Conquering the Labyrinth with a Trash-Tier Trait - Chapter 57

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 57
“Why are you drooling, man?”
“Huh? Ah, no. Just…….”
Kirk’s observation snapped me back to myself.
‘I’m not some beast.’
If Kirk was right, that Kimchi Jjigae inside wasn’t going anywhere.
I needed to stay focused on what mattered now.
‘Quests.’
I pulled up my quest list again, scanning through it.
Five quests in total.
“Huh?”
Another one had just appeared.
“What’s this?”
“What is it?”
“My quest count went from five to six. A new Bounty Quest just showed up.”
“Ah, that one. The Golden Acre City Hall probably posted it. But honestly, you shouldn’t accept those Bounty Quests if you can help it. The odds are overwhelming that once a bounty goes out in one district, the target’s already fled somewhere else.”
That explanation left me with a question.
“So you’re saying—the City Hall here can create Labyrinth Quests? Not just ones that come from the Labyrinth itself?”
“Yes. Well, the Labyrinth Residents do give out quests, you know. Golden Acre was originally built by Bartus, but since it’s so old, it seems to be recognized as a Labyrinth faction now.”
“Seriously…….”
It shattered everything I thought I knew about how Labyrinth Quests worked.
‘So that means…….’
On a hunch, I tried using my Trait on the Bounty Quest.
Nothing happened, as expected.
“Hmm…….”
That was inconvenient.
“If you want to try a Cooperative Quest, something like monster extermination or area reconnaissance would be good.”
“Monster extermination can be cooperative too?”
“From the 11th Floor on, you don’t get ordinary mob quests—only Elite Monster exterminations. They’re all creatures that have evolved once.”
“I see…….”
“With your skill, you’ll clear it in no time and move to the next level. There’s no way the Butcher Char would get stuck on the 11th Floor quest.”
I ignored his provocation deliberately.
“Still, is there anything I should watch out for?”
“Watch out for……. Oh, yeah. There is one thing.”
“What?”
“Don’t cause a ruckus down here.”
I felt a surge of emotion at that.
“I’ve heard that enough already. I appreciate it.”
“Master told me to emphasize it a few more times. Still got about two more warnings to go…….”
“Want me to start a ruckus with you instead?”
“……That shouldn’t be necessary, right? Yes. Haha.”
Since when was this kid such a smooth talker?
I scratched my head, then on a whim, clicked on one of the other quests.
Specifically, the monster extermination quest I’d done the most during my Novice days.
[1. Jungle Monster Extermination]
—Swamp Basilisk 0/1
—Flesh Fly Swarm 0/1
—Giant Poison Toad 0/1
‘These are all Elite Monsters, aren’t they?’
Only three, but the trash mobs I’d encounter along the way probably wouldn’t count toward the total.
‘Check for additional information.’
Hum.
It was something I did out of habit.
[Hidden Tip!]
If you gather the eyes from 10 pairs of Swamp Basilisks and the corpses of 1,000 Flesh Flies, then coat them with the poison of the Giant Poison Toad, you’ll create an excellent lure capable of attracting the Jungle Swamp King Hornet.
“What?”
An odd entry appeared—not a Perfect Clear bonus, but something called a Hidden Tip.
The tone felt deliberately indifferent, as if it didn’t care whether I did it or not.
“What is this?”
“Yes?”
“No, wait. I didn’t mean it that way.”
Come to think of it, though—getting Perfect Clears consistently did strike him as odd.
Most Secondary Classes evolved from the foundation of Primary Classes, after all.
Still.
‘…Jungle Swamp King Horned Beast. Sounds like they’re telling me to hunt that thing.’
The condition demanding bait also meant he couldn’t just kill one monster at a time within the quest.
But.
‘Why not try? I need the money anyway.’
Even if it didn’t net a Perfect Clear, he had to at least verify a Hidden Tip like that, didn’t he?
And it didn’t seem like it would take forever.
He’d tested his trait on other quests just to be sure, but Hidden Tips hadn’t shown up anywhere else.
‘So it only works with monster elimination quests? If that’s the case…’
Were there even floors where Hidden Tips didn’t appear at all?
“If there’s anything else you’re curious about or any other questions, just ask away.”
“Right. Monster extermination quests—those aren’t posted by City Hall, are they?”
“Ah, no. Those are original Labyrinth quests. Usually if it’s a really famous monster, it’ll get put on the Bounty Quest board too, but that’s rare.”
“I see. Got it.”
With that, his objective was set.
“Let’s go!”
“Ah, wait. I was only supposed to guide you to…!”
“You have to take responsibility for what you said!”
“Me? Responsibility for what?”
“Kimchi!”
Before the quest, there was no harm in getting a taste of home, was there?
“…?”
Dragging the protesting Kirk along, he headed straight into the Golden Acre.
The Golden Acre’s landscape—which might as well have been the 8th District of Bartus transplanted wholesale—was so familiar it felt strange.
The clothing of the adventurers wandering about wasn’t particularly different either.
“A newcomer?”
“Seems like it…”
The adventurers here apparently hadn’t heard the rumors about the “Butcher” yet, which was all the better.
