Dravin's eyes widened. A soft chuckle slipped from his lips, but he quickly cleared his throat, disguising it as a cough so Siena wouldn't get the wrong idea.
Rubby, did you see that? Her pleasure index just jumped ten percent. How's that possible? This isn't even her favourite food.
[Yes, Chef! I know. This is new for me too. As you've seen in the priority list, the maximum boost from favourite foods so far is only eight percent. So with this…]
It's not just the food. It's who you eat it with.
Dravin's head buzzed with frantic excitement as he and Rubby pieced together the new discovery.
"Ah, Dravin, sorry. I got carried away… I just miss my grandma," Siena murmured, wiping at her tears.
"It's fine. Did you really imagine I was her just now?"
"Yeah… eating this bread the way you fed me reminded me of her. I still can't see her because I'm busy job hunting. I promised I'd invite her here once I get a job."
Their small talk carried on, and Dravin learned Siena's grandmother was the most supportive person in her life.
Even when her parents had been too harsh about her weight, her grandmother had accepted her as she was, standing by her through the hardest days of dieting.
When breakfast ended, Siena offered to clean the kitchen and wash the dishes. While she did, Dravin slipped into the bathroom to open his system.
Earlier, he'd caught a notification about a new task but hadn't had the chance to read it with Siena there.
Build a family-style restaurant and claim the number one rank in District 6.
Rewards: We will build the restaurant for you; you just need to search for and decide on the location you want. Completion will add 25% total progress to the NuLife Balance System, increasing gradually as the restaurant grows until it becomes the district's top establishment.
This task has no time limit, but if you reach number one within four months, you'll earn an additional 1,000,000 Goldin and 500,000 coins.>
Dravin blinked and stood frozen for a moment. Rubby hadn't been lying. Even while talking to Siena, he'd already felt the urge to change strategies for this month's blueprint.
Gather everyone in one place, cook for them and their loved ones. The system had instantly seized on his idea, weaving it into the system progression.
Does that mean my customers have to be possessed people? His thoughts spun.
[Are you asking me, Chef?] A smiling emoji flickered across the screen.
"Am I right?"
[Yes, Chef. Your main target market is those possessed by demons. But you can also serve regular customers. After all, even though the possessed are those with a pleasure index below twenty percent, anyone's index can drop. You can still raise theirs up to the maximum.]
"And what happens when it hits the maximum?"
[They gain an immune system.]
"So… they can't be possessed again?"
[Yes.]
Dravin exhaled heavily. The new task thrilled him, yet it felt almost too convenient. Like… owning a restaurant had been his dream.
A dream he had once realised, only for death to rob him before he could enjoy it.
The grand opening of his new fine dining in Manhattan had been scheduled a month after he received his award as Best Chefluencer.
So when he read the system's task, his blood surged. That was what unsettled him. This new life felt like a dream made real.
Something didn't sit right, though he couldn't tell what, and he had no intention of overthinking it.
"So, the cost for building, renovation, kitchen sets, table sets, everything will be covered by the system? I just need to find the location?"
Rubby grinned wide. [Yes, Chef. The restaurant's structure will be built at the place you choose.]
"How about the ingredients and staff?"
[Just input the ingredients you want in ShopaLyfe in one prompt, starting with 'Initial Ingredients,' and they'll be free. For staff, since it's personal, you'll have to figure that out yourself. We know you're picky. You'll only work with people on your terms, won't you?]
Dravin puffed out his cheeks. Hiring staff was the hardest part of opening a restaurant. But, indeed, he refused to settle for random people who didn't match his taste.
"So I can choose anywhere I want?"
[Yes, Chef. You can even decide whether to buy the property or just rent it.]
Holy Jesus. Dravin sighed in relief.
Starting over was still a bother, overwhelming even, but at least he didn't have to go through the hassle from scratch.
And the best part, he didn't need to use his own money for the initial capital. A thrill stirred in his chest at the thought of finally chasing his long-lost dream.
Yet this time, the stakes were human lives. If someone died because he failed his mission, that would be far more troublesome.
Wait… why the hell am I thinking about human lives? Did this system give me a hero complex?
He rubbed the back of his head in frustration, twisted the cold iron tap, and splashed water over his face.
The chill jolted his nerves awake, grounding him in the fact that he was now Dravin Austin, and he would rule this system his way.
***
That afternoon, after making sure Siena's apartment was clear of smoke and the electrician was handling the mess, Dravin headed for the real estate agency as planned.
He drew in a long breath before pushing open the glass door.
A middle-aged man, bald at the crown, glared at him with a sharp, joyless stare, the kind of judgment Dravin had often seen in luxury shops where staff sized you up, deciding whether you looked rich enough to afford anything.
"Excuse me… Mr. Lanford?" Dravin asked carefully.
"Hm. What can I help you with?" The man's rough voice sounded more like a warning not to waste his time.
"I'm Dravin Austin, the one who called earlier."
The instant Dravin gave his name, the man's expression changed. A sly, businesslike smile spread across his chubby face.
"Oho! So you're the one interested in the property at Amethyst Block? I didn't expect you to be this young."
He strode toward Dravin, pupils darting over him from head to toe.
In Vitaronia, people judged you by appearance.
Especially someone calling about renting property in the most expensive, strategic block.
Dravin's worn plaid shirt and ripped jeans must have left Mr. Lanford baffled.
I should buy a whole new wardrobe after this, Dravin thought.
"Should I come back when I'm older?" he quipped dryly.
Dravin hit him with the joke without a flicker of expression. Mr. Lanford's smile crumbled, and the thick tension that followed made him freeze, unsure how to read the look in Dravin's eyes.
"That wouldn't be good," Dravin went on smoothly. "By then, you'll just be younger while I get older. You don't look like you're in your fifties, Mr. Lanford. Are you aging backwards?"
His grin widened, and laughter burst through the agency, echoing across the office.