The Auction House (1)

Three days had passed since the predation war ended.

The Cheonha Tongil Guild had taken no special actions.

I didn't know what the penalty for failing the predation war was, but perhaps that was the reason.

Or maybe it was because they were wary of our strong team.

Or perhaps they simply didn't care about us anymore.

'It won't be that way.'

The last possibility was the smallest.

Clearly, they would come back again.

So, from now on, I couldn't just hunt monsters to buy food for survival.

I needed to prepare for what was to come.

That's why, during that time, we divided the team to hunt monsters in the nearby areas, and everyone steadily raised their levels.

However, my level was only 12.

Compared to the others' levels of around 6 to 8, the difference was too great, and I couldn't work together with them.

Probably, when the level difference was large, the experience points weren't distributed well.

Moreover, for someone like me, I didn't gain any levels from orcs or red slimes at all, so I had no choice but to seek out new monsters.

That's why I was at the mart now.

According to what others said, there were quite strong monsters living there.

"What is there here?"

A new one, not the monster I saw nearby.

The mart entrance where there was a monster that would be my prey.

'Nothing visible inside.'

Completely dark interior.

Even though it was daytime, nothing could be seen.

"Come out. Come out."

The summoned creatures in front of me.

The orcs, boss goblins, and red slimes were gradually losing their power.

In the current situation where other awakened were getting stronger.

I needed to obtain stronger monsters than these.

'Well, what kind of monster is here?'

If possible, I needed one that grants wisdom when eaten.

Wisdom is important because it greatly affects summoning abilities, though other stats are important too.

Is there such a monster here?

Just as I was about to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠enter the mart.

A window appeared in front of me.

'Ah, that's right.'

The auction house that can be used after level 10.

No separate explanation was given.

It seemed to open at a certain time, and since I reached 10, it opened newly.

'Well, I should have come out 3 hours ago.'

Since I was thinking of participating in the auction, I decided to come out before that and slowly entered the mart with the summoned monsters.

What are these guys?

When I entered the mart, the monsters I saw.

Monsters with more massive builds than orcs, green skin, strong strength and regeneration abilities.

Right.

'They look quite strong.'

Overwhelming presence.

The intimidation was immense.

Kwaaah!

One of the troglodytes approached after noticing me.

I advanced the monsters toward the troglodyte.

First, the orc that approached.

With confidence, it swung its axe at the troglodyte's shoulder.

Kwa-jik!

The shoulder was torn off, and bright red blood spurted out.

'Huh?'

I barely took such a fatal blow from an orc.

Was it a level 10 troglodyte?

Puk!

But the troglodyte, holding a club, struck the orc's head with it.

[Summoned orc has died.]

Indeed, tremendous power.

'But I should have taken damage... huh?'

The shoulder that was chopped by the orc's axe earlier.

It was clearly a severe injury with blood flowing profusely, but the bleeding stopped as if it never happened.

Moreover, the wound was already fully recovered.

'This must be overwhelming regeneration ability.' Indeed, a very difficult opponent.

Several orcs stuck to it, but no matter how I tried to attack, it was useless.

No matter how much I chopped with the axe, the troglodyte recovered quickly.

On the other hand, the orcs fell in one blow from the club.

'Orcs are done here.'

Well, for a level 6 orc, they fought well.

'Then what about the boss goblin?'

The boss goblin that has shown its might so far.

It seems it has the skill to match the troglodyte 1:1, fighting without giving up easily.

'But the limit is showing.'

The boss goblin is pouring all its power into fighting just one troglodyte.

The fighting skill is comparable.

It seems the limit is approaching.

[Special Ability - Blood Clone]

The clones I summoned.

Since I acquired the ability from predating many monsters, even if I use only 50% of my abilities, they have overwhelming physical strength compared to orcs.

The clones approached the troglodyte quickly with knives.

Then, they surrounded it instantly and began attacking at high speed.

Puk! Slash! Kwa-jik!

The troglodyte with overwhelming regeneration and even powerful attacks, but gradually losing strength from the clones' attacks.

Puk!

Finally, the boss goblin completely smashed the troglodyte's head, and the creature could no longer use regeneration and its head burst and died on the spot.

[I killed the troglodyte. Reward: ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠50 coins given.]

'Okay.'

After confirming the troglodyte's death, I ordered the surrounding monsters and clones to guard, and slowly approached the troglodyte with a fork.

