Chapter 50
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Butcher's Cooking Frenzy
-----------------------------------------------------------------
While everyone was lost in awe staring at Dane, there were some who were even busier than anyone else.
The moment Dane launched himself at the Elite, they urgently drove the cart down the hill.
Dink raced down the slope at a ferocious speed. It was a spectacle nearly as attention-grabbing as the Elite hunt itself.
River, precariously perched on the driver's seat, couldn't tear her eyes away from the sight of Dane rampaging naked.
*He's not embarrassed. He's not embarrassed. He's not embarrassed...*
She told herself it was time to accept it. And yet, there was another feeling that was even harder to swallow.
*Ah... why doesn't he protect his body more?*
Every time a tentacle pierced Dane's flesh, her heart plummeted.
The fearless charge, trusting in his incomprehensible regenerative power. The bizarre ferocity of swinging his cleaver madly while screaming as if he were in agony—it would be hard to get used to anytime soon.
Bankers felt the same.
"Heh heh..."
Racing down the hillside without letting his guard down, Bankers kept letting out incredulous chuckles.
*Even a massive monster is no match for a real monster.*
Facing a colossal beast head-on without a shred of fear or hesitation, thinking only of the meat.
"Dane!!! Make it good meat!!!"
His shout, meant to rally spirits, was drowned out by the monster's roars and never reached Dane.
-Pffffffhhhh...
At the moment when air hissed out from the Elite's belly, filling the dust.
"Uwawaaaa!!!!"
Hunters and spectators alike began rushing down from the hilltop one after another. They undoubtedly wanted to witness Dane's bizarre hunt up close.
The party members stopped the cart at a suitable spot and relentlessly unloaded and set up the massive cauldron, enormous iron griddle, firewood, water barrels, and all sorts of cooking tools and ingredients from inside.
"Everything's going just as the Captain predicted. We gotta hurry!"
Bankers said.
River nodded, recalling how they'd been busily preparing for this day ever since the Elite hunt was decided—right up to the remaining time before the hunt itself.
* * *
After the Elite hunt was set, Dane grew impatient. There was much to prepare before the hunt.
A massive monster meant overflowing meat, and hordes of spectators would gather, making it the perfect chance to promote monster meat. Of course, they had to outperform the Kemora Hunting Party.
Dane grabbed River and headed straight for the blacksmith.
"Oho... you've come! The rumors around town are wild. You're really going after an Elite?"
The blacksmith greeted Dane with unprecedented politeness.
"That's why I need you to make something for me," Dane replied with equally worldly courtesy.
"A large weapon?""Large, yes, but not a weapon.""What do you mean...?""I need a huge cauldron. Big enough to boil soup for... at least 50 servings."
"Uh... a cauldron that big?"
They'd borrowed the village cauldrons during tours before. This time, they needed something bigger.
The blacksmith's eyes went wide, but Dane didn't stop there.
"And a long iron griddle. About 6 meters should do. Make it foldable to fit in the cart, with supports too." And now, that griddle was unfurled like a table by Bankers.
"Whew... prep's done. How's the situation?"
Bankers panted, having swiftly arranged the firewood, set up the cauldron, and positioned the heavy griddle.
"He's already skinning it! Light the fire now!"
River shouted, rubbing her hands briskly. No time to rest.
While Bankers lit the firewood under the long griddle and poured water from the cart's barrels into the cauldron one after another, River laid out spices, seasonings, and tools on the wide prep table she'd assembled. At that moment.
"Waaaaaaah!!"
A massive cheer erupted from the Elite's direction. Looking over, Dane had sliced a huge chunk from the monster's belly shell. And then,
"Bankers!!!!"
With Dane's booming roar came a large, pale lump hurtling toward Bankers with a *whoosh* of air.
-Splat!
The lump impaled straight onto Bankers' sharp claws, and he instantly recognized what it was.
-Sizzle!
It hit the scorching griddle and began shrieking fiercely—it was a massive slab of Elite fatback.
Bankers spread the fat across the griddle, oiling every corner. At last, the grand Elite iron griddle feast had begun.
"Waaaaaaah!"
Cheers exploded again. Each time, River's heart thudded down. Turning to look...
Dane, covered in blood, hoisted aloft a massive rectangular slab of meat with both hands.
"Butcher! Butcher!"
"Dane! Dane! Dane! Dane!"
The spectators thought it was the ceremony of one who felled a colossal monster, but no.
He slung the meat over both shoulders, dashed quickly to the Elite's rear, gathered armfuls of severed tentacle chunks to his chest. Then he sprinted toward the cart, yelling.
"Griddle ready?!"
"Hot enough!"
Bankers replied.
"Cauldron?!"
"Boiling!"
River shouted.
Dane swiftly laid out the meat slab and tentacles on the prep table and began prepping the tenderloin first.
He peeled off the fat layer encasing the entire tenderloin, stripped the membrane and fat from the muscle, trimming it clean. Far too precise and swift for a single cleaver.
