Dungeon Gourmet

However, the only thing that wasn’t hard in learning magic skills was its beginning, and the rest of the process was very difficult.

 

At first, a mage who noticed my talent took me from the orphanage to become his heir because he had no inheritors.

 

I followed along with excitement and learned magic as he taught me, and I was able to master some very basic magic skills. The ‘blaze’ spell I used earlier was one of them.

 

In the first place, it was a stroke of incredible luck to meet a mage who belonged to a tiny population in the world, and it was such a rare chance even to consider it fate that I would be his successor.

 

‘But….!!’

 

It had been around two years since I started learning magic under that man.

 

In terms of stages, I was learning beginner magic between circles 1 and 2 when the mage who took me into the magic tower suddenly said he had an heir.

 

He said that when he was younger, he couldn’t do it no matter how hard he tried, but suddenly, now he had a child, and as if it were a blessing, it was the daughter of his dreams.

 

And the conclusion to that story was obvious.

 

I was kicked out of that tower. At the young age of 12.

 

I was abandoned after being adopted.

 

I couldn’t tell him to take responsibility for me for the rest of my life till I died, but if he had even the slightest bit of conscience, the mage wouldn’t have been able to throw me away from the magic tower like that.

 

In my day, humans who had pets were more responsible than this…….

 

So, I ended up getting some crappy skills that were good enough to make a bonfire and came back to St. Lear’s Orphanage.

 

After that, I tried to find a way to get back to the magic tower by a different route, but the results were hopeless.

 

Yes, the magic tower was a league of nobles and a handful of genius mages, and the stagnant economy was filled with ‘rotten water’1 rotten water = 고인물 is a slang that originated in the gaming community for someone who has spent a lot of time playing a certain game and has perfected his or her skills. The comparison is that this player is water that has collected specifically in the expertise of the game..

 

‘Hu….’

 

The mages of that time were clumsy. They were displeased with the way others used the magic skills they studied and wanted to monopolize their academic achievements.

 

Because of their extreme reluctance to disclose information, mages did not communicate well with each other even in the magic tower, so how many people would even say they want to teach their magic to an ordinary person?

 

‘I still feel terrible when I think about it…….’

 

At this point, it was close to impossible to pass on magic skills through people, so the only method left was to use items, that is, through dungeons.

 

But I didn’t have good memories of that either. After the mage situation, I saved up money while working as a mercenary, and finally bought a book that said, ‘You can learn three-circle magic of ice magic by just reading this’….

 

The sense of emptiness I felt when I did not acquire any skills even after reading the book dozens of times, was indescribable.

 

I had been swindled of 80% of my entire fortune. If only I had vengeance skills at the time…….

 

But I remember that I did not learn that kind of magic because it was dirty. So after that, I turned into a knight immediately without touching the intelligence stat that I had set as high as 70.

 

I thought I would never learn magic again.

 

“Huh? I heard that people in cities often learned magic… Besides what I’ve heard from my wife, I’ve also heard rumours. Even just the Helm right now….”

 

“…….”

 

Think of how ridiculous it would be for me to hear this story now.

 

For some reason, my head was aching, but I couldn’t massage my temples because of the thick iron helmet that obscured my face.

 

Since then, the man continued to ramble next to me, wondering what Helm’s night was like, but I didn’t listen, deciding to just eat the potatoes given to me.

 

Slip.

 

As soon as I took the stiff cloth wrapped around the potato off, it seemed quite interesting.

 

When I touched the potato with my hand, it felt cold, but I thought that it wouldn’t be that bad.

 

I lifted my helmet cover slightly and then pushed the potato into the gap, slowly I bit the corner of the steamed potato. Fortunately, it was a small variety of potatoes, so I squeezed it in without too much trouble.

 

Munch munch. The potatoes were gently chewed. It tasted like the butter from the refrigerator but was still relatively firm.

 

Although it had good consistency, it would be more accurate to say it was crispy rather than fluffy.

 

‘It isn’t as bad to the point where it feels like it’d rot my tongue.’

 

Fortunately, it turned out better than I expected.

 

A heavy plainness unique to crops such as potatoes and sweet potatoes filled my mouth and throat. Except for the seasoning of salt, it felt tasteless and bland; however, it was not that bad as I could still feel the savoury taste of the potatoes with the characteristic earthy smell relatively well.

 

I bit the corner of the potato held in my hand again, to the point where my teeth marks were visible on the remaining parts. I keep chewing and swallowing.

 

In the end, it seems like potatoes too tasted dense.

 

After swallowing a few more times, my throat became so dry that I eventually went to look for my water bottle. 

 

I took out the flask tied to my waist, opened the lid, tucked it under the helmet again in an uncomfortable position, and raised my head to swallow the water.

 

It was a cumbersome process, but I had no complaints when the water, which had turned cold during the night, was gulped down, and it swept away the dryness of the potatoes, refreshing my throat and chest.

 

‘Heum…..’

 

No, but as expected, it would be a bit of an exaggeration to say I had no complaints. Potatoes were potatoes, after all.

 

A small, low-grade potato with a brittle inside and a fresh feel that made it as if, I was chewing a sprouted potato. It didn’t look like my taste would get any better.

 

My hunger could barely be sated, it would be a bit ambiguous to say that it was a satisfying meal.

