Dimensional Storekeeper - Chapter 172

Chapter 172: Ashen Curse Cult’s Rice Ball Could Never
Mo Xixi, cheeks faintly puffed, swallowed her last bite with visible satisfaction. Her violet eyes shone, and she gave a very dignified nod.

“This rice ball…” she said, brushing nonexistent crumbs from her robes. “Is fully approved.”

She paused.

“It reminds me of the kind they served in our – ” Her words stopped mid-sentence.

She looked away, face turning the faintest pink, pretending to be absorbed in cleaning her hands with a bit of cloth.

She never finished the thought.

But for those who knew where she came from, the implication was enough.

The Ashen Curse Cult was not known for its cuisine.

Their rice balls were infamous among the outer disciples – dry, flavorless things, packed tightly with bitter herbs and powdered root meant only to keep the body functioning during long curses, blood rites, or punishment meditations.

They weren’t food. They were fuel. Eaten only when the body neared collapse and the mind could barely cling to consciousness.

Only the lowest members were forced to eat them. Higher-ranking cultivators used pills or spiritual energy instead.

Mo Xixi, as the heir, should never have tasted one.

But once, perhaps out of childish curiosity – or a moment of strange rebellion – she had snuck one from the kitchens and taken a bite.

She never did it again.

It had tasted of soggy parchment, burned incantations, and the disappointment of failed spellwork.

And yet this…

Mo Xixi stared down at the empty wrapper in her hand.

A rice ball with filling inside. That shouldn’t be such a strange concept. Technically, it was still rice.

Just shaped like a triangle instead of a ball.

But this was no survival ration hastily molded.

This was divine intervention.

She had never imagined rice could deliver that kind of flavor.

If someone dared to call this an “improved version” of the Ashen Curse Cult’s infamous energy balls, they deserved to be cursed into a frog and fed to a snake.

Yoru and Tsuki were trying to mimic the word “more” with their little paws.

The rest of the group had wandered off toward the drinks, still murmuring praises about the Tuna Mayo Onigiri.

Hao passed by them with a box in his arms, gave a lazy nod, and continued toward the empty shelf near the corner.

“I’ll handle this, Little Xixi.” he said, cracking open a cold Peach Oolong and chugging it straight.

He got to work.

One by one, he slid the neatly wrapped onigiri into their rightful spots. By the time he placed the last one, the shelf looked ready for a magazine cover.

No glow. But the light happened to catch just right.

Onigiri stood in formation, flawless and proud, each one hugging its dark seaweed band like a sash of honor. Ready to fight hunger and win hearts.

Hao stepped back and exhaled. He set the box down and looked around.

Silence.

Everyone had gone upstairs earlier. Training, sleeping, who knew. The shop was quiet again.

He stood there in the middle, hands on his hips.

“All alone again” Hao muttered, dragging the word out.

“As always.”

He tilted his head back.

‘At least I always have you, system, right?’

Silence.

‘Right??’

He blinked. ‘Riiighttt, System?’

[Yes, host. You should start restocking the shelves that are halfway empty instead of asking emotionally needy questions, host. That way, you can open the store earlier today.]

Hao stared up.

“…Tch.”

Then he grinned.

Raised a hand in a sharp little salute.

‘Ai ai, boss.’

‘Roger that.’

And just like that, he turned and went back to job, smirk glued to his face, absolutely unbothered.

Not long after, he was done. Every shelf now looked fresh and fully stocked.

Hao flipped the little wooden plaque hanging by the door.

“Open.”

He moved behind the counter, stretched once, then leaned both elbows on the surface and stared ahead.

What the hell was the effect of the onigiri anyway?

He didn’t feel anything. No burst of energy. No sudden clarity. No weird side effect either.

Just… tasty.

Hao squinted toward the entrance.

Alright. He’d ask the system about it later.

For now –

A familiar floating screen popped up in front of him.

────────────────

Main Task 1: Sell 100 Soft Served Ice Cream, 50 Wing Blast, and 50 Tuna Mayo Onigiri

Progress: 86/100 Ice Cream, 9/50 Wing Blast & 3/30 Onigiri

Reward: Unlock new feature – Pool Game Billiard. The game will be set up in the store after business hours.

────────────────

Hao narrowed his eyes at the numbers. ‘Hmm…’

He should be able to finish this one within the week. The ice cream was flying off the machine every day, and Wing Blast was finally picking up.

The onigiri though… might need a little marketing push.

Not that he was going to push it.

Well, he couldn’t even if he wanted to.

Nope. He had full faith in the triangular little guy.

It just needed one try. Just one bite from a new customer, and they’d be spiritually bonded for life.

If anything, the onigiri should be selling itself.

The only thing that worried him was the price.

It was now the most expensive product on the shelf, officially dethroning the Original Salted Potato Chips!

Still, Hao believed it would rise to greatness. Maybe even start an empire with its taste alone. A crispy seaweed-wrapped reign.

Then there was the last side task.

Recruiting an employee.

Hao clicked his tongue.

Still no one worth pulling in.

Sure, he could just throw a vest on one of the regulars and call it a day, but… really? Just to finish a task faster?

That was dumb. Straight-up dumb.

He wasn’t doing that. Besides, he’d already winged it enough with his current employees. They ended up working out somehow, but now?

He wanted to do things a little more properly.

Also, if a regular became staff, would they still buy anything?

Probably not.

And that counted as a loss for the store, didn’t it?

Nah. Not worth it.

Better to wait and see. Maybe some new faces would walk through the door soon.

The day passed as uneventfully as it could.

Business moved along, people came and went. There were no new faces.

Night came.

Mo Xixi was behind the counter, slowly nibbling on her Soft Serve Chocolate Ice Cream.

Hao settled by the wall, cultivating quietly.

He had a plan. After his next breakthrough, he would splurge on a new technique from the system’s shop.