This is Shadyna, sitting in a corner and totally depressed.

Depressed, I'm telling you~!

_ Fensen: is acting weird again~

_ Poltea: Uhm… Does it hurt anywhere? Do you need the bathroom?

That's what it looks like to you?!

After being denied of my one and only dream of owning a fish stall, I am at a loss for what to do with my (virtual) life. It's like training your whole life to become a heroic warrior to defeat the demon king just for the bastard to abdicate for retirement and setup a democracy. Although the hot succubus advisor or the beautiful vampire boss will probably give you a new plot considering how chaotic the situation is, that doesn't make it any less shocking upon receiving the news.

While I was pondering the pros and cons of a democratic demonic army, our lead bartender walks to us with a leather bound book, and right behind her, the lead delivery girl pushing a wheelbarrow full of cargo boxes.

_ Linny: , do you nee… Should I begin running?

For some reason, she starts saying something incomprehensible the moment I look at her?!

_ Falyn: What are you talking about Lin… Eh… Weren't and the ones who were attacked?

_ Poltea: Uhm… yes…

_ Falyn: Then why is owner looking like she's going to condemn a bishop to eternal damnation again?

*PAWNCH*

_ Linny: Stop trying to get us killed.

Oooh~ A rising uppercut~ Wait, that's not the point! I appreciate Linny's considerations but her implied opinion of me hurts even more!

_ Shadyna: Listen! Hessy banned me from making a fish shop! Isn't that cruel?

_ Linny & Falyn: …Ah, that.

_ Shadyna: You know something about it?

_ Linny: Every team conducted a survey to see what kind of products our clients wanted to see. The answers differed for each team, obviously, except for a few…

Then she sends me a mail detailing some of the questionnaire and answers.

Q: What kind of food do you want to see sold in a settlement? A: The usual menu. No fish please.

Q: What kind of food do you NOT want to see sold in a settlement? A: Fish.

Q: Is there anything in particular that you do not want to see in a settlement? A: Fishy stuff.

Q: Is there anything else you want to note for our settlers? A: Please do not sell fish.

So on and so forth.

For a survey that didn't mention a single fin in it, our patrons sure are complaining a lot about fish!

_ Linny: According to , roughly 30% of the respondents pleaded not to have fish to some extent. It would be disastrous if we ask them directly after that, so Hessy proposed that we just avoid selling fish in the village altogether.

_ Shadyna: Selling fish in a food market is that damaging for our reputation?!

_ Linny: Well…

_ Falyn: Not exactly. The disaster is when you find out and get angry.

…Hold on, I AM the disaster?!

*PAWNCH*

_ Linny: Which part of "stop trying to get us killed" do you not understand?!

Rising uppercut, go~!

And Linny, we need to talk about subtlety and how even the best intentions can still hurt.

No, seriously, I'm just going to talk. Why are you backing away like those maidens in questionable media?!

…

_ Shadyna: Now then, what should I do about the stall…?

is staring at me in disbelief as I say that. Probably has something to do with Linny sitting in the corner and crying over there huh.

For the record, I did nothing but talk to her, okay? It's not my fault that the sheltered lady has no tact and is now in shock after being called out.

_ Fensen: Ehm… Linny, are you alright…?

_ Linny: I-I'm fine. Noble daughters during medieval times were mostly raised to be political pawns. Their education usually included etiquette, manners, diplomacy, seduction, sometimes even stewardship and intrigue. Empathy and compassion were not high priority, however, leading to situations such as the infamous "Let them eat cake" at times…

What the heck are you teaching to my apprentices, you busty maniac~! And aren't you a bartender…? Unless you are implying that you are actually a medieval noblewoman in real life, which is another problem entirely.

_ Fensen: …Etiquette? What's that? A type of bread?

Sounds like a very tough bread, if it was one. Well, they are elementary schoolers so that answer is within expectations~

_ Poltea: *Sweatdrops* It's probably a bit too early for you…

You are at the same age though?!

And Linny, stop that orz. Are you seriously having a culture shock just because young girls do not have a princely fiancé by default and need a random passing by heroine to annul their engagements these days?!

