Chapter 52 : When the Abyss Trembles

The number of people to be selected through the Stinger test was 10.

It didn’t take long to fill all those spots.

All the A-rank Explorers, including Amanda Park, Kang Taegun, and Seong Jihoo, made it into the ranking.

However, Kang Taegun declined the Stinger test, saying that the role where he could best demonstrate his physical strength was as a puller.

Soon after, the rest of the explorers arrived.

Tamyeonmajeo reached the Seventh Island.

“Those people over there are explorers, and those are Cheonghwa staff.”

“The assembly is incredibly fast.”

This was the conversation between Jang Dojin and Seong Jihoo.

Jang Dojin was now 20 years old, and Seong Jihoo was 16, a four-year difference.

Whether that was a little or a lot, the two quickly became close.

Jang Dojin was Yuseong’s subordinate, with a straightforward personality, and Seong Jihoo was a boy who admired Yuseong.

Their personalities just clicked.

“Those guys are from Proni, too.”

“Hmm, definitely.”

It was unclear how the Explorer Association was formed, but they had brought a massive vessel.

It carried all the materials needed to assemble the Taegong Net, and a Gift user who could control the wind was pulling the ship.

As soon as they arrived at the Seventh Island, they began assembling the Taegong Net.

Assistant Park, a researcher and Awakened, was inspecting the area, moving here and there.

Before long, the long silver metal rods had taken shape.

They would unlock the handles attached to the rods and, holding onto them as a group, haul the Serpent up.

Experts from Cheonghwa and the Explorer Association repeatedly discussed the Serpent’s anticipated time and location of appearance.

“No issues with the compartment, and the waves are calm, so installation should be fine.”

“Activate the radar. The Serpent might appear earlier than expected.”

The explorers themselves checked their weapons, a slight tension hanging in the air.

Of course, there were those who remained relaxed.

The confident A-rank explorers were among them.

Beyond calmness, one person was completely absorbed in something else.

That was Yuseong.

He was checking the barbecue grill he had made using three oversized drums, going back and forth inspecting it.

“That guy said from the start to bring the materials using the drums.”

“So he planned to make barbecue right from the beginning?”

“Exactly. Sometimes, I wonder how far his plans actually go.”

Regardless of what others said, Yuseong was focused on making the barbecue.

The barbecue grill made from drums was very simple.

He made a stand and laid three clean drums sideways on it.

Since the drums were not used to store oil but to carry materials, there was no lingering smell.

He sawed open the lid of a drum and put in long strips of wood and solid fuel.

After lighting it weakly, he placed whole pork ribs, evenly coated with seasoning, inside.

From then on, it was time to wait.

Barbecue is not cooked by direct flame but through indirect heat over a long time.

That didn’t mean it could be left unattended.

He had to open the lid occasionally to regulate the heat and reapply the seasoning to keep the ribs moist.

“Let’s see how it’s going.”

Several hours had passed as the ribs slowly cooked.

Yuseong opened the lid of the drum grill with his gauntleted hand.

Smoke billowed out.

The pungent smoke filled the air, and the glistening ribs appeared.

“Tsk.”

Yuseong swallowed the saliva that had unconsciously gathered in his mouth.

“Can it really turn out this good?”

Even for Yuseong, this was his first time making barbecue in such a large quantity.

Besides, barbecue was never easy to make.

The method Yuseong used was Texas-style barbecue.

Specifically, pork ribs coated with a sweet and spicy seasoning.

Meat from the Metal Pig had a perfect balance of fat and lean, with marbling like beef.

Just a slight bite would make it tender and juicy.

Since it was almost done, he had to apply the seasoning one more time.

Barbecue sauce is best made by adding a few special ingredients to a store-bought base.

At the food storage of the Phoebus Hotel they had visited earlier, Yuseong found a commercial barbecue sauce.

To the tangy and sweet sauce, he added spiciness.

He smashed garlic and mixed in plenty of chili powder and black pepper.

A little soy sauce was added for a saltier taste, creating a perfectly balanced flavor.

Using a Yoriyong Bot, Yuseong evenly spread the sauce over three racks of ribs.

It was time to check if they were cooked through.

He picked up a rib with tongs and gently pulled.

Crunch.

The outside was perfectly browned, but the inside was incredibly tender.

So tender that the meat fell off the bone easily.

Juices glistened and dripped.

