Chapter 33
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Delivering into the Dungeon
-----------------------------------------------------------------
He looked like someone in a lot of pain, hooked up to IV lines snaking into his veins. Occasional groans leaked out like whimpers, hinting at his agony.
"I'll take my leave then."
The disciple who'd finished showing them around bolted from the room without a backward glance.
Moon Chae-ryeon asked Yi Seo-ro cautiously.
"Is this the person I'm supposed to make nourishing food for?"
"That's right. This is Customer Han Joo-wo, who came to me after getting injured during a dungeon raid not long ago."
'Forget eating—he might not even be able to get up...'
"Don't worry, he has enough strength to at least keep his meals down. He's just asleep right now. We gave him an emergency potion treatment, so he's not going to die."
Her tone felt oddly cold somehow. Moon Chae-ryeon glanced back, but Yi Seo-ro's face remained smiling.
What was that? It felt like she was dying to get rid of this annoying patient...?
Puzzled but refocusing, Moon Chae-ryeon turned her attention back to Han Joo-wo.
"What caused him to end up like this?"
'His complexion is awful.'
It was bad enough to make her wonder what on earth he'd gone through.
As Moon Chae-ryeon examined Han Joo-wo with concern, the system window showed its curiosity toward him as well.
[ ( -᷅_-᷄) ]
[system: Hmmmmm.]
[system: Afflicted with a mid-level curse causing abnormal status effects.]
[system: Oh. But the cause is awfully intriguing.]
'Huh? What's got you like that?'
[system: Han Joo-wo is currently...]
"It's because he's suffering from acute dungeon toxin poisoning."
"Pardon?"
[system: He overconsumed dungeon monsters or fruits he shouldn't have eaten. It's like food poisoning...]
"Hunter Han Joo-wo fell into this abnormal state because he ate—er, consumed—way too much of the stuff you're not supposed to eat inside a dungeon."
Wait, what?
"Um, I'm not quite following. Could you explain how feeding a person like that nourishing food is supposed to help...?"
Suddenly, something grabbed Moon Chae-ryeon's wrist tight.
[ Σ(´⊙ω⊙`) ]
"Mommy!"
"You... just said I 'ate too much,' didn't you?"
It was none other than the patient himself, Hunter Han Joo-wo, who'd grabbed Moon Chae-ryeon.
"W-wait, that wasn't me...!"
A rule no hunter entering a dungeon could ignore.
'No food from outside the dungeon can be brought inside.'
Because of this damn rule, hunters attempting dungeon raids had to make do with whatever they could scrounge from inside.
But did dungeons only have edible stuff? Fitting their reputation, they were full of dangerous plants and monsters you weren't supposed to eat.
The problem was how varied dungeons were—there were still tons of unknown creatures out there.
"The smarter monsters in high-difficulty dungeons even enjoy toying with hunters using this."
Whoosh, whoosh. Yi Seo-ro calmly explained as she dodged the flying objects.
"......"
"And Hunter Han Joo-wo had the bad luck to get caught by those monsters and force-fed toxic fruit."
"Argh! You little punk. Can't you let even one hit you?"
"No reason I should."
"All you're throwing are pillows and that get-well flower bouquet on the bedside! What's the harm in taking one hit?"
"You think there's a saying 'don't let flowers hit you' for nothing? Besides, I don't want to feel the power of a full-force hunter-thrown bouquet."
"You irritating jerk."
Moon Chae-ryeon, who'd been blankly watching the two bicker, stepped in to mediate.
Or rather, to voice her question.
"Hold on, just a second! You two know each other?"
"We do. Not that he's the kind of patient I wanted."
"Speak for yourself. I wake up and find out it's your workshop."
"Your parents shelled out a fortune to make you a customer, so I had no choice but to take you."
Han Joo-wo's face twisted horribly at Yi Seo-ro's words. Even the manager flinched at his intensity.
[ Σ( Д )ﻌﻌﻌﻌ⊙ ⊙ ]
[system: Scary...]
"Damn it. Now I've got even more uncomfortable debts... Anyway, who's she? First time seeing her. One of your new disciples, Yi Seo-ro?"
Han Joo-wo mumbled in his delirious, feverish state, and Yi Seo-ro answered for him.
"She's here to treat you. Show some manners, Han Joo-wo."
"......Treating acute dungeon toxin poisoning? A healer?"
"Not a healer, but she'll do something similar."
"Similar how?"
Even as he groaned, Han Joo-wo's eyes blazed fiercely. His gleaming golden eyes resembled a lion's, sending chills down her spine.
