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I couldn’t help but laugh at the sudden request to buy bottled water.

The rule is that the water purifier inside the restaurant can only be used while working at the restaurant.

And it’s not like we have enough coins to buy a water purifier for the accommodation.

Even if the Scorpion team goes back to the accommodation, there’s no water to drink.

“You should’ve earned some coins earlier.”

“…It’s not balanced! I expected Yuna and Winter to sweep the latest songs, but how does a 14-year-old know 90s music so well?”

“Uncle, why don’t you know 90s songs better than a 14-year-old? Look at the mess you’ve made.”

“…Well, if you put it that way, I have nothing to say.”

Even if Kim Guk-min hadn’t asked, I was planning to get water and some snacks.

Of course, it’s not free.

These coins were earned through Winter and Yuna’s sweat and tears.

I can’t just spend them as I please.

“Gyeoul, water is just…”

“Hey! Be quiet.”

I quickly covered Winter’s mouth as she was about to say something strange.

Bottled water costs 100 coins each.

Snacks also cost 100 coins each. This Monster Restaurant has outrageous prices.

I can’t just give it away for free.

“You know about interest, right?”

“…Interest?”

“I’ll lend you 500 coins. If you win the next game, pay me back 600 coins.”

“…Wow, do you know that exceeds the legal interest rate?”

“Oh, you don’t need it? Got it.”

It’s not us who are at a loss.

You guys have no choice but to go a day without a sip of water.

“Wait! Gyeoul, Guk-min hyung seems a bit hasty. Cheol-soo and I think those terms are great!”

“Right? These terms are practically a steal.”

“…”

Han Seo-jin’s expression almost twisted for a moment, but being an actress, she quickly returned to her original expression. But I already saw it.

“Huh? What’s with the face? If you don’t like it, you don’t have to borrow…”

“No! No! It’s fine!”

Hehe.

I have a feeling we’ll see this kind of scene often.

Because I don’t plan on losing any coin games.

We’ll cover all the ingredients needed for the restaurant and take a share of the profits accordingly.

If we throw them a few hundred coins as a salary…

This is no longer a competition between Team Winter and Team Scorpion; it’s a master-servant relationship.

I’m looking forward to this system.

***

We continued to practice cooking and efficient movement according to the layout.

The dining area was also busy preparing for business.

And there were regular games in the morning and evening, plus random games whenever the production team felt like it.

After a few days of repetition, Team Scorpion had 700 coins, while Team Winter had 5000 coins.

Team Scorpion owes Team Winter 1200 coins.

Meanwhile, Team Winter has set up beds, a refrigerator, and a water purifier in their accommodation.

They no longer need to spend coins on bottled water.

They even stored water from the purifier in the fridge.

And they’re selling that stored water to Team Scorpion for 100 coins per liter.

The wealth gap is only going to get worse.

“PD Choi… isn’t this a bit much? A healing variety show shouldn’t have loan sharks and such a huge wealth gap among the cast.”

“…Well, you should’ve done better in the games.”

“Hey, you PD! You brought in an S-Class Hero and expect us to win games? Can’t you see? We can’t beat that!”

After a few days of games, everyone clearly understood what an S-Class Hero is.

Even with their magic power restricted, they showed physical abilities beyond Olympic gold medalists.

No, they can even fly and shoot eagle shots. It’s safe to say their physical abilities are beyond human.

But that doesn’t mean they can win brain games.

From initial quizzes to nonsense quizzes and even general knowledge quizzes, Team Winter was unbeatable.

Winter handled liberal arts questions.

Yuna handled science questions.

And Gyeoul had all sorts of mysterious, seemingly useless knowledge.

“Uncle Guk-min? What are you doing there instead of cleaning the dining area?”

“Ah, sorry! I’m going now!”

Kim Guk-min, who had been complaining to PD Choi, immediately put on a bright and kind expression when Jeong Gyeoul called him and headed to the Monster Restaurant.

On the way, he didn’t forget to glare back at PD Choi.

The Monster Restaurant had already established a hierarchy.

And it seems like this structure won’t change until the program ends.

At the very bottom are the three men from Team Scorpion.

Above them are Winter and Yuna from Team Winter.

Above them are the production team, including PD Choi.

And at the very top is Jeong Gyeoul.

While all this was happening at the Monster Restaurant, the media announced Jeong Gyeoul’s S-Class status, causing an uproar.

No press conference, no interviews.

She wasn’t seen at the Academy, and even staking out her house yielded nothing.

It seemed like Jeong Gyeoul’s whereabouts would remain a mystery… until it was revealed that she was participating in a variety show and currently filming.

Naturally, PD Choi’s Monster Restaurant program drew attention.

Even before the first episode aired, all eyes were on the Monster Restaurant.

“It’s a bit overwhelming.”

