Chapter 157

Chapter 157
Chapter 157: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Beyond that, the egg coins weren’t the sole harvest I secured.

『’Eggs, Money, Me!’ achievement unlocked.』

『Acquired 1,000 Shillings!』

The achievement likely triggered because of the sheer volume of egg coins I managed to gather.

『Fishing Proficiency has reached Apprentice Lv. 6.』

My fishing proficiency level bumped up from five to six as well!

“Wow…”

This feels entirely too thrilling.

“Haha.”

Like a satiated lion resting after a hunt, Lion grinned at ease.

Even when someone tries their best to keep a poker face, a genuine smile tends to slip through uninvited.

“Are you saving your smiles for after the game wraps up entirely?”

“Oh wow… That’s harsh, seriously harsh!”

Naturally, a few onlookers standing nearby muttered under their breath, but the general hubbub drowned out their remarks before they reached Lion.

“You hauled in two egg coins! That is genuinely incredible!”

An employee rushed over, palms clapping in genuine surprise and delight.

This marked a first for this section; no previous visitor had ever reeled in such a haul of egg coins from the fishing minigame!

Moreover…

‘If my intuition serves me right.’

Drawing on standard customer service instincts, the employee privately deduced something fascinating.

That particular visitor could easily have secured three egg coins if they had put in the extra effort.

Yet, they deliberately chose not to.

Perhaps they refrained to avoid drawing an excessive amount of attention to themselves.

“It was an entertaining game.”

“Th-thank you for saying so! Would you like to proceed over to the right section now?”

“Do I need to head over right away? I’m quite fond of this area and want to linger a bit longer.”

“My word!”

The employee’s mood visibly brightened at those words.

In truth, ever since being assigned to this post, they had harbored a quiet sense of rivalry toward the right sector.

Not that feeling competitive changed the reality of the situation.

Visitors chasing high-intensity thrills rarely lingered in the left zone for very long.

Instead, they tended to vacuum up the egg coins quickly and rush straight to the right-side attractions.

The employee had always found that dynamic a bit unfortunate.

The left section possessed plenty of hidden charms and genuine fun if you just took the time to appreciate it!

…Still, protocol dictated they couldn’t force anyone to stay.

So, just as a wave of disappointment washed over them, this very customer declared they were having a wonderful time right here.

Naturally, that perspective might shift if they ever sampled the right section, but still.

‘Regardless, this presents an opening!’

A golden opportunity to prove to visitors that the left section holds plenty of entertainment value in its own right!

And…

‘A chance to make use of this item.’

With a lively expression, the employee reached into a pocket and pulled something out.

Then, they spoke up with an enthusiastic tone.

“How about an invitation? Since you clearly enjoyed the fishing attraction more than anyone else here, I would love to grant you a stamp!”

“A stamp?”

Lion tilted their head in curiosity.

“Indeed. It serves as proof that you appreciated this facility better than anybody else. Ah, it’s nothing too grand, but if you bring this token to the bar, they will whip up a special beverage just for you.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes!”

Fearing Lion might decline out of mere annoyance, the employee swiftly stamped the stationery with an egg-shaped insignia and offered a polite bow.

“I hope you continue to thoroughly enjoy your time at the ‘Left Playground’!”

Lion gazed down at the invitation in silence.

A charming and distinct stamp was firmly pressed onto the premium paper stock.

“A stamp…”

Lost in thought, Lion studied the mark.

That brief exchange carried a surprising amount of subtext.

First off, the creators of this left zone had invested far more thoughtfulness into it than Lion initially realized.

It wasn’t merely a stepping-stone designed to farm quick coins before fleeing to the right.

‘Well, not everyone belongs in the high-intensity rooms.’

It functioned as a dedicated space crafted for those seeking wholesome leisure and relaxation.

Secondly, regarding the stamp itself.

A dedicated collection system.

Typically, in settings like this, collecting a certain quota of stamps unlocks a special reward or hidden perk.

It might grant a prize or unlock an exclusive experience.

In other words, fully clearing the left section might depend on completing this stamp collection.

‘No telling what the reward might be…’

Given that Easter designed it, the prize would likely be something extraordinary.

Lion intended to exhaust all remaining coins in this zone anyway.

If maximizing profits naturally yielded these stamps as a bonus, all the better.

‘Hehehe. Shall we begin proper exploration, then?’

A sly chuckle escaped Lion as they set off to wander the arcade in earnest.

“No way, you chopped this firewood so cleanly?”

“How can someone so young have such skill without experiencing real hardship?!”

“This is my first time seeing logs split so flawlessly down the middle! Take this stamp.”

Cleared the axe-throwing challenge using the firewood-splitting techniques mastered in the labyrinth.

“A Luminis Deer plushie?! Wasn’t that practically impossible to win because of the awkward horns?”

“How on earth did you manage this?!”

Cleared the crane game using the precision skills honed during corporate dinner outings back in the day.

Lion operated with speed and efficiency.

Yet, they managed to experience every arcade attraction while genuinely having fun.

Surprisingly, it took far less time than the fishing stall.

Well, amusement park rides are always best when they don’t drag on forever, aren’t they?

“Phew!”

Ultimately, a total of five stamps adorned the surface of the invitation.

Collecting stamps as a grown adult felt slightly amusing, yet it brought a distinct sense of satisfaction.

