It wasn't on the table, either.
Had the coin stayed inside? That was quite a bit of interaction.
The heads-or-tails game was meant to build the atmosphere, of course, but there was no harm in using it for a little test while they were at it.
The person had come back, but the thing he'd given away had remained in the "Inner World."
It seemed less likely now that this was some kind of mental influence or hallucination.
That also fit with how it felt.
There was no frostbite on the surface of his body, but he could still feel discomfort in his lungs as he breathed.
His body had genuinely been put through the wringer. He'd gotten some relief after escaping, but if this happened a few more times, he'd likely be saddled with chronic ailments.
"Indeed. It doesn't taste as good as I expected."
Fu Qian picked up the milk in front of him and took a sip, savoring it carefully. It really was a little blander than before.
Though he still couldn't be sure how the two layers of the world were coupled, time outside didn't seem to stop completely while he was in the Inner World.
Another small conclusion. As Fu Qian took stock of what he'd learned on this trip, he had to admit that the situation had already become horrifyingly dire, all from having breakfast.
A bizarre overlap between worlds, competitors who might retain their supernatural powers, and forces lurking in any ordinary setting that could crush him to pieces...
Some time had passed, but Jane, who had gone into the kitchen, still hadn't come out.
Fortunately, there weren't many customers, and the pancakes smelled good.
Setting down the milk, Fu Qian focused on enjoying his breakfast.
Whether or not Old Man Hack was