Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Suspicious Customer
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"Um, excuse me."
The pretty girl standing next to the boss approached me cautiously.
"Are you really Hero Yoon Seol?"
The girl peeked at me nervously before continuing.
'She looks like a cat.'
Isn't this how most people react when they see a hero...?
No. That guy earlier didn't treat me like this... Ah, whatever.
"Yes, that's me."
Anyway, she's stunning—enough to make you sigh in admiration.
She's the new part-timer they just hired, right?
'She looks kinda familiar... Oh.'
...She's that girl from last night, walking with the boss. She was in a school uniform.
I thought she was his little sister, but with summer break starting, maybe she's here to help out at her brother's place?
"...That's sweet of you."
"Pardon?"
"You know, working part-time at your brother's bar. Most kids your age would want to goof off during break."
Girls that age are usually obsessed with other stuff.
I started seriously training to become a hero around then, so I wouldn't really know...
"He's not my brother."
"Huh?"
Th-then, wait a sec. What was that about yesterday...?
"So yesterday...?"
"Yes?"
"N-no, nothing."
Aw, come on. No way. She was probably just there for the part-time interview...
'Hold on. That smell...'
Heroes gain superhuman physical abilities along with their powers.
This includes heightened senses like smell... and thanks to that, Yoon Seol realized something shocking.
It was that...
'They're using the same shampoo...'
And not just that—the fabric softener scent from their clothes was identical too.
The moment she picked up on it, the scattered puzzle pieces in Yoon Seol's mind started clicking together.
'No way.'
Thinking back, it had been weird.
When I was pacing in front of the bar earlier, hadn't they come strolling up together all chummy?
Part-timers usually just show up for their shifts.
I'd assumed she was his sister at first, so it didn't seem off, but if that wasn't the case...
"Um, excuse me. Do you two... live together by any chance?"
"Huh? Oh..."
The part-timer girl continued, looking a bit embarrassed at my question.
"...No? What are you talking about? Why would I live with some old guy...?"
Oh.
"R-right... Got it."
Her suspiciously flustered reaction was messing with my head when the boss returned from the kitchen, where he'd been making the shaved ice.
"Ta-da. Watermelon shaved ice is served."
After that, the three of us—Yoon Seol, Ji-ah, and I—sat around the table with the watermelon shaved ice in the center.
'...Huh. Did something happen between them?'
While I was in the kitchen making it, it looked like they were chatting... but the vibe felt off now.
"... ..."
Ji-ah aside, Yoon Seol seemed kinda spaced out... Nah, probably just my imagination.
"Let's eat."
"L-let's eat..."
Even as we each grabbed a fork and dug in a bit later,
"Yeah, that could happen... No, but she's underage. Still, if you two like each other... Ugh."
She kept shooting glances at me and Ji-ah alternately, muttering something under her breath.
'Is the shaved ice bad...?'
Ji-ah was silently stabbing at the floating watermelon pieces, so probably not.
What to call it, though.
Her lips kept twitching like they itched, and she looked kinda shell-shocked.
'Nah, probably not.'
After that, the only sounds filling the bar were the clinks of forks—no chit-chat.
"Thanks for the shaved ice. W-well then. See you later."
"Yeah..."
Yoon Seol rushed out after that, saying she had somewhere to be.
Watching her go, I quietly asked Ji-ah, who was lounging next to me in food-coma bliss.
"Ji-ah. What happened while I was making the shaved ice?"
"...Huh? Nothing much. She just chatted with me a bit. Oh, she thought you and I were siblings."
"Why?"
"Beats me. ...Maybe she thought we look alike."
Ji-ah made a sour face.
Still, she'd never gotten complaints about her looks before... Well, comparisons are everything.
If I had to rank 'em, Yoon Seol and Ji-ah are in the same league. I'm down in regular human territory.
Anyway, seems like nothing happened. Maybe she was just off her game.
Thinking that, I started clearing the shaved ice bowls...
"Ah. I'll wash the shaved ice dishes."
"It's fine, I got it..."
"Hand 'em over quick."
"No need..."
"Quick."
...only to have Ji-ah snatch them away, leaving me sitting there like an idiot.
'This won't do. I need to assert some boss authority soon...'
"Old man. Can you grab that last fork over there?"
"Sure thing."
Not backing down an inch. Just biding my time. For real.
