at your palm.

Clearly, my body hasn’t changed.

All I had was my abilities taken away.

But that alone made bartending, my reason for being, disappear.

“…”

“Mr. Siho?”

Jisoo looks up at me cautiously.

Her brass eyes seem to worry me.

“Ah, yes… I’ll give you the victory report here.”

I pushed the glass towards her with trembling hands.

In the process, the glass shakes dangerously.

“The color is really pretty…”

“…”

She immediately caught on that something was wrong with me.

He carefully takes a sip of his victory report, observing my expression.

One and a half stars…

How could I have given such low-quality alcohol to a girl I barely met?

You’ll definitely be disappointed.

This is what the special drink we were supposed to drink together while hunting wyverns looked like.

Am I just showing my miserable side to you again?

I staggered and barely managed to grab onto the shelf.

The ears that grow on the head also droop down.

I didn’t want to show myself like this.

I feel ashamed to show my disappointment in myself.

But, at that moment…

“ and…”

My older sister let out a gasp as her head filled with ink.

My clouded pupils sparkle at that sound.

My gaze soon focuses on a beautiful brown-haired woman.

When I look into her golden eyes, my own eyes also come to life again.

“It’s so delicious…! It’s better than I expected?”

She smiled brightly.

The moment I saw that bright smile, my body melted.

Because I’ve missed that smile my whole life.

My heart aches.

The warning rose up my throat and brought hot tears to my eyes.

I covered my mouth with the back of my hand to hide the sight.

“It’s soft like milk, and refreshing like fruit. This is my first time tasting this…”

He was shaking with his hands tightly gripping the handle.

He asks her with trembling lips.

“Don’t lie…”

“What makes such a low-class cocktail taste good…”

“Are you trying to make me misunderstand you by forcing a smile like that again?”

My sister’s smile quickly disappeared at my question.

Maybe he’ll show me a look of displeasure and get angry.

Then I will become estranged from my sister again, and she will go on a separate journey.

With someone other than Dohyun.

I really hope so.

I can’t go on a trip with her like this again.

“What are you talking about?”

She speaks to me in a serious voice.

I tried to enjoy her accusations with my eyes closed.

but.

“That’s because it’s really delicious.”

She thrust her empty glass at me.

A glass completely emptied, leaving nothing behind.

He licked all the sugar off the end of the glass.

My older sister smiled sadly, just like back then.

“Siho says the same thing as Dohyun.”

“That kid always blamed himself and had a lot of self-doubt.”

“Every time that happened, I always told the kid this.”

My sister got up from her seat.

And then he put the empty glass down in front of me and smiled brightly.

“Where is the person who is good from the beginning?”

“It’s still delicious, but it seems like there’s room for further improvement.”

“What could be more joyful than the fact that there is still room for growth?”

My sister said, swirling her empty glass.

“…”

I stared at the index.

Yeah, I’ve definitely hit my peak too.

Every cocktail I make is 5 stars.

To the point of even creating artifacts.

But I wasn’t happy at all.

The masterpieces that were created were used to harm others.

As a bartender, you have to make the best drink for your guests.

But I used it to hurt someone.

Maybe by then I had already lost my bartender license.

And now.

He lost all his abilities, and was left with only a faint healing ability.

At that time, like Do-hyeon.

Maybe this situation right now…

Doesn’t that mean we should forget about that time and start over from the beginning?

This is the second chance that the angel gave me.

“Then, shall we try making it again?”

“Yes. The next glass will definitely taste better.”

“Okay…”

I kept my lips tightly shut.

And then he turns the glass around again and prepares for bartending.

「—.」

Rating: ★★ (Average)

Effect: None.

Information: Second attempt at victory. Average. The ratios are good, so the rank goes up a bit. However, it can’t escape the average.

“…”

Rating: ★☆ (Average)

Effect: None.

Information: Third attempt at victory. A little more Galliano was added during the manufacturing process. The grade was downgraded due to a mistake in the recipe. There is no significant difference in taste.

“…”

Rating: ★

Effect: None.

Information: This is the fourth attempt at a victory report. The ratio of several ingredients was messed up during the manufacturing process. If you drink it wrong, you may feel unpleasant.

My complexion is getting darker and darker.

Then my older sister spoke while clenching her hands together.

“Don’t give up. Take it easy and think of it as something for someone.”

I don’t know how much longer this farce will have to go on.

I’ve practically given up, but my older sister is actively cheering me on.

okay.

This was my older sister.

I consistently cheer for others with the hope that they will do well as well.

A good person who wishes for a bright future for that person.

Let’s try it one more time.

Because I have to at least give my older sister something to cheer her on.

I kept my lips tightly shut.

The ears that sprout from the head also stand up taut.

And I put all my concentration into bartending.

Only for my sister.

Fill a clean glass with ice and swirl it around.

Add Galliano and juices to shaker and shake vigorously.

Pour the contents and top with coconut cream.

Finally, apply pineapple juice to the outside of the glass and add sugar…

Rating: ★★☆

Effect: Increases stability by 5. (Extraordinary)

Information: A victory report that Siho finally completed after more than five attempts. The recipe ratio was perfect and he put his heart and soul into it.

“I did it…!”

I screamed with joy.

Then, the older sister also jumped up and down in joy.

