Chapter 25
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Hungry Slayer 25
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Long-simmered, tender and mild [Ballurator Pork Neck Boiled Meat] was waiting for Dane.
Dane strode up to the cooking table.
The villagers, who had spent a long time inhaling the aroma while waiting for the food to finish, gradually tightened their large circle around the area.
Bankers placed a large, perfectly cooked hunk of meat on the wide cooking table. An enormous plume of steam burst from the pot and followed the meat like magic.
Moisture glistened between the tight fibers of the lean meat, keeping it succulent. On the top, properly melted fat had settled in a snow-white layer.
‘The ratio of fat to lean meat is just perfect.’ Even at a glance, the difference in texture was obvious.
River yielded the steaming cooking table to Dane. He wiped down the cleaver with clean water before glaring at the massive hunk of meat.
The chunk was about as long as an average adult’s leg. Its thickness was intimidating.
In his mind, he pictured the most delicious size and cut of meat for popping into his mouth. The calculations were done in an instant.
-Swish swish swish swish swish!
Dane’s knife flashed by so quickly it was almost invisible to the eye.
He roughly divided it into lean sections without fat and parts still attached to fat, then swiftly sliced them at even intervals.
His knife work was so masterful that the lean meat wasn’t pressed down at all by the blade’s weight, keeping all the juices locked inside. Not a single bit of fat shape or muscle grain was mangled.
For now, he only cut off enough for three people to eat. He wouldn’t allow the juices trapped inside to escape or the meat to cool prematurely.
Dane, Bankers, and River each popped a single untouched piece of meat into their mouths at the same time. It was a section with both fat and lean together.
-Munch munch.
“Wow!”
“Whoa!”
“Keeeh!”
Exclamations erupted simultaneously.
The lean meat was soft, but the fat’s texture was astonishing. It melted away before you could even feel its chewiness. Just as a pleasant oiliness filled the mouth, a rich flood of juices followed right up.
He tried dipping it lightly in rock salt. The added umami brought a smile to his face unbidden.
“Try it with this.”
What River offered was dried vegetables soaked in water and tossed in a spicy seasoning. It was similar to kimchi.
He wrapped a piece of meat around it and popped the whole thing into his mouth.
‘Huh? Surprisingly crunchy?’ The texture was matched by a harmony of flavors. Spicy, salty, sour, nutty, mild, sweet—they all danced around in his mouth.
It was as if each flavor was fiercely proclaiming its own merits. Though intense, none were neglected, creating a perfect balance.
“Whoa…… this is seriously delicious.”“River, how’d you even think of this?”“The meat seemed pretty fatty. I figured something tangy would go well with it.”
The three of them devoured the meat like there was no tomorrow. Depending on their tastes, they ate it plain, dipped in salt, or with the vegetables.
By the time half the hunk had vanished, the three ate in complete silence, utterly focused on the meat. The gazes of the onlookers had become familiar enough to enjoy.
-Grrrrumble……
A massively loud growl came from someone’s stomach, but no one bothered looking for the source. They were all the same.
At a glance, it looked no different from other beast meat. But you knew from the smell alone. You knew from looking. Watching them eat made it even clearer.
There was no way it wouldn’t taste good. No, that was genuinely delicious meat.
-Scrape, scrape.
Dane used the cleaver to push a piece of meat toward Dirk and Sandbill each. It seemed like a fair invitation to try it.
As if they’d been waiting, the two grabbed the meat with their hands and popped it straight into their mouths. Then they looked at each other’s faces.
The deep-seated grudge between father and son vanished just like that, like a lie.
Dane quickly sliced up the entire hunk on the table. As soon as he finished, he pulled another from the pot and sliced that one too.
Once preparations were complete, he turned to the crowd of people with their desperate expressions and asked.
“Anyone want to eat?”
It was a question like manna from heaven.
* * *
The rare meat in their mouths brought vitality surging through the village.
From the hunters to the elderly and weak, the meat was distributed evenly. The amount wasn’t much, and they’d been starving for so long, but no one went berserk or fought over it.
