Chapter 8: A New Service (3)

The E-rank party Han Yu-jin belonged to was scheduled to raid the 10th floor of the Black Tower tomorrow morning.

However, the atmosphere at their hideout was sunken in gloom, with no hint of excitement or tension regarding tomorrow’s raid to be found.

It was because they had failed to recruit an essential buffer.

“It’s so hard to challenge the 10th floor. To think we can’t find a buffer when the raid is tomorrow.”

In the boss battles that appeared in the Tower, the presence of a buffer was indispensable.

Especially given the nature of the Kobold Queen, who summoned large numbers of other Kobolds, it would be difficult to deal with the escorts and defeat the Queen within the time limit without buffs.

“What about the healer we recruited in advance? We already paid a significant deposit. Should we just cancel?”

“If we cancel, the loss will be too great. We saved money on spare equipment to pay that down payment.”

“Who doesn’t know that? But if we suggest challenging it without a buffer ready, do you think the healer will agree?”

“Is there really no way?”

As she listened in silence, Han Yu-jin recalled a post she had seen in the community.

It was a post about receiving a buff after eating a Sweet Potato Pie, a limited item sold at the Rocket Store.

Although it was an item no longer for sale, she accessed the Rocket Store through the system, wondering if there might be a similar product.

While there were no food items available, Han Yu-jin read the description for the newly added Halfling chef Finch’s catering service and spoke up cautiously.

“Everyone, how about we try the new service at the Rocket Store?”

“A catering service?”

“What’s that?”

“You remember the commotion over the Sweet Potato Pie the day before yesterday, right?”

“Of course I know.”

“Yu-jin, you showed it to us.”

“Now that you mention it, there were rumors about getting a buff after eating that pie.”

“Yes, exactly! That Sweet Potato Pie was Halfling cuisine. And now, that very Halfling chef provides a direct catering service!”

Kang Min-jun, finally understanding, spoke as if he couldn’t believe it.

“So, the Halfling chef personally prepares buff-granting dishes?”

“Yes! But the price is 50,000 coins.”

“50,000?”

“That’s a bit expensive.”

“Are there any reviews in the community?”

“No… since it’s a new service that just opened, there aren’t any reviews yet.”

“What do you think, Leader?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to the leader and tanker, Kang Min-jun.

“I think it’s not a bad idea. If you think of it as a replacement for a buffer, the price isn’t that high.”

“True. Better to try something than to lose the deposit for nothing.”

“Well, we don’t have any other options anyway. Let’s do it. So, how should we tell the healer?”

“Let’s tell them on the day of. We’ll say we’re challenging it only if the buffs work after eating.”

In the end, they pooled their coins together and booked the catering service for the next morning.

***

The next day.

When the appointed time arrived and they reached the entrance of the 10th floor, the healer they had recruited was already there waiting.

“Where is the buffer?”

Kang Min-jun explained calmly.

“You know the Rocket Store that’s been a hot topic lately, right?”

“Yes. But why bring that up suddenly? Don’t tell me you’re trying to hire that Barbarian mercenary instead of a buffer?”

“I’m a member of the Rocket Store, and that was a temporary service that has already ended.”

“Then what? What are you trying to say?”

“A new service has been established. Halfling catering.”

“You know about the Sweet Potato Pie, right?”

“I’ve heard of it. People say it tastes great and rumors claim you get buffs from the food… Wait, no way?”

“Yes. That ‘no way’ is correct.”

“But hasn’t it not been verified yet? I’m curious about the food, but if the buff effects are below expectations, I won’t participate in the challenge. You understand that much, right?”

The party members nodded, satisfied with that compromise.

At the scheduled time, a flash of light sparkled in the middle of the clearing.

As everyone squinted their eyes, the small Halfling chef Finch stood gallantly where the light had faded.

Behind him, Halfling staff members wearing sanitary hats and aprons were transporting cooking stations.

“Greetings, humans! I am Finch, a chef belonging to the Rocket Store. I have prepared special dishes to help you ahead of your boss raid today!”

As Finch greeted them energetically, the party members stood with their mouths agape.

“I was skeptical after seeing the Barbarian reviews, but…”

“Halflings really exist.”

“Monsters exist, so why be surprised by a Halfling?”

The healer also lowered their guard and looked at Finch with eyes full of curiosity.

