Chapter 5: Reaction

Workers Pov-

“Are there many people outside?”

“Even if they doubled my salary, it wouldn’t be enough.”

“Just hearing that makes me not want to work even more.”

I didn’t apply because I was tempted by the boss calling me a white tiger., but one of the serving part-timers muttered while staring with dead eyes at the long line outside.

No, wasn’t break time supposed to mean regular resting time?

But why clean, organize, catch up on dishes, mop the floor, arrange ingredients during the break time…

Well, that was true.

Anyway, it was nice that even the part-timers were paid more than they imagined due to the workload.

But that was it.

Everyone coming here had similar reasons. Whether they came to eat or to see the boss…

Therefore, everyone working here had to know where the boss was in real-time or possess skills equivalent to it.

Or both.

It had been only three months since they started working, but their skills were improving rapidly.

“Was it like this even when we opened?”

“It might have been better back then…”

Wait a minute. Wasn’t it?

If they received this much chaos even during the opening, then this place would truly be hell on earth.

It would have been a situation similar to a sudden influx of logistics part-timers into a restaurant.

For that reason, rumors were quietly circulating that there was no place as glamorous as this, where part-timers were replaced every three months after the opening.

Not because the treatment was bad, but because it was hard.

But anyway.

“It’s unusually noisy outside today…”

“Yes, indeed.”

The murmuring could be heard even here. Had the boss arrived? They glanced at their watch.

It was 3:28 PM, almost time for the store to reopen.

But even so, the commotion outside today was clearer than usual.

When was the last time something like this happened?

As far as they could remember, it was when the boss and the customers who had come to see him clashed outside, just as they had suspected earlier.

But today, he was inside.

“Well, we’ll find out once we open the door.”

There’s a saying that reality is more dramatic than dramas.

These days, it didn’t always apply because dramas were too chaotic, but…

“..There are many customers, so I’ll come back later.”

“Oh, no! Let me clear the reserved table sign over there for you.”

Suddenly, another unexpected visitor entering the store was a scene that made one doubt the coherence of reality.

Glancing around.

Not only the serving part-timers but everyone in the store was rolling their eyes subtly.

A thick and muscular, visually appealing physique enough to impress onlookers.

Long hair with pointed ears sticking out and deep blue eyes.

An overt, almost physically tangible gaze was directed at a point in the store.

… But the protagonist seemed to have no interest at all.

“… Do you not include tips here?”

“Huh? Tips?”

“…Oh.”

… There seemed to be some peculiar corners here.

Perhaps someone who had lived abroad? Of course, the saying “imagination is free” worked regardless of time and place.

That was as far as their speculation went.

At the moment when customers were pouring in like a flood, losing focus and staring at someone was a nuisance to both colleagues and the person themselves.

Carefully placing the order sheet with an absurdly long list of items on the table, they headed towards another table.

Even though the place was crowded, it was excessively so.

Moreover, human memory was inherently volatile, and in the chaos, the memories of the staff inside the overcrowded store were even more prone to evaporate.

After a chaotic flurry, with orders confirmed and all tables set, it was now time for the kitchen to get busy.

And then.

“Let me confirm your order. One garlic carbonara pasta, one gorgonzola pizza, one grilled chicken and mushroom risotto, and one herb rib-eye steak, is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“If you’re too full, we can pack the remaining food separately, just let us know.”

A nod.

Food portions that seemed sufficient for two people even after eating heartily were placed on a table with only one person seated.

Now, the gaze, which seemed to have cooled down a bit, didn’t take long to refocus on that point, but her attention was on the food.

The spoon and fork slowly rise.

She began eating.

Despite being freshly made, all the food was steaming hot.

It is said that when humans encounter something contrary to their thoughts or preconceptions, or simply fascinating, their gaze naturally shifts in that direction.

The ancients dignified such behavior under the term ‘investigation,’ calling it the essence of human nature and the driving force of progress.

The resolution of curiosity about things different from oneself was indeed the most powerful fuel and reason for human movement.

Therefore…

“…wow….”

As that sleek tail slowly wriggled,

Could it be considered legal to inadvertently send a glance towards Serpentia, who was diligently devouring food that seemed to exceed five servings?

But what was permitted to them was only to that extent.

Who would know if someone took a secret photo, which later appeared on attendance demands sent via registered mail, or text, landing in an undesirable place?