"W-wait. I was just told to make nourishing food, that's why I came."
"......Nourishing food?"
When Moon Chae-ryeon mustered her courage to state her purpose, Han Joo-wo shot Yi Seo-ro a glare.
"You're feeding nourishing food to someone with acute dungeon toxin poisoning? Cough. Are you insane? You've finally decided to kill me, huh?"
"What would I even gain from killing you? Not worth the effort."
"Who knows. Maybe my esteemed parents slipped you some backroom cash."
Who am I? Where is this?
Moon Chae-ryeon felt dizzy amid their rapid-fire, sharp exchange.
"My calculations say it's perfect. Eat what she makes, and you'll recover in no time."
"You need a test subject! I'm tough enough for it. You've got neutralizing potion but haven't used it yet, so..."
Amid the chaos, Moon Chae-ryeon's bag rustled. Just as Delicious Waitress Mimi was about to pop out, fed up with the noisy humans, Manager Sol-chan intervened to stop her.
"Aaaah, stop, just stop!"
Moon Chae-ryeon spread her arms wide, planting herself between them in a big T.
"Don't ignore the perfectly healthy person you called here and fight among yourselves... I have work to do and a schedule too, you know? Got it?"
Her fierce glare demanding agreement made Han Joo-wo nod reluctantly.
"Y... yeah."
"Same goes for you, Yi Seo-ro? Repaying my favor today means letting me make nourishing food for the customer. If you value my time, let's wrap this up so I can go home..."
Moon Chae-ryeon poked her temples, claiming fatigue.
Yi Seo-ro immediately apologized to her, whose complexion had worsened as much as Han Joo-wo's.
"I'm sorry. Miss Moon Chae-ryeon, you can go after making the nourishing food, as we discussed."
"Why should I eat food made by some stranger I don't even know?"
Han Joo-wo grumbled to the end. Out of patience, Moon Chae-ryeon glared at him, eyes bulging.
"Try it first, then talk."
Hmph. Truth be told, she didn't even want to make him nourishing food. Part of her hoped it'd make him more sick if he ate it!
'What a rude guy!'
Grumbling inwardly, Moon Chae-ryeon still prepared to make the nourishing food with all her care.
Ingredients were innocent, after all. She had to use that precious SS-Rank colossal sandworm meat she'd brought.
"Let me show you to the kitchen."
"No, it's fine. Since you don't trust me, it'll be more convincing if I show you directly."
Declining Yi Seo-ro's offer, Moon Chae-ryeon pulled out Portable Kitchen Anywhere! from her crossbag. Its crude appearance—like a kid's play tent—made Han Joo-wo frown.
"What the heck is that?"
His arrogant tone irked her, but she held back with superhuman patience.
'Just make the food and get out fast.'
Gritting her teeth with resolve, Moon Chae-ryeon replied.
"This is my precious..."
Oh no. In her anger, she'd almost blurted, 'This is my precious Portable Kitchen Anywhere!'
About to reveal her secret herself!
"Precious?"
Moon Chae-ryeon hastily made a lame excuse.
"Precious... portable kitchen my friend lent me. It's where I'll make your nourishing food, Han Joo-wo. So please don't judge it by looks."
"......You're saying you're cooking in something that looks like my thigh would barely fit?"
"Hmph. You'll see once you go in."
"Go in? What... argh!"
Han Joo-wo's body lifted into the air. Moon Chae-ryeon had scooped him up princess-style—even grabbing his IV drip.
"Wh-what the hell! Put me down!"
Since she was a woman and he was weakened by dungeon poison, all he could do was flail helplessly.
Because Moon Chae-ryeon was an S-Rank Hunter with exceptional Strength.
'What kind of woman has this much power?'
Moon Chae-ryeon swatted away his struggles like flies and scolded him curtly.
"Hey. Stay still. You get how strong I am now, right? Behave before I toss you in boiling water like a stew ingredient."
"......"
'Finally quiet.'
She had no intention of actually doing something so gruesome, but the threat worked.
Overwhelmed by the S-Rank Hunter's (lazily murderous) killing intent, Han Joo-wo shut his mouth.
Still carrying him, Moon Chae-ryeon stepped into the Portable Kitchen Anywhere!
"......"
Seeing the spacious, bright interior with impeccable hygiene, Han Joo-wo's jaw dropped.
"How is there a space-expansion artifact like this...?"
"Lie down here. You look pretty rough."
Moon Chae-ryeon set him down on the sofa in the cozy rest area next to the kitchen and tied on her apron.