Chapter 51 : Grilled Orc Pork Belly Wrapped in Dungeon Cabbage, Part 3 - Success

How would it matter whether I acted rashly this way or that way?

What's done is done.

What's brought is brought.

The one sent off to buy meat has instead brought back some green pig-like human.

Grandma's heart feels like it's burning up.

Yeonseo was beginning to think that Shia might actually be stronger than herself, an S-rank Hunter, possibly humanity's mightiest.

She even considered that Shia might one day become the new beacon of hope for hunters and the guardian of humanity, following her retirement.

But this same Shia got her meat stolen by orcs?

And her solution was to bring the orcs back whole?

Not only was it absurd, but there was no way to get angry at her.

With that radiant smile on her face, she laughed like a child at the thought of eating orc meat soon—how could anyone be mad at such a face?

"…So, you're saying you brought these orcs because they stole your meat as revenge?"

"Yes! Oh, no, no… Revenge? Saints don't seek revenge, Yeonseo Unnie."

What nonsense is this now?

"So, the orcs lying dead with their necks snapped in front of me weren't killed out of revenge?"

"They were killed by the Meat Fairy, who came to avenge the meat! Isn't that right, guys?"

– Real LOL.

– Just type LOL already, haha.

– ElmyungOn.

– This crazy girl doesn't stop even in front of Yeonseo-nim.

– They must be close, LOL.

– Acting like this in front of Yeonseo-nim… That's rare.

The audience's toxic comments filled the chat window as Shia shrugged her shoulders as if to say, "See? I'm right."

"In my 86 years of life, I've never met anyone who embodies the word 'nonsense' so perfectly…"

She's clearly a good kid… A genuinely good, real saintly younger sister. But why is she like this?

Is it because of the broadcast?

Saint-like.

Kind.

Beautiful.

Strong.

But why does someone with such qualities act so ridiculously…?

"Haah, okay, Shia. Let's say it's fine you brought the orcs. They're known as delicious meat in the Association, so if we grill them, they'll probably taste great."

"Right?"

Shia nodded confidently, as if expecting Yeonseo to agree with her.

Shia's smug smile, which somehow managed to grate on one's nerves, was accompanied by the swaying of her massive holy power reservoir in her chest.

"But Shia, while I agree orc meat is tasty… what are you planning to do with that now?"

"Eh? Of course, we're going to butcher it."

"Do you know how to butcher it? Are you a butcher?"

"…Wait, Yeonseo Unnie doesn't know how?"

Ah, I see.

She just brought it without any thought.

"I've split monsters into multiple pieces before, but I've never butchered them by cuts…"

"Uh…"

Shia's face showed a clear panic.

"Oh no… What do we do!?"

Seeing this, Yeonseo couldn't help but sigh for the umpteenth time that day.

– LOL.

– Did the streamer go to Yeonseo-nim without any plan?

– I thought she had some grand scheme.

– Haha.

– More nonsense today?

– No plan as usual?

Still, when Yeonseo heard Shia's explanation, she could somewhat understand.

Aside from her Devourer Curse, Shia already had a massive appetite. She practically cleared out every butcher shop in Jeongseon and spent 2 million won on meat.

When that much meat got stolen unexpectedly, it was probably too awkward to go back to Jeongseon to buy more.

Above all, as a Returnee, Shia was likely too curious about how orc meat would taste to resist.

During the Bureau's ethics review, Yeonseo had thought of her as a kind and patient girl. Who knew she would become such a mess when it came to food?

'Fine, fine… Let's understand her. She's broadcasting, so maybe this ridiculous behavior is just a concept for the viewers… Besides, Shia's insatiable appetite isn't her fault… Right…?'

Yeonseo sincerely hoped this nonsensical behavior of Shia was just part of her broadcast persona.

After spending more than 60 years struggling in the previous world, to have her legacy in the modern world reduced to "The Nonsense Saintess"… That would be too sad.

"Haah, alright, Shia. This grandma—no, this Unnie—will try to help you somehow."

"No take-backs, okay?!"

The way Shia's expression changed instantly at Yeonseo's words… This girl wasn't a saint; she was a sly fox.

