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[Remaining mana: 4/10]

I ended up using another magic stone.

I needed to know exactly how much mana it took to charge, so I bore the expense this time. As a result, I offered a 5th-grade magic stone to the altar. 

A 5th-grade magic stone costs at least 30 million won. 

In other words, I fed 30 million won to the altar. 

‘The Dungeon of Gluttony is worth much more, but still, this…’ 

I had misunderstood. 

I thought I was charging 1 mana for 4 million won, but that wasn’t the case. There must have been some residual mana that wasn’t showing up in the numbers. 

Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense for the 5th-grade magic stone to only increase it by 3. 

“How much does it consume, really?” 

Ara, startled, glanced at me. 

I quickly apologized to the surprised Ara. 

“Oh, I’m sorry, Ara. I wasn’t talking to you, I was talking to this altar. Don’t worry, Ara. It’s good for you to eat a lot.” 

“Uh, okay!”

Leaving the slightly unsure Ara, I looked at the last remaining magic stone. 

A brilliantly shining navy blue magic stone. 

A 6th-grade magic stone worth at least 200 million won. 

‘How much money do I have left…?’

I had spent most of my money buying the dungeon, but I still had a bit left. 

But am I in such a hurry that I need to use all of it now? 

“Let’s be satisfied with this for now.” 

It was a bit disappointing not to reach 10, but getting to 4 should be enough to enter. 

After some contemplation, I contacted the guild again, just in case, to hold onto another 6th-grade magic stone. 

– Understood. Please contact us again at your convenience.

At the same time, I paid for the magic stone I used.

Now that everything was done, all that remained was to enter the dungeon.

“Thanks for waiting, everyone.” 

The kids, who had been ready for a while, were all looking at me. 

“Let’s go!” 

Ara shouted, holding up her mysterious hoe. I nodded, carrying the ordinary hoe I had used so far. 

“Let’s go!” 

This trip’s main goals were to clear land for farming and to dig up the mushrooms Gomgom mentioned. 

When we arrived at the dungeon entrance, the ring had turned again. 

[Remaining mana: 4/10]

And still, the ominous message appeared as we entered the Dungeon of Gluttony.

“Wow, this is amazing.” 

I had thought of it as a money-eating pig, but seeing this scenery again made those thoughts disappear. This is something I can’t give up, no matter the cost. 

But this time, we weren’t just here for fun, so I quickly made a plan.

‘I already scouted the land to be cleared.’

I had spent about a week in the Dungeon of Gluttony. During that time, I had naturally scouted out some land for farming. 

It wasn’t far from the entrance but was in an optimal location. 

There was a good spot about 10 minutes away. It wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough. 

– Kkuwoong!

“It’s finally time for me to shine! That’s what Gomgom is saying.” 

“Hmm, let’s stick together for now, Gomgom. I’m curious to see how you harvest mushrooms.” 

Gomgom’s home was here anyway. 

I wasn’t worried about us splitting up, but I was curious about Gomgom’s harvesting methods and tricks.

“Wow! Let’s do it together!” 

– Kkuang?

I lifted the bewildered Gomgom and the excited Ara onto my shoulders. The slimes followed me in a line.

As we walked for about 10 minutes, chatting (though I couldn’t understand the conversation), I looked around.

Trickling-

A stream flowed. 

Following the stream with my eyes, I saw the direction of the lake where Young-seong and Si-young had camped. 

We walked in the opposite direction of the lake, seeing the stream’s current grow stronger and deeper.

“Here we are.”

“Wow! Is this the place?”

A wide basin spread out before us. 

Surrounded by mountains in the back and a river in the front. A perfect feng shui spot. 

The sunlight was good, as if it was urging us to farm here.

‘It would have been better if it were a bit closer.’

One regrettable aspect was that the entrance was a 10-minute walk away. While it wasn’t too far, 10 minutes was slightly inconvenient.

“Think of it as a stroll.”

“A stroll! A stroll! Candies! Candies!”

Ignoring Ara’s incomprehensible stream of consciousness, I decided to roughly plan out the area. First, I used an app on my phone to measure the length.

“It’s nice that the length is measured as I walk.”

Like a pedometer, it automatically measured the length as I walked.

“…It’s really wide.”

“Kya-ha-ha!”

-Kraang! Kraang!

While I was estimating, the kids were running around. Actually, it was Ara running with Gomgom waddling behind her. The slimes followed aimlessly; I had no idea what they were thinking.

“Let’s start small and expand gradually.”

There was no need to clear a vast area right from the start. I would clear just enough land and expand as needed.

Through measurement, I decided to clear about 1,000 pyeong (approx. 3,300 square meters) of land. When I marked off roughly 1,000 pyeong, it looked tiny compared to the vast expanse.

“Wow, my entire dungeon is 1,000 pyeong, so it felt spacious, but here it looks really small.”

“Are we going to plow all this?”

“Yeah. Do you see the marked area? That’s going to be our field.”

“Woohoo! Let’s plow it all!”

Ara, you need to use subjects; saying it like that is scary.

Ara, shouting a battle cry, raised her hoe. Then she started plowing the ground along the lines I had marked.

Brrr!