“Oh my…”

Amanda Park, watching nearby, drooled.

When she heard Yuseong was making barbecue—Texas-style barbecue at that—her eyes lit up.

From then on, she kept watching Yuseong’s cooking process as if mesmerized.

“That’s exactly the barbecue Daddy used to make.”

“Your father must have been wealthy.”

“Our family ran a famous timber company. Mom is Korean, so we came here.”

Amanda Park’s background was quite the talk of the past.

It turned out she just came to Korea following her single mother.

When it came to barbecue, Texas was the first thing that came to mind.

She chatted excitedly, reminiscing about the last barbecue she had for her birthday ten years ago.

“I’ll buy it all, so don’t sell it to anyone else but me.”

“That must be expensive.”

“Don’t worry, I’m very rich.”

She talked with such conviction.

“Still, I can’t let that happen.”

“Why not?”

“Because food isn’t made just for money.”

“I guess Yuseong’s got a bit of an artisan side, huh?”

Not exactly, but since it maximized the effect of Tamyeonmajeo, Yuseong nodded vaguely.

“Dojin.”

“Yes!”

Just calling his name was enough for Jang Dojin to understand Yuseong’s intent perfectly.

He promptly stuck a pet sign in front of the grill.

‘Authentic Texas Barbecue Pork Ribs.

Guaranteed delicious taste.

Consuming grants increased physical and magical strength, one serving equals a Grade 5 Magic Stone or 800,000 won.’

That was what the sign said.

In truth, all the other explorers were also watching Yuseong’s work with interest.

They couldn’t help but be curious while the delicious aroma filled the air.

Yuseong was famous for hunting monsters and eating their meat, so many were eager to try it if they had the chance.

But reactions regarding the price weren’t great.

“Isn’t this too much?”

Someone read the sign aloud and said so.

“I don’t know, but increasing strength and magic just by eating? This isn’t a potion.”

That was the most absurd thing.

Potions that increase magic or stats were extremely rare even inside the Abyss.

But this was the first time anyone had heard that food made from monster meat could raise ability points.

Usually, monsters were considered dangerous because of their toxins.

“And 800,000 won? Grade 5 Magic Stone? With that money, I could buy hundreds of Energy Bars.”

One grumbling explorer took an Energy Bar out of his backpack and stuffed it in his mouth.

He was the only one openly complaining, but many felt the same.

They wanted to try Yuseong’s barbecue but weren’t willing to spend 800,000 KRW just out of curiosity.

“800,000 KRW… That’s not just for Energy Bars. You could even book a package overseas trip to Southeast Asia for that. Just for barbecue…”

Moreover, in this atmosphere, no one wanted to be the first to buy.

Someone lightly grabbed the complaining explorer’s shoulder.

“I heard there’s always someone called an ‘Energy Bar Junkie’ wherever you go. It’s amusing.”

“What’s that?”

An ‘Energy Bar Junkie’ is a person who enjoys complaining about how many Energy Bars they could buy for the price.

Apparently, in the past, there was a similar term called ‘Soup Junkie.’

The grumbling explorer’s eyes went wide at the insult, but once he recognized the speaker, he lowered them quickly.

“Judging something without experience is the most foolish thing you can do.”

The person who patted his shoulder was none other than Iron Fist Kang Taegun, the most seasoned among them.

“Will you give me one serving?”

He handed a Magic Stone to Yuseong.

Yuseong smiled slightly, took out a plate, and served the ribs.

It wasn’t just ribs.

He had also grilled Parama Camellia roots obtained from the ninth floor. In other words, potatoes.

A little butter was added, melting softly and giving off a savory aroma.

Swallow.

Kang Taegun’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

“This is amazing. I haven’t had proper food since middle school. How do I eat this?”

“Hold the meat by the bone and pull it off to eat. Use a spoon for the potatoes.”

Kang Taegun knew Yuseong’s Gift was a culinary one.

Yet, his boldness to step forward was due to his generous personality.

Next was Seong Jihoo.

“I-I want to try it, too.”

“Sure.”

Yuseong gave Seong Jihoo a plate as well.

When Jihoo reached for the Magic Stone, Yuseong stopped him.

“It’s already covered.”

Seong Jihoo had just handed over a Metal Pig as payment.

Yuseong could let that cover the cost of the meal.

Jihoo smiled happily as he accepted the plate.

Then came Amanda Park.

“I was going to eat first.”