The laws concerning manifestors were truly stringent in such places.

Anyway, her appearance aroused much curiosity among those dining inside the store.

Manifestors, especially those with such distinctive physical features, were extremely rare in society,

Having been worshipped since the distant past, from the point when animistic beliefs manifested on Earth.

While worship had vanished with the advent of modern society, it naturally evolved into social attention and popularity, continuing to this moment.

In short, she was akin to another celebrity sneaking into a restaurant where celebrities cooked.

Of course…

“Hmm…”

She didn’t hesitate during the meal.

Her eating speed wasn’t particularly fast or slow, and like any other meal, the food was gradually diminishing through calm and neat movements.

And if we were to point out one peculiar thing,

—Slice, slice.

She held the steak steady with her left hand, grasping the knife with her tail, slicing the steak swiftly, while her right hand put pizza into her mouth.

Perhaps a feat that only one person in the world could accomplish.

It was a moment when the answer to a question that often popped up in numerous online communities when boredom struck,

“Can a tail be as useful as an arm if it’s long and big?” was unexpectedly resolved.

Thus, a moment of unbearable tension ensued, seemingly existing and yet not, except for the parties involved.

“Does it taste good?”

A fluffy white tail.

Ears perked up inquisitively.

Hair that flowed seamlessly between white and black.

The owner of the shop, who had heard the news, appeared.

***

Eugene Pov-

“Ahh.”

I think I’m finally satisfied.

After skipping both breakfast and lunch, I thought I was going to die of hunger.

The biggest and most persistent issue with this body seemed to be its metabolism.

With a daily minimum calorie requirement exceeding 5000 kcal, this body was truly a food-devouring monster,

Which is why in the past, my teammates always carried spare calorie bars for me.

Anyway.

Rustle.

Different scents emanated from the various packaged foods hanging from my arms and tail.

Since I managed to somehow meet my daily minimum calorie intake with the meal earlier, I could have these later as snacks or supper.

…Looking at it this way, I’m truly a glutton. Splurging calories and money recklessly. I haven’t been here long enough to have earned anything.

Right now, I’m using the money I had saved from before.

Thinking about it, spending money like this seems a bit risky.

If I had stayed there, I could have probably worked as a mercenary or tactical advisor without major financial problems…

Well, I’m back now. Let’s quickly figure out how to make money here.

If the Icarus device is compatible with the US government standards here, I can immediately withdraw the salary I haven’t used so far, but it’s a pity.

I’ll have to try it as soon as I get back.

Lost in various thoughts, I find myself back in front of the apartment complex before I know it.

For someone like me, who is almost a stranger to the concept of living spaces, this place didn’t seem bad at all.

It’s kind of fuzzy whether I originally lived here or not…

Walking with that feeling, I suddenly feel a strange sensation in my pocket.

“…What should I do with this?”

The source of the crackling sound was a business card.

Honestly, I’m still quite startled. Where is the person who would come to ask such a thing while I was dining at a fine dining establishment?

Isn’t that unusual even for a fine dining place?

Anyway, if you ask what happened, it was surprisingly simple.

While dining, the owner of the shop’s sign appeared and asked a few questions – unlike the name of the store, the direct involvement in the cooking process had stopped about three months ago – and then gave me the bill along with the business card.

There was roughly a note about visiting and asking if the signature and the photo were okay.

The phone number was written there.

Since the shop was too crowded, we decided to discuss it later.

The shop opened around 4:30 PM, and after waiting for about 40 minutes and spending the same amount of time dining, it’s currently around 6 PM.

Despite it being evening, it was relatively bright outside, perhaps because it was the middle of summer. The day was coming to an end with a sunset that had diluted the sky with a faint reddish hue.

Throughout the day, various to-do lists I had in my mind were being ticked off one by one.

Since I had safely relocated the plate carrier, tactical vest, and firearms to a secure location, they were crossed off the list.

Thanks to today’s reconnaissance, I could now roughly visualize the layout of the neighborhood where I lived, so that was also crossed off.

Now, what’s next…

—Zzing!

“Whoa, that startled me.”

Accompanied by the noisy sound, the Icarus system emitted vibrations and holograms.

The scattered fragments of letters rearranged themselves in an instant,

And summarizing the content briefly—

“Where did you get the stamina training, buddy?”

“Oh.”

I should probably look for a nearby fitness club.