I was just fishing, how did I become a Great Old One?

A serialized story set on a street corner in the city.

In front of that dilapidated ramen shop with the red "NO.999" emergency sign, a project called "All-Round Home Makeover King"... no, it's "All-Round Comic Remake King" is in full swing.

Originally, this shop was like a product of a mischievous child's random doodles in the corner of a textbook.

The lines are crooked and the perspective is completely wrong.

The walls were drafty, and the roof was collapsed.

Even the words on the signboard appear broken and discontinuous due to insufficient ink, revealing a strong sense of poverty and perfunctory workmanship.

But now, everything has changed.

Holding the Genesis Pen, Jiang Li resembled a master of traditional Chinese painting wielding his brush, or a top-tier cartoonist meticulously refining a draft.

He stood in front of the shop, the tip of his pen dancing in the air.

brush brush --

As the pen tip glides across the paper, the originally rough and broken lines are instantly repaired, straightened, and thickened.

That was a qualitative leap.

It's like evolving directly from a casually drawn "stick figure sketch" to a "theatrical high-definition CG".

The originally rickety wooden pillars have been transformed into antique-style mahogany with strong lines and clearly visible grain.

The originally dilapidated signboard was transformed by Jiang Li, who used the thickest marker to write several large, flamboyant characters:

【Deep Blue · Midnight Diner】.

The edges of the characters also have sharp strokes, which are special effects drawn with "killing intent", making people feel at a glance that this store is not simple.

"Ergou! Go and clean that backdrop over there!"

"Odin! Stop posing and go erase those unnecessary guide lines!"

Thanks to everyone's efforts.

Just half an hour.

This small, run-down shop, which was on the verge of being "cut off" and wiped out by the rules of the world, has been completely transformed.

It stands on the street corner, its exquisite style almost out of place.

The walls are covered with fine gray halftone paper to create a sense of texture.

Highlights were painted on the windows to emphasize the transparency of the glass.

Even the lanterns at the entrance have a built-in "glowing layer" effect.

……

"The shop is ready."

Jiang Li stood in the brand-new kitchen (although it was open-plan, as it only had three walls).

He put on the white apron that had been drawn on it, and tied a headband with the words "Victory is certain" written on it.

"Next comes the most important part—the dishes."

"In this fiercely competitive online serialization city, decorating alone is not enough to survive and improve your ranking."

"There must be... a flavor that can pierce the soul."

Jiang Li's gaze fell on the "storyboard" that Er Gou had carried back on the cutting board.

The Ink Demon, whom they captured earlier, is imprisoned there.

This black, viscous mass, made up of resentment from discarded drafts, is now trembling inside the grid.

It sensed the terrifying appetite emanating from that "colorful demon".

"Hehehe..."

Jiang Li revealed a villainous smile.

"Don't be afraid."

"I won't kill you."

"I just want to... borrow your body for a while."

"As the purest ink in the world, your flavor must be very rich, right?"

Jiang Li reached out and directly into the storyboard frame.

His palms were covered with a layer of Gluttony God Power, ignoring the corrosiveness of the Ink Demon.

"Grab!"

He scooped out a large clump of shiny black slime.

Its texture was thick and smooth, exuding a faint scent of ink, and a strange... seafood smell?

"really."

Jiang Li's eyes lit up.

"Just like squid ink in the three-dimensional world, it's rich in amino acids and a natural umami enhancer!"

"Take it off the heat!"

Jiang Li waved his hand.

A huge, realistically styled black iron cauldron appeared on the stove.

"ignition!"

He drew a brightly lit, burning fire on the bottom of the pot.

"Sizzle sizzle—"

The Ink Demon was thrown into the pot.

The originally violent resentment was quickly decomposed and transformed under the suppression of the high temperature and the gluttony rule.

The lines of the draft, which represented "chaos," were boiled away.

All that's left is the purest black broth.

It was as deep as the night and as smooth as silk—[Premium Black Gold Broth].

