MCB Chapter 20

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Chapter 20e2ac5c39020320d4

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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.c7f43afc04824ce4

‘I just want to rest!’52e6df7c97e2f851

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Desperate, I dashed down the 6d6ffb3922 stairs and blocked the door e4aee4ffc9 with a table. Piling chairs on top 4edd2db319 of it created a b71ca26919 formidable barricade.d180909ccf79ad39

Thud. Thud.56dcbcb8f3e6ea12

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Someone tried opening the door from outside, but it wouldn’t open in the end. Success in the first defense.6780daf67ce2b2f6

“I said I want to rest…..”6666dc53085cf0a5

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I sat on the 7751fde874 table, blocking the door, f8e7d227bd hugging my knees.d7c35ffd81bc94de

I recently learned that once I start business hours, I can’t close the bar as I please during operating hours.64a87ee6ff8da1f7

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‘Damn system forcing me to work, I’ll just refuse once I’ve had enough.’1b7293757b072a81

Although I still needed 9,800 coins, that was a problem for tomorrow’s me to handle.da4941e6172bd68e

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Knock knock.934d31a76917173f

Bang.e1945f7bb2af616a

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Even after that, someone kept f6e01478c4 coming, but the door never c35512305d opened.9bcf14d2d278a224

An hour before closing time,0373edf63b9337a3

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Bang!05e97193a0a22bfc

The door shook, and the 5111f8a479 stacked chairs wobbled. Half-asleep, I snapped awake.5642401af48e7b51

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“What’s going on? Is a bear trying to get in?”6b09b46b6642c797

Bang!f72029c2c5109578

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The stacked chairs 79fa6fa143 finally tumbled down.5b0d5ef8eff8cf35

Bang!7d717e9ca188d789

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The door burst open, flipping 316c1bc111 the table over and sending 8983bd97e3 me sprawling to the floor.13312dde46f331c7

Whoever this visitor b853675a67 was, they possessed 368e35583c immense strength.5323f37f0c08d1a8

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“Oww…”5736677fdb6c1371

But is that 862a83ff41 really important right 34db1e490a now?e85cff7c5cd34337

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The problem is that I’m rolling on the floor with chairs right in front of the customer.86831dc0815e0464

‘How embarrassing.’482c3e9e0c308261

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I must look really b3566e617a strange now.cde488dc7b3ba129

If I look up, I’ll be met straight-on with looks like they’re seeing a weirdo.d8004df4a59af60c

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“Are you alright?”f2f4ce45ea1930fb

That stern yet 12f307c5c4 gentle voice—I squeezed 278b90beba my eyes shut c469184a00 tightly.99098cdca1b0bc9d

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“I thought the door was stuck, so I pushed a bit hard, didn’t realize you were there.”f7a33d6e2573a78c

Yes. It was Johan, of course.7d7537c19425be39

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‘Of all people, why did I have to make a fool of myself in front of the wealthy duke?’a1a2910fa7413ada

I was not alright at 9b49106f62 all.bd0e124fc3c79acc

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I was so embarrassed that 836cf3bac5 I felt like pretending to c600c9cbae be injured.65faf4899659482b

If he asked what d4c850f10a I was doing, I 34340baaae was planning to keep 6ca6b77792 my mouth shut and c16c4ef158 run away.5c0f07f9fbefd845

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But I couldn’t just lie there forever, so I slowly lifted my body up.576717d12b52669b

“My apologies. I seem to have come at a bad time.”29f32aabefed85c1

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The wealthy and kind Duke 27ffa98bef extended a hand to help 37c1ead976 me up. Unable to ignore his courtesy, a31e5aabd4 I grasped his hand and 09b6946aa1 stood up.1543020c2ffcf233

“Ah, thank you. That was……”e57d9bce6cb9561d

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I rolled my eyes around, e174e9d1c5 searching for an excuse.8e5c3d26b99a0af9

“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.”a59fb0b699789c13

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“I see.”d69c0c03cb403d25

Even though my excuse made no sense, Johan didn’t question or probe further. He simply helped pick up the scattered chairs.af3f753c9d899e25

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‘He really is an adult.’ab6597726a042a6b

Johan’s consideration warmed my heart. Only then did I realize how foolishly I had acted.c76c3d480f026f93

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‘Even if I was drained, barricading the door was going overboard.’4aa799e7a2d198b0

I should have just hung up the “Closed” sign instead.42e8c878af9a1184

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While I briefly reflected, 8160b228ce Johan approached me after 1f46e4ee95 finishing cleaning up the be8437a65f table area. His large physique struck b770003daa me anew—those broad shoulders, 65bcea0fe6 and his height must 9d4812e42a be around 2 meter 1ae3afc3b2 tall, maybe?d5d5b20b4098e2a9

‘If we stood side-by-side, the difference would be immense. I wish I could take just 5 cm of his height.’2b34da15ba7f5787

