Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: A Silent Imbalance
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Hwan-in noticed Isilite's small, cute scheme but didn't interfere. Instead, he veered off the planned route and entered a passage shaped like a 'z' around the middle of the 6th-floor map.
The original plan had been to take out every visible heteromorph in sight and descend to the 10th floor as quickly as possible.
By now, they should have reached the 8th floor, having settled for preserved rations for lunch instead of the Fine Fungus Romer...
'Well, it was a lady's sightseeing tour from the start, planned for ten days anyway. No big deal.'
On the way down, they'd run into those human scraps on the 3rd floor, and letting Baekryeogang and Reshim handle the heteromorphs they'd encountered had slowed them down. But Hwan-in didn't mind a bit. Reshim didn't seem to either.
"We'll rest here."
They settled into the inner corner at the 5 o'clock position. Isilite set down her massive backpack and the Fungus Romer, then held out both hands to Reshim.
=Do you have a portable cooking magic tool? Hand it over.=
=Uh, well... Miss Isilite? Even so, eating a heteromorph is a bit...=
Reshim's face stiffened as he swallowed hard, trying to dissuade her, but it was no use.
=Come on~.=
=Miss Isilite. Please hear me out for a moment. Even if it's edible, there are things a person shouldn't put in their mouth...=
=Don't worry. I'll cook it up delicious. Looks can be deceiving— I aced the cooking exam at the maid training institute, you know.=
=Th-that sounds promising. But...=
=Hurry up.=
=......=
Reshim had been taught from childhood never to refuse a lady's request. Inwardly, he screamed, 'Miss Isilite isn't a lady. She's no lady!' But his body was honest.
She looked more refined than any noble ladies he knew (Baekryeogang excepted), her speech was gentle (Baekryeogang excepted), and her actions pure (Baekryeogang excepted). He saw her as the epitome of a proper lady.
In the end, Reshim pulled a portable hot plate magic tool from his subspace pouch. Looking like a whipped puppy with his ears drooped back, he met Baekryeogang's scowl.
'What did you go and give it to her for!'
'You saw it too. That innocent smile asking for the hot plate.'
'That doesn't mean she should cook up a heteromorph...!'
Oblivious to Baekryeogang and Reshim quarreling with their eyes, Isilite hummed a cheerful tune as she fiddled with the square hot plate to light the fire. She pulled a long chef's knife from her bag.
Then she deftly skinned the Fungus Romer she'd been carrying and began slicing into its flesh with rhythmic scrapes.
=Whoa, the texture when cutting feels just like fresh mushrooms. And the aroma is so fragrant.=
Hwan-in had been leaning against the corner wall, keeping watch outside while pondering how best to use the human scrap souls. He turned at Isilite's words.
The emergency ration huddled close to her, eyes sparkling.
If even the emergency ration was reacting like that, it had to be safe for humans. Plus, Soul Vision showed a clear light green hue.
Hwan-in stepped over and took a piece of the mushroom man's flesh that Isilite offered. He sniffed it lightly under his nose and let out a small sigh of admiration.
"Who would've thought it even smells like truffles. It really is a truffle mushroom man."
'Truffles?'
'Truffle mushrooms? This thing?'
=Have you ever tried truffles, Master?=
"Indeed. Paired with chilled clear liquor and lightly grilled over high-quality binchotan charcoal, the refreshing pine scent lingers in your nostrils. Steamed or roasted, truffles are excellent. Especially rice cooked fresh with truffles—no need to say more."
Gulp. Swallow.
They say the devil you know is the scariest.
Neither Baekryeogang nor Reshim had tried truffle rice, but they'd both savored truffle charcoal grills and clear liquor from renowned distilleries. Naturally, their minds conjured the flavors and scents. To their embarrassment, they gulped loudly.
Unlike the mortified Reshim, Baekryeogang's curiosity overpowered her shame. She squatted beside Isilite and asked,
=So this is a truffle mushroom man. Have you ever cooked one before, Miss Isilite?=
=No. I only saw the instructors cook truffles at the training institute. Have you seen the real thing, Miss?=
=I've seen cooked truffles, but this is my first time even laying eyes on a Fungus Romer. Wow, though—the pine needle aroma is so strong. Cooked truffles just smelled like sauce.=
=Right? The scent is amazing. Mmm~.=
=Mmm......=
After savoring the aroma for a moment, Isilite fetched a cooking pan from her bag and began grilling thin slices of the truffle mushroom man's flesh.