Dane eyed the griddle and cauldron steadily, tenderloin in hand. His mind swirled chaotically with visions of finished dishes.
"Shall we start?"
River nodded vigorously, and Dane placed the long, thick tenderloin slab directly on the griddle.
-Tsssssssss!
A crisp sizzle rose with faint steam, awakening every nerve and boiling saliva in mouths.
"Crisp both sides first, then slice thin on the griddle and sear the edges."
It sounded like a mutter, but the target was clear. Dane placed a hand on Bankers' shoulder.
"Can you handle the flips?"
Something hot surged in Bankers' chest, leaving him speechless. He just nodded, eyes moist.
Dane patted Bankers' arm lightly, then dumped the tentacle chunks into a water barrel to wash off impurities as he met River's eyes.
Catching his intent, she took the tentacles, sliced them into segments, and tossed them into the boiling cauldron. Dane said.
"Griddle's good... Cauldron's good... Now for the third dish."
"What're you—?"
Without explanation, Dane spun and dashed off.
"Hey?!"
He raced back to the fallen Elite in one bound, gathering armfuls of the scattered iron spears littering the ground.
The spectators stared blankly, clueless to his intent.
Even the Kemora Hunting Party was the same. They watched Dane snatch their iron spears but were too gripped by heavy atmosphere to care.
Their Captain Kemora, Friedhold, and many others bore great and small wounds, and Huan, pierced through the chest by a tentacle, had died on the spot.
Dane proved his superhuman strength once more by hefting over twenty iron spears at once and hurrying back to his comrades.
The Kemora Hunting Party watched wide-eyed as their spears were stolen in plain sight.
* * *
At the base camp, three dishes were progressing simultaneously.
[Elite Iron Griddle Roast] seasoned with herbs, rock salt, vegetables, and spices.
[Elite Tail Beef Soup] simmered clear and deep.
And [Elite Iron Spear Skewers] grilled over open flame.
By now, hunters and merchants encircled the bustling cooking area, watching. The elves, of course, stayed away.
"Man, aren't they doing this to sell monster meat right after?""Haven't you heard? It's already pretty famous in Zone 2.""That's why they call 'em Dane's Butchery Crew.""I heard... that secret restaurant meat in Foldtown was monster meat.""Huh? For real? That was actual monster meat?"
Amid the spectators' murmurs, Dane continued rummaging through the Elite's innards.
He'd severed arteries throughout, so the bleeding was quite successful. No blood soaked the meat, no off smells.
*Plenty to salvage.*
He'd planned to load just enough meat onto the cart to sell and take home. But there were more spectators than expected, and ample time to butcher. With soaring expected profits, he revised his plan.
*We can sell it all!*
That's why he'd grabbed the spears, delegated all cooking to his comrades, and kept butchering nonstop.
Though enormous, its basic anatomy wasn't much different from other monsters. Dane dissected systematically, targeting tasty parts, when Bankers' shout pulled him back.
"First batch is ready!!!!"
Just then, both sides of the griddled slab had turned a perfect color. Mouthwatering just to look at.
Dane wiped his cleaver on a clean cloth and swiftly scored the griddle.
His precise, even slashes divided the meat at ruler-straight intervals without touching the griddle—a godly feat that gaped spectators' mouths.
-Sizzle!
The slices aligned neatly from the griddle's edge under the cleaver's guidance.
Once the griddle brimmed with meat, he began flipping from the first pieces. Evenly seared on all sides.
The instant the meat hit perfect color.
Dane speared the first piece and popped it in his mouth. Pure meat, no seasonings.
*Gulp...*
A throat's swallow from one spectator rippled like dominoes through the crowd.
"Hiyaaa..."
Dane's exclamation followed the extraordinary aroma and sizzle. Doubts about monster meat vanished from the spectators' minds.
*Worthy of a colossal monster. Impressive and delicious...*
The taste was one thing, but the energy was no joke. Hot power welled from deep within.
Dane kept at it relentlessly until the Elite's energy fully filled him. River and Bankers shoveled meat too.
"Ha... tender enough to shed its old skin.""Juices burst like pop."
They didn't stop cooking amid the praise. The massive griddle still overflowed.
"Veggie griddle next!"
River quickly seasoned the cubed meat.
She pushed finished portions to the cooler side; Bankers wiped char from the fat.
River tossed neatly chopped veggies onto the remaining meat and stir-fried on the griddle.
-Tssssssss!
Dazzling hands!
With seasonings added, irresistible aromas layered atop the grilling meat, vibrating everywhere.
"Whoa!"
"Wow!!"
"Kieee!!!"
The butchery crew's spectacle of stir-frying, tasting, chewing, and exclaiming was pure torture.
Spectators' mouths flooded with saliva. Cold sweat beaded on hands and backs. They ached to reach out.
They clung to reason, eyeing the menacing cleaver and spatula flying over the griddle.
But... Dane's next words broke them.
"Who wants some?"