Kaguya-sama Wants My Surrender!

"Come, let me open your eyes." 

Under everyone's watchful gaze, Amamiya reached into his pocket and revealed proof of his wealth—a sleek black wallet. 

With deliberate precision, he opened it, revealing a thick stack of large-denomination bills neatly tucked inside. 

Even if one balloon cost 10,000 yen, he had more than enough to buy all the balloons the clown held. 

"Impossible!" 

The clown's grin froze in place, his eyes widening in disbelief at the sight of the money in Amamiya's hand. 

"Nothing is impossible," Amamiya replied calmly, his tone matter-of-fact. "Never underestimate the earning power of this town's top chef." 

Truthfully, working in a restaurant didn't pay much. 

Take Sajuna, for instance. Despite working seven to eight hours straight for the past two days, her salary barely covered basic expenses. The store manager had been fair and punctual in paying her, but the hourly wage was only 600 yen. It was just enough for food and a ticket to the amusement park. 

Amamiya, however, was in a different league. 

All expenses for the group—flyers at the convenience store, water, food, and even amusement park tickets—had been covered by him. 

Where did the money come from? 

For starters, there was his job. Though his wage was only slightly higher than Sajuna's, it was barely worth mentioning. 

Then there was the money he'd "acquired" from the neighbor lady's house when he crossed paths with Komi—a nice little windfall. 

But the real secret to his wealth lay elsewhere. 

Dark Cuisine. 

After changing his profession to "Dark Chef," Amamiya became a culinary legend in the eerie ghost story town. No one, not even the most fearsome entities, dared to challenge his title as the best chef in town. 

Unlike ordinary human food, which had no appeal to ghostly beings, dark cuisine was irresistible. 

From slit-mouthed women to two-faced ladies and bandaged men, every ghost story visitor left his restaurant fully satisfied, rating the food with glowing reviews. 

After finishing their meals, many couldn't even stand up straight. Legs wobbly, bodies sticky with sweat, they clung to the tables for support. Their spirits both nourished and thrilled, many left generous tips. 

Take Miss Sakurako, for example. The first to sample his dark cuisine, she'd been so delighted that she tipped him tens of thousands of yen. 

Through careful observation, Amamiya discovered that female ghosts—those who outwardly presented as women—tended to tip more generously than their male counterparts. 

He catered to their preferences with meticulous care, offering attentive, first-class service. 

And so, it became clear: 

Serving wealthy ladies well leads to rapid wealth accumulation. 

"Give me a balloon," Amamiya said casually as he pulled out a crisp, high-denomination bill and handed it to the clown. 

The clown hesitated, his expression a mix of bewilderment and resignation. Silently, he took the money and handed over a pink balloon. 

Amamiya accepted it, and the system's identification voice promptly echoed in his mind: 

[Item: Clown Balloon (Pink)] 

[Type: Consumable. This item can be stored in the game inventory and carried out of the dungeon space.] 

[Attributes: When given to vengeful spirits, ghost stories, monsters, etc., their favorability toward you will significantly increase. Note that the effect diminishes over time.] 

[Note: No one can resist the charm of a pink heart-shaped balloon that symbolizes love!] 

"So, it's a game item," Amamiya thought to himself, immediately recalling the octopus Paul from the ghost ship. Back then, he'd also encountered items that could be carried out of the dungeon space. 

No wonder the clown claimed the balloons were worth it. This one certainly had its uses. 

As for whether or not the purchase was a bargain? Well, that was up for debate. 

"Here." 

Amamiya handed the balloon to the pink haired girl with big boobs beside him. 

Chika accepted it, her eyes widening as soon as she heard the game notification. 

"Hey, it's actually a game prop?" 

As the balloons were passed around, everyone quickly learned about the game's appraisal system. 

Sajuna tilted her head curiously. 

"I thought it might be a cursed item." 

"So Mr. Clown is actually a treasure monster, like Paul the Octopus," Umi remarked, placing her hand on her hip. "I totally thought he was a bad guy." 

The clown: "…" 

I asked you humans to exchange your body parts for balloons… When did I become a good person? 

"Mr. Clown." Amamiya turned to the now somewhat dazed clown. "I'll take all your balloons." 

"…" 

The sheer display of wealth and power left the clown momentarily stunned. 

The humans in front of him seemed completely different from the others he had encountered. 

A short while later, the deal was done. 

Amamiya now owned over a dozen balloons, all verified as game-certified props that could be taken out of the dungeon space. 

Each balloon had a distinct effect based on its color: 

- Pink balloons could be gifted to forcibly increase favorability. 

- Black balloons could absorb a single attack or curse. 

- Blue balloons helped maintain sanity. 

The utility of these balloons was undeniably impressive. 

"Mr. Clown, do you have any more balloons?" Amamiya asked, noticing the clown's now-empty hands. "We'll buy them all if you do." 

The clown: "…" 

On this day, the clown truly learned what it meant to be rich and powerful. 

With the balloons sold out, the clown, honoring their agreement, led the group to find the player Ryoko. 

A short walk later, they arrived at a small wooden building tucked into an inconspicuous corner. 

"This is the staff dormitory. Your companion is inside," the clown said, tipping the brim of his hat. 

Amamiya narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. 

"So, the animated mascots are actually employees of the amusement park?" 

"That's correct." The clown's grin widened. "To provide guests with a welcoming experience, all the creatures in the amusement park are played by real people. If you'd gone into the haunted house earlier, you'd have met some very entertaining employees." 

"Wait a minute," the passerby girl interjected hurriedly. "Since they're employees, Ryoko-chan won't get hurt, right?" 

"As long as no rules of the amusement park are broken, guest safety is guaranteed," the clown replied smoothly. "However…" He leaned in slightly, his tone turning pointed. "Your friend didn't buy a ticket and entered the park illegally, correct?" 

"In that case, her safety can't be guaranteed." 

Kobayashi bit her lip, unable to respond. 

Umi patted her shoulder reassuringly. 

"At least we know where your friend is now. The next step is finding a way to get her out." 

"No, no~" the clown chimed in, flashing a sly smile. "The staff dormitory is a restricted area. Even as esteemed guests, you cannot simply barge in. There are seven or eight employees inside. If you enter without permission, you'll be classified as intruders—and will almost certainly be attacked." 

"So…" The clown spread his arms theatrically, his grin growing even more sinister. "How about we strike another deal?" 

His voice dripped with confidence as he added, "If the reward is high enough, I can personally help retrieve your friend for you."