As I turned to the corner to prepare my meal, a notification popped up.

**[Achievement Unlocked!]**

**[Achievement: Culinary Healer]**

"Oh."

An achievement notification appeared.

It seemed that all the patients who had been lying down had finished their meals.

"I wasn't really expecting an achievement."

**[You have successfully treated many patients’ physical and mental ailments through cooking!]**

**[You have confirmed the possibility that the realm of cooking can extend beyond mere gourmet food.]**

**[Rewards for the achievement will be given.]**

**[You gain a large amount of experience.]**

**[A 'Random Skill Enhancement Ticket' has been awarded.]**

The amount of experience coming in as a reward was substantial.

And what about the other rewards...?

"Random skill enhancement?"

Unlike the enhancement tickets that allowed you to strengthen desired traits, this was a reward for enhancing random skills.

"It's unfortunate that there’s no choice, but... an enhancement is still an enhancement."

I immediately used the skill enhancement ticket.

**[A random skill will be enhanced.]**

**[Selecting random skill...]**

A small roulette appeared before my eyes.

Each section of the roulette had the names of the skills I possessed written on it.

The roulette spun...

Ding!

**['Absolute Taste' skill has been enhanced!]**

**['Absolute Taste' → 'Enhanced Absolute Taste']**

"Oh."

The enhanced skill was 'Absolute Taste'.

Just as I was about to read what the enhancement did...

"You've done something amazing."

Chang-soo approached and spoke to me.

His tone was incredulous.

"What do you mean?"

"Thanks to you, people have regained their senses. The members of the group caring for them were so impressed that they are now more inclined to follow you than me."

Ah.

It was just a light meal because I felt sorry for those who had lost their sanity.

From this man's perspective, it might have looked like I was trying to lure his subordinates.

"I didn't do it to manipulate your group... I'm sorry about that."

"Sorry? I think you may be misunderstanding something."

Chang-soo waved his hand dismissively at my apology.

"What can I say? I want to express my gratitude."

"Excuse me?"

It seemed my thoughts had been a misunderstanding.

"Those friends are people who, shocked by their loved ones losing their minds, decided to seek revenge. Now that they've regained their senses, they will probably give up on revenge. That's a good thing."

"A good thing? Isn't that a bad thing for you?"

The very person who led these individuals.

He must despise monsters more than anyone else.

Isn't it a problem if the number of people swearing revenge on those monsters decreases?

"To be honest, our people don't seem normal, do they?"

Oh.

That is true.

"I’m one of them too, but I at least know that it's best to get off this path."

"......"

"I've been unfortunate enough to think that I would never escape this path, but I don’t want to stop others from trying to."

Honestly, I didn’t expect such words to come out.

It was a bit intriguing.

"So they aren't just crazy people after all."

Those obsessed with hunting monsters.

I thought they would be useful for dungeon raids.

It seems they have a solid leadership role after all.

"And well, even if a few of them leave the group, it won't be a big problem."

"Excuse me?"

"No matter what, your goal is dungeon raiding, right? Until that goal is achieved, you guys are practically the same group."

Oh.

Could it be...?

"I think I should try challenging the dungeon raid."

"......!"

While I didn’t actually see any message pop up, I felt as if a message like this appeared before me.

**[Alliance Acquired.]**

After forming an alliance with Chang-soo's group, the serious strategy meeting began.

"So, if we consider this place a dungeon, there should be a boss somewhere... Actually, I have an idea of where it might be."

Chang-soo took us to the rooftop and pointed to a distant location.

"The city center."

"What’s your basis for that?"

"Just look."

As if saying I would understand if I looked.

Chang-soo folded his arms and stepped back.

Following his words, I looked around a bit.

There was one thing I could tell.

"The water level is high."

"That's right. Fortunately, this outer area is safe as long as you go up to the second or third floor of the buildings. However..."

"That place looks like all the three-story buildings are locked up."

"Exactly."

Chang-soo shrugged his shoulders.

"That's not all. As you approach the center, the frequency of those monsters appearing increases, and their levels rise too."

"Oh."

"Just the increasing water level means it’s becoming a difficult environment to fight in. With increasing numbers and strength, our group was only able to circle the outskirts without entering beyond a certain point. It’s clearly suspicious. Everyone thought there must be something inside."

"The difficulty in accessing it suggests that there's likely something to protect inside... That makes sense."

"Well, this is something everyone in the city knows. The problem is that it’s that hard to access, and there are many monsters."

Chang-soo couldn't hide his worry.

"Even if soldiers from outside came, I don't think they could break through there."

"Well... we have to try."

"That’s not exactly a trustworthy answer, but... umm. Let’s just move on from that."

As the discussion about the raid progressed, it seemed the tension had eased somewhat.

I decided to ask a question I had been personally curious about.

"Do you know of a way to escape this city?"

"Huh? Isn’t it what you said? To catch that boss monster?"

