Chapter 408: A Welcome Rebellion

“I asked what you’re doing right now.”

The Flesh Cook questioned his gathered disciples and grand-disciples.

Each held a butcher’s knife, their eyes filled with dissatisfaction and anger.

Their mood was dark and oppressive.

Yet, the Flesh Cook didn’t flinch. He continued eating the entire piece of rotis de cuisse in front of him.

The portion was far too large for just one person.

Despite that, the Flesh Cook used a fork and knife to cut large pieces of the well-cooked meat and ate it cleanly.

Clink. Clink.

Inside the restaurant, separated completely from the outside by a drawn curtain and a sign hung on the door, only the sounds of cutlery echoed.

Slooosh.

After devouring the large meat chunk, the Flesh Cook washed it down with a Bloody Wine, aged with human blood and wine.

“How does the wine taste, Master?”

“Excellent. Pure maiden, aged 30 years?”

“Indeed, I personally ensured this batch was taken care of.”

The man standing at the forefront of the group answered.

His name was Romang. He was a direct disciple of the Flesh Cook, broad-shouldered, sturdy, and dressed sharply, just like his master.

“You’ve managed it well.”

“I dedicated myself completely after you entrusted it to me. It was an important business, both financially and politically.”

The Flesh Cook didn’t deny that.

Bloody Wine was one of the biggest sources of income for the Flesh Cook’s organization, and it was also a key bribe offered to the high society of Gallos and nearby countries.

The miraculous wine not only tasted good but also enhanced health, vitality, and beauty—a highly desired commodity that money couldn’t buy.

This was also why despite his open presence in Gallos, no one dared to touch the Flesh Cook of the Black Hand.

“But that’s no longer the case. I lost that precious business to the Yangbaks across the sea after managing it for 50 years.”

Romang’s voice remained calm, yet beneath it lay a deep attachment and simmering anger over the loss of his business.

It was understandable. While small on the surface, the business held tremendous value.

But more than its value, it was a business nurtured with care by Romang himself. Anyone would be angry.

All the disciples of the Flesh Cook came from low backgrounds. They were people fed up with having their possessions taken away.

Because of this, everyone there could relate to the anger—that is, everyone except for the Flesh Cook.

“So what?”

The nonchalant response left them speechless.

“Had I personally intervened instead of sending my disciples, I could’ve killed those arrogant Tower of Magic bastards and saved the business. But you forbade it, Master.”

“Are you dissatisfied?”

The Flesh Cook, pouring more Bloody Wine, inquired.

“Not just me, everyone here lost their businesses too. To Loculi University, the police, and the military… The mess your sister caused-”

-Boom!

As Romang spoke, the wine bottle and glass in front of the Flesh Cook exploded. The Flesh Cook’s emotions had influenced them, scattering the blood-red wine across the table and floor like actual blood.

“What a waste… Continue what you were saying.”

The air had shifted. Dozens of disciples and grand-disciples tensed up.

Although the Flesh Cook hadn’t shown his fighting side much in the past hundred years, his reputation couldn’t be ignored just because of that.

One of the four fingers of the Black Hand.

‘Still, that was in the past, surely exaggerated…’

Convincing himself, Romang gathered his courage and asked.

“I want to know the plan… Why take on the police, the military, Loculi University, and even the Tower of Magic as enemies without any significant counteraction? The Holy Knights will be here soon, and at this rate, the losses will be too great.”

Romang voiced out the question that everyone was curious about.

While they could accept that they were caught up in the mess caused by the Flesh Cook’s sister, they couldn’t overlook the accumulating damage caused by the Flesh Cook’s passive stance.

Becoming a dark sorcerer who devoured humans was a way to escape the fear of death and enjoy the blessings of the world.

Yet, the Flesh Cook’s answer was cruel.

“Why should I explain that to livestock?”

Romang’s eyes widened. He had served the Flesh Cook for a human’s entire lifespan.

“We have devoted ourselves to you, Master.”

“Livestock devote themselves to humans too. Oxen plow the fields, pigs bear piglets, chickens lay eggs, and horses carry loads. But do humans show gratitude to livestock?”

Everyone in the restaurant instinctively sensed that the Flesh Cook wasn’t mocking them, which made the statement even crueler.

“No. When the livestock can no longer plow, breed, lay eggs, or carry loads, they aren’t thanked—they’re slaughtered and made into meat. Either served on the dinner table or given as a treat to the dogs.”

“Are you saying we are livestock?”

“Of course. You became my livestock to gain strength and immortality in exchange, didn’t you?”

“Yes. That’s exactly what we did.”

Nodding, Romang unleashed the vast power accumulated by devouring countless sorcerers and magic users, spreading it throughout the entire restaurant.

The intense power densely filled the sizeable restaurant, creating a blackout that was imperceptible to ordinary people.

Even for those with exceptional reflexes, it was just a moment, as brief as a blink. Perhaps it was just an illusion, but for that brief moment, it felt as if gravity had vanished.

“That’s teleportation magic, one of the spatial magics.”

The Flesh Cook instantly recognized the technique Romang had used.