Though there was one thing distinctly out of place.
“Found it!”
[Kimchi Jjigae.]
“…I’ve lost it. Is this real?”
A restaurant he’d never seen inside Bartus proper.
A shop with a Korean-language sign hanging right out front actually existed.
“The City Hall is that way…”
“We’re eating there first!”
“…What?”
He couldn’t believe it was actually here.
‘Please, even if it’s just close…!’
At this moment, he could swear he’d find even a hastily made Kimchi Jjigae from some kimbap nightmare a delicacy worthy of the gods.
“The smell seems a bit off to me…”
“Quiet. And lend me some money.”
“…What?!”
“I’m completely broke!”
That was the real reason he’d dragged Kirk all the way into the city, when the man was supposed to turn back after just guiding him.
* * *
“That damn City Lord…”
In the restaurant in the Golden Acre, Daniel Lee—the third-generation owner of Kimchi Jjigae—let out a continuous stream of sighs as he gazed at his nearly empty shop.
Specializing in a single Korean dish and primarily targeting Korean Summoners, the foot traffic had dried up completely.
‘Refusing a bribe and then cutting off all the Summoners from coming here?!’
Just thinking of the new City Lord—that bald bastard—made his blood boil.
A Native Resident who had maintained his establishment for three generations, now being illegally harassed by a City Lord who’d be gone in a few years.
The problem was, there was nothing he could do about it.
‘I can’t stay in Bartus. Should I move to another floor?’
Though he wasn’t a Labyrinth Resident and had even cleared up to the 19th Floor in his own right, relocating seemed like an option.
But when he considered where else he could establish himself as well, he felt skeptical.
This prime spot, first claimed by his grandfather when he was a Summoner, drew many Summoners—the best location there was.
‘Even so, at this rate the shop will go under before that City Lord ever leaves.’
Caught between conflicting thoughts, he couldn’t help but sigh through the day.
And then.
“Father! I did it! I succeeded!”
His son came bounding in with exaggerated enthusiasm, turning his stomach inside out.
“…Success? At what?”
“I cut the cooking time by five minutes! Five whole minutes!”
The sigh that escaped grew deeper still.
“And the effect?”
“…It’s the same as before.”
“So what’s the point?”
“Dad, but if the skill evolves, it could become really useful and—”
“Enough!”
Part of the reason he couldn’t leave the Golden Acre was this son of his.
“Who told you to cook in the Novice ranks, huh!? Answer me!”
“…I just… it turned out that cooking was what I do best, so it actually helped quite a bit—”
“So what if it helped!? It didn’t help your life at all, did it!?”
His son had emerged from the Labyrinth with the ridiculous Chef class, when he’d been expecting real growth.
The fact that it came with the modifier “Special Class” hardly mattered.
Chef was a lifestyle class with almost no combat ability, and its effects were too crude to be of use in actual fighting anyway.
“And I’ve applied for a Cooperative Quest.”
“What?”
“…Because I want to grow too.”
“Who’s going to take you as a partner!? You can’t even swing a sword properly!”
“That’s…”
Just as the same father-and-son argument seemed about to repeat itself once more.
Ding.
The shop door chimed open.
“Sigh…”
His son exhaled and headed back into the kitchen.
“Huh…?”
The moment I stepped through the door, the sharp, tangy aroma of Kimchi Jjigae hit my nose.
‘This is real.’
My eyes widened.
“Welcome. Might you be a Summoner?”
A middle-aged man with mixed Eastern and Western features emerged from the kitchen and greeted me.
But my attention was drawn more to the menu board behind him than to the proprietor’s face.
Two wooden signs: one old and ornate with “Kimchi Jjigae” carved into it, and another that looked newer with “Mana Kimchi Jjigae” inscribed upon it.
“…What is this Mana Kimchi Jjigae?”
“Ah. It tastes the same, but it’s a Kimchi Jjigae that gives a brief Buff.”
“I’m sorry?”
“My son has a rather unusual talent. Well, since it’s been a while since we’ve had a customer, I’ll serve it at the same price. Would you care to try it?”
“Ah, yes. Why not.”
Before I could think better of it, I was nodding, and the proprietor called out toward the back.
“Max! Order up, two servings!”
“Ah, I’m not going to eat—”
“Quiet. I’m eating all of it.”
“…Understood.”
Kirk, whose expression had gone sour at the Kimchi Jjigae smell, was practically dragged to a seat.
The food arrived in less than a minute.
“Wow…”
Visually, it was unmistakably Kimchi Jjigae.
Complete with a bowl of Rice.
“Outside, all I could see was wheat…”
“There are rice paddies too. Wheat and Rice have high yields in the Golden Acre. The flavor’s excellent as well.”
“Ah. Yes. Thank you.”
I gave a perfunctory reply to the proprietor’s words, then found myself ladling the stew directly into my mouth without hesitation.
“Mmm…”
A sharp, pungent spice hit my tongue hard—that distinctive bite of fermented heat.
Followed by the deep, tangy sourness of aged kimchi that erupts the salivary glands.