Hwan-in sniffed the piece Isilite had given her, then popped it in her mouth and chewed.
The chewy texture and the aroma were pure truffle.
=Ah! Is, is it okay to eat it raw?=
"Yes. The pine scent is superb. I'd rate this mid-grade quality. Care to try?"
=......=
She clearly hesitated, so Hwan-in silently sliced off a pinky-finger-length piece of the inner flesh and handed it over.
=......Mmm!=
The first bite was the hardest.
Baekryeogang's eyes sparkled as she shot Hwan-in a look begging for more. Hwan-in obliged her—and the defeated Inlang tribesman, and even popped a piece into Isilite's mouth as she grilled more on the pan.
=Mm, mmmph.=
=Mngh~. This texture......=
Kueht!
Of course, he didn't forget to feed the emergency ration too.
Thanks to Isilite's culinary skills, the four of them—plus one—filled up solely on various truffle dishes.
As they ate, Reshim shared stories about mushrooms in this world. Mushrooms of all kinds were premium ingredients here, regardless of type.
This world had monsters. Outside cities and villages, where safety was ensured by crowds, foraging for mushrooms or herbs was tough.
To find them, you had to venture far—and the farther from civilization, the higher the monster encounter rate.
Villages had fewer people but plenty of monsters or monstrous beasts, making mountain foraging a gamble with your life.
Cultivation was difficult, foraging even more so.
Thus, mushrooms commanded high prices. Truffles and shiitakes cost more than their weight in gold, according to Reshim.
"And we just devoured dozens of kilos of prime truffles."
The Fine Mushroom—or Fungus Romer—had the build of a 13-year-old boy, roughly 40kg. They'd eaten everything but the shell from the upper body, easily 23kg.
All eyes turned to the remaining lower half.
Isilite silently tidied the cut surface and offered it to Reshim, who stowed it in her subspace pouch.
=When we get out, let's have the hotel chef turn the rest into a proper dish. All in favor?=
No one objected.
After lunch and a short break, the party rearranged their formation.
Reshim up front, Isilite and Baekryeogang in the middle, Hwan-in in the rear.
=You have your robe on properly, Miss Isilite.=
Reshim doffed his robe, folded it neatly, and handed it to Isilite. He drew an oval shield reinforced with silver metal plates from his subspace pouch.
The picture of a perfect sword-and-shield warrior.
Hwan-in handed Reshim the light stick and gave Isilite her dagger belt and daggers.
"Isilite. Lunch was delicious."
=Th-thank you, sir.=
Isilite struggled to suppress her twitching lips at Hwan-in's praise.
He seemed indifferent to most things but lit up for good food, so she'd focused on cooking at the institute.
It hadn't been easy. She'd swung greatswords her whole life—learning to control strength with tiny kitchen knives had been grueling.
And today, it all felt worth it.
'...Pure soul. Is this the real Isilite?'
When he'd first sent her to the maid training institute, Hwan-in had doubted 40 days could change much.
If she picked up some manners, that'd be success enough.
But the results were staggering. Like a gem rolling in manure, cleaned pristine in water.
It might still smell a bit, but that'd fade soon, revealing the true jewel.
Hwan-in stroked Isilite's head as she pursed her lips to hide her smile, lost in thought.
Her affection went beyond the material, touching his heart.
Compared to modern women, her openness bordered on excessive. Was it her upbringing? Or racial nature?
Ryuhi, Ephnis, Hui-ni, Ennel—of course, and the women he'd bedded on the way, Etbrook's village headwoman, Ielcata, the Olts Hotel maids.
Most women he'd met opened up easily, approached with goodwill.
Sure, some hadn't—but most reciprocated his advances sincerely.
'Doesn't mean I'll embrace human scraps, though.'
Maybe he could trust this Isilite.
=M-Master...=
"...?"
=We need to get ready to move...=
"Mm."
Hwan-in withdrew his hand from her soft brown hair. Isilite quickly smoothed it down, face flushed, shouldered her huge backpack, and stood.
Baekryeogang,sneakily peeking, felt an odd tickle in her chest.
'Is that trust between lord and servant? Or love between man and woman...?'
Shouldering what looked like a heavy medium plate greatsword and backpack, she seemed light as if she might float away.
Hwan-in was hard to read, but Isilite clearly adored her. His actions toward her brimmed with affection.
With that trust building, might it evolve into romantic love?
The thought made Baekryeogang's own situation feel pathetic.