……

"The soup is ready, but what about the noodles?"

Jiang Li looked around.

There is no flour, no wheat here.

Only paper and lines.

"Ordinary lines are too stiff and lack chewiness."

"I need a kind of line that inherently possesses 'resilience' and 'dynamism'."

Jiang Li's gaze searched the air.

Sudden.

He saw a passerby running down the street.

The passerby ran very fast, leaving a long trail of straight, dense lines behind him, representing speed.

Speed ​​Lines.

This is a unique expressive technique used in comics.

"That's it!"

Jiang Li's eyes lit up.

"A noodle that can express speed must be really chewy! It might even be springy!"

"Ergou! Go! Get me a speed gauge!"

"Woof!"

Er Gou transformed into a streak of black and white lightning and rushed out.

A short while later.

It ran back with a handful of straight lines still trembling in the air and making a "whooshing" sound in its mouth.

These lines are not static; they will jump around like live fish in your hand.

"Great ingredients!"

Jiang Li grabbed these speed lines.

It feels slightly cool to the touch and has an excellent feel, like extremely thin dragon whisker noodles.

"Put it in the pot!"

The speed line enters the water.

"Splash—"

It didn't become soft and mushy; instead, it became even firmer in the boiling black broth.

They absorbed the umami flavor of the ink, turning from white to translucent black, each one swimming in the soup as if ready to pounce at any moment.

"Out of the pot!"

Jiang Li flicked his wrist.

Black noodles fly into a white porcelain bowl (painted).

Pour a spoonful of rich black and gold broth over it.

It's also served with a few slices of fish cake cut with the [dialogue box] (the texture is crisp and tender).

Finally, sprinkle with chopped green onions cut from halftone paper.

【Special Black Gold Squid Ink Instant Ramen】.

Completed!

This bowl of noodles was just made.

Although it doesn't glow (because this is a black and white comic).

But above it, several huge, bold, and vibrating onomatopoeic words automatically appeared:

【GULU GULU……】(Sound of stewing)

【SHINE!!!】 (Sound effect of dazzling lights)

An extremely powerful fragrance instantly broke through the dimensional barrier, permeating the entire street corner.

……

The noodles are ready.

But the problem is... nobody comes.

After all, this is a bottom-ranked store, number 999.

In the serialized city, the residents are all very realistic.

They only eat at the top 100 restaurants, feeling that it's safer and more prestigious that way.

People avoid these dilapidated shops that are about to be shut down, afraid of getting tainted by bad luck.

A full ten minutes.

Although the aroma was enticing, passersby only glanced at it briefly before covering their noses and running away.

"Tsk, even the best wine needs advertising."

Jiang Li frowned.

"Looks like we need to use some hardcore marketing tactics."

He turned to look at Tangyuan, who was drooling as he lay on the table.

"Tangyuan, stop looking."

"An army is raised for a thousand days, but used for only one."

"Now is your time to show off your talent."

"Go, take this bowl of noodles and stand at the door."

"No need to shout or hand out flyers."

"You only need to do one thing—eat."

"Eat it as heartily as possible! Shout as loudly as possible!"

Upon hearing that there was food to eat, Tangyuan's eyes instantly turned into stars.

"Yes, Father!"

It carried the bowl of noodles, which was bigger than its face, and trotted happily to the door.

then.

Take a deep breath.

Open your mouth wide.

"Slurp—!!"

The sound of slurping noodles is not an ordinary sound wave.

Under the protection of the rules of the comic book world.

That sound instantly materialized.

What appeared was an enormous onomatopoeic word, with exaggeratedly jagged edges, filled with striking dots:

【SLURP！！！！！！】

It appeared out of thin air above the shop.

This character is too big.

It's as tall as a three-story building.

It's like a giant neon sign hanging in mid-air, not only visually striking but also with an echo effect.

"Slurp...slurp...slurp..."

The sound was like a demonic chant.

With the smooth texture of the noodles and the rich flavor of the broth, it went straight into the ears of all the passersby.