That was how you could tell how strong their bonds were.
But once their appetites were whetted like that, it was only natural to crave more. Strength welled up from nowhere.
It didn’t matter how it was killed or cooked to make it this delicious. Confirming it was possible was enough.
That single piece of meat had pulled the trigger on their appetites. With the veil of preconceptions lifted, their desires became crystal clear.
-Dum dum dum dum!!
Right on cue, the signal for the assault rang out.
The Leighton villagers gazing beyond the stone walls felt the hunter’s instinct writhing in their chests.
It wasn’t ‘monsters’ coming. It was ‘meat’ coming. The astonishing realization that monster equaled food ignited a fire in their hearts.
“We won’t starve anymore!”“We can eat monster meat too!”
The hunters had just needed that spark.
Their minds were now filled with thoughts of meat. Clutching their pounding chests, the hunters dashed toward the stone walls.
‘Just come here. I’ll chew you up.’‘I’m still hungry.’
That’s what each of them shouted in their hearts. Until they reached the walls, at least.
“Ahh…….”
It was a sigh. Their hearts cooled just as quickly as they’d heated up.
They’d never seen anything like this. The assaults had always been precarious but manageable. But handling this many was beyond imagination.
“Too many…….”
Sandbill said.
Dane, standing beside him, gazed at the approaching monsters. There were over a dozen mid-sized ones alone. Amid the blizzard, Dane’s red eyes gleamed sharply.
“That’s why you’ve got to pick out the edible ones carefully.”
Their conversation was mismatched. Their perspectives were different.
“The Ballurator we caught and ate is good meat. Every part tastes great, pairs with any cooking, and it’s easier to handle than others. It’s like pork, right?”
Dane patted the terrified Sandbill’s shoulder and said.
“Here’s the plan. I’ll watch. You catch one.”
The spark was lit, but hunting and eating it themselves was another matter. Leighton’s situation differed from Horhe Village.
If they couldn’t catch and eat monsters right away, the same tragedies would repeat. Dane couldn’t stay forever to slay and butcher them.
That was why he’d offered to teach them the ‘method’ rather than just ‘exterminate’ the monsters for them.
A full-bellied future depended on their own hands.
Dane meant it as a favor, but it backfired in Sandbill’s mind.
‘Watch over me, huh…….’
No matter how strong he was, he was still a fresh-faced young hunter. For him to talk down like that and naturally assert his superiority as a hunter.
Of course, Sandbill knew it too. Hunters spoke through their hunts. Still, he couldn’t help his pride crumbling.
Sandbill snapped to attention at Dane’s words. A hunter’s grit pushed out the fear.
“There is no fear in Leighton hunters!!”
Once his mindset shifted, his approach to the assault changed too.
They couldn’t just shoot arrows and drop rocks to drive them off. They had to capture at least one alive for food.
“Cast net!”
At Sandbill’s command, the hunters hauled up a massive tangled mass of ropes over the stone wall. The cast net had heavy stones tied at each knot.
He figured they’d catch just one Ballurator.
Even if the wall crumbled, that’s what he resolved. Chief Sandbill instinctively knew that slicing into its meat would help Leighton’s future far more.
“Target Ballurator only. Ready!”
Sandbill waited for the right moment.
“Throw!”
-Shwaaack!
The cast net dropped over the Ballurator’s body, tangling tightly between the spikes on its back. At the same time, monsters began slamming into the stone wall around them.
-Kaboom kaboom boom!
Even so, the hunters didn’t falter. The leader’s resolve had been fully conveyed.
As the Ballurator thrashed, the ropes tangled even more, halting its movements.
“Kraa! Kreeek!!”
The netted monster flailed and roared, causing the other monsters ramming the wall to hesitate for a moment.
The hunters seized the momentum and shoved boulders over the edge.
A couple took direct hits to the head and a couple staggered back. But the retreat wasn’t flight. They’d come crashing back with even greater force.
‘That’s good enough.’
Dane thought. Leighton’s attempt was highly commendable. Trial and error was inevitable.