_ Falyn: Etiquette aside, can't you just sell dumplings as always? It's not as if the patrons could recognize the fishy taste after [Transmutation] anyway.

As expected of Linny's close friend, she completely ignores the bartender's antics!

doesn't mean that our customers have no sense of taste by the way. Or at least, I sure hope she doesn’t. Because [Transmutation] completely changes the ingredient materials without leaving any history or resemblance of the old items, it's literally impossible to trace the origin of the product, is what she's implying.

That being said, I'm pretty sure Hessy banned transmuting meat for vegan meals in addition to plant monsters' meat. We ARE an ethical business after all~

_ Shadyna: To be honest, I want to keep dumpling sale exclusive to our cafeteria, and sell something new here.

_ Falyn: Oh? Why's that?

_ Shadyna: Diversity is one, but the main reason is my dumplings' reputation among players. Do you keep track of the customers who buy dumplings in your shop?

_ Falyn: Hmm… buys four 12-pack boxes pretty much daily. sometimes orders deliveries whenever the tavern is too busy. The weirdoes from Unity of Mankind and Blue Blood Federation also come every once in a while to prepare for big bosses. The rest are random one-off guildmasters or managers whose purchases are nothing of note. Despite the high price, your dumplings are a very famous product among guilds as "the ultimate solution" when they need something deader than dead.

Oof. I know she doesn't mean anything bad, but that assessment really hurts my pacifist pride! Show some restraints, you murderous marauders in adventurer disguise!

_ Shadyna: Un, that's the problem. If I sell dumplings here, the only customers will be rich guildmasters because everyone thinks they are too expensive! Since this will be my own shop, I want it to be something delicious and affordable for everyone, from starting newbies to longtime veterans.

Ehm… ? Why are you patting my head? I didn't say anything weird, did I?

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

_ Falyn (Guild): Owner is too precious. Can I take her home?

Wait wut.

_ Hessy (Guild): We ARE at home. Don't tell me you are slacking off somewhere.

That's the part you are worried about?!

_ Thelia (Guild): Again? You really need to drop that habit, .

_ Helen (Guild): Isn't it fine? That's how joined after all~

_ Falyn (Guild): Yup. She's being jealous.

_ Thelia (Guild): I am busy here. Don't make me go back to murder your butts!

Kidnapper, murderer, womanizer. Yes, mister guard, those dangerous women right there!

____________

Captain log, galactic year X, month Y, day Z

The main base has been wiped out, and it was the last place for teleportation too. Without it, the chance of escaping this endless loop of pain and suffering is… low, to put it mildly.

This is the tenth cycle, which will probably end the same way as the previous ones. No matter the location, the predators are able to catch up within minutes. By that time, the only thing left to do is to attack them in a blaze of glory, because outrunning the monsters is impossible.

Needless to say, violence is a fruitless endeavor. Wouldn't have to run otherwise. While the repeated deaths don't do much aside from slightly decreasing armor's durability (not that said armor did much against the cause of these deaths per se), they are quite a burden on anyone's mind. That tends to happen when one is in a semi-groundhog situation in a virtual reality taking place in their own dream.

At least the psychopathic murderer causing this is a beauty… Such delusional thought may or may not be yet another symptom of his current mental state. That is why, he has to make this journal in an effort to maintain what's left of his sanity.

Even though he is not a captain, or in a spaceship for that matter. In fact, his sanity was most likely beyond saving the moment he needed to switch genre!

_ ???: Found you.

_ Captain (?): AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!

The surrounding people give him the side-eyes as he runs along the street, screaming. Easy for them to do when they are not being hunted by bow-wielding and crossbow-wielding maniacs who are so OP, they didn't even bother to shoot from a distance!

The last time he tried to blend into the crowd to cut off pursuit, it actually made things worse because the predators could jump onto the buildings and watch him struggle in the sea of people instead. They even landed in front of him the moment he entered a sparser area and said "You're late" for his trouble. The audacity!

To avoid receiving such humiliation again, the captain (?) runs into a small alley. He has no delusion of running faster than the enemy, but there's hope that the high walls and tight turns can throw them off even just for a little bit.

…And it's a dead end.

