Kim-Do's frozen smile hurt his cheeks. Every step towards the noodle restaurant was a test under Choi Yu-Ra's satisfied gaze. The "Emotional Camouflage" skill worked like a cold shield, stifling the waves of panic that tried to rise to the surface. He felt like a robot, piloting a body that was not his own, following a program dictated by necessity.
The smell of hot oil and soy sauces assailed him as soon as the door was broken. The restaurant was even noisier and crowded than he had imagined. Groups of Ganguk High students, some of whom he vaguely recognized, occupied most of the tables. There was silence when he and Yu-Ra entered, followed by rapid whispers. The Tae-min affair had visibly circulated.
Patron! This way, there's a free table in the back!" said Yu-Ra, splitting the crowd with natural ease.
Kim-Do followed her, aware of all the eyes on him. He felt the specific weight of Kang Seong's attention, who had settled at a small table by the window, alone, with a book in his hand. Sure thing. The observer was everywhere.
They sat down. A waiter, a nervous young man who recognized him immediately, came to take their order.
"The usual dish, boss?" asked Yu-Ra enthusiastically.
The "Emotional Camouflage" almost cracked. The usual dish. He had no idea. He could see the menu, but there was no memory of the name. It was an innocent, but deadly trap.
VZZT.
A lifeline. A discreet blue window superimposed itself on his view of the menu.
"'
[ACTIVE CONTEXTUAL ASSISTANCE]
Host data: Regular order -> Jjajangmyeon + Tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pig). Preference: Spicy sauce.
"'
"Yes," said Kim-Do, in a voice he hoped would be tired and natural." And the tangsuyuk. Spicy sauce. As usual."
Yu-Ra's relief was palpable. "I knew you would eventually break down! Nothing beats a good comforting dish."
The server quickly noted and ran away. The crisis was averted. For now. Kim-Do felt the ice of his camouflage crack slightly, letting a triumphal net filter through. The system was not just a jailer; it could be a helper.
As they waited for their order, the restaurant door opened again, letting Lee Min-Ji in. She was accompanied by two other members of the Student Council. His gaze swept across the room, stopping for a moment at Kang Seong, then at their table. She nodded politely, almost official, before going to sit at a table not far from theirs.
The tension went up a notch. Kim-Do felt the need to reactivate his camouflage, but the cooldown had not run out. He had to rely on acting.
"She always looks at you strangely," Yu-Ra whispered, tilting her head towards him, her frowning.
"The student council has always had a problem with me," Kim-Do replied, repeating a feeling he had perceived in the host's memoirs. I represent chaos."
Yu-Ra nodded, seeming to accept this explanation. "They don't understand that it is the force that maintains order here, not their regulations."
The dishes arrived, giving off a tempting smoke. Jjajangmyeon, black noodles of soy sauce, and tangsuyuk, crispy pieces of pork topped with a glowing sauce. Kim-Do, driven by a hunger he had not realized, attacked his dish. The first bite was an explosion of flavors. It was indeed delicious. For the first time since his arrival in this world, a pleasant, purely physical sensation overwhelmed him. A moment of authentic respite.
It was at this very moment that the system struck again.
"'
IMPROMPTUE QUEST: SOCIAL AFFIRMATION
• Background: Your presence in a public place with a faithful lieutenant is noticed. Strengthen your image.
Objective: Interact with another influential group in the restaurant. Duration: 5 minutes maximum.
• Reward: +200 Reputation Points. Weakening of emerging rumors.
• Failure: Perception of weakness or isolation.
"'
Kim-Do almost choked on a noodle. Interacting? With whom? How? He looked up, walking around the room. Kang Seong? Too dangerous. Lee Min-Ji? Too intimidating. His eyes fell on a group of three boys sitting at a table in the center. They wore neutral-coloured jackets, not belonging to any major faction, but they had a build and confidence that spoke of their influence. Independent but respected elements. He had seen them in a flash, chatting with the real Kim-Do, several months ago. A relationship of mutual respect, but strained.
That was their target.
"Stay here," he said to Yu-Ra, rising, hoping that his voice carried the necessary authority.
He felt the eyes of Kang Seong and Lee Min-Ji come to him as he walked through the room. Every step was heavy. He stopped at the three-boy table. They looked up, surprised, and then their expression became circumspect.
"Kim-Do," said the greatest, the one who seemed to be the leader. "What good wind?"
The "Emotional Camouflage" was operational again. Kim-Do left a silence, imitating the way the real Kim-Do marked his dominance.
"The wind of change," he finally answered, his low, neutral voice. That's a warning. I will no longer tolerate betrayal or manipulation from outside."
He looked into each boy's eyes, one by one. "Ganguk needs stability. No small games. Do you understand?"
The leader held out his gaze, then a slow smile appeared on his lips. "We always understood, Kim-Do. We just appreciate... the clarity."
It was an acquiescence. Not a submission, but a recognition of his authority.
"Good," Kim-Do simply said. He turned around and returned to his table, his heart pounding beneath his ice facade.
VZZT.
"'
[QUEST ACCOMPLITY: SOCIAL AFFIRMATION]
+200 Reputation Points.
UPDATE: Neutral factions perceive you as a stable and determined leader.
"'
Yu-Ra looked at him, his eyes shining with almost maternal pride. "It was perfect, boss. Direct and clear."
As they finished their meal, Kim-Do felt another look at him. It was no longer Kang Seong's analytical, or Lee Min-Ji's suspicious, or Lee Min-Ji's suspicious. It was a new look, charged with intense curiosity. He turned his head slightly and saw a small young man sitting alone in a corner, who quickly averted his eyes. A face he had never seen. But something in his attitude, in the speed with which he had lowered his eyes, seemed... wrong.
Fear returned, more insidious. He was learning how to deal with visible challenges. But the invisible dangers, those hiding in the shadows, watching it in silence...
Leaving the restaurant, as Yu-Ra spoke to him about the strategy for the coming week, a new, different system alert flashed briefly at the periphery of his vision. Fast, almost furtive.
"'
[ALERT: PROFILE UNKNOWN DETECTED.]
[Analysis]... Insufficient. Recommended monitoring.
"'
Then that was all. No quest, no detail. Just a warning.
The relief from social success evaporated, replaced by persistent cold. He had gained ground today. He had eaten the real Kim-Do's dish, spoken like him, impressed his peers.
But in the shadows, new eyes were opened on him. And the system itself didn't seem to know what to expect.