[System]: You’ve thoroughly watered the Sprout Pot. The Sprout Pot beams with a smile.
[System]: Estimated harvest time (in 124 days)
It had been a while since the pot was last watered. Afterward, it was moved to the window to bask in sunlight. The day remained overcast, but the plant still seemed to enjoy it, its leaves quivering faintly.
Out in the hallway, red liquid covered the floor—either kimchi juice spilled by Kimchi Artisan, or perhaps his own blood. The corridor suddenly took on the eerie vibe of a horror movie opening, which made one user so frightened they fainted on the spot. After catching and stopping the stars spinning over the unconscious user’s head, I stepped into the chapel.
Friday the 13th, afternoon.
“What do you think the next quest will be?”
“No clue.”
It wasn’t like there hadn’t been any spoilers. A user who had participated as an alpha tester had posted a spoiler video on their social media, finishing the quest in 30 seconds. But ever since then, the quests had taken unpredictable turns, repeatedly diverging from the spoiled content.
So now, the surviving users didn’t trust any spoilers anymore.
‘Which is probably why that one looks like that.’
A user walked past, decked out in a ridiculous array of items as if bracing for whatever the next quest might be. A fox tail, a dog nose mask, roller skates… and a butterfly net.
‘Not all of that is useless, though.’
I also had a pair of roller skates in my bag—cheaply rented from the plaza. No matter what the next quest involved, mobility was a must.
“Since we’re all gathered, should we throw out some praise for the Murderer? Long live Gaksital!!”
“Long live Gaksital!! Justice always wins!!”
The general atmosphere was giddy. It was a quest block day, plus news had just broken that Kimchi Artisan had been murdered by the Murderer. Spirits were high.
“Oh? It’s Woo-rim! Woo-rim, over here!!”
“You did what I told you, right?”
“Yep, stuffed myself full.”
Bori Noona patted her plump stomach as she spoke.
At that exact moment—
[The Survival Quest, <Maze of the Feast>, is about to begin.
‘The Last Chef’ has come to Shadow Castle to serve a meal to its people. However, his pot can only accommodate a maximum of 12 servings.
Thus, Shadow Castle seeks to fairly select 12 players who will get a taste of his cuisine.
Find the hidden Last Supper Hall, eat the ‘Ultimate Dish’, and restore your energy.
Remaining slots: 0/12]
Users groaned as the quest notification popped up.
“Ugh… what is this?! If it only serves 12, couldn’t he just make four batches?”
“Genius idea?”
It was a bit different from what had happened in the alpha server. Back then, the quest was <Garden Escape>—a mission where players had to find an exit while trapped in a maze, completely cut off from the outside. Because they couldn’t eat until they escaped, players had been advised to fill up beforehand. But this unexpected twist had everyone flustered.
“Woo-rim, don’t tell me… when you said to eat up, did you mean like, ‘even if you die, at least you’ll look good as a ghost’?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Still, it was a bit embarrassing. Who’d have thought The Last Chef would be the one to host the quest…
And yet, I knew perfectly well why The Last Chef had come to the castle.
‘Because I…’
That very morning, I’d eaten his dish and headed straight to the chapel for work.
The Lord’s Special Chef had been specially invited by the steward to help replenish Kessler’s recent lack of energy.
I re-read the system message I’d received earlier today:
Congratulations! You are the first player to taste the Ultimate Dish.
—Happiness +50
—Stamina +50
—Strength +50
—Fullness cap increased from 100 to 110
—A potbelly has appeared. Agility decreases until digestion is complete.
—Your standard for taste has changed.
[System]: The baby fox is so happy it begins to dance.
After eating the ‘Ultimate Diamond Pudding,’ my body involuntarily broke into a belly-shaking dance.
Watching me contentedly, Kessler had lifted me onto the table, turning the dining setup into a baby fox dance stage. Once the performance ended, he gave my belly a kiss…
Let’s leave the reminiscing at that.
“Hm, I can already smell something delicious.”
Bori Noona was sniffing through the fox nose strapped over her face.
‘Still, it’s nothing compared to a real fox nose.’
To better communicate with users during quests, I often joined in human form. But given the situation, it seemed wiser to transform into a fox. Maybe it was finally time to “Fox-Out” to Bori Noona.
While I was hesitating, a dense fog began to surge in rapidly from a distance.
“Pro! Pro!”
“Gah! Da-hoon! Stop looking for Woo-rim and just grab my hand!”
It happened in an instant. The billowing fog came rolling in and split us apart.
There was a brief silence… and when the fog finally cleared, the corridor was completely empty.
[You have been confined to a space.
Current Location: ‘Yeo Woo-rim’s Castle’
This space is for you alone. No other players are present.
Hurry and locate the ‘Last Supper Hall’ to secure one of the 12 limited spots.
If you fail to make it in time, you will vanish along with this space.]
‘Right… this is how it worked before.’