……

Across the street.

A passerby (Character A) who was on the road stopped.

It looks very casual.

There are no facial features, only a cross line to indicate the direction of the face.

The body is also the simplest stick figure structure.

This is the lowest-level existence in a serialized urban novel—a background extra.

It was originally going to buy soy sauce.

But that enormous "SLURP!!!" sound was like a hook, forcefully seducing its soul.

"Gulp..."

It swallowed uncontrollably (even though it didn't have a throat).

"Such a...smelly voice..."

"What...is that smell?"

Its foot turned uncontrollably.

One step, two steps.

Like a hypnotized zombie, it staggered to the entrance of the Deep Blue Shop.

Watching him devour the glutinous rice balls.

Look at those shiny black noodles.

"Um... boss..."

The passerby's voice was very faint, and the bubbles were very small.

"Could I...have a bowl?"

"I have ink spots... I have ink spots that have been accumulating for a long time..."

Jiang Li smiled slightly.

"certainly."

"Welcome! You are our first customer."

"I'll give you a 20% discount on this bowl of noodles."

"Only 88 ink dots are needed."

The passerby trembled as he pulled out all his savings.

Jiang Li handed it a steaming bowl of black gold ramen.

Passerby A is holding a bowl.

Its hands were trembling.

In this cruel world, a backdrop like this, which could disappear at any moment, has never enjoyed such exquisite food.

It picked up the chopsticks.

Pick up a mouthful of noodles with your chopsticks.

Put it in your mouth.

……

Quiet.

A deathly silence.

The passerby froze.

one second.

two seconds.

Sudden.

"boom!!!"

Behind the passerby, a huge, radial cluster of "focus lines" suddenly exploded.

Followed by.

Something magic happened.

Its face, which was originally just a blank canvas.

actually……

It actually grew facial features!

First, the eyebrows—sword-like brows and bright eyes!

Then there are the eyes, those are the kind of eyes only a protagonist in a shoujo manga deserves—[Kashilan Big Eyes]!

Countless tiny stars twinkled in his pupils.

Your nose looks more defined now!

Your lips are rosy!

Even its matchstick-like body swelled up as if it were being inflated.

Muscles are bulging! The lines are clearly defined!

The clothes, which were originally tattered (just a few lines), at this moment...

"Sizzle—"

[Her clothes ripped off!]

His clothes ripped open, revealing his muscular upper body.

In its background, countless blooming roses and falling cherry blossom petals appeared out of thin air (dot effect).

What is this?

This is a sudden change in art style!

This is a direct evolution from a "draft passerby" to a "cover male lead"!

"So...delicious!!!!"

Passerby A (now Handsome Man A) let out a deafening roar.

Its dialog box has been transformed into a fancy, decorative bubble that only appears when expressing extreme emotions.

"I felt it!"

"I felt the depth of life!"

"These chewy noodles are like a race on my tongue!"

"This rich broth is like an ocean of ink, engulfing me!"

"I...I'm not just a background character anymore!"

"I am the protagonist! At this moment... I am the protagonist of the world!"

It cried (shedding pearly tears) while frantically stuffing noodles into its mouth.

This scene.

Extremely impactful.

The passersby who had been watching were all dumbfounded.

"Holy crap?!"

"That random passerby... he's gotten handsome?"

"Did you get plastic surgery after eating a bowl of noodles?"

"Even the art style has changed! That's the kind of art style you only see in the top ten masterpieces!"

"Could it be... that bowl of noodles... contained the legendary 'protagonist halo'?"

boom--

The crowd erupted in uproar.

In this world where looks and art style matter.

Nothing is more tempting than "becoming more beautiful", "becoming more refined", and "enhancing one's presence".

All restraint and fear were thrown to the back of their minds at this moment.

"I want some too!"

"I want to become handsome too!"

"Boss! Give me one bowl! No! Ten bowls!"

"I have money! I have my own stash of money!"

Countless stick figures and sketch figures with simple lines rushed over like a zombie apocalypse.

