Chapter 199
2107-05-17
T07: 20:21
Clocking in like usual, working like usual.
No matter what turbulent events I experienced in the outside world, dragons Lair remained largely unchanged, much the same as always. That was why I liked it.
Now, I even felt a sort of stability in my apprentice bartender duties.
After playing the uncomfortable roles of a detective or a ronin that didn’t suit my destiny, I felt like I had finally found my proper place.
As expected, a peaceful and tranquil position like this was perfect for someone like me.
Though the past me wouldn’t have agreed with my current view that the position of apprentice bartender and On-site Manager at dragons Lair was peaceful.
It felt like I had returned after a long time, and perhaps because of that, I was able to find new elements of fun in the work that I hadn’t noticed before.
Wipe, wipe, wipe-
I wiped the tables.
Clack, clack, clack-
Whenever I had a spare moment, I organized the inside of the bar, and if it seemed like there were no customers, I swept the floor.
Now, what should I do next? Should I make some of the well-selling Election edition Cocktail base in advance? The stock looked a bit low when I checked last time.
I was humming and working happily.
“…What’s with you. Why are you pretending to work so hard? You weren’t this kind of kid.”
Tony suddenly picked a fight with me with a sour expression.
What was this Yangban talking about now?
“Huh? I’ve always worked hard. Please don’t slander me.”
“Don’t bullshit me. You punk who always slacked off! Do you have some ulterior motive, Beggar Huh?”
“What are you saying? Are you perhaps keeping me in check because you’re afraid I’ll steal your deputy bartender position? That’s really pathetic.”
Seeing me bickering and fighting with Tony, Sey shook her head from side to side next to us.
It was a scene like the everyday routine of Dragon’s Lair.
However, befitting a former net diver, there were parts where Tony’s sharp insight made me flinch.
Of course, it wasn’t that I didn’t usually work hard. That was truly an absurd slander.
It was true that I was working 'harder' and more happily than usual.
It wasn’t for some cringeworthy reason like realizing the preciousness of everyday work after going through a rough day.
Shocking experiences, the preciousness of work, or whatever - it was normal to hate working in the first place.
If you thought about it, my current state was indeed abnormal.
In fact, rather than the work itself being fun, I was finding enjoyment in the additional elements that came with it.
On the outside, it looked like I was professionally devoting myself solely to work.
It was true that I was actually devoting myself to work, but I was paying much more attention and care to the customers at the hall tables and the bar table than usual.
Of course, it wasn’t for another purpose, but to provide thorough service to the customers.
Didn’t they say the customer is king? Therefore, it was only right to promptly catch and resolve even the minor inconveniences they experienced.
For instance, sensibly replacing utensils accidentally dropped on the floor on my own, or refilling the complimentary snacks without being asked when I saw they had run out.
Or… eradicating a troublemaker who was making all the other customers uncomfortable.
“Found one!”
Beep- someone was caught on the radar I had been keeping a close eye on.
Two men approached the female customers who were sitting at a hall table chatting and were hitting on them.
The two of them were trying to sneakily initiate physical contact while using pickup lines like “How about we go on a double date?”, 'There’s a better place than here.' and “You were so beautiful that I had to talk to you.” At first, I wondered if they were companions, but Stance, there was absolutely no way that was the case.
Just looking at the women’s expressions right now, I could see they looked full of discomfort.
All right, it was time for the On-site Manager to step up.
“This friend of mine has a really great body. I heard earlier. Didn’t you say men who exercise are your type? Try touching it once. Feel the muscles here. Hey, don’t feel pressured; just do it. It’s fine―.”
Tap, tap.
I tapped my fingers on the trembling shoulder of the man who was showing off his pumped biceps while flexing his arm with all his might.
The man, who had been pulling a ridiculous stunt, looked back with a momentarily flustered expression, then scanned my appearance in bartender attire and frowned as if he was dumbfounded.
“What is it?”
“Excuse me, but are you perhaps companions who know each other?”
When I politely asked the female customers, the man glared and shouted.
“We are companions, so why don’t you stop interrupting and get lost? We’re in the middle of an important conversation.”
“Is it true that you are Companions like this gentleman says?”
When I asked again without minding him, the women exchanged glances and then shook their heads together.
Okay. As long as this wasn’t some weird hidden camera prank or roleplay, it seemed like a situation where it was fine to step in.
“Hey, are you crazy? I told you to get lost. What is a waiter doing right now? Wow, this is ridiculous?”
“Hey, wait―.”
