MCB Chapter 20

b4ad5ed170dd0a63

Chapter 20c5fb48a9bdd653b9

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The system seemed determined not to allow me even a moment’s rest, going so far as to provide real-time updates.91a3b66897ade679

‘I just want to rest!’148cb342272ba2d1

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Desperate, I dashed down the 6177ee374c stairs and blocked the door 9d8bec92f4 with a table. Piling chairs on top of 2157d3a691 it created a formidable barricade.1629c9110255b606

Thud. Thud.9a98cb9af799bc4c

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Someone tried opening the door from outside, but it wouldn’t open in the end. Success in the first defense.186c1a7447bdeacc

“I said I want to rest…..”4ce2f5b1a6e3605e

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I sat on the table, 2199645be9 blocking the door, hugging my fdad2aa6f4 knees.bfbee69f91bc74db

I recently learned that once I start business hours, I can’t close the bar as I please during operating hours.9ed357326b6b127b

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‘Damn system forcing me to work, I’ll just refuse once I’ve had enough.’71c70ab3621e3f90

Although I still needed 9,800 coins, that was a problem for tomorrow’s me to handle.92d5f4051f417493

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Knock knock.531a4aa2a8624bc9

Bang.48763cd0d43c44c9

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Even after that, 18187fc7f9 someone kept coming, c9f7be74c7 but the door 14915f39de never opened.22c6b1b4f8f03c09

An hour before closing time,e01fd406a0f347ce

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Bang!6840638e89166d79

The door shook, 009c364533 and the stacked 31a5202d4c chairs wobbled. Half-asleep, I snapped awake.b48bcedcc506549c

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“What’s going on? Is a bear trying to get in?”d4a007e54c0faf3d

Bang!06f1bb4f6a2c08b8

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The stacked chairs finally tumbled 5f35ca0d6c down.ccff78fb19b77492

Bang!fe9a48cbb7f6ba2b

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The door burst open, flipping 7bf8dae14e the table over and sending b1ee5135b6 me sprawling to the floor.c94733e0252ff9fd

Whoever this visitor was, 3a58c0646f they possessed immense strength.d8e50577e5f16d72

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“Oww…”7e8c3871956a52b8

But is that really cdae535ff2 important right now?4b9af1f95ef0b99a

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The problem is that I’m rolling on the floor with chairs right in front of the customer.617c4a17b3a87b15

‘How embarrassing.’fb4b424a6c190710

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I must look 9191727860 really strange now.d9ace5a388ab1185

If I look up, I’ll be met straight-on with looks like they’re seeing a weirdo.98862e562420bdca

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“Are you alright?”8d19c4c536fd95e8

That stern yet gentle voice—I c7bf0f5fd6 squeezed my eyes shut tightly.695eb90f0c0273e7

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“I thought the door was stuck, so I pushed a bit hard, didn’t realize you were there.”9a60296cb0cb2573

Yes. It was Johan, of course.b53282cf0b65277c

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‘Of all people, why did I have to make a fool of myself in front of the wealthy duke?’fbc71690c5e3dcb1

I was not alright at 211325a4a0 all.3ea729baba41656c

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I was so 4747560ebc embarrassed that I fe6b00a5fe felt like pretending a83596a32b to be injured.1cecab40c8ddae17

If he asked 23a2d48b00 what I was f27da36f46 doing, I was bf563d0f96 planning to keep 0bfa982bce my mouth shut ca2054c746 and run away.a3a87b3625ac873f

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But I couldn’t just lie there forever, so I slowly lifted my body up.94e2261ee622ae9a

“My apologies. I seem to have come at a bad time.”16941bf88a6d1cb0

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The wealthy and kind Duke c15211345d extended a hand to help 10cb85d7dd me up. Unable to ignore his courtesy, ef67bc6cad I grasped his hand and a2082368c0 stood up.8fa3954f5a88fce1

“Ah, thank you. That was……”ee228a9a231c297d

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I rolled my eyes f043783ef5 around, searching for an a2473fd21a excuse.6aed69f3815832fb

“Um, well…there was a bug up there, so I was trying to catch it. But I couldn’t reach it, so I got up on the table and…well, you saw what happened. Haha.”b849034388b59aae

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“I see.”3c037323563919c8

Even though my excuse made no sense, Johan didn’t question or probe further. He simply helped pick up the scattered chairs.f22423d0a363f22c

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‘He really is an adult.’21a69f3d6e5b1e07

Johan’s consideration warmed my heart. Only then did I realize how foolishly I had acted.1f9c1367def820f3

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‘Even if I was drained, barricading the door was going overboard.’b60591ea9cbe65e3

I should have just hung up the “Closed” sign instead.b69a356eb3dbdad8

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While I briefly bf5c0b2d20 reflected, Johan approached b363061ada me after finishing a286d8e84b cleaning up the 19c9570ea3 table area. His large physique 4bd2b0aff1 struck me anew—those b27b258fe1 broad shoulders, and 98cf5588e3 his height must 6a4c223c02 be around 2 9585a2438d meter tall, maybe?09578a88cffa0d24

