Chapter 77

The very first thought that came to mind was only one.

‘Is it a bug?’

There was only one thought that crossed my mind the second time, too.

‘I think it’s a bug.’

Originally, the first day’s quota in Sla2Plate was 10G.

It wasn’t that harsh on beginners right from the start.

The structure of Sla2Plate was to lure you in with hope, then gradually crush you later with increasingly absurd quotas.

But this insane amount….

‘No, and our sales were 249,560G!’

After paying the quota, we’d only have 560G left.

We would’ve made more money just selling a few raw lizard tails at the general store.

I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t speak.

“Trainee. What’s with this quota?”

Mo Haein, who had also checked the quota system window, came over looking deeply flustered.

But I didn’t know anything either.

“I don’t know either…. I think it might be an anomaly….”

“It’s because of us.”

A gloomy voice spoke then.

The twins had somehow come over to my side and were standing there with dark expressions.

Ella bit her lip tightly before muttering,

“You helped us…. So our Lord….”

The moment I heard it was Infernum’s doing, everything made sense.

He wanted me on his dining table.

According to the restaurant lease contract, the daily quota was entirely up to the owner.

He could squeeze me like this as much as he wanted.

On top of that, he had the perfect excuse in the twins, leaving me with no room to protest or negotiate.

The moment I went to see Infernum, he’d simply demand that I hand the twins over.

Ellun lightly flapped his single wing.

“I’m sorry, Little Lamb. We’ll go back.”

Even Ella, who was always chattering away, lowered her head beside Ellun and quietly said,

“…I’m sorry.”

“No. Ella-nim, Ellun-nim. Even if the two of you went back, Infernum would act exactly the same.”

After comforting the twins, I told Je Hyun-oh and Captain that it might only be a temporary anomaly, so we should wait and see for now.

And after running the restaurant for several more days.

I realized only one thing.

Infernum absolutely wanted to put me on his table.

That insane Fire Dragon kept assigning impossible quotas.

No matter how many skewers we sold, we were always left with only around 500G.

Making only 500G a day made renovating the restaurant absolutely impossible.

To reach the Sla2Plate True Ending, two objectives had to be completed.

Become the greatest restaurant, and conquer the dungeon.

I had to reach the maximum reputation score of 1,000 to earn the title of the greatest restaurant.

That was why the Standing Restaurant strategy was only meant to make money early on. After earning a large amount, I was supposed to gradually upgrade the menu and interior while raising the restaurant’s reputation.

But in this state, raising our reputation was absolutely impossible.

I closed the restaurant early and sent the twins upstairs.

Then I held a meeting on the first floor and explained the current situation to Je Hyun-oh and Captain.

“Continuing to operate the restaurant right now is just a meaningless repetition.”

Mo Haein was the first to voice an opinion.

“Then why don’t we cut back on restaurant business for now and focus on clearing the dungeon? It might be worth checking what the quota looks like if our sales go down.”

Kwak Hanmuk, who was sitting backwards in a chair with his arms resting on the backrest, spoke.

“Wouldn’t someone just get eaten the moment we fail to meet the quota?”

Kwak Hanmuk was right.

The quota never decreased.

I glanced toward Je Hyun-oh.

“……”

Je Hyun-oh was sitting silently on the edge of the table.

His gaze remained fixed on me.

Ever since what happened in the dungeon, he hadn’t displayed a single emoticon, which kept making me uneasy.

It wasn’t like he was doing anything crazy either. If anything, he simply did everything I suggested, which made him even scarier.

It felt like assigning work to a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment.

‘I’m a little worried too….’

After seeing what I’d seen, there was no way I couldn’t be.

I kept wondering what he was thinking by himself, but Je Hyun-oh was someone I simply couldn’t understand.

In any case, he didn’t seem to have an opinion, so I cautiously spoke.

“So I’d like to try a bit of a gamble, but I’d need to spend 500G, so I’d like your permission.”

The Special Mission Team had entered Sla2Plate because of me. I had to find a breakthrough for their sake as well.

“There’s an item in Sla2Plate that can attract alien customers. Their visits are random, so they might not come, but if they do, they leave enormous tips. If we receive a tip that’s impossible under normal business conditions, I think it might conflict with the restaurant owner’s quota and cause an anomaly.”

“So you’re saying we should deliberately cause an anomaly?”

At Mo Haein’s summary, I nodded while watching everyone’s reactions.

Intentionally causing an anomaly in a Trial was something that directly violated the Trial Response Agency’s fundamental principles.

“Wow, that’s rough. Isn’t that way too dangerous?”

Even Kwak Hanmuk, who had supported my opinions all this time, seemed reluctant this time.

But there really wasn’t any other solution.