The once deserted shop was instantly packed with customers.

……

"Line up! Line up!"

Odin, holding a spear, acted as a security guard, maintaining order.

"Anyone who dares to cut in line, I'll censor them with a mosaic!"

"Abel! Serve the food! Quickly!"

"Ergou! Stop stealing food! Go wash the dishes!"

Jiang Li was extremely busy in the kitchen.

But his paintbrush remained perfectly still.

brush brush --

One bowl after another of black gold ramen was drawn, cooked, and served.

Every diner who eats the noodles will experience a jaw-dropping "transformation".

Some of them grew long, flowing hair.

Some of them grew sexy red lips.

Some even grew wings (special effect).

The entire shop was filled with all sorts of onomatopoeic words:

【YUMMY!】(Delicious)

【DELICIOUS!】

【OHHHHHH!】 (Ascension)

There are so many onomatopoeic words that they're almost enough to blow the roof off.

And with rave reviews.

The red number sign at the entrance of the shop, which originally represented danger.

It started pounding wildly.

【NO.999】

【NO.800】

【NO.500】

……

The numbers are decreasing rapidly.

This means that the store's ranking in the serialized city is skyrocketing.

The physical presence of stores is also increasing.

The walls became more solid and even began to expand automatically, engulfing the adjacent open space and growing a second and third floor.

What was once a shabby little shop is now being transformed into a magnificent culinary palace.

In just half a day.

That number remained frozen at—[NO.99].

Breaking into the top 100!

This is absolutely a miracle in the history of serialized urban novels.

An out-of-town shop with no background suddenly appeared and managed to turn its fortunes around from "pre-orders halved" to "rising star" in just one day.

……

however.

The wood is beautiful in the forest, and the wind will destroy it.

The aroma of noodles wafts through the alley, and even ghosts will be tempted.

Just as Jiang Li was about to put up the "Sold Out Today" sign.

A chilling unease suddenly swept through the end of the street.

As if sensing something terrifying, the crowd quickly moved aside, clearing a wide path.

A luxurious carriage pulled by four unicorns (with exquisitely drawn graphics and flashing effects) slowly came to a stop in front of the shop.

On the carriage, there was a golden badge engraved:

【NO.10 · A Grand Feast】

These are top-ten restaurants! They are the beneficiaries of this city's status quo!

The car door opened.

No chef came down.

Instead, a thin man wearing a tuxedo, carrying a notebook, and wearing a monocle stepped down.

His painting style is very unique.

His mouth... is particularly large.

Moreover, his tongue was not an ordinary tongue, but a forked tongue dripping with green venom—[Nobuta].

He held a pen in his hand.

That's not a paintbrush, but a red pen (specifically used for marking and correcting mistakes).

The Critic.

He was a henchman employed by "Grand Feast" and was specifically responsible for "tasting" newly emerging shops.

He only needs to say "it's not good" or put a red cross on the dish.

That store's ranking will plummet instantly, and it might even go out of business.

His mouth is like a knife that kills without drawing blood.

"hehe……"

Kritik stood in the doorway, licking his lips with his forked tongue.

He looked at the bustling shop, a cold glint of jealousy and murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

"I heard... there's a new store here, and it's pretty arrogant."

"How dare they steal our VIP banquet's customers?"

"I'd like to try this so-called Black Gold Ramen..."

"Can they withstand the blow of my 'sharp tongue'?"

He pushed open the door and went inside.

A cold gust of wind instantly extinguished the few lanterns in the shop.

The diners who were eating noodles were trembling with fear and lowered their heads, afraid of being noticed by this evil star.

Jiang Li wiped her hands and walked out of the kitchen.

He looked at the ill-intentioned critic.

Instead of being afraid, she smiled even more brightly.

Welcome!

"Look at your tongue, sir..."

"Are you feeling a bit 'heaty'?"

"Perfect timing, I have a hidden dish here that's a cure for bad breath."

"Should we... give it a try?"