<Episode 10>
“Return.”
With the familiar fade-out, my body was transported back to the cocktail bar.
Of course, the basket full of fruit came with me.
“It feels like I just ran through an entire movie……”
Though this time, I could actually interfere with the story.
“First, now that I have a stable source of fruit, should I start preparing snacks?”
If there is melon, I can drink whiskey forever.
I was thinking of making things like a fruit platter, prosciutto melon, and fruit cheese salad.
‘And I need to care about the plating!’
If high-quality fruit also looks fancy, who could complain if I charge more?
This is what premium service is. It should sell pretty well.
“I also want to do an ‘Afternoon Snack Set.’ System, give me some snacks.”
There was no answer.
It only stays quiet at times like this. Stupid system.
Anyway, for the first time in a while, I worked enthusiastically, cutting fruit, experimenting, and writing the finished designs in my notebook.
* * *
“What a very splendid cocktail. It makes me admire it without even trying!”
“Right? It’s famous enough to be called the queen of tropical cocktails.”
I proudly smiled and lifted my shoulders a little.
It was a Mai Tai, a cocktail based on rum with lime, orange, pineapple, and other tropical fruits blended together.
I decorated it with a handmade cocktail umbrella, a pineapple wedge, a cherry, and mint leaves, so even its appearance was special.
But the most eye-catching thing was the glass.
‘I was in a hurry, so I washed a flower vase and used it.’
It was my first time serving a cocktail in such a huge glass.
Then again, that made sense, because today’s guest was truly unusual.
“I truly like it. Seventy points out of a hundred.”
“Ah, thank you.”
That was praise… right?
Smiling, I glanced at the guest with the old-fashioned voice.
To my surprise, today’s guest was a crane.
A crane bigger than me had opened the door and walked in, and it had scared me so much.
[Bring me a drink.]
‘And it even talked.’
What is this, some anime character?
I paused for a moment and carefully studied the atmosphere.
After doing this work for so long, I could usually tell at a glance whether someone was an adult or not.
But this was my first crane customer.
So I asked directly.
[Excuse me, customer, how old are you?]
[I am 523 years old this year.]
As expected, it was no ordinary crane.
But because of that, I needed to make absolutely sure.
[This is very rude of me, but… in crane years, would that still count as an adult……?]
[Crane? Tch! I am a divine beast!]
[Ah, I see. My apologies, sir.]
[Siiir? I am still in my prime!]
The outraged crane flapped its wings, and such a strong gust blew that I almost got thrown away.
I barely survived by clinging to the shelf, and somehow managed to calm down the terrifying crane guest.
And the result was what I was looking at now.
“That was an excellent drink. When I looked at this place from outside, the door seemed ready to collapse at any moment, so I thought this shop was too shabby to serve someone like me. I never expected such a refined drink to be prepared here.”
The guest wiped its beak with a handkerchief that looked just as elegant as the cocktail, then placed a shining handful of silver coins on top of the bar.
It seemed like quite a lot, but how much was it exactly?
Lately, because I had been putting more effort into the visuals, the price of my cocktails had jumped from only 1 or 2 coins.
‘Today, the other customers each paid 4 coins per glass, so this guest probably…’
The reputation of cocktail bar “I Don’t Care About That” has increased by 400. (Total: 1,700)
You earned 100 coins!
At this level, it seemed the crane counted as a special guest.
‘And my reputation went up too.’
Could it be some kind of protagonist from another story?
I couldn’t think of any story with a crane in it.
“I shall come again. I am already looking forward to the next drink.”
“Really? I’ll be waiting.”
“I will also spread the word around. Places that only I know usually disappear quickly. Even shops that last a hundred years are rare. Sadly.”
Normally, people do not say a hundred years is “quickly.”
But it called itself a divine beast, so its standards were clearly different.
‘Good thing I’m just a human who’ll live at most a hundred years.’
That also means my working years are shorter.
How is anyone supposed to work for several hundred years?
“Thank you, even just for saying that.”
I had gone blank for a moment, but quickly fixed my expression and smiled.
“I also like the kind owner. Five extra points.”
I would have preferred if he expressed those feelings in coins instead of points.
Of course, I left that part unsaid and waved both hands as I saw the guest off.
Quest Complete!
For the first time, you served three groups of customers in one day.
Reward: 10 Dried Snack Sets, 10 Cheese Platters
I had worked all day, and only three groups came.
Customers were not increasing quickly.
Still, I felt energized by the appearance of the snacks I had wanted so badly.
I should eat one myself.
“Look at this thick brie cheese. It would be nice to serve it with nuts and do a little fire show on the spot. Ah, no, instead of that, I should prepare it in advance—”
Just then, a red warning light appeared in front of me.
