City of Witches

1.

Although Periwinkle had pretty much retired from the hotel management business now and had only been wandering all over the world leisurely, her experience from the time when she was active was still there.

But, since she knew nothing about how to run a host club, Takasho still needed to explain all the basic structure of the business himself, mainly regarding how the business could get profit.

First, the customer would pay for the service’s admission fee upfront.

The fee would include the beverages and snacks that they’d get inside.

“Similar to how clubs work in the Modern World, hm?”

“Yes. Additionally, we’ll provide three different levels of admission fees based on the types of alcohol that will be served. There are three in total.”

“The cheapest one is Dom Pérignon Blanc, then Rosé 2000, and Vintage 1995?”

“Yes.”

“I see. Keep going.”

After the explanation, Periwinkle sat down and asked for an explanation about the hosts themselves.

The way things worked was that the club didn’t charge a separate fee for specific hosts and the hosts would provide entertainment by joking around with the witch.

Basically, they’d just accompany the witch for a drink while chatting with them.

“You just talk with them, that’s it?”

“Of course not. The idea is that we’ll put the witches’ joy as our priority and let them feel the ticklish emotion that they won’t normally feel.”

If the witch didn’t call for a specific host, or if the witch was the first customer of the day, the hosts would take turns to serve the witch in fifteen minute intervals.

“It’s similar to when you go to a perfume store where they allow you to pick up the scent you like, in here, we’ll also provide the witch with a way to allow them to call for a host that suits their tastes.”

“And then?”

“If the witch is satisfied with the host’s service, they could give the host high-quality alcohol as a present.”

Said alcohol would be the extra revenue that the club would get.

“Ideally, this present-giving system would be our main source of income.”

“Yeah, I’m familiar with this. And then?”

“If the witch really likes the service, they could go for a second round. In this case, they’d need to pay a small amount of expense to the club. Also, if they leave the host with a tip or other kinds of presents, the club will take 30% off it, while the hosts will receive 70%.”

To summarize, the source of income of the club would be…

The admission fee + alcohol ordered separately by the witch + extra expenses + 30% cut from tips.

After listening to Takasho’s explanation, Periwinkle crossed her arms and fell into silence.

Since he had been explaining a bunch of things at once, she might need a few moments to digest everything.

“A hundred words worth of explanation would never be enough. Can I try out the service?”

Then, whimsical as she was, she said those words out of nowhere.

But, Takasho didn’t even lose the slightest bit of his composure. Instead, he bowed his head, complying with her request.

“Alright, we’ll provide you with the best service available here.”

“No, just give me the regular one. I need to get a feel of it.”

“If you say so…”

-Snap!

At the sound of his snapping finger, five handsome men walked in.

2.

An hour later.

Periwinkle, who had become the club’s first guest for the day, happily chatted and drinked with the hosts.

Meanwhile, Siwoo became a wallflower as he stood in the side, watching them.

He was actually impressed by the hosts’ performance.

They were handsome, that was a plus point already.

From the way they carried themselves, it was clear that they were trained hosts, they knew what to say to their customers, how to serve them well, and how to read the air so that they wouldn’t cross a certain line.

They were also aware that the other person was a witch, so they knew how to tread carefully and not show any kind of frivolousness, treating her gently as they tried to make her feel comfortable.

All in all, the atmosphere was amiable.

Of course, there were one or two guys who made small mistakes, but Periwinkle kindly let those mistakes go with a gentle chuckle, maybe because she was in a good mood.

“The time is up, huh?”

“That was pretty fun, Ms. Witch. Please call for me, Paul, again the next time you visit us.”

After saying that, Paul then got on one of his knees—like he was about to propose to her—kissed the back of her hand and left.

With that, Periwinkle’s first host club experience had come to an end, leaving her with a satisfied smile.

When Paul left the room, she glanced at Siwoo and threw him a meaningful smile.

“So, how was it? What did you feel when you saw me talking with other men?”

