The King Tonkatsu Challenge and the Crushing Fine
En Sia's aura surged explosively. It was so intense that even Levi Nas, who had been smiling brightly, hid behind me. I froze in place, overwhelmed by this explosive pressure I'd never felt before in my life.
"······."
En Sia looked down at me and Levi Nas, then flinched and trembled slightly. She cautiously closed her eyes, then opened them again, speaking in a calm voice. She was back to her usual self.
"What kind of game were you trying to play···?"
"Well, the kids asked how adults play···"
"···Are you talking about a simple game?"
"Yeah. I was just going to show them how adults have fun."
Choi Jin-hyeok nodded frantically. He looked so pitifully wronged.
"···I'm sorry. I misunderstood."
"No, anyone would suspect first."
I tilted my head watching Choi Jin-hyeok wave it off as no big deal. I couldn't figure out why they were acting like that. Had Choi Jin-hyeok said something bad? As I tried to recall on my own, Levi Nas poked my shoulder.
"King, kings shouldn't be scary?"
"Yeah. I'm not good at being scary anyway."
"Really? There's something even the king can't do?"
Levi Nas's eyes widened like a horn rabbit's in surprise. I knew she thought highly of me, but did she really see me as some all-powerful being? It was touching to see such admiration from a child.
"I'm the same as Levi Nas. Some things I'm good at, some I'm not."
"R-Really···?"
"Yeah."
I nodded at her, but she didn't seem convinced. Just how amazing did she think I was? Hmm.
Levi Nas crossed her arms, pondering, then stood confidently in front of me.
"Then make Levi Nas scared once?"
"L-Levi Nas?"
"Yeah. Levi Nas will judge if it's scary or not."
She wouldn't believe it until she saw it, huh. I scratched the back of my neck and decided to get a little angry.
"Levi Nas, you're really in for it now?"
I tried my best to sound mad, but it was laughably clumsy compared to En Sia's earlier display. My face flushed with embarrassment.
"······."
Levi Nas stared at me with blank eyes, looking utterly dumbfounded.
"S-See? Even when I try to get mad, it's not scary."
"······."
"Levi Nas?"
"Scary···!"
Levi Nas bolted like she was fleeing and hid behind Choi Jin-hyeok's back. For a split second, a flicker of regret crossed En Sia's face.
"Levi Nas, was it that scary?"
"Yeah. And you say that's not scary? The king really is amazing."
"Uh, um···"
Well, she was still a kid, so even a little anger would frighten her. Maybe I'd judged by adult standards.
"King, promise you won't ever get mad at Levi Nas? Levi Nas is really scared?"
"Yeah. Sorry. I promise I won't get mad at Levi Nas ever."
She was such a good kid by nature. There'd be no reason to get mad at her anyway. Even if she messed up, she'd never do it again once told properly.
As I promised, the Levi Nas who had been hiding behind Choi Jin-hyeok giggled and ran toward me.
"The king really is awesome! When you got mad, the atmosphere changed in an instant!"
"W-Was it that much?"
"Yeah!"
Levi Nas's admiring gaze made me awkward. As I chuckled sheepishly, Choi Jin-hyeok cleared his throat.
"I have some prep to do, so let's play tomorrow."
"Prep?"
"Yeah. Adults need to prepare to play."
"Aha···"
I wondered what amazing game required prep. I was curious but decided to look forward to tomorrow. This might be the first time I'd really played since coming to this world.
The next day. I returned from the dungeon early in the morning. At the association's request—kids need lots of rest and play—I'd gone alone without Levi Nas.
'About lunchtime now.' Should I eat with everyone today? As I thought that and headed home, I spotted a shocking sign right in front of me.
Finish in 30 minutes — FREE!
"F-Free···?"
I didn't like getting things for free. But this was a challenge with a reward—an event-style prize. If I succeeded, I could get a free meal.
'It won't be so big no one can eat it···' If I pushed myself, I could finish it. Saving on one meal meant buying more for Levi Nas and Sophia.