An amazing scene unfolded as Ara’s unique-grade item and her physical ability, almost equivalent to a Level 4 Awakened, combined.

“Wow…”

The land started turning over rapidly. In the blink of an eye, about 100 pyeong of land was plowed.

-Kraang! Kraang!

Gomgom came wobbling over and grabbed my pants leg. I picked up Gomgom and continued watching.

Pow-pow!

It seemed like if you stood next to Ara, you’d get plowed along with the ground. The slimes had already moved outside the lines I had drawn, watching curiously.

Before long, Ara spread her arms wide.

“It’s done!”

“Wow!”

That quickly?

It took about 10 minutes, but in that short time, she plowed 1,000 pyeong of land.

‘If that’s the case…’

I checked the seeds I had brought.

Then I made a decision.

“Let’s make a field here and a paddy field by the river!”

“A paddy field? What’s that?”

“It’s like a field but always submerged in water.”

“Oooh! Like a swimming pool!”

With Ara’s excited help, I estimated the area for the paddy field. I then checked the rice seedbeds I had.

Thud-

Bokkeum started taking out the seedbeds. Each seedbed could plant 10 pyeong, so I bought exactly 100 seedbeds. However, despite Bokkeum being level 3, he could only bring about 50.

‘I’ll need to bring more next time.’

First, I needed to make the paddy field.

Like with the field, I marked out the area. Even though I only brought 50 seedbeds, I prepared the full 1,000 pyeong.

“Should I plow it?”

“Yes, plow it. After plowing, we need to dig deep to hold water.”

“Oooh! A swimming pool!”

While Ara was plowing again, I took the slimes to the river. I planned to use the slimes to fetch water for the paddy field.

“How versatile!”

The slimes could naturally absorb a lot of water. I thought that the fluid they released after absorbing water might be what helped plants grow well.

After telling the slimes to play by the river, I went over to Ara. Gomgom was busily shoveling dirt in the area Ara had already plowed.

“He’s helping without even being asked.”

“He said he’s making a swimming pool!”

Hearing my words, Ara shouted from afar. So Ara must have told him to do it.

I started digging the ground with a shovel I had brought. The depth was roughly 50 cm.

“It’s tougher than I thought.”

I wasn’t lacking in stamina, but no matter how much I shoveled, there was no end to it.

Ara finished plowing and joined me in piling the dirt around the perimeter. After about an hour, the three of us had created a 100-pyeong paddy field.

“Wow, it took longer than I thought.”

“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet!”

“Where did you learn that saying?”

It was time for lunch when I checked the time.

I had taken out all the supplies before Bokkeum absorbed water, and I rummaged through them to prepare a meal.

‘Hehe. I had Jae-seong take care of everything in advance.’

Before showing off our skills at Ara Hongryeon, I had Jae-seong prepare all the food for me and the kids.

So, we had cucumber salad and pickled cucumbers.

Jae-seong, claiming they were easy to make, had shown me the recipes and made them in five minutes.

“Oooh! It’s time to eat!”

Ara did a little dance. Cute.

Next were potato pancakes and carrot fritters.

These were also pre-made.

Although pancakes and fritters are best eaten hot, which was a bit disappointing, only Jae-seong could make the thinly sliced carrot fritters.

“And the grand finale, curry.”

No meal would be complete without curry.

Among the main dishes that could be made with our current ingredients, nothing could beat curry.

Since Jae-seong had already cooked the curry, all I had to do was heat it up with rice.

Sizzle!

I lit a fire and placed the pot of curry on it.

I heated up the pre-cooked rice and went over to the kids, who were already eating enthusiastically.

Crunch!

“Oooh!! This is delicious! Delicious!”

Watching Ara exclaim as she ate the pickled cucumber, I took a bite myself.

Crunch-crunch!

“Mmm!”

The tangy taste made my mouth water.

At the same time, the fresh taste of the cucumber made me hungrier even as I ate.

“Now for the cucumber salad.”

“I’m eating too!”

Crunch! Crunch!

Oh, this is really…

Spicy, sweet, and salty! A taste no Korean could dislike!

If I had to choose, I’d vote for the cucumber salad. However, for those who can’t handle spice, the pickled cucumbers were an excellent appetizer.

“I can’t stand it. I’m starving!”

The others were also eating the cucumber dishes ravenously, but I was more excited for the potato pancakes and carrot fritters.

I stopped eating the cucumber salad and picked up the frying pan.

Just a little warming up!

I took out the pre-cooked rice and placed the frying pan on the fire. Then I started reheating the potato pancakes Jae-seong had made.

“He made quite a lot.”

Knowing the kids’ appetites, Jae-seong had made plenty. Even so, it was enough to be eaten up in a day, but I was grateful for the effort he put in.

“Sniff sniff! It smells so good! It’s delicious!”

Ara, with her sharp nose, ran over at the smell of the potato pancakes. I handed her a freshly heated pancake.

“Aah~!”

“Aah~!”

As I mimed opening my mouth to eat, Ara eagerly opened her mouth and took a bite of the pancake.

Then, clutching her tiny fists, she exclaimed.

“It’s delicious!”

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Since returning from the Dungeon of Gluttony, the daily lives of Young-seong and his wife had changed significantly. 