Ji-ah started washing up like a pro after that.
Clink clink
She must've done it a lot before.
She used just the right amount of water, rinsed efficiently—definitely not her first rodeo.
"Oh yeah. Old man, you seemed pretty chummy with that hero lady... How'd you end up knowing a famous hero like her?"
Ji-ah asked after finishing up, like it'd just occurred to her.
"Huh?"
How we met?
"Gimme the strongest stuff you've got. Something that'll get me blackout drunk. Make me forget my own name."
She'd shown up as my first customer after opening, one day out of the blue—eyes hollow, on the verge of tears.
"I... don't wanna go home...?"
Got wasted, couldn't even stand, so I walked her home.
'...Yeah, no one'd buy that.'
Plus, spilling the details felt kinda private.
"Not like we're close or anything... If anything, just customer and bar owner?"
"Hmm..."
She didn't seem convinced but didn't press either.
I glanced at the clock—5:30 already.
'...Time flies.'
Ji-ah checked it too, following my gaze.
"Old man. What time do we open?"
"Six, technically. But folks usually roll in after ten."
Cocktail bars like this don't get many dinner crowds.
That's not the focus anyway.
Most come after drinks elsewhere for a nightcap, or just for cocktails.
"So we've got more free time than I thought..."
"Yep."
Not guaranteed to be as busy as last time, though.
That was a fluke from the nearby festival.
"Old man. No Insta account or anything for promoting the bar?"
"..."
I quietly pulled my ancient flip phone from my pocket and showed her.
"Oh."
She let out a little gasp—that said it all.
'An Insta account, huh...'
Yeah, maybe it's time.
Social media's the new flyers and street hawking these days.
Problem is, I'm hopeless at that stuff...
"Hey, Ji-ah. You got an Insta or something?"
"..."
She silently held out her cracked-screen, clearly outdated smartphone.
"Oh."
What now. Total disaster.
Maybe ask Min-ah? Her major was something video-related... She might know this stuff.
'How do I explain Ji-ah moving in...'
Min-ah wouldn't freak, but I should give her a heads-up.
"Um, old man. It's almost six... What should I do?"
Oh right. I'd come early today to train Ji-ah for her first shift.
'...Totally forgot.'
"Ji-ah. You know how to use the POS system?"
"...Yeah. Did it at a convenience store gig, so sorta."
Saved some hassle.
"Cool. You'll handle checks, orders... table setups and cleanup."
"Got it. That's doable."
As I quickly walked her through the basics,
"Hey, wow. A cocktail bar tucked away here?"
"See? Told you I saw it passing by."
Opening time snuck up, and customers started trickling in.
'...Was worried no one'd show.'
Just one couple so far, but better than the first week of zero traffic.
Might be paying off that sign Yoon Seol suggested.
"Uh, one Chi-Chi, nachos... oh, and one Donghae. The caramel bread's the one over there, right?"
"You got it."
Ji-ah was a bit green, but solid help.
A few more groups came after, business humming along fine.
'...This pace, I can pay her hourly no problem... Hm?'
Ding
A kinda unusual customer stepped in.
Sunglasses, mask, hat pulled low.
Clothes and build screamed woman, but...
'Can't see her face at all.'
Like a celeb dodging paparazzi.
...And that red hair peeking from the hat, the whole vibe—reeking of "not your average Joe."
'Model? Influencer?'
...Or more like.
'Kinda feels like first time I saw Yoon Seol.'
No way she's a hero too.
'Nah, heroes aren't that common.'
Scrape
While I eyed her naturally, she slid right up to the bar counter.
'ID check... probably skip it.'
An underage kid wouldn't show up looking this conspicuous.
"Ji-ah. Menu."
"R-right. Here."
She scanned the menu Ji-ah handed her, then ordered from me.
"One Catharsis."
Catharsis?
"Um, miss. Catharsis is pretty strong. You sure?"
"Fine by me. That one."
Catharsis—along with Faust—is one of the highest-proof cocktails here.
Overproof rum clocks in at about 75%, mixed with lime juice and amaretto for a solid 51%.
Its name fits.
People drink it, so ordering's normal... but it does draw the eye.
Can't keep staring, though.
'Eh. Whatever.'
I turned away, grabbed rum and amaretto from the cooler.
"..."
Oblivious to her eyes on me through those dark shades.