Chapter 9: Use Your Fat to Think of a Solution!

"The cafeteria..." 

Amamiya hesitated for a few seconds before finally saying, "Let's check it out."

The three of them walked along the path and soon saw a cafeteria appear in front of them.

"By the way, our school has a cafeteria too. My friends and I used to eat there. The food was great," said Chika, hands clasped behind her back as she looked around. "Has Kaguya-chan ever eaten in the cafeteria?"

"No," Kaguya responded calmly.

"What about you, Natsuki-san?"

"I've been there," Amamiya replied.

"What's your favorite dish? I love the teriyaki chicken steak. It's amazing!"

Amamiya sighed inwardly, finally confirming that Fujiwara-san… was indeed smart in her own way.

They were in a school filled with dangers and malevolent spirits, yet here she was talking about food.

The walk was uneventful, with no encounters with other players or hostile spirits.

Before long, the three reached the cafeteria entrance, exchanged glances, and stepped inside.

At that moment, the atmosphere changed drastically.

The lighting dimmed, and the flickering yellowish lights looked like they might go out at any moment. The air was heavy with the faint scent of blood and an indescribable stench.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The dull sound of a cleaver chopping through bone echoed from the back of the cafeteria.

No other sound could be heard, and the entire cafeteria felt stifling and oppressive.

There weren't many customers—just a few resentful spirits. As soon as Amamiya and the others walked in, every spirit raised its head to stare at them.

These vengeful spirits had pale faces, drained of life. Some didn't even have eyes, and their sudden movement startled Chika, who let out a small shriek.

"Why are there spirits in the cafeteria?!"

Well, it's only natural that the students would come to eat in the cafeteria, right?

Kaguya remained outwardly calm, her cold expression unchanging as though nothing could faze her. Yet, above her head, the words in her thought bubble betrayed her true feelings:

'[So scary, so scary, so scary.]'

At the same time, a cold, raspy voice echoed in their minds:

'[You have entered the scene: Ghost Cafeteria]'

'[Game rules: Good students must eat on time. Finish your last meal and give it a five-star rating.]'

'[Cafeteria rules: Each meal must be at least 200 grams.]'

"You just need to eat? That sounds way easier than the Red Light, Green Light game," Chika said, her eyes lighting up.

"Easy?" A cold laugh came from nearby. "Let's see if you're still smiling later."

Amamiya turned toward the voice. A hooded player sat at a table nearby, his face pale and sweaty. In front of him was a bowl of soup. Floating in it was... a misty black skull.

"What kind of dish is that...?" Chika's smile slowly disappeared.

"It looks like a death sentence," Amamiya muttered, taking a deep breath. "Anyway, let's go check the menu."

The three of them approached the cafeteria counter.

The sound of chopping meat abruptly stopped, and a figure emerged from the darkness.

It was a burly pig-headed man, standing nearly two meters tall. He held a blood-soaked cleaver, and his apron was so drenched in blood that its original color was unrecognizable.

As the Pig-Headed Butcher appeared, all the spirits in the cafeteria immediately lowered their heads, overwhelmed by his presence.

"Good evening. What would you like to eat?" he asked in a low, gravelly voice, pointing to a sign. "Today's menu is listed. Please make your choice."

Amamiya glanced at the sign. Only two dishes were listed.

'[Today's Special: Borscht with Mystery Ingredients. Please don't be alarmed by what may emerge.]'

'[Today's Special: Steak Rice Bowl with Mystery Meat. Don't ask where the meat comes from.]'

Everything on the menu was some kind of hellish dish, with no normal food in sight.

"Is it even safe to eat this stuff?" Chika muttered nervously.

But the three soon realized that safety wasn't the only concern. Whether they could even stomach the food was another matter.

"The cafeteria break begins in 30 minutes," the pig-headed butcher warned. "Please eat within the time limit. If you fail to finish your meal, or if you don't eat, you'll stay in the cafeteria."

"Uh... thanks for the heads-up..." Chika stammered, her voice shaky. She turned, only to gasp in horror. "Wait! The door's gone!"

Amamiya quickly looked behind him. The cafeteria door had indeed vanished, replaced by swirling black and red mist.

Escape was no longer an option.

He turned his attention back to the Pig-Headed Butcher, and a line of text appeared:

'[Name: Oink]'

'[Hates food waste above all.]'

"Looks like the only way out is to eat," Kaguya said, arms crossed and still as composed as ever.

But there was a new problem.

"Please pay for your meal first," the Pig-Headed Butcher demanded.

"What? We have to pay?" Chika's eyes widened.

The butcher hefted his bloody cleaver, his gaze ominous. "Did you think you could eat for free?"

"Let's not be hasty," Kaguya said calmly, pulling Fujiwara behind her. "We despise freeloaders."

"Let me try something," Amamiya said, pulling out his wallet. He took out a bill featuring Hideyo Noguchi, only for the worst-case scenario to unfold.

"The cafeteria only accepts currency valid within the school. Human money won't work here," the butcher stated coldly.

That made sense. This was a school for spirits, after all.

"We can't even use money here..." Chika said, her voice small. "Then how do we pay for food?"

"You may exchange goods," the butcher said, cleaning his cleaver. "For 200 grams of food, you must offer 200 grams of your body. It's a fair trade."

"Do clothes count?" Fujiwara asked hopefully.

"No. It must be body tissue with nutritional value."

Your cafeteria is basically a haunted version of 'Sweeney Todd!' You feed the customers, knock them out, then drag them back to the kitchen to make more food!

Amamiya finally understood why the hooded player had smirked when they entered.

"200 grams of body tissue isn't fatal to you humans," the butcher explained. "Blood, muscle, bone, even fat—anything works."

"Fat...?" 

Amamiya's eyes lit up, and he glanced over at Chika.

Kaguya, standing beside him, also turned to look.

The unused fat... was right there.

"What are you two staring at?!" Chika shrieked, quickly covering her chest. "Not my boobs!"