"First, since it looks really filthy…"

[Miracle – Purification]

Shia's radiant white holy power enveloped the two orc bodies, instantly washing away all the impurities on them.

Yeonseo realized something surprising: Orcs weren't actually green but a pale flesh color.

– What's this? Why did their color change?

– According to the wiki, orcs turn green because they never bathe, and layers of grime and waste accumulate on their skin.

– Eh?

– LOL.

– Then the orc skin I ate a few days ago was green?

– That means it wasn't sanitized properly, LOL.

The truth was, Shia's Purification was an overpowered miracle capable of eradicating anything designated as filth, including waste, bacteria, and grime, which is why the orcs' skin color changed.

"Now it's Yeonseo Unnie's turn!"

Seeing Shia's expectant, sparkling eyes, Yeonseo sighed once more and snapped her fingers.

Snap!

"Haah, I don't know if this will work…"

Well, meat is meat, right? It'll work out somehow…

○○○○○○

…Or so Yeonseo thought for a fleeting moment.

– Just look at her face. She looks like she's raiding an S-rank dungeon boss.

– Is that the same face she made when fighting the Lich Knight?

– Real LOL.

– Yup, nailed it, haha.

– But the reality is, she's just a butcher now.

– LOL.

"Just a little more…"

"Right there, right there…"

When was the last time Shia or Yeonseo concentrated this hard?

For Yeonseo, it was probably the first time since her initial S-rank monster raid 50 years ago.

As for Shia, her radiant smile only grew brighter every time another tender piece of meat was revealed from the orc's fatty layers.

Their goal was pork belly.

It's one of the most iconic cuts of pork, known for its perfect balance of fat and lean meat.

And since dungeon orcs are essentially bipedal pigs, their body structure, organs, and even the locations of their cuts are identical to those of regular pigs.

"Pork belly comes from the abdominal area between the fifth rib and the hind legs."

"Haah, with all this fat, I can't tell what's what."

"Focus, focus! Yeonseo Unnie, you can do it!"

Yeonseo closed one eye, pointing her finger at the suspended orc floating mid-air through spatial manipulation.

If she moved her finger slowly downward, the space would slice along the direction of her movement, neatly carving the orc's flesh.

"Strong and beautiful Yeonseo Unnie."

"…What is it, Shia?"

Hearing Shia suddenly shower her with flowery compliments, Yeonseo turned her head.

She liked being called Unnie, but something felt off.

"You know how important scoring is when butchering meat, right? If ribs and pork belly come out stuck together, the flavor gets ruined. It's awful."

"..."

"As you know, pork belly needs the fat and muscle to layer properly. If you cut it the wrong way, the whole butchering process gets ruined. So be careful, Unnie?"

This damned younger sister…

Yeonseo felt something boiling inside her but managed to suppress it.

Yes, this grandma must endure.

All this is for the sake of feeding Shia, with her skinny limbs, until she's full.

How hungry must she have been to even gnaw on raw dungeon cabbage… No, thinking about it again makes me mad.

"Ah…!?"

"Oh… no."

Lost in her thoughts, Yeonseo's distraction affected her work, and the orc she was cutting got a tear in its flesh.

This wasn't just a matter of cutting the meat wrong.

It seemed the fat layer supporting the orc's innards tore open, causing the pork belly to drop to the ground along with its long intestines spilling out all at once.

"Ah…"

-Aaaahhhhhhh!!

-WHAT IS THAT AAAAAHHHHH!!!

-LOL.

-Failed the butchering, huh?

-It's censored in SD, but why can I still imagine it? LOL.

-Hahaha, poor Yeonseo facing extreme challenges with the Nonsense Saintess…

With the torn flesh and spilled innards, Yeonseo sighed deeply.

The orc, having been thoroughly cleaned, could have provided not only good meat but also delicious broth from its innards. Now, all of it was ruined due to a moment's carelessness.

"Huh, this grandma must be getting old…"

"No, it's okay!"

Shia smiled at Yeonseo as if to say everything was fine.

But why?

