"Hey, you son of a bitch. Can't you drive straight?"

Kim Hyunwoo kicked the driver's seat and yelled.

"Sorry."

Kim Yunwoo, taciturn, replied briefly. His father worked as an executive in SG's Hunter Development Department. He was basically a scholar and a developer. A person who had risen to a high position due to his abilities. However, as someone from a poor background, his position within the large corporation was predetermined. Kim Yunwoo knew that his father's fate within the company depended on how he behaved. His father didn't know that he was living like a slave to Kim Hyunwoo. If he found out, he would quit his job. Kim Yunwoo knew that if his father was fired from SG, he would have nowhere to go. He would surely retaliate, and there would be no place in Korea where he could work in the same capacity.

"You went really far. What's the reason for going all the way to that countryside?"

Lee Cheol, one of the gang members, said. His father was a lawyer at a large law firm, and he was a B-rank buffer.

"What other reason could there be? He's scared. I hear he's been completely marked. He may think he's gone to a safe place, but it's become a good place to quietly disappear. News of his death will come out soon, right?"

That was Lee Tae Woo. His father was a real estate tycoon, and he was a B-rank damage dealer.

"Should we just kill him while we're at it? Who knows? Maybe we won't get demerits. Hahaha!"

Nam Seongchil. His mother was the CEO of an entertainment agency. He was a B-rank ranged damage dealer.

"We just need to bring Yeonseo. We don't care what happens to the others. Let's go have some fun for a few days while we're there. I heard Kim Somi is there too? She's gotten older, but she's still damn pretty."

"Oh! Really?"

"Good thing we came~"

"I suddenly need to pee after thinking dirty thoughts. Hey! Pull over!"

Kim Yunwoo pulled the car over to the side of the road. Hearing their conversation made my teeth clench. I might be participating in something irreversible. Kim Hyunwoo, sensing his anxiety, spoke.

"Yunwoo~ You know I like you, right? If you report this or run away to live on your own, I'll kill you?"

“…”

"Why? Going to pick berries?"

Kim Somi asked, seeing me go outside.

"No. A guest is coming, so I'm going to greet them."

"Guest? Are the enemies attacking again?"

"It's not quite enemies, it's just some kids."

"Kids? What are you talking about?"

"Don't worry about it, Somi. I'll pick some berries on my way back."

"No, what are you talking about! How can I not worry!"

I went outside. Kim Yeonseo was playing with the wolves again. But Food Fighter was curled up with a gloomy expression. I thought I knew why.

"Hungry?"

"K-k-k-k…"

"Let's go get some berries. You've developed expensive tastes."

"Going to pick berries?"

Kim Yeonseo asked. I thought for a moment and replied.

"Yeonseo, stay home."

"Why?"

"It might rain."

"Oh! Really?"

Kim Yeonseo looked up at the clear sky. There was no sign of rain at all.

"Can I take the animals inside too?"

"Yes, wipe the dirt off their paws so they don't leave tracks."

"Yes~~"

I got on Food Fighter's back. It spread its wings and excitedly took off. As we flew toward the dungeon where the manaberry trees were, I looked down at the landscape. I couldn't see any cars yet.

‘This is really troublesome.’

They came all this way to find Yeonseo. I knew Kim Hyunwoo well. I wasn't interested in his gang activities, but having taught him personally, I knew he was a talented hunter.

‘When someone incompetent gets power, they do things like this.’

Even though he liked Kim Yeonseo, I couldn't understand how he'd even think of bringing his gang here. Even though I had taught many students for years, it was difficult to understand people's hearts.

‘Good.’

Kim Hyunwoo's background. It was the SG corporation. I couldn't believe how shameless he was from the moment he entered the academy. He probably still thinks he became S-rank because he was talented.

Thinking about Kim Hyunwoo, I suddenly remembered another male student. One of the punks Kim Hyunwoo dragged around, a student I had liked somewhat.

‘Such a waste of talent.’

In fact, he had even better talent than Kim Hyunwoo. Moreover, his build matched his ability, making him even more striking.

‘He could have easily become S-rank.’

He could have become S-rank before Kim Hyunwoo. But he wasn't proactive in developing his abilities. Upon observation, a ridiculous reason was hidden behind it. He didn't want to provoke Kim Hyunwoo unnecessarily. I found out that his father worked at SG. He was a capable executive, but he was no match for Kim Hyunwoo, the chairman's relative.

‘Knowing that, he used him as his slave.’

Various thoughts raced through my mind as we arrived at the dungeon. Saliva was already dripping from Food Fighter's beak, eager to eat berries.

"Can't you eat anything else?"