She'd lived a life of luxury beyond compare since childhood.
Life gives and takes. She'd accepted trading love and freedom for this peace as natural...
=Emergency ration. Here.=
Kue~.
=What now~? Still hungry after all that?=
Kut. Kukuku.
=Sigh. Fine. Here.=
Why did Isilite, feeding preserved rations to the emergency supply from her bag, look several—nay, dozens of—times happier than her?
=Ahem. Let's move out. Miss, Sir Hwan-in, Miss Isilite. I appreciate your support.=
"Leave the rear to me."
=You got this, Reshim.=
=...Ah. Reshim, hang in there. I'll cheer you on.=
=Yes sir!=
Don't think about it. The more I do, the worse I feel.
Baekryeogang steeled herself and followed Reshim, who strode forward full of vigor.
Reshim taking point as leader didn't bother Hwan-in.
Better if he led well—it gave Hwan-in time to sort the red soul orbs and his thoughts.
Dungeon experience? He'd figured out the ecosystem and most curiosities descending here.
Left were the side effects people suffered in dungeons and what lay at the end.
Time would reveal those naturally.
Hwan-in released one red soul orb, summoning the soul that had wailed for its mother. He ordered it to watch the rear.
'Do well if you want to reunite with your mother in the Garden of Gods someday.'
「Hii, hiii...」
No need for cat-eared girl-level coercion.
A light scare worked on its timid vibe—it lit up with terror-fueled obedience, as expected.
'Proof I can use souls for scouting and surveillance...'
Kikikikiki.
Kiiik~.
="Coming! Miss, support fire ready!=
Reshim charged, shield up, at three lesser imps.
They resembled hobgoblins but smaller, more demonic, spitting yellow pebbles and red saliva. Reshim deftly deflected them with his shield.
Closing in instantly, he swung his sword like lightning—but
Kikiki!
Kkii~!
=Tch!=
only decapitated one.
The survivors fled left and right at their kin's death.
=......—Arrow of Wind!=
Letting them escape would draw more monsters.
Hwan-in watched Baekryeogang loose a wind arrow into the right-fleeing imp's back, then hurled a dagger at the left one.
Thuk—boom!
The left imp took it to the skull, screeching faintly as it crumpled. The right exploded silently on the spear-like wind arrow.
=Sorry. Letting two slip— these things are nimbler than they look.=
=It's fine. Keep it up, Reshim.=
=No need to get down, Reshim. Chin up.=
=Yes. I'll be more careful!=
As Isilite checked the imp corpses post-battle, Hwan-in sank back into thought.
Soul scouting worked, but flaws abounded.
Scouts needed high intellect. Souls that understood speech and complex orders—human ones, obviously.
And fresh ones at that.
Freshly dead souls retained sharp minds, as he'd learned killing human scraps. Old souls grew foggy, minds flickering—poor for scouting.
'Graveyard souls are sharp-minded but won't do this work.'
Human or animal, unattached souls ascended quickly. And soul orbs lasted little time.
Thus, regular human soul harvesting for scouts...
"......"
He dismissed murder for convenience. No becoming a serial killer for dungeon ease.
Realistic option: contracts with sharp-minded souls.
Resolve their regrets in exchange for temporary service.
He had 38 soul orbs total. Three more from light orbs reclaiming wandering souls.
38 hours duration.
Dungeons could take months; 38 hours was nothing.
96 orbs for four days—usable.
'Wayford's ambient soul energy is tapped out.'
He'd bedded most high-end brothel girls downtown. Absorbed Olts Hotel maids' too.
Common districts had hundreds in mid/low brothels, but risky—syphilis or worse meant headaches.
'Temples heal diseases, though.'
21 days, 63 women: +9 orbs. 630 could theoretically add 90.
Still unappealing.
40 days in Wayford absorbing knowledge had sparked thoughts on superpowers.
Indiscriminate soul energy absorption might imbalance things.
Biased knowledge was fine, but soul energy tied directly to powers.
Bodies were sensitive—minor slumps led to colds. Unknown energies? Who knew the consequences.
Hwan-in chuckled inwardly.
Compared to forest maze choices, this was risk-free.
'No need to rush.'
Haiyern Jod's advice aside, no pursuit or deadlines. Take it easy.
Then Isilite, dismantling imps, raised a hand beaming.
=Got a phase stone.=
Between her gloved thumb and index gleamed a green pebble the size of a pinky nail.
Hwan-in's eyes sharpened.
'Special effect stone?'