Kwak Hanmuk turned toward Je Hyun-oh.

“Lieutenant Colonel Je, what do you think?”

Je Hyun-oh, whose metal hand had been hanging neatly at his side, placed it on the table and lightly tapped.

Tap, tap, tap.

After a few moments of light tapping, his metal hand stopped.

His rough voice called my name.

“Goyo.”

“Yes…?”

He reached his hand toward me.

Pointing the black metal blade at me, Je Hyun-oh spoke.

“We’ll eliminate the twins first.”

“……”

I understood exactly what he meant.

Every method I was proposing assumed we would achieve the True Ending.

But the team was already in danger.

If we failed to meet the quota for even one day, one teammate would immediately be eaten.

If we failed even after resorting to the dangerous method of causing an anomaly…

Je Hyun-oh would immediately change course and prioritize conquering the dungeon as quickly as possible to obtain the normal ending.

At the same time, he intended to eliminate the twins first—the unpredictable variable that hadn’t contributed much to clearing the Trial and instead clouded my judgment.

It was a cold, rational decision worthy of a team leader.

It wasn’t the direction I wanted, but I couldn’t criticize Je Hyun-oh’s judgment.

All I could do was resolve not to fail.

I thanked him.

“Understood. Thank you for giving me this chance, Lieutenant Colonel Je.”

After hearing my response, Je Hyun-oh gave the order.

“Let’s do what Goyo wants.”

After opening for business the next day, we divided our work as usual.

Je Hyun-oh and Kwak Hanmuk went to the dungeon, while I, Mo Haein, and the twins remained at the restaurant.

While Mo Haein and the twins dealt with customers, I went alone to the backyard and took out the item.

The small parabolic antenna I had boldly spent 500G on at the general store yesterday was a device that summoned alien guests, an Easter egg from the very late game.

Installing it on the restaurant roof would send advertisements into space, and if the reputation was 990 or higher, alien guests would arrive.

The current restaurant reputation was 18 points.

Even after installing the antenna, it would only become 21 points, a number that made it impossible for alien guests to arrive.

Even if an alien guest miraculously came, they would not give enough tip money to create an abnormality.

Everything I had told Je Hyun-oh and the captains was a lie.

‘But if I told them the truth, they would never have approved it.’

The target I was aiming for was not an ordinary alien guest.

After installing the parabolic antenna on the roof, a system window appeared.

As expected.

Just like the malicious advertisement before, I could write the message myself this time as well.

“Roasted Chestnut. Where are you sending the advertisement?”

“I’m sending it into space.”

“You’re inviting special guests.”

Listening to the interested voice of the pudding slime, I carefully recalled my memories and entered the message.

I planned to call Black Block-ssi.

I couldn’t remember all of the space coordinates he had given me, so I entered it roughly, but this should be enough.

Since he said he was constantly watching me, there was a high chance he was still observing me now.

After sending the advertisement, I felt the soft sensation of the pudding slime on my shoulder and fell into thought.

I had almost concluded that the alien I spoke with on the phone several days ago was Black Block-ssi.

I guessed that Black Block-ssi was likely a divine being. A fairly high-ranking one at that.

‘If he can make system window notifications appear whenever a Trial ends, he must have some level of authority.’

And for some reason, he was favorable toward me.

He even interfered with the Trials I was challenging.

Especially in CallOVo, I was able to contact Samra thanks to Black Block-ssi informing me through the newspaper.

‘Divine beings outside can interfere with Trials to some extent.’

However, it seemed they could not control things completely.

Black Block-ssi couldn’t come directly to the restaurant, and he was even happy that he had only barely managed to establish a communication connection this time.

‘Ah, wait. That means he tried before too.’

Realizing that he had been trying to contact me repeatedly made me feel slightly uncomfortable.

It was even more so because he didn’t seem like a normal alien.

Anyway, if he had been watching me all this time and even called himself my fan—

There was a high chance he would interfere with my strategy this time as well.

Ring-ring!

The phone rang. I took a short breath, then answered the abnormal alien’s call.

“Hello.”

—Greetings, Little Lamb! I saw your advertisement saying you started mail-order sales!

An excited voice came through.

The crackling noise still made the voice unclear, but the sound quality seemed slightly improved compared to before.

“Yes. Thank you for contacting me right away.”

—I shall finally taste the Little Lamb’s food. I am greatly looking forward to it!

“Actually, I do not provide delivery.”

—What? Then why make a false, exaggerated, fraudulent advertisement?!

It was true, but hearing him state it with such precise facts felt strangely unpleasant.

I cleared my throat and brought up the main point.

“Instead, I would like to make a better offer.”

—A better offer! What is it?

“I heard you have been watching me.”

—Of course!

