Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Hero Yoon Seol (4)
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‘Of all the news that could come on, it had to be that one.’
The timing was hilariously bad. In the worst possible way.
“...”
Fortunately, the news anchor moved on to another topic soon after, but Yoon Seol’s expression remained stiff.
“Haa...”
She let out a sigh so long it felt like the whole bar might collapse under it.
Then, in a voice tinged with bitterness, she spoke up.
“Boss. What do you think of Hero Yoon Seol?”
“H-Hero Yoon Seol?”
Why was she suddenly pitching herself like this…?
‘Ah.’
...She thinks I still haven’t figured it out.
Come to think of it, I really hadn’t recognized her at first, and after that, she’d kept her hood pulled low, so it wasn’t unreasonable for her to assume that.
Still, it was pretty disorienting. Very much so.
‘What do I think of Hero Yoon Seol, huh...’
I wasn’t sure exactly what to say, but I could guess the intent behind her words.
People often wonder how others see them, right? Not just her, but everyone.
Like asking friends about your reputation, celebrities googling their own names, or lovers saying, ‘How do I look today? Anything different?’
Ah. Maybe not that last one.
Anyway, she probably wanted an objective view of herself through me, someone who didn’t recognize her.
“Ah. Y-Yeah. Pretend you didn’t hear that...”
“...”
‘Should I just tell her the truth…?’
...The comment from that internet news article I’d seen yesterday flashed through my mind.
‘No way I’m saying that.’
Am I crazy?
I knew sometimes the truth hurts, so I decided to brush it off lightly for now.
“She’s a famous hero, right? I’ve seen her on the news a few times. The one who beats up villains.”
“...Hmph. So what?”
‘Huh?’
Yoon Seol burst into a light laugh at my response.
Did I say something funny? I thought it was a pretty safe, textbook answer.
It’s not like I could say “South American bitch” or “trashy brat,” or go full fanboy with “Goddess Yoon Seol.”
The first would be picking a fight, and the second... I’ll pass.
“You don’t watch much internet news or YouTube, do you, Boss? That girl’s always in the middle of power trips and scandals.”
She started listing off the exact things I’d seen in those internet articles, like I couldn’t have possibly known.
“And they say she’s got a trillion in assets, believes in hero supremacy, does... sexual favors or whatever... Anyway, it’s been super noisy.”
Yoon Seol recited all the rumors about herself, including some tabloid gossip I’d never heard before.
‘Some of this is new to me.’
That meant she’d seen the same YouTube videos and articles that made me cringe... and probably the comments too, which she would’ve been better off ignoring.
The viscous malice that brews online, where distance makes people crueler.
Aimed right at her.
“...”
Unaware that I was watching her with a pang of sympathy, she kept going.
“Something about slapping a junior hero on set, or being a nepotism hire from her parents in America... Yeah, hilarious person.”
Yoon Seol’s face was practically a mask of misery now.
I wondered if she even intended to hide that she was the subject... but she didn’t seem to have the luxury.
“And besides...”
“Ahem.”
I couldn’t take it anymore and cleared my throat loudly to cut her off.
She looked my way, a bit startled. Her eyes were red-rimmed, tiny teardrops beading up.
“Wh-Why? What’s wrong?”
I could’ve comforted her with some shiny, superficial words right then.
But I wasn’t sure they’d really reach her.
So instead, I turned the question back on her.
“What do you think of that hero?”
“...What kind of question is that?”
She stared at me like I’d said something out of left field.
I pressed on, ignoring her gaze.
“The power trips, scandals, sexual favors—you just listed them all. Do you really think they’re true?”
“Well...”
If Yoon Seol admitted it was true, I had no right to judge her.
But was this the reaction of someone guilty?
“I-I... I don’t think so, probably...”
Fortunately, she blanked out for a second, then shook her head vigorously.
Satisfied with her response, I said,
“Same here.”
The articles had plenty of fishy details, and my gut—having served her multiple times now—told me those rumors were bunk.
‘...Or at least, I want to believe that.’
She was our shop’s first customer, after all. A little bias was fine.
“Wh-Why do you think that?!”
Thud!
Yoon Seol shot up from her bar stool, leaning toward me over the counter.
The space between us shrank in an instant... letting me peer closely at her face, half-hidden by the hood.
Those blue eyes brimming with tears, cheeks flushed from the booze. Stray golden blonde hairs peeking out.
‘...How can a person look like this?’
Up close, the impact was devastating. My heart raced even though I wasn’t surprised... A woman’s tears really are a weapon, I felt it firsthand.
“S-Sorry.”
Embarrassed by her outburst, Yoon Seol quickly sat back down and pulled her hood back over her face.
“I-I must be too drunk. Ahh... Anyway, why do you think that?”
I looked at her and answered honestly.
“Well, I saw a few of those internet articles... but they all felt so one-sided? Like they’d already decided ‘Yoon Seol is evil!’ and wrote the story to fit.”
“...”
It felt weird saying this to her face. The words stuck a little.
“...And?”
‘Whew.’
I worried she’d take it the wrong way, but her ears were perked up, leaning in. Good sign.
“You know how some articles hype things up for clicks? It felt like that... But honestly, the biggest reason is...”
“Biggest reason?”
“...She doesn’t strike me as the type. I’m pretty good at reading faces.”
I’m a firm believer that physiognomy is science. For real.
A brief silence followed.
“Ah, ahh... Wh-What’s that supposed to mean...!”
Ah. She laughed. A full-on, gums-showing beam.
Her eyes curved into crescents, and a single tear traced down her cheek.
I’d braced for the mood to sour, but my answer had clearly hit the mark.
My take on her like that?
‘She’s even prettier when she smiles.’
After that, Yoon Seol visibly perked up.
Like she’d decided to get smashed tonight, she ordered cocktails, highballs, and straight liquor in sequence.
Great for my sales, sure, but...
“Hee hee...”
Wasn’t this a bit too much, even for celebrating?
It was starting to feel iffy.
“Ehehe. M-More, pleeease.”
“...”
And sadly, it was iffy. The shop went from one customer and one owner to one drunkard and one owner. A dramatic shift.
“The world’s spinning...! Whoa.”
Her energy was way higher than usual.
Right now, she was flopping around on the bar stool like some soft-bodied sea creature.
‘Should I upload this to YouTube...?’
A video of this would rack up a million views easy. Not that I would.
For Hero Yoon Seol’s social reputation, of course.
“Hngh...”
Much as I wanted to watch her forever... it was too late.
Look at the clock—3 a.m. already. I’d normally be in bed.
Sleeping a couple hours later isn’t a big deal usually...
But today was different. With over ten times the usual customers, my body was beat.
‘...Sleepy.’
Every meeting has its parting. Our time was up.
“Customer. It’s closing time.”
“Closing’s whaaat...? Hic.”
“Means it’s time to go home.”
Yoon Seol shook her head stubbornly.
“I don’t wanna go hooome...?”
...What about me?