"Not just that. For example, a method for just one person to escape."

"If there was such a thing, everyone would have escaped long ago."

"That’s true."

But.

If that’s the case, one question arose.

‘What about that man who asked us for help?’

The man who came from Chuncheon.

Unless he had misrepresented where he came from.

It was almost certain he had escaped from this dungeon.

How did he manage to escape this dungeon and then come to ask us for help?

‘Since he's passed out, I can't even wake him up to ask.’

"Actually, I have a guess..."

"?"

"I’m asking, what do you think is the reason people can’t leave here?"

"Well..."

"Do you see that wall?"

The wall that flows like a waterfall.

"The water pressure is immense. There were people trying to escape before the monsters appeared, but even if they tried to drive vehicles out, they were crushed along with the vehicles."

"Is the waterfall the problem?"

"......? That's right."

Indeed.

‘Once you enter a dungeon, you can’t exit until you clear it.’

But.

‘This dungeon occurred on the first day of the apocalypse... and these people didn’t even know they were in a dungeon.’

When entering a dungeon, a notification appears.

If they had gone through the process of entering, there’s no way they wouldn’t know this was a dungeon.

In other words.

‘These people have never entered a dungeon.’

It just so happened that where they used to live became a dungeon.

They have never ‘entered’ system-wise.

‘Since they have never entered, it should be normal for them to leave if they want to.’

In the case of the subway dungeon.

When you enter, a message appears saying you cannot leave, and a black wall blocks you.

These people are a bit different.

The massive water pressure waterfall hitting the boundary between the outside and the dungeon.

If only they could break through that waterfall.

"Isn't it possible to go outside?"

"As I said earlier, it’s difficult. Even vehicles get crushed in the process."

"But we met someone who actually escaped."

"Umm. Even if you say that... ah."

Chang-soo made a sound as if he remembered something.

"If there is a being capable of that, it does exist."

"Do you have any idea?"

"No, it probably isn’t the answer."

He shook his head as if it couldn’t be.

"There’s a being capable of it, but there’s no reason for it to do so."

"There’s actually a possible existence."

"It won’t be particularly helpful information. But it’s not a secret either."

I was curious about what kind of existence he meant.

"Earlier, do you remember when I stopped you from trying to cook for the mermaids?"

Chang-soo suddenly brought that up.

Ah.

Now that you mention it, I wondered why he stopped me.

"The reason is simple. There was a case where both monsters and humans were eaten."

"......?"

"And..."

Chang-soo’s expression slightly frowned.

"The result wasn't very good."

Ah.

It was a short story, but I felt I had an inkling of what it would be about.

"The body became abnormally enlarged and gained immense strength. But conversely, it seemed to lose intelligence."

"......"

"Later on, they even tried to chew on humans alive."

As expected.

"After that incident, eating monsters became a taboo. It’s one of the taboos that spread throughout the entire city."

"I see."

"There are those who still want to gain strength for revenge by eating monsters, but we try to dissuade them as much as possible. They might gain some strength temporarily, but in the end, they would lose their intelligence and become a wandering beast."

I had encountered a similar being.

‘Anomalous Eater.’

The large-scale raider group we had eradicated.

The leader who ruled that group had deviated far from what could be called human.

Even when our elite troops attacked as a group was powerful enough that they couldn't gain the upper hand.

"That monster is still alive and wandering somewhere in this city. He might be able to withstand that water pressure."

I thought the creature I had encountered was a result of having consumed its own kind.

"He only started eating humans much later. From what I know, he only consumed mermaids before that."

It didn’t seem like that was the case.

"I'm actually curious. What did you do to make those who ate monsters remain fine?"

Chang-soo tilted his head.

Even if he asked me, I wouldn’t have a definitive answer.

"What? Ha ha ha! That’s quite impressive!"

If there’s one thing I could reasonably assume...

**[Intermediate Chef Lv. 22]**

The profession of a chef.

Perhaps that caused some effect.

* * *

After finishing the conversation.

I stood on the rooftop, looking out towards the city center in the distance.

A dungeon enveloping an entire city.

The scale was on a different level compared to the subway dungeon we had raided.

It would be nice if our squad's strength could handle it.

‘That seems unlikely.’

Including Chang-soo's group as well.

Even if other issues could somehow be resolved, 

‘Our absolute power is too lacking.’

Hmm.

I thought I might as well ask Chang-soo.

"Just in case, may I ask?"

"Mm?"

"Is there anyone else who might participate in the dungeon raid?"

Honestly, I didn’t think there would be.

Chang-soo's group was special.

Thinking back to the people I had met before, no one would want to take part in dangerous battles.

"If not, then it can’t be helped—"

"No. There are a few."

"Eh?"

However, Chang-soo’s answer was the opposite.

"While they’re not as strong as us, there are several groups that don’t avoid combat with monsters."

