I hit the ground floor landing like a man fleeing a burning building, which, considering the ceiling fan nearly decapitated me, wasn't far from the truth. The fire escape stairs had been a calculated risk.
[Stamina] Regeneration Bonus: +2 (Due to heavy exertion. Current Stamina: 5/10)
Five points! That was enough to attempt the coffee quest. My legs burned, and my lungs felt like deflated plastic bags, but the sudden rush of measurable progress was better than any pre-workout supplement.
I burst out of the staff exit and into the bustling lobby of the corporate complex. The clock on the wall—an enormous, aggressively modern digital display—taunted me.
Time Remaining for Quest: 43:12
The [Lunch Rush Crowd] was already forming. It wasn't a horde of Orcs, but a densely packed mob of mid-level management and hungry interns, all surging toward the main café. The true monster of this floor was the line for the $500$ yen premium blended coffee—a thick, artisanal brew that had the properties of a genuine [Stamina Potion (Rank C)].
Strategy. My programmer mind went into overdrive. I couldn't brute force the line; my [Strength] stat was only 4. I needed an exploit.
I noticed three distinct queues:
1.The Brute Force Queue: The main line for custom orders (slowest).
2.The Mobile Order Queue: Faster, but I hadn't pre-ordered (unavailable).
3.The Pastry and Tea Queue: Almost empty, but only serves drip coffee and low-tier snacks.
Hypothesis: Can I use the [Telekinetic Field] to create a distraction, or maybe affect the efficiency of the Brute Force Queue?
I focused on the queue's bottleneck: the overworked barista, a young woman who looked like she was running on two hours of sleep and pure spite.
Target Acquired: [Barista, NPC, Focus: 2/10, Stress: 9/10]
No. Direct intervention is too risky. Failure would draw too much attention, triggering a [Reputation Loss] penalty.
I needed a subtle, surgical application of power. My eyes drifted to a stack of heavy, branded ceramic mugs on a high shelf near the Pastry Queue.
Target Acquired: [Ceramic Mug Stack, Mass: 0.3 kg]
Action: [Telekinetic Push (F)]
Cost: 4 [Stamina Points]
Success Chance: 30% (Low Dexterity Penalty)
It was a terrible gamble. I had 5 Stamina. If I failed, I'd be completely depleted and still stuck in line.
Risk it. High risk, high reward. This was my first true [Boss Fight].
I took a deep breath, tucked myself behind a large pillar near the tea counter, and channeled 4 points of precious Stamina into the skill. The pressure behind my eyes intensified, but this time, I managed the pain by thinking about the semicolon I spent four hours hunting down—a true mental anchor.
I didn't push the whole stack. I aimed for a single, precise spot on the fourth mug from the top.
Just a millimeter. Make it tilt.
The mug stack shivered.
A low groan of effort escaped my lips. I felt the invisible thread of force push against the ceramic. It wasn't enough to make the mug fall, but it was enough to make the stack lean precariously toward the main custom order line.
The barista, noticing the sudden instability, let out a shriek of stress.
"Oh, hold on, everyone! Those mugs are leaning!" she yelled, instantly stopping the flow of orders. She rushed over, her Focus instantly dropping to 100% on the structural integrity of the ceramic cups.
Success! I had successfully created an organic distraction using a highly inefficient application of [Telekinetic Push].
[Stamina]: 1/10
[Telekinetic Push (F)]: 15% Progress to Level 2.
[STAT] Gained! [Willpower] +1
With the main queue frozen, I sprinted toward the premium blended coffee station. The vendor was still operating, guarded only by a small velvet rope. I was the first one there.
"One premium blended coffee, please," I gasped, slamming my 500 yen coin onto the counter.
The transaction was lightning-fast. The vendor, oblivious to the mug-stack crisis behind him, handed me the cold, heavy cup. It was a beautiful, dark vessel of pure energy.
I didn't wait. I lifted the cup and looked at the System.
Item Acquired: [Stamina Potion (Rank C)]
Effect: Grants +3 [Stamina] upon consumption.
Warning: Extremely bitter. [Taste Penalty] -1.
I took a massive, shuddering gulp. The coffee was exactly as advertised: thick, overwhelmingly bitter, and intensely cold. My teeth ached, but my System responded instantly.
[Stamina] Restored: 1→ 4/10
[Taste Penalty] Applied.
Quest Complete!
Reward: [Stamina] +3, [Stamina Potion (Rank C)] Acquired.
I had done it. My [Willpower] had pushed me through the pain, and my [Intelligence] had found the exploit. I was no longer a zero. I had 4 points of Stamina and a 500 yen coffee.
I looked at the digital clock: 37:50 remaining. Plenty of time to get back.I
turned to leave, but stopped dead. A man stood directly in my path, a giant, hulking figure with shoulders that looked capable of blocking a lane of traffic.
It wasn't Louie, but someone worse. It was Mr. Tanaka, the Chief Department Head from the sixth floor—a man notorious for crushing junior staff with impossible deadlines. He was holding a delicate fruit salad, looking down at me with an expression of icy, professional disdain.
He didn't need a status screen for me to know his Rank was definitely B+ or higher.
"Minami," he said, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. "Why are you covered in sweat, and why did you just jump the line after that little commotion?"
My System instantly recognized the threat.
System Alert: Hidden Quest Received!
Quest Title: The Department Head Confrontation
Description: Survive verbal interrogation from [Mr. Tanaka] without admitting to any suspicious activity or being caught using [Telekinetic Skills].
Objective: Reduce Tanaka's [Suspicion] level from 80% to 0%.
Failure Condition: Immediate [Job Termination] and [Reputation Loss: Extreme].
Time Limit: None.
I gripped my coffee cup. My heart was pounding. This wasn't a puzzle. This was politics. This was the real boss fight.
"Mr. Tanaka, sir," I began, my voice already shaking. "I..."