For a girl who is so serious about food, Yeonseo had expected Shia to get angry or at least grumble about losing the meat.

'She truly is a saint.'

"We can just do it again."

"Huh?"

[Miracle – Great Healing]

With a flash of white light, the shredded meat and intestines were restored, and the orc returned to its unbutchered state.

Oh… So this is an option.

-Wow, it's been a while since we've seen Great Healing.

-It's always amazing every time I see it.

-I'm telling you, the streamer's definitely S-rank. LOL.

"That's an incredible healing ability."

"Hehe, as long as the body parts are still intact or it hasn't been too long since death, I can restore them to their original state!"

"Huh? Good thing you didn't report this to the Association. If you had, those noisy guys would've been pestering you endlessly…"

"Ku, kweeegh!? Wh-Where am I…?!"

Snap!

Before Yeonseo could even react, Shia's tentacle swiftly snapped the orc's neck.

"..."

"..."

-HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

-LOL.

-Did the orc just come back to life?

-LMAO.

-Nothing happened.

-For real, LOL.

-Or maybe something definitely did happen. LOL.

"Shia, just now…"

"Yes?"

"…Did that orc just come back to life?"

"Nope, nothing happened."

"..."

Well, if you say so, I'll believe you.

Yeonseo decided to convince herself that her aged mind had simply imagined things.

No, it was definitely a hallucination.

It had to be.

Shaking her head to forget what she just witnessed, Yeonseo refocused on the task of butchering the orc.

"Yeonseo Unnie, if cutting out only the pork belly is too difficult, could you relax your body for a moment? I'll help."

"Relax my body? What are you planning…?"

Following Shia's instructions, Yeonseo relaxed her body, only to suddenly feel something unsettling crawling up her legs and arms.

Crunch, crunch.

Sliiiiide…

"Ugh…!"

Startled, she looked down to see three of the five tentacles sprouting from Shia's back wrapping tightly around her legs and waist, holding her in place.

The remaining two tentacles coiled firmly around Yeonseo's shoulders, elbows, and wrists, gripping her arms securely.

Although surprised by the sudden scene, Yeonseo, trusting that Shia wouldn't do anything terrible, relaxed herself as instructed.

However, to any third-party viewers, the sight was rather… suggestive.

"Haah… You scared me. At least give a warning next time."

"Oh, sorry!"

Everyone knows Yeonseo is 86 years old, but her youthful appearance resembled a gorgeous woman in her 20s, prettier than any idol.

With a body far better proportioned than her granddaughter Yeonhwa's and a fuller chest, the sight of Yeonseo restrained by tentacles sent the chat window into a frenzy, with viewers feverishly clipping the scene.

-"Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow…"

-"This is too much…"

-"Wow."

-"Yeonseo-nim is stunning from this angle…"

-"She's always been beautiful!"

-"But she looks especially radiant today."

-"So true."

Even the relatively wholesome Yeonseo broadcast chat was on fire, while Shia's channel descended into utter chaos.

-"Holy crap."

-"Pyaa Pyaa Pyaa!"

-"This is hotter than most adult art, no?"

-"No kidding, this is unbelievably… provocative."

-"Tentacles and Yeonseo…?"

-"What is this? A manga?"

-"This scene is tonight's highlight."

-"Insanely hot;;"

-"This is so going to show up on Clip C219. LOL."

-"Yeonseo and the tentacles… oh wow oh wow."

-"Title: 'She's the strongest S-rank Hunter but a third-rate against tentacles!'"

-"The guy above is about to get banned, LOL."

-"HAHAHAHA!"

"Whoever just spewed that nonsense, this grandma remembers you!"

['KusoTori' donated 250,000 won!]

"Please, streamer, buy something for Yeonseo-nim with this. Please. Yeonseo-nim's stream doesn't accept donations, so I can't donate there. Please. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry…"

"Hmph, you startled me, but what exactly do you plan to do with this setup?"

"It's not as grand as shared sensations, but like this, I can feel what you're feeling, Yeonseo Unnie. This way, I can stabilize any slight tremors in your hands."

"Oh? Why didn't you do this from the start?"

