A Cleaner’s Appetite

"You expect me to eat this?" Ren asked, staring at the plate in disbelief. He glared at Lira like she had just committed a crime. "Why in the world do I have to eat cabbages?"

"It's called kimchi, a Korean dish," Lira said casually, stuffing a bite into her mouth. She washed it down with a sip of beer, completely unfazed by his frustration. "When I was a kid, I wanted to be a chef, so I learned about different kinds of food."

"Kimchi or whatever," Ren grumbled, poking at it suspiciously. "How am I supposed to eat this raw?" He sighed and looked around her kitchen. "Forget that, why is beer the only thing in your fridge?"

Lira's home was the small backroom of her café, separated by a single door. It had just the basics: a bedroom, a tiny bathroom, a cramped kitchen, and an even smaller living area. The lightbulbs flickered like they were on their last breath, and the whole place was a mess, papers, clothes, and empty bottles scattered everywhere.

Ren had never seen a place this untidy. Ever.

After he finished cutting the cabbages, he did what any "cleaner" would do. He started cleaning.

Sure, his usual job involved cleaning up criminals, not dirty apartments, but hey specifics aside, a cleaner was still a cleaner.

"But seriously, Mr. Sho, you should start a cleaning company," Lira said, completely unfazed by Ren's irritation.

"Shut up," Ren groaned, tossing a rag onto the table. His patience was already running thin. "Oi, how am I supposed to buy stuff? Is food available in the system inventory?"

"Sorry to disappoint you," Lira said, taking another bite of kimchi. "You can only buy food from the inventory inside the tower. Outside, you gotta go shopping yourself."

Ren rubbed his temples. "What the heck? Aren't there any delivery services?"

"None."

He sighed again. "Then how do I even pay for stuff?"

"You have spirit coins, right? Just scan the bill with your system, and it'll deduct the amount automatically." Lira casually waved her chopsticks, not even bothering to look up as she devoured the kimchi.

Ren clicked his tongue and turned toward the door. He was done dealing with her nonsense. If he was going to survive in this city, he at least needed instant ramen.

Stepping onto the main road, Ren was immediately hit by a wave of light and noise.

The city was a neon jungle, towering skyscrapers glowing with holographic billboards and neon signs. The streets were alive with movement, people in sleek, futuristic outfits rushing past, vendors calling out from food stalls, and the constant hum of hovering bikes weaving through the crowd. The sky above was barely visible, swallowed by the dazzling lights and the massive digital screens displaying advertisements in languages he didn't even recognize.

Ren's eyes darted around, trying to spot a market. He had no idea where to go.

"Great," he muttered. "Lost and hungry. What a perfect combo."

His stomach growled, loudly. A couple of people glanced at him, and Ren scowled.

Then, he caught sight of a small convenience store nestled between two towering buildings, its bright red "24/7 Mart" sign flickering slightly. Finally, some luck.

With a sigh, he shoved his hands into his pockets and headed toward it.

"Welcome," the cashier said as the doorbell chimed.

Ren barely paid attention at first, until he looked up and froze.

"Aaaah… Kuro?"

Standing behind the counter, dressed in a store uniform with a name tag that definitely wasn't necessary, was none other than Yanagin Kuro.

Kuro blinked in surprise before flashing a grin. "Well, well, isn't it Mr. Sho? We meet again."

"Yeah, ha ha..." Ren laughed awkwardly, sighing in relief. At least this convenience store seemed normal.

Kuro, as if reading his mind again, chuckled. "This is just like the stores you had in your living days," he said. "If you're looking for player-related items, you should check the next building, Mr. Sho."

"Nah, nah, I'm just here to buy some ramen."

At that, Kuro gestured towards the ramen shelf. "Right this way."

Ren thanked him and strolled over, but the moment his eyes landed on the price tag, he froze.

"It's so pricey!" he muttered, shivering.

A single cup of instant ramen cost exactly 100 spirit coins, the exact amount he had. His brain screamed in protest, but his stomach growled louder. First problem first. He could worry about being broke later.

After he scanned the ramen and paid, Ren stared at his spirit coin count dropping to zero with dead eyes. "Kuro..." he muttered.

"Yeah?" Kuro glanced at him while bagging the ramen. Seeing Ren's soul leave his body, he sighed and tossed in some sausages as a gift. Ren's eyes lit up slightly. "A true saint..."