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It would make 7f933f3740 things so much 4a3ea9e27b easier when retrieving 5fae43cba1 bottles from the 0bfade86e5 top shelf.daba714d9de6b212

Johan glanced at aebd280127 me once before b2d08cb509 unexpectedly starting to b54ffe41c5 loosen his tie.c1bfde79feadf215

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“Y-Your Grace?”13563ac3627e2aef

Before I could 84f0fe6dc0 say anything to c79a826375 stop him, he 43d4162015 had already undone 2ea26b503c a couple of b37d64365e buttons. The sight of 4b8a30f718 his collarbone peeking f07694eb8b through his shirt 9a40f509bc was both distracting 07285507a5 and stimulating.dcbbf47ea13fd8eb

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“Please, call me by my name instead of ‘Your Grace.’ Or have you forgotten?”99f4c141a332238b

“N-No! I mean, Johan, sir, you really shouldn’t be doing this here…”1958689f58c854df

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“It’s nothing. I thought I’d match today’s dress code.”7ab24308dd897415

I was so a43aeac7c9 flustered that I a856ba8988 stumbled over my a60334ac5f words, while Johan 7fed45d599 looked straight at 3f58c3bbfe me with an 45b13f0e51 amused smile.aed1a48ee4455c0f

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‘Wait. Dress code?’2f4cc187fbc054b2

I suddenly recalled Johan 325beea295 glancing at me before 0f3bb9ef57 loosening his tie. Slowly, I lowered my head 4d36bc4ae5 to check my own attire.34d23e8b727276fc

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‘Ah.’e27aa87285a4e234

I had forgotten—in my 7971913357 desire to rest, I ae2a303811 had carelessly removed my 2cd8c2d43e tie and thrown it eddfb17715 aside. A few buttons were 8d0f466ebb also undone, exposing my aaa32be371 disheveled state.92af50c826f122dc

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It was already b1929be050 embarrassing enough, but b3c959d1a1 re-buttoning now would d5b31759a4 only make it f68b726452 more awkward.6a41e08f9d9027f9

As I had that 8d94b2b8ad thought, Johan casually spoke 98eba0a475 up.bf89db6f8c174ffa

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“It’s been a while.”6de308544f4ef9b4

“Ah, yes it has. Have you been busy? Dealing with troublesome monsters?”e959206f650dce9d

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“Yes. That’s why I could only come now. In fact, I’m still in the midst of a battle.”12d94c455f833554

We naturally moved the 08ca34f9e4 conversation to the bar 8fb802c786 counter as we spoke.27cb474a6805c1e9

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“It seemed my visit would keep getting postponed, so I came on an impulse.”cac09668c8995495

“So you’re saying you acted on a whim?”a64e8ba5e2a47816

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“So, you’re playing hooky?”4a0e80d73f57722c

It was surprising to 2502d4b35e see that even someone f7383b1946 like Johan played hooky. I felt a sense of 2a8be8ced8 camaraderie and relief at the 01e616a434 same time.e228e6029a97fa4b

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“You could put it that way.”f79bf50f9c09e584

“And even drinking on the job, no less.”71b312a710350a55

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At my remark, Johan, who 7fb1dd8df6 had been consistently calm until ed20f5f193 now, flinched slightly as if 7b399b0f79 I had hit the mark.bd09c15daf8640b6

“Well, that’s…”4a5688c44ffaf630

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“The best drinks are always the ones you sneak. Let’s make sure this is the best hooky ever.”61806f44180f22ce

I grinned as I grabbed 1470ee8f45 a bottle of soju.d43043707f946ac1

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‘I really wanted to take a break today, but given the situation, what can I do?’b8bf5bdc4b33488b

Both Johan and I were e2646e189d stressed out from our respective 02167b1eda duties. The perfect drink for such d7a313646f an occasion was undoubtedly,e610a141d08a3002

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‘Let’s have a somaek!’d50989501ff30d54

It was time to bring 1fa08e532e out somaek, the ultimate comfort 65b89b6410 drink for Korean office workers.70d387cf2409fd9c

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I brought beer from a90bb7013a the kitchen. It had been taken 6279a58556 off the display shelves 5cdfffe004 due to its bland, 9ff9a8c93f unassertive flavor.6ced31fb78914627

Since I’d be adding flavor with soju, the beer could afford to be a bit plain.89c87d4c6455fc88

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‘No, that’s even better!’45a19c892dbdaee2

I laid out the soju 180df2aaaf and beer on the bar 11c4a464e7 counter.3dd6cdaa7c80bc1e

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The golden ratio for somaek 5a0cf86258 is 3:7.20e30d0901601a73

I floated a half-filled soju 9b94a79527 glass like a little boat 3f098ba83e in a glass filled with 98a70e3d76 beer.a85ad6d011c2680c

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“Are you not using your usual tools today?”a1bf787b8c96e90c

“Nope. Today’s drink method is actually a traditional technique from where I used to live.”67db56d1e0686c16

