Chapter 156

 

“Are you saying someone got ahead of us?”

We had just arrived here. Moreover, Nox was also following behind us. This meant someone had entered faster than both Cheon Rang and Nox…

“How many S-class hunters do we have here to be concerned about who’s in the lead?”

As I asked incredulously, Lim Dan, who had somehow noticed and approached us, looked around with sharp eyes and said.

“If we collected all the time you spent wandering around gathering materials, we could have climbed another floor by now.”

“You’ve been drinking my potions just fine, so why are you complaining?”

“I-I told you I’d pay you back later…!”

As I was squabbling with Lim Dan who had come over to pick a fight again, Seong San-ha stood up, dusting off his hands, and said.

“They’re very meticulous. There are no traces other than this. It’s unknown how many there are or how long they stayed.”

“Hmph, it’s shameful that we didn’t notice anything until we reached the 16th floor. The next floor is a cave, right? Perfect place for an ambush.”

“Rather than speeding up, it’s more important to protect Eui-jin safely until we reach the 20th floor. Well, we can use Nox for now.”

After quietly listening to Lim Dan and Seong San-ha’s conversation, I asked:

“Have the cultists already caught up?”

“There’s only one group that would go this far… The next floor will be too dangerous for camping, so it’s better to stay on the 16th floor tonight. It’s early, but let’s set up camp.”

Wariness spread across the hunters’ faces upon hearing that cultists had caught up. Ironically, I was the most calm person among them. 

Even though I knew I and Hamal were their targets, I didn’t feel any fear, perhaps because I’d never directly encountered them. Maybe I had something else I feared more.

Although there was no way the news could have spread so quickly, I looked back at the Nox bastards who were already preparing to camp. Lim Dan, with narrowed eyes, grumbled.

“Those bastards definitely have someone planted here.”

***

Since base camps are ultimately set up by the hunters who arrive first, it was natural for them to become more rudimentary as the difficulty increased. Tents were made lighter and furnishings reduced, leaving only what was essential for camping.

In the previous 15th floor, there were at least makeshift beds and pillows, but now we had to lie down on blankets spread on the ground. I knew I should be grateful that there were tents to cover us from the sky, given that the tower was the focus of everyone’s attention, but I couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

As I was arranging boxes in a row and making potions, the smell of food wafted in from outside.

“This is…”

The smell of grilled beef that I love! As if entranced, I left the tent and looked around before walking toward the source of the smell. They must have spread butter and grilled shrimp too. The stronger the aroma became, the more I salivated. 

As I trudged along, my shoulder was suddenly gripped with strong force.

“Hey! Where are you going?”

“Boss.”

When I turned around, Lim Dan and Cheong were looking at me.

“Where are you going alone? That direction is toward Nox.”

“What?”

As Lim Dan said, the boundary with Nox was suddenly right in front of me. Having filled my stomach with dried rations for the past few days since we ran out of fresh food, I must have been momentarily entranced.

Flustered, I rolled my eyes and gulped down the saliva that had pooled in my mouth, which made Lim Dan’s eyes narrow.

“Don’t tell me you were lured by beef?”

“What are you talking about? As if I would be tempted by mere beef…”

“…Wipe the drool from your mouth before you speak.”

At Lim Dan’s words, I brought my hand to my mouth, and Cheong silently handed me a small handkerchief. 

As I awkwardly accepted it, I sensed movement ahead. Two large dogs had approached us. Lim Dan grimaced and grabbed my arm.

“Aren’t those Tae Jae-heon’s dogs? Let’s go back.”

“No. Tae Jae-heon isn’t here.”

“How would you know that?”

“Well…”

Root, who looked like he was barely restraining himself from rushing at me, and Rune, who pretended not to be interested by turning his head away but was clearly paying attention with his ears perked up.

Without saying anything else, both dogs’ tails were wagging uncontrollably. Root might be a bit loose, but Rune was smart and would never get distracted by other people in front of his master. The fact that they were acting like this meant that Tae Jae-heon was not within sight.

Well, it’s not like I could play with the dogs in this situation anyway. As I was about to turn back, the dogs suddenly went behind a tree and returned with large pieces of meat in their mouths. 

I hesitated at the sudden delicious smell, but they started tearing into the meat while keeping their eyes fixed on me, as if showing off. When they sat down and began to eat the meat with loud chomping sounds, I finally realized they were teasing me.

“Damn, so that’s why they came… Hey!!”

“Woof!”

“I’m not jealous at all! You prefer raw meat anyway, so stop pretending it’s delicious.”

Rune snorted and turned his attention back to the meat. As I was momentarily distracted by the bursting meat juices, Lim Dan grabbed me and shook me.

