It's already been three days. So much has happened, and yet here I am, stuck in this whirlwind of chaos. The Underworld, the Exorcist world, the New Underworld—everything's a tangled mess. And now the dungeon is summoning me again.
[I thought you already forgot]
I can't even begin to process it. Do I really have to go back? Can I just ignore the call, skip the dungeon, and hide out somewhere?
[Are you that tired?]
Maybe I could just run away to my cat cafe, forget all this madness. I'd just make some tea, curl up with my cats, and pretend none of this ever happened. It sounds so simple, so peaceful.
[What a Life? Don't forget you're doing this to level up]
But of course, that's impossible. I'm already in too deep. The moment I think I'm free, they pull me back. There's no escaping this mess. It's like every part of my life is being pulled into some twisted game, and I'm nothing but a pawn.
[Wow..... So Dramatic]
I run my fingers through my hair, staring out the window. The world outside seems normal, almost too normal, but it feels wrong. I can't focus on anything for too long without the nagging feeling that I'm about to be dragged into something I can't control.
So, what do I do now? The dungeon is calling again, and no matter how much I wish it would stop, I know I can't ignore it. Not now.
[Do you want to see all your golds?]
No, I can't hide. I can't escape.
But I wish I could.
I stand there, staring at the notification flashing in front of me. My eyes sting from lack of sleep, and I run a hand through my hair. It's getting harder to breathe, the weight of the task ahead is pressing down on me.
[Dungeon Summon: Task Assigned]
Objective: Make three creatures sign a contract with you.
I glance around, my eyes flicking from the glowing notification to the dark, shifting landscape around me. The dungeon is alive, breathing, waiting. And me? I'm just trying to survive long enough to finish the task.
I can already feel the pressure building. The first step is always the hardest, but there's no time to hesitate. I have to find the creatures. I have to convince them, somehow, to sign the contract. The details are vague, the consequences unclear—but I know better than to question it. Not when failure means something worse than just a setback.
I take a deep breath, brace myself, and step into the unknown. There's no turning back. Not now.
[Did You forget that those creatures hate you?]
Shut up, Nero.
The air in the Underworld Food Resto was thick with tension. Grathok and the other creatures were still simmering with anger, their voices rising and falling in heated discussion. I stood there, my arms crossed, trying to keep my composure while the manager's gaze weighed heavily on me.
"I know what you're thinking," I began, my voice steady, though I could feel the intensity of the moment. "You think I'm here to buy your loyalty with tokens, to throw around gold like it's some magic trick that'll make you bow to me. But I know that loyalty can't be bought."
Grathok's eyes narrowed, his fists clenched, but I could see a flicker of curiosity behind the anger. "Then why the hell are you here, half-demon? You want to show us your wealth and then what? Hope we'll all just fall in line?"
I met his gaze, unwavering. "No. I'm not here to buy anything. I'm here to offer a choice. I'll pay off your debts. All of them. But I'm not asking for your loyalty in return. That's not something I can buy. What I am offering is a chance. You can choose to stay and give me your loyalty if you think I deserve it. Or you can walk away. But there's no force. Only a decision."
The room fell silent, all eyes on me now. Grathok's expression softened slightly, though his distrust was still palpable. "You expect us to just… decide?"
"Yes." I shrugged, my tone casual but firm. "That's the way it works here, right? I pay off your debts, but you choose whether you want to stay and work with me, or leave. No strings attached. But if you stay, you'll sign a contract. It'll be temporary at first, just until we can figure out if you want to commit for the long term."
"And if we don't sign?" one of the other creatures asked, his voice low and skeptical.
"Then you leave. No hard feelings," I replied. "I'm not forcing anyone to stay. I'm offering you the choice, and if you decide I'm not worth your time, then leave and never look back."
There was a pause. I could see that some of the creatures were torn, glancing at each other, debating. Grathok stepped forward, his imposing frame casting a shadow over me.
"You think just because you throw gold at us, we'll come crawling to you?" he growled. "You think you can just make everything right with money?"
I shook my head. "No. Money doesn't fix everything, Grathok. But it buys time, and time can be more valuable than any amount of gold. What I'm offering is time for you to make that choice. You can walk away now, or you can give me a shot."
The manager watched us closely, not interfering but clearly intrigued by the unfolding drama. The creatures were still wary, but I could see some of them beginning to soften. Maybe they were starting to realize that I wasn't the type of person who made empty promises.
Finally, Grathok spoke again, his voice quieter but still full of skepticism. "What's in it for you, then? Why would you give us this chance? What's your angle?"
"My angle?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow. "My angle is simple: I want to make this place better. If I'm going to pay off your debts, I'm not doing it to buy your loyalty. I'm doing it because I believe you're all valuable. But loyalty has to be earned, not bought. I'm asking you to decide if I'm worth it."
A long silence stretched between us. It was clear that the creatures were considering my words, and I could see the gears turning in their minds. Grathok was the first to break the silence.
"Alright. Fine," he said, his voice gruff. "We'll sign your damn temporary contracts. But don't think this means we're on your side. You've still got to prove yourself."
I nodded. "I'll prove myself. And when you're ready, you can decide if you want to make it permanent."
One by one, the other creatures grudgingly agreed, signing the temporary contracts. There were no cheers, no applause—just a quiet, mutual understanding. They were still wary, still not fully convinced, but they were willing to give me a chance.
As the last creature signed, I turned to the manager. "There. They're all signed up. Temporary, as promised."
The manager gave a nod of approval, though his eyes held a certain wariness. "You've got their contracts, but don't think that makes you their leader. Not yet."
"I'm not looking for leadership," I said, my voice firm. "I'm looking for respect. And that has to be earned."
[Fast Food Resto Dungeon Completed!]
[Congratulations Host Lu Shian, You completed your first dungeon!]
[Going back to your world 00:10:00]
The creatures filed out, their expressions mixed—some with lingering distrust, others with tentative curiosity. I had made my move, and now it was up to them to decide if they wanted to stick with me.
As the last of them disappeared into the shadows of the resto, I turned back to the manager. "So, what's next?"
He studied me for a moment before replying, his tone more thoughtful than before. "Now, we wait. You've made your move, but the real test is yet to come. These creatures won't just follow you because you paid their debts. They'll watch you, see what you can do, and decide if you're worth their loyalty."
I exhaled slowly, the weight of what I had just done sinking in. I had made my offer, and now I had to prove that I was worth it. The stakes were higher than ever.
[Welcome back to the real world]
[Rank + ]
[Title Received: Wise Contractor]
[Fast Food Dungeon Master]
[Second Dungeon will open 7 days and 24:17:60 please be prepared]
[Dungeon destination: Sphynix Cat Cafe in New underworld]
"You mean!?"