The rich, savory meat juices seeping from pork belly marbled with just the right amount of fat.
The entire journey of that spicy broth, its oils perfectly melted into the soup, flowing through my mouth and down into my stomach felt like a work of art.
That’s when an unexpected system message rang out in my mind.
[Strength has increased by 4.]
[Effect duration: 10 minutes.]
“Huh?!”
“What’s wrong? The taste is off, isn’t it? I mean, look at the color—it’s so red that—”
“This thing gives a stat buff.”
Ignoring Kirk’s rambling, I spoke up, and his eyes went wide.
“What?”
Kirk, who’d been holding his nose against the smell of Kimchi Jjigae, immediately started shoveling it into his mouth at my words.
And he let out a strange cry.
“Whoa?!”
“Really?”
“Wow. But actually, this is more edible than I thought? The smell was off-putting, but it’s somehow—!”
So that’s what surprised him.
Fair enough.
‘What would a Bartus native who stuffs his face with greasy food all day know about refreshing flavors? Kimchi—that’s a magnificent invention from the gods themselves to conquer all that greasiness….’
No, that’s not it.
“What about your buff?”
“Ah. Right. My agility went up by 5. But only for 10 minutes.”
“See? I wasn’t imagining it.”
Food giving stat buffs—not some magical potion, but actual food.
‘The stat increases are random, but this is incredible.’
As our stunned gazes turned toward the owner, he let out a bitter laugh.
“My son’s skill. Not good for much besides surprising people, though.”
“That can’t be right. If it can give stat buffs even for 10 minutes, that’s an amazing skill. And with just regular food, at that.”
I pictured fighters carrying Kimchi Jjigae in flasks, sipping it while they fought.
The image was ungainly, the stat increases weren’t dramatic enough to be game-changing, but the cost-effectiveness was almost absurdly good.
But then.
“Right. Unless the skill had a different limitation—that you have to eat it within 10 minutes of making it.”
“Hmm?”
“Ah….”
Kirk tilted his head in confusion, but I understood the situation immediately.
“You need 30 minutes to cook it even with all the ingredients ready, but the buff only lasts 10 minutes. And the food itself only stays good for 10 minutes….”
At the owner’s continued explanation, Kirk’s expression grew rueful.
This skill’s limitation was unmistakable.
Most fights don’t drag on that long, so the 10-minute buff duration isn’t really the issue.
The problem is the 10-minute shelf life of the cooked food.
“Unless an enemy conveniently attacks while you’re cooking, this skill is useless.”
“Yeah.”
Just as we sighed, the owner actually laughed.
“Well, I’m satisfied if I can give visitors a moment of surprise. How is the meal treating your taste?”
“Oh, it’s wonderful. It’s been so long since I’ve had a taste of home. Truly delicious.”
“This is my first time trying it, and it’s so fresh? Nothing like the smell suggested.”
“Haha. My grandfather was a Summoner, so this shop has been passed down through generations of our family. We’re on the third generation now. Please visit often.”
“Of course.”
The answer came sincerely.
If I had the coin, I was already planning to visit the 11th Floor regularly just to eat Kimchi Jjigae.
And so, forgetting the momentary surprise of that buff, we lost ourselves entirely to the meal.
Slurp.
Smack.
“Owner, two more servings, please!”
“Mine too, sir!”
“That makes four!”
Kirk hadn’t been exaggerating—the Bartus native who’d been eating nothing but meat, bread, and potatoes began inhaling Kimchi Jjigae like a man possessed.
“Wow. This. This is a whole new world. Why don’t they sell this in Bartus?”
Though I was the one most satisfied.
“Ah. That was delicious.”
The slight sweat, the peppery heat, the subtle tangy bite—I found myself scraping the remaining broth over and over, reluctant to let the flavors go.
It was a taste he craved so deeply that it felt almost painful to be satisfied by it.
Then his thoughts drifted back to the Buff that still remained active.
‘If he keeps eating it, does the duration reset? This is definitely something incredible…….’
It occurred to him that the owner of this skill probably wasn’t very high-ranked.
Then, couldn’t he be developed further?
This excellent Korean Chef.
“Um, sir.”
“Ah, did you enjoy your meal?”
“Yes, very much. But that’s not it—I wanted to ask you something about your son’s skill……”
“Yes?”
“If this technique were to grow, wouldn’t its potential expand even further?”
Even if it fell short of expectations, it seemed worth trying to develop.
He said as much, but the proprietor’s expression hardened.
“As descendants of Summoners, we don’t possess those Level-up Points.”
“Pardon?”
“We’re Native Residents, you see. We must raise our rank and improve our skills through trials and training. Skills can be managed through practice to some degree, but my son has absolutely no talent for combat…….”
“Father! I’m telling you I can do it!”
At that moment, a young man with a short, stocky frame burst out from the kitchen, his voice loud.
Blonde hair, a cute face, barely reaching five-foot-three, and a round build.
‘Looks like someone who loves to eat.’
He could easily guess what the proprietor meant.
“Besides, I told you I’ve already applied for a Cooperative Quest!”
His eyes blazed with a determination not to be denied.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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