Perhaps it was because they enjoyed the dungeon so much that they even experienced some aftereffects.

“We need to work hard on rehabilitation to go back someday.”

“But honey, aren’t I almost fully recovered? Honestly, I feel fine.”

“That’s true.”

Choi Young-seong nodded while scrutinizing something carefully. 

Kim Si-young, who was moving her wrist while holding an 80kg dumbbell with one hand, grew curious about what her husband was doing and approached him.

“What are you doing?”

“Huh? Oh, this? I told Kyu-seong last time that I would try making some alcohol. I’m researching that.”

“Alcohol?”

Choi Young-seong explained as if making an excuse to Kim Si-young, who tilted her head in confusion.

“No, it’s not for me to drink! I’m just curious about what kind of taste it would have if we made alcohol from Kyu-seong’s crops. If it tastes good, it would enhance Kyu-seong’s brand value.”

“Hmm, do you really have to do it yourself?”

“Well, you know, there’s nothing to do at Ara Hongryeon now, and you’re all better too, so I have some time… It’s also to repay Kyu-seong’s kindness.”

“Honey, isn’t that too many excuses?”

“What?! No, why would it be an excuse? It’s the truth!”

As Choi Young-seong spoke, seemingly flustered, Kim Si-young’s eyes narrowed slightly. 

In response, Choi Young-seong quickly smiled awkwardly and grabbed Si-young’s arm.

“Come on, honey. I can help out a bit. Honestly, I won’t deny that I was also interested.”

“You need to drink moderately, okay?”

“Of course! And this is about making it, not drinking it. I might taste it a bit during the process, but…”

Beep-beep-beep-

Choi Young-seong’s words were interrupted by the sound of a phone ringing. 

He immediately answered the call.

“Yes, Guild Leader! What’s the matter?”

At the mention of the guild leader, Kim Si-young’s ears perked up. 

Her powerful hearing as an 8th level awakener allowed her to eavesdrop on the conversation.

“Vice-chief Choi, this is about the recent visit of awakener Ino Junichi to Korea.”

“Oh! That happened? I guess he came and left quietly since the media didn’t mention it?”

“That’s right. He visited privately because of Kyu-seong.”

“Because of Kyu-seong? Ah! Because of his cooking!”

Having encountered Ino Junichi a few times as a former executive of Ara Hongryeon, Choi Young-seong quickly understood the reason.

“I’m sure Junichi was satisfied! I can already imagine it!”

“Haha. Yes, he was very pleased. Watching him enjoy it made me happy too. If possible, we’d like to ask Kyu-seong again when overseas awakeners visit Korea next time.”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

After some light conversation, Han Seok-jun revealed the real reason for his call.

“I heard you’re researching alcohol, Vice-chief Choi.”

“Must’ve been Team 2 leader who told you. That loose-lipped guy.”

“Actually, I mentioned it to Junichi just before he returned to Japan, and he showed great interest, asking if he could join you and Kyu-seong.”

This unexpected proposal made Choi Young-seong pause in thought. 

He was aware of  Ino Junichi’s passion for gourmet food. 

In fact, most awakeners, especially those at the top of the world, pursued fine dining.

‘They have nothing more stimulating or enjoyable left.’

Awakeners lived thrilling lives, hunting monsters in dungeons every day. 

As a result, they became indifferent to most things, and with their accumulating wealth, fame, and honor, many found life increasingly dull. 

For them, gourmet food was one of the few remaining pleasures.

“I understand that Ino Junichi awakener is also well-versed in alcoholic beverages.”

“That’s correct. He mentioned owning two breweries, one of which is quite famous.”

“Hmm, if we collaborate, we can receive a lot of help.”

Choi Young-seong was confident he could manage on his own.

With his experience as a researcher, he believed he could analyze and break down the components of the alcohol, deducing why it was delicious and how to achieve good aromas through chemical formulas.

‘But if Junichi’s brewery is involved?’

They could achieve better results in a shorter time.

“I understand, Guild Leader. In that case, could you provide me with his contact information?”

“I’ll send it to you right away. Best of luck.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

At the same time, in a restaurant in Japan.

Ino Junichi was personally guiding Lee Jae-seong through a restaurant where Shimomoto Orie was the head chef.

“This is the kitchen.”

“…”

The grand kitchen, which he had always dreamed of, was splendidly spread out before him. It was evident that no expense had been spared, befitting a top-tier awakener’s restaurant in Japan.

“How do you like it, Jae-seong?”

“It’s wonderful. I feel very motivated.”

“By the way, I forgot to mention that while you work here, you’ll also practice manifesting your abilities daily. We’ll assign one of our guild members as your mentor, so make sure to learn well.”

“This is an unexpected consideration. Thank you, Junichi.”

As they continued to explore the kitchen, people began to arrive.

Clad in white uniforms, they were the chefs of ‘Oriental Cuisine.’

There were hardly any unfamiliar faces.

Among the young chefs, they were some of the top talents.

Recognizing Orie among them, Jae-seong gave a silent nod in acknowledgment.

Junichi, smiling with satisfaction, gathered the arriving chefs.