"So," he continued, shaking off his misery, "how do I earn more?"

Living world or afterlife, why is money always the biggest problem?!

Kuro leaned on the counter. "Well, you see, when you kill monsters or clear tower stages, you automatically get spirit coins as rewards. And also gold."

"Gold?" Ren perked up.

"Yep. A single gold bar is worth 5,000 spirit coins."

Ren's eyes gleamed. "Now we're talking!"

Before Kuro could say anything more, a loud alarm blared across the city, followed by the sharp wail of sirens. The moment the sound echoed through the streets, panic erupted. People screamed, ran, and shoved past each other, trying to escape.

Ren watched the chaos unfold with wide eyes. "What the hell is going on?!"

Kuro, however, remained completely unfazed, watching the scene like it was just another Monday.

"Ah, it's just a monster attack," he said casually.

Ren stared at him. "Just a monster attack?!"

"Yeah. Happens from time to time," Kuro shrugged.

Ren blinked. "Wait, aren't monsters inside the tower?"

"You've got it wrong, Mr. Sho," Kuro corrected. "The monsters inside the tower? They're just part of the game system. But out here, these guys are real. They attack humans, steal souls, and devour them, even when it's not an official game round."

Ren gulped. "That sounds way worse than just 'a monster attack.'"

Kuro nodded. "Oh, yeah. But on the bright side, you can level up and earn spirit coins by killing them too."

"Wait… so fighting outside and climbing the tower are two different things?"

"Exactly," Kuro said.

Ren took a deep breath. So, this world wasn't just about the tower, there were other dangers lurking in the streets too.

Suddenly, a thought struck Ren.

"You're not going to participate?" he asked, glancing at Kuro.

Kuro merely shrugged, showing zero interest in the chaos. "Nah. The other players will handle it. Since I decided to retire, I shouldn't take their food."

Ren raised a brow. "Their food?" Isn't that crow also used that word to describe their prey?

"It means opportunity," Kuro clarified. "If I step in, I'd just be stealing kills from active players. Besides, those guild guys will be here soon."

"Guilds?" Ren repeated. He felt like he is a talking tom who repeating the same thing.

"Ah, right. You wouldn't know yet," Kuro said. "There are four major guilds in Japan right now. They hire skilled players and form teams to clear the tower. But it's not just Japan, guilds exist worldwide. One of the big ones is based in Shibuya, so they'll be arriving soon."

Ren crossed his arms, deep in thought. Joining a guild had its benefits- resources, protection, and a steady way to earn spirit coins. But would any guild even accept a player whose attributes were all zero?

"Mr. Sho," Kuro spoke after a moment. "Going home right now is dangerous. Why don't you stay here until the mess is over?"

Ren gave him a small smile. He wasn't wrong. With his pathetic stats, he wouldn't last a second against a monster rampage. But at the same time, wasn't this a chance to earn some KP and level up?

Kuro sighed, watching him carefully. "You're not actually thinking of going out there, are you?"

Ren didn't answer.

"I'm telling you this because you remind me of my older brother," Kuro continued. "Don't climb the tower, Mr. Sho."

Ren blinked in surprise. "You had an older brother?"

Kuro just smiled. "Yeah. His personality was a lot like yours. But that's not the point."

"Wait- how old are you?" Ren suddenly pressed, leaning way too close into Kuro's face. Kuro froze at the sudden change in energy. "...I'm twenty."

Ren let out a loud sigh of relief. "Oh, thank god." Kuro narrowed his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Ren didn't answer. For a moment, a ridiculous thought had crossed his mind, what if Rin Arashi, his younger brother, had become a criminal, had died, and ended up here?

He shook the thought away.

Damn it, my stupid brain.

"Mr. Yanagin!!!"

The store's door burst open, and a man staggered inside, soaked in blood. His right arm was missing, and blood poured from the gaping wound. Kuro's eyes widened- not in shock, but in something else. Something colder.

"What's happening?" he asked.

The man barely managed to speak. "P-please… help… it's a demon- a high rank…" That was all he could say before his body collapsed onto the floor, lifeless.

Ren stared at the gruesome scene, with cold eyes.

Kuro cursed under his breath. "I was wondering why it got so quiet. So that's why."

He turned to Ren; his tone was serious. "Mr. Sho, stay here. Don't move if you want to live." Then, without another word, he rushed out toward the battlefield, leaving Ren alone.

