Martial Arts Returnee’s Game Broadcast

Chapter 72

1.

The convenience store owner who had stored the magical waste material was fully exposed after the police investigation.

“Ah-young really has had it rough.”

A high school graduate, an orphan, and an aspiring Awakener. She worked part-time jobs to enroll in an Awakener academy and become a trainee. Joo Ah-young believed the reason the store owner had hired her was his kindness and good heart.

“To think all that goodwill was just for insurance fraud.”

The store owner she had thought of as her benefactor turned out to be after her life insurance payout. How could anyone not be shaken by such a revelation?

“Unni… why don’t we have a drink together today? No, let’s just do it. We’ve been through so much, haven’t we? Please?”

Joo Ah-young had gone through a harrowing experience, one that could make anyone lose faith in humanity. Seeing the moisture welling in her eyes, it was impossible not to nod in agreement.

“If this were the martial world, she hasn’t even experienced the trials of a beginner yet.”

For someone like her, betrayed by an adult who had been like a parent or mentor, the emotional wound was bound to be deep. As a fellow adult, Ha Eun-eung couldn’t help but feel both sorry for her and apologetic on behalf of others.

“I just hope she realizes that not all adults in the world are such wretched people.”

With that sincere thought, Ha Eun-eung gently patted Joo Ah-young’s head. The tears that had been brimming in Joo Ah-young’s eyes finally spilled over as she sobbed uncontrollably and clung to her.

2.

At Modern Bar in Myeongho-dong,
Choi Joo-young, a bartender and owner of the five-year-old establishment with daily sales ranging from two to three million won, pondered as she mixed a cocktail.

“Are there celebrities like this in our country?”

The two women at the counter were stunningly beautiful, yet their personalities and vibes were polar opposites.

One of them had a flushed face and acted playfully, resting her head on the other’s knee, leaning her chin on her companion’s shoulder from behind, or clinging to her arm, making her presence known with constant demands:

“You’re the only one I can trust, Unni!”
“Can I sleep at your place tonight?”
“Ah~ah. I wish I were your handbag so I could hang on your arm and go home with you.”

With comments that fired up the imagination of anyone listening, she was a foxy beauty exuding a playful charm.

“……”

The other woman, however, had hardly said a word since entering the bar. She calmly listened to her companion’s chatter, gently moved her back into her seat whenever she clung to her, and silently pointed to different cocktails one by one, as though she were sampling them all.

“Ugh. I just want to lie down. Do I really have to sit upright?”
“I refuse! I’ll sit crooked!”
“You really want me to sit properly?”
“Fine, if Unni says so… I guess I have to~?”

As her companion’s speech grew slurred, the dignified beauty with a cool aura and meticulous nature stayed by her side, embodying a paradoxical charm.

“That must be exhausting.”

From the looks of it, she had gone through something incredibly upsetting, the kind of despair usually seen in women who had been dumped and decided to drown their sorrows in alcohol.

Such attempts to solve problems with alcohol were always taxing for the one supporting them. Yet the elegant and strong-willed companion, who seemed both kind-hearted and capable of holding her liquor, never voiced a single complaint.

“Should I bring your sister a blanket?”

The foxy beauty, Joo Ah-young, had fallen asleep with her head resting on her companion’s shoulder.
Her companion, the catlike beauty with a refined demeanor who had earned high marks in the bartender’s eyes, Ha Eun-eung, accepted the offer and borrowed a blanket.

“It might be hard to cover her with just one hand. Let me help—”

Before the bartender could finish, a remarkable sight unfolded.

Ha Eun-eung deftly unfurled the blanket with a flick of her wrist, gracefully draping it over Joo Ah-young’s sleeping form. The bartender let out a quiet exclamation of admiration.

“Wow. Are you perhaps a matador? I’ve never seen someone handle a blanket like a cape before.”

Even this clever joke didn’t elicit a smile from Ha Eun-eung, who simply shook her head. To her, wielding something with one hand was second nature, a skill honed over 15 years in the martial world.

“……”

Normally, Choi Joo-young would have picked up on the mood, quietly refilled the glass, or guided the customer to an inner table for a peaceful drink. But tonight was unusually slow, and there was something intriguing about this guest.

“Compared to the gangster-like Awakeners who frequent this bar, a quiet guest is hardly a problem.”

Her aloof but lonely aura tugged at the bartender’s curiosity. Breaking the silence, Choi Joo-young started a conversation.

“Have you heard about the recent attack in this area?”
“……?”
“I heard that a retired Awakener’s mansion, one affiliated with the Myeongho Guild, was attacked by a villain organization.”

It was an attempt to initiate a natural conversation by sharing a piece of news likely to pique her interest. Judging by the slight flinch in her reaction, Choi Joo-young knew she had succeeded.

“With so many second-generation Awakeners retiring, Seoul isn’t the same as it used to be in any neighborhood.”

Wanting to escape this uncomfortable conversation, which made her feel oddly guilty, Ha Eun-eung quickly drained her glass.

Click.

Before heading to the bar with Joo Ah-young, Ha Eun-eung had received a gift during what could only be described as a non-date date. The gift was a laser pointer, supposedly something that would "help her communicate."

Now, what was often used as a toy to entertain cats was proving to be incredibly useful for Ha Eun-eung as she pointed it at the items on the menu board. Watching this, Choi Joo-young smiled warmly, a motherly smile, and began preparing the next cocktail.

“Is she your real sister?”

Ha Eun-eung shook her head.

“In times like these, it’s rare to see this level of closeness between people who aren’t actual siblings. You two must have a strong bond.”

Ha Eun-eung had to agree.

