Episode 19.
Takeout
“Today was tough again.”
The user who finished hunting sat down to rest.
His name was Cedric.
He was a warrior user wearing old armor and holding a sword.
‘I’m hungry.’
Cedric took out bread from his bag and tore a piece off to eat.
Bread was cost-effective, so it was one of the popular fullness items among users.
However,
‘The problem is that it doesn’t taste good.’
“Ugh, Illusion is great, but the restaurant food really doesn’t taste that good…”
The food sold by users tasted good.
But it was expensive and burdensome to buy every time.
To eat something decent, you had to pay at least 1 gold.
That money could buy dozens of bread.
Bread was unbeatable in value.
Bread was invincible.
‘Should I check the community?’
Cedric rested while looking through posts on the Illusion community and ate bread.
Among them, one post caught his eye.
[There’s a famous restaurant in the abandoned village north of Lete that sells C-grade buff stew.]
‘A new village? North of Lete? That can’t be.’
Cedric started from Lete Village, so he knew there was no new village to the north.
‘Ah, I see. That abandoned village, right?’
He heard about it.
He was curious and went there once, but as it was a ruin, he quickly lost interest.
Curious, Cedric read the post.
[I ate potato stew there, and the buff lasts 120 minutes. Strength and stamina +2, attack power +3%, and fullness boost +30%.
And it only costs 300 silver!]
‘Potato stew for 300 silver… not too cheap, not too expensive… but the buff is pretty good?’
Cedric was a warrior.
Increasing strength and stamina was a great help for hunting.
Plus,
‘Fullness boost means the fullness decreases more slowly, so I can hunt longer, right?’
In Illusion, the system made fullness decrease faster the more you move.
Because of that, he’d get hungry quickly even with a little hunting.
‘If I get hungry while hunting, I have to rest to eat, lowering efficiency…’
But with a fullness boost option, he could hunt more.
‘This might not be bad after all?’
The post didn’t end there.
[But that’s not the important part.]
‘Not important?’
Food depends on options and fullness.
But something more important than that?
This is honestly the best stew I’ve ever had in my life!
No, it’s beyond the best.
Since I ate this, other stews feel like water!
This is the pinnacle of taste!
‘That much?’
I ate potato stew and felt like my eyes were opening wide.
The mild potatoes and rich broth, the first spoon relaxes your shoulders.
Just one spoon feels like healing.
I usually have combat fatigue, but this makes my body and mind feel completely relaxed.
I thought, “This taste is why I play this game.” It’s that good!
‘No way… that much?’
Taste is generous, buffs are a bonus.
Even if it cost 1 gold, it wouldn’t feel like a waste at all.
Ah… I want to eat it again while the effect lasts. I’ll be back. Poof!
Such high praise!
The post was so well-written that just reading it made the mouth water.
Comments:
-“Wow… amazing description… Where is it? Share please.”
“If you go into the forest north of Lete Village, there’s a village… that’s where.”
“Wasn’t it a ruin before?”
“Yeah, but suddenly a village appeared. There are residents too.”
“Well, it’s tasty.”
“People in an abandoned village? Did a user make it? Hidden peace?”
“I guess it’s a hidden peace. I’ll try the stew too. Illusion food tastes bad.”
“Agreed.”
Users seemed interested.
Cedric got up and started running toward the village hastily.
“Potato stew! Wait for me! I’m coming!!”
That’s how Arlen’s village slowly, but surely, began to become known.
“Wow…”
“Oh…”
Aren and Alfredo were surprised as they watched users visiting the village.
Just yesterday, only a few users came, but now the line was long.
“Hey! No cutting in line!”
“I heard the food here is really delicious?”
“There’s even a fullness boost. Hurry up and eat then go hunting.”
“Why is the restaurant inside so small? How long do we have to wait…?”
The restaurant level was low.
No matter how spacious Aren made the interior, it couldn’t accommodate so many people.
“What’s going on?”
“I asked around and people said they came after hearing rumors.”
“Rumors?”
“Yes. It seems the stew here became well-known among strangers.”
Aren nodded.
He made the restaurant and tasted the potato stew. It was definitely delicious.
‘But rumored…’
Community?
Aren checked the Illusion community to see the rumors about his village.
Reviews about the restaurant were posted.
-Found a great restaurant north of Lete! It’s super tasty there.
-It’s crazy good. There’s a fullness buff so you don’t have to worry about fullness after eating this.
-The potatoes are so good lol. Only 300 silver? Even if it were 1 gold, not a waste at all.
-Illusion food was weird, but this place feels special. What’s different??
‘Are the other restaurants really bad?’
Aren hadn’t tried other foods because bread was more cost-effective.
But the rumors were not just about the restaurant.
-There’s also a new clothing store in this village. It’s amazing. Check the options.
One user posted a piece of clothing bought in the village.
[Comfortable Casualwear]
Grade: C
Description: Casual wear made for the wearer’s comfort.
Feels like your mind relaxes just wearing it.
Usage Requirement: Level 5 or above.
Durability: Indestructible.
Option: Defense +1%
Movement speed +1%
-“Wow… This really hits users’ needs.”
-“And you can wear it under armor? Ultimate practicality.”
-“Is this good or just clothes?”
“’Casualwear’ is a fashion item.”
“How is that different from clothes?”
“Different. This fashion item can be layered under regular clothes. So you get the option effects from both the clothes and this item. That’s why people rave about it.”
