Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Bring Her Here
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A few days after the daily manager gig wrapped up.
"This cocktail bar... I'll help you out a bit. I can't advertise it directly, but... posting something on Insta should be fine, right?"
Hero Hwa-young stopped by our bar again, and true to her word, she uploaded a photo of the place on her SNS.
[The boss's food is delicious and the cocktails are cool.]
With that slightly ridiculous caption.
And the result...
"Excuse me, could you take our order here?"
"Sure thing!"
.
"Excuse meee. Boss, where's the bathrooom?"
"Go through that curtained area over there."
"Thaaanks..."
"Take the bathroom key!"
.
"Um, one Maldives, please."
"...A mojito?"
"Ah, yeah, that."
...Our bar was packed for the first time in ages.
Luckily, unlike that one time before when it got busy and I was alone... Ji-ah was here this time.
We handled the customers together somehow, and right when the last one finally left.
"Ugh."
I collapsed onto the table, utterly drained.
"Mister. You look beat."
"...Aren't you?"
"Nah, not really."
Ji-ah, on the other hand, still looked full of energy.
Was I like that at her age? Doesn't ring a bell.
"Mister. Don't you think you should work out or something?"
"Maybe I should..."
The stamina I'd built up prepping for the police exam back in the day had vanished gloriously, leaving only faint traces.
"Mister. Tables are all wiped down."
"Nice. Good job."
We'd finished cleaning up and were about to head out.
Hm?
Ding.
The sound of the shop door opening.
"Long time no see, honey."
It was none other than Hero Hwa-young slipping through the door.
'What's she doing here at this hour?'
As I wondered, Ji-ah spoke in a frosty tone.
"...We're closed."
She didn't seem annoyed about the late visit so much as...
'...kinda peeved at Hwa-young.'
Unlike my worry, Hwa-young seemed to find Ji-ah's attitude cute.
"Hehe. Thanks for the heads-up."
She flashed Ji-ah a bright smile, then naturally slid onto a stool at the bar counter in front of me.
"What brings you here?"
I asked the somewhat weary-looking Hero Hwa-young.
It was nearly 2 a.m. A bit late for cocktails.
"Oh. I had business around here anyway... and something to tell you."
"Something to tell me?"
At my question, Hwa-young fiddled with a strand of her hair for a moment.
Then she parted her lips.
"You know, I made plans to have dinner with Seol this time."
'...Seol? Oh, Hero Yoon Seol.'
She continued with a soft smile.
"Thanks. It's all because of you."
'Ah.'
Looks like the "something" was just a thank-you.
I felt a bit awkward at her gratitude and replied.
"...No big deal."
All I'd done was listen and throw in some light flattery.
"..."
As I quietly wiped down the shaker with a dry towel, Hwa-young stood up.
Already leaving?
"Well, I've said what I came to say... time to go. Got somewhere else to be."
"At this hour?"
"Yeah. Heard there's some weird villain popping up in the area. Honestly, calling at this time? No manners."
"Whoa."
A villain. Kinda scary.
...Though they'd catch 'em quick anyway.
"Just in case. You watch out on the night streets too. And the cute kid next to you."
"I'm not a kid."
"Hehe."
She chuckled at Ji-ah's retort and turned to leave, but...
"Ah."
Like she'd remembered something, she turned back to me.
"Right. Do you have my number?"
Her number? I had Hero Hwa-young's...
"Yeah, I do."
I'd saved it from the daily manager day, though I hadn't called.
"...Good enough. Call if you need help in a pinch. Got it?"
"Ah, sure."
"Or just when you're bored. See ya."
With that, Hwa-young gracefully exited the bar.
"Ji-ah. What's up?"
"...Nothing."
*
Afterward, on the usual walk home.
"..."
'Something wrong?'
They didn't chat much normally, but Ji-ah was extra quiet tonight.
Didn't seem like tiredness. More like fidgety.
Maybe...
'Mad at me?'
Did she see me as some exploitative boss working her to death?
We'd stayed a bit late again today.
'...What if she quits?'
As I fretted over Ji-ah,
she pointed to a park bench along the way.
"Hey. Wanna take a quick break on that bench over there?"
"Uh, sure."
'Legs hurt?'
Makes sense. Busy day.
"..."
We sat on the bench.
She still seemed fidgety, but then like she'd made up her mind, she spoke.