“…Honestly, I feel the same. I’m used to getting national attention whenever I launch a program, but this is global attention.”

“Do you know that foreign traffic on our YouTube channel has increased tenfold?”

“…I get hundreds of DMs daily. How could I not know?”

“I’m worried about the cast’s mental health.”

“Maybe you should worry about the production team first? Celebrities are used to this, but it’s a first for the production team.”

Even PD Choi, the main PD, is in a frenzy.

Other production team members are less affected, but it’s still not quiet.

After Jeong Gyeoul’s S-Class announcement, no one kept their phones on.

Celebrities have strict number management, so only close contacts could reach them… but the production team’s numbers are practically public knowledge.

Endless calls, texts, and messages poured in, draining batteries in less than an hour.

That was just a day ago.

And today is Friday, the day before the Monster Restaurant opens.

“If we operate daily, neither the production team nor the cast will last.”

“Even with bodyguards, they sometimes get scared. Worried about being overwhelmed.”

Bodyguards from Taebaek and Daehyun were assigned, but the crowd flocking to the Monster Restaurant is overwhelming.

Sometimes the production team trembles with anxiety, fearing the line might break.

It’s a different feeling from fans flocking to see celebrities.

It’s like watching a zombie horde coming from all directions.

“It feels like watching hooligans. Maybe it’s because there are foreigners mixed in.”

“How about we only operate on weekends?”

“…Wouldn’t that be worse? Imagine all the people crowding in over two days… Ugh, terrifying.”

“Maybe we should just operate for the first week and call it quits… It’s a shame to waste all the preparation.”

“It might be better to withdraw before safety becomes an issue…”

“Let’s operate until Sunday and then discuss with the cast.”

PD Choi and Writer Wang’s faces were filled with concern.

***

“Couldn’t resist the fresh air and went out to slack off?”

“Ah, no! I had an interview!”

“You know I have sharp ears, right? I heard you badmouthing me.”

“…It’s a misunderstanding. Gyeoul, it’s really a misunderstanding.”

“Got it. Now clean up. Quickly.”

“Yes! I’ll make it sparkle!”

“Ugh…”

After catching Kim Guk-min, I checked the pasta sauce again.

“This ratio seems just right.”

“Yeah, I think so too. The consistency is perfect.”

We’ve prepared all the ingredients and sauces for steak, pasta, and lasagna.

We’ll use the 5000 coins to order the ingredients needed for tomorrow’s business.

“Do you think business will be good?”

“…Do you see the people outside? If we didn’t have a lottery system, the line would stretch from Seoul to Incheon.”

“I meant whether those people will storm in, and if the lottery winners can come, eat, and leave safely.”

“Taebaek and Daehyun are on it, so they’ll handle it somehow. The police will be out in full force tomorrow.”

“Ugh, why is an S-Class such a big deal?”

Jeong Gyeoul didn’t expect this much commotion.

‘If an S-Class announcement causes this much chaos, imagine what would happen if a Transcendent-Class announcement included me and Jeong Ha-yul side by side. Korea would explode.’

The Transcendent-Class announcement will have to wait.

“…Is this the ease of the privileged?”

“Let’s just say it is.”

While finishing up in the kitchen and grumbling with Kim Cheol-soo.

Kim Guk-min came into the kitchen, dramatically wiping sweat with his sleeve.

“Gyeoul! Gyeoul! It’s so hot!”

“You worked hard.”

“How much is today’s pay? I really worked hard.”

“…All I remember is you diligently looking for a place to slack off.”

“Wow, that’s really a misunderstanding. Can’t you see I’m sweating?”

“I can see the sweat that wasn’t there before you went to the bathroom but started pouring after you came out.”

“…How did you see that? You’re always in the kitchen… Tch.”

“Anyway, everyone gather in the dining area.”

“Yes!”

Everyone gathered at the call of Jeong Gyeoul, the supreme authority of the Monster Restaurant.

Jeong Gyeoul began to assert her authority.

What is she unhappy about this time?

Getting scolded has become routine by now.

Everyone looked at Jeong Gyeoul nervously…

“Everyone, you’ve worked hard. I’m really happy to start the Monster Restaurant with all of you. Thanks to your dedication and hard work, I have no doubt the Monster Restaurant will succeed. No matter what difficulties arise during business, we can overcome them together. Remember, we’re not just restaurant colleagues; we’re like family. Don’t be too scared about tomorrow’s business. Together, we can do anything. Let’s do our best.”

“Wahhhh!”

“Gyeoul, you’re amazing! Bravo Jeong Gyeoul!”

What came out of her mouth was unexpected.

“But… aren’t we more like slaves than colleagues?”

“…Are we really being treated like slaves?”

“Sorry! Guk-min hyung, apologize quickly!”

“…Look, even Han Seo-jin is worn out by the slave life.”

 

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