<Episode 2>
I let out a dry laugh in disbelief.
On the very day I quit my job because I didn’t want to work, I got dragged into a strange world and ended up opening my own shop?
“Alright. I get it now. This is like a management game, right?”
A game where you grow your shop to the top.
They should’ve explained it like that from the start. Talking about “growing a world” was so vague it just made things confusing.
“But you’re telling me to run a cocktail bar in a forest like this?”
A sigh escaped me. The basics of business are foot traffic. Who would come all the way out here for a cocktail?
Even if I’m great at making drinks, running a business in a place this remote is impossible.
“This difficulty level is insane…”
It felt like I was heading straight into hell.
“Ugh, whatever. Before I die again, I’ll just drink as many cocktails as I want.”
I dragged my feet toward the building.
When I opened the door, a musty smell and stale air hit me.
“Ugh—cough! I should open the windows first.”
I flung the windows open and looked around. It was a small place—ten people would fill it up.
A bar counter where you could watch cocktails being made, a small kitchen, and two tables. That was it.
The layout was normal, but everything looked old and worn out.
“This is too shabby to even call ‘vintage.’”
I went out the back door by the stairs and saw a small lake shaded by trees.
Then I went back inside and climbed the creaky wooden stairs. Unlike the first floor, the second floor was clean and almost new.
The interior was mostly white, with honey-colored furniture and arched doorways—it looked cute, like a dollhouse.
“This is totally a kid’s taste—huh?”
The furniture was fully furnished, so I casually opened the closet—and found clothes I recognized. It was like my own wardrobe had been moved here.
It wasn’t just clothes. My favorite books, tablet, and headset were all there too.
“What is going on…?”
Feeling dazed, I went back down to the first floor.
I brushed my fingers over the bar, which looked like it might break if I hit it, and stepped inside. The shelves were perfectly stocked with liquor.
“The liquor lineup is perfect.”
I opened a beautifully crafted black bottle and took a sniff.
A deep, rich pine scent filled my nose, like being in a forest.
‘Hmm. I can smell a bit of citrus too.’
To check the taste, I took a sip straight from the bottle. It was refreshing and light—perfectly balanced.
“Nice. This is proper gin!”
I shouted in delight.
“Is there any soda water? I don’t see any. Then I’ll just mix different liquors. Whiskey with amaretto…”
I skipped the ice because I was in a hurry, but the room was cool enough anyway. The rough yet nutty almond flavor of a Godfather cocktail hit just right.
“Worth coming back to life for this.”
With one drink, all my built-up fatigue seemed to melt away. Cocktails really are the best.
Ding!
A notification window appeared in the air.
<Notice> The cocktail bar “I Don’t Care About That Stuff” exists in the gap between dimensions. Explore your surroundings and find customers from other worlds.
<Notice> You can travel to other dimensions through the ‘front door’ of the shop.
A tutorial, out of nowhere? Is this telling me to get to work already?
“I don’t even want to do this, and now you want me to run around for customers too? Seriously? I’m not doing it.”
I flopped down on the floor in protest.
If they were going to bring me back, they should’ve at least sent me back in time or into a rich family.
“And what kind of shop name is that? At least let me approve it first.”
As I grumbled, the system responded with another notification.
<Notice> A hint for you! If you diligently grow your shop, you might receive a ‘Shop Name Change Ticket’!
“…Sigh. I’m getting tipsy. One more drink.”
Ignoring the flashing message, I made another cocktail.
I drank, and drank, and kept drinking.
Eventually, completely drunk, I went upstairs and fell asleep—until the sun was high in the sky.
I repeated the same routine every day. Had I ever been this satisfied in my life? Maybe this lazy lifestyle suited me perfectly.
“Yeah. When else will I get to rest like this? I’ve worked hard my whole life. This must be heaven.”
<Notice> 7 days remaining in the free trial.
Maybe it had never seen someone as lazy as me—the system kept popping up notifications nonstop for three days straight.
After pushing it away this much, it was time to pull a little.
“So, what do I get if I subscribe?”
<Notice> Membership ‘Basic’ Features
- World Expansion Lv. 1
- Dimension Viewing (Quality: 780p)
- Shop Durability 100/100 (Safety Level: Lowest)
I pretended not to care as I glanced at the notification.
Anything with “Lv” sounded like a skill. It would probably get more useful when leveled up.
‘World expansion, not shop expansion… and the safety level is the lowest?’
Wouldn’t I get robbed easily?
Well, a shop sitting alone in the forest wouldn’t be safe anyway.
Wild animals might come at night too.
“I kind of get the rest, but what’s dimension viewing?”
<Notice> A function that allows you to view the ‘original work’ that forms the foundation of each dimension.
“Original work?”
That made me curious about what kind of worlds were out there.
‘Will there be romance fantasy stories or games I like?’
I cleaned up the mess from drinking and tidied myself up so I wouldn’t look like a drunk.
I didn’t want to work, but I couldn’t miss this chance.
“Alright, let’s go.”
Just in case, I grabbed a sturdy mop and stood in front of the door. As I touched the handle, another notification appeared.
<Notice> You can travel to another dimension. If there is a dimension you want, imagine it in your mind.
If none…
Before it could finish, I opened the door.
I expected something amazing—but it was just the same forest outside.
“…This is just here?”
I opened and closed the door repeatedly in frustration.
<Notice> If none is selected, the function will not activate.
Use the command ‘Random Move’ to visit a dimension within your allowed level at random.
“What? You should’ve said that earlier.”
Sure, I didn’t read the whole message—but who reads long instructions these days?
The notification flashed as if complaining about my attitude.
Whatever.
Since I didn’t know any specific place anyway, I shouted, “Random Move!” and opened the door again.
My body suddenly swayed, and I barely kept my balance.
“Huh?”
I smelled salty, fishy sea air.
It was dark, but when I looked up, the night sky was filled with stars.
‘This isn’t the forest.’
My surroundings had completely changed.
I was on a ship, sailing somewhere unknown.
Well, I could just check it out.
“I want to view this dimension.”
<Notice> This feature is restricted during the free trial.
Right. Of course. It’s paid.
“This system sucks at business. You should give more during the free trial so people feel safe paying.”
As I grumbled, I heard loud laughter from afar.
‘Since I’m here anyway… should I try doing business?’
After working hard, drinks always taste better.
With my poor night vision, I carefully walked toward the voices.
As I got closer, I heard them talking.
“Failed again?”
“C-Captain, please forgive me…”
“Get lost! I don’t even want to see your face.”
“P-Please spare me—Aaaah!”
A splash followed the scream.
This ship’s captain was the kind of madman who threw crew members into the sea just for annoying him.
“….”
Cold sweat ran down my back.
It would be better to go back and find another world.
Just as I turned around—
something on the captain’s hand gleamed in the moonlight.
‘A hook?’
A thought slowly crept into my mind.
“Until I get revenge on that insolent brat, I will never—never leave Neverland. Remember that.”
“Of course, Captain.”
At that moment, I saw the flag waving in the wind.
A loud skull emblem.
‘This ship… it’s a pirate ship?’
Then that captain must be Captain Hook from Peter Pan.
‘When I was young, he seemed like a comic character in the musical.’
Always running away from the crocodile that ate his arm.
But seeing him in real life, the atmosphere was terrifying.
‘I should go back…’
Just then—
