Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Chapter 118
Chapter 119
Chapter 120
Chapter 121
Chapter 122
Chapter 123
Chapter 124
Chapter 125
Chapter 126
Chapter 127
Chapter 128
Chapter 129
Chapter 130
Chapter 131
Chapter 132
Chapter 133
Chapter 134
Chapter 135
Chapter 136
Chapter 137
Chapter 138
Chapter 139
Chapter 140
Chapter 141
Chapter 142
Chapter 143
Chapter 144
Chapter 145
Chapter 146
Chapter 147
Chapter 148
Chapter 149
Chapter 150
Chapter 151
Chapter 152
Chapter 153
Chapter 154
Chapter 155
Chapter 156
Chapter 157
Chapter 158
Chapter 159
Chapter 160
Chapter 161
Chapter 162
Chapter 163
Chapter 164
Chapter 165
Chapter 166
Chapter 167
Chapter 168
Chapter 169
Chapter 170
Chapter 171
Chapter 172
Chapter 173
Chapter 174
Chapter 175
Chapter 176
Chapter 177
Chapter 178
Chapter 179
Chapter 180
Chapter 181
Chapter 182
Chapter 183
Chapter 184
Chapter 185
Chapter 186
Chapter 187
Chapter 188
Chapter 189
Chapter 190
Chapter 191
Chapter 192
Chapter 193
Chapter 194
Chapter 195
Chapter 196
Chapter 197
Chapter 198
Chapter 199
Chapter 200
Chapter 201
Chapter 202
Chapter 203
Chapter 204
Chapter 205
Chapter 206
Chapter 207
Chapter 208
Chapter 209
Chapter 210
Chapter 211
Chapter 212
Chapter 213
Chapter 214
Chapter 215
Chapter 216
Chapter 217
Chapter 218
Chapter 219
Chapter 220
Chapter 221
Chapter 222
Chapter 223
Chapter 224
Chapter 225
Chapter 226
Chapter 227
Chapter 228
Chapter 229
Chapter 230
Chapter 231
Chapter 232
Chapter 233
Chapter 234
Chapter 235
Chapter 236
Chapter 237
Chapter 238
Chapter 239
Chapter 240
Chapter 241
Chapter 242
Chapter 243
Chapter 244
Chapter 245
Chapter 246
Chapter 247
Chapter 248
Chapter 249
Chapter 250
Chapter 251
Chapter 252
Chapter 253
Chapter 254
Chapter 255
Chapter 256
Chapter 257
Chapter 258
Chapter 259
Chapter 260
Chapter 261
Chapter 262
Chapter 263
Chapter 264
Chapter 265
Chapter 266
Chapter 267
Chapter 268
Chapter 269
Chapter 270
Chapter 271
Chapter 272
Chapter 273
Chapter 274
Chapter 275
Chapter 276
Chapter 277
Chapter 278
Chapter 279
Chapter 280
Chapter 281
Chapter 282
Chapter 283
Chapter 284
Chapter 285
Chapter 286
Chapter 287
Chapter 288
Chapter 289
Chapter 290
Chapter 291
Chapter 292
Chapter 293
Chapter 294
Chapter 295
Chapter 296
Chapter 297
Chapter 298
Chapter 299
Chapter 300
Chapter 301
Chapter 302
Chapter 303
Chapter 304
Chapter 305
Chapter 306
Chapter 307
Chapter 308
Chapter 309
Chapter 310
Chapter 311
Chapter 312
Chapter 313
Chapter 314
Chapter 315
Chapter 316
Chapter 317
Chapter 318
Chapter 319
Chapter 320
Chapter 321
Chapter 322
Chapter 323
Chapter 324
Chapter 325
Chapter 326
Chapter 327
Chapter 328
Chapter 329
Chapter 330
Chapter 331
Chapter 332
Chapter 333
Chapter 334
Chapter 335
Chapter 336
Chapter 337
Chapter 338
Chapter 339
Chapter 340
Chapter 341
Chapter 342
Chapter 343
Chapter 344
Chapter 345
Chapter 346
Chapter 347
Chapter 348
Chapter 349
Chapter 350
Chapter 351
Chapter 352 (End)
Categories Genre: Action, All, Completed, Fantasy, Seinen Status: Completed ______
Total Chapters in book: 352
Estimated words: 706132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3531(@200wpm)___ 2825(@250wpm)___ 2354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 706132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3531(@200wpm)___ 2825(@250wpm)___ 2354(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 352 Page No. 351 Page No. 350 Page No. 349 Page No. 348 Page No. 347 Page No. 346 Page No. 345 Page No. 344 Page No. 343 Page No. 342 Chapter 86
Chapter 86: Chapter 86
Translated by: ShawnSuh
Edited by: SootyOwl
While driving, Ho Sung checked his status window.
[Name: Ho Sung Lee]
[Level: 871]
[Title: Head of the Diamond Clan]
[Property: Metal]
[Luck: N/A]
[Pet: N/A]
[HP: 3247]
[MP: 1221]
The explosive growth felt extremely surreal. It was as if a stock he had invested in have skyrocketed overnight. However, joy was far from what Ho Sung was feeling. If anything, the surreal level at which he found himself reminded him that levels were just mere numbers, and that they held no significance whatsoever when it came to his journey with the champion.
