The afternoon sun had started to dip lower, casting a warm amber hue over Bahamara's streets. Outside, the final strokes of paint were going up on the outer walls of the diner.
Jake and Tyson were finishing the last section near the corner window. Their tunics were stained with cream-colored smudges, brows damp with sweat, but neither complained. Tyson was humming again.
"Done," Jake said, climbing down with a satisfied grunt. "Not bad for a couple of mercs."
Tyson flicked a paint drop off his nose.
"Heh, who knew we'd be good at home improvement."
Inside, Woon stood near the doorway, quietly admiring the transformation. The once-forgotten shop now gleamed with new life—fresh paint outside, polished wood furniture inside, and the gleam of cooking equipment in the back.
The door creaked open behind him.
Arth stood in the entrance, blinking slowly as his gaze swept the room. His eyes stopped on Jake and Tyson first—both dragging a ladder aside—then shifted to Misha checking utensil stacks, Tina curled up on a chair nibbling on bread, and Sabrina wiping down the stove.
"…What the hell is going on here?"
Woon turned to face him with a half-smile.
"Oh hey, you're back."
"I'm gone for one day," Arth said slowly, walking inside, "and you've already recruited an entire team, repainted the building, and stocked half a kitchen?"
"Not just recruited," Woon said, gesturing to the girls and guards. "Bought."
Arth's brow furrowed. "Bought?"
Woon walked over and poured him a glass of water. "Yep. Slaves. Five of them. Three girls for kitchen and service. Two beastkin for muscle."
Arth stared at the collar around Jake's neck, then glanced at Tina's fluffy ears twitching as she ate.
"…You serious?"
"As serious as a budgeting crisis," Woon replied.
Arth took the water, but his eyes stayed locked on Woon.
"How much did this cost?"
Woon scratched his cheek.
"…Three platinum and thirty-six gold."
Arth promptly choked on his water.
He coughed, wiping his mouth.
"Three—?! Are you out of your damn mind? That's basically a noble's annual budget!"
Woon shrugged. "I regret nothing."
"You better regret *something,*" Arth groaned, sinking into the nearest chair. "You're just throwing money around like you own a mine."
Woon raised a brow.
"Technically, I own a diner."
Arth rubbed his temples. "You're impossible."
"Relax," Woon said, stepping behind the kitchen counter. "Here. I'll show you what that money got us."
He pulled a freshly plated dish from the counter—thinly sliced, herb-seared meat resting atop buttery mashed roots, garnished with a bright sprig of something leafy.
Sabrina stood nearby, quietly observing as Woon set it down.
Arth sniffed the air, his expression flickering.
"That smells… insanely good."
"Cooking Skill: A-Rank. Innate," Woon said, nodding toward Sabrina.
"…No way."
"Just try it."
Arth took a bite.
Silence.
Then came the slow widening of his eyes, the sudden pause of his fork mid-air, and a soft exhale of disbelief.
"…You son of a bitch."
Woon leaned on the counter, smug.
"Worth it?"
Arth finished the rest in silence, cleaning the plate with nothing but the edge of his fork. Once he was done, he leaned back, looking defeated.
"Okay. Fine. Maybe it was a good investment. *Maybe.*"
"Thank you."
"But if you ever spend like that again," Arth said, pointing a finger, "I'm going to personally tie you to the chair and make you eat budget gruel for a week."
"I'll take that as a yes," Woon said, clapping once. "Welcome home."
__________
The golden glow outside had faded to twilight, and a calm hush settled over the freshly painted building. With the furniture in place, the kitchen gleaming, and the utensils stacked neatly on the side shelves, it finally felt… real.
Their diner was almost ready.
Woon stood at the center of the room, looking around at his newly gathered team—some sitting, some still fidgeting with the last of the unpacking. He clapped his hands lightly.
"Alright. I think it's time we gave this place a name."
Everyone turned toward him.
"Any suggestions?" he asked, looking from face to face.
Misha glanced at Tina, who was half-asleep against a chair leg, still holding a half-eaten bread roll.
"Um… something like 'New Start Diner?'" Misha offered hesitantly.
Jake shrugged. "How about 'The Beast's Plate'?"
"Sounds like a bar for mercenaries," Tyson muttered, arms crossed. "We serving alcohol and broken teeth?"
Sabrina tapped her chin.
"Shouldn't it be something that fits… you? Since you're the owner?"
Woon folded his arms.
**Something that fits *me*, huh?**
He thought of Earth. Of late nights, thankless jobs, and a life that never quite went anywhere. Of waking up in a new world with a kitchen to build and problems that, for once, he could tackle on his own.
Then a small grin crept onto his face.
"Isekai Diner."
The room went quiet for a second.
Tina tilted her head.
"Tina doesn't know what that means, but Tina likes it."
Jake nodded. "Has a nice ring."
"Isekai Diner, huh…" Arth repeated, half-smiling. "Weird name. Fitting though."
"Settled, then," Woon declared. "From today on, this place is officially the *Isekai Diner.*"
◆ ◆ ◆
As night fell fully and the last crate was tucked away, Woon led the group upstairs. The upper floor—originally designed as an inn—had a long hallway with several small rooms lining either side.
"Alright," Woon said, stopping at the first door. "Room assignments."
He pointed as he listed them off.
"One for the girls—Tina, Sabrina, and Misha. One for the muscle—Jake and Tyson. One for Arth. And I'll take the one on the end."
The others nodded without complaint.
Woon continued, "Originally I thought of giving everyone their own rooms, but... I got shut down."
"We don't need fancy," Jake said simply.
"Beds are enough," Tyson added.
"Beds are too much," Tina mumbled, clinging to a pillow she'd swiped from a crate. "But Tina will try it."
Sabrina looked at the others. "Are you really okay with sharing?"
"We've got each other's backs," Misha said, surprising Woon with her confidence.
He smiled faintly.
They're not just strangers anymore. Feels like… something close to a team.
"Alright then," Woon said. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, we plan the menu and do a proper kitchen test run."
As the others filed into their rooms, Woon paused at his own door, glancing back toward the hallway.
The name's decided. The staff is here. The building's coming together.
Still leaning against the doorframe, he let his thoughts drift toward Sabrina's earlier cooking and the unbelievable quality of it.
Her skill really *is* something else. She doesn't just cook well—she absorbs recipes instantly, doesn't forget, and somehow elevates the flavor every single time. Maybe it's the Cooking (A) rank... or maybe she just really loves cooking. Either way, it's like she was born to do it.
He pushed open his door and stepped inside. It was sparse, just a bed and a small wooden dresser, but after the day he'd had, it felt like a luxury suite.
He sat on the edge of the bed.
Three platinum and thirty-six gold... Yeah, that's a painful price tag. But the moment Arth took that first bite—I knew. It's going to work. This place will be worth every coin.
He laid back, hands behind his head.
Still... Sabrina's only one person. No matter how good she is, she can't handle everything forever.
I'll need a system that doesn't rely on her completely.
A proper plan and a special menu.
But that's for tomorrow.
For now, rest.
And with that final thought, Woon let his eyes drift shut.
To be continued.....