Chapter 159

Chapter 159
## Chapter 159: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Lion instantly lifted the glass and took a sip.

“Hmm…!”

The initial sensation was the distinct, sweet taste of berries.

Following that, the juices of lemon and lime expanded across his palate, introducing a bright sweetness, while the velvety, rich mouthfeel of Snow Ox Milk gently coated his tongue alongside the alcohol.

Gulp.

After letting the cocktail slide down his throat, he finally experienced the signature warmth that comes from consuming alcohol.

He assumed that was the extent of it…

“……!”

At last, the whitish, spore-like element of the Mushberry Liqueur burst, and the citrus essence of orange refreshed his entire palate.

‘Wow… this is incredible?’

Lion felt genuine admiration.

It was smooth yet crisp, sweet yet invigorating!

The flavor profile, which made him question how such a combination was even possible, was masterfully blended.

The taste and physical sensation were so astonishing that he completely forgot the apprehension he felt upon first laying eyes on the Mushberry Liqueur.

Furthermore.

『 Luck permanently increases by 1.』

His fortune had genuinely improved by a small margin.

‘This Mushberry… I must have it!’

With that thought in mind, Lion drained the rest of the cocktail.

“Did it meet your expectations?”

“It was the most magnificent drink I have ever tasted.”

That statement was no exaggeration.

Prior to his current existence, he mostly favored soju, but he was certainly no stranger to cocktails.

Among all of them, the drink he had just consumed was unquestionably the finest.

‘Is this a flavor I will remember years from now?’

It was exceptional enough to make him consider recreating it for Rikschel once he reached adulthood.

Perhaps because of that notion, the urge to try mixing it himself slowly began to bubble up.

However…

‘Hmm.’

Lion quietly gazed at the bartender.

Even in the face of such high praise, the bartender’s expression had barely shifted.

‘How peculiar.’

Naturally, there are individuals who receive compliments with a calm demeanor or grow bashful afterward.

Or perhaps he was simply accustomed to hearing such flattery on a regular basis.

Yet… this bartender did not seem to fit that description at all.

Lion experienced a curious sensation of déjà vu.

This bartender…

‘…resembles my grandfather.’

Specifically, his grandfather before he ingested the Mental Fatigue Recovery Potion.

Lion studied the bartender for a moment before offering a subtle, internal smile.

He resolved to employ a bit of craftsmanship as a token of appreciation for the exceptional beverage.

“Shall I prepare it properly this time? Ah, the ice has melted away, so we might as well start from scratch, correct?”

Without waiting for a response from the bartender, Lion set about mixing the cocktail from the very beginning.

The pre-made base had already suffered from melted ice, diluting its true character.

‘Now that I’ve actually tasted it, I understand.’

This particular cocktail should never taste watered down.

If it did, the smooth, savory character of the milk would be compromised, and the potent texture of the mushroom liqueur would overwhelm the palate.

Lion added various liquids into the glass once more and sealed the lid.

Then… recalling the bartender’s technique from earlier, he began to shake the container.

“……!”

The bartender felt a quiet wave of surprise at the sight.

‘I certainly did not anticipate him attempting to mix one himself under these circumstances.’

In truth, there was a specific nuance to this Mushberry Fizz.

Namely, simply savoring the exceptionally crafted cocktail provided by the bartender.

Doesn’t a truly delicious drink possess the power to completely relax a person?

Consequently, most patrons would never dream of trying to replicate it themselves.

* Naturally, the most superb drink is always the one poured by the bartender!

…and with that excuse, they could easily request another round.

The bartender would have happily obliged.

After all, that was his profession.

‘Indeed not.’

In reality, the moment he spotted the Mushberry Liqueur, he should have turned and fled.

Instead, this guest drank the cocktail, expressed genuine awe, and then proceeded to try brewing it himself.

…Why is he driven by such intense enthusiasm?

Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, the bartender posed a question.

“Sir. If I may speak boldly, might I ask you something?”

His demeanor was certainly distinct from when he had merely accepted the compliment.

“Please, go ahead.”

Lion strained out the ice just as the bartender had done and shook the vessel once more.

“Um…”

The bartender intended to inquire further, but paused momentarily as he observed Lion’s movements.

The experience of hearing the splashing sound of liquid not right beside his ears, but echoing from slightly afar…

‘It feels unfamiliar.’

Yet, he decided it was not an unpleasant sensation.

Decades had passed since he first began tending bar in this establishment.

Before opening this arcade, he had worked at various other venues.

He had always mixed drinks for patrons and quietly listened to their trivial grievances.

Yet now, for some reason… it felt as though those roles had been inverted.

He knew he ought not to indulge in this while on duty, but…

He was captivated by a strange intuition that he must not let this pivotal moment pass him by.

“Why are you bothering to mix a cocktail yourself?”

The bartender calmly inquired once more.

“You mean, why go through the unnecessary effort when you could simply receive a masterfully crafted drink without lifting a finger?”

“…If I am being presumptuous, yes.”

Lion replied with a steady tone as he poured a measured amount of Mushberry Liqueur into the glass.

“It is quite simple. You appeared to be thoroughly enjoying yourself.”

“I appeared to be enjoying myself?”

In what manner?

Was he referring to the process of blending vibrant liquids to form a wonderful concoction?

Or perhaps…

“Indeed. You seemed quite content while creating drinks and sharing them with your guests. So, I figured I would try my hand at it as well.”

I looked content?

‘I suppose so…’

The bartender nodded slowly.

To be sure, he had never felt fatigued or worn out while laboring here.

At the same time, however, he could not claim to have felt genuine happiness either…

‘No, that is incorrect.’

He had experienced true joy many years ago.

Along with a deep sense of fulfillment derived from his craft.