Early efficient item (survival+movement), great for hunting/exploration/work.
I personally was waiting for this kind of practical clothing.
Really understands users’ needs. Who made it?
The abandoned village’s clothing store. Made by hidden peace users.
Hope the admins see this? Gotta buy before nerfed lol.
I just put it on and I feel faster. Even 1% feels like a big deal lol.
Casualwear had only been regarded as a fashion item before.
Just decoration, with no real effect.
But in the abandoned village’s clothing store, casualwear had actual option effects.
Options like defense and movement speed that directly improved combat efficiency.
Performance boost that came free!
Something unimaginable until now.
As the rumor spread, users lined up to go to the abandoned village one by one.
Clothes with options?
“I have to buy this.”
Everyone said that.
Users who came after hearing the rumor lined up in front of the clothing store.
Aren nodded when he saw it.
‘So this is how it works…’
“But why are there options on casualwear?”
“That’s thanks to you, Village Chief.”
“Me?”
“Yes. You personally built the village and the clothing store, didn’t you?”
“Ah!”
Only then did Aren remember the hidden option in the clothing store.
[Sells clothing with special options.]
It must have been because of this.
Thanks to this, casualwear that normally wouldn’t have options now had them.
“So that’s why?”
“Seems like it.”
“Wow…”
“There are so many people. Still, that means more taxes to collect, which is good.”
If the restaurant and clothing store earn a lot, Arlen’s collected taxes would increase too.
A win-win situation.
“Village Chief, wouldn’t it be better to set taxes? Isn’t it 0% now?”
“That’s right.”
Arlen opened the village management window.
[Village Management]
Village Chief: Arlen
Village Chief’s House LV. 1
Tax: 0% [Configurable]
Number of residents: 34
Number of visitors: 211
[Special Note]
Many strangers are gathering, making residents a bit uneasy.
The number of visitors had increased.
211 visitors.
Looking at the community, it seemed to increase more.
“Configure taxes.”
[Starting tax configuration.]
[Please set the amount of tax to collect.]
[0~100%]
“You need to be careful with tax settings. If set too high, resident dissatisfaction will increase.”
“Hmm… what’s appropriate?”
“Considering the village scale now, about 5% should be enough.”
“5% huh…”
“The number of residents is small, and the village just started. That should be appropriate.”
Arlen nodded.
‘I don’t think that’s bad.’
Taxes should be relatively low.
Arlen understood the emptiness felt when taxes disappear mysteriously every payday.
Since he wasn’t well-versed in such matters, he trusted Alfredo’s advice.
“Okay. Set it to 5%.”
[You set the tax to 5%.]
[Residents show little objection.]
[Resident dissatisfaction rises 3%.]
[Resident satisfaction drops 3%.]
[Rumors spread that the village has low taxes, increasing chances of immigrants arriving.]
After finishing tax settings, Aren was making furniture to list at the auction.
Then,
“Village Chief.”
Someone came.
“Is that you, Clue?”
It was Clue.
Clue was one of the staff working at the restaurant Arlen built.
The restaurant had hired a chef and two serving staff.
“How’s the restaurant?”
“It’s over. They already closed, everyone left.”
“Is that so? Good job. But why?”
“Um, could you help me with something?”
Aren tilted his head as Clue explained what happened in the restaurant.
“So… many people left because they got tired of waiting?”
“Yes! The restaurant is narrow, and many left because of the long wait. It’s so…”
Clue clenched her fists tightly.
“It’s a waste! That’s all money!! So, isn’t there anything we can do?”
Ding!
[Quest ‘Clue’s Worry’ has been created.]
[Clue’s Worry]
Grade: D
Description: Clue thinks it’s a shame that customers leave the restaurant tired of waiting.
Success Condition: Solve Clue’s worry.
Success Reward: Experience points, satisfaction rise.
Failure Penalty: Dissatisfaction rise.
A quest was created.
Aren rubbed his chin.
Was there a way?
‘If more customers come, I can collect more taxes, right? So…’
“Ah.”
At that moment, a good idea popped into Aren’s head.
‘I think this will work.’
“Sigh… not eating again today?”
Cedric was wandering in front of the restaurant again without getting a bowl of potato stew.
The line was still long, and this was his third failed attempt.
‘What kind of jobs are these people that they can queue daily like this?’
The now familiar savory aroma of potato stew tortured his hungry stomach.
He tried to turn away, but—
Then,
[Takeout now available!
Sorry the restaurant is small!
Takeout system for busy customers launched!
Pre-order and we’ll pack your food! (Heads up!!)]
One sign changed everything.
“…Really? Is this for real?”
Cedric immediately placed an order.
He took the potato stew in hand, climbed a hill behind the village, and settled down.
When he opened the lid, a savory potato smell spread.
He thought he would never forget the moment he lifted his spoon.
‘Wow…’
The hill breeze cooled the bowl.
His shoulders relaxed with the first spoonful.
“Is this… really game food…?”
Takeout was fine.
No, it was better.
Eating this dish in peace among the quiet scenery, without being disturbed, was true “healing.”
“…Thank you for the meal.”
He bowed his head, showing a small token of gratitude.
To the potatoes, the chef, and this game.
And several days passed.
[You can now collect rent and taxes.]
[Would you like to collect rent and taxes?]
The sweet season of collecting rent and taxes had come.
