Chapter 78

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 78

Chapter Title: Clearing on an Empty Stomach

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Pop!

Every time I pulled Ego's trigger, another monster burst apart. To keep the fight as short as possible, I'd cranked up the ammo output to max, and the A-rank beasts shredded like paper the instant my sound bullets hit them.

Guess that DF S5 rating wasn't for show. Even with my stamina ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the gutter, I was mowing down A-ranks like this. Maybe it meant my combat senses were almost fully back.

Awooooo―!

Nokdu let out a long howl. It turned into a streak of white light that sliced through the air, punching a massive hole in one of the butter-grilled squids flapping around overhead.

Boom!!

The squid slammed one of its long tentacles down at Nokdu. She dodged to the side in a flash, and I used Ego to sever the limb completely. A wave of sweet, salty butter scent hit my face.

The clothing store where I used to work was right across from a movie theater... so I'd smelled this plenty of times.

I'd nearly lost my mind more than once, dying to grab one on the way home after a shift.

Lost in those thoughts, I kept pushing forward until I reached the end of the street food alley. Looking down at 'Light Bearer', the arrow tilted to the right.

It pointed to a narrow side path screened by a hanok-style wall.

Whoooosh―

Alleys that tight were perfect for ambushes, so instead of heading in, I triggered 'Bird that Listens to Day Words' for a high leap. It pulled me away from the food smells, at least a little.

Behind me stretched the street food stalls; ahead lay tile-roofed hanok houses like a mini village. Two clashing vibes in one glance.

Now, how far did this winding alley snake on?

Like tracing a maze, I ran my fingertip along it, sliding slowly toward the end.

The long stretch of wall led to a big gate, then a pretty hanok with its own garden.

'Feels like a mid-boss monster's waiting in there.'

I descended carefully, like walking down stairs in midair, landing just a bit higher than the wall.

'Unni! Monster over there!'

"Huh? Where?"

'There, in that garden!'

Nokdu had spotted something at the garden's edge and came bounding toward me, hopping excitedly.

Nothing in my sight yet. Where was it hiding?

Ting.

I pushed off the air and leaped toward the garden. With the sun high, 'Bird that Listens to Day Words' was giving me that nice speed boost. Not quite flight like Choi Min Hunter's skill, but satisfying all the same.

The garden hit me with floral scents instead of food smells. Unnamed flowering trees bloomed everywhere, and the corner pond was ringed with neat bonsai.

"Nokdu-ya, where's the monster?"

'The pond!'

Click.

I aimed Ego at the pond and held my breath. Ready to blast anything that popped out. I crept closer, step by step.

Thud-boom!!

The ground shook hard. Ripples hit the pond, then a massive water pillar erupted. Spray scattered everywhere, and a double rainbow arched overhead.

"Ngh!"

A golden fish leaped from the rainbow, gleaming brilliantly. It gaped wide—and a white blob shot toward me. I threw up a shield; the blob slid harmlessly down it.

'Cold.'

Splat.

Chill seeped into my palm holding the shield. It hit the ground and melted into a gooey puddle, like ice cream dropped on the floor.

I tossed the shield aside and invoked my power. Purple letters swirled around the golden fish.

Up close, it wasn't a fish—it was a perfectly golden-baked bungeoppang.

Now that I'd clocked it as bungeoppang, that nutty-sweet aroma was suddenly assaulting my nose. Damn it, even hungrier now.

Whoooosh.

The bungeoppang swam through the air, charging fiercely between me and Nokdu.

"Hup!"

Bang―!!

I backpedaled and fired Ego. The bullet just grazed its body, but a fin chunk dropped to the ground.

That part's so fluffy and delicious. A bit floury, sure, but still sweet and soft...

Awoooo―!

"Gah."

Thud.

Nokdu's howl yanked me back from starvation delirium. It crashed the bungeoppang to the ground, spewing ice cream everywhere.

Krunch!

I switched Ego to harpoon mode and fired. The white harpoon pierced straight through. It flapped wildly to escape, but the wounds just gaped wider, ice cream leaking out.

"Nokdu-ya!"

Woof!

Boom-boom-boom-boom!!

Nokdu opened wide, gathering power, then spat a white orb that halved the bungeoppang. The massive blast turned it to powder.

Pretty underwhelming for a mid-boss. Honestly, that human-type monster B-rank Gamcheon dungeon felt more threatening.

"Hoo... ugh."

Touching down, my legs buckled, and I staggered.

Absolute time: 35 hours and 7 minutes. I'd entered at around 32 hours, so factoring in outside time, it'd be pushing 40 hours without a bite.

Gonna crash hard once I exit—fatigue and hunger hitting all at once. Better grip some water and an energy bar before heading out.

I floated leisurely over the garden and along the alley with its mural walls.

Bzzz―

Then Light Bearer swung right. At the arrow's tip: a huge "Jeonju Station" sign. Gate smack in the middle.

Tap.

I landed lightly and walked to the gate. Old Jeonju Station look? More modern buildings around it than before, at least.

Regular mobs as street food, mid-boss ice cream bungeoppang. Bibimbap boss wouldn't surprise me at this point.

"Nokdu-ya, ready?"

'Obviously!'

Nokdu barked boldly, circling the gate. I drew a deep breath and reached out.

Thump.

Cold iron bars met my palm. Acid reflux churned my gut, but I focused sharp on every shift around me.

Clank, clank.

Metal-on-metal echoed from afar.

Chains? Scissors? Couldn't tell, but something razor-sharp was closing in.

The sounds paused... then a huge shadow loomed over me and Nokdu.

Bam!!

I flung sideways from the shadow. A massive stone-like lump crashed to the ground.