“As you’ve heard in advance, this is the new chef, Lee Jae-seong. He’s from Korea and will be your colleague from today, so please teach him well.”

Despite Junichi’s words, the chefs’ reactions were cold.

It was only when Orie reluctantly started clapping that the others followed suit.

‘Hmph. The atmosphere isn’t very welcoming.’

Since everyone communicated in English, Jae-seong understood the situation but remained silently standing.

Thunk!

At that moment, Junichi placed the bundle he had brought on the kitchen table.

“Everyone, shall we start by tasting these and then proceed with introductions?”

Though an 8th level awakener, Junichi never treated the chefs lightly. To him, cooking and gourmet food were precious.

The chefs gathered here were all highly skilled, overshadowed only by Shimomoto Orie. They were talented enough to easily pass through the kitchens of Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe.

In other words, their pride was immense, but Junichi smiled and overlooked it.

“Cucumber?”

“Is this an eggplant?”

“But what’s this? Is it a new variety? Its appearance is unusual.”

“Since Junichi brought it, it can’t be ordinary.”

The chefs who had shown no interest in Jae-seong became intrigued by the crops revealed from the bundle.

Having already tasted Kyu-seong’s crops, Orie nervously handled the produce.

“Hmm? Does Chef Ori know what this is?”

“Chef! Do you know something about this?”

Orie remained silent.

In Korea, she had been too rushed to do anything but cook with the pre-prepared ingredients, but now it was different.

Knowing how exceptional and rare these crops were, she was more cautious than before.

“First, smell it, feel the texture, and taste it.”

Junichi smirked.

To Orie, Junichi seemed almost evil for suggesting they handle such precious ingredients so carelessly!

She worried about the chefs’ reactions once they realized the truth.

Crunch!

“Huh? Mmm?!!”

“Whoa! What is this?!”

Following Junichi’s instructions, the chefs smelled, tasted, and examined the produce in various ways. 

Each of them soon encountered a new world of flavors they had never experienced before.

“No way, this is…”

“Junichi! Where did you get these? I’ve never encountered such vegetables in my life!”

“This is unbelievable. The taste is so extraordinary it might even overshadow the meaning of cooking. Can I even handle these ingredients? Do I even deserve to?”

Junichi, savoring their reactions, smiled brightly.

“How is it? Amazing, right?”

“‘Amazing’ doesn’t even begin to describe it.”

Orie finally spoke up.

The other chefs nodded vigorously in agreement with her words.

“Alright, let’s reintroduce ourselves. Everyone, this is the new chef from Korea, Lee Jae-seong.”

“S-suddenly?”

Someone muttered, but soon fell silent as Junichi continued.

“The person who cultivated these ingredients is none other than Jae-seong’s brother, Kyu-seong. Thanks to Jae-seong joining us, we will now receive these crops regularly.”

“…”

All eyes focused on Jae-seong.

Standing like a bystander until now, Jae-seong finally bowed silently.

“I am Lee Jae-seong. Nice to meet you all.”

His fluent English surprised the multinational chefs of ‘Oriental Cuisine,’ changing their impression of the young man.

“If you want to handle these ingredients more, you’d better treat Jae-seong well. Hahaha!”

With those words, Junichi left, telling them to get acquainted. 

An awkward silence lingered momentarily until Chef Orie broke it by stepping forward.

“Welcome, Jae-seong, to our restaurant.”

“Thank you, Chef.”

“No need to thank me. I brought you here because I believe your talent will benefit our establishment.”

Jae-seong felt slightly moved by Orie’s confident words, though he didn’t show it.

“As I said before, you are here because of your talent. Your awakened abilities and the cooking skills you demonstrated that day have proven yourself to some extent. You’re not here because of your brother.”

“Chef Orie, I apologize for my sudden opinion, but…”

“Go ahead.”

“I consider my brother’s crops to be my weapon. My ultimate goal is to become the chef who can handle his produce better than anyone else in the world.”

“…”

It wasn’t exactly the answer one would expect from someone aspiring to be a top chef, as it suggested he would focus on limited ingredients. 

However, a nearby white chef spoke up in support.

“That’s going to be tough. Becoming a Michelin 3-star chef would be an easier path.”

His comment opened the floodgates for others to add their opinions.

“These ingredients are both incredibly inspiring and highly frustrating. What if they don’t taste as good as when eaten raw? What if I ruin them because of my poor cooking?”

“It’s a tough path indeed. But also a bit unlucky.”

“Personally, I don’t like it. But who am I to judge someone’s personal goal?”

Facing them all, Jae-seong calmly replied.

“Feel free to give me as much work as you want. Since I have to handle my brother’s produce, I should naturally be perfect with ordinary ingredients.”

“…Once again, you’re really unlucky.”

“Shall we see what our youngest can do?”

The others began to warm up, casting fiery glances at Jae-seong. Watching them, Orie chuckled.

“Alright! Let’s all work hard towards our respective goals!”

* * *

“Ahhhhhh!”

At the same time, in an endless dungeon.

A man, unaware that people were talking about him elsewhere, was screaming in despair.

“My three million won!!”

The man was holding a white, discolored magic stone.

Next to him, a cute child with tiger ears asked,

“Is that something I can eat?”

