Chapter 37: Unwanted Family Reunion
Donape started his Sunday morning with a heavy, miserable expression.
’How the hell did I not feel a single drop of euphoria after making that much money in one night? Has this shitty System corrupted my personality that badly?! Ah, screw this... thinking about it is giving me a headache,’ he grumbled internally.
Not only was he worried he was turning into an unfeeling weirdo, but he was also deeply annoyed that his sleep had been cut short.
’An insane business schedule paired with compulsory outdoor quests... what a torturous combination. Why couldn’t I get a normal, sleek, cool System like those overpowered webnovel protagonists? Damn it!’
His mind was the only safe space left to vent freely. If he dared say any of this out loud, the System would inevitably hear it, take offense, and target him—an innocent man—with its completely unreasonable wrath.
Before the System could pop up and start complaining, Donape was already dragging his feet toward the front door to unlock it.
’Crazy. This business schedule is an absolute mess. Weekends are supposed to be for sleeping in, but this place opens at six in the morning,’ he complained inwardly, scratching his stomach as he shuffled into the shop’s bathroom to brush his teeth.
Amidst that, a notification appeared in front of his face.
Ding!
[Novice Quest: Time to Show Off]
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Objective: Demonstrate your marksmanship skills in the real world so humanity realizes that the VR Capsule can turn anyone into an expert! Challenge two local shooting ranges and reign over their members or break their leaderboards.
Status: 2/2 Shooting Ranges, COMPLETED.
[One Bullet] [Point Blank]
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Reward: [The Host’s dividend share increased to 3% per transaction within the shop] [Beverage: Obsidian Roast Coffee] [Food: Spicy Meat Buns]
Reading through the full note, Donape’s eyes instantly lit up.
"A pay raise and new menu items? Now this is a proper reward."
[That’s why, work hard, mortal. The more you serve the Great me, the ampler you get the blessing.]
"Yes, O great System. Your grace is beyond measure," Donape said flatly. His eyes were narrowed and void of any emotion while toothpaste foam dribbled down his chin.
After a quick brush and wash, he went to the counter and checked the digital screen above for two new products. He was too lazy to open the system interface.
[AVAILABLE PRODUCTS]
...
...
- Food & Beverage (No Takeaway!):
[Origins Fountain Water] – 15 BC (Limit: 1 per day)
[Spirit-Clearing Dew] – 75 BC (Limit: 1 per day)
[Obsidian Roast Coffee] — 50 BC (Limit: 1 per day)
[Spicy Meat Buns] — 35 BC (Limit: 2 per day)
Donape smiled wryly. Even with the new additions, the menu still looked pitifully small compared to a standard internet cafe.
Recalling the product information the System had deposited into his mind, he quickly digested the mechanics of his two new offerings.
Unlike the Spirit-Clearing Dew—which actively cured severe mental fatigue and cognitive strain—the Obsidian Roast Coffee induced a state of deep mental stillness. It suppressed jittery nerves, stabilized the heart rate, and made entering a quiet, hyper-focused state completely effortless.
The Spicy Meat Buns, on the other hand, shared a sensation similar to that of the Origins Fountain Water. Both delivered a signature comforting warmth throughout the body upon consumption. But where the water silently opened meridians and built energy affinity, the spicy buns focused entirely on the physical frame—easing muscle stiffness and rapidly boosting stamina and endurance.
’Still...’ Donape sighed to himself. ’While these items are amazing, the price tags are definitely going to be a hurdle for regular customers. Well, whatever. The pricing isn’t within my authority anyway.’
While ordinary patrons might hesitate to shell out that much money, he couldn’t care less. For him, every single one of these items was entirely free. Consuming them daily was a shortcut that would easily push his real-world body into the realm of superhumans and true martial artists.
Just as Donape was enjoying his free Obsidian Roast Coffee and Spicy Meat Buns—relaxing at the counter without a care in the world—the shop door chimed.
"Morning, Shopkeeper," Irene greeted, walking in with Mira—just the two of them.
They both stopped in their tracks at the sight of Donape lounging comfortably, taking a bite of a steaming bun before sipping his coffee.
"Ugh, that smells incredible... What are you eating and drinking, Shopkeeper?" Mira asked, sniffing the rich aroma in the air.
Donape didn’t bother answering. He simply kept eating, thoroughly enjoying his peaceful Sunday morning.
Irene twitched in annoyance, but her own stomach gave a betraying growl. They had rushed to Origins VR Cafe far too early and hadn’t eaten breakfast yet.
Before she could lash out at his cold treatment, Donape casually gestured upward with his chin.