Ren's gaze slowly fell on the corpse at the entrance.

The wounds were deep, like the man had been played with before his death.

Poor guy.

Ren tilted his head, then turned back without a word. He grabbed the cheap wooden fork that came with the ramen and headed toward the beer shelf beside the cashier's table.

"I'll pay Kuro back when I earn." With that, he jammed the fork into a beer can, popping it open. Just then, the store's glass door slid open again. Without hesitation, Ren spun on his heel and hurled the fork toward the guest.

A hand snatched it in midair before it could reach its target.

"That's dangerous."

A sweet, velvety voice- deep yet smooth.

Ren's cold gaze met hers. "Sorry. Thought you were a demon."

She was pale. Deathly pale. Her long, snow-white hair cascaded down her back, framing a face so beautiful it felt unreal. Glowing red eyes gleamed with amusement beneath her delicate lashes. She wore a gothic white dress, pristine except for the slight sway of fabric as she moved.

"Yeah, well. Are you working here?" she asked.

"I'm n-"

"Can I get a packet of chili sauce?" she cut in.

Ren said nothing. His expression remained cold as he turned away, searching the shelves. After a brief struggle, he found one and walked back toward the counter, only to freeze mid-step.

His breath didn't hitch. His heartbeat didn't quicken. But his eyes? They took in the horrific scene before him.

The girl sat casually at the front, her delicate fingers wrapped around the severed hand of the man who had collapsed earlier. Her lips- tainted red, sank into the flesh as she took a slow, deliberate bite.

Tearing. Chewing. Swallowing.

Blood dripped down her chin, staining the pristine white of her dress. She looked up at him, eyes shimmering in amusement. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice light, unbothered. "Hand me the sauce packet, will you? Human meat tastes best with chili sauce."

Ren's grip on the packet tightened, but his expression didn't change. Without a word, he walked behind the checkout counter, scanning the barcode.

"Thirty spirit coins," he said flatly.

For the first time, she seemed surprised. Then, she laughed. A soft chuckle at first, then a slow, musical giggle that sent an unnatural chill down the air.

After a moment, she stepped forward and placed something on the counter.

A freshly plucked human eye.

What did she even think?

Ren's gaze flickered to it, then back at her unmoving. "Newly collected," she murmured. "Is this enough?"

Ren sighed. "Sorry, but I can't take this as a payment."

She hissed in amusement, licking the blood from her fingers. "Don't be like that. Human eyes are pricey, you know?" Then, as if struck by curiosity, she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the counter.

"And speaking of eyes…" Her gaze locked onto his. "You don't see ones like yours very often. I wonder how much they're worth."

Ren said nothing.

Her grin widened before she sighed and reached into her pocket. "Fine, fine. Will this do?" She tossed a small, glowing yellow stone onto the counter.

A diamond. Ren didn't need a second glance to confirm it.

"I won't be able to give the change, so-"

"Don't worry." She waved a hand, grabbing the sauce packet before tearing it open. "Keep the change." Then, with the same casual grace, she drizzled the chili sauce over the severed hand and took another bite.

As she finished her meal, the girl sauntered over, wiping her bloodstained hands on Ren's jacket in a slow, deliberate motion.

The deep purple fabric darkened, streaked with fresh red.

Ren didn't react. His expression remained cold as she smirked, turning away toward the exit. Then, just before stepping outside, she paused.

"Hey, mister cashier." Her voice dripped with amusement as she glanced back. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

Ren tilted his head slightly.

"You know," she continued, grinning. "The words you say to a customer?"

For the first time, Ren smiled back, a thin, empty smile, his eyes almost closed. "Thank you for shopping," he said smoothly. "And please, don't come back."

She laughed. A soft, eerie sound, as if she found his response far too amusing. "Ooooh, now that's different." Her scarlet eyes gleamed, lips curling into a sharp grin. "Well, whatever. I will visit you again someday." With that, she stepped into the darkness.

The door clicked shut.

And Ren finally-finally- let go of the breath he had been holding.

His shoulders trembled. Not from exhaustion. Not from the blood on his jacket. But from the sheer, unrelenting death intent that had been coiling around his throat like a noose the entire time. Just standing in her presence felt like balancing on the edge of a knife.

Ren exhaled slowly, forcing his heartbeat to steady. His mind was a mess, but one thought remained crystal clear.

That woman…

Wasn't human.