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Though the decision was made impulsively, the preparation was thorough.

This time, to create a farm within the Dungeon of Gluttony, seeds of dungeon grains that tasted like bread, chili peppers, onions, garlic, lettuce, and finally rice seedlings had been prepared.

“Preparation complete!”

Ara shouted, holding up the mysterious hoe. She radiated an aura like a warrior heading to the battlefield. The rest of the mysterious tools, including the watering can, were entrusted to Bokkeum, and Gomgom was taken along.

There were four slimes in total: Mark2, Bokkeum, and two new Rookies.

“We’ll be back.”

This time, Poispois was left behind at the farm as the senior member. He wobbled significantly, as if to take on the responsibility of overseeing things.

For reference, both Mark2 and Poispois had reached level 4. Today’s synthesis was used to evolve them to level 4. There had been several level 3 slimes due to consistent creation and synthesis over time. Next time, Bokkeum would also be evolved to level 4.

The abilities of the level 4 evolved Mark2 and Poispois were as follows:

[Mark2 (Slime) LV.4]  

[An extraordinary slime]

[The familiar of Lee Kyu-seong] 

[Liquid Synthesis Capable]

[Ability: Farming LV.3]

[Poispois (Slime) LV.4]  

[An extraordinary slime]

[The familiar of Lee Kyu-seong]

[Liquid Synthesis Capable] 

[Ability: Poison LV.3]

Their names had changed to what I always called them. It felt similar to Ara’s case. Other than that, there weren’t any significant changes, but with their abilities leveled up, there was some expectation.

“Poispois has his poison… I’m ready too. Shall we go?”

Just in case, I collected poison from the level 4 evolved Poispois. The fairies had said they needed strong poison for growing Meluca flowers.

“Come to think of it, they said Meluca flowers bloom from the poison emitted when Starbear dies…”

As I glanced at Gomgom, who was holding Ara’s hand, he noticed something strange and trembled, looking at me.

-Grr, Grrow?

“Yeah. It’s nothing.”

Shouldn’t I quickly level up Poispois? Since strong poison is needed, Poispois seems to be the only option. I can’t just go into another dungeon to obtain poison from a powerful monster.

Let’s try using Poispois’s poison first. If it doesn’t work, Poispois will be prioritized for leveling up.

In the end, I win.  

‘Though I’m not sure if the fairies will hold out until then.’

With everything ready, we went down the stairs. Gomgom, remembering the previous incident, clung to Ara, stiffly descending. The height of the stairs did seem a bit high.

After returning, I decided to set up some sort of structure, like a ladder, and stood in front of the door.

[Confirming the Dungeon Master, Ara (Gluttony)]

[Entrance permitted]

[Remaining mana: 0/10]

Click-

“Huh?”

The door didn’t open. Since this was the first time this had happened, I tilted my head in confusion as a message reappeared before me.

[There is no remaining mana]

[Please replenish mana at the altar]

“Oh…!”

I had always heard about the remaining mana, but I didn’t realize that it was the mana required to enter the Dungeon of Gluttony until now.

As we suddenly got stuck, Ara looked up at me.

“Why is that, Kyu-seong Kyu-seong ?”

“It won’t open. It says there’s not enough mana.”

“Gasp!”

Ara’s eyes widened in surprise, and she knocked on the door.

“Knock knock! Open up!”

“Yeah. It’s no use.”

It seemed like we needed to recharge the mana, but I didn’t know how. Didn’t it say to replenish the mana at the altar?

For now, we headed back upstairs with the others. I examined a structure that looked like the altar Ara had come from.

“Do I need to pour mana into it?”

But I’m only a level1.

Moreover, unlike combat Awakeners, I couldn’t use mana except when using my abilities.

“…Hold on a second.”

Looking closely at the altar, I saw a groove. Up until now, I had thought it was just decoration or a pattern, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

“A mana stone?”

It looked just like one.

Mana stones are energy sources found inside monsters or rarely in dungeons. They are all uniformly shaped like ores, and their grade is determined by their color.

“This looks exactly like a mana stone shape.”

And the groove in the altar was shaped like a mana stone. It seemed like it would fit perfectly.

Now that I had the idea, it was time to act. I immediately prepared to purchase mana stones.

I could probably buy them from the Ara Hongryeon Guild. This way, I could get them much cheaper than on the market.

‘I just got back yesterday, and now I have to go to Ara Hongryeon.’

They might tease me for visiting so often, but I needed them right away.

The problem was, I didn’t know what grade of mana stone the altar required.

As the grade of mana stones increases, their price rises exponentially. Recently, most energy sources have been replaced with mana stones, so even low-grade mana stones weren’t cheap.

“I might waste money if I buy them blindly…”

Isn’t this why I joined the guild? I’ll explain the situation and get mana stones of various grades. I can try them out and return the ones that don’t work.

* * *

“Hello, Awakened Lee Kyu-seong. We’re from the guild.”

“Hello there!”

I never imagined they would deliver the mana stones directly.

When I contacted the guild manager, they asked for my address, and soon someone arrived. Thanks to this, I could receive the mana stones comfortably at a café near the dungeon.

