CHAPTER 49……………………………………
Baek Woo-jin was mostly expressionless, and perhaps because of that, he gave off a rather cold impression. But I had no idea what he looked like when he smiled. I had never seen him with a mirror, so in a way, that was only natural.
“Mostly just frowning when playing the game, anyway.”
I tried to imagine an illustration of him smiling, but I couldn’t recall one; it seemed it only appeared occasionally in past flashback scenes.
“You’re supposed to smile to bring luck. Maybe that’s why you’ve lived so meanly?”
I meant to keep that thought to myself, but it slipped out. I figured it didn’t matter. Just as I saw the bartender like an NPC, he probably saw me as just another extra coming in to drink and pay.
“You must have lived off your looks. Well, with that handsome face, I guess that makes sense.”
Flattery rolled off my tongue naturally, without even moistening my lips.
“This guy sure is cheeky. Is this the power of customer service?”
“You’re handsome too, bartender.”
“I’m Bae Ji-hoon.”
Come to think of it, I hadn’t heard his real name in the intel.
“Since he’s an informant, he probably didn’t tell me his real name. Names are information too, so he wouldn’t just give it away.”
Thinking that made me feel lightheaded in some way, and I wanted to drink more.
“Shall I pour you another?”
The bartender asked just then. I nodded for another drink, and at that moment, someone sat beside me.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
I deliberately replied more clearly to show that I wasn’t drunk.
“Something on your hair…”
The bartender, still staring at me after handing over the drink, reached out. From that hand came a scent—not exactly perfume, but a sweet fragrance that hit my senses.
“Could you give me the same one?”
His voice was deep, but I was too focused on the newly poured drink to really notice him.
“You shouldn’t be tempting people around when drunk.”
The mysterious man slapped away the bartender’s hand that was touching my hair.
His comment made no sense. I hadn’t tempted anyone, and the bartender certainly hadn’t been tempted either—but he said it so seriously that I was speechless. I vaguely remembered someone who could make me feel this way, but perhaps because I was sleepy, I couldn’t recall the face.
“People flock to you because you’re different from how you look.”
Listening quietly, the man treated me as if I were sugar water attracting ants.
“What? Why did you take my drink?”
And then he even pulled the freshly poured drink toward himself. I couldn’t hold back my anger any longer.
“Woo-jin, you should stay away from alcohol.”
How he knew my name and had the audacity to give life advice was infuriating.
“I’m an adult, you know?”
“I know. If you weren’t, I would’ve reported this place and got it shut down.”
That would’ve upset the bartender or the owner. Surprisingly, though, the bartender didn’t react at all. I wondered if, maybe, I was so drunk that I was talking to an imaginary person. I focused my wavering vision and carefully studied the person sitting beside me.
“Who are you…?”
His face glowed, his shoulders were broad, and his chest reminded me of the Taebaek Mountains…
“He’s handsome.”
That summed it up. Even slightly drunk, I had to admit he was good-looking.
“That’s true.”
“Your attitude is annoying, though.”
I couldn’t help but voice that, because his answer showed no trace of the humility typical of Koreans. The flawless face from before now seemed haughty.
“Do you talk nonsense when drunk?”
“No, I tend to get honest instead.”
So calling him annoying wasn’t nonsense—it was a reflection of honesty.
His lips stiffened as if he had lost words. Feeling proud that I had delivered a verbal jab, I reached for the drink in his hand. But as if determined not to let me drink more, he pushed it out of reach.
“You said you need to make it to the finals, but you can’t just be playing around alone like this.”
“I didn’t come here to play.”
“Then, since you’re being honest, tell me. What confidence makes you roam around like this? Is there something you have to do just for Woo-jin? And even if you do, what benefit does it bring?”
He twisted his mouth into a smirk, speaking in a mocking tone. Somehow, though, it didn’t feel like him being sarcastic—it felt like genuine curiosity.
“Well, you gotta have confidence to move.”
I tracked the wavering walls with my eyes and replied bluntly. I was just piecing together the information I had and acting plausibly. There was no grand purpose—I simply sought a way to live comfortably and keep the people around me from getting hurt.
“Yes. But I…”
I was inherently different from someone so wrapped in confidence. I waved my hands lightly.
“Our thoughts might differ, but I tend to act first. I hate seeing people get hurt right in front of me. Not that I want to get hurt myself… I can’t really put it into words. Don’t you feel that way sometimes?”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have that, so I can’t really relate. Are all good people like this?”
The alcohol made me chuckle. His words were absurd enough to make me laugh.
“I’m not good.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’m really bad. At first, I used people… just trying to survive myself. I just don’t like seeing that kind of thing happen in front of me. I’m selfish.”
Telling these unwanted truths made me crave alcohol even more. As I looked at the distant drink, a glass appeared in front of me with large round ice. I didn’t hesitate and drank it—it was cheap and bland.
“Telling boring stories makes the drink taste worse.”
“If you think it tastes bland enough to be water, you’ve had enough.”
“Liar.”
It was bland, but not like water. I frowned and took another small sip. There was a subtle, slightly bitter tang—definitely alcohol.
“Can you tell what this person bought?”
He judged me a drunkard and asked the bartender. The bartender wouldn’t want to answer.
“Well… I don’t really know. I don’t handle that side of things.”
For some reason, I decided to preemptively deny before he could even comment.
“I didn’t buy anything.”
With that, there was no way for him to get information.
Squeak.
“Took longer than I thought. Check the files I sent.”
If only it weren’t for this uninvited guest. The informant who came out of the small room approached me and spoke. Thanks to poor timing, I was confirmed a liar.
“I did lie… but why am I so unlucky?”
“Are you talking to me? I never told you to do that…”
I tried to deny it, but it was hard to stop my sleepy eyes. After moving excessively all day, drowsiness was overwhelming.
“Why are you so drunk already? Hey, customer. Don’t complain later when you see the bill.”
The nagging sound above my head pierced my ears. I waved my hands violently to signal I wasn’t complaining. I just wanted to escape this noisy place and sleep in bed.
“Why am I so sleepy all of a sudden…?”
“I want to sleep.”
I thought I spoke clearly, but my words came out slurred and muffled.
“Then sleep. We’ll take you safely there.”
I had no idea when this man planned to escort me.
“He’s not trying to kidnap me, right?”
My flickering rationality gave a final warning.
“I need to… go home. To my place.”
Finally, I conveyed my intention.
“Then reluctantly, let’s go to Woo-jin’s place.”
Darkness fell.
“Ever since entering the game, I feel like I’ve been falling asleep like this a lot.”
But that faint worry couldn’t overcome the drowsiness or wake me up.
“Hyung, wake up now.”
A shaking hand accompanied the order to get up. Clutching my throbbing head, I struggled to rise, and the familiar bedding welcomed me. I remembered gathering intel at the bar and talking to someone, but the memories were patchy, not smoothly connected.
“Drink this.”
“What is it?”
I eyed the yellowish liquid that Baek So-hyuk handed me with suspicion.