Worse still, there are two hooded gangster-like people conspiring something. He's no upstanding citizen for the record, but dear Sateri these guys are definitely up to no good!

_ Gangster (?): …Yo yo yo, welcome back dear viewers! This is your favorite CSF PK streamer speaking!

…Maybe his sanity will hold for longer if he turns back. Right now.

____________

_ Falyn: With that out of the way, let us return to the original topic…

Why are you acting like you just finished house chores? Do you have a daily quota of trolling or something…?

_ Falyn: If you don't have a product in mind right now, why not coordinate with and ? They are your neighbors after all.

Oh, right~ Actually, the two are already working with each other, and their stalls are actually one bigger stall according to the layout. Not sure what they planned to sell though.

_ Shadyna: Good idea, ! , what kind of shop are you two making?

_ Poltea: U-uhm… We are going to make a lunchbox shop… or something like that…

_ Shadyna: …Eh? Lunchbox?

_ Poltea: I-is it no good after all…?

_ Shadyna: Ah, don't worry, I'm not saying that you should or shouldn't do it. I was just thinking that you would pick something along the lines of a candy shop or a bakery…

Mainly , but I will keep that to myself. doesn't seem like she has strong preference for anything to begin with…

_ Fensen: I know right~? I said I wanted to make delicious breads, but rejected the idea!

_ Poltea: *Sighs* Because you would eat the breads yourself…

_ Fensen: *Pouts* I would not! *Mumbles* Probably…

So it's an actual possibility huh… Guess that's why she agreed not to do it, even if she doesn't want to admit it.

_ Poltea: I-In any case, that's why we decided to make lunchboxes.

_ Fensen: Ehehe~ I make lunchboxes for both of us in real life so it won't be a problem!

Bragging, aren't ya~?

…Hold on, did just say that she makes lunchboxes in real life? Not gonna lie, I was under the impression that would be the one to cook out of the two…

As if reading my thoughts, the timid girl lets out a wry smile.

_ Poltea: Yes, she is better than me when it comes to cooking. It is a bit frustrating, to be honest.

_ Fensen: Eeeeehhh~ You already help me in everything else. Cooking for you every day is the least I can do to return the favor.

_ Poltea: F-! Don't talk about that!!!

…Seriously? From the sounds of it, I don't think is a bad cook, just that the energetic girl who usually acts on impulse is a superior chef. And what the heck is this newlywed relationship!!!

_ Fensen: Why? It's not like anyo… Ow ow ow! I'm sorry! I yield! I yield! Your shield hurts even if you only use one of them!!!

Right down to the domestic violence too. Children of the modern generation, scary~

_ Falyn: …We need to step up our game.

_ Linny: Agreed. Those two are going to get married before we get Hessy to a hotel at this rate.

Yup, I have no idea what they are talking about whatsoever~! Also, welcome back, Linny.

_ Falyn: By the way, what do you think about their business plan? Wouldn't lunchboxes in a market be out of place?

_ Linny: You have to think in degenerates' terms. It's handmade lunchboxes, from two cute little sisters who work in earnest for the sake of their customers. That's a killing combo right there. Some advertising in the cafeteria and it has the potential to be one of our best-selling limited products on the menu.

_ Falyn: *Sighs* We are not getting away from those pi… patrons even in this place, aren't we? I agree with the limited production. The value is going to drop if we help them cook the meals.

Out of all topics to be discussed today, I definitely did not expect mass-produced handmade limited edition lunchboxes to be one of them… On a not really related note, we need a brand name because that was a mouthful to say!

_ Linny: But that is for tomorrow's business meeting. , I remembered something that might help you.

_ Shadyna: Help me, as in choosing what kind of stall to make?

_ Linny: Yes. You probably are not aware of it, but there is something that has been the talk among rare item collectors recently. A delicacy of mysterious origin, on par with our meals sold in the cafeteria. While its stats are nothing special for a capped [Cooking] player, the taste is. All attempts to replicate it have been failures.

Huh… Is she saying that it's a new material? Just like how materials influence the shape and look of equipment even if most of that is dictated by the crafter, ingredients decide how delicious the food will be once it's out of the oven. For example, you need at least some fruits or honey to make a sweet meal. That's the most probable reason why a meal cannot be replicated.