‘Is this why I was so obsessed with theme parks when I was a kid?’

*Swish.*

Lion scooped up the pouch holding the accumulated egg coins.

It felt heavy enough that the metal jangling had ceased entirely.

Nine standard egg coins and three Egu Coins rested inside.

In short… converted properly, that amounted to a total of ten egg coins.

It seemed safe to say every harvestable coin in this area had been collected.

That left only one remaining destination.

Lion shifted their gaze toward the central bar.

A colorful array of drinks and snacks remained available free of charge.

‘I could use a beverage anyway.’

Sounds good.

Lion immediately set off in that direction.

“Welcome.”

In stark contrast to the buzzing arcade, the central bar maintained a quiet, relaxed atmosphere.

They were likely utilizing the same sound-dampening magic tools deployed in the restaurant areas.

As a result, ears fatigued by the constant din finally found relief.

At the bar, draped in an ambiance as serene as a hidden veil, stood a bartender exuding refined charm.

Lion casually claimed a stool.

“Did you enjoy the arcade attractions?”

“It was a blast. I got so caught up playing that I forgot all about my thirst.”

The bartender’s well-groomed mustache twitched slightly as a quiet smile formed.

‘The staff here genuinely take pride in their work.’

Easter’s standards are notoriously demanding.

Even a guest like Lion could pick up on that reality.

Of course, maybe it stemmed from a shared sense of empathy born from grueling past sales jobs before possessing this body… but still!

Staff satisfaction matters immensely.

Not a single employee here wore a forced, synthetic smile.

Instead, they displayed genuine attachment to their respective attractions and derived deep fulfillment from watching visitors enjoy themselves.

Because of that environment, Lion felt entirely at ease while receiving top-tier hospitality.

‘The performance bonuses here must be quite lucrative.’

Lion nodded inwardly. Job satisfaction shouldn’t rely solely on personal pride, after all.

“So, I managed to collect all the stamps.”

“Ah. Might I take a look?”

The bartender accepted the invitation, slowly tallied the stamps, and widened their eyes in mild astonishment.

‘All five…?’

That meant this guest had conquered every single attraction in the zone!

The bartender regarded Lion with a noticeably different level of respect.

‘Whoever you might be, you are far from ordinary.’

You might think it an overreaction to praise someone purely for gaming proficiency, but the arcade hid a specific design philosophy.

Namely, the vast variety of genres.

An average person might naturally excel at fishing or chopping firewood.

Yet, this establishment catered largely to the privileged elite—the so-called ‘gold spoons.’

While some might fish as a hobby, many younger visitors had likely never swung an axe in their lives.

Especially the younger demographic!

And yet, this young patron had mastered them all effortlessly.

‘To pull it off with such casual composure…’

It was genuinely impressive.

Consequently, the prerequisite ‘condition’ to unlock the bar’s true offering had been fully satisfied.

Everything now depended on the customer’s personal choice.

The bartender returned the invitation with a polite bow and inquired.

“…Is there a specific beverage you have in mind?”

Resting a chin in one hand, Lion pretended to ponder for a moment before replying.

“I heard there is a signature drink available exclusively right here.”

“That is correct. Shall I prepare a specialty beverage crafted from Easter’s proprietary ingredients?”

“Hmm. Might I try mixing it myself?”

“……!”

Noticing the bartender’s surprised expression, the corners of Lion’s lips curled upward.

‘Just as I suspected.’

While working through the various attractions, Lion had pieced together a few underlying rules.

First, every single facility within this zone invited active ‘participation.’

Even the relaxation areas!

That insight prompted a shift in perspective.

What, then, was the true purpose of this bar?

Was it merely a place to grab a simple drink when thirsty or peckish?

Could it be limited to just ‘consuming a special beverage’?

This is ‘Easter’ we are talking about, after all.

Even standard service up to that point would have been generous.

However, Lion subtly recalled a hint dropped earlier.

“If you take this to the bar, they’ll make you a more special drink.”

Exactly. That was what the employee at the fishing stall had promised.

Would the experience differ if a guest arrived bearing a completed stamp card?

The answer was already evident in the bartender’s reaction.

“…Very well. If that is your wish, it can be arranged. However, the resulting flavor profile may deviate from your expectations. Do you still wish to proceed?”

In other words, it served as a caution that poor mixing choices could ruin the drink.

However.

‘I have complete confidence.’

Though the medium differs slightly, Lion possesses extensive expertise in combining liquids to create novel results.

In other words, alchemy.

“Making a mistake is simply part of the experience.”

“…Understood. I respect your decision. Please wait a moment while I retrieve the raw ingredients.”

Lion’s deduction had hit the mark.

Even so.

“Huh?”

Lion blinked in mild bewilderment.

That is to say…

‘These ingredients look entirely different from what I expected for crafting a cocktail.’

I figured the fantasy setting might diverge from modern mixology, but this goes far beyond that.

To put it accurately…

“They may look a bit aggressive, but they are entirely harmless, so please do not be alarmed.”

Lion stared down at a flask of liqueur containing mushrooms that were occasionally puffing out suspicious spores.

If anything, these items belonged in an alchemy lab rather than a beverage menu.

‘Good grief, so I’m actually expected to use these?’

The bartender’s earlier warning suddenly made complete sense.