From above, he could see there were still plenty of mid-sized monsters left. Even for him, handling them without casualties wouldn’t be easy.
‘There’s a fair number of monsters I’ve never seen before too…… Our cook’s been hard at work on the stew, so I’ll save these guys for later.’
With that thought, Dane leaped down.
He lost one arm but regained it while killing two.
The instant his ankle was torn off, he killed it and reclaimed it. As his side was half-ripped away, he killed two more.
He guarded only his head, heart, and underwear. If needed, he gave them up and reclaimed even bigger.
After slaying every monster except the netted one, Dane plopped down onto the ground.
The repeated loss and regrowth of body parts had taken too much of a toll. Even fully recovered, phantom pains lingered like illusions.
While Dane was butchering over a dozen mid-sized monsters, the Leighton hunters hadn’t been idle.
Riding the momentum, they opened a side gate and poured out, spears in hand, encircling it to threaten from all sides.
Normally, they would have stabbed it to death from every direction. But Sandbill had seen Dane’s hunting and butchering methods, so he held back.
He’d vaguely sensed that the foul smell of monster meat came from improper slaughter and butchering.
“What we need is meat. Drain the blood all at once.”
Dane, sitting on the ground and watching what they’d do, simply nodded silently. He thought they were good hunters.
“Ropes!!”
The hunters, long accustomed to working together, reacted swiftly.
While some threatened the monster’s face with spears, thick ropes were looped around its hind legs.
“Hoist it up!!!”
Grunting with effort, they hoisted and hoisted until the monster dangled upside down from a pillar atop the stone wall.
-Spluuurt!
They slit its throat and used the height difference to bleed it out. The more it thrashed, the faster it would empty.
Now all that remained was to butcher and portion it quickly once the movements stopped.
In that regard, Leighton was fortunate.
The blizzards here were so fierce every day that the cold air would slow the settling of blood and softening of the meat, even if butchering took extra time.
Plus, they had a storage facility to keep the meat fresh.
Perhaps the most remote and dangerous place was actually the most blessed. Of course, it was all up to the local hunters to make it happen.
‘They’ve got potential.’
Dane thought.
Everyone waited patiently until the monster went still.
Once its movements fully ceased and no more blood flowed, a faint red glow flickered through the coarse fur and spines of the Ballurator.
“The sun’s rising!!!”
The light starting from the first dawn began pushing away the shadows draped between the canyon walls.
-Dum dum dum dum!!
-Clang clang clang!
From atop the stone wall came drumbeats and pot-banging announcing the end of the assault.
Only at the assault’s conclusion was the long-awaited dish finally complete.
* * *
“Waaaaah!”
Cheers filled the plaza.
They celebrated the successful defense and welcomed the [Ballurator Rib and Potato Stew] simmered in spicy seasoning.
Good fortune had come all at once. The energy was overflowing.
Dane, who took the first ladle into his bowl, gazed at it for a moment with eyes brimming with emotion.
It was potato stew simmered all night. A dish he’d protected while discarding and reclaiming his body.
Deep meaty aroma and nutty sesame scents vibrated everywhere, backed by spicy energy. Even without tasting, the umami wafted through.
The onlookers stamped their feet impatiently. Just as their self-control reached its limit, Dane slurped down some greens and shoveled in spoonful after spoonful of meat and broth.
“Slurrrp…… Hoo…… Mmm……”
The nutty, spicy flavor smacked into his mouth. A clean, deep savoriness lingered after.
-Munch munch……
The scant lean meat clinging to the bone lost its form the instant it touched his teeth and tongue. It mingled with the thoroughly cooked vegetables and vanished down his throat in a flash.
A hot energy filled his body. As a bonus, the essence of the Bekelsator melted into the broth spread through him too.
It was the flavor he’d imagined and waited for. A taste as grateful as it had been painful.
He regretted missing that fleeting texture of the lean meat.
Grabbing a hot rib bone, he indulged his greed. He tore off a fairly thick piece of meat, chewed, and savored it raw.