"Mister. Give me your hand."
"...Hand?"
Suddenly?
No clue, but I held it out toward her.
"Hold on."
Seeing my hand, she rummaged in her jacket's inner pocket.
'Hm?'
Out came a prettily wrapped gift box.
"Um, you know... as thanks for all the usual help..."
She gently placed it in my palm.
Stunned by her gesture, I looked at her face.
"Why stare like that..."
Her face flushed bright red, even under the park lights.
From her words, she'd prepared a gift as thanks for the ongoing favors.
"Can I open it?"
"...Do what you want."
With her okay, I carefully unwrapped it to reveal a sleek blue tie.
'No way.'
Had she overheard me muttering about needing a tie last time?
'If so, touching.'
"Was gonna give it at the bar... but she showed up."
Ji-ah grumbled about famous heroes being so free.
...Explains her poutiness when Hwa-young dropped by.
"Couldn't afford anything pricier... sorry. Toss it if you don't like it."
As I admired the gift, Ji-ah mumbled hesitantly.
"No way."
I tucked it away and said.
"Thanks. I'll put it to good use."
"...Yeah. Um, let's head home."
She shot up.
And strode off toward home.
Still embarrassed, walking fast... but
"...Pfft."
she kept glancing back to check if I was keeping up. Pretty cute.
Clomp clomp.
Soon we walked side by side.
"..."
A quiet silence settled between us. Then,
Ji-ah, still a bit flushed, cautiously asked.
"Hey, Mister. Got a question. Can I ask?"
"Question?"
She bit her lip like hesitating, then peeked at me.
"That..."
After fumbling a bit, she continued.
"Why don't you ask?"
"...Ask what?"
"Like, why I ran away. Isn't it weird? Being so nice to a girl when you don't even know why she ran..."
I turned to her at her words, and she averted her eyes, fiddling with her fingers.
It looked anxious, so
"Eek?!"
I gently patted her head and said.
"Figured you had your reasons. Thought you'd tell me someday."
"...What if I'm a bad kid?"
"You're not."
"For the ramen. Take it."
Handing me cash as thanks for the jjajang ramen I'd given her.
No way a kid like that is bad. That's what I thought, at least.
Anyway.
"Why the sudden question?"
Had I unknowingly pressured her?
Her follow-up.
"Just... it feels like a dream."
"A dream?"
"...Never mind. You're an idiot, Mister."
Harsh.
***
Meanwhile, at the same time.
In a house not far from the city outskirts where Kim Do-han's cocktail bar was.
"I-I'm sowwy... I-I'm sowwy..."
Inside a space anyone would call filthy...
"Mister. No need to apologize to us. Just pay back the money, right?"
...Three burly tattooed guys were forcing a battered man to his knees, intimidating him.
"Fuck, mister. Listen. Even we who lend to good folks have limits to our patience."
"H-Hiiik!!!"
One raised his hand threateningly, making the man scream in terror.
They laughed for a bit at his reaction, then one grabbed his hair and said.
"Mister. Got money for booze but not to pay us? Sigh..."
Crash.
He smashed a nearby soju bottle and pressed the sharp shard close.
"Fine, fuck it."
"H-Hiiiik!!!!"
"Just pay with your body. You know that, right? Mister, your flesh alone fetches a price."
Poke poke. He prodded the man's wounded belly with the broken glass.
The man, knowing full well what that meant, filled with dread.
"Urk. This fucker pissed himself."
"P-Please, spare me! I'll do anything!"
The two cackled at the terrified, begging man.
"Huh?"
The third, rummaging for valuables, found something unexpected in the closet.
"What’s this? Girl's school uniform? Mister, unique tastes."
"I-I have a daughter!"
"Daughter?"
"Y-Yes, that's right!"
A sleazy grin spread across the three men's faces.
Thud. Thud.
They beat him mercilessly to prevent resistance.
"Guh... guh..."
As the man drowned in fear of death,
the boss-like one said.
"Mister. I'll give you a chance to live. Bring your daughter here."
"Pardon?"
His instinctive question earned brutal violence.
Thwack.
"Aaaagh!!! M-My nose!!!"
"Won't say it twice. You have our contact, right?"
The man, grasping the loan sharks' intent behind "bring your daughter or die,"
"Y-Yes! I'll bring her, for sure!"
said with a servile smile.