Chapter 24
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Delivering into the Dungeon
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"I feel the same way. This sandworm meat isn't just tasty—it's packed with nutrients and holds real value from a nutritional science perspective... But everyone avoids it like it's something cursed. It really gets to me."
Manager Sol-chan took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. Chae-ryeon could tell he was pretending they were itchy to hide the tears welling up, just like with Mimi.
"...Sorry. It's my fault you two are going through this."
With such an expensive ingredient, she'd had high hopes for today's sales. The disappointment hit hard.
'This must be what it was like back when potatoes or tomatoes were first discovered.'
Chae-ryeon let out a sigh.
When potatoes from South America first reached the West through colonial conquests, people called them "devil's food" and shunned them.
They were scared of this unfamiliar ingredient and dismissed it as dangerous without even tasting it.
There were even cases where people ate potatoes that had sprouted, got sick from the toxins in the sprouts, and wrongly concluded they were inedible.
In reality, potatoes are best eaten before sprouting, and if they have sprouted, you just remove the sprouts.
Ignorant folks only realized their mistake after starving commoners started eating them out of desperation. Potatoes became a beloved staple ever since.
'Tomatoes were the same. They were grown only as ornamentals at first, but once someone picked one and ate it in front of everyone, people relaxed and started eating them too.'
That's why Chae-ryeon had prepared samples. But apparently, it wasn't enough to convince the suspicious hunters.
"This is bad... How can we change the hunters' minds?"
The lifeblood of ingredients was freshness. She couldn't just go back without selling any of this freshly caught, precious sandworm meat.
"Urgh..."
"Hmm..."
The two summons put their heads together with her, but no brilliant ideas emerged.
This was their first time setting up a stall at the Hunter Market to sell goods.
'Above all, it's hard to think of an easy way to break through that wall of entrenched prejudice...'
Even if she ate her sandworm dumplings in front of them like with tomatoes, what if they still didn't believe her?
They'd probably accuse her of using regular meat and scamming them rather than admit it was delicious monster meat.
"If someone could lend me an idea to turn this around, I'd reward them with as many tasty dishes as they wanted..."
"Really? Then maybe I can help?"
"Mommy!"
Smack.
Startled by the sudden voice, Chae-ryeon reflexively attacked the intruder.
She'd punched him right in the face.
"Argh!"
"Ow!"
"Gasp!"
"Th-the boss hit a person...!"
Mimi and Sol-chan panicked, while Chae-ryeon floundered in apology.
"Oh no. S-sorry! I was so startled that I..."
"Ow ow... It's f-fine. I startled someone who was just standing there peacefully."
The man who'd spoken to her held his reddening nose, wincing in pain but gracious all the same.
"Th-thank you. Um... who are you? Are you a customer here...?"
Chae-ryeon asked skeptically, and the nameless man smiled brightly.
"Only hunters can enter the Hunter Market, so of course I'm here as a customer."
"Ah, no. I mean... did you come to buy this sandworm meat? This booth sells meat I caught myself in a dungeon..."
Her voice trailed off toward the end. After noon and not a single sale, her confidence had plummeted.
"Oh? Monster meat caught in a dungeon? That's quite unique."
The man spoke so politely that Chae-ryeon assumed he'd chosen 'unique' to spare her feelings.
It only hurt more, coming from a place of kindness.
"Yeah... it's pretty weird. I know. But it's really delicious meat... I get why no one believes it. Haha..."
Chae-ryeon shrank, fiddling with her fingers and slumping her shoulders. The man tilted his head.
"Hmm? I think you misunderstood me. I've never seen anyone selling dungeon monster meat before, so I called it unique—that's all. No intent to offend the seller."
"Huh?"
"Those dumplings smelled so good, I couldn't just walk by."
"Uh...!"
"If it's not too much trouble, may I try a sample? Or if that's hard, I'd like to buy some."
'Whoa...! Someone wants to buy my dumplings—knowing they're made with monster meat!'
"Of course! These are samples, so eat as many as you like!"
Forgetting her earlier wilted state—like laundry fresh from the spin cycle—Chae-ryeon hurriedly plated a sample dumpling with a toothpick and handed it over.
"B-boss—er, M-Miss Boss! You should offer soy sauce and pickled radish too!"
"Oh, r-right!"
Sol-chan prepared the soy sauce and radish, biting his lip after nearly calling her 'Boss' and settling on the awkward 'Miss Boss' instead.
"Ah, is this person your employee?"
"Y-yes. My junior couldn't stand by and watch me sell monster meat alone today, so they came to help. Ha, haha."
"I see..."
Chae-ryeon knew Sol-chan's excuse was lame, but her clumsy acting sold it anyway.
The man eyed Sol-chan closely, then flashed a sunny smile.
"He's quite the handsome guy. Is he a hunter too?"
"Y-yeah."
She couldn't say 'summon,' so Chae-ryeon agreed.
'Lies are like poison to me...'
Sol-chan sweated, tense.
Honest and straightforward to a fault, he was terrible at lying.
Forcing a grin to protect his owner, he seemed to convince the man, who nodded.
"Sorry. I got too nosy. There've been cases lately of non-badge holders sneaking in to form black markets."
"Black markets?"
"Yes. People illegally selling stolen guild items or fencing byproducts they stole from dungeon raids that weren't theirs."
His gentle tone contrasted sharply with the grim content.
"People like that exist...? First time at the Hunter Market, so I didn't know."
"Best to stay alert. Not all hunters are good people."
True enough—as the man said, plenty of villains lurked among hunters.
Awakening didn't discriminate by personality, so those with great stats sometimes used them for evil.
It got so bad during the chaos that the government, guilds, and association teamed up for a massive purge.
"Oh? So are you like hunter world police? Or maybe security for the Hunter Market...?"
"No, it's common knowledge for regulars here. I just mentioned it since you didn't know."
"Ah... I see."
Chae-ryeon handed him the dumpling, embarrassed.
'Shouldn't have asked.'
She'd wondered if he was from the Awakener Management Bureau but ended up looking even greener.
"Did I seem like that kind of person?"
Nom. The man popped a dumpling and asked.
"Um... no. Not at all."
'Now that I look closely, no way... he looks like a celebrity.'
The man delicately blew on his dumpling before eating. He was strikingly handsome, almost dainty.
With platinum-blond hair nearing silver and greener eyes than Sol-chan's, he looked like he'd stepped out of a magazine spread.
He wore lots of dangling accessories and an outfit like a game mage cosplay—unique, but his good looks pulled it off.
A monocle over one eye, and a water-drop-like spirit at his side? It all suited him perfectly.
'What does he do? From the outfit, he seems like a wizard or alchemist...'
Chae-ryeon, watching him, finally asked.
"...So, how exactly were you planning to help me?"