Chapter 63 - Awakening (1)
“Good evening.”
“Sister?!” Kang Shin-hyuk was wiping the leather saddle while gently exuding spiritual power all afternoon when he heard someone barge in. He shouted angrily at Claire, who appeared without warning. Today, she was wearing a leather riding jacket with a neatly tied ponytail, revealing her provocative body.
“I’m shy, so let me in.”
“No, how on earth did you get in? No one can come in here!”
“Why are you so surprised? Didn’t I tell you I was coming?”
“I didn’t know you meant to come to my room!” She had certainly sent a message saying, ‘I’m heading in.’ But, of course, Kang Shin-hyuk just thought it was a wrong number or something.
“What? Haven’t you heard? I made this system. In addition to Shinyoung, I’ve also worked with other academies and major facilities. To be precise, I provided the theory and reagents needed.” If she had made it, then certainly it wouldn’t be difficult for her to enter the Royal Class. But how did she know he joined those ranks?
“Even if you can sneak in, you couldn’t have known my room number or that I joined the Royal Class, right?”
“I installed a backdoor, of course. Don’t worry, I’m collecting information from all the organizations I lent my tech to.”
“This criminal…!”
“Correct!” Claire affirmed she was a criminal by puffing her chest out.
“But it’s okay because it’s not sold anywhere. I’m just satisfied with the fact that I can play behind the scenes of the world by myself and sleep on secrets no one else knows!”
“This is the combination of some amazing talents with the worst results…!”
“And, actually, I knew something about Shinyoung’s royal class promotion structure. Because you’re the Rookie King, I knew it was a matter of time before you ended up here. It’s actually easier for me to break into here than into the general dormitory. What?” Did that mean she would continue to intrude on him like this in the future? He loved that idea.
“But what’s the reason you came here today?”
“Today’s the first day of business for our bar, so I came to pick you up.” Her voice was excited, as she explained. Although he had roughly expected it, the place she opened her bar up was in Seoul’s Superhuman Shopping Center, which was famous for its price. There, she would run a regular bar serving cocktails to superhuman customers and provide emergency contact information to guests so they could be called to gates to sell cocktails.
“You must’ve really liked the idea of a frontline bartender…”
“Why are you pretending not to care now? It was a name created thanks to you. After all, we have the same feelings about it.” Claire laughed and tapped him on the shoulder. He did, at least until two years ago. Now he had more shame about those childish desires.
“Isn’t it expensive to find a building in that district?”
“Ah, I deliberately picked a place that was a little rundown, so it was cheaper. A bar should be in a secret place, anyway, right?”
“Oh, yeah. I understand.”
“Now, let’s go quickly.” Kang Shin-hyuk was given no chance to veto, not that he had any intention of rejecting it in the first place. He managed to stop her briefly, however, by showing her the saddle.
“I also have a job I’m working on first…sister, do you have any idea on how to recover this artifact?”
“Oh, that…wow, is it Mana Craft? There are few people with that level of skill. How did you get a hold of this?”
“It’s from the Wyvern Knights.”
“Hmm, ah. Them.” She laughed and nodded as if she understood the situation.
“Repairing it, right? I can think of a few ways to make that happen. Okay, I’ll help you. So, work hard today too.”
“I love you sister.”
“This one tires me out.” She gently pinched his cheek with a small smile at his constant confessions of love.
***
Kang Shin-hyuk had his arms wrapped around Claire’s waist as he rode behind her on her bike. Naturally, being in such close contact with her made his heart soar. Were it not for the calming influence of Anvil, he wouldn’t have been able to help himself.
“You’re so calm, it’s pissing me off. You don’t seem attracted to me at all.”
“Not at all. It’s just difficult to respond appropriately, sister.” Claire laughed and revved the motorcycle powered by magic. It began to float in the air like it was perfectly natural. Kang Shin-hyuk had to desperately hold onto Claire so he wouldn’t fall off.
“You didn’t warn me!”
“It has a silent function and a transparency one. Is that alright?”
“I could fly to Hogwarts like this!” They headed toward the shopping center through the sky at a speed faster than a sports car. When they finally landed in an alleyway near their destination, Kang Shin-hyuk pulled himself away with a regretful expression.
“I hope the drive during our next date is a little longer.”
“Date someone your own age.” Claire jokingly responded to Shin-hyuk and stowed the bike in her inventory. Looking out of the alley, he could see several superhumans laughing and chatting as they walked through the shopping district.
“It was crazy a couple days ago, but everyone seems to be doing well.”
“You mean Jormungand? It wasn’t publicized, as the association and the larger guilds are taking charge of it.”
“Is it okay like this? I was also involved, after all.”
“Do you not know who’s beside you? I’m a high ranker too, a high ranker. Don’t worry, I’ll walk you home.” Kang Shin-hyuk let out a small exclamation as he realized what happened. She could’ve just messaged him to head over for work at the Choin Shopping Center, but she met up with him in person because she was taking into consideration that he was just attacked.
“Although it might be best if I didn’t go to work at all.”