When Ara showed affection to the Ara Hongryeon staff she met for the first time, their expression melted.

“We have successfully delivered the mana stones. Thank you.”

“Oh, according to the instructions, you’re supposed to return all the mana stones except for the one you use, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll come back at the same time tomorrow. Or would you prefer to schedule another time?”

“No, this time is fine.”

The guild staff who delivered the mana stones said their goodbyes and left. This is why all the Awakeners join guilds.

‘It’s convenient.’

I examined the box the staff had given me. Inside the divided box, various colored mana stones were neatly arranged.

From the lowest-grade red mana stone to the 6th-grade navy blue mana stone.

Especially since the 6th-grade mana stones cost at least tens of millions of won, I was extra careful. I hoped the Dungeon of Gluttony didn’t require a 6th-grade mana stone.

“Is it for eating?”

“It’s called a mana stone.”

“Hmm?! I’ve seen this before! It’s delicious!”

Ara seemed to have eaten mana stones before. Well, knowing Ara, it made sense. If she could devour monsters, she probably tried the mana stones found inside them too. Actually, it seemed like there was nothing she hadn’t eaten. She must have tried almost everything.

‘Except for Earth’s food.’

Ara drooled at the sight of the mana stones, especially the most expensive 6th-grade navy blue stone. I cautiously closed the box’s lid, eyeing Ara warily.

“These are not for eating. I brought them to open the Dungeon of Gluttony.”

“Okay!”

She answered obediently but still eyed the box in my hand hungrily. I’d need to keep an eye on her.

With the mana stones packed, we returned to the dungeon. Everything was ready, so we just needed to open the Dungeon of Gluttony.

“Alright, let’s start with the 1st-grade…”

I fitted the lowest-grade mana stone into the groove on the altar. As expected, the stone fit perfectly.

Woom–

A strange vibrating sound echoed through the chamber. The red mana stone quickly turned white.

[Remaining mana 0/10]

A message appeared simultaneously, but the number was still 0.

“Seriously? It absorbed it all and still shows 0? Spit it back out.”

The 1st-grade mana stone cost less than 100,000 won. Typically, it was around 50,000 to 60,000 won, so it wasn’t a huge loss, but it felt like a waste.

‘Should I be more selective?’

I had planned to use them in ascending order, but at this rate, it seemed the mana would just be absorbed without increasing the count. If I started with a stone that could actually increase the remaining mana, I might avoid this loss.

“Alright. It’s better to figure this out now so I won’t be confused next time about which stone to buy.”

The remaining mana count was essentially consumable. Even if I charged it now, I’d need to recharge it again eventually. So, it was best to test them in ascending order and understand for sure.

“Next, the orange one.”

A 2nd-grade mana stone, priced around 200,000 won. As I inserted it, the vibration returned, and a message appeared.

-0

There was still no change in the count. It was clear that the altar absorbed mana, but it seemed to need a substantial amount.

“Phew. It’s okay. So far, so good.”

The yellow 3rd-grade mana stone cost around 800,000 to 1,000,000 won. Though I earned enough not to be too burdened, it still made me nervous, especially since I had been an ordinary citizen not too long ago.

But the value of the Dungeon of Gluttony was worth this expense.

-0!

“Are you kidding me?”

I scowled at the message, now with an exclamation mark. Just then, Ara, who had been watching, picked up the mana stone that had turned gray from mana depletion and asked,

“Can I eat this?”

“Huh? You want to eat that too? I guess you can.”

Ara smiled brightly at my permission and popped the stone into her mouth, chewing it.

“Mm~!”

Her reaction was like eating candy, and it piqued my curiosity a bit.

“Is it tasty?”

“It is delicious. Hmm, it also feels like ‘poof!’ and maybe like ‘slurp?’”

What on earth is she talking about? It seemed that Ara could sense flavors I couldn’t. Maybe her sense of taste was much more developed. Watching Ara happily munch on the remaining empty mana stones, I started to break out in a cold sweat.

“4th grade…!”

These mana stones come from capturing 4th-grade monsters. From 5th grade onwards, they are classified as higher tier, making 4th grade the pinnacle of the lower tier. They had an enchanting emerald-like appearance. The price ranged from 3 million to 10 million won depending on purity. I had acquired the lowest purity one for 3 million won.

“Please, let this one work!”

I tightly closed my eyes and fitted the stone into the groove. Seeing the mana stone turn white almost immediately made my face go pale as well.

Drum roll in my head.

An urgent drumbeat echoed in my mind… and soon a message appeared before me.

-1

“Wow! It worked!”

Finally, it increased! In my excitement, I lifted Ara and placed her on my shoulders. Ara, not knowing what was going on, held the empty mana stone and rejoiced.

“Ehehe! Hehe!”

“Phew! Thank goodness. If it had needed more, I would’ve been in big trouble!”

The price of 5th-grade mana stones started at 30 million won. No matter how well I earned, that would be a significant burden.

While celebrating with Ara on my shoulders, I suddenly became serious.

“…Wait a moment.”

I checked the message again.

[Remaining mana 1/10]

“One?”

I had spent nearly 4 million won, including the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-grade mana stones, just to increase it by one point?

“This thing is a money pit!”

