“Did Changsik hyung tell you anything about his old clan?” Choi Yeonseung asked out of curiosity.
Whenever Hwang Gyeongryong was bored, he would grab his children and talk about his old clan days, saying things like, ‘Come sit here, daughter. I’ll tell you a crazy story.’
He talked about them so much that Aine even knew the name of the girlfriend of the clerk who worked for the old clan. On the other hand, Lee Changsik was quiet and reticent. Choi Yeonseung doubted he had told his child much about the past.
“He did.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes. He talked a lot about Dragon Hwang and Hunter Choi Yeonseung.”
“He did? That’s amazing. Did he badmouth Gyeongryong hyung?”
“He didn’t.”
“What? Gyeongryong hyung would’ve badmouthed Changsik hyung.”
“......”Lee Changuk grew up listening to Lee Changsik about the first-generation hunters and clanmates who worked with him. Some of the stories were outrageous, some inspiring.
“I respect all hunters who used to be in the same clan as my father. They are heroes.”
“What? No. We were just trying to make a living,” Choi Yeonseung replied, seemingly dumbfounded. Hunters joined clans to make money and to eat and live properly. What was he talking about?
Lee Changuk shook his head. “No. I don’t think so.”
“Thank you for the compliment, but I’m telling you the truth... Anyway, what clan do you belong to?”
“The Bulgae clan.”
Bulgae was one of the largest clans in South Korea. It boasted a long history and tradition. After leaving the clan, Lee Changsik never joined another. Hence, it was only natural that Lee Changuk joined such a large clan.
“My father told me not to do anything useless, but I wanted to say hello to Hunter Choi Yeonseung.”
He didn’t say it, but to Lee Changuk, Choi Yeonseung was like an uncle. He felt the same way toward Hwang Gyeongryong and his father’s old clanmates.
“Thank you for acquainting with me. Let me know if you need anything.”
“No. We’re in South Korea. If Hunter Choi Yeonseung needs anything, please let me know.”
‘So this is why people are saying that Changsik hyung’s son isn’t his own.’
“I’ll get going.”
“Ah. Wait a minute, Changuk.”
“Huh?”
“Have you eaten?”
“I haven’t...?”
“What is this? Follow me.”
***
Kim Gwisik had been running a restaurant for 18 years on Jeju Island.
‘I knew there were many weirdos among the hunters, but they are really weird,’ he thought.
Hunters often came to Jeju Island, but this was the first time he had seen hunters slam a bundle of cash down and shout, “Master, let me rent the kitchen!” It felt good to receive a few hundred for renting his kitchen, but it was strange. What were they doing?
Thump!
After renting a kitchen, Choi Yeonseung cooked rice first. It wasn’t just any rice. It was the Abyss rice the orcs had grown in Choi Yeonseung’s territory! He had tried eating this grown rice raw a few times, but it was just well-grown rice with no poison.
Choi Yeonseung changed the adamantium to a cauldron and started cooking rice. The kitchen was well-equipped and had many ingredients, making cooking easy. Besides, he also learned how to cook from a master of Korean cuisine during his trip to Seoul.
‘Is this a momguk restaurant?’
Momguk, the pork and seaweed soup unique to Jeju Island. Noticing it, an idea came to Choi Yeonseung.
He boiled the bones and lean meat of the Abyss monsters he had previously slain, creating a broth. He then added seaweed, green onions, and kimchi and boiled it again. To complete it, he seasoned the dish with salt, garlic, and soy sauce.
It wasn’t that difficult. Gukbap was actually food made with persistence and care, not fancy techniques. That was why Choi Yeonseung cooked gukbap in the Abyss. However, this was a treat for his nephew. Choi Yeonseung was more focused than ever.
‘Just as Master Lee Chunok said...’
The broth usually had to be boiled for a long time to get the flavor, but martial arts could defy the laws of time using internal energy. Flames rose, and the broth became thicker.
“Are you sure this is okay?” Kim Gwisik asked, flustered. No matter how he thought about it, this kitchen wouldn’t normally be able to create this much firepower.
“It’s fine,” Choi Yeonseung said.
“Hah. You seem to know how to cook, young friend.” Kim Gwisik was impressed. He wondered why some crazy hunter was carrying a cauldron, but he seemed to be quite good at what he was doing. His dish even had a fragrant smell!
“Thank you.”
***
“......”
“......”
“......”
Lee Changuk, Antony, and Illeya sat awkwardly with each other. When Choi Yeonseung left for the kitchen, they realized none of them could lead the conversation! Lee Changuk was reticent by nature, Antony was better off not talking, and Illeya wasn’t sociable enough to talk to someone she had just met…
“I’m done,” Choi Yeonseung said.
“Thank you!”
“Thanks!!”
“I’ve been waiting!”
“What? You’re that hungry?” Choi Yeonseung was puzzled. Their reaction was too intense.
“I don’t know if this will taste good, but go ahead and have some.”
The steaming, glossy white rice made even the people who weren’t hungry salivate. Lee Changuk lowered his head and opened a drink.
“...!!!”
This...
This taste...!
***
‘As expected, they are weird,’ Kim Gwisik thought to himself when the hunters left after having a stormy meal.