I didn't agonize long. For everyone's sake, even if my stomach burst, I'd devour the King Tonkatsu.
"Um···"
Ding-a-ling-!
The cheerful bell announced a customer as I opened the door. A middle-aged woman at the counter greeted me with a business smile.
"Oh, what a cute little friend. Here alone?"
"Yes."
It was my first time coming to a place like this alone. I rubbed my arms awkwardly and looked around.
'Lots of customers.' Must be popular. Good—tastier food meant I could eat more.
"Um···"
I hesitated, looking up at the woman. Trying to eat for free felt a bit embarrassing.
"Yes, what can I do for you?"
"That King Tonkatsu—if you finish it, is it really free···?"
"Uh···"
The woman looked down at me in bewilderment. Of course—coming in asking for free food from the start must seem weird. I waved my hands and backed away.
"S-Sorry. I'll just go."
I'd acted like an idiot over saving on food costs. I hurried to escape out the door.
**
"That King Tonkatsu—if you finish it, is it really free···?"
"Uh···"
Restaurant owner Jeong Mi-kyung looked down at the little customer in bewilderment. The tonkatsu was way too big for such a small child.
'A beastkin kid.' There were famous beastkin kids living nearby, scraping by in dire poverty.
Jeong Mi-kyung examined the huddled beastkin child. The torn clothes were heartbreaking.
'Hungry but no money.' She knew that shame better than anyone—she'd grown up hungry too.
Jeong Mi-kyung decided to give the child a free King Tonkatsu. Sure, there was a fine if unfinished, but she wasn't heartless enough to charge a starving kid.
"S-Sorry. I'll just go."
Embarrassed about begging for free food? The child fled the restaurant in a panic. That reaction only came from thinking you were a burden.
She knew, yet the hunger was too much. Such a child.
"Wait a sec."
Jeong Mi-kyung called out to the fleeing child. The kid turned slowly, startled like she'd seen a ghost.
"Y-Yes···?"
"King Tonkatsu, right?"
"Y-Yes···"
The child fidgeted shyly. At times like this, adults had to act casual.
"Sit tight? I'll get it ready quick."
"O-Okay···"
Glancing nervously, the child sat in the most corner seat. So careful not to bother anyone—mature for her age. What kind of life had made her so cautious?
Feeling pity, Jeong Mi-kyung placed a King Tonkatsu in front of her. Several times the normal size. If she couldn't finish, they'd pack it for the other beastkin kids at home.
Imagining the kids' joy over one tonkatsu, she smiled.
"It's huge, right?"
"I-It is···"
Han Gyeowol's pupils shook as she stared at the tonkatsu. The portion was five times more than imagined.
'Wh-What do I do···' She'd thought it was just a stretch, but this was physically impossible. Even if her whole belly was stomach, it wouldn't fit.
Did anyone actually succeed? Even pro food fighters would quit.
Looking around, Han Gyeowol spotted photos on the wall and gaped. Pictures of successful challengers.
'Do people here expand their stomachs with magic?' Han Yeoreum's portions were normal. Were there stomach-expansion specialists?
Clueless about this world and Jeong Mi-kyung's kindness, Han Gyeowol's arms trembled.
"Ugh···"
She'd try eating. Maybe beastkin powers would let her finish.
Han Gyeowol ate piece by piece, but after a tenth, she gave up. Her belly felt like a balloon about to burst.
'Usually, unfinished means a fine.' How much was it? She'd hidden in the corner avoiding stares, missing the price tag.
'The fine···'
Han Gyeowol's jaw dropped at the price tag. The failure fine was enormous.
"F-Fine 100,000 won···"
What tonkatsu cost a 100,000-won fine? Shocking, but the portion was family-sized. And in a rich neighborhood, prices were high.
"My 100,000 won···"
That could last one or two months. Paying for one meal? Despair washed over Han Gyeowol as she bowed her head.
The restaurant patrons, who'd watched from the start, broke into cold sweats. They knew how huge 100,000 won was for the notoriously poor beastkin kids in the area.