Although I couldn’t be sure how the mana was consumed, I recalled that when I first entered, there were 7 points of mana. That means I had effectively used up 28 million won worth.

“Is it done now? Are we leaving, Kyu-seong Kyu-seong ?”

“….”

This Dungeon of Gluttony really lives up to its name.

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The time when the day’s schedule begins.

Every morning at 5 AM, the government announces an auction. The various dungeons discovered the previous day are put up for auction with priority given to guilds based on their location.

Reporting a discovered dungeon to the government earns a reward. This has led to the rise of professional dungeon explorers. Conversely, guilds also employ these explorers.

“Ugh, it looks like Ara Hongryeon will take this level 6 dungeon.”

A senior member of the Terror Guild sighed as he checked the government announcement. His prediction was spot-on, as Ara Hongryeon’s participation in the auction was confirmed online in real-time.

Due to the location, Ara Hongryeon  had priority.

“There’s nothing we can do about it this time. Let’s aim for the level 5 dungeon that appeared in Gangwon-do.”

“Yes, we should. Oh? Take a look at this.”

“What is it?”

The senior member who initially voiced his disappointment tilted his head. He was pointing to the list of dungeon participants.

“Ara Hongryeon is sending only Team 1?”

“What? Level 6 Awakened Jeong So-yeon? Are they perhaps collaborating with Team 2…?”

“No, just Team 1 is on the list. What’s their plan? Sure, Jeong So-yeon is a level 6 Awakened, but this seems too bold.”

After participating in the auction, the list of personnel to subdue the dungeon must be submitted.

However, it was noted that Ara Hongryeon only listed Team 1 for the level 6 dungeon.

“Do you think we could take it from them?”

The Terror Guild considered subtly stepping in, knowing the government might adjust the auction priority based on such listings.

But the level 6 dungeon was promptly auctioned off, as if to cut off any such thoughts.

“What? It’s already done?”

“This is strange. The Awakened Management Bureau must have contacted Ara Hongryeon, sensing something was off.”

The ‘Awakened Management Bureau,’ a government-operated organization, manages and coordinates between the government and guilds.

If something unusual happened, they would investigate, so the swift auction meant discussions had already taken place.

“What could it be? How did they convince them?”

“Should we look into it?”

“Hmm, no. A level 6 dungeon is manageable. We don’t need to antagonize Ara Hongryeon over this.”

Though suspicious, that was the end of it. Ara Hongryeon must have had some strategy. Perhaps they acquired a useful item in a recent dungeon farming or developed a new buff potion through their research team, which they presented to the Bureau for approval.

‘The only certainty is they’ve improved their capabilities.’

The guild member’s suggestion to investigate further implied uncovering the reason behind this power increase.

“By the way, I heard there’s an interesting Rookie at Ara Hongryeon.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“A few days ago, Ara Hongryeon took in a new guild member, who’s only a level 1 Awakened.”

“Level 1? Are you sure you checked correctly?”

This seemed even more implausible than the level 6 dungeon auction. Despite Ara Hongryeon being called a ‘toothless tiger,’ it wasn’t weak enough to accept just a level 1 Awakened.

“It was so odd that I conducted a separate investigation. Here’s the report.”

“Alright, let’s see it.”

Though the Terror Guild was relatively new compared to other guilds, their ability to compete for the top spot stemmed from their information-gathering prowess.

If they wanted to know something, they found out.

The report contained detailed information about Lee Kyu-seong.

“He’s been awakened for three years but is still level 1? And he’s been unaffiliated until now? His ability is ‘Liquid Synthesis.’”

The Terror Guild’s information network was extensive, enough to uncover the specifics of an Awakened individual’s abilities, indicating their infiltration into government-held data.

“What could ‘Liquid Synthesis’ be? Why did Ara Hongryeon take him in?”

“According to his past activities, it appears he made a living by combining two types of potions into one. The efficacy is reduced, but it’s still a useful ability. However, it seems the problem was the cooldown time. It’s speculated that he could only use it once a day.”

“Using it only once a day is quite limiting. But did Ara Hongryeon find a groundbreaking way to utilize this single use?”

“That’s what our information analysis team believes. Come to think of it, the reason they could immediately secure the level 6 dungeon in today’s auction might be related to this.”

“That’s possible. But even so, it doesn’t make sense. After all, he’s just a level 1. No matter how ingenious his ability is, the limitations are too clear.”

Unexpectedly, there was lively discussion about Kyu-seong. This ability to gather and analyze information was the driving force behind the new Terror Guild aiming for the top spot domestically.

“And there’s one more thing we found out.”

“What is it?”

“The contract with Ara Hongryeon is only for two years.”

“What? Two years? What does that mean? Do they plan to use him and then discard him quickly?”

“Considering the contract terms, it seems unlikely. Take a look.”

The Terror Guild had already obtained the contract details. Upon reviewing it, the senior member of the guild quietly expressed his amazement.

“Wow, these terms are very generous. This isn’t typical treatment for a level 1 Awakened.”

“The short contract duration is probably a considerate measure.”

“This is getting more intriguing. Plus, a two-year contract means we have a chance to scout him afterward.”

“Exactly.”

