The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 27

No matter how sweet a whiskey is, Balvenie 30-Year has an alcohol content of 47%.

If you drink that straight from the bottle, you won’t end up in a hotel—you’ll end up in a hospital.

The 12-Year I drank earlier had fruity notes, but the 30-Year was said to have a sweetness closer to dark chocolate and caramel.

It’s much more expensive, but ironically, it might not be the kind of sweetness women prefer.

I snatched the bottle from Cha Soyeon’s hand and took it to the kitchen.

“What are you doing?”

“Just wait and see.”

Before returning to school after my military discharge, I had some free time and worked part-time at a bar near my house.

My job was simple—cleaning the hall, washing dishes, and tidying up the kitchen.

There was a bartender there who was great at making cocktails, and we got along well during my time working there.

“There are a lot of easy cocktails you can make. I’ll teach you a few, so learn them.”

“Why would a regular guy need to know that? It’s more useful to know the perfect ratio for soju and beer.”

“You idiot.

Do you have any idea how many points you can score if you mix a pretty cocktail just right for a girl?

Unless you’ve got a face that’s hard to look at, you could probably take her home that night.”

He taught me a few, and some were ridiculously simple.

The ingredients were easy to find, too, so I sometimes used them to lower the alcohol content of cheap whiskey.

I opened the fridge to grab lemon juice, syrup, and egg whites.

There was syrup and eggs, but no lemon juice—so I pulled out a lemonade drink as a substitute.

I found some whiskey glasses and lined them up on the island.

“What are you making?”

Yeoreum, curious about the ingredients, asked.

“A cocktail. This whiskey is 47%, so drinking it straight will get you drunk too fast. It’ll only take a moment, so wait a bit.”

I poured Balvenie, syrup, and egg whites into a shaker and shook it vigorously.

Since lemonade is carbonated, it had to be added last.

I put ice into the whiskey glasses and poured the mixture in.

Drinking it on the rocks like this would let the ice melt and further lower the alcohol content.

“Wow… that’s so cool…”

The girls’ eyes sparkled.

Even Cha Soyeon watched with interest.

“This is a cocktail called Whiskey Sour. It’s easy to make, so try it next time you drink whiskey. You’ll get much less drunk than drinking it straight.”

“Soyeon unnie gave it to us so we’d get drunk, but Manager-nim is making sure we don’t.”

“Why would I give you guys a pickup drink? Drinking like this sets a much better atmosphere.”

“…Or maybe, we’re just not at the level to deserve a pickup drink yet?”

I stopped what I was doing and looked at Yeoreum.

She looked like she regretted saying it, but there was a sadness in her eyes.

She must have the same tendency as Cha Soyeon—whenever I was involved, her thoughts veered in a weird direction.

“Why would you say that? The whole pickup drink thing was just something Soyeon made up—don’t worry about it.”

“Sorry… that was a pointless comment.”

It was supposed to be a good night, but now she looked completely deflated.

Wanting to lift her spirits, I decided to give her a little spoiler about the future I’d seen.

“Let’s make a full comeback as a five-member group.

This time, let’s get your songs topping the charts and even win first place on music shows.

And when you rise all the way to the top-tier level, I’ll make you any drink you want—even pickup drink’s grandpa if that’s what you want.”

I shouldn’t have said that last part.

Yeoreum froze, her mouth slightly open.

As soon as I said it, I realized my mistake.

‘That sounded like I was promising to seduce her once they got to the top, didn’t it?’

[I warned you to be careful with your feelings…]

‘Shut up.’

Yeoreum’s eyes blazed with newfound determination.

She looked like a warrior preparing for a final battle against the Demon King.

“You… just promised.”

No, that’s not what I meant!

Behind her, Cha Soyeon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

That was… probably just my imagination.

*

The girls seemed to really enjoy the cocktail, emptying their glasses one after another.

With the alcohol kicking in, their energy levels skyrocketed.

Even Cha Soyeon and Yeoreum, who had been serious moments ago, were now clinking glasses and laughing like nothing had happened.

“Unnie… you’re so amazing… You’re up so high, I can’t even look up at you properly.”

“You’ll all get there soon. Juwon promised to make you shine. And Juwon never breaks a promise.”

“But… we’re such a failure of a group… sob.”

“So what?

That’s nothing to Juwon.

He saved my life, brought you all out of that tiny room, and even tore apart that cult to rescue Sera and Chie.

You really think someone like him can’t get you to the top tier?”

“Unnieee, thank you for saying that… I love youuu.”

Yeoreum, now quite drunk, hugged Cha Soyeon tightly.

To an outsider, they might look like actual sisters.

Rina and Chie had fallen asleep on the floor holding hands, and Sera was dozing off in a corner.

Even Yeoreum was now snoring softly beside Cha Soyeon.

The party was winding down.

“Soyeon, how are you still so sober? Everyone else is like this.”

“Juwon made me a cocktail specifically so I wouldn’t get drunk. It would be rude if I got wasted.”