“Hey, hey! Snap out of it. You’re not an amoeba—don’t fall for something like that!”

“I’m not falling for it. …Let’s go back now.”

I turned my back, leaving behind Root’s sad whimpering.

Tae Hae-heon probably didn’t send them to tease me, but it irked me that he gave beef to the dogs as if to show off.

It’s not like I don’t have beef; I just don’t have potions. I’ll make something much more delicious and impressive than beef.

I returned straight to the tent and headed toward the central hearth, where cooking was in full swing, with my arms full of ingredients.

“Ah, Eui-jin nim. It’s almost done.”

“No, I want to make something myself.”

“You’re going to cook yourself, Eui-jin nim?”

The hunter on duty, holding a ladle, looked at me with a bewildered expression and stepped back.

“Here, you can use these ingredients and tools.”

“Thanks.”

I filled an empty pot with water and dropped in monster meat, which was famous for being tough.

‘I guess fruit would taste better than herbs?’

As I placed the pot on the fire and pondered which ingredients to add, a hunter who had been watching from behind hesitantly approached me.

“Are you making dinner yourself?”

“Yes.”

“Could we possibly ask you to cook for us too? We’ll handle the preparation and ingredient supply if you would just direct us…”

“It would be such an honor to eat food touched by Master Eui-jin’s hands.”

“Please!”

It seemed everyone had been watching, as they all rushed over and started asking. Finding myself with a large pot and ladle in hand, I looked at the hunters gathered like clouds before me and grinned.

“Alright, trust me!”

“Woohoo!”

“Kang Eui-jin! Kang Eui-jin!”

Because there were so many ingredients gathered as we climbed the tower, I rolled up my sleeves, ready to show off my skills.

Since there were more people, I needed more meat and more fruit… Ah, while we’re eating, wouldn’t it be nice if it had potion effects too?

Clapping my hands at this brilliant idea, I took out various ingredients from my inventory.

Gray orc fluid, a handful of lycanthrope fur, jam made from rock mushroom spores, and cave moss—these should give some nice additional options.

It might taste a bit bitter, so I’ll add three or four pink slimes for sweetness…

This was my first time cooking, but I realized it wasn’t much different from making potions. Since it was my first attempt, it seemed even more fun.

‘I might have talent for this. Should I sell food at my workshop too?’

Humming happily at this pleasant thought, I stirred the pot. The thick, dark green stew mixed together, emitting sparkles like stardust.

***

Zero, Lim Dan, and Seong San-ha looked down at their bowls in turn, swallowing hard.

“What is this? Finding this in my bowl can only be explained as someone’s attempt to frame me.”

“Are you seriously expecting me to eat this…? Come on, stop joking and give me real food.”

“Hmm…”

“I made it. Try it quickly!”

I watched them with expectant eyes. That’s when Cheong picked up a spoon and took the first bite. After putting the special stew in his mouth, Cheong-i flinched noticeably.

“…!”

“Lim Cheong! Don’t eat it, give it here!”

Lim Dan was startled and tried to take the bowl away, but Cheong protected it and smiled at me.

“As expected from something the boss made, the taste… it has effects.”

“I knew it! Then I’ll go serve it to the others too!”

Since there were many people waiting for my cooking, I didn’t stay to watch the three eat and hurried back to the serving area. I wanted to serve it personally to acknowledge their courage.

“I’ve never had food like this before in my life…”

“Wow, wow… This is…”

“…Thank you, Eui-jin nim.”

As expected, exclamations of amazement erupted among the hunters who had started eating first.

“Huh! Ugh.”

“It’s a buff… Eating food gave me a buff… Urgh.”

“This isn’t food!!”

I turned around puzzled, only to lock eyes with the guy who had screamed and then froze in place.

“Hm? What did you say?”

“W-well, I meant that this is a magnificent creation that transcends the limits of ordinary food…”

The corners of my mouth twitched at the flattering words.

See, my food is better than beef, just as I said.

“You, come here when you’re done. I’ll give you another bowl.”

“No! Please…”

Since it was my first time cooking, I couldn’t gauge the quantity properly, and the special stew ran out with several people still waiting. One hunter even seemed on the verge of tears when the stew ran out right before his turn.

“…Lucky…”

“Sorry. Tomorrow I’ll definitely make plenty and give each of you two bowls!”

Everyone gulped down the stew like crazy and returned their empty bowls. As I watched them with satisfaction, Seong San-ha, who looked somewhat tired for some reason, approached me holding an empty bowl.

“…Puppy. From tomorrow, you’re banned from the hearth.”

“What?”