“Good. Let’s assign someone to keep a close watch on Lee Kyu-seong. Gather all information about him. And if it turns out there’s something special, let’s prepare to recruit him in advance.”

“Understood.”

It wasn’t just the Terror Guild. The Iron Blood Guild, already aware of Lee Kyu-seong’s identity, was preparing an unprecedented offer for two years later. Other leading domestic guilds, their eyes wide open due to the effectiveness of certain ingredients, were also beginning to notice Kyu-seong’s potential.

* * *

Jae-seong’s study abroad preparations happened swiftly. He informed our parents over the phone and left without any luggage, following Junichi onto a plane. Awakening and arranging to study abroad happened in one fell swoop.

‘It all happened so fast.’

The saving grace was that it would be easy to return home. It was only a two-hour flight, so he could come and go whenever needed. It was surprising that both brothers had awakened. While not common, it did happen occasionally.

-What’s going on! What about me!

My younger sister Seon-ah was outraged when she found out, given her keen interest in Awakened individuals. Her frustration was understandable.

But what could I do? I wasn’t someone who could grant awakenings. I hadn’t expected Jae-seong to awaken either.

After the whirlwind of Jae-seong’s story ended and we returned to the dungeon, we were greeted by a few slimes.

Something felt missing…

“Gomgom is missing!”

Ara exclaimed, scanning the surroundings with wide eyes. Just then, a strange sound came from deeper inside.

-…Kkwaang.

“Huh? Did you hear something?”

“Gomgom! It’s Gomgom!”

Listening closely, the sound came from the direction of the stairs leading to the Dungeon of Gluttony. Heading there with Ara, I saw slimes clustered around the entrance to the stairs.

Squirm!

Mark2, spotting us, squirmed as if asking for help. What’s going on here?

-Kkwaaang!

Looking down, I saw Gomgom and a few slimes unable to climb the stairs. They greeted me with sorrowful cries when they noticed me.

“What’s going on? Why are you here?”

“Gomgom! Poispois! Rookie!”

Ara dashed down the stairs. I followed, picking up slimes scattered along the way. It seemed the slimes got stuck trying to help Gomgom. These slimes usually never came here, so my guess was likely correct.

– Kkuwang!

Gomgom, meeting Ara, let out a sorrowful cry, shedding large tears. Ara patted Gomgom’s head, comforting him.

“Were you scared? Don’t worry!”

“How did you get here? Come on.”

It seemed Gomgom had managed to climb a few steps by stepping on the heads of the slimes, but the slimes that sacrificed their heads were left behind, so he couldn’t make it all the way up.

I lifted Ara, who was holding Gomgom, into my arms. At the same time, I placed the slimes stuck with Gomgom on my shoulders, head, and remaining arm, and climbed the stairs.

“It must have been scary. We need to install some structure on the stairs so they can go up and down safely.”

Finally, Gomgom and the slimes reached the surface. They must have been stuck there since Ara and I left in the morning.

– Kkwaang!

“Oh dear. Were you feeling sad? Let’s have some honey.”

Gomgom, still sobbing, was comforted with honey. In the bright light, he calmed down a bit and quickly started eating the honey.

“But why were you there?”

“Why were you there!”

When Ara asked, Gomgom whimpered and began explaining. Ara translated Gomgom’s words.

– Kkuwoong!

“He wanted to help!”

– Kkuwoong! Kkuwoong!

“There’s a delicious mushroom! He wanted to give it to the kind giant! …What’s a kind giant?”

– Kkwaang!

“It wasn’t here! It was where he came from!”

So, Gomgom wanted to get mushrooms for me and tried to return to the Dungeon of Gluttony. But the door didn’t open.

I couldn’t help but smile at Gomgom’s adorable intention.

Mushrooms, huh…

An unexpected ingredient emerged.

‘So far, all the mushrooms found in the industry were poisonous, right?’

Awakened individuals subdue dozens of dungeons daily. Globally, the number is even higher.

It wouldn’t make sense if no mushrooms were found.

But all the mushrooms discovered and investigated so far were poisonous.

If Gomgom didn’t have resistance to poison, he must be indicating that there are edible mushrooms.

“I don’t recall seeing mushrooms in the Dungeon of Gluttony, but that’s interesting. Is there a colony somewhere?”

As I mumbled to myself, Ara translated my words to Gomgom. Gomgom then made all sorts of gestures and sounds.

“They’re buried underground! Gomgom can sniff them out and dig them up!”

“Oh?!”

This was surprising.

Thinking about it, truffle mushrooms, once considered one of the world’s top three delicacies before the dungeons appeared, were also buried underground.

There was a reason I hadn’t found any while thoroughly exploring the Dungeon of Gluttony.

– Kkwaang! Kkuang!

“They’re delicious! Sweet potatoes are good, but mushrooms are delicious too!”

“If Gomgom says they’re delicious, I’m looking forward to it.”

Gomgom was a monster that lived around the World Tree.

There’s a high probability that these mushrooms were nourished by the World Tree’s roots.

Mushrooms absorbing nutrients from the World Tree?

They couldn’t possibly taste bad!

“Shall we go right away?”

“Wow! That’s great!”

– Kkuong?

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