That being said, this game is not a [Cooking] simulator. You don't have to pick a flower that only grows on some (destroyed) glacier and extract its dew just for morning tea. The core flavors can be acquired from materials of all levels, and the higher quality of food mostly depends on the chefs' attributes and [Cooking], according to my guild members. Even then, the differences are like meat bought from local market and world-renowned imported meat for high-class billionaires. It tastes better, but it's still meat at the end of the day.

Which makes this whole topic more puzzling to me. Pretty sure our teahouse has categorized all the possible materials and their effects in [Cooking] already, including the suspicious dark meats at the edge of the world. Forget about a new unidentified item, we are talking about a material type that somehow completely went under our radar, and possibly the whole player base's too.

_ Falyn: Ah, I was asked to make that one too. The salty and sweet taste was easy, but the way it shattered into small pieces when bitten then melted in my mouth was impossible to make. It was delicious, admittedly.

_ Shadyna: Heh~ So that's what it tastes like? Sounds like a good snack.

_ Falyn: It is. The portion is small, and players in possession of it cannot afford to lose it, so they usually take a bite then put it back into inventory. That way, the food item is not consumed and restored to its original state. It also doesn’t give buff when used that way, though I doubt anyone with it would care.

Half-eaten foods are restored in inventory huh… I suppose it is one way to avoid dealing with ambiguity and unintentional side effects. A meal that doesn't deplete but cannot fill your stomach however… Yup, it's cursed food alright~

_ Linny: *Nods* Correct. That's how the items in circulation are used mostly. It is like those tunes which are good by themselves, but sometimes they got stuck in your head and you can't stop thinking about them. Unlike music, there is a very limited amount in the market and no way to create more.

_ Shadyna: Un, I get what you are saying. What does it have to do with my stall though?

_ Linny: Just my gut feeling. Investigations point to the tournament for one, and I found this while clearing the furniture pile you left on the bridge the other day.

Really sorry about that~ I was in a hurry for the caravan and uh… didn't have time to organize the cargoes. I planned to clean up after the trip, honest!

I don't remember having dangerous addictive food in my research storage boxes by the way. At the very least, nothing that fits the description as far as I'm aware.

_ Linny: Here it is. You wouldn't happen to know where to find it, would you?

[Edible Rock Candy], says the item's description.

…Un, I don't know where to find it.

I can craft it though.

____________

In a small alley where absolutely no crime takes place, a professional huntress is preparing to take yet another life.

More like the same life for the tenth time, but one has better things to worry about than such minor details, like this hooded weirdo who decided to jump in between her and her prey for example.

_ Inerin: Out of the way. I have business with that guy.

_ Hood: Now now, I'm afraid I cannot do that.

He sure is saying confident words for someone who is shaking more than a bartender preparing a drink. Being one of the more considerate members in the waitress corps, can't help playing along with the brave soul, even if just for a little bit.

_ Inerin: Oh? Do you think you can stop me then?

_ Hood: Yes, yes I do. In fact, let's see how you deal with THIS!

With the expression of a protagonist having acquired the ultimate anti-last-boss weapon, or prepared to go out in a blaze of glory, or both, the hooded man takes a step forward.

*Whomp*

Then prostrates himself on the ground.

_ Hood: Please accept our deepest apology for my acquaintance's transgression! He is new to the game and did not know any better when he crossed your path. I know it is no excuse for whatever he has done, but please have it in your boundless mercy to forgive him this one time and give him another chance at life!

_ Inerin: …What.

Was all she could say about that performance.

--- Topic: Bounty Hunter Headquarter thread ---

…

## JigglingPouch

Thank you for all the help with the bounty. The situation has been resolved and we will pay out the rest of the bounty today.

According to our hit squad, PKers these days are really something: [Link]

@Heaven Piercer: Please mark the bounty as completed.

##

## Bountiful Hunter

It's over already? (´･ω･`) It was easy money for us too…

Also, wut. (ﾟдﾟ)

##

## Fire mage of Justice

Wut, indeed o.O

But that apology did stop her, didn't it?

##

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