In a world where the youth of their 20s aspired to either become streamers or Awakeners—those were the only two goals society seemed to allow—she often wondered what the rest of the young people, those outside those categories, did with their lives.

She didn’t know much about how Korea in 2050 operated. Most of her knowledge came from what she had looked up online or what Joo Ah-young had told her, a patchwork of shallow insights.

There didn’t seem to be room in the narrow worldview, visible through the small window of “common sense,” for bonds like kinship or friendship.

So even to her, this relationship felt unusual yet precious.

[It’s not just that this girl depends on me.]

The bartender, a seasoned veteran running Modern Bar for five years, found herself out of her depth when faced with this unexpected situation.

Ha Eun-eung, with her graceful hand movements, wrote smoothly in her notebook with a brush pen:

[I depend on her, too.]

The response carried a surprising depth and maturity. Startled by the heartfelt sentiment, Choi Joo-young instinctively covered her mouth with her hand.

Meanwhile, Ha Eun-eung’s gaze lingered on one specific word she had written.

“Depend… Whether I’m someone worthy of being depended upon, I’m not so sure.”

She had thought that spending time in the “real world” would help her forget the emotional scars left from “that place.” But the unbidden memory pierced her heart once more.

“Don’t stop me. That woman killed my mother. She’s my sworn enemy!”
“Get out of my way! Let go of my hand right now!”
“You’re not even my real mother!!!”

Haunted by her failure to save a child in the past, she had poured her all into becoming someone dependable, someone who could truly be relied upon this time.

But that effort was cruelly denied, her heart shattered like broken glass, leaving scars that even now hadn’t fully healed.

To her, the word “depend” carried painful memories—wounds she thought had healed but still lingered as tender bruises, not yet ready to be confronted.

“But maybe it’s different with Ah-young. No, it’s definitely different.”

Unlike the prince who turned his back on her in his quest for vengeance, Ah-young had achieved her dream of becoming an Awakener, thanks to her help.

So, she concluded:

[This girl won’t betray me.]

That single line, brimming with weighty resolve, made it even harder for Choi Joo-young to respond.

“What have I done? I’ve stirred up a landmine.”

The bartender likened her misstep to triggering a "nuclear landmine"—a topic so fraught it could lead to disaster.

“Mom, help me. I’m in way over my head.”

Desperately wishing for rescue, her eyes darted around before landing on Ha Eun-eung as she raised her glass.

This is it.

Watching Ha Eun-eung take two measured sips, savoring the cocktail before setting the empty glass down, Choi Joo-young seized the moment to slide over a freshly prepared drink.

“It’s on the house.”

Ha Eun-eung glanced at the drink expressionlessly, then used her laser pointer to indicate the next menu item in line, before turning back to the bartender.

“We’re going in order, right? Next up is Cassis Frappe.”

With a playful wink, Choi Joo-young hoped to lighten the heavy atmosphere and ease Ha Eun-eung’s mood. Her keen observation and effort worked, as Ha Eun-eung finally broke her pattern and asked her first question about the drinks.

[What does "Cassis Frappe" mean, and where does it come from?]

For someone like Ha Eun-eung, who rarely showed vulnerability, this small inquiry about the origins of a cocktail felt like an attempt to find solace—much like she had once tried to console the prince by explaining the meaning and origin of the word "depend."

“Wow… what do I do now?”

Awed by the beauty of Ha Eun-eung’s gaze, which seemed as precious as a jewel, Choi Joo-young found herself growing more self-conscious.

Placing a hand over her racing heart, she steadied herself before responding cautiously:

“Don’t take this the wrong way, okay? I’m just explaining the meanings of the menu items in order. This absolutely isn’t personal.”

Blink.

Whether it meant understanding or indifference, Ha Eun-eung’s gaze kept the bartender on edge.

Straightening her collar and steadying herself, Choi Joo-young finally said:

“A cocktail you drink before a kiss.”

“?”

“That’s the meaning of Cassis Frappe.”

Ha Eun-eung stared, as if silently demanding to know if this was some kind of joke.

“It’s true…”

Feeling flustered, Choi Joo-young blushed and fanned herself, unable to hold eye contact with someone who looked much younger than her.

From the cocktail glass to Choi Joo-young’s face, and back again.

Ha Eun-eung’s gaze alternated between the two, hesitant to pick up the glass, her confusion unspoken yet palpable.

Inwardly, Choi Joo-young prayed:

“Please, just pay the bill and leave…”

The tense silence was finally broken by a bold voice.

“If you’re uncomfortable drinking it, I’ll take it.”

“Huh?”

A woman, dressed daringly in a fitted evening dress with a coat draped over her shoulders, picked up the glass, drained it in one go, and ran her fingers across her lips.

“A cocktail before a kiss… It’s delicious anytime. The lingering sweetness in your mouth. A romantic drink, one that almost makes you want to act on its suggestion.”

“Chae-rin? If you’re here, you should’ve said something.”

“Sorry. I got caught up watching such an entertaining scene. Plus, I have some business with this person.”

The woman, Chae-rin, exuded confidence, her voluptuous figure accentuated by the plunging neckline of her dress. With a snap of her fingers, she directed all attention to her striking eyes.

“Royal Club representative Han Chae-rin. My hobbies include turning beautiful female Awakeners into stars, covering bar tabs to recruit them, and spoiling obedient women.”

With a confident smile, she placed a black card on the bar table with a sharp click.

“What do you say? Will you spare me a moment of your time?”

Before the bold offer could land,

Slap!

Joo Ah-young smacked Chae-rin’s outstretched hand away, glaring daggers at her.

“Unni is mine. Don’t even think about flirting with her.”