Thus, Yeonseo and Shia worked together to butcher the orc.

As Shia promised, her tentacles supported Yeonseo, enabling far more precise movements.

Yeonseo successfully separated the pork belly first.

Next came jowl meat, shoulder butt, tenderloin, loin, foreleg, shank, skirt steak, round steak, chuck, ribs, liver, kidneys, and intestines. Each cut was carved meticulously under Yeonseo's guidance.

The blood had already been drained earlier, so there were no additional issues.

"Phew, it ended faster than expected."

"Then let's move on to the next orc…"

"No, that won't be necessary."

With another snap of her fingers, Yeonseo manipulated the untouched orc nearby, instantly carving it into identical cuts as the one they had just butchered.

"Wow, how did you do that?"

"I simply replicated it. I copied the exact sequence of spatial rifts I used while butchering the first orc. Since they appear to have similar physiques, I thought it wouldn't cause any issues."

– Can we get more tentacle x Yeonseo ㅗㅜㅑ moments?

– Why did it end so soon?

– I didn't even get a chance to clip that!

– Such a shame.

– This finished way too fast…

The more mischievous viewers were disappointed that they couldn't see more of Yeonseo tangled in the tentacles, but neither Shia nor Yeonseo cared about that.

Yeonseo began organizing the carved orc meat with her abilities.

Though they'd only butchered two orcs, the sheer quantity of meat from one orc was enough to exceed anyone's expectations.

Surely, it would satisfy even Shia's enormous appetite.

The meat meant to be eaten with dungeon cabbage was placed over charcoal, while the rest was transported to the freezer next to Yeonseo's house.

"Well done, Yeonseo Unnie. From here on, I'll handle the rest on my own."

"Hm? What do you mean? Isn't it fine to just grill the meat and eat it with the cabbage?"

"What are you saying? You have to put your best effort into every meal to enjoy it properly! Besides… I feel like I inconvenienced you, so consider this my apology."

"Ho, alright. Let's see how skilled you are at cooking, Shia."

"Hehe, it's nothing too fancy, though."

Now, let's look at the ingredients.

The orc pork belly alone is easily over 100 servings.

Since grilling pork belly with just a pinch of salt is a classic choice, let's skip that for now.

For sides, there are king oyster mushrooms, onions, Korean green peppers, scallions, and garlic scapes.

And, of course, for wraps, we have dungeon cabbage grown by Yeonseo herself—more than sufficient for a feast.

Incidentally, all the ingredients aside from the meat and cabbage came from Shia's backpack.

She had no idea what she would cook, so she had stuffed her bag full of supplementary ingredients.

"What are you making?"

"Uh… maybe pickled green peppers? I'm not sure of the name, but I remember eating it at a barbecue restaurant after being discharged from the military."

– ???

– Military?

– What?

– The streamer went to the army? LOL.

– A female high schooler with military service… sure.

– Nope, it's a Saintess with military service.

– If we're being serious, maybe she was an officer?

Well, I really did serve, hehe.

Not that I need to explain myself.

Ignoring the chat as the viewers started debating whether or not she actually served in the military, Shia began slicing the green peppers.

For the scallions, she chopped them finely and mixed them with gochujang (red chili paste).

The green peppers were treated similarly.

After chopping them finely, she also minced some onions, removing most of the spicy seeds inside.

Next, she prepared a marinade of soy sauce, vinegar…

"Oh, I'm out of sugar…"

Last time, when she made braised wyvern eggs, the sugar in her backpack had burst, and she had to throw it all away.

"Need me to lend you some?"

"Yes, please!"

Snap!

Yeonseo snapped her fingers lightly, and a pouch of brown sugar appeared in Shia's arms.

It was originally white sugar, but brown sugar would do just fine, right?

Borrowing sugar from Yeonseo's kitchen, Shia mixed 2 cups of soy sauce, 1 cup of vinegar, 1½ cups of brown sugar, and 2 cups of water to make the marinade.

– The streamer looks kind of pretty when she's quiet and cooking.

– Nope, she's always been pretty when quiet.

– She is beautiful, lol.

– The problem is when she opens her mouth and spouts nonsense.