Yet, as the routine stretched on indefinitely, those vibrant emotions seemed to have faded away.

It resembled liquor whose flavor had been eroded by melting ice cubes.

Had he simply grown blind to it?

“How long have you been stationed here?”

“Well over thirty years.”

“Maintaining a passion for the exact same occupation over such an extended duration must be quite a challenge. That is truly impressive.”

Lion carefully transferred the finished cocktail into the glass.

“……”

The bartender watched the slowly rising level of the drink, completely at a loss for words.

It felt as though his chest was expanding, mirroring the swelling liquid.

The profound sense of accomplishment he had known in his youth.

The days spent empathizing with patrons over their minor hardships and celebrating their triumphs came rushing back to him.

“I see… I suppose I had simply let it slip away.”

Why had he allowed it to fade? Was it merely the sheer passage of time?

Had it not been for this particular guest.

That is to say, had he not found himself sitting across the bar in the role of a “guest,” he might have eventually become as bland as diluted alcohol filled with entirely melted ice.

“Consider this a toast to you, for remaining steadfast in your diligence all these years.”

Naturally, it will not rival the quality of your own creation.

Lion smiled warmly and slid the richly frothed Mushberry Fizz across the counter toward him.

The subtle distinction this time was…

『 Lion’s Special Mushberry Fizz (★★)』

* An experimental garnish has been added atop the classic cocktail learned from the bartender.
* Consuming it will prompt the recollection of long-forgotten sentiments.

Instead of the customary crisp meringue cookies, vibrant leaves adorned the crown of the drink!

They were none other than the leaves of the star fern.

‘Even if it falls short of a Mental Fatigue Recovery Potion, it should possess ample restorative qualities.’

Even without directly ingesting the leaves, their distinct aroma alone ought to provide a measure of healing.

Furthermore…

‘That unique fragrance felt as though it would complement the profile wonderfully.’

It served as a fitting substitute for the sharp, refreshing scent typically derived from orange or lemon zest.

Fortunately, the bartender raised no questions regarding the presence of the leaves and consumed the Fizz in a single uninterrupted draft.

Even though a layer of foam clung to his carefully groomed mustache, he appeared entirely unconcerned, emptying the very last drop.

‘A bartender accepting a drink from a patron.’

This constituted a rather severe breach of professional conduct.

The bartender wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, letting memories of his youth wash over him, and set the glass down.

Following that, he remained silent for a considerable duration.

He was evidently lost deep in contemplation.

“…That was the finest drink.”

“I am pleased to hear it.”

“My sincere thanks to you.”

“I merely utilized you for my own amusement, so please do not trouble yourself over it.”

“Haha!”

To phrase it with such consideration.

The bartender let out a hearty chuckle and asked Lion to hold on for a moment, before rummaging through his pockets as if searching for a misplaced item.

It turned out to be an ink stamp.

“This represents the final stamp for the left playground zone. You have successfully fulfilled all the requirements, sir. Please take it.”

“Is that so.”

Lion accepted the stamp without further remark.

Instantly, the stamps inscribed upon his invitation began to glow in harmonious resonance, and a new line of text materialized.

* A special reward has been deposited in your quarters. Kindly inspect it when time permits.

‘Oh.’

A special reward—one can only wonder what it might entail.

“And here are your Egg Coins.”

The bartender produced three additional Egg Coins, passing them across the counter.

‘I certainly did not expect him to award me three?’

This addition brought the cumulative count of coins in Lion’s possession to thirteen.

‘Not an unfavorable outcome…’

He might very well hold the record for the highest number of coins collected across both the left and right sectors combined.

“Do you intend to proceed toward the right sector now?”

“I believe I have exhausted all available enjoyment in this area.”

“If that is indeed the case…”

The bartender hesitated briefly before offering a word of caution.

“I would advise against wagering the Egg Coins I have just entrusted to you.”

Lion grasped the underlying meaning and nodded in agreement.

‘He is implying that I ought not to squander them and risk losing the fruits of my labor thus far.’

Additionally, it likely served as a warning that the opposing zone hosted a higher concentration of individuals fiercely devoted to intense competition and high-stakes gambling.

Of course, Lion had anticipated such a scenario to a certain degree.

He had already made tentative preparations, but hearing this advice directly from an establishment employee reinforced the necessity for a more rigorous approach.

“Understood.”

“In that case, please feel welcome to return whenever thirst strikes you once more.”

The bartender offered a courteous bow, his voice carrying a renewed vitality that had been absent earlier.

Concurrently.

『 Alchemy Proficiency Increased to Skilled Lv. 6.』

His proficiency tier had advanced.

‘This is somewhat unexpected.’

He had previously assumed that mixing cocktails shared a loose parallel with the discipline of alchemy.

Then again, what Lion had produced was hardly a conventional potion, was it?

Furthermore, he had initially leaned toward viewing it as a variant of culinary arts.

Yet his proficiency had risen nonetheless.

‘Well, it likely implies that the bartender has recovered to a corresponding degree, does it not?’

Ultimately, it could only be interpreted as a positive development.

Lion departed the left sector and directed his steps toward the right zone.

Walking with a slight, alcohol-induced sway.

—

Around the same juncture.

“.”

Prince Kyle, who had successfully secured his share of Egg Coins within the designated hunting grounds, made a direct advance toward the right sector.

‘Egg Coins.’

Intelligence reports had previously reached him detailing how Easter had established a rather fascinating diversionary facility.

While considerable effort had clearly been poured into its construction, it failed to capture Kyle’s genuine interest.

His gaze shifted deliberately.

His objective from the outset remained singular.

Or rather, it involved one specific individual.

‘Lion Asteri.’

If that same Lion Asteri truly defied the standards of an ordinary person, the probability of him making his presence felt here was exceedingly high.