Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Why Are You All Staring Like That?
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Fat.
Of course, it wasn't always a bad thing.
From a muscle's perspective, fat was nothing but dead weight that dulled the body like a sandbag...
It also had a devilish side that buried muscles, hiding their grand and beautiful size...
'Still, during bulking season, it's good to pack on carbs regardless of fat gain to increase body weight. If Demonic Power is like muscle, then Light Mana and Holy Power should help with growth too.'
But there was always a major prerequisite.
'But that's only after you've maxed out on protein!'
[Goblin Flesh]
Contains a small amount of Dark Mana, the energy source for Demonic Power and the main ingredient in Demonic Synthesis.
Heating it with flames from burning goblin bones and hide for 3 minutes 13 seconds to 3 minutes 15 seconds removes the poison. If the time is too short or too long, the poison remains, and the Dark Mana won't be absorbed.
2kg remaining until optimal daily Demonic Synthesis.
Goblins, which used to require just 1kg, now demanded 2kg.
The requirement increased as Demonic Power grew.
A whopping 2kg... Eating that much meat would make your stomach feel like it was about to burst.
Meanwhile, the airborne restaurant's menu would require eating 10kg to meet protein needs. Ridiculous.
So, Kang Geohan had to frantically buy goblins.
"Here's the flesh from one goblin. That'll be 1.5 silver."
"Here you go."
As promised, Kalts pulled one silver coin and fifty copper coins from his pouch and paid.
In the meantime, Kang Geohan looked for a cart to hold the meat.
A single goblin weighed over 80kg. Even excluding blood, organs, hide, and bones, the pure meat weighed quite a bit.
"How much for this cart?"
"1 silver."
"Here you go."
Next to the airborne restaurant was the airborne market. It sold everything: monster byproducts, weapons, leather goods, clothes, potions, and even combat gear like the boost pack Kalts had used against the ogre. Nothing was off-limits.
Knights needed a lot of gear, and they had to buy it themselves with the 40 silver monthly stipend for maintaining dignity.
Normally, Kang Geohan would be worrying about funds by now.
Unlike others, he had to buy monster meat regularly, and it wasn't cheap.
And he'd need even more monster meat going forward.
But right now, Kang Geohan's pouch held a whopping 134 silver, thanks to Davis.
Kang Geohan silently took the cart and said to Davis, who was pulling it.
"Uncle. Thanks."
"For what."
"Just... thanks."
"Geez."
As they chatted amiably and headed toward the restaurant district, Roen came running up, flushed red in the cheeks.
"Wow! You really bought a goblin? You're actually gonna eat that dark, grimy meat?"
"Yeah."
"I heard it gives you stomachaches..."
"I'm good."
"Then give me some too!"
Roen's eyes sparkled. Kang Geohan inwardly stuck out his tongue.
'...What a curiously bold guy.'
He hadn't expected him to try monster meat without hesitation. Then again, that curiosity might be the source of Roen's impressive information network.
But Kang Geohan shook his head.
"I don't have enough for myself."
"I'll pay!"
Kang Geohan turned to Roen.
"...How much?"
"Come on, be generous. 1 silver!"
1 silver. It was pocket change compared to what he had, but with so much to buy ahead and steady monster meat needs, more money was always better.
But he wouldn't settle for that.
"2 silver."
"What? For that, I could just buy a whole goblin!"
"But I won't cook it for you. You'd just get a stomachache."
"Ugh... No way...!"
Roen glared at Kang Geohan like it was outrageous, then nodded slightly.
Her curiosity was strong enough to endure the absurd price of 2 silver.
A smile crept onto Kang Geohan's lips.
'Once he experiences the benefits, 2 silver will feel like a steal.'
Sure, Roen without an InBody window might not notice much from one or two bites...
Either way, side income was always welcome.
'Earn big, eat big. Bulk up hard. Gotta get strong fast.'
Kang Geohan hurried his steps, eyes on the restaurant district's smoke-belching ovens.
* * *
Sizzle. Flame stones that burned steadily for three months once lit roared atop the heated iron griddle.
Kang Geohan, Kalts, Davis, and Roen gathered around the cooking griddle at one side of the airborne restaurant.
Kang Geohan stared intently at the meat, then scooped it out with a flick.
He sliced it neatly with a knife, and Roen stabbed a thick piece with her fork, asking,
"Mmm! It's tasty?"
She examined the goblin meat from every angle.
"Goblin meat? Why's it taste good?"
Kalts Black, who had been watching her, suddenly held out two silver coins to Kang Geohan.
"Same price. I'll have some too."
Kang Geohan grinned at Kalts.
Kalts's reason for eating goblin meat differed from Roen's pure curiosity.
Kalts probably wanted to test the rumor that monster meat aided Demonic Power growth.
Once he knew the benefits, he might pester Kang Geohan. But...
'Hey, we're in the same boat soon enough. No need to be stingy.'
Kang Geohan gladly took the 2 silver and served Kalts some goblin meat.
"Davis Uncle, you have some too. They say goblin's tastier than squire slop."
"Uh... Thank you!"
Davis didn't refuse and started poking and eating the goblin meat.
Kang Geohan grilled enough for himself and began eating.
Chomp.
Chewing the tender flesh released juices that flowed smoothly.
Tasty.
But Kang Geohan ignored the umami on his tongue.
Determined to grind the goblin flesh to powder, he chewed thoroughly, pondering the 'Dark Mana' and 'Demonic Power' within.
Especially today, each bite felt special.
The goblin meat tearing against his teeth, sliding down his throat with its embedded Dark Mana—it felt almost visible.