– Can't she just stay silent forever?

– If she did, her nonsense wouldn't stop at words—it'd turn into actions instead, lol.

Shia's cooking skills weren't particularly remarkable; it was more that her smartwatch's all-purpose recipe app was exceptional.

Once the marinade was complete, she soaked the green peppers and onions in it, letting them sit for a while.

The scallion salad was even simpler.

To the chopped scallions, she added 2 tablespoons of gochujang, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, sesame oil, and rice wine to eliminate any odor.

Mixing it all thoroughly created a vibrant red paste perfect for the scallion salad.

"Haa… drool…"

She wanted to eat it.

Normally, she might have sneaked a taste while cooking, unable to resist.

Since the dungeon cabbage was delicious on its own, it didn't require any special preparation.

The best way to eat it was with meat, rice, and vegetables, all wrapped together with a dollop of leftover sauce.

"Shall we eat now?"

She originally considered making soybean paste stew, but… unfortunately, she didn't know how to make it.

"Shia."

"Yes?"

"Do you like having rice and soybean paste stew with meat? You seemed to enjoy it at that barbecue place near Hapjeong Station last time…"

"Yes, I do like it, but we don't have the time or the ingredients…"

"I see."

At that, Yeonseo began a video call using her smartwatch.

[Yes, Yeonseo-nim. What can I do for you?]

Shia recognized the voice.

Although she'd never met him in person, he was someone Yeonseo referred to as 'Director Lee' from the Returnee Management Bureau.

"Oh, Director Lee, are you in the middle of a meal?"

[Ah, yes. I'm having dinner with my staff…]

"Is that so?"

Snap!

Spotting rice and soybean paste stew on his table through the screen, Yeonseo snapped her fingers.

Suddenly, a bubbling pot of soybean paste stew and warm rice appeared before Shia and Yeonseo.

[…? Yeonseo-nim, what is this…?]

"Oh, I was short on rice and stew. This worked out perfectly. Don't worry, I'll return it to the coordinates once we're done."

[Noooo…! That's my food, Yeonseo-nim!!!]

"I'll treat you to something expensive next time. Don't be stingy, alright?"

[Haa… understood…]

As Director Lee sighed and ended the call, Yeonseo chuckled to herself.

"It's always fun to mess with Director Lee. Hehe…"

"..."

Though Yeonseo had been taken aback by Shia's brilliant nonsense earlier, Shia now found herself a little intimidated by Yeonseo's sadistic streak.

The ingredients were finally ready.

Charcoal and an iron griddle, nearly 100 servings of orc pork belly, Shia's green pepper pickles and scallion salad, and the soybean paste stew and rice stolen from Director Lee.

Though it wasn't clear which restaurant the soybean paste stew came from, it looked quite tasty.

The rice was fluffy and perfect, too.

"Well then, let's eat," said Yeonseo.

"Yes~!"

At long last, it was time to eat.

Yeonseo started by tasting the green pepper pickles that Shia had prepared.

"Oh-ho…"

It was better than expected.

Not only was the flavor excellent, but the seasoning hinted at experience, as if Shia had cooked before in her previous world.

Yeonseo even wondered if Shia might be a better cook than herself.

Since Yeonseo had lived as a Hunter, she rarely cooked her own meals.

It was entirely possible that Shia's cooking skills surpassed hers by a wide margin.

"The taste is quite impressive…"

"…slurp…haa, haa…"

Just as Yeonseo was about to compliment the side dish, she noticed Shia staring intently at the meat on the griddle, her eyes practically boring holes into it.

At some point, Shia's eyes had turned red from hunger, her gaze fixed on the meat as she waited with unwavering determination.

"…You must be really hungry…"

"Yes, slurp…haa…gulp…"

"If you're that hungry, you can eat first—"

"No way! Pork belly must be cooked until it's perfectly golden, right before it burns, to lock in all the juices for the best flavor! Eating it undercooked ruins the taste!"

"…You're not wrong."

But watching her drool like that made Yeonseo feel sorry for her.

