“How does it look?”

“It seems accurate.”

Jung Sua's eyes glimmered with a sharp blue light.

After scattering papers throughout the city to gather information, a significant number of reports came in before long.

Of course, 99% of them were useless.

It was a relief if the information was merely wrong.

Most people, driven by the reward, fabricated stories that had no basis.

‘Well, those people have already been put on a list... So, in the long run, that's for the best, right?’

Over time, there would be matters our guild alone couldn’t handle.

At those times, we might need to rely on others with suitable rewards. But those who proved untrustworthy would be excluded.

Finding such people quickly was a small blessing in itself.

Amidst the barrage of useless reports, someone finally provided the correct information.

“His name was Lee Sanghyup, wasn’t it? Go ahead and pay him the reward.”

“Yes, but there’s something else.”

“Hm?”

I thought it was simply a matter of handing over combat rations, but it wasn’t.

“He said if his information turned out to be correct, he would like part of the payment in combat rations and part in another form, if possible.”

“...Is that so?”

“Yes. It seems he wants to establish some sort of regular trade with us.”

A trade, huh.

Come to think of it, while trading among the awakened had become common, we had not participated.

‘There must be items we have in abundance that others need... and vice versa.’

The prime example being combat rations.

He had contributed valuable information and proved somewhat reliable by bringing in correct intelligence.

Moreover...

‘Wanting long-term profit instead of just taking food and leaving...’

If handled well, he could be quite useful.

“Tell him we'll consider it positively.”

I’d need to discuss more, but if it led to mutually beneficial trade, there was no reason to refuse.

Meanwhile...

“It’s odd how quiet it’s been. Turns out he was hiding all along.”

I nodded and stood up.

“Since we’ve confirmed the information is true, we’re heading out immediately.”

“Ah, yes! I’ll alert the unit to stand by.”

“No. I’m going alone.”

“What?”

Minjae hyung turned, surprised by my words.

“Going alone... Are you inviting danger?”

“It’s not that dangerous. You know that.”

Tap, tap.

The shadows beneath my feet.

And...

-Squeak.

Kkamang, playing on my chest pocket.

Depending on the environment, the troops within the shadows might be completely ineffective.

To put it bluntly, they were useless in sunlight.

But that wasn’t the case now.

After all, the place where the Insatiable Glutton was hiding was none other than...

“The sewers. Looks like I’m going to get dirty.”

It was beneath the city.

* * *

Squelch...

A dark space.

My military boots splashed water as I moved, the sound echoing softly.

I had entered the city’s underground drainage system.

The smell of rotting water permeated the entire area.

For most, it was an unbearable stench that made them cover their noses.

“Compared to military waste...”

As someone accustomed to the smell of food scraps on a daily basis, this was manageable.

“It’s surprisingly not too cramped.”

There are different kinds of drainage systems, after all.

I was heading toward the spot where the Insatiable Glutton was hiding.

The last one I encountered was enormous.

If this one was similar in size, a regular sewer wouldn’t be enough to contain it.

It made sense for the space to be relatively wide.

Click.

I turned on the flashlight I brought from the unit and cautiously moved forward.

I considered eating some rations but decided to save them just in case.

After advancing through the dark tunnel for a while...

-Squeak!

A faint sound came from deep within, beyond the reach of the flashlight’s beam.

Even though I couldn't see that far with the light...

[Combat Power Gauge]

I could somewhat see it, or rather, sense the magical energy emanating from the creature.

-Should we release the others?

“No.”

As I moved closer, the outline of the creature became clearer.

[Leshian]

[A monster that primarily resides in dark and damp spaces. It lives in packs, making it difficult to hunt, and is not preferred as food due to its poor hygiene.]

A huge, rat-like beast covered in dust and dirt.

The aura around its body glowed red.

In other words...

Slash—

-Screech...!

[You have gained experience.]

“It’s nothing special.”

After cutting down the creature with one swift motion, I carefully surveyed the area.

According to the system, it lived in packs.

That meant there should be more of them nearby.

I thoroughly checked my surroundings, expecting an ambush.

“...It’s quiet?”

Strange.

Was this one separated from its pack?

It was puzzling, but I decided it wasn’t worth worrying about and continued deeper into the tunnel.

After some more time passed, I saw a cluster of red auras ahead.