‘If we stood side-by-side, the difference would be immense. I wish I could take just 5 cm of his height.’cfe507a0a8ba145f

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It would make a382265c73 things so much c79c684f0f easier when retrieving 2b7dd68290 bottles from the 406baa1925 top shelf.7605a2c2fb320902

Johan glanced at 8358807798 me once before 5a7286fdb6 unexpectedly starting to e4eac9ad8a loosen his tie.54a4d9cb66d5661c

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“Y-Your Grace?”b9b09b76b8c8be48

Before I could say anything 6daf068b9b to stop him, he had 04efee6d79 already undone a couple of 888b7e30bb buttons. The sight of his collarbone 95618aced8 peeking through his shirt was 694dc895ab both distracting and stimulating.cb0180e91b1a0549

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“Please, call me by my name instead of ‘Your Grace.’ Or have you forgotten?”ff02e4369890e9a7

“N-No! I mean, Johan, sir, you really shouldn’t be doing this here…”a8e1a2fe8cdba514

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“It’s nothing. I thought I’d match today’s dress code.”555f5c6e729e714a

I was so 3152cff58f flustered that I 19c11f5952 stumbled over my 443735a097 words, while Johan 82eb90b1a6 looked straight at 60cbf13492 me with an 474ade2db0 amused smile.50d7f1f522fd2829

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‘Wait. Dress code?’588b534b1a3d97ed

I suddenly recalled Johan glancing d4b06a7535 at me before loosening his 46a989a1b5 tie. Slowly, I lowered my 284946db9b head to check my 4682359a7b own attire.a52a9a4a9e778139

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‘Ah.’58d4e09e6b8810d0

I had forgotten—in 394960d4bd my desire to f20da77827 rest, I had 66421d0310 carelessly removed my 95caffae80 tie and thrown cb606ecab5 it aside. A few buttons 674c7bf524 were also undone, ca0c1779d4 exposing my disheveled 16f9671735 state.f405aef0f7794e76

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It was already c7df24a8c3 embarrassing enough, but 28a94062d8 re-buttoning now would 497416cf61 only make it 3aae6760ad more awkward.75176e7c85af3e1c

As I had 690589efae that thought, Johan 8dec7f74e8 casually spoke up.36932db5412aa37f

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“It’s been a while.”ee017b4749f9895d

“Ah, yes it has. Have you been busy? Dealing with troublesome monsters?”2042ad9991ab602e

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“Yes. That’s why I could only come now. In fact, I’m still in the midst of a battle.”19d5aba620bf6812

We naturally moved the a34238628f conversation to the bar 1154bb7702 counter as we spoke.ef2e340bf840621c

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“It seemed my visit would keep getting postponed, so I came on an impulse.”43cc8b95d36064e9

“So you’re saying you acted on a whim?”44eb19377f179fc4

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“So, you’re playing hooky?”65a4a233099df9df

It was surprising 9c07630faf to see that b2bb0c041f even someone like cd663f9b4a Johan played hooky. I felt a sense of 9ffbb5f719 camaraderie and relief at the 31cb371389 same time.58411b442a0baa89

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“You could put it that way.”78de2163cd4c3175

“And even drinking on the job, no less.”8b3ae3ec54a2bc68

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At my remark, Johan, 215b43497a who had been consistently 9e653297ca calm until now, flinched 646853fcf1 slightly as if I d08a79c0a4 had hit the mark.2e40da80cacf1c52

“Well, that’s…”e36f57ea37966051

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“The best drinks are always the ones you sneak. Let’s make sure this is the best hooky ever.”7dd7519458e3b554

I grinned as 0ef50569cf I grabbed a 2752efc541 bottle of soju.3eadee1e98280b5b

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‘I really wanted to take a break today, but given the situation, what can I do?’7639c74a8be74ed9

Both Johan and I were ddcc1e0750 stressed out from our respective ce363019eb duties. The perfect drink 840d933015 for such an 283c5c475d occasion was undoubtedly,ad2add2569fd74ff

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‘Let’s have a somaek!’dc3294022f705ae7

It was time to 1e4186c996 bring out somaek, the d3a40fea26 ultimate comfort drink for 7ca10178ec Korean office workers.ed80ad164e88ef0e

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I brought beer c54922c022 from the kitchen. It had been taken off f15ff2e82f the display shelves due to dd1267833e its bland, unassertive flavor.1651736d0f1b22e9

Since I’d be adding flavor with soju, the beer could afford to be a bit plain.98b0f37a860a6dc7

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‘No, that’s even better!’3656e142845031c3

I laid out 1e52191f48 the soju and da06f34e04 beer on the 38f65e2a84 bar counter.d6be93fe8e516226

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The golden ratio for somaek c5afd90a0c is 3:7.e18a673a71506a93

I floated a half-filled soju ce5926e8be glass like a little boat b85fa97213 in a glass filled with 560430823d beer.aa3ac90c77337231

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“Are you not using your usual tools today?”975613f8d1ae6fa3

“Nope. Today’s drink method is actually a traditional technique from where I used to live.”ff6e73c00c91ac80

