A Recipe for Chaos
"He doesn't look so good. Did you drag him here against his will?" Lee Se-yeon asked, her voice laced with suspicion. The man was dripping with cold sweat, his face pale as a ghost—looking exactly like the guild leaders who had been captured by Tae-hyun back in Pan-On 1.
Tae-hyun immediately shot back. "Against his will? No way. We had a blast clearing that quest together."
...?Lee Da-bi silently questioned his sanity. Could anyone actually enjoy clearing a quest with Tae-hyun? Even his biggest fan would probably say, 'I'd rather watch you through a screen,' after running a single quest with him...
"Right? It was fun, wasn't it?" Tae-hyun asked, turning to the man.
"Uh... yeah. I... really had a wonderful time..."
He was definitely threatened, Se-yeon thought, but she didn't press any further. It wasn't like Tae-hyun blackmailing people in Pan-On was anything new. At this point, whether the poor soul had been coerced didn't matter; what mattered was whether he would be useful for the quest. And if Tae-hyun had gone out of his way to threaten him into joining, it meant he was a highly capable talent!
"From what I've seen, trying to clear this with fewer than ten people seems a bit tight," Se-yeon noted.
"Yeah. I was thinking we need to scale up our numbers," Tae-hyun agreed. Different dungeons required different party sizes. Trying to tackle this particular dungeon with only five or six people felt far too risky. They needed at least ten.
"What about your teammates?" Se-yeon asked.
"They're all busy with their own things right now, so it's hard to call them in. What about your guild members?"
"I called a few. But our guild is small to begin with, and most of them are in the middle of their own quests, so I feel bad dragging more of them away."
Neither Tae-hyun nor Se-yeon belonged to a massive guild, so their mobilization power was somewhat lacking in this regard. If they were part of a giant guild, a single wave of their hand would have brought a dozen rankers running...
"Should we invite some rankers we know?" Se-yeon suggested.
"Unless they're absolutely trustworthy, it might just cause unnecessary headaches," Tae-hyun replied.
"True, that's a fair point."
They knew plenty of rankers, but finding ones who possessed both top-tier skills and trustworthy character was a rare feat. To most rankers, Se-yeon was a rival they desperately wanted to drag down. And on top of that, Kim Tae-hyun was involved? It wouldn't be surprising at all if someone joined just to sabotage them, thinking, They absolutely must fail!
"Hmm... What if we bring in some NPCs?" Tae-hyun mused.
"NPCs could work. Oh, are you going to call the high-ranking officers of your church?"
"No. They're trash."
"..."
"..."
Se-yeon stared at him, utterly flabbergasted by how he hadn't hesitated for even a fraction of a second. Hey, that's your own church you're talking about...!
"For starters, I'm planning to bring Persmes."
"Who's Persmes?"
"An NPC who's the successor to the Bishop."
"!"
Se-yeon's face lit up. An NPC who was a bishop's successor would undoubtedly boast an incredible level and an extraordinary skill set. Such an ally was more than welcome.
"What! You called them trash, but you were hiding an NPC like that?"
"He's not from our church. He's from the Idergo Cult."
"..."
A chilly silence fell over the group. Se-yeon quietly apologized.
"I'm sorry..."
"Why are you apologizing? Don't apologize." It only makes it sadder when you apologize!
"Hmm. Maybe I should bring the Archisus Artillery? Their damage output is definitely top-tier."
The Archisus Artillery! It was a multi-species coalition party boasting perfect teamwork: barbarians and Chimeras of Archisus guarded the perimeter, master dwarf artisans and giant laborers managed and operated the cannons, and demons provided magical support. When Tae-hyun didn't summon them, this reliable group traveled around the kingdom assisting adventurers, earning rave reviews among the player base.
"The Archisus Artillery... that sounds like a great idea," Se-yeon agreed. "The dungeon interior was incredibly vast, so there should be plenty of room for the giants, the cannons, and the demon cages to pass through."
Although it was called a labyrinth, the dungeon was actually massive. The wider the space, the better the Archisus Artillery could perform.
"I think we've got a decent lineup now. Let's draw up a strategy," Se-yeon said.
"Sure. I brought the footage, so let's look at it here—"
"Ah, before that, I need to craft some bombs. And then I have to feed my summons."
"...S-Sure. I'll just watch from the side."
"Watch? It's not going to be very interesting."
"Hehehehehe!"
"Kyahahaha!"
They seriously look like lunatics. The Mechanical Engineering Blacksmiths working in the forge were dressed up like mad scientists straight out of a movie.
But the moment Tae-hyun walked in, they instantly snapped back to complete sanity. "Ah, Lord Kim Tae-hyun. You've arrived."
"What were you guys just doing?" Tae-hyun asked.
"We were discussing what kind of outfit would be best to terrify our enemies and make them run away when we encounter them in the field."
"I told you, we should just run around naked! If you're naked, people hesitate to attack you."
"No, but that leaves our defense stats way too low..."
Listening to this "brilliant" debate taking place inside, the companions standing behind Tae-hyun were left utterly speechless.
"Oh, the others are here too?"
"It's the Guild Master of Power Warrior!"
"Ah! Guild Master! What brings such a prestigious guest to our humble abode?"
"Please, have a seat!"
"Is there a chair? Where did the chair go?"
"You blew it up, you idiot!"
"Damn it. Whoever blew it up, get down on all fours! Take responsibility. You're the chair now!"
"Fine, I have no choice. Guild Master! Please, sit on my back!"
One of the Mechanical Engineering Blacksmiths promptly dropped to the floor on his hands and knees.
