Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Ingredients
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“That's a real problem.”
*-If you happen to discover a way to resolve that entity, please lend a hand.*
“Yes, I will.”
I ended the call with Kim Dong-wook.
“Who would've thought something would go wrong during transport.”
The call had been about the failure to contain the entity from the Multidimensional Community.
The Foundation wasn't at its peak strength anymore, but with all the experience they'd accumulated so far, I figured it'd be a sure thing. Guess I was wrong.
『The sequence of events is highly suspicious.』
“I think so too. Engine damage on a fully inspected vehicle, sudden thirst, abrupt stomach pains out of nowhere, a lock malfunction, and the odds of two agents screwing up at the exact same time? Slim to none.”
Once is coincidence.
Twice is a mistake.
Three times is deliberate.
“The Foundation thinks it's the entity's scheme to escape containment too.”
『More importantly, what do you plan to do now? It's clear you're the target of a powerful entity group thanks to Mr. Ando's request. And there's the No-Name issue as well.』
“I have to deal with Ando, but why No-Name?”
Sarang asked.
『No-Name gives you two reasons to pursue it, doesn't it?』
“Tell me.”
『First, it could trigger another world-ending crisis like that parallel world collision. Second... you need to confront it to get information on returning Lee Seung-hoon to his original world.』
“The first one's moot if it succeeds and sends me back home—no reason to chase it then. If it fails, it won't try the same trick twice. The odds are too low anyway, right? It'll look for another method, but how would I even know what that is to stop it? And there's no guarantee that method harms the world. As for the second...』
I couldn't help but chuckle a little.
“You thought I was leaving this place.”
『I assumed you'd return to your original world. Isn't that your home? Plus, it's much safer there—no entities.』
“Wherever I am becomes home. No desire to go back. I've built a lot of connections here. In that sense, I don't want to abandon the people I've bonded with and run off to a safe world alone.”
If the Foundation were still solid, maybe. But this incident drove home just how pathetic their forces are now.
“So, no, I'm not going back.”
『I see.』
“Even if I did, I'd take you with me, so don't worry.”
『Really!?』
“We're partners, aren't we? Who would I leave you with?”
『Partners!? You mean!?』
“Driving partners. Can't drive without you.”
『...So this is what killing intent feels like. First time I've felt it from a human.』
“Alright, time to plan countermeasures for Ando.”
I pulled out the notepad in my head and jotted down objectives.
[Achieve one of the following.]
[1. Find an ingredient Mr. Ando has never tasted.]
[2. Find a cooking method Mr. Ando doesn't know.]
[3. Meet Mr. Ando and persuade him.]
I debated the objectives with Sarang.
“Number 2's a long shot. A cooking novice like me figuring out a method even a transcendent being doesn't know? Even if I crammed starting now, I'd probably top out at discovering Earth's recipes.”
『We could get help from friendly entities to uncover methods Ando doesn't know.』
“Finding Ando's own info was impossible. Can we really dig up ingredients or methods he doesn't know?”
『You won't know until you try.』
“Fine, we'll try. Might as well scout both recipes and ingredients while we're at it.”
『Ando can cook anything, so we don't have to limit it to food ingredients.』
“Right. Just has to be rare. Even if it's an entity.”
Top priority: Extract info from other entities on ingredients, recipes, or rare materials Ando doesn't know.
“If that fails, last resort: meet Ando face-to-face and talk him down.”
『Won't he turn you into a dish the second you meet?』
“That's why it's the last resort.”
Still sweltering summer.
I threw on a windbreaker and grabbed Sarang.
“Ready to hunt for info?”
First stop: the office.
I inputted my request into the Reverse Quest Ticket Dispenser.
[Reward: Info on ingredients or recipes Mr. Ando Chef doesn't know]
[Mission: We do not issue quests for impossible rewards.]
[Deadline: 0 seconds]
The Reverse Quest Ticket Dispenser rejected the mission.
“Didn't expect that response.”
But like last time, it feels like they have self-awareness. Do they have a main body somewhere? Even though I created them?
[Reward: All info on Reverse Quest Ticket Dispenser]
[Mission: None]
[Deadline: 0 seconds]
[Note: Privacy violations rejected.]
“No dice.”
Next, the Forgotten Alchemist's Equivalent Exchange Scale.
[Reward: Info on ingredients or recipes Mr. Ando Chef doesn't know]
[Select your preferred payment method from the following three:]
[1. Free!]
[2. Gratis!]
[3. FREE!]
Surprisingly, no cost at all.
Hit payment, and the reward dispensed.
“A doll?”
Not Ando info, but a tiny doll.
‘Palm-sized, looks like an elderly man draped in rags.’
Belt with flasks, staff in one hand, scale in the other.
Probably modeled after the Forgotten Alchemist. The moment I touched it, it started singing and dancing.
