Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Today's Menu? (1)
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When my judgment was completely shot from that suffocating 50 million won, and I was malfunctioning hard.
Tak-!
Like always, all the lights in the room went out, and when I opened my eyes again.
The sight that came into view.
I was standing in the lobby of a fancy high-end restaurant.
In the glamorous space.
My own disheveled appearance that didn't fit.
'......I'm wearing a black suit, so maybe it's safe?'
I just confirmed how the elation from having 50 million won in my hands moments ago.
Was rapidly fading away.
The elated emotions.
Were controlled in an instant.
As if I'd dumped a massive load of ice into boiling water.
No matter how well someone can control their emotions, it'd be nearly impossible in that situation.
That near-impossible situation happening to me meant.
The only explanation was that the Smile Badge's effect had activated.
Which meant the place where I was standing right now didn't need deep thought either.
Inside a ghost story.
'Now that I'm calm, I feel a bit alive again.'
I'd taken one step back from the mental contamination of that 50 million won, if only for a moment.
With a settled mind, I quickly started scanning my surroundings.
Just looking at the wallpaper and the marble tiles on the floor made the space's elegance sink in naturally.
Obviously high-end wallpaper.
Obviously high-end tiles.
Even just the enigmatic paintings in frames midway up the walls.
The sense that this was an expensive place flashed through my mind.
For someone like me.
It was more than enough to feel like a place I'd never set foot in my whole life.
Looking at this high-end scenery.
I couldn't help comparing it to the Backrooms I'd just left.
'If it had this kind of vibe, it might've been nice.'
From between my duck-bill-pouted lips.
ZZing-
Right on cue, I pulled out the smartphone from my pocket at the vibration sound.
+
📰 /ApocalypseTales
Title: Today's Menu?
Author: jnmncc.
To all who have visited the ███ Restaurant. We extend our sincerest gratitude. Our restaurant sets the menu of the day based on the number of visitors that day. We do not accept single diners. We always strive to provide courteous service. *Notes for using the restaurant. 1. Do not leave food uneaten. (Basic manners.) 2. Do not talk loudly. (Please behave with class.) 3. Do not leave your seat until all courses are served. 4. If there's an issue between courses, call a staff member.
+
As stated above.
This ghost story is themed around a restaurant.
And the number of people I need to rescue here is no less than.
Not 3.
Not 4.
5.
"Haa~."
'Already feeling drained.'
Even though my body was perfectly recovered thanks to Vita50000.
For some reason, a heavier-than-usual illusion started weighing me down.
'......I don't wanna go.'
But I had to.
This wasn't the time to stall.
I needed to move as fast as possible.
If I hesitated and got locked out instead, that'd be a real disaster.
Step-
As I slowly passed through the entrance of the high-end restaurant with light yet stone-heavy steps.
Swish-
?
A waiter's hand blocking my path.
【Minimum 2 people.】
"......"
Right.
I'd forgotten.
This ghost story restaurant......
📰 /Today's Menu?
The ███ Restaurant requires a minimum of 2 people for entry. *Couples welcome! *Solo entry prohibited.
To enter.
I'd forgotten you need at least two people.
'Being solo is depressing enough already.'
I turned my gaze to the waiter blocking me.
There stood a neatly suited......
invisible man.
The spot where a head should be.
Was hollow and empty.
His appearance alone served as a stark reminder that this was inside a ghost story.
【Minimum 2 people.】
"......"
Our invisible waiter repeating the minimum 2 people line once more.
But somehow, some way.
I had to get inside.
Sing-
I flashed a subtle eye smile and composed voice without a hint of tremor.
"I have companions inside."
【Minimum 2 people.】
"I know re-entry is allowed before food is served."
【Minimum 2 people.】
"......I left something inside!"
【Minimum 2 people.】
What a petty bastard.
The waiter's inflexible firmness left no room for negotiation.
I hadn't expected him to be this adamant.
At this rate, I'd fail the mission without even starting.
Mission failure = dismissal = death.
'......No other way?'
In this dead-end situation.
As I racked my brain for a way in, my eyes naturally fell on the smartphone in my right hand.
Smartphone.
Smart......phone?
......Smartphone?!
I remembered.
A way to get into the restaurant.
