Chapter 77
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Marshmallow Experiment
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[Marshmallow Experiment]
[Directive: Maintain a fasting state for at least 24 hours from the moment you receive this command, then clear the Jeonju A-Rank Dungeon solo.]
[Fasting State: 31 hours, 51 minutes elapsed]
‘Ah, damn... This is harder than I thought.’
Fasting for a full day and a half was straight-up insane. I hadn’t even touched water, terrified it might break my fasting state, and now my throat felt like sandpaper.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Tha... nk... Ugh!”
Thud!
The moment I stepped out of the car, my legs gave out, and I face-planted right there.
“S-Shin Ji-ui Hunter?! Are you okay?!”
“Ah, my knee. Yeah, yeah... I’m fine...”
“Your complexion has looked awful for a while now. Do you really have to clear the dungeon alone...?”
“Haha... Don’t worry about it.”
I forced a smile, but my cracked, raspy voice must’ve given me away—the driver’s face twisted with worry. I brushed the dirt off my knee and headed toward the container box.
‘This is the Jeonju A-Rank Dungeon.’
The Jeonju A-Rank Dungeon was right next to the Jeondong Cathedral. A gate had popped up during mass, causing a panic, but it got cleared quickly with no casualties. I’d been on the cleanup crew back then, so I vaguely remembered the layout inside.
What was it again? A straight outdoor path, stretched out in a line.
Screeech—
I opened the container box door and stepped in. The scanning staff member bowed politely toward me.
“Scanning now.”
While the staff scanned my items, I used my Right Eye of the Regressor to inspect the Jeonju A-Rank Dungeon gate.
[Jeonju A-Rank Dungeon]
[Dungeon based on a food alley from decades ago]
[Monsters take the form of food]
[Mid-boss present]
[Attack power isn’t particularly high, but defense is strong, so it may take a long time]
‘Ah, you’ve got to be kidding me.’
The moment I saw “monsters take the form of food,” I instantly understood why the status window had picked this dungeon.
Grrrooowl.
My tactless stomach let out a thunderous rumble. The scanning staff didn’t bat an eye, though—just kept staring at their tablet PC.
“All done.”
“Thank you...”
I pushed open the iron gate and stepped inside the dungeon.
Thud!
“Whoa... Hell.”
I couldn’t help but sigh the second I entered. The air was thick with the savory scent of frying oil, scrambling my brain.
Neatly paved roads flanked by street food stalls lined both sides, menus plastered with unfamiliar dishes and their prices. The sizzle of food cooking on griddles teased my ears, and every breath filled my lungs with salty, mouthwatering aromas that numbed my senses.
‘I’m already dizzy from hunger...’
With my stomach completely empty, I could feel every heartbeat crystal clear.
If I dove into combat like this, I’d get taken out in some stupid way for sure.
“Nokdu.”
Kiiiiing—
Calling Nokdu summoned a green orb from my bracelet, which swiftly morphed into a wolf mid-air, circling once overhead.
‘Sis! I missed you! Have you been well? It’s been forever. Why haven’t you summoned me?’
“Things just ended up that way. Sorry, sis.”
‘Huh? I wasn’t fishing for an apology.’
Nokdu unleashed a torrent of petulant whines. My head throbbed a bit, but I indulged her, locking eyes quietly with those emerald orbs.
“Nokdu, I have to clear this dungeon solo. But I’m so hungry I can’t focus.”
‘Why’d you starve yourself?’
“Some lunatic made me do it...”
Crackle.
The status window flickered with noise for a split second, like it had something to say.
“Anyway, I need you to help with combat support. You can do that, right?”
‘Of course!! Trust me!!’
Nokdu barked her reply loud and clear, then threw her head back in a long, wolfish howl.
Click.
I hooked my finger on Ego’s trigger, gearing up for battle in earnest. Nokdu leaped into the air, stretching lightly.
“Let’s go.”
Awoooo—!
Following the path lit by Pathfinder, I pressed onward. The deeper I went, the thicker the appetite-stirring smells grew—sweet, sticky sauces kneading straight into my brain.
Jeonju’s Famous Pizza Baguette—Delivery Available!
Tanghulu (Strawberry, Kiwi, Apple)
Nostalgic Tteokbokki Skewers, 2,000 won!
Cheese Bomb! Octopus Skewers Available! → 50m
Since when was pizza baguette a Jeonju specialty? And what’s with the tanghulu?
No ocean nearby, yet they’re selling cheese-bombed octopus skewers? Weird.
Was there really a food alley like this in Jeonju decades ago? Bizarre.
Woof! Woof!
That’s when Nokdu snarled fiercely at an octopus skewer stall to the right.
Kaboom!!
I drew Ego and aimed. The stall toppled forward, launching a massive octopus tentacle skewer into the air. Bonito flakes fluttered wildly on top.
Crackle!