Although these blacksmiths usually ignored the rest of the world to obsess over their bombs, Power Warrior was a different story. The guild was a reliable partner that tested their experimental bombs first, gathered any materials they needed, and even sold their finished products for them. It was a perfect symbiotic relationship! Naturally, they had no choice but to show absolute loyalty to the guild leader.
"...I-I really don't want to sit... but since it's a gesture of goodwill..." Lee Da-bi squeezed her eyes shut, preparing to actually sit down.
Tae-hyun immediately kicked the kneeling man away. "Stop being creepy and get out of the way. Go grab a chair from inside. Otherwise, I'll just craft one on the spot."
"What brings you here?" Saruon, the demon blacksmith and master of the forge, wiped his hands as he walked out. Although his former master, Esla, had been freed from his seal and returned to the Demon Realm, Saruon had remained in the Valley to work as an NPC. Living right next to the headquarters of the Archisus Church was a bit unsettling, but his satisfaction with life in the Valley was surprisingly high. What demons loved most were the raw emotions poured out by humans—joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure. And the Valley was a place where such emotions were always in abundant supply.
"I'm here to craft a bomb," Tae-hyun said.
"!" Every single person in the room, from the Mechanical Engineering Blacksmiths to Saruon, gasped in shock. If Tae-hyun had personally come to make such a request, it was guaranteed to be no ordinary explosive.
"Shut the doors!"
"Call everyone working in the back! We need to hear this!"
"What kind of bomb... are you planning to make?" Saruon asked cautiously.
"I'm planning to make a bomb infused with the power of the Hungry Chaos." Along with his words, Tae-hyun pulled out a fragment. Saruon stared in absolute horror at the malevolent energy radiating from it. What kind of absolute lunatic of a Pope is this?!
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Ah... It's nothing." Saruon quickly swallowed his words. He had always feared Tae-hyun, but seeing him casually attempt to harness the power of the Hungry Chaos doubled that terror. If this man was willing to play with the power of the Hungry Chaos, killing a single demon like him wouldn't even make him blink!
"But, if I may... perhaps you should reconsider whether using the power of the Hungry Chaos is truly a wise decision?" Saruon suggested tentatively. It wasn't just the continent and the churches that detested the Hungry Chaos. Demons hated it too. It was a gluttonous monster that devoured everything in its path, regardless of good or evil, making it a natural enemy to all. A bomb containing the power of such a mad entity was an omen of pure disaster.
"Master Saruon!!! How could you say such a thing?!"
"We are so disappointed in you!" The Mechanical Engineering Blacksmiths cried out in outrage, tears welling in their eyes. Usually, Saruon would strike a dramatic pose and say things like, Heh... a demon's power comes from absolute freedom, unbound by petty morals... blood, flesh, bone—we utilize anything and everything to grow stronger... To hear him speak so meekly now was a massive blow to their expectations.
"N-No... do not misunderstand. I am not afraid."
"Then why did you try to reject it?!"
"I didn't! It was just... a polite formality! I would love to start crafting it this very instant!"
"We knew it...!"
"We're sorry! We misunderstood your deep intentions!"
Internally, Saruon cursed his apprentices. They were usually cute, but today they were being incredibly obnoxious.
"Excellent, Saruon. Let's work hard on this together," Tae-hyun smiled.
"..." Saruon let out a heavy sigh in his mind. He could only pray that crafting this bomb wouldn't draw the attention of the Hungry Chaos. If that thing marks you, it's an absolute nightmare to deal with...
To combat the Hungry Chaos, angels from various churches had descended upon the continent. Among them was Ahdael, a High Angel of the Archisus Cult. Although they had descended with grand ambitions, they had been severely injured—not by the Hungry Chaos, but by an ambush from old demon enemies—and were currently resting deep within the Grand Temple of the Valley. Tae-hyun stepped inside to meet them.
"Ah, Avatar!" Ahdael was deeply immersed in training, their six arms wielding a sword, an axe, a spear, a staff, a club, and a shield. With every swing, a burst of aura erupted like an explosion before vanishing, sending a shiver down Tae-hyun's spine. If they're this powerful while still recovering from injuries, just how monstrously strong will they be once fully healed?
"Thank you so much for providing me with this space to recuperate," Ahdael said.
"No, I should be the one thanking you," Tae-hyun replied. Not only had they descended to help, but Ahdael's mere presence in the Valley provided incredibly lucrative passive buffs.
"Seeing you visit me like this, there can only be one reason. The armies of the Hungry Chaos have finally set the continent ablaze, decapitated the kings of the realms, and marched right to the gates of this Valley, correct?"
"...No?" Tae-hyun blinked. Why is your imagination so incredibly violent?
"It's not? Aw... the Hungry Chaos is really slacking off. Did it lose its touch after being sealed away for so long?"
"..."
"Or perhaps it is because you, Avatar, are doing your job far too well."
"I'd like to think so. Actually, I'm planning to raid a certain dungeon soon."
"Ah. I have heard of that dungeon before," Ahdael said.
"!" Tae-hyun's eyes widened in pleasant surprise. He hadn't expected Ahdael to know about it. This was an unexpected windfall. "Excellent. What kind of dungeon is it?"
"A very long time ago, several churches joined forces to raid that dungeon," Ahdael explained. Whenever the Hungry Chaos appeared, it was branded as the public enemy of the entire continent—a greedy monster that devoured everything without discrimination. To destroy one of its dungeons, the heroes and angels of various churches had once gathered.
"So you participated in that raid as well?"
"No. They wouldn't let us join because we were the Archisus Cult."
"..." Tae-hyun was left utterly speechless. Well, damn...