As they walked through the capital, Liam eagerly guided Fainyx from one place to another.
"Look, look! They sell some trinkets here!"
"And over there—those skewers smells really good!"
Stalls lined the streets, filled with colorful items and the scent of freshly cooked food.
Fainyx quietly observed everything.
Even though he already knew this place from the game—
Seeing it in person was entirely different.
More vivid.
More alive.
Then suddenly—
Grr~
Liam froze.
Adam glanced at him.
"…Hungry?" he asked flatly.
Liam laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Ahaha… yeah…"
Then his eyes lit up.
"Oh! I remember!"
"There's this restaurant nearby—it's really famous!"
Adam narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…When did you go here?"
His tone turned colder.
Liam stiffened.
"I—I didn't! You're imagining things!"
Adam's gaze sharpened.
"Don't tell me…"
"…you went out without permission again?"
Liam began sweating.
"N-No! Of course not!"
Without waiting for further interrogation, he quickly grabbed Fainyx's hand.
"L-Let's go, Fainyx!"
Adam sighed.
Weinhart chuckled softly behind them.
"Hoho… Young Master Liam never changes."
They followed Liam through a quieter street—
And then stopped.
Fainyx froze.
In front of them stood a restaurant unlike anything else in this world.
The structure was strange.
Clean lines. Wooden panels. Glass windows.
And above the entrance—
A sign.
Written in a language Fainyx knew too well.
"하늘불고기집" (Haneul Bulgogi House)
His breath hitched slightly.
Korean…?
Liam grinned.
"See? Weird, right?"
"I found this place while I was—uh…" he coughed, "…walking."
"But the food here is amazing!"
"There's even this long string food with black sauce—super good!"
Fainyx didn't respond.
But inside—
His thoughts were anything but calm.
This shouldn't exist here…
Even Adam looked intrigued.
"I've never seen architecture like this."
Weinhart simply observed quietly, though there was a faint glint of interest in his eyes.
They entered.
A soft chime echoed as the door opened.
Inside—
The atmosphere shifted.
Warm lighting.
Wooden tables.
A faint scent of grilled meat and spices.
And—
A girl approached them.
She wore a white apron and a bandana tied neatly around her head.
Then—
She bowed.
A proper Korean-style bow.
"Welcome to our humble shop."
Fainyx's eyes widened slightly.
She smiled politely.
"Will you be dining in or ordering takeout?"
"We'll dine in!" Liam answered quickly.
"Do you have seats available?"
"Of course," she replied, guiding them to a table.
As they sat down, Fainyx noticed something else.
A grill.
Built directly into the table.
Liam leaned forward excitedly.
"This is the best part!"
"You order raw meat and cook it yourself!"
"It's really delicious!"
The girl handed them menus.
"What would you like to order?"
Liam squinted at the menu.
"I'll have… bulgogi?"
"And… do-jang ji… jiga?"
"Two servings!"
The girl smiled gently.
"Bulgogi and doenjang jjigae. Two servings, correct?"
Liam nodded proudly.
"Yes!"
"And for the others?" she asked.
Adam glanced at the menu.
"…Do you have desserts?"
"We do," she replied.
"We have tteok, It's kinda like the most satisfying, bouncy, chewy bread you've ever had, but remove the bread-like texture and replace it with pure, steamed rice and then we also have bingsu, it's a shaved ice dessert."
She briefly explained them.
Adam nodded.
"I'll try both."
"Understood! Please wait a moment."
She bowed again and left.
Adam looked around thoughtfully.
Then his gaze shifted—
To Fainyx.
Who was still staring at where the girl had been.
"…You're curious about this place?" Adam asked.
Fainyx nodded.
After a moment, he took out his writing pad and wrote:
[I want to go to the restroom.]
Liam smiled.
"I'll go with you—"
Fainyx quickly shook his head.
Then wrote again:
[No need.]
An employee who was nearby and he was stopped by Fainyx.
[where can I use the restroom?]
The employee was startled at first then he smiled.
"The restroom is on the second floor. I can guide you."
Fainyx nodded and stood.
Liam looked slightly disappointed.
"…Be careful," he said.
Fainyx gave a small nod.
As he followed the employee upstairs—
His expression remained calm.
Unchanging.
But inside—
His thoughts were spiraling.
Korean language.
Korean customs.
Korean food.
This is not a coincidence.
Step Step Step.
Each step up the stairs felt heavier.
'Someone else is here.'
And for the first time since reincarnating—
Fainyx felt something unfamiliar.
Not fear.
Not excitement.
But anticipation.
'…Another reincarnator?'
Fainyx walked calmly behind the employee, his steps light and measured.
But inside—
His thoughts were anything but calm.
It's possible…
If I was reincarnated into a game…
Then there's no reason I should be the only one.
There could be others.
Reincarnators…
Or transmigrators…
They reached the second floor.
The hallway was quieter, more private.
Before entering the restroom, Fainyx took out his writing pad.
[Who is the owner of this establishment?]
The employee glanced at the note.
"The owner?" he repeated.
Then he smiled politely.
"He is currently out at the moment. He may return later."
Fainyx paused.
Then nodded.
He wrote again:
[Thank you.]
The employee bowed slightly and left.
Fainyx stepped inside the restroom.
The moment the door closed—
The air shifted.
His calm expression faded.
Just slightly.
'The owner is absent…'
That makes things easier.
He turned toward the mirror.
For a brief second—
He simply stared at himself.
A small child.
Fragile body.
Expressionless face.
But behind those eyes—
A mind that didn't belong here.
"…Let's confirm it."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
Something he never allowed outside.
Mana gathered quietly around him.
Not violently.
Not visibly.
Controlled.
Precise.
A faint ripple spread across his body.
Like heat distorting air—
His figure began to blur.
Then—
Fade.
Transparency.
Not complete invisibility—
But enough.
Light passed through him just enough to distort his presence.
To anyone else—
He would be nothing more than a passing illusion.
Fainyx looked down at his now faint, semi-transparent hands.
Still stable…
Good.
He stepped forward.
Then paused.
'If this really is another reincarnator…'
Then this place is more than just a restaurant.
Slowly—
He opened the restroom door.
And slipped out.
Silent.
Unseen.
The hallway stretched before him.
Below—
Voices. Movement. The faint sound of grilling meat.
Fainyx didn't head back.
Instead—
He moved in the opposite direction.
Toward the deeper part of the building.
Kitchen… office… storage…
Somewhere here…
His steps made no sound.
His presence left no trace.
But his eyes—
Sharp.
Searching.
Let's see…
Just what kind of person built this place.