The reality was that the stronger Ho Sung became, the more his chances of getting killed in action increased, making him far more vulnerable to danger than ordinary thugs.
‘I better go to a psychologist one of these days,’ Ho Sung thought. At that moment, his car came to an abrupt, loud, screeching stop in front of Min Sung’s house.
“We’re here, sir.”
“Ho Sung Lee.”
“Sir?” Ho Sung replied, looking toward the champion, who handed him a card and said, “I’m gonna take a shower. Go get me something to eat.”
“… You mean now?”
“Yes, now,” Min Sung said, glaring fiercely at Ho Sung. At which point, Ho Sung dropped his gaze.
Looking at the champion getting out of the car and walking into his home, Ho Sung stuck a cigarette in his mouth. Then, he stared outside with troubled, wary eyes and muttered, “Sigh… I could use a break.”
Tossing the cigarette butt out of the window, Ho Sung drove off in search of food.
—
Despite knocking on the door a number of times, there was no response coming from within the restaurant. Breathing a heavy sigh, Ho Sung got in his car. There was not a single restaurant that was open for business in the area.
‘This is not good,’ Ho Sung thought, taking his phone out of his pocket in order to call restaurants nearby. It wasn’t until he was about forty phone calls in that someone finally answered.
“Hello?”
When he heard a voice coming from the other end of the receiver, Ho Sung nearly jumped from his seat, where he was sitting wearily.
“Yes, hello. Are you guys open?”
“No, not exactly…”
“Oh…” Ho Sung let out, deeply disappointed.
“… But, we can work something out if you’re in a bind. I know it’s dangerous to be out these days, but do you think you can come to the restaurant in person?”
Hearing that, Ho Sung’s face lit up. He replied, “Of course, I can! I’ll be right there!” Looking at his watch, he added, “Twenty. I’ll be there in about twenty.”
“All right. You be safe now.”
As the call came to an end, Ho Sung clenched his hand into a tight fist.
‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way!’
Thinking that he’d get his well-deserved break after delivering the food to the champion, Ho Sung drove the car with a smile on his face.
—
When showering in hot water, Min Sung was often reminded of just how big of a blessing it was to be alive. Contrary to the Demonic Realm, where every waking moment had been a living hell, his life on Earth had enabled him to be grateful for even the smallest things in life.
‘Better to be alive and miserable above ground than to die below,’ Min Sung thought.
After the hot, refreshing shower, Min Sung made himself a cup of iced Americano and sat on the couch. Upon taking a sip of his iced coffee, the champion felt the caffeine spread throughout his body. However, as thirst-quenching as it was, it did little to satisfy his hunger. Waiting for Ho Sung, Min Sung turned on the TV. Every channel showed news on the Central Institute clearing the labyrinth, while the citizenry remained traumatized from the monster attack in spite of the Institute’s success. While the citizens’ response was understandable, it wasn’t a subject of interest for the champion. Then, while he was flipping through the channels, Min Sung finally came across a show that had nothing to do with the recent event.
It was a cooking competition show, where a number of world-class chefs competed against each other within a short time limit. Since the competitors needed to complete their dishes in fifteen minutes, the tension was immense, and the intensity with which the chefs worked gave the champion the impression that he was watching a movie. The dishes made by gourmet chefs were enticing in every sense, commanding the champion’s attention.
—
When he arrived at Min Sung’s house, Ho Sung looked at the plastic bag of food on the passenger’s seat.
‘I got lucky,’ he thought, smiling. As far as he was concerned, failing to bring the champion food and getting the beating of his life because of that was no longer an issue.
‘Oh, he will like this,’ he thought, excited to see the satisfied look on the champion’s face. However, his face fell as a certain thought entered his mind, ‘Man! Why am I getting all excited? Damn… I might as well find him a personal chef or something…’ he grumbled. Then, a smile appeared on his face as another thought struck him, ‘… wait a minute!’
There was a way to escape the grasp from hell that was Min Sung Kang.
“Yeah…! That’s it! Ho Sung Lee, you’re a genius!” Ho Sung said to himself, rubbing his face and patting his own shoulders. Suppressing his laughter, he got out of the car.
—
By the time the show was coming to an end, Ho Sung arrived in front of the champion’s house.
“That was sooner than I thought,” he said as he rose from the couch.
“Yep. I got lucky,” Ho Sung replied.
“Stay and eat.”
When the champion unexpectedly suggested that, Ho Sung’s eyes widened.
While Ho Sung stood in a daze, Min Sung made his way to the kitchen. When he sat at the table, Ho Sung put the bag of food down and unwrapped the contents, revealing the riveting, golden-brown glory. It was jokbal: braised and chilled pork hock.
After that, a series of fresh vegetables and condiments followed. By that point, Min Sung felt as though his stomach was screaming for food. Rubbing his lower belly, the champion took a deep, slow breath. Reminding himself that it was not good to eat too fast, Min Sung decided to savor every last bit of the dish.