I pulled out a laminated piece of paper from my suit's inner pocket.
And on the paper that had been covered in '#' symbols just minutes ago, a specific number was now printed.
010-8282-8282.
Without hesitation.
I entered the number into my smartphone and hit call.
Drurururururu-
Drurururururu-
Drurururururu-
The ringtone continued a few times.
And soon enough.
Click-
The call...connected.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Daily Part-timer Assigned.] [Available personnel: 1] [Shift length: 8 hours.] [Pay measured by mission difficulty.]
Along with the voice from the smartphone speaker.
Squelch-
A wriggling ripple near my shadow, and a human form slowly emerged.
Pop-!
Slim arms pierced through the shadow, touching the ground.
The entity slowly revealing itself from within was......
The so-called Daily Part-timer.
"......"
A bit smaller than me.
It had the appearance of a human woman.
Black hair down to her shoulders.
A shadowy face devoid of any vitality.
Even her outfit: black hat, black hoodie, black track pants.
'Guess she likes black, this part-timer.'
From this moment on, I decided to call her "Blackie."
She looked like your typical neighborhood convenience store customer.
A dress code totally out of place in a high-end restaurant like this.
"......"
Blackie just stared up at me blankly, saying nothing.
Blackie might look like an ordinary girl on the outside.
But she's still a ghost story entity at heart.
No need to poke the bear.
I decided to give Blackie only the bare minimum instructions, as concisely as possible.
"Not a tough request. Just enter the restaurant with me and finish the meal without incident."
"......"
"That's it."
Of course, depending on the situation.
I might ask more of Blackie later.
But that's something to handle flexibly when it comes.
"Let's go, then."
"......"
Nod-
With the silently nodding Daily Part-timer Blackie, I stopped in front of the waiter blocking my path again.
Swish-
The waiter blocked my way once more.
【.......】
But perhaps noticing Blackie walking beside me.
His tone changed from before, and the hand blocking me slowly dropped.
【We shall repay you with the finest service.】
With a polite greeting.
I was finally granted official entry.
"Let's go."
"......"
The two of us slowly stepped into the restaurant.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The restaurant's interior was exactly what you'd picture.
A stereotypical high-end dining spot that needed no explanation.
Expensive chandeliers dotting the ceiling and the soft lighting throughout put one's mind at ease on their own.
Lavender flowers adorned the ceiling.
Vases with lavender sat on every table.
If I'd really come here with a lover, it would've been perfect for making memories.
Flinch-!
Yeah, if.
This were truly just a normal restaurant.
Wriggle-
Wriggle-
Unlike the ornate ceiling.
Dozens of chunks of flesh that seemed to be human scattered across the floor.
This scene evoked memories of the passengers from the ghost story "Bus Stop 4444 Does Not Exist."
'How many died?'
Too many to count with the naked eye. Human corpses littered the restaurant floor and tables everywhere.
This place was like.
A living, breathing hell.
Cough-!
Some still clung to life.
Spewing blood from their mouths now and then caught my eye.
"He...lp......Please, help."
A man seated.
Begging me for help in a crushed voice.
But I deliberately ignored his gaze.
Saving him right here wouldn't change much.
Because the spot where his lower body should be.
Was completely empty.
His lower body melted away like by some acid.
The moment I saw the bare bones and clinging flesh bits with my own eyes.
'......Urk.'
I barely suppressed the vomit rising in my throat.
If not for the Smile Badge, I wouldn't have stayed sane amid this absurd carnage.
But witnessing this devastation firsthand brought another anxiety crashing in.
In this insane slaughter site where dozens must have died.
Could five people really still be alive?
No matter how optimistically I tried to think, this scene made it impossible.
Before I could even start properly, worries of mission failure flashed by.
Grip-
?
I turned at the tug on my clothes from behind.
Blackie was pointing at a specific spot, looking up at me.
"What's there?"
I looked where Blackie pointed.
In the farthest corner table sat silhouettes in human form.
And not too few, not too many.
Exactly five silhouettes entered my view.
......Jackpot.
The moment I spotted the distant survivors.
How relieved I was.
I grabbed Blackie's wrist with a beaming face.
"Let's hurry before they die!"
"......"
With the brightest expression I'd had in ages, I dashed toward the group of survivors.