“Mmm…….”
He focused to capture every bit of texture. Amid the soft, springy meat fibers, juices and concentrated seasoned broth oozed out together.
He sucked every last drop from the bone marrow, licked his fingers regretfully, then looked at River and nodded.
It was a silent exclamation of, *You did it again.* River beamed.
“Waaaaah!!”
These were people who’d already tasted the boiled meat. Knowing Dane’s reaction was genuine, they cheered even louder and openly clamored for their own taste.
“Here. It’s not much, so just one ladle each to try.”
River said, subtly nudging the money basket forward.
Sharing the same food among many created an unbeatable atmosphere. And the taste was far from ordinary. When was the last time they’d had proper food like this? Exclamations burst out from all directions.
The village women asked River for cooking tips.
“Monster meat smells if handled wrong. Never skip bleeding it in cold water. If there’s still a gamey taste, use spices and dried vegetables wisely to balance the flavor.”
The hunters learned hunting methods. Families learned how to cook the monster meat they brought back.
That was enough. The path to survival had opened.
The pent-up sorrow they’d endured and the relief of survival burst into tears here and there.
For a while, the village plaza was noisy with laughter, tears, and gasps all mixed together.
* * *
After staying up all night, Dane and his group slept through the morning and fully recovered their stamina.
Then they hurried to depart right away. This place was just a stopover on the way to their real destination anyway.
But an unexpected problem awaited the Lucas Hunting Party.
There was no Root Path ahead, so taking the horses through monster passages was far too dangerous. They’d come for ore, so they couldn’t just abandon the cart either.
Bankers said.
“No helping it. I’ll pull it.”
Dane and River shook their heads.
“You’ve got no tail—don’t push yourself.”“No, even for you…….”
“Should be fine.”
Bankers said as he pulled the cart smoothly toward the stone wall gate.
-Sliiide.
The cart glided effortlessly on his immense strength. Since he was so nonchalantly casual about it, his companions could only watch.
The Lucas Hunting Party was pulling off something utterly absurd to the end.
Passing through the stunned Leighton villagers, Dirk and Sandbill approached Dane.
“I don’t know how to express this gratitude.”
Dirk said, but the expression was already sufficient. After eating the boiled meat and potato stew, the villagers had paid a sincere price from their meager stores for the meat they’d obtained.
Dane said.
“It’s simple—just change ‘block it’ to ‘eat it.’ When the assault starts, happily accept that food’s arriving right on time.”
“You’re really going to Harac Bar that way?”
Dirk asked with a worried expression.
“Yeah.”
Dane answered.
“No helping it, then. If you ever need our help…….”
Dirk’s gaze lingered on a bird covered in silver feathers, tilting its head atop Sandbill’s arm.
“Send this one. It’s Leighton’s spirit beast, the Leighton Goshawk. Leighton’s lives will be used for your sake.”
The goshawk fluttered up and landed on Dane’s shoulder. It seemed to have already made up its mind.
“And this…….”
Dirk handed Dane a folded, worn cloth.
“It’s the Slayer’s cloak.”
“……?”
“It’s what the man who led the subjugation force dropped in battle. I kept it.”
“Subjugation force?”
“It was a long time ago. I was just a kid following behind.”
Dirk briefly gazed at the distant sky, as if reminiscing about that era.
“The man called the Slayer went missing without a trace. I kept it all this time hoping to return it to him…….”
He paused, emotional, steadying his lips to keep them from trembling.
“Meeting you now must be providence to pass it on. Young Slayer.”
Dane quietly stared at the cloak. Then he shook his head slightly.
“The cloak River gave me is enough.”
He adjusted the cloak draped over his shoulders and replied. Then he turned away.
The cart was waiting for him at the gate through the stone wall.
“Ahh…….”
Dirk watched the young Slayer’s retreating back with eyes full of regret. The figure overlapped with the Slayer from his memories.
Tears burst forth.
A teardrop from the aged hunter clearly stained the cloak in his hand.
Embroidered on the cloak was the name ‘Walter Frenville’.