I thought it was a group of the same monsters as before.

But...

It was only half true.

[Front leg of a Leshian]

There was indeed a pack of Leshians.

The problem was, none of them were alive.

“Someone had quite a feast.”

The remains of the creatures were scattered across the floor.

Most showed signs of being torn apart by large teeth.

The picture was becoming clearer.

Something had ravaged and devoured these monsters, leaving only scraps behind.

In other words...

A grin spread across my face.

“I’m on the right track.”

Gaining confidence, I quickened my pace.

At the end of the tunnel, I arrived at...

“...?”

What lay ahead was, to put it simply, a massive cavity.

I shone the flashlight around, and my eyes widened.

“Impressive.”

It was such a vast space that I wondered if I had ever seen anything like it before.

Massive pillars stood at regular intervals, each seemingly about five meters high.

‘A structure like this beneath the city?’

Was it some secret government bunker?

The sheer size stirred a man’s heart, making all sorts of ideas come to mind.

But when I shone the light on the wall, its true identity became clear.

[Chuncheon Deep-Water Storage Facility]

“Oh.”

A large inscription on the wall.

It was a rainwater storage facility, not a secret bunker.

Preparing for natural disasters was a major task for any city.

This space was one of the results of that task.

“A giant tank for handling floods.”

Exiting the tunnel, I cautiously descended the staircase into the chamber.

The steps were slick with moisture, making them treacherous.

Now that I thought about it...

According to the awakened in Chuncheon, when the dungeonization started, the water levels rose slower than expected.

This allowed them to gather supplies and seek refuge in taller buildings.

‘In the early days of the apocalypse, when power was still functional, facilities like this probably operated as intended.’

The chamber floor was in a similar condition to the sewer.

Colored auras were scattered all around.

“Quite a feast indeed.”

Debris from various monsters lay strewn across the area.

After the dungeon closed, monsters appeared all over the city as if they had always been there.

Apparently, they didn’t discriminate in where they showed up, including this chamber and the sewer.

‘They all ended up as a meal, it seems.’

Anyway, the presence of these carcasses implied that the creature responsible was somewhere inside.

With that thought, I stepped deeper into the chamber.

-Beware.

“?”

A warning came from the shadows.

And then...

-Growl...

Deep inside, I heard the harsh breathing of a beast.

It was confusing.

‘The sound and Ariella’s warning confirm something is here.’

But the problem was...

“Why can’t I see it?”

The trait I possessed.

[Combat Power Gauge]

It did more than just gauge an enemy’s strength.

It allowed me to see an enemy’s magic as a visual cue.

Meaning, even in darkness, I could locate enemies by their magical energy.

I didn’t need to consume food that provided traits like [Dark Vision] for that reason.

But now...

I couldn’t see any magical energy in front of me.

I was about to ponder why when I reread my trait’s description.

[Combat Power Gauge]

[Measures the combat power of different species through their magic levels.]

A trait for assessing other species.

In other words...

‘This doesn’t work on fellow humans.’

It dawned on me that I had never used it against other soldiers.

Which meant...

‘This creature is classified as human.’

Even as an Insatiable Glutton, the system recognized it as human.

‘The one I encountered before wasn’t classified this way, though.’

The one that led a group of raiders.

That creature was undoubtedly marked as non-human.

Even zombies, former humans reduced to mindless husks, emanated a red aura.

The criteria weren’t clear.

Regardless...

There was no doubt the being in front of me was my target.

Taking a step closer...

-Stop... Stop right there.

A rough, awkward voice echoed from within.

I looked at the source, unable to hide my surprise.

“You... still have your sanity?”

The man who escaped the dungeon claimed an Insatiable Glutton had freed him.

I hadn’t believed it at the time.

It made sense because...

Insatiable Gluttons.

They weren’t creatures I was encountering for the first time.

‘I’ve met one before that led a band of raiders.’

But...

 

Even though it was called a leader, it didn't wield any wisdom or leadership to command the raiders.

The only reason it ruled over the raider group was...

‘Pure strength.’

That was the sole reason.

It was monstrously powerful, yet its intelligence was at best that of a kindergartner...

No, it was more akin to that of a beast.

‘The more it consumed both humans and monsters, the stronger it became, but in exchange, it seemed to lose its sanity.’

The raid on that raider group had happened quite some time ago.