 

‘It’s only better than the meatballs and sandwiches I had in that village.’

 

I thought, putting all the leftover potatoes in my mouth.

 

If I continued to eat this kind of food, I think my taste buds will be ruined to the point where one day I’ll have to pull out my tongue.

 

And the next day.

 

When I woke up after night duty, the sky was clear.

 

It was cloudy all day yesterday as if it would rain, but I’m glad it cleared up.

 

“Come on, let’s all clean up and go. However, I think we’ll arrive sooner than I thought!”

 

“Will the Red Boar even come out?”

 

The others also started to get up one by one, and the traces of the previous camp were cleared away.

 

They were in a position where customers were waiting, so they rushed the schedule again and started moving the wagon.

 

Hee heeung!

 

“Woah, Woah.”

 

“Isn’t this about the Red Boar that went into a private house or something….?”

 

The clattering of hoofs resounded continuously.

 

Even if it didn’t rain, the carriage still had a terrible ride quality today, which was making me want to vomit. Still, I didn’t express it and just sat quietly in the corner, while the merchants started talking about the Red Boar.

 

Come to think of it, there was a question.

 

Since we had a fire and camped, I thought it would appear when it saw the flame, but in the end, I couldn’t see the tail of a single wild animal, let alone the Red Boar, during the night.

 

‘…….’

 

At this rate, there was no need to sharpen any knives. I have to do my best in my own way.

 

I thought we would arrive at the Helm without encountering a Red Boar, so I got up halfway to put the old long sword I had on the other side. But it was then,

 

“Uh, uh! Over there, over there!!”

 

“What?! …Ack! A Red Boar!”

 

Grrrrrrrr.

 

Suddenly, the merchant who was acting as the coachman shouted loudly.

 

Everyone on board the wagon raised their upper bodies like meerkats and peeped their heads out, they could see something in the distance.

 

‘The monster….’

 

Ruffled fur that glowed red as if born of magma, its tusks, the weapon of a threatening beast, were raised menacingly, and its five scarlet eyes gleamed fiercely… It was the appearance of the Red Boar.

 

“A wild boar?”

 

As I looked at such a Red Boar, I spoke the words I was thinking of.

 

Regardless of its skeleton or appearance, it looked very similar to a wild boar as a whole.

 

Of course, ordinary wild boars did not have two teeth that protruded like that and had eyes, and three pairs of disgusting legs.

 

Still, it looked like a small wild boar. Was it because of this thing that the cart ahead was hit?

 

‘It’s definitely impossible for a cart to be pulled by a single horse, but I think the wagon will hold out somehow…….’

 

Afar, the Red Boar started to huff and scratch the ground with its paws.

 

I had to get up from my seat and pull my sword out of its scabbard. No matter how cheap it was, I got a meal and a free ride in the carriage, so I’ll have to do what they asked me to do so I won’t be humiliated.

 

“I’ll cut it when it gets a little closer.”

 

“No, what do you mean?! You’ll die if you go near it! Everyone, hurry up and lure him in! Otherwise, the carriage will break!”

 

Hm?

 

Their reaction was too serious. Everyone became contemplative, and then suddenly rushed out of the carriage and started shouting to turn Red Boar’s eyes to the side of the road rather than the carriage.

 

In addition, the coachman tried to stop the horse urgently, but due to the weight of the load, he was unable to make a sudden stop and had no other choice but to slow down gradually.

 

“……?”

 

For a moment, I couldn’t understand what these people were doing.

 

“Is that thing’s level higher than I thought?”

 

While everyone was in such a hurry, I jumped out of the cart and ran straight in the direction of Red Boar.

 

If it had been in the past, I would have stumbled when I touched the ground, but now I was very stable.

 

This could be the effect of dividing my points. Anyway, right after that, the Red Boar’s charge began. It started running towards me with a huff. But, huh?

 

‘Huh?’

 

For some reason, as the running Red Boar came closer, his size gradually became unusual….

 

It wasn’t until it accelerated quite a bit that I realized.

 

That the thought of it being about the size of a wild boar, was a mistake.

 

In time, the Red Boar, who had narrowed the distance from me, became almost the size of a house. It was obvious that if you were hit by something like that, you would be torn to pieces without leaving a single trace!

 

‘I’m in big trouble!’

 

I don’t know how many times bigger things have grown in the last few days.

 

And I’ve been running out to attack Red Boar, so the gap between Red Boar and me was rapidly decreasing.

 

At this moment, there seemed to be no time to spare, such as using the ‘Status’ to check its level and retreat.

 

Now that this had happened, I have no choice but to believe in my past knowledge.

 

Level 247. I must be on the strong side, right? I prayed, ‘I must be stronger than him at least.’ and then took a step forward and stopped on the Red Boar’s attacking line.

 

“Greeeeeuuuuuurrrrk!!”

 

“S-such recklessness….!! Marron-ssi!!”

 

I had no time to look back no matter how much they shouted.

 

I did what I have always done in the past. When the view is narrow and the enemy is running in a straight line at a speed when they can’t change their direction, you roll…….

 

“……!!”

End notes:

A cliffhanger!!!!!!!!!!!

1 rotten water = 고인물 is a slang that originated in the gaming community for someone who has spent a lot of time playing a certain game and has perfected his or her skills. The comparison is that this player is water that has collected specifically in the expertise of the game.