The question left Siwoo confused, not sure what her intention was when asking that.

Though, quickly dismissed it as her trying to make him jealous or something.

So, he decided to go along with it.

“I could feel my heart sizzling with jealousy.”

“What a liar~”

In contrast to Periwinkle who immediately joked around with Siwoo, Takasho was all stiff.

He wiped his sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, wondering if this was what a chef whose food was being judged by a critic felt like.

Then, he carefully asked…

“Did you have fun?”

“Yes, but I don’t think I’ll come again.”

While caressing Siwoo’s chin, Periwinkle threw that fastball so suddenly that even Siwoo didn’t anticipate.

Her answer was so out of expectation to the point that even the normally calm and collected Takasho failed to maintain his expression for a moment there.

“Oh yeah, also, you have a great sense.”

“I’m honored to receive that praise.”

After that exchange, Periwinkle placed a cigarette in her mouth, in which Takasho immediately rushed over to lit it.

This guy heard that kind of answer and he still looks calm…

As expected of a professional…

Siwoo sent his amazement towards his friend in silence.

“I’ll point out everything one by one. First of all, I have a general idea on what you are trying to do with this host club. You’re trying to create a different experience than something like a date in ‘Hydrangea Garden’ and a real relationship… Maybe, you want to simulate something in between? Am I right?”

“Yes, you are.”

While the hosts treated the witch with utmost respect, the way the conversation flowed still sounded as if they were on equal footing.

“I think the idea is great. Those cuties are handsome and well-trained and there are witches who love to go to a drinking party and have fun with those kinds of guys, so there will be no lack of demands for them. I genuinely think it’s a novel idea, it’s fresh and light, even the witches who aren’t interested in men would probably stop by out of curiosity.

“Also, I noticed it from the moment I stepped in, but the interior is really stylish.

“Or at least, it suits Gehenna’s style; It treads in this fine line between the vintage vibe of the older era and the sophisticated vibe of modern architecture, it’s comfortable to look at. Just from the atmosphere only, I’ll say it won’t lose out to any other bars in Gehenna.”

“Thank you very much!”

Periwinkle said those words while looking over the documents scattered on the table one by one.

Her positive reviews turned Takasho’s face red from excitement.

“Alright, now let’s take a look at this.”

After she had finished gathering all the information from the documents, she held up the customer's list in her hand.

“I noticed that there were a few customers that dropped by when you first started?”

“Yes… I invited my witch acquaintances here, also there were some of the witches who were curious about this place and came to visit…”

During the first week of the opening, there were fifty witches that came to visit.

Considering the size of the store, it wasn’t enough to make the cut, but it was still quite a big number.

“Among them, how many of them came back for a second time at least?”

“...Three of them.”

“Can I guess? All three of them are the witches you personally invited because they are your acquaintances.”

“Yes.”

When Siwoo looked at the three witches’ names, he noticed them all.

They were all professors from the Trinity Academy.

In other words, they visited the club not for the sake of the club itself, but for the sake of Takasho.

“Seeing this, don’t you think that it’s a problem? Also, what do you think the reason behind this outcome is?”

“...”

For the first time, Takasho was out of words.

Of course, Siwoo, who had been listening in, had no clue about this at all.

The lack of demand isn’t a problem…

She also said that the service is quite good…

But, there are no customers who’d come for a second time?

I’m guessing the issue touches a more fundamental thing then…

“This poor me is not good enough! Please show me the light!”

As he said that, Takasho immediately knelt down to dogeza in a beautiful angle.

The flawless dogeza that Siwoo had witnessed the other day.

“Stand up and sit here. You’re Siwoo’s friend, so don’t be like that with me.”

“I’ll keep that in mind!”

Takasho followed her instructions with fire in his eyes, sitting right in front of Periwinkle.

“First and foremost, the biggest problem in this place is…”

Periwinkle held her thin finger before telling Takasho the problems that she managed to find.