Irene and Mira followed his gaze to the digital display board above the counter.
"New food and drinks?!" Irene blurted in surprise. As the person who complained most about the cafe’s pitifully limited menu, seeing actual additions left her stunned.
"Spicy Meat Buns for thirty-five BC?!" Mira shouted, rubbing her eyes in disbelief. "Coffee for fifty?! Shopkeeper, are you serious? I can get a full breakfast set down the street for twenty BC! Is this coffee brewed with pure gold leaf?"
Donape paused his meal, glancing at the two of them like they were uncultured country bumpkins.
"I know the price is high," Donape spoke flatly. "But given the quality, it’s hardly excessive. Besides, do you really have to react like you’re dirt poor? Tone it down a notch, will you?"
"You scummy shopkeeper!" Irene snapped back, her cheeks flushing red. "How dare you insult your customers like that? We aren’t rich!"
"You aren’t poor, either," Donape shot back instantly.
Even without knowing their exact backgrounds, Donape knew the regular patrons who frequented his shop weren’t begging on street corners.
After all, Origins VR Cafe was the ultimate luxury establishment—a place only people who could casually toss away 100 BC a day could afford to visit.
Meanwhile, his sharp counter shut them up completely, making them swallow whatever complaints they had prepared. His comment had hit the nail right on the head.
Both of them hailed from solid, middle-class families in the Kingdom of Britannia. True middle class—not the kind squeezed right above poverty, but the comfortable tier that ordinary folks regarded as comfortably wealthy.
Irene and Mira exchanged glances before nodding in unison.
"We’ll take two Obsidian Roast Coffees and two Spicy Meat Buns," Irene said.
Donape stood up from his counter seat and opened one of the tall units behind him, pulling out two hot sets.
"Huh? Why are you pulling those out of a refrigerator? Are you going to heat the buns and coffee? But I don’t see a microwave or a hot plate anywhere..." Irene asked, looking thoroughly confused.
"No. All food and beverage products in this shop are ready to consume," Donape explained, pointing to two identical-looking units side by side. "This unit is for hot and warm items, while the one next to it keeps cold drinks and food chilled."
"Huh? A refrigerator for hot food and drinks? What kind of ridiculous appliance is that?!" Irene protested loudly. "What company would even make something so absurd? Don’t you need cold temperatures to preserve food? Keeping things hot is just going to spoil the food and drinks!"
"This shop operates on magic, so you don’t need to worry about basic science," Donape replied flatly, placing two steaming sets of Obsidian Roast Coffee and Spicy Meat Buns onto the counter. "If the food turns out to be spoiled or gives you food poisoning, I’ll refund you tenfold and pay your medical bills."
In truth, every product in the shop was generated directly by the System. Standard real-world logic regarding expiration dates, bacterial growth, or spoiled food simply didn’t apply here.
The shop was programmed to serve its customers absolute perfection—nothing less.
"Fine. But if I get a stomachache, I’m taking your whole shop to court," Irene muttered, pulling out her card to make the payment.
Despite her grumbling, the irresistible, savory aroma wafting from the paper wrapping was almost unbearable. Unwilling to wait a second longer, Irene picked up a Spicy Meat Bun and took a generous bite.
CRUNCH.
The thin, delicate outer crust gave way to a plush, steaming interior filled with minced meat and rich, spicy broth. An explosion of flavor coated her palate, but before she could even chew, a wave of soothing, radiant heat erupted from the food, spreading rapidly down her throat and straight into her body.
"Ah...!" Irene gasped softly, her eyelids fluttering shut.
Seeing Irene’s reaction, Mira gathered her courage and took a bite of her own meat bun. Her eyes snapped wide open the instant the flavor hit her tongue.
"Mmm! This is delicious!" Mira exclaimed. Curiosity piqued, she picked up her Obsidian Roast Coffee and took a careful sip.
Where the meat bun had been a fiery, comforting surge of physical restoration, the dark coffee was liquid serenity. The moment it hit her tongue, a crisp, cooling stillness washed over her mind. The constant, noisy chatter of her daily worries and stress quieted down instantly. Her vision felt sharper, her mind intensely clear, and her racing heartbeat slowed to a deep, perfectly tranquil rhythm.
While the two young women were immersed in their peaceful Sunday morning bliss, two figures from the third generation of the Baek Family crossed paths right outside the shop front.
"Baek Si-Yeon?! What the hell are you doing here?!" Ji-Hong barked, his face flushing red with sudden rage.
"None of your business," Si-Yeon replied coldly.