The man who had been playing the wingman next to him tried to stop him, perhaps sensing something suspicious, but the man showing off his muscles ignored him, jumped up, and strode over to me.
“What are you trusting in to act like this, huh?”
“customer, it seems the other customers are feeling uncomfortable. May I ask you politely to leave our establishment?”
“Politely? Poooooolitely? Should I teach you what politeness is? I was going to hold back because we’re in front of ladies, but this just won’t do.”
My, he was a troublemaker who absolutely couldn’t be reasoned with.
But I was a patient and employee with excellent social skills.
No matter how much the other party locked the door to communication, I had to kindly continue attempting a dialogue.
“Yes. Understood. Could you wait just a moment? There’s something I need to fetch.”
“What?”
“Thank you for your permission.”
I distanced myself from the troublemaker who had come uncomfortably close and was poking my chest with his finger, and briefly visited the staff rest area.
“Hah, this is a funny bastard. Look at him running away immediately because he’s scared. Anyway, this is why―.”
The man, who was boasting as if he had become the king of the world for supposedly winning a battle of nerves with the bar staff, turned pale white upon seeing me return from the lounge - or more accurately, upon seeing the excellent “Means of communication” I was holding.
The massive majesty of the long, gleaming saw blade!
“Uh, hey. Wait. This is… no, wasn’t weapon carry-in prohibited here―.”
Seeing him stutter, at a loss for words, made my insides feel completely refreshed.
As expected, perhaps because I lacked eloquence, I needed this kind of 'minor' help to communicate well with our customers.
Look, hadn’t the tightly locked door to communication swung wide open? It was practically a master key.
“A weapon, you say. I would appreciate it if you viewed this as my preparation to treat our precious customers even more sincerely and politely. Since you seemed to think there was a problem with my customer service, I have no choice but to put more effort into my service. Do you perhaps have any further inconveniences?”
The man’s face filled with horror. He seemed to be saying, “What kind of crazy bastard is this?”
“No, that- if you’re going to be like this, I also fuck, no, you took away my weapon and―”
“If you wish, customer, you may also finish your necessary 'preparations' and receive my service. Would you like to do that?”
I smiled brightly, pulled the breaker, and pressed the two operation switches on the hand (derogatory)le.
Vrrrrrrrr―
My excellent means of communication shook briefly but intensely, drawing attention. At the tip of the blade, which was splitting like a rising haze from the super-vibration, the man clamped his mouth shut.
He lacked the courage to boldly step up to my provocation: “If you want to, bring your weapon and fight?” I have a Super-Vibrating Jet Engine Saw. Are you confident you can win?'
On top of that, the other man, who was relatively quick-witted, hurriedly clung to him, pulling the troublemaker back and whispering in his ear.
I thought I could faintly hear a rapid-fire rap of words shot out without even taking a breath, things like “hand butcher”, 'chainsaw', “Man Hunter, Ned Ludd”, and “Do you want your hand (derogatory) blown off by that too”.
Not long after, the troublemaker man, looking much more polite than before, neatly gathered his two hands, submissively paid for the drinks, and left the bar.
“Thank you. Please come again!”
It didn’t seem like he would come again, but I shouted it out of courtesy. Sure enough, he hurriedly disappeared from sight without even looking back.
troublemaker eradication successful!
The first deployment of the “excellent means of dialogue” was also a success!
I was feeling a bit proud, but there was a slight side effect.
The female customers, who had been uncomfortable with the troublemakers' advances, somehow also turned pale, quickly finished paying, and scurried out as if running away.
I wasn’t expecting a thank you, but this made me feel a bit awkward. I didn’t even get a single tip.
Why were they so scared? Actually, thinking about it, it made sense…
Anyway, it feels unfair. I only helped them kindly.
When I turned around in devastation, Tony was looking this way with a pathetic gaze.
“What are you doing? Are you determined to chase all the customers away?”
“…”
“I was wondering where you were glancing so much while working. Were you just excited and acting like that at the thought of trying out your newly acquired toy? Are you a kid? In all my life, I’ve never seen a bartender suddenly swing a chainsaw to scare customers.”
“…”
Damn it. I wanted to refute him, but even if I had ten mouths, I had nothing to say.
Especially that last remark, which was the decisive blow.
“You said you joined that “Chainsaw Man Lovers” Club', right?”
“Yes.”
“It seems to fit you perfectly. It suits you well. You’re acknowledged as a 'Che-Sa-Mo' member! You’re practically an excellent member.”
“…”
Fucking hell.