“Then you probably know the current situation as well.”

—Hmm, I cannot say I do not know. After all, I am your fan.

As expected, he seemed to have seen me being troubled by Infernum’s assigned payments.

I put on a smile like the employee of the month.

“Please give me viewing fees. As much as possible, enough to completely resolve the situation.”

The other side was silent for a moment.

‘Did the connection drop?’

The noise was so severe that it wouldn’t have been strange if the connection had ended at any time.

I was about to wait a little longer and see if he called again when—

—UHAHAHAHA! Hahaha! Hwahaha!

A crazy burst of laughter came through. He laughed so intensely that I became slightly worried he might be having a seizure.

When I thought he might actually run out of breath, he finally managed to stop laughing.

He lowered his voice and whispered secretly.

—Hehe, heh, viewing fees! How delightful, Little Lamb! You have made me happy. I cannot even remember the last time I enjoyed myself this much!

Please also pay the laughter fee.

I thought that internally while moving my lips.

“Please include the viewing fees, and I will make you delicious food next time. The ingredients here are limited, so even if I delivered food to you, you would not like it. I want to serve you a proper meal.”

—Oh!

“However, the place, time, and menu will be decided by me.”

According to Sla2Plate’s system, it had to be judged as “food was sold.”

Therefore, I intended to make it look as though I was receiving payment in advance through mail-order sales.

Also, by limiting the conditions of the deal to “food served at a time and place chosen by me,” I could secure safety by avoiding paying an excessive price.

I did not mention it additionally, but there was no condition in the deal saying that I had to be at that location.

In other words, I could simply leave food somewhere and run away.

I had no intention of meeting him, but since I had received things from him until now, I did plan to serve him something delicious.

‘What should I give an alien?’

Choosing the menu was a little difficult.

Looking at Dominic, he had a small appetite and only wanted things like Flame Dragon eyes or heart….

Thinking that if he complained too much I would just make him ramen, I waited for his answer.

—Very good. No matter when it is, as long as I can personally eat food made by the Little Lamb! Such an excellent fan service. Naturally, it would be right to pay the proper price!

The deal succeeded.

I felt a huge sense of relief, but answered without showing it outwardly.

“Please provide it in currency usable here.”

—Naturally! Do not worry. This currency is easy to transport, so it will reach where the Little Lamb is without difficulty.

The other side laughed, then suddenly exclaimed:

—Oh my, the communication will be cut soon! As your fan, I will continue watching you, Little Lamb! Then, farewell….

Beep-beep-beep.

The call ended.

It seemed like something had been resolved, but I didn’t feel very good.

It felt like something sticky had attached itself to me.

‘How will he send the money?’

Some strength left my hand. Even the phone felt heavy, so I put it down.

“Roasted Chestnut.”

“Ah, Dominic-ssi….”

“It is that person from several days ago. Are you going to make food for him?”

“Yes. Of course, it is nothing compared to the food I would make for you, Dominic-ssi.”

“Hmm…. You could have asked me for help.”

There was confusion in Dominic’s voice.

But it couldn’t be helped.

I remembered the hidden boss on the 88th floor that had died after displaying the broken system window.

Dominic’s help was based on his own standards.

Because he was helping a ‘young god,’ not a human, it would never happen exactly as I wanted.

If I had asked him for help, it would never have been resolved through such a peaceful method.

Also, just like when he changed the burning beam of light, if Dominic continued using power closer to his true nature, it might accelerate him regaining his memories.

‘This isn’t a contract, and it doesn’t leave a mark like an imprint. It’s just a simple transaction.’

I explained my plan to Dominic in detail.

I also made sure to mention that I would not actually meet the other party.

“Isn’t this the first dish I’m making for my most trusted and relied-upon companion, Dominic-ssi? I wanted to serve you entirely with my own strength without receiving help. Please wait just a little longer.”

Dominic politely asked again.

“Until when?”

I had a bad feeling. A chill ran down my spine.

I felt like I needed to answer carefully….

“It won’t take long.”

When I carefully replied, Dominic answered casually.

“Yes, Roasted Chestnut. I will wait.”

“…….”

It seemed the effects of having the best companion had worn off.

But for now, there was no other choice.

Just as I was thinking I needed to quickly catch the Flame Dragon and cook it—

Crackle, crackle.

A glitch appeared in the air, and light scattered.

I looked over in surprise, and after a brief flash, something dropped.

I reflexively caught the falling object and froze.

This was….

Something I knew extremely well.

I hurriedly checked the item.

A transparent coin about the size of my palm.

It was the Dark Star Remnant that the butlers had given me in Clean3.

And the one who created this currency was—

“It is a beautifully made coin. Did that person give it to you?”

It was on my shoulder.