"A... stone pot?"

Full-on ttukbaegi, like from a hanjeongsik place. Leaping up for a better look, I saw milky broth inside.

'So where's that clanking coming from nonstop?'

Peering close at the steaming pot, knives were tangled inside the broth like ropes.

What won't show up in here?

A disbelieving chuckle escaped as I curled my fingers in a circle toward the pot.

"...I'm so tired. For real."

Hungry enough as it is, but this genius-level nonsense was messing with my head. Noodles swell in broth, so the 'knives' multiply too, huh.

Clang!!

Knives burst from the pot, whipping a huge circle. The snakelike blades twisted toward me.

Screeech!

I pulled a shield, forcing them off course. Knife, Noodles coiled round, trapping me in blades—but I landed fast before they could bite.

Vrrr.

I held Ego's trigger long, vibrating the whole airspace. The blade joints creaked unstably, then half snapped off and clattered down.

Awoooo―!

Nokdu's howl unleashed white light, swallowing the knives and pot.

Crack!

Chips flew from the blades; a huge crack split the pot. Broth leaked through, and the remaining Knife, Noodles surged up like a dragon.

Woof!

"Watch out... ugh."

Nokdu barely dodged, losing balance and nearly crashing. She recovered quick, but I was the problem.

Just glancing her way spiked my dizziness. I dropped to one knee, tracking Knife, Noodles with my eyes.

Shrrrrip―

No fast attacks in my state. Needed a heavy, one-shot hitter.

Ego's base form could output big shells, but I had to aim manually—wasteful when stamina's shot.

'If only I could plant it somewhere and fire...'

I glanced at Ego in my hand.

Thump, thump.

Memories flooded: all the weapons I'd wielded as "Ego." Clubs to greatswords, guns, crossbows.

My voice skill shone with launchers turning sound to ammo. Hence the megaphone form most.

Woof!

Nokdu spun midair, blasting light. The blade chain slammed into the ground.

Tsssh―

It coiled like a snake, prepping another lunge at Nokdu.

And I pictured it: the perfect weapon to turn this fight.

Krunch!!

I slammed Ego to the ground. It bounced up with a dull thud.

'Third Form: Mortar.'

Click, click, click.

The body stretched long into a cylindrical barrel. The grip split into three prongs, bracing it solid.

Boom!!

A tearing blast ripped the air as a dense white sound shell rocketed from the mortar-form Ego. It cleaved the atmosphere and slammed the blade chain.

Kaboom!!

The explosion shook the air itself. Knife, Noodles pulverized instantly; even the pot body shattered beyond repair.

"Ugh, head's ringing..."

The blast throbbed in my skull. I faceplanted flat. Propped like this, breathing eased a bit.

'I had zero interest in changing.'

Ego grumbled. Second unwilling shift had it grumpy.

Makes sense. Description said fire any ammo I want—but not reshape the body itself.

'Like my body remembers past timelines, seems you're catching echoes too.'

'You must've abused me hard.'

'Strongest weapon ever, and such a whiner.'

Ego shut up tight. Guess even it liked the "strongest" title.

Face smooshed on asphalt, a status window popped up.

"Happy now, you psycho...?"

Crackle.

I spat curses at it; static flickered in response.

What a whiner. Mission accomplished.

Bonus: clear counted without exiting. Nice flexibility for once...

How "greatly"? Like, guaranteed drops every run?

Ting.

As I hauled myself up slow, a honed kitchen knife clattered from the sky.

Plop-plop.

"Whoa."

Byproducts and hanbok robes followed.

Picking them one by one for inventory, acquisition notices cluttered my view.

"All A-rank armor and weapons... even the byproducts are high-grade."

Shimmani's blessing was online.

'Just hit that Greece S-rank with this, and...'

That legendary Aiter's Robe from rumors felt within reach.

'Unni! Unni, you okay?'

Nokdu woofed frantically, leaping down from midair. The massive furball on the cusp of adulthood stared with huge worry. Just seeing that face chipped away at my fatigue and hunger.

"Yeah. Nokdu kept me safe."

'Your face doesn't look safe...'

"I'm fine. Eat something once we're out."

I scratched her scruff and kissed her nose lightly. Satisfied, she slipped back into my bracelet.

'Just open the gate and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠step out...'

Shaky legs barely held as I stood. Outside, fatigue and hunger would crash together.

Shove that energy bar in while I still had some strength...

"...Huh?"

Gone. Nowhere! That yellow-packaged "Energy Bar" scribble—vanished.

Starvation tunnel vision? I checked every slot. Not even crumbs. Must've auto-deleted on quest clear.

'That's why the quick clear credit.'

Wouldn't matter if I starved post-exit anyway.

Grind.

Teeth clenched hard.

Fine. Not a full week—barely two days. Tough it out mentally, hit the nearest convenience store, chow down.

"Huuup."

Deep breath. Pushed through the gate.

Thud!

"Hunter Shin Ji-ui?!"

'Damn. This is no joke...'

Out instantly: skull-splitting headache, heart pounding to burst. I pitched forward. The waiting staff jumped, trying to lift me—but failing just flipped my stomach worse.

"Leave me..."

"I'll, I'll call an ambulance!"

"No... don't..."

Ambulance would blow it up. Reporters, questions about soloing Jeonju A-rank.

Didn't want the fuss...

Just water, but throat parched, body limp—words wouldn't come.

Rustle.

'What.'

My body lifted. End of the line? Eyes rolled up.

Met dark-red eyes flickering like embers.

'Choi Min Hunter...'

Relief washed over. Tension melted; eyes drifted shut like falling asleep.