Chapter 06
“Gah!”
Before I could even finish reading the status window, my vision spun. At the same time, the back of my head throbbed, and a splitting headache crashed over me.
I had never experienced a headache this severe in my life. On top of that, my body went completely limp.
I couldn’t even fully grasp what was happening.
‘I think I saw something about energy and debuffs…’
As if on cue, another system window appeared.
***
When energy falls below a certain percentage, debuffs will activate.
(Debuffs stack.)
When energy falls below 5%:
- Severe fatigue and intense headaches occur.
When energy falls below 3%:
- You cannot properly support your body.
- 50% chance of a nosebleed.
When energy falls below 1%:
- You can no longer move your body.
- 20% chance of fainting.
Debuffs can be removed through sleep (07:59:99).
They can also be weakened with an energy drink (once per day).
Improper sleep does not restore energy.
Perfect sleep grants bonus energy.
If energy depletion (below 5%) occurs four times in one week, debuffs will be strengthened.
In severe cases, this may lead to death. Please take caution.
***
“…This is insane.”
A curse slipped out of my mouth.
You should at least explain there are debuffs, you crazy game!
“Haa…”
I let out a long breath and carefully read the system window. Just reading the debuff explanation made me rub my forehead.
“This is driving me crazy.”
So, to summarize—
When energy drops below 5%, debuffs start.
Debuffs can be cleared by properly sleeping for eight hours.
Energy drinks can reduce debuffs, but they have a usage limit.
The game really works like real life…
But the most terrifying part was still there.
‘In severe cases… death.’
…I can’t even joke about trading stamina for lifespan anymore.
I let out a dry laugh.
‘So even in a game, they’re telling me to take care of my health?’
It was hidden behind the scary word “debuff,” but in the end, it was saying I’d be fine if I slept eight hours.
‘Something I could never manage in real life…
Even though the conditions are strict…’
I closed my eyes tightly, then opened them.
“Fine. Whatever.”
They’re not telling me not to sleep at all. Eight hours is generous, if anything.
“Then… should I just sleep properly for once?”
‘Though looking at this place… it’ll probably just be “sleeping,” not resting…’
I looked around for somewhere suitable to lie down.
Then—
“Hugh, where are you?”
I realized Hugh was nowhere to be seen.
“I feel like he said he was going somewhere earlier…”
I must have been too busy serving customers to remember properly.
‘I should at least tell Hugh I’m going to sleep.’
That way, if something happens later, he’ll know what to do.
Just as I started looking around seriously—
A sharp sound hit my ears, and I nearly collapsed.
Beep!
***
Warning!
!! Energy remaining: 3%!!
- Debuff activated.
Please sleep immediately (07:59:99).
…Are you kidding me?
Is energy really supposed to drop this fast?
The frustration reached the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t voice it.
Thud!
My body fell straight to the floor.
My whole body ached as if I had been beaten. The headache that had started earlier only grew worse, making it hard to think clearly.
A metallic smell rose—maybe a nosebleed—and my stomach churned.
My vision blurred, my ears rang, and all sounds stretched out as if underwater.
In short, total chaos.
‘This won’t work. I need to sleep, now.’
I had to survive first!
Even if this was a game where my life was on the line, I couldn’t die so pathetically before even properly starting the café.
Dying from energy depletion? No way.
I forced myself to take a deep breath and sprawled flat on the floor.
Broken wooden fragments poked painfully into my back, but I shut my eyes tight.
This was the moment to use my special skill—falling asleep the moment my head hit something.
Sleep slowly crept in, and my consciousness grew hazy.
That was when—
“Hey. If you sleep in a place like this, people will mistake you for a corpse.
Ah… are you already one?”
A strange voice spoke.
Even through the muffled sounds around me, that unfamiliar voice was clear.
‘Who is this? Who dares walk into my café like this? Even if it’s a construction site!’
‘I should show them the fear of the law…’
But I couldn’t.
I couldn’t open my eyes. And my condition was getting worse.
At this rate, I was going to pass out right in front of some random stranger.
‘…This is bad.’
Cold sweat ran down my back.
‘Or maybe I should endure a little longer and make him leave.
I’ll pretend to be a corpse.’
If he wanted to report it, he’d have to leave the café. Then I could use every last bit of strength to run upstairs.
I was forming this desperate plan when—
“Hmm. Not a corpse. So just unconscious?”
But you still seem aware.
The voice grew clearer, right beside me. The stranger paused briefly, then spoke again.
“Hey, can you hear me? I think I can help you. I happen to have a potion with me.
If you want help, nod your head once. If you don’t trust me, that’s fine.”
No. I don’t trust you.
They say the only things you can trust in this world are yourself and money.
Not even family.
So there was no way I’d accept help from a stranger.
I stayed completely still, pretending not to hear.
Then he continued.
“Ah, now that I think about it, I don’t have time to wait. I need to ask you something.
So I’ll help you first.”
That really doesn’t suit my personality.
He muttered softly, then pressed something cold against my lips.
Even without opening my eyes, I could tell he was being extremely careless.
“It’s an expensive potion, so don’t waste it. Drink all of it.”
With that, liquid seeped between my lips.
I didn’t even get a chance to refuse.
But the taste…
It was familiar.
‘…Hot Six?’
Was this potion actually an energy drink?
Well, it was already in my mouth.
I swallowed what little liquid I could.
Then—
You have used an Energy Potion and recovered 50% energy.
Current Energy: 55%
The pain throughout my body and the splitting headache vanished instantly.
My eyes flew open.
“Gasp!”
I breathed heavily, like someone who had just returned from the underworld.
Then I rolled my eyes to see the stranger who had given me the potion.
And there he was.
Crouched right next to me, calmly observing.
Shimmering silver hair tinted by the rising sun.
Cold blue eyes.
Sharp, refined features that matched his cool presence.
A man wearing a navy cloak, looking as though he had been roughly carved from a massive glacier, gazed down at me.
His expression was utterly indifferent.
“……”
Just making eye contact felt overwhelming.
Not in a bad way.
‘It’s like… we’re on completely different levels.’
And more importantly, I had never seen an NPC with this kind of appearance in the game screenshots.
Neither Leila Token nor this man.
…What is going on?
As I stared at him silently, he stood up.
“Since you’re awake, stop staring and get up.”
“Oh.”
“And before that, no greeting? Something like ‘thank you for helping me,’ or ‘how should I pay for the potion.’”
“…Huh?”
I blinked as I stood up and dusted off my clothes.
Of course I was going to say thank you.
But pay for the potion? After you forced it on me?
Seeing my confused look, he smiled smoothly.
“Oh, don’t worry. Since I forced you to drink it, I’ll just take gold. I’m very strict about money matters.
Let’s say… 200 gold.”
He held up two fingers and shrugged.
“No free help,” he added casually.
‘Right. There’s no such thing as free in this world.’
Honestly, this kind of person was easier to deal with.
I smiled lightly and took out 200 gold from my pouch.
It hurt to hand over money I had earned through such hardship.
“Thank you for helping me. Even though it wasn’t the help I wanted, I’ll pay for the potion. Fair dealings are important.”
“Good mindset.”
He accepted the gold with a satisfied smile.
‘My precious money…’
I clenched my teeth behind a smile, feeling my pouch grow light again.
“By the way, who are you? I’m Leila Token. The owner of this café.”
“Oh. Then are you Basha’s granddaughter?”
“You know me?”
He stared at me for a moment, then chuckled.
“Of course. You’re exactly who I came to see.”
“…What?”