She said that, handing over her entire leather pouch.

Yuseong opened the pouch.

“It’s all yours.”

Inside was a handful of shining Magic Stones.

And not just Grade 5 Magic Stones worth around 1,000,000 won, but a collection of Grade 7 or higher stones.

“I said, not all of it.”

Yuseong took out only one stone, probably Grade 7 or 8, but gave enough meat to feed three people.

“Give me the tastiest part.”

“That’s mine.”

“Cheapskate.”

She demanded the best cut, but naturally, that belonged to Yuseong.

Amanda’s dissatisfaction vanished the moment she received the plate.

Yuseong, Jang Dojin, and the three A-rank explorers held their plates of ribs.

Especially Amanda Park grabbed a rib with her bare hands.

Normally, she cared about appearances, but when it came to ribs, you had to eat with your hands.

“Wow…”

She marveled at the visuals.

How did Yuseong, born in an era where Korean cuisine was disappearing and so far from Texas, create such perfect barbecue?

Though the outside looked slightly charred, those who knew barbecue would recognize it as authentic.

“Well then, let’s eat.”

Dipping the meat in sauce on the side of the plate, she took a big bite.

Contrary to the firm-looking exterior, the ribs were tender enough to fall apart.

The meat fibers collapsed, and the savory flavor of fat burst forth.

It was all thanks to the slow cooking while repeatedly applying the seasoning.

“Hmm, mmm.”

Amanda Park even shed tears from the warm flavor of the ribs.

The smoky aroma and the tangy-sweet sauce were exactly like the taste she remembered from childhood.

No, it was even better.

” it’s really good!”

She praised Yuseong’s cooking, switching between English and Korean.

Not just her, the others were equally amazed by the barbecue’s taste.

The surrounding explorers licked their lips.

The more delicious it was, the more curious they became about the barbecue.

But the true effect of Tamyeonmajeo now began to show.

“Oh.”

“My magic…!”

Seong Jihoo and Kang Taegun were suddenly surprised by the surge in their magic power.

“Magic and physical strength…”

Kang Taegun clenched his fist and repeated himself.

Yuseong’s pet sign hadn’t lied.

Their magic and physical strength really had increased.

Not only did they receive the message, but the growth was tangible.

“800,000 won… was a bargain.”

That was what came to mind.

In reality, there’s no way to increase ability points other than special Gifts or achievements.

They finally realized how powerful Yuseong’s ability truly was.

Putting aside his pride, Kang Taegun asked Yuseong.

“Can you give me, no, three more servings?”

“Hmm, well, that’s fine. If no one else buys them, then I guess I have to sell them.”

Yuseong replied to Kang Taegun’s suggestion.

The explorers who had only been watching finally realized the urgency of the situation.

“I want to buy some too!”

“Sell to us as well, I won’t pay extra.”

As several people stepped forward, a competition soon began.

The amount of barbecue Yuseong had made was limited, and explorers were people who would pay any price to increase their stats.

In the end, all the explorers, including those who had criticized Yuseong’s cooking, purchased his ribs.

The only one who missed out was the explorer who had complained about Energy Bars earlier.

Those who tasted the ribs shivered with the shock of eating real food, not just an Energy Bar.

Leaving aside the stat boosts, the taste itself was overwhelmingly shocking.

“What is this…”

“All the Energy Bars I’ve eaten until now were garbage.”

The positive reactions made Yuseong smile wryly.

It was so different from before he reincarnated.

Back then, he was too busy eating alone to even think about sharing food with others.

Not to mention, no one wanted to try food made from monster meat, even if it was toxin-free.

But now, the proud explorers were all rushing to eat Yuseong’s cooking.

And it was thanks to his Gift, Tamyeonmajeo.

Because he fed multiple people, including high-level explorers, an unheard-of message appeared.

[Cheongseong-idamgin Barbecue!]

[Moved many people at once.]

[Conditions achieved.]

[New effect of Tamyeonmajeo unlocked.]

[You can store buffs for party members…]

“Oh…”

Yuseong was impressed by the message.

He hadn’t expected it, but with this, the Serpent Subjugation would become a little easier.

At that moment, everyone was happily devouring the ribs.

Assistant Park from Cheonghwa suddenly shouted urgently.

“Caught something on the radar!”

A monstrous creature caught on the radar.

“It’s a Serpent, a Serpent!”

The Serpent had appeared.