“We will begin preparations, so please take a seat.”

Finch’s staff began setting out chairs and tables for the buffet.

Finch skillfully set up the cooking station and began taking out ingredients.

“I’ll help you!”

Feeling that the sight of the short Halfling staff moving small tables and chairs was cute, Han Yu-jin stepped forward, and the other party members began to help as well.

Kang Min-jun spoke as he set down a chair and table.

“It looks like these aren’t just for Halflings. They aren’t small; they’re the perfect size for us to use.”

Finch replied with a smile.

“Yes. The Rocket Store prepared them for the convenience of our customers.”

Once the table setting was finished, everyone sat around and marveled.

“Wow! It really feels like an outdoor buffet!”

“It’s got a great vibe.”

Meanwhile, Finch quickly brought out the first dish.

“Now! First, as an appetizer, a salad with bacon made from Brutal Boar.”

It looked like an ordinary salad.

But the moment they took a bite, everyone’s eyes widened.

“It’s delicious! How can a simple salad taste this good?”

“The reviews about the Sweet Potato Pie weren’t exaggerating.”

Then, a system message appeared above everyone’s heads.

[The effect of consuming Brutal Boar Bacon Salad has been applied.]

– Agility increases by +1 permanently. (Limit 1 time)

– Agility increases by 5% for the next 6 hours.

“The reviews were real! Permanent stat increases!”

“Everyone, eat slowly!”

“Don’t forget we’re right before a raid challenge. If you eat too much, you’ll get sluggish.”

“What does it matter? The buff lasts for 6 hours. We can just rest a bit and then challenge it.”

“You’re already fully intent on stuffing yourself? But did you forget? We have our guest healer here.”

“I’m fine with it too. It’s not like opportunities to eat food like this come around often.”

“That settles it then. Shall we loosen our belts and eat comfortably?”

Listening to the conversation behind him, Finch gave a satisfied smile and prepared the next dish.

The main dish of this buffet, a creamy potato and seafood gratin, emitted warm steam, and a whole roasted Brutal Boar was being grilled to a delicious golden brown.

In addition, various other Halfling dishes that looked mouth-watering were laid out.

“Now, please eat freely! These are special dishes meant to assist you in your raid today.”

The party members marveled as they filled their plates with food.

The moment they tasted the food, they were all shocked once again.

“This is better than most buffers.”

“To think we get such powerful buffs just by eating such delicious food!”

Finch said with a satisfied smile.

For dessert, there was the sweet Sweet Potato Pie and juice made from specialty products personally grown by the Halflings.

“Now that you’ve eaten well, use your strength to defeat the Kobold Queen. I will be rooting for your successful raid.”

“Thank you so much.”

“I’ll definitely call for you next time. Definitely!”

“Yes. I will be waiting.”

“Yu-jin, calling for the buffet was a great move.”

“I had a great experience thanks to this as well.”

Backed by powerful buffs, Han Yu-jin’s party successfully defeated the Kobold Queen, setting a great record.

***

My eyes opened even before the alarm went off.

It seemed my strong will not to oversleep and miss an important spectacle was at work.

For breakfast, I simply toasted some bread and turned on the hologram immediately.

“Let’s see. Should they have started by now?”

On the screen, I saw a typical party gathered at the entrance of the 10th floor, along with Finch and his staff skillfully setting up an outdoor cooking station in front of them.

Once the party helped with the setup, preparations were quickly completed, and in the meantime, Finch served the salad as an appetizer.

Even if it was prepared in advance, his speed was incredible.

“Just how much cooking experience does he have?”

Afterward, I watched Finch’s cooking as if watching a sports match.

Finch skillfully roasted a large whole Brutal Boar and prepared the creamy potato and seafood gratin.

The sound of the sizzling meat and the bubbling gratin felt vivid even through the hologram.

“Wow. That looks really delicious. I’m jealous.”

I marveled unconsciously, swallowing my saliva.

Aria, who was beside me, also watched the food on the screen with sparkling eyes and asked.

“Guardian. What is this, and what is that? It looks really delicious!”

I handed Aria a piece of freshly toasted bread and said.

“It’s called toast. And on the screen is food being made by Finch, the Halfling chef.”

Aria took the bread I tore off and nibbled on it with both hands, her eyes fixed back on the hologram.