That was beyond just polite—she was completely unaffected.

Was she always this good at holding her liquor?

“Well, you don’t seem drunk either.”

“I spent more time making cocktails than drinking.”

“Then… we’re running low on alcohol, aren’t we?”

“I mean, not really—”

“Let’s go.”

“Go where?”

“Round two.”

*****

Sitting on the rooftop terrace, Cha Soyeon looked around with amusement.

Her idea of “round two” was my rooftop apartment.

“Since you never invite me over, I had to come this way. You can’t just keep a lady waiting like that.”

“I told you I’d do a proper housewarming first. And we just finished it.”

“Which means, you should have invited me the moment it ended.”

Why was she so impatient?

“Well, whatever. I’m here now, so it’s fine.”

She tapped the terrace bench curiously.

“This place is fun. The outside is so spacious, but the part you actually live in is smaller than my fitting room.”

Aaaaagh!

My precious home was smaller than her closet?!

“If it’s uncomfortable, just say so. I gave the office-tel to Red Blossom’s dorm, so your gift is still waiting.”

“I already told you—I live alone, so I don’t need a big place. I like it here.”

Given my current income, this place was just right.

Besides, this was where I’d received my divine blessing—there was no way I was leaving.

Reading my expression, Cha Soyeon didn’t press the issue further.

“You said we were low on alcohol. Let’s have a drink together.”

“I don’t have any fancy whiskey left.”

“Who needs expensive alcohol when drinking with just the two of us? You have beer, right? And grill some sausages. I’ve been craving them.”

I set up the burner and opened the fridge to grab beer and sausages.

“…Crap.”

There were sausages, but no beer.

The nearest convenience store was a ways down the street.

‘What should I do…?’

[Take out a glass.]

‘There’s no beer, though?’

[I’ll help.]

Following the spirit’s instructions, I took out a 500ml glass.

[Now, fill it with water. There’s a bottled one in the fridge.]

‘Why water—?’

Then it hit me.

I filled the glass with bottled water.

A small vortex swirled at the bottom, and the liquid changed color.

‘Holy crap, it actually turned into beer!’

[Much easier than wine. I’ll transform the whole bottle, so drink as much as you need.]

Thanks to the spirit, I didn’t have to make a trip.

*

The sausages sizzled deliciously on the grill.

As I cut them into bite-sized pieces, Cha Soyeon watched me with a bright, amused smile.

“What’s so good about this? It’s just cheap sausages and beer.”

“I like it much more than drinking wine at an expensive restaurant. I don’t even know why I like it so much.”

Smirking, I placed a well-grilled piece on Cha Soyeon’s plate.

We clinked our glasses and drank.

The taste was so good that it jolted me awake.

“Why does this beer taste so amazing? Where did you buy it?”

“Just from a local chicken place….”

I couldn’t exactly say it was a divine miracle, so I just made something up.

That chicken place was so eager to sell me their business that we compromised—whenever I visited, they’d serve me this beer.

We kept drinking, and before we knew it, we had emptied the water jug the spirit had transformed.

A slight flush appeared on her cheeks as the alcohol took effect.

She rubbed her eyes and let out a beautiful yawn.

“I think I’m drunk. Can I lie down here for a bit?”

“The ground is hard. I’ll get you a pillow—just wait a second.”

“Can’t you just lie next to me and let me use your arm as a pillow?”

How could I say no when she looked at me like that?

I quickly tidied up and lay down, spreading my arm open.

She quietly nestled beside me.

“Is it comfortable?”

“It’s nice. Warm… Feels like Him.”

We lay there in silence, gazing up at the night sky.

“There are so many stars.”

“Sometimes, you can even see a shooting star.”

“I hope one passes by now. I want to make a wish.”

Now that I thought about it, that night, God had granted my wish.

I had looked up at a shooting star and shouted for a job.

And not only did I get one, but I also received divine power—what a bargain.

[I think you got the wish and the bonus mixed up.]

The spirit chimed in with its usual sarcasm.

“Someday… please tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“How you met Him, what abilities you received, and what you’re trying to do….”

Even though she knew I had received divine grace, Cha Soyeon never pried.

She respected my circumstances, but she couldn’t help being curious.

Hearing her say she’d wait made me wonder—was there even a reason to keep it secret?

She had met a god herself, so no matter what I told her, she’d believe me.

“Well… It was a night just like this…”

Just as I was about to recount that night, the spirit interrupted.

[Sleep.]

Turning my head, I saw she was already breathing softly, fast asleep.

She had sounded drowsy from the moment she lay down—she must have been at her limit.

I gently lifted her, intending to carry her inside, but she mumbled and snuggled closer into my arms.

She looked so adorable that I simply held her and slowly walked around the rooftop.

The rooftop I had always seen looked unusually special that night.

*****

The housewarming video must have been well received—within two days, the studio sent back an edited version.

It seemed good enough, so I uploaded it to the channel that afternoon.

“A Certain Failing Idol’s Special Housewarming Party”

It took less than an hour for the reaction to explode.