Meritorious Rewards
The third floor was packed with two vending machines and elegant wooden shelves brimming with mouthwatering cheeses. Not the kind packed in plastic trays you'd see at a mart, but everything from flat cylindrical wheels straight out of a TV show to massive barrels. The varieties were so diverse I couldn't even tell one from another.
"Chef Joo."
"Yes, sir!"
Joo Yong-cheol's eyes sparkled as he began surveying the cheeses. He hadn't imagined this after all the dairy from the second floor.
"Whoa... these are like the ones from cartoons."
The cheese cellar's stock replenished once a month. Some could even be stored outside with proper temperature and humidity control. Best of all, our culinary horizons were about to expand dramatically.
Everyone wandered the aging room in a daze, gently stroking the cheeses with their fingers, leaning in close to inhale their aromas.
"This one's huge. And rock-hard. Do you hollow it out to eat it?"
Joo Yong-cheol approached one and commented.
"Yes, that's Parmigiano-Reggiano."
"Fancy name."
"It's commonly called Parmesan cheese in Korea."
"Ah...! The powder that comes with pizza?"
"Yes, but most store-bought Parmesan is imitation. This is the real deal..."
"Huh... so everything I've eaten was fake."
Joo Yong-cheol explained each type: shelves stacked with Parmigiano-Reggiano, Grana Padano, cheddar, gouda, Emmental, Camembert. He marveled at the endless dishes possible.
"Tonight, we can have cheese-based meals in the bathhouse."
"I'll prepare them right away!"
"Check the vending machines first since they're still here."
After seeing the cheese, the 30 points spent on the Livestock Complex felt like nothing.
The first vending machine had a bone icon.
"This comes from here, huh."
I pressed the button, and a large pack brimming with beef bone broth dropped into the basket.
"Whoa...!"
Im Jun-gu showed immediate interest. With bone broth, he could elevate large-batch soups to the next level.
"Now for the last one."
Pressing the final button yielded ten packs of white cheese tumbling out. Each was filled with water cradling fluffy curds. I held one up to ask Joo Yong-cheol what it was, but Han Byeol shouted first.
"Mozzarella! It's mozzarella cheese!"
"Really? Doesn't look like the stuff I know."
"Store-bought is imitation," Joo Yong-cheol confirmed.
"So everything I've eaten was fake...?"
I tore open a pack; water spilled out alongside a nutty aroma. It was warm and soft in my hand. A quick taste:
"Mmm... so this is real mozzarella."
Everything I'd thought was mozzarella before was counterfeit. Tasting freshly made authentic mozzarella for the first time, anger at the deception clashed with joy at future indulgences.
Han Byeol watched me with shining eyes. I tore off a piece and offered it; she closed her eyes and opened her mouth.
"Are you a puppy...?"
"B-Byeol! What are you doing?!"
Han Seol tried to stop her, but Han Byeol held the pose. I fed her directly, and she savored it with a blissful expression.
"Alright... let's store all the cheese and head down?"
"Yes! I'll prepare your post-bath meal right away!"
"Thanks."
The Livestock Complex reconstruction had yielded nearly every byproduct from the cows. After baths, the executives and I enjoyed a feast of cheese dishes: pasta, salads, and more. But the standout was the pizza—mozzarella blended with a touch of cheddar, tomato sauce from Paradise's tomatoes, topped with beef. Finished with basil and parsley, it was thin-crust authentic Italian, not thick American-style. One bite drew sighs of delight. I demolished a whole pie myself.
"Is this the last one now?"
"Yes!"
A week after the Livestock Complex reconstruction, massive quantities of silver scales filled the backs of over ten trucks for delivery to the territory. I fed every load straight into the Workshop. The machine absorbed the monster byproduct without issue.
Executives worked day and night loading carts. Once all scales were processed and the panel activated, it displayed a message.
◈ High-grade item x1
◈ OR Mid-grade items x5
I wanted the supreme-grade. Inserting Silver Foam's shattered core, the machine hummed loudly, and the panel updated.
◈ Supreme-grade item x1
◈ + Mid-grade items x10
I summoned all the executives to the Workshop.
"The Union hands out medals for meritorious service... I considered that, but practical rewards seemed better, so we're doing gear."
"Yes!"
"The supreme-grade from this Workshop goes to the battle's top contributor. Everyone, applause!"
I started clapping, and they all turned to Im Jui, applauding. She clapped blankly at first, then realized and frantically scribbled on her notepad.
We fought together for this victory. I can't accept it alone. Let us do rock-paper-scissors like last time.
"No rock-paper-scissors. It's unanimous. Im Jui, you're the top contributor."
This victory came from all executives risking their lives.
"Everyone risked it, but you were the bravest."
Im Jui pocketed her notepad, removed her gas mask, and tried to speak.
"Ah... ugh...!"
"Just write it..."
"Tha... t...!"
"I get what you're saying, but my decision stands. You regretted losing rock-paper-scissors last time, right? This is fair reward—just take it. Otherwise, I'll make something random and trash it."
"Ugh..."
She bowed her head. She wanted the gear but only through fair competition. But we executives disagreed. She deserved it most.
"Oh my, is Jui crying?"
Han Seol leaned down and said.
"So cute!"
Han Byeol hugged her tight. Ironically, she'd been the most wary when Im Jui joined but now doted on her like a little sister.
Thank you.
"Good. Han Byeol, back off a bit..."
Im Jui tearfully thanked me, while Han Byeol rubbed cheeks with her.
I activated the supreme-grade production. The pod opened.
"In you go."
She bowed deeply and entered the hibernation chamber. Truth be told, I wanted to feed her both next enhancement melons to max her potential at 100%. That urge grew after seeing Yoo Gyu-seong's fight. I wanted her as Korea's unchallenged strongest Awakener—my ultimate trump card.
"Jealous?"
I asked Han Byeol while waiting for Im Jui's scan.
"A little. But she carried this battle, so it'd be weirder if I got it. Next monster hunt, I'll rack up merits!"
"Next time, unless something special, it'll be rock-paper-scissors between you and Jeong Su-hwan. Don't take risks just for gear..."
"Got it!"
Hiss—the scan finished, pod opening amid white vapor. Im Jui emerged as the machine roared, ejecting a box like Han Seol's.
"Open it."
She bowed to me, then opened the box.
"Whoa..."
"Oh my."
My guess from Han Seol's gear was now certainty: the Workshop didn't just scan body size—it analyzed the person, tailoring to tastes beyond performance.
Inside: a raincoat and mask like her usual, but sleeker. Silvery-gray, more longcoat than raincoat—elegant and ornate.
"Try it on."
She shed her old coat for the new one.
"Gloves integrated inside."
Silver half-gloves were built-in. She lifted the silver mask, securing it with a click; silver straps auto-fastened from the back. Intricate patterns covered it, with eye and mouth silhouettes.
"Comfortable? No breathing holes like your mask. Not too thick for summer?"
It's incredibly comfortable. Feels like no mask—easy to breathe. Well-ventilated and cool. And... I feel even stronger than before.
"Good."
I knew about ventilation; supreme-grade gear maintained homeostasis for any season. Curious about her senses, I asked more, but:
"Hoo...!"
With a sword on her back, her small frame radiated overwhelming presence—like a post-apocalyptic overlord. Good thing we were in the barrier; bump into her at night unrecognized, and you'd piss yourself.
She set her notepad down and knelt.
I will never forget this grace and repay it with my life.
"Good."
With her now, Yoo Gyu-seong or whoever—she could charge with a single sword and shred them. Maybe purging all monsters from Seoul wasn't an impossible dream after all.