Chapter 23
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Delivery into the Dungeon
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Calm down, Senior Mimi."
"How can I calm down?!"
"If we want revenge, we need to build up our strength first."
"Hah. Such profound wisdom...?"
The two summoned creatures began scanning the hunters passing by on the street with the eyes of an eagle.
They were trying to figure out which one of them was the culprit.
'If they get caught, they're dead!'
Moon Chae-ryeon quickly stopped Mimi and Sol-chan as they poked just their heads out of the bag and shot glares at the passersby.
"That's enough. We couldn't even identify who did it anyway."
"But..."
"It's fine. I half-expected a cold reception."
'When I got that bonus quest to hunt dungeon monster meat, even I could hardly believe it.'
Who could have imagined it? That dungeon monster meat, trashy and tasteless as it was, could be transformed into the finest ingredient through a skill.
"That's why I brought the [Portable Kitchen Anywhere!] so I could cook on the spot. Don't get discouraged already! Once they taste the dish I make with sandworm meat, even those fools who jumped to badmouth it will change their minds."
After receiving nothing but five-star rave reviews for her first and second orders, Chae-ryeon had full confidence in her cooking.
'Just one bite, and they'll drop all their prejudices.'
At that point, she'd even be willing to give extra pieces if they begged for more sandworm meat. Well, unless they offered more than the listed price of 2,000 gold, that is.
"Let's show those fools who don't know the true value of this sandworm meat what they're missing!"
Mimi and Sol-chan were moved by Chae-ryeon's resolute attitude.
"As expected of the Owner...! Such a positive mindset is truly admirable! We'll follow your example!"
"Excellent. For the complete sell-out of the sandworm meat that you painstakingly hunted even as you were on the verge of passing out, I'll give it my all too!"
"Alright! Let's do this!"
"Yes!"
"Sol-chan, can you transform into a human and man the counter? I'll go inside the portable kitchen with Mimi to prepare the sandworm meat."
"Understood!"
Chae-ryeon spread out the [Portable Kitchen Anywhere!] on the booth floor. A tent shaped like a gingerbread house appeared.
"I'll go in first and come out transformed into a human."
"Good idea. It wouldn't do us any good if someone spotted a summoned creature turning human."
'My awakener rank is already measured at B. If they see a summoned creature with mysterious powers on top of that, it'll raise suspicions...'
S-Rank Hunters were treated as quasi-public figures, and Chae-ryeon had no desire to live a suffocating daily life under scrutiny.
All she wanted was the joy of cooking and selling food.
Sol-chan nodded and entered the portable kitchen. Moments later, a tidy young man with brown hair and green eyes stepped out.
"I'll sell like crazy!"
Tying a navy-blue apron tightly around his waist, Sol-chan steeled his resolve for a total sell-out.
"Mimi and I will whip up something so aromatic that customers can't resist."
"We'll make the most delicious dish ever and flatten the noses of those rude people from before!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Chae-ryeon scooped up Mimi and entered the portable kitchen.
As before, a spacious, spotless shop with an attached kitchen welcomed them.
'Come to think of it... Last time, I finished cooking but left without doing the dishes, yet it's perfectly clean, like someone tidied up.'
Confirming the pristine kitchen—not a single drop of water splatter in sight—Chae-ryeon asked Mimi in surprise.
"Mimi, did you and Sol-chan sneak in and clean up while I was passed out?"
"Pardon? No, Owner. While you were unconscious and recovering, we tried to enter and clean, but it was already spotless by then."
"Really...?"
"It seems this portable kitchen has the ability to automatically clean up all traces of our cooking."
Chae-ryeon's face lit up like a flower at Mimi's words.
'Jackpot! Cleaning up after cooking is a chore in itself—this is an amazing item!'
"Great! So, what should we make? The texture's like shrimp, and the flavor's similar to chicken, so something that plays to those strengths...?"
As Chae-ryeon pondered, Mimi made some suggestions.
"Hmm... To lure customers, we need an enticing aroma. How about a soup-based dish?"
"Like noodles? Cold noodles or ramen could work."
The sandworm meat was juicy enough to make a great broth.
'A rich stock from meat like this would definitely be popular.'
Noodles were a hit street food, so it wasn't a bad choice.
"Hm... But our goal this time isn't just to sell food—it's to sell the sandworm meat itself."
The noodles would only serve as samples.
'If we make noodles the main item, it'll increase our side costs...'
Today, the priority was selling the raw sandworm meat. Not cooked dishes.
"Why is that? As long as we sell monster meat, isn't that good enough?"
As she pulled out cooking tools, Chae-ryeon answered Mimi's question.
"Because from now on, we'll be getting plenty of 'delicious' monster meat."
With the [Become My Ingredient!] skill, she could obtain tasty dungeon monster meat anytime.
Today's mission was to imprint on people that this system-approved, flavorful and nutritious monster meat was worth buying regularly.
"Right now, no one sees monster meat as a good ingredient. Just look—no one's selling it anywhere."
But if Chae-ryeon succeeded in selling the one and only delicious monster meat here, the profits would be enormous.
No other hunter could sell tasty monster meat like she could. Monopolizing even one product line was an opportunity she couldn't pass up.
"...Assuming this sale goes well, that is. Haha."
'I'm worried because bad rumors might already be spreading on SNS...'
She was putting on a strong front in front of her summons, but the situation was concerning.
The image of tasteless dungeon monster meat was too ingrained—could she really change that easily?
In fact, no one was even approaching Chae-ryeon's booth. They just sneered from afar and walked on.
"With the Owner's skills, it'll surely work out!"
'Ugh, so cute!'
Chae-ryeon hugged Mimi tight and rubbed her cheeks against her.
"It has to! To keep feeding you and Sol-chan only the best, I need to hustle."
"Waaah! We're counting on you!"
Excited, they debated menu options and soon hit on a brilliant idea.
"Ah! How about making dumplings?"
"Dumplings?"
"The key to dumplings is the delicious filling. With sandworm meat's shrimp-like texture and chicken-like flavor, mixed with veggies, it could make an amazing meat filling!"
"...That's perfect! We can make them small for sampling—easy to eat—and if customers want more, we can sell them packaged separately too!"
Perfect. Dumplings it is!
With the tasting menu decided, Chae-ryeon and Mimi divided tasks—filling and wrappers—and got to work.
Steaming the sample dumplings in the steamer brought out a burst of juicy flavor that exploded in the mouth.
"Delicious!"
"Super yummy!"
'No way customers can resist this!'
...That's what they hoped.
Two hours later.
Chae-ryeon's booth was still deserted, not a fly in sight.
"...Why! Why won't anyone even glance our way?!"
Mimi wailed.
Despite their heartfelt efforts making dumplings with the sandworm meat and touting them enthusiastically, every single hunter turned up their nose without a second look.
"The power of prejudice is immense..."
Exhausted from futile hawking, Chae-ryeon slumped over her chair like a ragdoll.
Sol-chan drooped beside her like a broken kite.
"Indeed... Even with the delicious aroma wafting out, no customers come."
"They probably think the smell is from some item-based smokescreen. More believable than monster meat being tasty..."
"No way..."
"It's heartbreaking and infuriating, but... the Owner's guess sounds right. No one even wants to look at the sandworm meat we're selling..."
Mimi's ears drooped limply. Moisture gathered in her red eyes.
"It's such precious meat that you worked so hard to hunt, Owner... It hurts my heart that they can't see its true value."