I’d forgotten for a moment, distracted by other things. had been set up the same way—players were given isolated personal spaces, then had to gather at a designated point on a first-come, first-served basis.
Feeling an unusually cold breeze, I looked out the window below. Countless castles stretched endlessly above and below me, so far I couldn’t even guess where they ended. It felt like I was trapped in a middle floor of an apartment tower.
A different dimension.
Even if it looked like the same space, just like how people on the first and second floors can’t meet without stairs, each of us had been assigned our own layer.
Only the ‘Last Supper Hall’ functioned as a convergence point—an integrated space that all players could access. I had to find it quickly.
I rummaged through his bag, pulling out a ‘Compass Piece Repaired by a Novice Technician’ and a ‘Repaired Map’, then strapped on my roller skates. While my eyesight was sharper than my athletic ability, I could at least handle skating decently well.
“Ah, that’s more like it.”
I glided smoothly, and the mobility was excellent.
I set my current position and was just about to place the compass on the map to get my bearings when—
“…What the hell?”
The compass spun wildly. And the map refused to load a clear location.
[System]: Unable to determine the location of this region.
[System]: Unable to determine the direction in this region.
Damn it. The curse of low-tier items.
“I don’t even deserve to be one of the twelve.”
I wanted to win, but my preparations were way too weak. Had I let my guard down too much?
To make matters worse, another alert popped up.
[Remaining spots: 1/12]
‘Already?’
Back in the chapel, there had been about forty people. The rest were scattered throughout the castle.
It now seemed unlikely that the first floor, where the chapel was, held the final destination.
Many users were probably checking Kessler’s room first. But that couldn’t be it—he suffered from narcolepsy. There’s no way he’d offer up his room.
In that case…
I raced ahead, peeking inside the empty chapel just in case.
Where could there be a space capable of serving twelve people at once? …Too many options.
‘Should I search from the first floor upward, or prioritize based on likelihood?’
In a race for limited spots, prioritizing was the obvious strategy. I moved up a floor and started searching the second level.
Waiting area? Nope. Small chapel? Nope. Large storeroom? Nope. The room with the biggest brazier? Still nope…
[Remaining spots: 2/12]
Another spot had been taken. Whether that player had incredible luck or figured out a winning strategy—I had no way of knowing, and it was frustrating.
“Deactivate human form.”
[System]: Skill ‘Fox Who Smells’ activated.
[System]: Skill ‘Component Analysis’ activated.
I wasn’t as fast in fox form, but I dashed down the third-floor hallway on all fours.
I skipped the corridor with Kessler’s room.
‘If I could just catch a whiff of food…’
Sniff sniff. I tried to catch the scent of food. But the hallway was already thick with the overlapping stench of kimchi and blood—it was impossible to make anything out.
[System]: To the baby fox, the smell is painfully spicy. You are thrown into chaos.
@_@ Nyang…
This is driving me insane. As if things weren’t already bad enough, the stinging stench of fermented kimchi overwhelmed me and knocked me flat on the ground.
That’s when someone picked me up.
Kessler?
—Clack, clack clack-clack!
It was one of the skeletons patrolling the castle. As if performing some sort of folk remedy, it pressed its chin against my forehead with a thunk, and suddenly, clarity snapped back into my head with a sharp jolt.
Nyang!!
[Remaining spots: 3/12]
It felt like I’d just been hit with a shot of adrenaline—I was ready to sprint again. I was prepared to throw open every door if I had to. But just then…
—Clack!
The skeleton that had caught my attention pointed toward the opposite hallway. Then it placed a finger to its mouth and made a hissing sound, like air being let out.
Shhh. Shhhhhh.
Nyang nyang!
I meowed my thanks to the skeleton that had sneakily given me a hint and immediately bolted in that direction. Looking around, I wondered, Is this the place? But… there was nothing here.
Not even a scent.
—Ah, baby fox!
That’s when a six-legged ghost came slithering awkwardly down the stairs, spotted me, and skittered forward to shove its face close to mine.
Nyaaang nyang!
Nyang nyang!!
We faced off, me puffing up and yowling back at it. Right then, another skeleton approached and scooped me up. It carried me out to the terrace and strapped me into a baby fox-sized parachute.
—Clack clack, no accidents, be careful-careful.
Nyang nyang!!
—Flap-flap, Fox.
I meowed my thanks to the skeleton that helped me. The next moment, now parachute-equipped, I drifted gently downward.
[You have landed in the Last Supper Hall, in the Shadow Castle’s rear garden.
‘The Last Chef’ will prepare a premium fruit pudding just for you.]
Uh… did I make it?
“The baby fox is here!”
Beyond my landing zone, KebabGudasaai clapped like I was some fabulous fox. Bori Noona, seated at the most prominent spot at the table, stood up, came over, and unbuckled my safety harness.
[Quest Complete.
Remaining spots: 7/12]