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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.40cc6680a25002f7

“Here, I’ll serve you a somaek.”a8295fa75385d00a

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“A glass within a glass. Quite a unique method.”37403735171e420f

Saying that, Johan took 4ccf8a84e6 a big gulp of 6cb0b417e8 the somaek.0b922e1ff09c1285

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‘He has really large hands.’d9e213f0ce731784

His fingers looked 0cf4a04ccb thick and sturdy. In contrast, the man I 9e904c8a0b carelessly picked up had long, 919bfb1372 slender fingers.16d2195b661359d5

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If the two men sat 80cfe46020 side-by-side, the contrast would be 9a7034cae1 quite striking.3b9d3933676b9d82

“It’s delicious. The sweet yet tart and clean taste is addictive. Another glass, please.”30a4c0bf80357dba

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“Yes, I’ll prepare it right away.”e8d3e65959b2a336

As I was preparing b3a206c712 the somaek, the door fdd97006c1 opened.c8f8ef47e0f55295

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“Welcome!”6b29d01a25bd80f0

Into the small b915f2fff5 bar that could 62c3e9dee8 barely fit ten d3596806fd people, customers started 41539ab3f9 trickling in one d04840b7a7 by one.418f43f2288cf6c6

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Was there some special occasion d884f4e234 today? For some reason, the bar 2edfa63134 was packed with customers.3eaf70f87217384e

“Please wait a moment. I have other orders to take.”65907546aee58d4c

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“Hold on a second.”cbadddf07e52553f

Just as I e36f265181 was about to ce7bbc13bd make the somaek, ebc958febf Johan called out 9f04a1f205 to me.694b86a8f464e983

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“Yes?”1c7b85a291aae1ba

“I’ll cover everyone’s drinks for today.”027fba69d8ad6838

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Johan took out a 272a21a220 fistful of silver coins ba0e49cd93 as he spoke. Before I could react, he 56b4e0a0d3 had already poured a clinking 20af7adfa5 stream of coins into my c980b908bc apron pocket. The weight felt substantial.5f48d6ae639eaed3

‘Whoa.’12992ccd8223912d

My jaw dropped. I had never received d64c862b9b such a large amount 7a30c47953 at once.1aa389f2f9a38510

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As expected from 3ee5a1123f a wealthy duke.133a6bd829138b2d

“Is this enough to have you exclusively to myself?”cfba3ff4cd213688

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“Pardon?”7667fb1551d89bcd

Unlike my flustered reaction, 263a52e0f6 Johan calmly opened his cf5e64d7dc lips while stroking his f6d36d3b0b chin.a1dca567eecc64c6

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“My offer for you to become the bartender at the duchy still stands.”b66747ec1833488e

Ah, so that’s what he meant.aab98befa76a249a

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“Since you didn’t seem satisfied with the previous amount, I thought… Considering you’re sparkling over just this much…”a0851c6cf49f5f2a

A thousand coins werejustto him? I suddenly grew curious e970ce7daa about the body price cb52a87509 the system had censored 84a29f09d4 from me when he 92224839f4 made his initial offer.6e9be072224877a1

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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.”0985712b16f1d318

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.1f52d2ed9d9b668b

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“It’s a matter of personal desire. I don’t like sharing what I cherish.”15d4a24099f32002

So this is about the duke’s bartender offer, right? Feeling a bit dazed, I silently nodded.99a631fa75f6a4ec

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Meanwhile, the excited customers who 1327db6374 heard about an open bar a85da5ba8c started whistling.379695d20da80ce2

“Anything is fine, just serve us already.”39452afbab1fe70c

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“The best booze is the one someone else pays for.”09ba968fb49c2eda

I shrugged and took out 4e27eb1f13 four beer glasses.a69963fb9bb74ef3

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“One more.”c787ecf865397e24

“Huh? Yes.”fdee6b09c4019b25

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At Johan’s words, I took out one more beer glass.b5bc2b0086080fd8

Lining up the 00a498e6cd five glasses, I 76575375d4 poured beer into bf2e8a8ab1 them.7949a0d3ccf3b743

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“Ooh? What is that lady trying to do?”3340382435d9a3f5

“Don’t you know cocktails? You’re supposed to mix drinks.”0ff8cc12c12a4c9f

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The customers murmured while watching e948fe554f me.419a31159c6c1e02

I placed a soju 3bb89d4981 glass in each beer 8134c7e9c5 glass.c4aa3fb658a9acc9

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After pouring soju into 8eaf6d4141 the soju glasses, I 4d5e7646cf picked one up and—clink!—plopped it into the beer glass.ed77a4db27a7a780

With a swift motion, the soju glass fits perfectly into the beer glass, and the customers’ eyes widened in amazement.6915d1362db27231

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‘Nice. I haven’t lost my touch.’9e9736385e053c2a

🫧d383cbd0b7c4c602

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