The Cow King's Meat

The breathtaking presence of the Cow King, which had appeared from the gate, left the onlookers, the field reporters, and even the soldiers watching Cheon Yooshin’s performance with their mouths firmly shut. The Minotaurs that had appeared until now looked like mere children in comparison. It had a bull-like appearance with thick, solid muscles that went without saying, glowing red eyes, and horns that soared high enough to pierce the sky, with red energy flickering at their tips. The Cow King, which had instantly captured everyone's attention, scanned the people as if looking down on the world. It was as if it were a monster possessing intelligence. Thanks to this, no one dared to even open their mouths. All they could do was tremble in fear.

That was when it happened.

"B-beef! It's beef!"

People's gazes moved hastily. Standing there was Cheon Yooshin, who had been slaughtering Minotaurs just moments ago. Cheon Yooshin wiped the saliva flowing from his mouth with his sleeve.

'To think I'd meet a Cow King here of all places!'

The Cow King. It was a top-tier ingredient in the Abyss that you couldn't eat even if you wanted to because it was so rare. It was a top-tier ingredient known only to those who knew—no, those who knew. Its texture was fundamentally different from common beef. It was so prized that whenever a Cow King appeared, both humans and demons living in hiding would all emerge. Just to eat a single piece of delicious beef. And such a delicious thing had appeared right in front of him!

"Hmm... should I grill the sirloin lightly to medium-rare, and maybe make the tenderloin into steak tartare? No, wait..."

Just as Cheon Yooshin was licking his lips while looking at the Cow King, a roar of fury erupted from the beast's mouth. Everyone covered their ears at the massive roar that seemed to shake the very space, but to Cheon Yooshin, it sounded only like delicious meat sizzling on a grill.

The enraged Cow King charged toward Cheon Yooshin. Every time it took a step toward him, the ground shook as if an earthquake were occurring. People were terrified by the sight, which was like a natural disaster. Screams erupted from their mouths, piercing the sky, and an indiscriminate flight began. On the other hand, Cheon Yooshin did not budge. Instead, a smile formed on his lips.

"To think you'd run over here yourself. Hehehe."

The annoyance from a moment ago had long since vanished. A light of excitement flashed in his eyes. Yooshin slowly reached out his arm.

At that moment, the air rippled, and darkness began to materialize. Spheres made of pitch-black darkness surrounded Yooshin, beginning to emit powerful Magi. Each sphere was as small as a star floating in the sky, but they contained a powerful gravitational field. At the same time, pebbles and dust on the ground began to orbit around them. The sight was so overwhelming, as if a small universe had unfolded with Yooshin at its center, that even those who were fleeing stopped in their tracks.

"C-crazy. What on earth is that?" a man muttered in a trembling voice.

"Oh, my God..." a middle-aged woman closed her eyes and unconsciously whispered a prayer.

"C-camera! Turn the camera right now! Hurry!" a field reporter shouted in an excited voice.

The murmurs of the people grew louder. Mixed with various emotions like fear, surprise, awe, and excitement, everyone was staring at Cheon Yooshin and the spheres of darkness surrounding him. At that sight, the Cow King’s charge also stopped. Bewilderment flickered in the beast's red eyes. The absolute-like appearance from a moment ago had vanished without a trace. On the other hand, a playful smile spread across Cheon Yooshin's lips.

"Shall we start with a light sear?"

Using Dark Nebula in a place like this was clearly inefficient. It was like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken. Aside from the power, the amount of Magi consumed for a single use was enormous. However, this was Earth, not the Abyss. In reality, the Magi he could use was infinite, and there were no demons as powerful as him here. So... he had no choice but to indulge in the luxury of using Magi.

"Now, go. Show it a hot time!"

Cheon Yooshin's gaze changed. The Dark Nebula surrounding him began to move slowly. As if defying the laws of the universe, countless spheres of darkness flew toward the Cow King all at once. There was no word other than "overwhelming" to describe the sight. It was as if thousands of small black holes were being fired simultaneously.

At the sound of the air being torn, the Cow King instinctively sensed danger and turned its body.

"Whoa, is the Cow King trying to run away right now?"

"That makes no sense! It's not some other trash monster, it's the Cow King!"

"I-is that the Cow King we know? Isn't it just something that looks the same?"

The onlookers were dumbfounded. The Cow King that had exuded an overwhelming presence at first was no longer to be found. Now, it was no different from a scared puppy with its tail between its legs running away. And at that moment, as Cheon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Yooshin's Dark Nebula touched the Cow King's massive body, the spheres of darkness began to explode like fireworks.

People could only hear the Cow King's agonizing howls. In an instant, dark, black flames of darkness covered the Cow King's entire body.

Ssssss.

How much time had passed? It was when the Dark Nebula was continuously generated and flew into the Cow King's body, repeating the explosion several times.

"Umm..." a soldier swallowed his saliva without realizing it.

"W-what is this?" the field reporter also gulped.

"Wh-what is this smell?"

The dumbfounded people looked around. The reason was the appetizing aroma that filled the surroundings. Specifically, the unique flavor of beef being grilled to a golden brown was spreading through the air. On the other hand, a smile spread across Cheon Yooshin's lips.

"The searing is almost done, isn't it?"

With his words, the movement of the Dark Nebula became even more intense. In addition, the Cow King's body size gradually shrank. At the same time, the aroma filling the surroundings became even richer. People were gulping down their saliva here and there. They had realized it. Where the source that made their mouths water was coming from. Amidst the conflict of contradictory emotions—fear and appetite—people could only watch this bizarre ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spectacle.