“I thought spirits only ate dew. You eat well.”

“I only need mana, but eating delicious things makes me feel good and gives me strength.”

Aria replied with a bright smile.

While the party members enjoyed the main dish, Finch was working on warming up the pre-prepared pies.

“Knowing how it tastes makes it scarier. Seeing those pies makes me want to eat one too.”

“Have you tried them too, Guardian?”

“Just the pie. Seeing it makes me want it again.”

“Since he belongs to the Rocket Store, can’t you just ask him?”

“Even so, I have to provide compensation. But Finch’s appearance fee is so high that I wouldn’t dare.”

At my words, Aria pouted and spoke.

“Now I’m curious about Halfling food too! I want to try it next time!”

Seeing her make such a cute expression made me think that I should definitely feed Aria some delicious food someday.

Soon, after finishing their grand breakfast, the party began their assault on the Kobold Queen.

Having received powerful buffs from the food, everyone challenged the 10th floor with confidence and without hesitation.

I watched the scene with a satisfied smile.

“That went well. Thank goodness.”

They cheered after defeating the Kobold Queen.

“I hope they spread the word.”

Only then will it make money for me.

After the mission observation ended, a system message appeared before my eyes.

[Notification: Finch’s first dispatch mission has been successfully completed!]
[You have earned 15,000 coins as compensation.]
[Reward: You have obtained 1 Designated Reroll Ticket.]

A Designated Reroll Ticket.

I was just wondering how to use one.

▶ Designated Reroll Ticket
: Allows you to select specific keywords to increase the probability of a request matching those conditions appearing.

I wonder what keywords I should choose and how.

Of course, I had to select a request to reroll first, so I activated the Dimensional Exchange skill and checked the updated request list.

Only two requests were currently updated.

[Grapes of the Shade Purchase]
Requester: Halfling Survival Chef O’Donnell
Content: I need quite a bit of Grapes of the Shade this time. Without them, the tart just doesn’t taste right. If you help me, I’ll give you three tarts I’ve made along with the related recipe.
Compensation: 3 Grapes of the Shade Tarts and O’Donnell’s Grapes of the Shade Tart Recipe.

Following the Sweet Potato Pie, now it was a Grape Tart.

Since O’Donnell’s desserts had already proven their popularity, this was excluded from the reroll list.

“Next is…? What is this?”

I couldn’t understand the meaning of what the other request was asking for.

“What’s wrong?”

“A strange request came in.”

“What is it?”

Aria, who had been eating jam on her remaining toast, couldn’t contain her curiosity and flew over to my side.

[???]
Requester: Slime
Content: Gurgle… Floop… Gurgle… Gurgle…
Compensation: ???

“Do you know what this is, Aria?”

“No. Not at all.”

I stared at the incomprehensible request for a long time.

I can’t understand what it wants me to give at all.

It seems like something is needed for communication.

Regardless, no tutorial popped up, and for now, it didn’t seem like there was anything more I could do.

“Even if there is a way, it’s a dud for now.”

Without any further hesitation, I decided to use the Designated Reroll Ticket here.

[Please select up to 3 keywords.]

The keywords I was curious about appeared.

“There are a huge number of types.”

Starting from item types to racial traits, preferred items, vulnerable areas, specialized fields, reward types, and more.

The categories alone were substantial.

“The search function isn’t just for show.”

Anyway, I wonder what I should choose to make it worth the effort.

Then, I suddenly remembered a product that had received an exceptionally hot reaction in the community.

It was the review about Kargar, the Barbarian mercenary.

– If you use a mercenary, it helps get to the 5th floor. When are they coming back?

– Add a cheaper line this time. 10,000 coins is too much of a burden.

– For real, looking at the reviews, Kargar was strong enough to solo the 9th floor, so it seems like overkill. I wish there were cheaper mercenaries too.

– I was satisfied though. If mercenaries like that appear, many people will surely achieve Condition 2.

– Day 1 of praying for Rocket Store to introduce cost-effective mercenaries.

People were writing many opinions saying they wished there were cheaper mercenaries than the Barbarian.

Someone who could replace the Barbarian.

I immediately began selecting keywords.

[Combat-specialized, Mercenary, Low cost]

What kind of otherworlder would appear for the next request?

I checked the new request with a racing heart.