The creature in front of me had undoubtedly devoured more monsters than that leader ever had.

And yet, it still retained some semblance of reason.

There was only one possible explanation that came to mind.

“...It must have formidable mental fortitude.”

The human it once was.

The difference in mental strength.

While I only knew bits and pieces about who this creature used to be from Changsoo’s accounts, the fact that it retained its reason suggested that it had been someone with significant mental resilience.

“Get... Get out...”

It spoke again, its voice hoarse and strained.

“I’m not... hungry right now... So, I’ll let you go.”

“...”

“Hurry... Leave now...”

Get out. Leave.

Clearly, my presence was unwelcome.

But as I looked at the creature addressing me, another thought crossed my mind.

‘If I can communicate with this one, it might be possible to talk.’

Splash...

Ignoring its warnings, I stepped forward and addressed it.

“I have a few questions.”

“If you don’t want to die... Get out...!”

“I heard you helped someone escape from a dungeon. If you answer my questions, I’ll leave without causing any trouble.”

My profession as a ‘Chef.’

The Insatiable Glutton, a natural adversary to that role.

If I could converse with it, I might finally define my job more clearly.

With that thought, I stepped forward again.

“I warned you...”

A guttural growl mixed with a voice that struggled to remain human.

“I wasn’t hungry just now... I could hold back...”

“...”

“Please. Go back... I don’t want to hurt any more people...”

How should I describe it?

It was impressive.

‘The Insatiable Gluttons... The more they consume humans and monsters, the more they lose their sanity.’

Even with incredible mental fortitude, most of its reason was likely already eroded.

Despite that state, it was resisting the urge to attack me just because it didn’t want to hurt another person.

I had never been in such a state, so I couldn’t fully comprehend it.

But I felt a tinge of respect.

However...

‘Leave because you don’t want to eat me...?’

That was unnecessary consideration.

I let out a small, dry laugh and said,

“Who said I’d let myself be eaten?”

“...You’ve brought this on yourself.”

Thud.

The massive form within the darkness shifted.

The beast that had been suppressing itself began to rise.

I still had questions I wanted to ask, but it seemed getting a coherent answer now would be difficult.

“Looks like I’ll need to calm you down a bit.”

I placed the flashlight on the ground.

Its light stretched my shadow long across the floor.

Tap, tap.

I tapped my foot lightly on the shadow.

From the dark stain stretching out before me, dozens of figures emerged.

“To the master of our master.”

“We pledge our loyalty.”

It seemed clear that talking wouldn’t work at this moment...

But that was fine.

“They say a good beating is sometimes the best cure.”

A little beating might make it willing to talk.

* * *

I remembered what Chulwook had once said about the Insatiable Gluttons.

“They devoured both monsters and humans without discrimination... And the outcome was never good.”

After the dungeon raid was over, I had asked more about it.

“He was so consumed with hatred for the monsters that he even refused food from the group and started eating monster meat.”

“Huh.”

“It would have been fine if it had stopped there, but as he kept consuming monster meat, his behavior became increasingly strange. He had been easygoing, even if a bit aloof, but he gradually turned more irritable. When his physical transformation began to show, he left the group on his own.”

He vanished after that.

It wasn’t until quite some time later that the Insatiable Glutton reappeared.

This time, it was during a conflict over food supplies.

“The people who failed to stockpile food attacked others... And that’s how the war began.”

It was essentially a large-scale outbreak of raiders.

But calling them raiders didn’t quite capture it.

Those who defended what they had and those who tried to take it were about equal in number, or the raiders even had a slight advantage.

Yet...

The ones who lost that war were the raiders.

Not because the defenders had some brilliant strategy or overwhelming force.

“It came back, fully transformed into a monster.”

Changsoo’s eyes betrayed a fear he couldn’t hide when he recounted the story.

“The way it hunted the raiders... It was terrifying.”

It appeared out of nowhere.

It started hunting humans on the raider side.

Because of that, the battle ended in the defenders’ favor.

Even if they were low-level humans, a monster that could decimate hundreds was no joke.

“Be cautious. If it’s still alive...”

After more time had passed and it had devoured even more monsters...

“It might be a monster even you can’t handle.”

As Changsoo had warned...

“The sheer pressure is overwhelming.”

Roar—!!!

“Ugh!”

Thud!