'What is this? Something tickly. Like it's just about to appear, just about to be heard.'
It had started earlier, when he'd depleted all his mana in one shot to take down Rafal. That's when the strange sensation gripped him.
'InBody window, Nutrition Info window. Amazing abilities. But suddenly, they felt... lacking somehow.'
A strong premonition that he could fill that gap if he did it right.
'What is it? What's missing? How do I fill it?'
Kang Geohan chewed meticulously, lost in thought.
Then, in one moment, as if drawn by something, he asked Kalts,
"Sir Kalts. You're a Gift Knight, right?"
Kalts chewed and swallowed his meat before replying.
"And?"
"I'm curious how you got your Gift."
Kalts stared at Kang Geohan for a bit, then answered.
"You don't get a Gift just because you want one. It's like a gift—it suddenly appears to certain people one day."
"So the ability is random? Your wind control could've been fire or water...?"
Kalts shook his head.
"No. A Gift's form follows what you unconsciously desired most. I heard I loved windy days as a kid."
Hearing that, Kang Geohan strongly empathized.
'Ah, so that's why my ability took this shape.'
His deepest unconscious wish was the dream unfulfilled in his past life.
To grow bigger, stronger.
The InBody and Nutrition Info windows fit perfectly.
Them being in Korean and Hangul was probably his unconscious at work.
"So once a Gift's form is set, that's it? Or can it change?"
Kalts didn't seem annoyed by the barrage of questions and answered earnestly, unlike before.
"The big picture doesn't change. I can't suddenly control water or fire. But within that framework, it can evolve. Mine started as just cool breezes or hot gusts, but now I can whip up gales or turn my body into wind-scattered leaves."
Kang Geohan focused on Kalts's words.
'It can evolve...'
He swallowed and asked again.
"Then what's needed for that evolution? Another deep unconscious wish?"
"That too, but... I feel consciously desiring it and focusing helped."
"Conscious desire...?"
"Yeah. While training swordsmanship, I'd imagine specific abilities for my wind Gift. I'd concentrate on moving my power that way in drills. And one day, it worked."
"Ah..."
"But why ask?"
"Oh, well..."
As Kang Geohan fumbled, Roen seized the topic.
"Why ask about that? Asking won't make a Gift appear."
Then, with sparkling eyes, she asked Kalts,
"Anyway, tomorrow's the Training Machine Designation Ceremony, right? Got any sweet tips for it, Instructor?"
Kang Geohan's eyes widened.
'Instructor?'
Kalts looked awkward.
"You knew?"
"With that badge so obviously pinned on, how couldn't I?"
Kang Geohan hadn't known.
He felt the info gap between freefolk and serf origins anew.
Anyway, perfect timing.
Kang Geohan followed Roen's lead.
"So you're an instructor now... What's a Training Machine Designation Ceremony?"
Roens eyes rounded.
"No way you didn't know? You seemed buddy-buddy with the instructor—I figured you'd heard everything..."
Kalts said matter-of-factly.
"Not that close. And... the Training Machine Designation is for picking the Gigant you'll use here for the next three months."
Roen added,
"The key is choosing the one that suits you best. Takes a sharp eye."
"Well, basics like engine sounds will be explained by the staff tomorrow..."
Kalts glanced at Kang Geohan and continued.
"Overall, look for clean exteriors and good symmetry. Pick simple armor plating over complex. Most importantly... check the ankle joints."
"Ankle joints?"
"Clean, unworn joints mean the whole frame's balanced well. Check that, and you won't go wrong."
Roen beamed.
"Wow! Thank you so much!"
"Hmph. That's basic stuff. Nothing surprising."
Kalts emphasized 'surprising' while glancing at Kang Geohan.
Kang Geohan smiled wryly inside.
'Even now, trying to surprise me, huh?'
He bit into a piece of meat and glanced around.
'Ha... the stares are scorching.'
Tomorrow's Training Machine Designation Ceremony. Kalts wasn't the only one watching Kang Geohan.
Over there, Gerot glared with cold eyes.
On another side, Helena peeked curiously. Even she, top in Gigant takeoff speed, seemed intrigued by him.
And one more.
"Just you wait! You passed out pathetically last time...! But this time, I'll show you something!"
Roen burned with fighting spirit, staring at Kang Geohan.
'Feels like I've suddenly become a trophy.'
Beat Kang Geohan, become the training camp's best—that kind of trophy!
Kang Geohan sighed and swallowed his last goblin meat. Everyone else had finished, but he kept picking at it till the end.
Davis muttered beside him.
"...He really eats well."
But it wasn't over. He'd filled the optimal 2kg of Dark Mana...
'Carbs... no, Light Mana too.'
Gain fat, gain weight, gain muscle.
Kang Geohan planned to bulk Demonic Power and Holy Power alike, filling his body with power like a pig.
'I'll gladly be your trophy. The heaviest trophy in the world.'
But his stomach was too full, so he'd only sliced 100g of sunpig meat. The moment it hit his mouth,
Crunch-
"Mmm...!"
The crispy skin crumbled on his tongue. The juicy pork burst like half-boiled egg yolk.
And rising from within, a holy sweetness that washed his body in light.
'This... is high-concentration Light Mana.'
Overwhelming flavor.
Goblin meat was good, but...
Calorie-loaded carbs were merciless!
'So grotesquely delicious... But... thanks to it, I can eat a bit more.'
He emptied the plate in seconds and quietly stood.
A smile formed on his lips.
'I can get even heavier.'
His clothes fluttered with his hurried steps.