Chapter 1440

<1440th Chapter> 1440. Dark Moon

[Selected Dark Moon.]

[Commencing the game.]

“…….”

I was blankly sitting on the couch.

I was sure I had taken a nap for about an hour, but it felt like I had woken up after sleeping for dozens of hours.

I checked the time and got up. I had things to do today. After putting on my coat, I went downstairs.

I bumped into a silver-haired maid carrying a laundry basket. She smiled brightly when she saw me, looking absolutely stunning in her maid uniform.

“You’re going out, aren’t you? When will you return? I’ll prepare your meal accordingly.”

“I’ll be back before 7.”

Looking at the laundry basket she carried, I felt a bit awkward. My underwear was tangled with hers inside. Especially hers—many of them were designed in ways that made me question if they were even considered underwear.

“I’ll prepare dinner accordingly. Have a safe trip.”

Stepping outside, I hopped onto a carriage heading to District R. Upon arriving at District R, I started walking through the streets.

District R was bustling. It was a busy area frequented by the middle and lower classes. I rented a shop located in one of its alleys here.

‘Can’t help it. Shops in R District are so popular that listings rarely come up.’

The shop I stumbled upon was outrageously expensive, far beyond what I could afford. The only reasonable option was this one tucked away in an alley.

The shop was under construction. The hired workers were remodeling the interior.

This shop, located deep within the alley, was small—barely 5~6 pyeong in size. Once separated into a kitchen and dining area, it would feel even smaller.

‘It’s my shop.’

Looking at the shop filled me with overwhelming emotion.

All preparations were completed swiftly. Thanks to the broker greasing palms with officials, the commercial permit was issued without delay.

Though the sign hadn’t been hung yet, I already had a name for the shop.

‘Yuyu Chicken.’

Yu from Eugene. Yu from Yuria. Combined, Yuyu Chicken.

“If it weren’t for Yuria, I wouldn’t have been able to start this chicken business.”

The most crucial part of the chicken business is, of course, the taste of the chicken. But I lacked any culinary talent. The first time I tried making fried chicken using a basic recipe, it tasted like garbage. After several more attempts, all I managed to do was waste chickens.

That’s when Yuria stepped in.

“Thanks to Yuria’s help, I was able to perfect the chicken.”

Not just fried chicken, but also spicy chicken. I plan to push these two as my main offerings.

“All I need to do in this chicken shop is fry the chicken according to the method Yuria taught me.”

Fry the chicken for the exact time and temperature Yuria instructed. If I follow those steps well, it’ll turn out fine. For now, Yuria has agreed to handle the brining and sauce preparation.

Even though I understand the methods for brining and seasoning, I can’t execute them properly. Even when I tried mimicking exactly what she did, the taste always turned out slightly different.

“I can’t leave everything to Maid Yuria. This is my business, after all.”

I don’t intend to just mouth gratitude. By selling chicken…


I plan to pay her a portion of the profits.

“Still, I need Yuria’s help until the factory is fully operational.”

I wasn’t satisfied with this little shop. My goal was a franchise.

“The taste has to be identical across all stores. For that, a factory is essential. We need to produce marinated chicken and sauces at the factory to supply our franchise stores.”

If this business succeeds, I’ll make a fortune. And that fortune will make me a noble.

A rosy future seemed to stretch out before my eyes.

“You’re opening a chicken place?”

Just as I was about to drift into thought, someone called out to me.

It was a middle-aged man in a yellowed t-shirt. I knew him.

Jon Clark. The man who ran the Fish & Chips shop across from mine. He approached me with a smile. He smelled of oil. It was unpleasant.

“Yes. A chicken place.”

“Fried food… Are you directly competing with my store?”

“…You sell Fish & Chips, I sell chicken. They don’t overlap. What’s the problem?”

“It’s all fried food. Ah, just kidding. Don’t worry too much. Do you know why?”

“Why?”

“People in Neo London don’t like chicken.”

Jon smirked. His teeth were made of steel – not cyborg-level but reinforced with iron. In this world, that’s nothing special.

“…”

“Well, good luck. You’ve got maybe three months, tops.”

He turned and went back to his shop.

The citizens of Neo London don’t like chicken. That was true. Did I not do market research before opening a chicken place?

“The chicken here is too greasy and tasteless. People prefer Fish & Chips.”

But the Korean-style chicken I intend to make and sell is something Neo London hasn’t seen yet.

“Korean-style chicken will sell. I’m 100% sure.”

After handing out drinks to the construction workers, I walked around. There were no shops nearby that could threaten mine.

After finishing a job dealing with some hooligans, I went to the labor office and told them I wouldn’t be taking any jobs for a while.

“Huh? That’s too bad. Your reputation was really growing. Lately, lots of people have been trying to find out more about you.”