The Insatiable Glutton roared as it hurled one of the vampires from the shadows against the wall.

“Brother!”

“...”

The vampire slumped to the ground, unconscious.

The Insatiable Glutton I had previously encountered had been formidable.

Even when the whole squad attacked together, it managed to fend them off and even take the upper hand.

But now...

This creature was even stronger.

[Ingredient Analysis (Enhanced)]

[Lee Hyunjin]

[Primate Human Species – Insatiable Glutton]

Its appearance was drastically different from the last one I faced.

The previous leader of the raiders was just a bloated mass of flesh.

But this one had almost no traces of its human origin left.

“What’s that? Scales?”

The most distinctive feature was its scales.

They covered its skin like those of a fish.

The vampires attacked fiercely, but the scales absorbed most of the impact.

Fish-like scales...

I had a hunch.

“Those scales... They’re the same as those fish-monsters we fought earlier.”

“Hmm.”

The previous leader had swollen in size from consuming humans.

But this one seemed to have mainly eaten monsters.

‘So, the traits of those monsters are now manifesting in its body.’

It wasn’t just the scales.

It had long claws.

Even horns sprouted from its head.

A grotesque fusion of various monster traits.

Far more troublesome than simple flesh and bone.

Still...

Our side hadn’t changed much either.

“Let’s go, brothers!”

“Follow the master of our master’s command!”

The ones currently fighting the creature were the vampires I had hidden in the shadows.

Former raiders, criminals...

The worst of humanity.

Recycled through Ariella’s abilities.

But just because they were recycled didn’t mean they were any less effective.

“Ugh...”

“Brother!”

The Insatiable Glutton grabbed a vampire in its massive hand.

“You look... delicious...”

The vampire seemed destined to become its next meal, but...

“Emergency escape! Kiiiyaaah!”

[Mist Form]

-Growl...?

The vampire in the creature’s grasp turned into red mist.

[Mist Form]

The downside was its long cooldown.

But it allowed a vampire to escape danger by becoming intangible mist.

‘It’s practically a cheat ability.’

Without divine power or similar means, it was like having an extra life.

While they had weaknesses such as vulnerability to sunlight and the stigma of being monsters, which made them hard to use openly, they were still potent allies.

“Hehe. The darkness is the noble’s battlefield.”

For all their penalties, vampires were far stronger than ordinary awakened beings.

“A mere swine like you... Do you think you can defeat the nobles of the night?”

As her subordinates fought fiercely, Ariella murmured, brimming with confidence.

‘She’s enjoying this, isn’t she?’

It was a bit much, but I let it slide.

They were proving their worth, after all.

‘In the old days, these beings were as strong as our soldiers even without gear.’

Now fully equipped with standard military gear and nourished by my blood-based dishes, these vampires were far stronger than my average soldiers.

And that wasn’t all.

Boom!

-Groooarrrr!

-Tiresome...!

As the battle raged, debris and metal scraps were strewn about.

Perfect food for [Steel-Eating Mac].

Kkamang, who had been munching on the fragments, suddenly grew larger, taking on the shape of a wolf, and struck the Insatiable Glutton in the face.

Had it been any more aggressive, it would have wiped out our unit ages ago.

-Grr...

Even for an Insatiable Glutton, avoiding damage was impossible.

-Now I see...

Even with just this level of strength, we had impressive power.

It seemed the creature finally realized my capabilities as it let out a guttural growl.

-...You came here to kill me.

But...

“This isn’t enough.”

Ariella and Kkamang were not at their peak.

The only reason we were holding our own was because of the advantageous matchup

 with [Mist Form].

If the fight continued as it was, victory wasn’t certain.

So...

‘I’ll need to bring in the final trump card.’

[You have encountered an Insatiable Glutton, a nemesis of the Chef.]

[Job Quest - Nemesis Subjugation has been reactivated.]

[Subjugate the nemesis.]

A power that made [Mist Form] pale in comparison.

[All actions against the nemesis will receive bonuses.]

The Chef steps up.

---

The massive underground chamber echoed with the sounds of battle.

The ground shook, and the towering pillars cracked and fell.

And after a prolonged and intense fight...

“...I’m... hungry...”

Thud.

The one who knelt was not me.

The giant form collapsed, defeated, to the ground.

 

 

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TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars and likes of the translation - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!