"Really?"

"They’re a bit different from us, who make killing mermaids a part of our lives. Hunting monsters allows them to level up and gain points... so there are those who engage in combat within safe limits for survival. I could talk to them about the dungeon raid."

What?

Then I definitely need to try to recruit them.

"But persuading them is another matter."

Chang-soo spoke with concern.

"As I mentioned, their battles with monsters are purely for survival. It’s different from our purpose of hunting. That means..."

"If it becomes a fight worth risking their lives for, they’ll likely pull out."

"Well, that’s about the size of it."

It’s only natural.

The dungeon raid is nothing compared to their own survival.

Especially since they wouldn't have any assurance of success in the raid.

So...

"If we’re going to lure those people into your dungeon raid... we need to give them confidence that they can beat those monsters."

"Indeed."

"They’ll pull out immediately if they judge the risks to be too high. But providing them that kind of assurance is not an easy task... it’s best to think of them as having no strength at all."

Hmm.

After hearing Chang-soo's words, I thought for a moment.

Then I nodded and said.

"I don’t mind."

"Huh? You don’t mind? What do you mean?"

"You mentioned it might not be easy to persuade them. I don’t mind. Please bring those people here."

"What?"

Chang-soo widened his eyes in surprise.

"Are you confident in something? Your magic certainly looks impressive, but... that doesn’t guarantee you can easily take down those monsters."

"Are you the one who has been hunting mermaids more than anyone else?"

"Do you think no one died in the process?"

He frowned.

"It was only possible because the monsters on the outskirts weren’t that powerful. The deeper you go, the bigger the monsters get, and their teeth and bones become harder. Naturally, as the water level rises, fighting becomes harder."

"Hmm."

"Everyone in this city is aware of that. To defeat the monsters and raid the dungeon? Honestly, if you ask me whether it’s possible or not, I’d raise my hand for the impossible side."

The monsters that created a dungeon covering an entire city.

They couldn’t be weak.

"You have to provide them with the assurance that we can catch those monsters. There’s no way that would be possible."

It would indeed be quite difficult.

The only answer I could give was one.

"If it doesn’t work, then I’ll just make it work."

"......Are you serious?"

I merely smiled and shrugged my shoulders.

"......You must have some kind of plan."

"How long do you think it will take?"

"It should be enough in two days at most. The numbers aren’t too large."

"I'd appreciate it if you could help out."

Chang-soo looked skeptical, but he nonetheless trusted my words and moved with a few of his subordinates.

As I watched them traverse the sky bridge connected to the building rooftop, I thought.

‘It seems I have a plan of my own.’

If worse comes to worst, we might have to raid the dungeon with just our squad.

There was a reason for stepping into such a dangerous dungeon.

I approached that ‘planned edge’.

"Why do you look like that?"

"Hm? Ah... did Young-joon arrive?"

In the corner of the building.

Min-jae, who was sitting with a somewhat dark expression, spoke.

"Hmm. I was just thinking that I felt a bit sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"......I feel like I might not be much help in this dungeon."

A city covered in water.

Strangely, there was water flowing down the outer walls of the buildings like a waterfall.

Inside the buildings, it was less severe, but there was still a bit of dampness on the floors due to the humidity.

"Using my magic in a place like this would be akin to a suicide mission."

Min-jae's major was lightning magic.

Due to the dungeon's environment, it seemed that its power had increased more than usual.

Unlike snipers who can shoot from afar,

Wizards’ magic doesn’t have that long of a range.

‘Whether they like it or not, using magic would impact our allies as well.’

Because of that, throughout the battles after entering the dungeon, Min-jae and the lightning wizards had to just watch.

It seemed his self-esteem had taken quite a hit from that.

"I should’ve let the ammunition battalion take over and let Lee Sang-ah come here. Sharp weapons like scissors would work pretty well even in the water... That space earlier, was that the vampire's ability?"

"Ah. Did you notice?"

"I suggested taking it down, but it turns out I’m the useless one."

Min-jae, who had questioned whether we really needed to use a vampire that killed our allies, seemed to still have that matter on his mind.

"......Did I just keep saying unpleasant things?"

He seemed to realize it a bit late.

"Ugh. I’m sorry about that. So, what are you thinking now?"

Min-jae cleared his throat and changed the topic of conversation.

"I was listening to the conversation. I understand the operation, but in the end, the problem is persuading the others, right?"

"Yeah. It would be great if we could raid it ourselves, but... it’s better to persuade as many people as possible."

"You have to give them the confidence that it’s possible to raid the dungeon... but can that really happen? At least, I can’t think of a way."

"There is a method."

"What?"

I spoke to Min-jae, who looked surprised.

In contrast, I had an expression as if asking him what he was inquiring about.

A method I believed would work.

"To be precise, it's right here."

I pointed to Lee Min-jae himself.

"You’re going to have to work hard."

"......What?"