Rose picked up a cigarette with her right mechanical arm and placed it in her mouth. Her black hair slid down over her shoulder. Below her neck was a black rose tattoo, and beneath that, between the unbuttoned shirt, a hint of cleavage showed. I forced myself to look away and focus on her face.

“You say you’re already famous even though you haven’t been active long?”

“You’re an efficient Grade 5 magician. You’ve completed twelve tasks without a single failure. You’re starting to build a name for yourself.”

“All easy jobs.”

“Not from other people’s perspectives. And speak properly. Dealing with the Palace Family wasn’t easy for you either, was it?”

“…”

I recalled the past. The Palace Family was a mafia organization from outside. They were tough to handle.

“You’re becoming well-known as a freelance magician. If you keep taking jobs and making deals like this… in one or two years, you could become a major player.”

“I said it again. I won’t take any jobs for now.”

“Because of that chicken place? Was it Yuria Chicken? That’s such an odd move. I don’t get it. Why would a Grade 5 magician bother with a chicken place?”

“This is just the start. I’ll expand the business… Eventually, I’ll make it to the center.”

“Aiming high, aren’t you? So you want to become a noble?”

“Because there are things you can do when you’re a noble.”

“Wouldn’t this work be better then? Taking jobs could make you a noble faster since you’re a Grade 5 magician.”

“Even if I became a noble that way, the other nobles would look down on me. In the end…”


“I’m just a noble born from a mercenary background who only has magic.”

“You just need to get stronger.”

“In order to be properly respected in noble society, I’d probably need to reach 7th rank. Do you think I can make it to 8th rank?”

“…”

Rose closed her mouth.

In this world, those of 6th rank are considered superhuman. That doesn’t mean they’re rare— if you look hard enough, you can easily find someone of 6th rank. But anything above 7th rank is truly rare. Nobody talks lightly about reaching the 7th rank.

“…Well, fine. Since your resolve is so firm, I won’t stop you. You’re saying you’ll never take commissions anymore?”

“I’ll take them when I’m short on money or when I have free time. And while we’re at it… it’d be nice if the rewards for the commissions were related to magic. Elixirs wouldn’t be bad either.”

“Okay. I’ll call you if there’s work.”

She shoved all the papers on her desk into a shredder. They were commission slips.

With that, the conversation ended and she stood up from her seat.

“Hold on. I’ve been wondering… why are you running a fried chicken place? You’re a 5th rank magician.”

I know this world well. But that knowledge was limited to game mechanics. I don’t know much about how this world actually functions.

Magicians too. In this world, magicians are more famous as researchers. There’s no real reason for magicians to handle combat in advanced civilizations.

‘But the only magicians I know are battle magicians. Combat was the most important thing in the game after all.’

I also don’t know much about how people here live, what food they eat, or what clothes they wear regularly.

With my lack of basic common sense, my options for business were limited. And out of those, the one with the highest chance of success seemed to be fried chicken.

“Because I like chicken.”

“Is that so? When your shop opens, I’ll come by with some chicken for a proper evaluation.”

“I guess I’ve gained a regular customer.”

“Hmph, just saying, my taste buds are tougher than you think.”

I know.

Her true identity is a noble.

But is her palate really tougher than mine?

“One coupon per chicken. Collect ten coupons and get a free chicken. Be sure to collect them.”

“Coupon or not, if it tastes bad, I’ll spit it out right there.”

New Shop Opening!

Finally, the day has come.

I arrived at the store early in the morning and looked around. It was my first time running a shop, so my heart was pounding. After finishing a thorough cleaning yesterday and making sure the store was spotless, I unnecessarily cleaned it again, put on a hygiene cap and apron, and went inside.

The fridge was stocked with pre-marinated chicken and secret seasoning sauce made by Yuria. I poured golden cooking oil into the fryer and raised the temperature. I also checked the drinks like cola and beer.

No issues.

9:30 AM.

Thirty minutes before opening, someone came in as the door opened. A young woman with brown hair.

Karel Orising.

The part-timer I hired for today. She’ll be handling the front of the house. Once the finances stabilize, I’ll hire someone for the kitchen.

“Am I late?”

“You’re right on time. Just put on this apron.”

I handed her an apron that read “Yuria Chicken.” She put it on where she stood and waited blankly. We still had thirty minutes until opening.

“…Would you like to try some chicken?”

“A-Ah, no. Chicken for breakfast is a bit…”

Her voice rejecting it reminded me once again that the perception of chicken wasn’t good here.

I chuckled quietly. She probably thought this was going to be a sweet gig with no customers. But soon, she’ll be busier than ever.

‘Does she think I’m paying her more than minimum wage for nothing?’

I chatted casually with her and opened the shop exactly at 10:00 AM.

We also held a 20% discount event for the opening.