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I tapped the beer glass with chopsticks, causing the foam to rise up and engulf the soju glass. Johan’s blue eyes slowly widened as he watched.6ba17485d97ff213

“Here, I’ll serve you a somaek.”b2e7df40b0f11cbd

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“A glass within a glass. Quite a unique method.”ac171e0445f9dbfc

Saying that, Johan 9137f05fc3 took a big 57eed0b7f9 gulp of the 7e179e97a0 somaek.dd188091ed5bba0c

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‘He has really large hands.’ca17f14545a1c61f

His fingers looked d1369b07cc thick and sturdy. In contrast, the de1a43ff30 man I carelessly e4e4531893 picked up had 7d45829899 long, slender fingers.9c38fc5366cec1e4

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If the two 4067c76a6b men sat side-by-side, 87d3bee031 the contrast would e8fd504a26 be quite striking.f0003a65187ec12b

“It’s delicious. The sweet yet tart and clean taste is addictive. Another glass, please.”268a9933ab37b215

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“Yes, I’ll prepare it right away.”4637881afa71076f

As I was preparing 29d2fa84b2 the somaek, the door 50100f6b96 opened.e3ff1dffefb17ab9

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“Welcome!”cb0cda86805530ea

Into the small bar ea76f028a2 that could barely fit 90b4b7f84e ten people, customers started 08187babcf trickling in one by 8020581993 one.e88affe2896e2184

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Was there some special 64367b6fa1 occasion today? For some reason, the 0a6f23dc76 bar was packed with d79b9408bc customers.a9f24474532a9559

“Please wait a moment. I have other orders to take.”f2d9b518aef6b859

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“Hold on a second.”f4a9459cf5f196ad

Just as I 726622f0ab was about to 698cb59542 make the somaek, 5b812f2be8 Johan called out 81b39ab8a9 to me.1b3d321fc57afab1

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“Yes?”bea92547d62c50f0

“I’ll cover everyone’s drinks for today.”3e810e8564943501

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Johan took out d153285f44 a fistful of a2b9764711 silver coins as 39671e363d he spoke. Before I could 671d8aede1 react, he had 2753e2295b already poured a a225640a7f clinking stream of e56122cffb coins into my 14942dd7c3 apron pocket. The weight felt substantial.22aef8d06f3cec4e

‘Whoa.’07fb21e731eba004

My jaw dropped. I had never received such 1617edf353 a large amount at once.a71a310b1fcdab74

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As expected from f55c707563 a wealthy duke.e3841e01cd860ad4

“Is this enough to have you exclusively to myself?”232fd58e68a589f1

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“Pardon?”95ae90aac8f8d32e

Unlike my flustered reaction, dc29906a5e Johan calmly opened his 6749c69188 lips while stroking his ff901caa4f chin.8d58068690959406

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“My offer for you to become the bartender at the duchy still stands.”e3110d235a6336a7

Ah, so that’s what he meant.92c40c92c806436e

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“Since you didn’t seem satisfied with the previous amount, I thought… Considering you’re sparkling over just this much…”802b9f2e0f10d783

A thousand coins werejustto him? I suddenly grew curious 9643c9559f about the body price e15f3fb6c9 the system had censored ba6fd1633d from me when he a7898c548b made his initial offer.c1b72eddca93c148

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“But does Your Grace really need a personal bartender? I think it’s fine if you just visit like you normally do.”bd6cf48c56896af7

Johan didn’t seem like the kind of person who needed to drink every day. He seemed to drink maybe once or twice a week at most.8f7345f01a1f4323

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“It’s a matter of personal desire. I don’t like sharing what I cherish.”1082233504c07662

So this is about the duke’s bartender offer, right? Feeling a bit dazed, I silently nodded.0ae0925a6c7650db

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Meanwhile, the excited 2c721cabe9 customers who heard 5fc528ba21 about an open 936558da9a bar started whistling.0504828d2a19c3fb

“Anything is fine, just serve us already.”92d013b54d57def7

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“The best booze is the one someone else pays for.”21605c585665831b

I shrugged and 5cf4af5d2e took out four a5a0a17a50 beer glasses.eb1b22f4e508d12d

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“One more.”6014740c3be8335a

“Huh? Yes.”2e839493480a8d2c

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At Johan’s words, I took out one more beer glass.a5d3a806508df46d

Lining up the five glasses, 485cd62f9c I poured beer into them.6e2a8796492f18a2

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“Ooh? What is that lady trying to do?”3746c52e73787f1c

“Don’t you know cocktails? You’re supposed to mix drinks.”b6dba65467fc1ca6

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The customers murmured fcfbf4157e while watching me.45bf0308219747d7

I placed a f56ebca0b6 soju glass in a77c3167b9 each beer glass.3f3a10b72e40661a

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After pouring soju into the cba1cdb83e soju glasses, I picked one e41a409017 up and—clink!—plopped it into the beer glass.afac02376abbb56e

With a swift motion, the soju glass fits perfectly into the beer glass, and the customers’ eyes widened in amazement.36408078e4b27823

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‘Nice. I haven’t lost my touch.’2f24c49c3e590465

🫧40979f11198865c8

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