"So this is a Michelin three-star, huh? Honestly, even before I got isekai'd, I'd never been to a place like this," Kevin Cross said with a sigh of awe as he stood before the lavishly lit entrance of the famed restaurant.
As he spoke, he casually snapped a photo of the hotel's grand entrance and sent it to Kumoko via their group chat.
"Damn it, damn it, I'm so jealous! A Michelin three-star?! I've never even tasted their food actually, I've never even seen a Michelin three-star in real life! Ugh! Why is it that in the same isekai scenario, you not only got to reincarnate as a human but also get to enjoy luxuries like this? Meanwhile, me? I didn't even reincarnate as a human! This is so unfair!" Kumoko roared.
"Come on now, don't get so worked up. Michelin's just a tire company after all. What do they know about food?" Kevin teased, trying to calm her down.
"Right, right, right! Just a tire company! That's all they are… But I still want to eat there! So badly! I'd do anything to taste food from a place like that! So unfair!"
Kevin chuckled. Watching Kumoko throw a tantrum like that was oddly satisfying.
Just then, a woman's voice interrupted from the side, sharp and full of disdain. "Move it. Don't block the entrance. If you can't afford to dine here, then don't come loitering around."
Her tone was full of scorn. "Seriously, there's always a bunch of broke nobodies who come to places like this just to take photos and post them online. Pretending like they're rich. You people are the reason the atmosphere of a Michelin three-star is being dragged down Oh? Hello, handsome. Are you here for dinner? Want to join me?"
Initially, she had sneered at Kevin, who was standing in front of the entrance in what looked like cheap clothing. But when she caught a glimpse of his face up close handsome, refined her attitude shifted completely. Her mocking tone melted into flirtation, and she even extended an invitation.
Kevin glanced at the woman. She was attractive, no doubt, but her eyes were intense, predatory even, like she was ready to devour him. In an instant, he knew exactly what she was after.
She was up to no good.
Just like he always said: a guy had to protect himself out in the world.
"No thanks," Kevin said simply.
Originally, he had planned to go inside and check the place out. But this woman ruined the mood. Truth be told, he wasn't even hungry. He'd already eaten earlier. He mostly came here to tease Kumoko and satisfy a bit of curiosity. But now? Forget it.
Besides, while he wasn't exactly short on money thanks to what his original parents had left behind, he wasn't swimming in wealth either. And he wasn't the type who wanted to work a job just for the sake of a fancy meal.
"Wait, don't go, cutie!" the woman called after him. "I've got a yacht, too. I could take you cruising!"
Kevin waved a hand dismissively. He wasn't interested in yachts either.
To be honest, Kevin was a homebody. Travel, yachts, five-star cuisine none of it really appealed to him. Give him a smartphone, reliable Wi-Fi, and enough food, and he could happily stay indoors for a week straight without stepping outside.
If there was one thing he was interested in... well, it would be beautiful women. But when it came to that, he already had the women in his Harem Chat Group. Compared to them, this so-called "big sister" was just… average.
Before she could press him any further, Kevin casually cast an illusion spell. By the time the woman blinked back to her senses, Kevin had already vanished.
"How annoying," Kevin muttered in the group chat. "I just wanted to try a Michelin three-star, but some random woman kept bugging me. Kinda lost my appetite."
"Hahaha! Let me guess, you couldn't afford it and made up a random excuse about being 'harassed' to cover it up!" Kumoko chimed in gleefully. Misery loved company, after all.
"Sure, money played a role," Kevin admitted. "But mostly, I didn't want the headache. That woman clearly had her sights set on me."
"Ha! And who do you think you are, that a woman would go after you like that?" Kumoko mocked.
Kevin didn't reply right away. Instead, he snapped a quick selfie. To be honest, he hadn't uploaded a photo of himself in the group before.
Click.
Even from a so-called "death angle," the result was stunning. Not that he cared when you're that good-looking, there's no such thing as a bad angle.
He uploaded the photo to the group and finally responded, "Now tell me. With a face like this, you really think no woman would try to make a move?"
"Slurp…" Kumoko: "Uh, I was… just eating something, that's all! Anyway, it's been forever since I had a burger, now that I think about it…"
Just then, a notification popped up in the chat.
"Saeko Busujima has officially joined the Harem Chat Group!"
Although she and Kumoko had already been added to the chat previously, they were only provisional members. Unless they agreed to be with Kevin, they didn't have access to full functionality no item transfer, no world travel, and certainly no power-ups.
Now, Saeko had made it official. She had accepted Kevin as her man.
"Wait, what?!?!" Kumoko's eyes widened in disbelief. "Saeko?! You actually agreed?!"
"Because just moments ago, the dead began to rise. That means the Highschool of the Dead storyline has begun. My world is collapsing into an apocalypse. In times like this, things like ethics and social order are the first to vanish. Right now, things are still manageable. But soon, we'll be fighting just to survive food, shelter, safety, all of it will be scarce. The only way for me to live… is to accept Kevin. Through him, I'll gain resources, power, and the means to survive."
Saeko's voice was calm, but her cheeks were slightly flushed. Whether it was the looming apocalypse or the selfie Kevin had just uploaded that tipped the scales… only she would know.
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