He had been running a restaurant for 18 years, but he had never seen people so crazy about eating gukbap. Some of them ate as if they had been starving for three years, and some ate with tears in their eyes.
“Well, let’s see how good it really is...”
Curious, Kim Gwisik took a sip of the gukbap.
Choi Yeonseung had left it behind, saying, ‘You should try it too, Elder.’
“!!!!!!!”
***
“Thank you very much. You cooked me such a nice dish.” Lee Changuk said, sounding serious.
“It’s just a meal.”
“No. I can feel it. My strength is rising.”
“What?” Choi Yeonseung was puzzled. He knew that using Abyss ingredients could restore hunters’ magic power and eliminate fatigue.
However, increasing their strength…?
-Examine.
[Blessing From the Land of Training]
[Rank: B+
Temporarily increases reflexes and strength.]
‘... The land of training is my territory.’
It was a temporary skill, but he didn’t expect it to have such an effect.
-This is the power of a constellation.
The goddess of sloth suddenly spoke up.
-Just as the Arrogant Light Elf is concerned with beauty, your will is bound to be influenced by your power.
-I see...
-Successor, you made it with such care for that mortal that this effect can be considered weak. Keep this in mind. There is no limit to a constellation’s power.
-Noted. I’ll be sure to remember that.
-Now, treat me as well.
-... Ah. Alright.
He had forgotten since the cat constellation was the only one who complained about food, but constellations, in general, liked pleasure.
“I’m going now. I have things to do with my clan hunters.”
“Ah, got it. Go ahead. We’ll meet inside anyway.”
“See you.”
Lee Changuk bowed and left. It was only then that Antony spoke.
“He is a well-mannered friend.”
“Why were you keeping your mouth shut?”
“That guy could get jealous of me and badmouth me to the Iron-Blooded Ice Emperor.”
Choi Yeonseung was surprised.
Antony showed more sincerity toward Lee Changsik than he expected. Was he a big fan?
‘Well, I used to keep Li Yuyuan’s autograph.’
***
“That’s the Golden Blood Fish clan.”
“Pass.”
“The Bulgae clan—”
“Pass. How many times do I have to tell you? You only have to inform me of the Icarus clan’s arrival.”
“But will they really come? Most of the participants in this exchange are from Korean clans. The Icarus clan...”
“I got information that they are coming.”
Sitting on a bench by the entrance of the hotel, Hunter Marek of the Six-Eyed Turtle clan waiting. Several hunters had already entered, but Marek was only aiming for one.
“They’re here!”
“I knew it. Look.”
Marek immediately got up and approached his target. Then he exclaimed in astonishment.
“Oh my god! I didn’t expect to meet Icarus clan hunters here! What an honor! I feel as if I have just spent all the luck in my life here!”
Antony nodded contentedly when Marek made a fuss.
“He is a well-mannered friend.”
“Isn’t he more suspicious than well-mannered?”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
Choi Yeonseung and Illeya whispered to each other. The man greeted them in a very friendly manner, but his actions had a slight awkwardness that couldn’t be hidden. Had he been waiting for them?
‘There’s certainly no harm in approaching a member of the Icarus clan.’
The purpose of the exchange exhibition was to obtain information. Not only were the Icarus clan hunters very strong, but the support they had was also of the highest level. If they could get close to them and learn a few things, they would be getting extra bonuses.
“He reminds me of Whittaker.”
“That person came up to me as well.”
“What did he say to you?”
“He asked if I like Stalin?”
“... That bastard definitely doesn’t have scouting talent.”
Marek eagerly praised Antony, and Antony condescendingly accepted it. Choi Yeonseung didn’t think it meant much, so he just cut off the conversation between the two.
“Let’s stop with the niceties. Was that all you had to say?”
“Ah. About th-that… I’m really sorry to ask you this, but... If you don’t mind, do you want to cooperate with me in an upcoming friendly match?”
They didn’t just watch videos and talk to each other in exchange exhibitions. Whenever hunters gathered, showing off their strength was a natural course of action. Hence, there were always a few friendly matches.
“Why—”
“Of course, I refuse.”
“!”
Choi Yeonseung was surprised when Antony immediately rejected the offer.
“W-Why? Did I say something wrong?”
“No. You have good eyes, but I don’t fight with people weaker than me.”
“......”
Marek was at a loss for words. He had heard that Antony of the Icarus clan was arrogant, but he didn’t expect it to be this much!
“I-I might be lacking in some ways, but the other hunters in my clan...”
“They are all weaker than me.”
Antony even disregarded the entire Six-Eyed Turtle, which was a large clan! What was wrong with him?
“It’s a pity, but strive to rise up first. Of course, I will also be developing while you are,” Antony said, then headed inside.
Marek blinked in bewilderment before looking at Choi Yeonseung. “Um... What is up with him?”
“... I apologize for everything. Please just forget about this.” Choi Yeonseung patted Marek on the shoulder to comfort him, then walked in.
The exchange exhibition hadn’t even started yet, but he already felt as if many of the people in attendance were strange. The people that Choi Yeonseung brought were also quite strange, though…
“!”
At that moment, Choi Yeonseung’s Future Sight was activated.
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