My profession, [Chef], goes beyond just creating delicious dishes. In the early stages of awakening, I wondered about the significance of this job, especially when I initially hesitated to cook with ingredients from monstrous beings. I used only conventional ingredients, thinking it was safer.
“Such foolishness.”
The true potential of this profession reveals itself when cooking monsters. The body parts of monsters are not viable for human consumption. However, through the process of purification and refinement, cooking transforms them into something beneficial—an intricate ritual orchestrated by the chef, akin to a spellcaster.
“Picky eater…? What are you talking about?”
Amidst my thoughts, an intriguing idea emerged.
[Gourmet Glutton]—a being filled with the blood and flesh of others, twisted into something monstrous. It looks more like a monster than anything I’ve encountered before; even worse than the one I had previously dealt with.
“I have one question.”
“What is it?”
“If there was a way for you to return to being human, what would you do?”
Despite its monstrous appearance, this being still maintains a semblance of human spirit—an aspect that makes it closer to humanity than to monstrosity.
“There’s no way such a thing exists. I have already stated that the system told me so.”
“What if there is?”
For a moment, the creature hesitated, its mouth agape as if struggling to find words. Then, after a brief pause, it spoke in a timid tone.
“I wish to return.”
Its voice lacked confidence, as if unsure of its worthiness.
“That’s enough,” I reassured it. The crucial point was whether it desired to live as a human being again.
Ariella,” I called out.
“What is it?”
She approached, having listened to our conversation.
“You once mentioned feeling insulted by the outcome of our previous encounter. If you had been in peak condition, you could have easily defeated this being.”
“…You have a point.”
“I also take responsibility for your current state, so I’ll return to you what you’ve lost.”
“What?”
I had already considered that she needs some nurturing. I have been periodically feeding her the blood of various monsters, but such nourishment had yielded no significant growth.
“How about this one’s blood?”
A formidable beast that had consumed countless monsters could provide a valuable source of nourishment.
“Hmm, it’s mixed with various elements, so its quality is low…”
“Is that so?”
“No, it’s not.”
Her crimson eyes gleamed.
“While the quality may be somewhat diminished, the sheer magical potency is substantial.”
“Good to hear.”
I stood up and commanded her, “Extract all of its blood. Don’t let it die, just until it’s on the brink of death.”
“…You won’t kill it? I can guess what you plan to do.”
She seemed to deduce my intentions.
“Since the time you first let me taste your arm, I knew you weren’t in your right mind.”
“Heyy… You shouldn’t be saying such things to your master.”
I shrugged nonchalantly and approached the fallen creature. Following my lead, Ariella moved closer to its neck.
“What are you intending to do?”
“Stay quiet.”
With a swift motion, Ariella’s sharp claws tore into its thick skin, severing its veins. Blood flowed forth from the fallen creature, drawing a sharp line towards my shadow.
“I’m ready on this end.”
Next came my preparation.
I stepped closer to the giant’s body and retrieved the two knives gifted to me by Grandpa Park.
“You can’t kill me easily, can you?”
“Eh?”
As I began my preparations, the creature spoke up.
It seemed to fixate on the knives, perhaps sweating nervously.
“So, this is because of the humans I’ve killed? You feel you can’t give me an easy death due to the weight of my sins?”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“I know… I know it’s a wish too great for a creature like me.”
Ah, I finally understood its misunderstanding.
Naturally, after I was asked for a peaceful death, I suddenly began to sharpen my knives.
‘Who said you could die easily? Not on my watch.’
“It’s not like that.”
“What?”
“Let me clarify.”
Finding the right words was somewhat tricky, so I scratched my head with the knife’s handle.
“You said your blood and flesh had become that of a monster, right?”
“Yes.”
The creature had become a monster as a result of being filled with blood and flesh. But… “What if I stripped away all that blood and flesh?”
“What?!”
Despite being half-conscious, the creature’s eyes widened in surprise.
As if it suddenly understood my intention.
“You insane fool.”
“That’s a normal reaction.”
I confirmed that my knives were sufficiently sharpened.
[Intermediate Cooking Secret]
[Primate Human – Gourmet Glutton Preparation Method]
I gently placed the blade against the monster’s flesh.
“I won’t kill you. Not yet.”
As a warning, I added, “This is going to hurt. A lot.”
“You… You’re insane!”
With that, I cut into the creature’s flesh.
* * *
“Graaahhh…!”
Though I had grown accustomed to it, but disassembling a living creature for consumption is still a challenging task.
Back when I first started cooking, I would break into a cold sweat no matter how experienced I was.
“Grr… Grrr…”
Even from an outsider’s perspective, it was gruesome. Just imagining the sensations of the one undergoing this torture made me shudder.
Deep within the dark underground chamber, anguished groans echoed.