“Look at that, I said you can do it-!”

We held each other’s hands without even tasting the finished drink.

We put on our hats and ran around together in excitement.

“Okay… Shall we have a drink now?”

I confidently handed her the cocktail.

If the rating is still 2.5 stars, it’s similar to the gin and tonic given to enemies in the old days.

That there is still potential for development.

Just because the ability was taken away, the buff didn’t completely disappear.

If I try again, I can raise it like that.

My sister carefully picked up the glass I gave her.

And take a light sip.

“—!”

But my sister’s expression after tasting it was dark.

What the… is it not as tasty as I thought…?

She looks at me with serious eyes.

She saw my wavering eyes and came to me.

And then he whispered softly.

“It’s sooo delicious-!!”

She shouted in a cheerful voice.

Thanks to that, my fox ears almost fell off my head.

Her lush brown hair dances.

I was thrilled by the subtle banana scent wafting from her hair.

happy.

The moment I always dreamed of became reality.

From now on, I want to live forever with my sister and Anna! I want to live with the enemy.

But that wind didn’t last long.

Before we knew it, it was almost 5 o’clock and guests had arrived.

“Ah… Aren’t you open for business?”

The middle-aged guest scratches his head as he looks at the victory reports scattered on the table.

Having gained confidence, I decided to welcome guests for the first time in a long while.

She waves her hand and tells him.

“No, come in!”

Clear the table quickly.

When my older sister saw me like that, she came to the counter and helped me.

“Oh, it’s okay. I’ll do it all.”

“No, I got a lot of this good alcohol and drank it-.”

She smiled and pushed the glass away.

I was speechless for a moment as I looked at that smile.

“Okay, sir. What kind of drink would you like?”

Jisoo asked the middle-aged man kindly.

Her unique kindness brings a smile to the man’s face.

“Where should I see you-, let’s start with a gin and tonic?”

“Gin Tonic…”

I repeated those three words in my head.

The first cocktail I made for my enemy.

I think it was 2.5 stars the first time I tried it.

If you do it like that last time, you’ll be successful this time too.

I grabbed her trembling hands.

It’s okay, I gave my sister a 2.5 star victory report too.

I tried hard to calm my mind.

And I made a gin and tonic just like I used to.

Pour clear, refreshing liquor into a glass.

Bubbles floated around and lime was stuck at the end of the glass.

I handed it to the guy.

He raised the corners of his mouth as if he was satisfied with the visuals.

And then naturally, I brought the glass to my lips.

but…

“…”

I only had a sip.

He frowned.

And then he shakes his head, wondering if he drank the wrong thing, and takes another sip.

But shaking my head once didn’t change the taste.

He drank half his gin and tonic and packed his coat.

“Are you leaving already?”

The older sister, who was clearing the glass, didn’t see the man’s expression.

When asked about him leaving in a hurry, the middle-aged man forced a smile and said,

“Oh, I got a call from work.”

He hasn’t answered the phone since he came to the store.

But soon he got up from his seat in a hurry.

“…”

I stared down at the glass I had made.

Rating: ★

Effect: None.

Information: A gin and tonic made by Shiho. He put in too little gin and filled it up with tonic water. As a result, the drink became sweet and barely had any gin flavor.

If you do something wrong, you could get criticized for being stingy with your drinking.

“The ratio is wrong again…”

I muttered to myself.

Yeah, this is reality.

Just because I made a victory report once doesn’t mean my abilities have been restored.

I was lost in thought.

Once again, a heavy heart took hold of my whole body.

But, before I knew it, my older sister came over and rubbed my shoulder.

“—!”

I shrank back under the strong pressure.

The ears on my head perked up and I found myself jawing without realizing it.

“How did you know that I was shy?”

When I asked her while holding her tender shoulder, she smiled brightly.

She points her finger at my head.

“Are these cute ears telling me that Siho is sad?”

“Fuck…”

I tried to cover my perked up ears.

But the resentful ears only prickle up more tautly.

“It’s okay. You haven’t been practicing for very long.”

She picked up the gin and tonic the man had left behind.

And then he hits coolly with a single shot and leaves a lasting impression.

“Ugh-.”

Even my face, which was trying hard to look sad, burst into laughter at that sight.

“Okay, let’s take one more customer!”

“Okay…”

I nodded bitterly.

okay.

It’s just the beginning.

It’s no fun if it’s perfect from the start.

Even if you get scolded, try apologizing proudly!

「—.」

Just then, the bell rings at the front door.

My sister whispered to me to cheer up.

“Hey, you’re back again. Fighting!”

I pursed my lips and clenched my hands.

And he greeted the upcoming guests with a loud voice.

“Welcome-! Moment…”

But soon my lips stopped moving.

Because the visuals of the guests in front of me were unusual.

“Is this the place that kills the taste of alcohol?”

A man with a fierce face and a hideous axe on his back.

A warrior so huge that it completely covers my body.

“Don’t make a fuss for no reason. My sister told me to wait quietly.”

Two people talk in heavy voices.

Are they hunter-killers who are active while the public sentiment of the association is in turmoil?

When they stood face to face, my sister and I hiccuped involuntarily.

We held each other’s hands and trembled.

“Hipp…”

My fox ears just flopped down.

If I can’t do this properly, I don’t think it’ll end with an apology…?