It was a gluttonous creature, but it might also be a gourmand. While Semo and the other wolves were surviving well, this guy was starving. There might have been a lack of food in the area, but it didn't seem to want to eat just anything, even if it meant starving to death. Seeing it instinctively come to this dungeon, it seemed to potentially know that manaberry fruits would grow here.

"Gurg! Gurg!"

I spoke to the creature, whose eyes were shining with saliva dripping from its beak.

"Alright, go eat."

"Creak!"

Food Fighter happily dashed into the dungeon upon my permission.

While Food Fighter filled its belly, I picked the necessary amount of manaberries and put more experience points into the corpses to ensure the same amount of berries grew again. Then I noticed something odd on the ground.

Something was wriggling under the corpse. I looked under the lower part of the corpse, which now looked more like tree roots than a human, and saw countless small, black insects swarming.

"Creak!!"

Suddenly, Food Fighter made a joyful sound and quickly rushed over, burying its head and beginning to devour the insects.

Watching it chew the insects made me speechless.

"Weren't you a gourmand?"

Eating insects that came out from under a corpse. I realized I had misunderstood it for a moment.

[Manaberry Tree Insect]: An insect that lives under the manaberry tree and sucks the nutrients from the roots. Consumption increases poison resistance, allowing recovery from severe poisoning symptoms. Also good for bone and joint health.

‘What is this…'

Following the manaberry tree and the awakened creatures, something new appeared. They seemed to have emerged from the fruits of the manaberry tree. According to the description, eating them increased poison resistance. Since it also alleviated poisoning symptoms, it seemed to have various effects in that area.

‘Bones and joints…’

Hunters are stronger than ordinary people, but they aren't invincible. Moreover, since they hunt monsters in dungeons and treat their bodies roughly, they could be said to bear a much harsher burden chronically. The basis of a hunter's abilities is mana. But to use that mana well, a strong body is necessary. That's why hunters seek so many health foods and supplements, caring for their bodies.

‘If this is true…’

Following the manaberries, another potential hit product had appeared.

‘Let's collect some.’

I collected several insects that had crawled out from under Food Fighter's beak and put them in my inventory. If I give them to Kim Kyeongsu, he'll research them and tell me the results.

‘I don’t think this is all there is.’

I felt that the growth of this small insect wouldn't end there. So, even though the fruits were already abundantly growing, I put even more experience points into the corpses. If the roots of the manaberry tree are nutrients, then this experience would ultimately become food for the insects. I decided to see what would happen.

"Stop eating. Let's go."

"Creak!"

Food Fighter, having feasted on manaberries and manaberry insects, had a very happy expression. The insect juices on its beak looked quite messy. But seeing how delicious the fruits from the trees growing from the corpses were, these insects might also be surprisingly fresh and tasty. Well, I have no intention of trying them.

I took Food Fighter out of the dungeon. I had heard that Kim Hyunwoo was coming here with his gang, but I wasn't sure when they left. But considering the time I spent concentrating on equipment production without receiving Lee Seunghee's call, it wasn't something I could take lightly.

"You've eaten, so let's exercise now."

Food Fighter, understanding what I meant, lowered its body and offered its back. I climbed onto its back.

"Watch carefully who's coming. Let's go there."

"Creak!"

Food Fighter soared into the sky, seeming to survey the surroundings. It suddenly set its course in one direction and flew rapidly. I couldn't see anything yet. The wind in my ears drowned out the sound of cars. But after flying for a while, I finally saw the intruders.

A luxury van was climbing up the mountain road.

Who was inside was obvious.

"Food Fighter! You can use ‘Stiffness Wave’, right? Show me."

"Creak!"

Food Fighter braked sharply, spreading its wings wide to the front. It opened its beak, and the air in front of it began to vibrate strangely.

Zzzzing-!

The only sound I could hear was the zzzzzing of the air. It seemed like a powerful ability, and suddenly, the car, which had been powerfully climbing the mountain road, stopped abruptly. It shook, then flipped over and rolled down the slope.

"Oh!"

Several men crawled out of the overturned car.

"Ugh! What is this!?"

"Damn it! Who did this!?"

Seeing the men crawling out with pained expressions, covering their ears, I recognized each of their faces. Definitely the punks who hung around Kim Hyunwoo. Sure enough, a moment later, bang! The door flew open, and Kim Hyunwoo emerged.

"Aaargh!!"

He covered his ears with both hands, screaming in apparent agony. He didn't seem to have suffered any significant impact from the fall, as he was S-rank.

His gaze shot upward.

He discovered Food Fighter, and me riding on its back. At first, he blinked as if he couldn't believe what he saw. Then, realizing that it was this eagle that shot the waves that tormented them, he spread his arms wide. A blazing fireball erupted from his hands.