#

The appearance of the Cow King was enough to draw the attention of Hunter Management Departments around the world. The United States was no exception. The US Hunter Management Bureau situation room, Washington D.C.

"What on earth ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is that ability type?" Director James muttered with his mouth agape. The Dark Nebula surrounding the Asian hunter on the screen was that overwhelming. Not only Director James but also his staff held their breath at the sight, which looked as if a part of the universe had descended to Earth. Moreover, its power was nothing short of insane.

"Is that level A-class?"

"Well. I think we'll have to measure the energy output to be sure..." Deputy Director Jimmy was cautious with his words. What was certain was that it was power beyond B-class. The Cow King had fallen without even being able to put up a proper fight. Although the battle wasn't over yet, the tide of victory had already turned.

"Can our A-class hunters produce that kind of power?"

"It's possible."

A-class hunters. They were not mere superhumans. Each and every one of them was no different from a moving legion.

"Our Sorcerer Supreme can also use skills of that level of power."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Director James nodded at the mention of Sorcerer Supreme. The greatest asset of the US Hunter Management Bureau, evaluated as a being beyond A-class—his real name was a great existence known only to a very few.

Director James frowned as if something didn't sit right with him.

"Then does that mean that hunter is on par with Sorcerer Supreme?"

"No. They wouldn't even dare to be compared. He is someone who has transcended the boundaries of magic."

"Hmm..."

Meanwhile, on the screen, the Dark Nebula had completely faded, and only the Asian hunter stood alone in that spot.

"Still, it's certain that he's a great hunter."

"That is correct. At that level, he can be considered to be on the strong side even among our hunters."

"I'll have to report this to the President. And..." Director James's eyes gleamed. "Contact the Korean government and request all information about that hunter. And keep a close eye on him. It would be good if we could naturalize that hunter into our country."

Although the United States possessed the most A-class hunters in the world, it was still thirsty for high-rank hunters.

#

The media was in an uproar. Various outlets competitively poured out articles about Hunter Cheon Yooshin's conquest of the Cow King.

The comments on the articles were also full of praise.

The praise for Cheon Yooshin had somehow turned into a heated debate about whether the Cow King, or rather, monsters, could actually be used for food. Meanwhile, Cheon Yooshin was facing Team Leader Park Hae-soo and eating a meal together.

Munch, munch.

As Team Leader Park Hae-soo's mouth chewed something without rest, the scent of meat juices spread throughout his mouth.

"You are truly amazing, Hunter."

"What's so amazing about it? It's just catching a bull."

"Just a bull? It's not just any monster, it's the Cow King!"

Team Leader Park Hae-soo looked at him with burdensome eyes. However, it really wasn't a big deal. In the Abyss, the Cow King was treated as moving food.

"Ah! And I will tell you about the loot obtained this time. 430 Red Magic Stones, 129 Orange Magic Stones. And 1,020 Minotaur corpses."

Not that many.

Team Leader Park Hae-soo's mouth opened again.

"Lastly, it is the Cow King's horn."

"Handle it as you see fit."

"I understand. I will process it at a high price. And can I sell all the hides obtained this time as well?"

Yooshin waved his hand as if it were a bother. It meant to do as he pleased. At that gesture, Team Leader Park Hae-soo's mouth stretched from ear to ear.

"Hahaha. I understand. I will thoroughly secure the sales proceeds."

After finishing his words, Team Leader Park Hae-soo put the meat in front of him into his mouth. Munch, munch.

"By the way, this beef is truly delicious. It tastes even better than 1++ grade. Is it Hanwoo?"

Even at that moment, Park Hae-soo's chopsticks didn't stop. It was truly delicious. How could it be this delicious? It seemed different from any other beef. The savory flavor spreading throughout his mouth tickled the tip of his tongue. Park Hae-soo was admiring and admiring again the rich meat juices and the savory taste of the meat the more he chewed.

At that moment, Cheon Yooshin muttered while chewing meat as if it were nothing.

"...Meat."

"Yes? What kind of meat did you say?"

Park Hae-soo, who had been obsessed with the meat, asked back.

"Cow. King. Meat. The bull that came out of the Sudden Gate."

At those words, Park Hae-soo's chopstick movement, which had been moving like a soccer player flying across the field, stopped.

"H-h-haha."

He must have misheard.

"Once agai..."

"Isn't it delicious? It's meat you can't eat even if you want to because it's so rare. This Cow King guy, it's a monster that's hard to find."

Yooshin smiled broadly while stuffing his mouth full of meat. And meat could be seen between Yooshin's teeth. It was meat that had looked so delicious that he had thought it was a taste of heaven just moments ago. Suddenly, his appetite plummeted.

Cheon Yooshin chuckled at that sight. Because he knew exactly what Park Hae-soo was feeling right now. Because he had been like that himself. Eating a monster itself might be disgusting. However.

'If you know this, you can't help but eat it.'

"Try eating a little more."

"H-Hunter."

Park Hae-soo had a disgusted expression. However, Park Hae-soo, who was forced to stuff the meat into his mouth by Cheon Yooshin, who was insisting, felt like he wanted to spit out the meat in his mouth, but when he swallowed it down his throat while holding back the urge to vomit because of Cheon Yooshin's gaze, it happened.

'...?'

Wh-what is this?

Park Hae-soo froze for a moment while looking at the message that had appeared in front of his eyes.

'C-can you raise your stats like this too?'

And beyond the message, he could see Cheon Yooshin grinning.