"Come. Let's eat well."

Well, honestly, I wanted to cook it with cooking skill, but it's not the middle of a dungeon.

Anyway, I started eating quickly with the fork.

The troglodyte meat.

Hmm.

This taste is something I haven't felt before.

Tasteless you say?

No. It's incredibly delicious.

You want to know what taste it is?

Hmm.

How do I explain this.

Ah!

One came to mind.

The yukhoe, right?

It's like picking up a lot with chopsticks so that it can be eaten with yukhoe, and dipping it lightly in sesame oil without needing other seasonings.

Kwaa.

After eating this, I wanted a bottle of soju.

'Ah. Medusa's Goblet.'

I was about to take it out and drink, but held back.

First, I finished processing the remaining troglodyte, and then decided to eat.

[Complete Predation completed.]

[Troglodyte Complete Predation]

[Health increased by 20.]

[Troglodyte has no special ability.]

'Tsk. It's not wisdom.'

Of course, health is also a quite good stat.

When health increases, you don't take much damage, and endurance and recovery power increase.

But it's a bit regrettable, but unavoidable.

"Time Attack! Don't you think you're too leisurely eating monsters lately? Where did that passion go when you ate quickly at first? Feel that emotion again. Eat 30 troglodytes within the time limit! Start!"

[Time limit: 00:30:00]

'Huh? Job quest!'

A job quest I've seen in a long time!

'Eat quickly?'

Well, as per the description, I've been too leisurely eating monsters lately.

But at least I should be given time to catch troglodytes.

30 minutes.

This is pure madness.

'Well, I wanted to test red slimes once, but...'

I wanted to check how the troglodyte's regeneration resists the red slime's mucus and if I can catch it, but it seemed there was no time.

I released the summons of all other monsters.

"Let's go. Mass slaughter time."

The fairy flapped its wings and flew at my words.

It flew around inside the mart, scattering venom powder everywhere.

Kwaaah!

The refreshing screams of the troglodytes began to be heard.

The scene I saw.

The troglodytes were continuously melting their bodies and regenerating.

Is there a torture more horrific than this?

No matter how strong the regeneration, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this is venom that melts even bones.

The troglodytes died without even recovering the wounds, as the poison penetrated deep into their bodies.

'Good, good.'

The coins kept coming in.

As expected, boss monsters are the best.

'Then, shall I try to eat them quickly in this gap?'

Fortunately, the venom fairy is strong, but I thought what if they all melt, but thanks to the troglodytes' overwhelming regeneration, the corpses weren't that damaged.

Aagjak. Aagjak.

I started chewing the troglodytes at an incredibly fast speed.

It felt like I became a food fighter.

This is the first time in my life I've eaten this fast.

After some time passed.

It was a 30-minute time attack, but I completed the requirements within 15 minutes.

[Job Quest (Time Attack! Eat Many Monsters Quickly) completed.]

※ Job exclusive skill is given as reward.

※ Additional reward: Cooking method (boiling) acquired.

'Yes!'

[Cooking Method]

2. Boiling - Can make cooked monster dishes.

'Well, cooking methods are aside. Skill! Skill!' No matter what anyone says, the importance of skills.

I quickly checked the skill.

[Please register the cooking]

※ No cooking registered currently.

'Cook?'

Cook monsters.

Well, actually, grilling is also cooking, and I've already eaten it.

'Then, if I cook this troglodyte?'

The dead troglodyte's corpse.

I approached it with a knife.

-Do you want to cook the troglodyte?

-Please select the cooking method.

-[Grilling] [Boiling]

'Hmm. First, grilling.'

At the same time, the troglodyte meat started cooking automatically.

With the satisfying knife sound, the troglodyte began to be grilled deliciously.

After some time passed.

-Cooking completed.

-A new dish 'Troglodyte Roast' was born.

-Obtained Troglodyte Roast X20.

'Oh?'

The troglodyte roast treated as an item.

An item that increases health and strength by 30.

Amazing.

Since there were no buff items until now, this is revolutionary.

Moreover, others can eat this too.

'Wait, can't I sell this at the auction house?'

The auction house opening soon.

If I sell this troglodyte meat there, I can prepare quite a lot of funds.

'It's a bit disappointing I can't summon, but.'

Because of wisdom, I can't summon many troglodytes.

So, it's not a bad choice.

'Well. Let's start cooking.'