“Better go wash my hands,” Min Sung said, making his way to the sink while Ho Sung was peeling away the wrappers. When the champion returned to his seat, the table was completely set. Opening a bottle of soju, Ho Sung filled Min Sung’s glass to the brim and took a seat.
“What a productive day, am I right!? Hunting down monsters roaming about the city, driving those arrogant Americans away, clearing the labyrinth…” Ho Sung said with a genuine smile on his face.
“Good work today. Take care of the loot and send me the money when the Sun comes up. I expect every bit of change from it. I don’t have to remind you what would happen to you if you tried to take some of it, do I?”
“Yeah, yeah. Off goes my head. Right?” Ho Sung said, clinking his shot glass against the champion’s. After that, the two poured the clear liquid into their mouths simultaneously. When Min Sung put the glass down, Ho Sung handed him a pair of wooden chopsticks. Taking them from Ho Sung’s hand, Min Sung looked down at the jokbal on the table. The thick slices of glistening skin and fat attached to the lean meat made him feel as though he had poured oil down his throat.
‘Oh, how I’ve been waiting for this moment,’ the champion thought. Meanwhile, Ho Sung watched Min Sung quietly, waiting for him to have his first bite. Amid the silence, Min Sung’s chopsticks made their way toward the slices of pork. After picking up a slice, Min Sung dipped it in soy sauce and brought it up to his mouth.
“…!”
The second his teeth sank into the tender piece of pork, Min Sung couldn’t resist the shock. With a dazed look on his face, Min Sung looked down at the bed of pork filling the styrofoam dish and asked, “How can pork be this tender?”
Braised long and slowly, the pork was unbelievably tender. The skin, in particular, had a gratifying chew to it, and it almost felt like it was made of sticky rice.
“I was lucky enough to find a restaurant that was known for its jokbal,” Ho Sung said with a confident smile, and Min Sung nodded affirmatively. The restaurant’s reputation was a well-deserved one, as the dish it was known for was bursting with flavor and deeply satisfying.
‘Who would’ve thought I’d be this impressed by some pork hock?’ Min Sung said to himself, chuckling. Picking up a perilla leaf, he placed a slice of pork, pickled shrimplets, and a slice of garlic on it.
“Why aren’t you eating?” he asked, giving Ho Sung a puzzled look.
To which, Ho Sung smiled and replied, “Don’t get me wrong, but I feel full just looking at that satisfied look on your face.”
“Well, do me a favor and do something about that smile of yours. It’s killing my appetite.”
“Right. So, uh… sir?”
“What?” Min Sung asked with a mouthful of the perilla-leaf-pork concoction.
“I’ve been thinking… You know how the terrorist attacks have been getting more frequent and the monsters are becoming more and more unpredictable?”
“And?”
“And that means the restaurants might close down more often. So, on that note, I was wondering what your thoughts were on hiring a personal chef?”
Chewing by the mouthful, the champion immersed himself in brief thought. Soon, he nodded and said, “Not bad. No, that’s an excellent idea.”
From time to time, Ho Sung was capable of scratching where it itched.
“Right!? I’ll look into it, then!” Ho Sung said with excitement.
“Good.”
“Then, uh… sir? Would you mind if I turn in for today? I really need to shower…”
“Go ahead. I’ll be expecting a chef by lunchtime.”
“You mean today?”
“Yes.”
With sunken eyes, Ho Sung looked at his watch and replied, “But it’s five in the morning! Are you telling me to bring you a chef by lunchtime?!”
“Precisely. Do you have a problem with it?” Min Sung asked, staring piercingly at Ho Sung while waiting for a reply. Looking at him, Ho Sung, who was pale by that point, smiled and said, “Of-of course not! I’ll be glad to be of help in any way possible, even if it means running around barefooted.”
“Good. Go on,” Min Sung said, still chewing by the mouthful while nodding with satisfaction.
“Sir,” Ho Sung replied, rising from his seat slowly and bowing to the champion. “Well, enjoy your meal, sir,” he added, and the champion, preoccupied with eating, responded with a haphazard wave.
While the pork hocks were delectable on their own, the best way to enjoy the dish was to wrap them in the leafy vegetables along with some condiments. After placing a perilla leaf on a lettuce leaf, Min Sung put a slice of jokbal, a dollop of pickled shrimplets, onions pickled in soy sauce, a slice of garlic, and a slice of hot pepper on the lettuce and wrapped it all into a ball. Then, after downing a shot of soju, he brought the concoction up to his mouth. Tasting the parade of flavors, the champion squeezed his eyes shut.
‘This is one of the best things I’ve eaten.’
The intense saltiness of the pickled shrimplets, the bitterness of the garlic, and the fiery heat of the pepper filled his mouth like fireworks as his teeth sank into the leaves of lettuce and perilla.
“Phenomenal,” Min Sung said to himself, savoring the flavors and aromas in the comfort of his quiet living room.
Total Chapters in book: 352
Estimated words: 706132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3531(@200wpm)___ 2825(@250wpm)___ 2354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 706132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3531(@200wpm)___ 2825(@250wpm)___ 2354(@300wpm)
______