When I looked outside the window, the darkness had already grown deep.
‘I didn’t even notice how much time had passed.’
Normally, a bar’s peak hours start around this time, but because the safety rating was ‘Lowest’, I got a warning when it got too late at night.
I already didn’t want to work that hard, and I definitely wasn’t going to take extra risks too.
‘Still, I’ve got a little energy left today…’
Should I go quickly and bring back some fruit?
For the first time in a while, I crossed over to the orchard—no, to the world of the regressed noble lady.
After that day, a large fruit basket was always waiting in the place where I arrived.
It was full of especially large, high-quality fruit.
It looked like they had picked them out just for me.
‘But this isn’t enough.’
Now that I had official permission to take fruit, there was no reason to hesitate.
As I wandered around looking for watermelon, I heard voices in the distance.
“Why are you following me?”
“It’s late at night. Someone should protect you.”
It was Eve and the young Marquis.
“So the busy young Marquis is going to trail after me?”
“There are rumors that a suspicious fruit thief is wandering around.”
Seriously. Why are you using me as an excuse?
‘Now I have proper permission, so I’m not a thief anymore!’
Even while thinking that, I ended up snickering.
Well, I guess all that yelling while drunk had accomplished something.
“Right. Things only start changing once you show it outwardly.”
Anyway, I was glad they seemed to be getting along…
‘Wait.’
At that moment, a light turned on and clearly revealed Eve’s face.
The distance wasn’t far, so even I could see the dark cloud hanging over her expression.
‘Why does that brother look so proud just because he’s spending time with his sister? Can’t he see her face and understand the situation?’
This family had serious problems.
Eve wasn’t the only issue with how timid she became around family.
That brother probably had a tag like #completely-clueless attached to him.
Just as I thought that, Eve’s eyes met mine.
A spark returned to her lifeless eyes.
This feels bad.
I have a feeling I’m about to get dragged into something annoying.
“Ret—”
Whoosh.
Before I could even finish saying “Return,” wind rushed at me and wrapped around my body.
‘Damn it.’
It was a familiar sensation.
It had to be the power of a spirit again.
“Didn’t I just hear something?”
“U-um, Brother. I suddenly have urgent business, so I’ll head back first.”
“What is it? I’ll help you.”
“Ah, well…”
“It doesn’t matter what it is. Just say it.”
The young Marquis looked ready to follow her no matter what excuse she made.
“T-the bathroom! It’s urgent!”
“Ah.”
Eve sacrificed her social dignity to shake him off.
The young Marquis didn’t stop her as she grabbed her dress and ran away.
A little later, just as expected, Eve ran straight toward me.
With tears all over her face.
“Hic… sniff…”
“Ah, sis, really? Is this okay? My hammock and alcohol have been desperately waiting for me to come back, you know.”
Ignoring my complaint, Eve kept wiping away her tears as she ran deeper toward the fruit trees.
Still wrapped in the wind, I was dragged along after her.
Like one of those inflatable dancing dolls people put up for store openings.
Once all signs of other people were completely gone, Eve dropped heavily to the ground.
In the silence, only her sobbing echoed around us.
‘I should’ve just stayed a fruit thief.’
When the wind holding my body scattered and disappeared, I seriously considered running away right then.
‘Ugh. Forget it.’
With a sigh, I walked closer to Eve, whose eyes were red, and gently patted her back.
Even if it was bothersome, I wasn’t cold-hearted enough to ignore someone crying their eyes out right in front of me.
“I think today calls for a cocktail that chases away sadness.”
“There’s a cocktail like that too?”
“Of course.”
I summoned my cocktail kit.
Thankfully, all the ingredients I needed were there.
I put ice, vodka, triple sec, and blue curaçao into the shaker and shook it hard.
‘Not too much vodka.’
Usually, vodka makes up half the drink, but I adjusted the ratio so Eve—who wasn’t strong with alcohol—could drink it more comfortably.
When I poured it into a chilled glass, it gleamed with a deep blue color like the sea.
“Blue Monday. It’s a cocktail that blows away Monday depression. And today just happens to be Monday.”
Even when I held the glass out to her, Eve just stared blankly at me.
Only when I nudged it closer and said, “Here,” did she finally take it.
“I can smell a fresh orange scent.”
“That’s why it doesn’t feel as alcoholic. But it’s still strong, so drink slowly.”
“Haa… I feel kind of dazed.”
Maybe because her racing emotions had calmed a little, Eve’s expression became more peaceful.
Then she spoke in a low voice.
“But why is Monday depressing?”
“Because you have to go to work. A noble lady like you wouldn’t understand.”