The tentacle stretched out abruptly, coiling around me in an instant.
Bang!!
I jammed Ego right into the tentacle and pulled the trigger. It burst with a salty sea tang, shoving the body backward. Switching from the Regressor’s right eye, I scanned the octopus skewer with the Creator’s lesser authority.
[A-Rank Monster: Octopus Skewer—Cheese Flavor]
[Fire Attribute]
[Constrict, Pierce, Hunger]
[Special: Any lifeform that consumes ‘Octopus Skewer—Cheese Flavor’ immediately enters the ‘Hunger’ state.]
That earlier attack was probably Constrict. The rest: Pierce for attacks, Hunger debuff. No eating involved anyway—just aim true and take it down.
Vrrrrm—
I held Ego’s trigger down long. The air vibrated, sweeping over the octopus skewer’s body. It shuddered violently, its movement speed dropping way slower than before.
‘Sis!!’
“Huh? Ack!”
Bam!!
That’s when a food cart charged me head-on. Right before impact, Nokdu’s attack skill pierced clean through it.
“Ugh!”
‘That stings like hell!’
Dodged the hit, thank goodness—but the steaming oden broth inside splashed toward me, soaking my right arm completely.
Losing focus is seriously dangerous.
I’d had plenty of time to brace for the ambush, yet I got caught like an idiot.
Bam!!
‘Finish this one first.’
A sharp skewer tip stabbed where I’d stood. I vaulted into the air, landing behind it, and fired at the half-flown tentacle meat.
Pop-pop-bang!
The massive octopus skewer shredded like paper, cheese splattering to the ground where it bubbled like lava. I clamped a hand over my mouth in case any flew toward it and backed away from the debris.
High defense, but patterns weren’t too tricky.
Just manage stamina and push to the end.
Kaboom!!
Then more stuff poured from another cart.
Cup tteokbokki as big as me, bladed twisty donuts—definitely food, but no way I’d touch it.
Grrrooowl.
‘I hate myself for wanting to eat even that...’
The bladed donut scattered sugar powder everywhere, turning the white dust into deadly blades gunning for my life.
Plink-plink-plink.
The blades shattered like glass on my shield. I hurled the shield at the donut—it spun like a boomerang, smacking the donut then the cup tteokbokki in sequence.
Vrrrrm.
The shield shattered, but the vibration rippled through the surrounding air. The donut and tteokbokki wobbled wildly side to side.
[Wielder of the Strongest Weapon]
Achievement Rate: Greatly Increased
Current: 42%
Attacking with a shield forged from Ego boosted the Wielder of the Strongest Weapon achievement rate.
I should refine it more—turn it into a whole new fixed weapon form.
Awoooo—!
Kaboom!
Nokdu gaped her jaws at them, unleashing a beam of pure white light that punched holes straight through their bodies. I raised Ego with my uninjured left arm and fired.
Bang!!
‘Bullseye.’
The white bullet skewered them both at once, leaving only wretched fragments plummeting to the ground.
Plip-plip-plop.
“Haa, ha... Ugh!”
With the fight over, my broth-soaked arm finally started throbbing. Rolling up my damp jacket sleeve revealed my right arm, boiled bright red.
‘I think I bought some trauma salve...’
I opened my inventory, eyes scanning dozens of boxes.
Thud.
But oddly, instead of salve, a yellow-wrapped energy bar jumped out at me.
My parched throat, my empty gut begging for anything. Stomach acid bubbled uselessly, burning up to my chest.
‘Do I really need to go through with... that blessing?’
Even if I got the blessing and headed to the Greek S-Rank Dungeon, no guarantee I’d snag the Ither’s Robe. Might not even enter within a week.
Do I really need to suffer like this for this dungeon?
There’s gotta be other solid S-Rank light defense gear—not as good as Ither’s Robe, but decent. If it’s this rough, maybe just...
Lick.
“Gasp...?!”
‘Sis?’
That’s when Nokdu licked my cheek. My drifting mind snapped back instantly.
‘So it numbs your reason.’
I was feeling it firsthand why hunger’s one of humanity’s big three urges. I rubbed my dry face with one hand, exhaled long and slow, then finally saw Nokdu gazing at me worriedly, her emerald eyes aglow.
“Thanks. Nearly botched it over nothing.”
‘What’d I even do?’
“Yeah. You snapped me out of it.”
Pressing my forehead to hers transferred a warm glow through my body. Nokdu purred and panted happily before bolting back toward the gate ahead.
Click.
I pulled trauma salve from the corner of my inventory and doused my arm. Amid the stinging pain, fresh skin began sprouting over the burn.
I stowed the empty bottle and glanced at Pathfinder. It pointed to the deepest end of the food cart row.
‘Hurry up and finish, then stuff my face with anything the second I’m out.’
I willed strength into my wobbly legs and trudged deeper along the path.