'I should've just pre-grilled some meat earlier…'

Just a little longer, just a bit more…

Unlike regular pork, orc pork belly was said to have a much richer flavor and higher fat concentration.

Even a weak monster like an orc was still a monster.

The mana and fat density in its meat were incomparable to that of regular pigs, promising a taste beyond imagination.

Sizzle, sizzle…

Gulp…haa…ugh…

As the sound of sizzling meat filled the air, Shia's red eyes remained fixed on the griddle.

After precisely 6 minutes and 43 seconds of this, the pork belly finally achieved a golden-brown hue, signaling it was ready.

"Hehe…"

With a beaming smile, Shia picked up a piece of the perfectly cooked pork belly with her chopsticks.

But just as she was about to put it in her mouth, she paused.

"...…"

Drip, drip, drip, drip, drip…

Shia's trembling hand lowered the piece of pork belly back onto her plate before she extended it toward Yeonseo.

"…H-huh? For me? Why? Why aren't you eating it?"

"Y-Yeonseo Unnie… slurp…haa…you've worked so hard today because of me. I'm too… slurp… too sorry to eat it first."

"Pfft, goodness…"

Yeonseo chuckled despite herself.

Even while drooling uncontrollably and enduring a superhuman appetite, Shia's natural inclination to prioritize others shone through.

It was clear: no matter how nonsensical she acted, Shia truly was a saint.

"If my younger sister hasn't eaten yet, how can I, as her Unnie, eat first? Let's eat together."

"Slurp…that's okay…haa…haa…"

"Wipe your drool, will you? Here, I've split it exactly in half. Let's eat."

"Yes, yes… sniff…!"

The moment she was given permission, Shia eagerly began chewing on the piece of pork belly Yeonseo had cut for her.

Chew, chew…gulp.

"…Haa…ahhh…"

It was delicious.

It was unbelievably delicious.

The pork, grilled to perfection on the searing hot iron griddle, was crisp on the outside—almost reminiscent of fried food.

Inside, the juices sealed within the pork belly had cooked it from the inside out, creating an extraordinary flavor and texture.

Hell yeah… This is pork belly. This is heaven.

"Haha, it seems you're really enjoying it."

Seeing Shia's blissful expression, Yeonseo took a bite of her own pork belly.

Although she had eaten it a few times before, it felt different this time.

Was it because she had butchered the meat herself? Or because she was eating it with Shia?

Yeonseo thought this might be the best orc pork belly she'd ever had in her life.

"It's delicious. Truly delicious."

"Right?! Right?! Hehe, it's so good!"

"Indeed, indeed. Now we'll have to keep the momentum going."

– Hey, give us some too.

– The streamer forgot about us ages ago, LOL.

– It must be insanely tasty…

– ㅗㅜㅑ

– That's… heaven?

– It's just pork, you idiot.

Ignoring the clamoring viewers, Yeonseo and Shia continued grilling and devouring the orc pork belly.

Broadcast or not, viewer complaints or not, they paired the meat with Shia's green pepper pickles and scallion salad, eating relentlessly.

Even at 86 years old, Yeonseo's appetite was impressive for someone her age—likely a residual trait from her life as a Hunter.

After all, even her extraordinary spatial manipulation abilities probably owed their power to proper nutrition.

"Wow, eating the dungeon cabbage with the orc pork belly is amazing…"

"Mm! The subtle sweetness of the cabbage complements the pork belly's richness perfectly."

It was delicious.

So incredibly delicious.

Shia was utterly happy.

But more than anything, the fact that she wasn't eating alone made it all the better.

'…If only Menelapie could've eaten with us too…'

For an empress, Menelapie had surprisingly simple tastes.

'Teresa would've loved this too…'

Teresa used to say that eating with Shia made anything taste good.

Hehe, it's so tasty.

But also… sad.

I miss them.

I want to see them again.

"Shia, would you like a beer too?"

"Yes, please!"

"Ah, Director Lee, it's me…"

[What now?!]

Beer, meat, and dungeon cabbage… The ultimate combo.

…She wanted to eat more.

She wanted to eat together, more and more.

Together, together…

Gulp, gulp…

It was delicious.