The alchemist doll jumped.
Spun eight times mid-air, landed stylishly on one foot, arms thrust skyward.
Then it exploded.
Luckily, small blast. Just scorch marks on the table.
“These won't cut it.”
Time to meet more proactive ones.
“As I mentioned before, info on Mr. Ando Chef costs one ton of gold.”
Next, the suit guy.
“I'm not after all his info. Just recipes or ingredients he doesn't know.”
“That's exactly what we want to know. Know that, and we could extort mountains of gold from Ando Chef.”
Tweaked the terms from last time, but price unchanged.
“Out of friendship and VVIP customer service, there is one ingredient Mr. Ando Chef hasn't handled.”
“Really? What is it?”
“You, Lee Seung-hoon.”
“Pardon?”
Unexpected answer instead.
“If there's an ingredient Ando Chef hasn't handled, it'd be a unique existence that doesn't overlap across countless dimensions and parallel worlds.”
“You're saying I'm that?”
“Yes.”
The suit snapped his fingers.
A golden mirror appeared on the desk, reflecting something.
“To be precise, from this point on, Lee Seung-hoon became a unique existence.”
My return to reality after the final Blue Moon encounter.
“Thus, all your actions afterward are unique to this world.”
“Hmm...”
The futures visible through my right eye are like parallel world branches.
Makes sense now why I'm always excluded from them.
“The Blue Moon's power?”
“Yes. Primordials are all unique. You, having received that power, can't help but be unique too. Of course, surviving such immense power is impossible, so no precedents.”
Like gifting a black hole?
The suit elegantly raised his pinky with his teacup.
“Anyway, not your average human—a unique one empowered by a primordial? Prime material for Ando Chef.”
“No mention of this last time.”
“Indirect viewing, probably. Meeting in person would change that.”
“Thanks for the heads-up. Here's a gift. You said free, but can't not pay for info like this.”
“Oh yeah!”
Suit tossed the teacup, slurped the gold bar wildly.
“Gold-dick sucking! Golden irrumatio!”
“Take another.”
“Holy moly guacamole!”
Another bar added; he stripped his shirt, rubbed his nipples with both.
“Gold-d nipple fuck!”
Ended the meeting with the suit and headed home.
“Easiest way: offer myself as ingredient.”
『That's inverting ends and means.』
“What if just a part? Foundation could regenerate it quick.”
Got the answer from the shady dealer.
“Powerful entities can steal not just flesh, but the very concept. Offer a limb, and you'll never use limbs again.”
“As expected.”
If it were that easy, no need to agonize.
“Sometimes the simplest path is the answer, so I had to check. No such luck.”
“Not an opponent for cheap tricks.”
“Any entities with ingredients or recipes Ando lacks?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
Parted with the shady dealer.
“Pudding!”
“Yeah, eat up.”
Finally, the Frankenstein Corps.
“Nom nom! Tasty!”
“You've grown a bit.”
Long time no see—Franken-kun had grown a lot.
From preschooler to middle-schooler size now?
“Yeah! Replenished lots of energy! So I grew!”
“Amazing body. Hey, can you reach Dr. Janus?”
“I'll try!”
Franken-kun's eyes glazed over.
Soon, a different voice from the girl's mouth.
『Oh! The guardian footing Franken-kun's food bill! What brings you?』
“Need help.”
『Haha! Anything short of protection money, I'm in!』
Explained my situation to Dr. Janus.
『Mm! Ando Chef's cooking is divine!』
『Whoa!? Ando Chef!? You planning another trip, Doc!?』
『Assistant, with that cash, I could pay off my debts three times over. Can't even if I want to.』
Luckily, no rabbit hole. Doc obliged.
『Was gonna launch a new product anyway. Test it out.』
Franken-kun vomited something.
A green display terminal, round with a top button.
『It's called "Where's My Treasure?!" Think of what you need, press the button—radar display.』
『Doc, this okay? Looks like a total Dragon Radar rip-off.』
『Hey! Different! It's homage with respect, not plagiarism!』
Great item.
“Thanks.”
『One-use only. Can't change target once set—choose wisely. Gotta go, busy! Keep caring for Franken-kun!』
Call ended.
“Done?”
“Yeah. More pudding.”
“Pudding!”
Wrapped up, activated the radar.
‘What I seek: ingredient or recipe Ando Chef doesn't know.'
Radar pointed dead center.
At me.
“Back to square one.”
No choice but self-sacrifice?
Returned home empty-handed.
‘Any other way?’
Opened the front door. Familiar hallway and shoe rack greeted me.
‘Want an answer before WK Corp strikes again.’
Closed the door.
Turned to remove shoes.
“...”
Stood in a foggy, dank apartment parking lot.
Quick scan: spotted the name etched on the apartment's top.
“Damn.”
A step too late.