Farewell Feast at LastRall
Putting aside my chat with Serena for later, our group headed straight to the reserved restaurant. If it had just been Yoo Sena and Yoo Seung-ah waiting, we could've been a little late. But Salvador was already there, so we couldn't dawdle. Enoch fussed and nagged until we even hopped into a hover taxi and flew through the sky to arrive on time.
"Wha-what is this place...?"
Enoch blinked down at his outfit as we pulled up in front of the restaurant. It was way too fancy for him to show up like this... no, it was a full-on restaurant. And in Northrica, no less. If Enoch recognized the name, there was no way it was ordinary.
"LastRall! Holy crap, holy crap!! What do we do! Take a pic of me, Enoch! Hurry!"
Frey squealed like a maniac. LastRall was famous for its slogan: the highest dinner on the ground. "Highest" meant both top-class prestige and literal altitude. Even in Northrica, two renowned chefs handled every dish, accepting just fifteen parties a day. The height? No question—it was built higher than Northrica's skyline, with a view of Eden's entire panorama that wasn't exaggeration.
How much per meal? Enoch knew two people eating here would cost his entire annual salary.
He glanced at his clothes again. Not shabby, exactly, but not neat either. Functional T-shirt with all the conveniences, cargo pants loaded with pockets. Thick walkers with steel soles, ratty coat...
...Yeah, definitely shabby.
Even Enoch thought so. They said fashion's finishing touch was the face, and Enoch's looks turned that ragtag getup into actual style. Of course, he never thought of himself as handsome, so he had no clue.
"...Don't places like this have a dress code? You really think we can just walk in like this?"
"Even if they do, who would dare say a word?"
Serena had wiped away the ditzy side she showed when alone with me. Agner was here with our group, after all. Iva and Lucy couldn't join, which was a shame—but maybe for the best. Without Iva, Serena could act freer. No one here didn't know her true identity.
"Enoch, think again about who I am. And the name of the person waiting inside."
"...Hmm."
"They're gathered for you. Hold your head high."
"Hmph, hmm..."
Enoch forced his shoulders down from their proud hunch. But he couldn't stop the sly grin creeping up.
"Enoch, you're so easy to read."
Angela flashed a small smile, grabbing Frey's and my hands as she stepped forward. "What's the point of stalling? Let's go in."
"Holy crap, holy crap—Angela, how are you so casual? I couldn't even find the entrance! You been here before?"
"Well... yeah? A few times, back in the day."
"A few times...? Angela, you're loaded?! Maybe you should be the big sis after all...?"
"Pfft, if I were rich, I'd buy the whole building. Hire those two LastRall chefs as lunch and dinner shifts."
"Gasp..."
Frey gulped, face frozen in shock. She'd just learned standards of wealth varied wildly. To her, rich meant eating at LastRall once a year. But Angela? Buying the building and employing the chefs outright.
They said people who knew money spent it best. Spot on. Frey, checking her credit balance three times a day, was the epitome of petty bourgeois—even with cash, she couldn't splurge.
"Anyway, no need to get intimidated. We won't run into anyone on the way to our room."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. LastRall has eight private rooms, each with its own dedicated path."
Even the elevators ahead—eight of them. Ride the assigned one, follow the set route, arrive at the designated room. That's why LastRall patrons never crossed paths. Nicely put, it protected privacy; bluntly, it was wasteful spending. But even that flaw thrilled the clientele. In land-insanely-expensive Northrica, such extravagance felt like respect.
Enoch felt it the moment he stepped into the building lobby.
"...Feels like I've become one of Eden's VIPs."
Plush red carpet, hushed space echoing only our voices. It felt refined, not awkward. The swaying lights followed their steps like a welcome. And look at that elevator—doors slid open the instant we entered the lobby, waiting patiently. Probably no buttons inside. Step on, and it'd whisk straight to the floor.
"Hmm..."
Just standing before it made his chest swell...
"Hnnngh..."
Enoch's shoulders shot up again.
"Thanks, Soo. Never thought I'd see a place like this, thanks to you."
"Yeah."
My shoulders rose too.
"But... where'd you get the cash to book for all these people?"
"You're getting dispatched."
Right before stepping in, Enoch's eyes widened. Did that mean this expense was worth it for a precious comrade's send-off? Normal Enoch would've listened without much hope or prodded for details. But right now, he was buzzing. Chest warm, he could've taken a slap and laughed it off.
So he waited expectantly.
"Used your hazard pay and advance salary for the booking."
Betrayed.
"...What?"
"Still short a bit, so I chipped in some of mine."
Enoch staggered. His nape cramped. Trembling, he rubbed it and stared at me.
"What the hell... are you talking about?"
"Gotta pay soldiers heading to war."
"That's why I'm asking why it went through you."
"Guardians can claim it on behalf."
Guardians of soldiers facing unknown death could receive salary and hazard pay proxy.
"...You're registered as my guardian?"
"Yeah."
"Then this... this whole thing is..."
"Bon appétit, Enoch."
I patted his waist.
"No."
"Uh... bon appétit, Enoch?"
Angela patted his shoulder.
"...Well, just roll with it. What can you do."
Serena, gauging me and Angela's looks, straightened Enoch's coat hem.
"Money comes and goes. With your skills, no worries, Enoch."
Agner, reading the room, nodded and boarded.
"Uh, Enoch? We gotta go, right? You paid—feels wrong not to eat."
Frey, last to snap out of it, grabbed his hand and tugged.
Everyone piled in. Enoch stood dazed until the doors shut. How much was his salary? How much for this meal? No group discount for a crowd? Southpeak spots had 'em... Payback? Any rebates? Could he refund one person's share now?
"Haha."
Doors opened. Enoch laughed. Having sunk his fortune, Eden's nightscape ahead looked goddamn spectacular.
"...Yeah, whatever. It'll be fine. Money? Earn more. This cocky brat's been causing trouble forever. Yeah, no biggie."
"Enoch's inner monologue leaked out."
"Meant for you to hear. Got a problem?"
Money spent, Enoch was invincible. Or maybe loss-proof Enoch was.
"Fine, since we're here, eat well and leave happy. They got booze? Least they can comp drinks?"
"No booze for you. If anyone's drinking, just us. You're deploying."
"Yeah, you little shit."
I giggled and hopped out. Angela, stepping off, shared a playful grin with me, fingering the card key hidden in her pocket.
"...Soo."
Frey sidled up, whispering.
"Did you really book with Enoch's money?"
"Yeah."
Of course. Not really Enoch's money, though. Angela "pulled strings" for the booking; Yoo Sena footed the bill. Sure, nine seats at LastRall strained even her. But I'd poked her pride until she caved on full payment.
So Enoch's funds sat safe in my account, gift for him snug in Angela's pocket. What face would he make? In-game, he'd never gotten a no-strings gift—unpredictable. Made it all the more exciting.
"C'mon, Enoch."
Leading the fully enlightened Enoch, I strode LastRall's corridor, Eden's night view blanketing us. Everywhere you looked, a glittering world. To me, Eden felt just like a jewel-box brimming with gems.