“Not allowed. You’re an essential part of the bar.”
“I’m still underage…” Claire disregarded his complaints and pulled him into a nearby building. It was an ordinary two-story building, the inside was empty and unlit. A cheap neon sign saying ‘Frontline Bar’ hung above a stairwell leading down to the basement. Meanwhile, the stairs that went up to the second floor was blocked by a locked iron door.
“You bought this whole building?”
“I thought the first floor should be so desolate that they would feel something awesome is in the basement. The second floor should be shrouded in secret, so you don’t know what the hell is up there. People who enter will have no choice but to feel a slight sense of fear at this neon sign.” Listening to her explanation made it sound like there was a dungeon in the basement, not a bar.
“So, what is on the second floor?”
“My room. I decided to stay in Korea, so I thought I would need a room.”
“Only someone like my sister can treat this expensive shopping mall as their home.” He really wanted to see her private room, but it was obvious such a suggestion would be met with disgust. Claire squeezed his hand as if she knew he was thinking of it and forced him down the stairs. Opening the door, he was greeted by an antique atmosphere. Candles dimly lit the space inside, revealing antique wooden pillars, tables, and silver decorations. He quickly located the counter against one wall, several bottles of vintage alcohols lining the back shelves behind it.
“Cool, isn’t it?”
“It completely matches your taste.”
“Of course.” She replied proudly and handed something to him. It was a plain mask that covered the upper half of the face, starting from the nose.
“Try it out. It’s not a normal mask.”
“Isn’t it an artifact that hides my identity?”
“Oh, you know? It costs over 10 million HP. It can change the shape of your face, the color of your eyes and hair… it’s a ridiculously useful product that can even set defaults.”
“This mask itself is so conspicuous though…” It was full of magical energy.
“I’ve already chosen an appropriate pattern, so try it right away.”
“Yeah…” He really didn’t want to try it, but he had no choice. He sighed internally and put it on, intuiting how to use it. The pattern that Claire made…sure.
“Oh, it suits you as expected.” Was it properly applied? Claire offered a hand mirror to him with a satisfied look. What was reflected in it was a shy and unlucky looking man with dark red eyes and black hair, flowing just past the shoulders.”
“Doesn’t it look perfect? Isn’t it cool? This is yours now, it’s a gift.”
“Oh…yes. Thank you very much…”
“Did you think growing your hair out would suit you?” Kang Shin-hyuk looked at her proud expression and decided to say nothing else as she pulled out a black suit for him to change into.
“Okay, then let’s open!”
“Will anyone show up, sister?”
“If you don’t know the Choin Shopping Center, you wouldn’t know. This place is full of abilities, but its also a refuge for those who don’t catch monsters and want a new way to play. There’s no way they could ignore a place like this.” He was worried about her evaluation of the people around her, but soon a guest showed up to silence him.
“Hey, you’re the Alchemist!”
“This is the bartender, sir.”
“To see the Alchemist working as a bartender in a Korean store…!”
“If you’re not going to order, please leave.”
“Sorry! Huh…? Is this a potion?” The man tilted his head at the menu offered by Claire. She replied with a smile.
‘It’s a cocktail only available in our store. The price starts at 1,000 dollars. Would you like to try it?”
“A potion made by the Alchemist, for only 1,000 dollars…! God, please!” One customer took the bait and soon called for more friends. Soon enough, the bar was full.
“A cocktail from the Alchemist!”
“I was tired from the dungeon today, but I feel like my mana is recovering already.”
“Wouldn’t it be possible to drink this and then fight in the dungeon?”
“Alchemist, you’re so pretty. That bartender outfit is the best.”
Although some of the customers’ perceptions were problematic, the sales were successful. Some ran in to drink cocktails before heading out to hunt, and others handed her business cards, but she just gave them the business card of the bar with a laugh.
“That table.”
“Yep.”
“After that, wash the shakers and glasses.”
“Yep.” Meanwhile, Kang Shin-hyuk diligently assisted her by carrying drinks and cleaning up. He had no complaints, however. Just seeing her alchemy up close was of great help to his own craft.
‘Although her use of spiritual power is still a little underdeveloped.’
“Who’s this?” It was then that one customer became interested in him instead of Claire.
“Must be the Alchemist’s man.”
“Well? No, I heard they broke up a while ago…”
“The both of you. Leave.”
“Ah!” The two guests making vulgar jokes were immediately expelled by Claire. The others who saw them shut their mouths at once. However, Kang Shin-hyuk was worried about what they were talking about.
‘No, there’s no way my sister doesn’t have a boyfriend. Nothing odd there.’ Shin Eunah was about that age and had no interest in dating, but it wasn’t that way for everyone. He focused on becoming the Anvil that wasn’t shaken by anything, focusing on that image of forging metal in his mind. It was then that the door opened, and a woman entered. Kang Shin-hyuk shook away his anguish to greet the new customer.
“…The bar was here. I’ll take a drink too, nonalcoholic.”
“Oh, Eunah.” He found Shin Eunah and froze.
The subtle smile she was making seemed so scary for some reason.