“This place subtly scratches the witches’ arrogance. Not in a good way, but in a way that annoys them.”

“What does that mean…?”

“First of all, you claimed that this is a high-end entertainment facility. That’s why you chose to open the club here, in Malkuth Gallery, instead of Tarot Town.”

“Yes.”

Periwinkle sucked on her cigarette hard before placing it on Siwoo’s hand.

She then leaned her upper body forward before continuing.

“Imagine yourself as a witch, wanting to go to this host club for the first time. You feel tired because your magic research hits a snag, so you’re in a bad mood already, then you find out that a new club, this place, is opened. The club was advertised as a high-end entertainment service where you can drink while being served by handsome men.”

Takasho took out a notebook and a pen, taking notes as he listened to her.

“But, the moment you enter the club, you’d be greeted by twelve men, shouting loudly in your ears. Won’t that make you doubt the claim that this is a high end facility?

“Then, while you’re being escorted to your seat, still in shock, the club tells you that there’s an admission fee. Since you’ll end up paying again after everything is done, what’s the point of it?

“Not only that, you’ll find that there are three levels of the admission fee? You came here to let yourself feel spoiled, but the club is already trying to classify your worth by how much money you could pay. The audacity. Even though you went out of your way to come here and bless the club with your presence?”

“Ah…”

“After that, you’ll look at the price of the admission fee. 3 pounds, 5 pounds, 8 pounds…

“The anger that you barely buried is now coming back again.

“For such a small difference in money you have to hear in detail about how the admission fee works and how the drink you’ll choose will change accordingly. Then the club has the gall to tell me to order according to my taste?”

Takasho’s mouth gradually opened after hearing Periwinkle’s words.

Of course, he didn’t set up the three levels admission fee with such an intention.

He just wanted to cater to as many customers as possible, that was why he figured that it would be better to set the fee in that way.

To that end, the cheapest fee of 3 pounds (around 2.52 million won) left a little margin.

Then again, even Siwoo failed to consider what this system seemed like from the perspective of a witch.

“Not only that. The alcohol being served in this club isn’t even real high-end alcohol, but the ones that are ambiguously hanging in that line. Like, why are they all Dom Pérignon? There are way better alcohol available in the market.”

Periwinkle’s relentless criticism kept coming from unexpected places, making Takasho sweat profusely.

“I-It’s just a specialty of the club… A-Also, if I get better alcohol than that, the cost will be too expensive… B-But, we reserve the more expensive alcohol for the presents and events…”

“That’s the second problem.”

Periwinkle held out her second finger.

“You don’t understand the mindset of the rich at all. If you want to draw in witches that can’t afford those kinds of alcohol, why did you even bother opening the club here, this is the Malkuth Gallery, you know?”

“My goal is to…”

“I know. You want to attract as many customers as possible. That’s a good idea, if your business is big enough and you can make it so that witches with different economic situations can be divided in separate floors, like what they’d do in luxury hotels. But, is your business at that level?”

Her criticism was so harsh that it made even Siwoo, who was a bystander here, drowning in sweat.

“Considering the size of your business, the kind of witches you should try to attract shouldn’t be those who only came in to pay the admission fee and took up space, but the VVIP, the ones with a bunch of cash. Just getting one of such customers would be better than getting ten of the waste of space.”

“R-Really?”

“Rich people won’t care about how much they spend. As long as they receive validation and respect from people around them, even if they have to splurge, they won’t care. Do you understand what I’m trying to say? Now, I can help you, but do you want my help?”

At that moment, Periwinkle secretly casted Siwoo a glance, as if trying to ask him ‘How was that? Wasn’t I cool?’.

Even Siwoo, who invited her here, didn’t expect that she’d identify the problem this quickly and even presented a solution.

“Please! I’ll be honored to receive your help!”

“Alright~ Then, why don’t you serve me a bottle of alcohol first?”

“Coming right up!”

That marked the beginning of Periwinkle’s Alley Host Club Consultation.