Then, using his own power, the Flesh Cook drew the curtains covering the restaurant windows.

Crrreak—

Strangely, the scenery beyond the window was not the city; it was the view of a forest.

“The forest outside Ravely?”

“Indeed.”

“Impressive method.”

The Flesh Cook acknowledged.

It was indeed a clever method, replicating the restaurant building perfectly to synchronize space and using it as a catalyst for teleportation magic.

Although it would take time and money to prepare, it was a good way to use complex space magic stably.

“Now we can fight without worrying about being noticed.”

The Flesh Cook spoke as if discussing someone else’s affairs.

Coincidentally, just as he finished speaking, other disciples who had been waiting nearby began surrounding the building.

Numbering about a hundred. It was a perfect encirclement.

They had prepared for months, luring the Flesh Cook to the restaurant in Area 8, where disturbances were not allowed, and isolating him in a remote location using spatial magic.

This was something that required significant time, money, and widespread dissatisfaction with the Flesh Cook.

“I may have agreed to become livestock to learn dark magic from you, but… I never intended to be treated like actual livestock.”

“Livestock doesn’t choose to be livestock. They are simply that because they lack strength.”

Romang flinched at the nerve-grating remark and gave a signal, prompting the traitors surrounding the Flesh Cook to stab him with knives infused with their anger.

Shiiing!!

Just as dozens of black blades flew toward him, the emotions within the Flesh Cook surged out like waves, manifesting as massive blades that instantly swept through the area.

The crescent-shaped blades sliced through the air like sharks, not only eliminating the traitors around but also cutting through the restaurant floor, ceiling, and even the walls, reaching the traitors outside the building.

In just one counterattack, blood splattered everywhere, severed limbs scattered around.

The extent of the damage was impossible to estimate, as many had sustained injuries beyond their ability to recover, causing their bodies to collapse.

Everyone was in shock and terror. Although they knew their master was powerful, they never imagined he could do this while seated.

However, what was done was done. Going back now was no longer an option.

The former disciples and grand-disciples of the Flesh Cook immediately imbued their bodies with massive amounts of dark magic and charged at the Flesh Cook.

Some grew to giant sizes as their bones and muscles expanded, while others retained their size but increased their density, turning dark crimson and pouncing like beasts.

Each one of them was formidable in their own right.

Yet, it was meaningless.

When the Flesh Cook drew the French knife hidden in his sleeve and swung it, even rock-hard muscles, steel-like bones, and skin toughened like armor were sliced through like pudding.

Their overwhelming numbers suddenly didn’t seem to matter.

Amazingly, the Flesh Cook hadn’t moved a single step.

“Grrrrraaaaaaah!!!”

Through the wavering crowd, something huge moved, as flexible as a snake and as fast as lightning, approaching the Flesh Cook.

It was a bipedal wolf—a very crude-looking one.

“A werewolf?”

Reacting quickly, the Flesh Cook lightly swung his knife.

The crudely formed werewolf, despite its size, moved swiftly, dodging the Flesh Cook’s blade and attempting to slash with claws and teeth enhanced by dark magic.

Thud!

However, the werewolf’s abdomen was pierced by the knife the Flesh Cook had drawn.

“Gah…!”

The crudely formed werewolf, towering over three meters tall, couldn’t move after being stabbed by the small knife.

The Dark Magic ‘Stiffness’ imbued in the blade paralyzed the werewolf as the Flesh Cook observed the giant yet awkward werewolf.

“This isn’t a chimera. It’s a real werewolf? I’ve never fed you that; how did you consume it?”

The werewolf, relying on its inherent toughness and regenerative powers, responded.

“My brother…! My brother who died, crushed by a rock while driving a━”

-Slice!

Before the werewolf could finish his sentence, the Flesh Cook lifted the knife, splitting the werewolf open.

The werewolf’s skin, strong enough to deflect bullets, split easily, spilling its blood and innards.

Splat.

A pool of blood and fragments of intestines spread across the ground.

Just as the Flesh Cook was contemplating whether to collect them, a shadow suddenly covered him from above.

Looking up, the Flesh Cook saw it.

A giant, at least 20 meters tall.

It looked like a mountain on two legs, but what surprised him more was that its form wasn’t a cheap imitation created by magic.

“You’ve actually consumed a real giant.”

The Flesh Cook remarked, looking at the traitor who had turned into a giant.

Perhaps due to not fully absorbing it, his form was somewhat twisted, particularly his lower body, which seemed unfinished and immature.

A failed consumption. At best, a partial success. But the fact remained that he had eaten a giant.

A creature that didn’t exist in this world, along with the extinct werewolf.

That left only one possibility.

He had opened a portal and summoned beings from another realm to consume.

“I never taught you that, but you managed it.”

[We… are no longer… livestock!] the giant yelled, veins bulging on his forehead and neck.

His voice resounded across the forest, thanks to the giant’s vocal cords, different from a human’s.

The giant raised his arm and brought it crashing down.

With overwhelming size, weight, and mass, just the movement of the giant’s arm stirred the air, creating a gust that descended upon the earth like a natural disaster.

The shockwave ripping through the air was visible, and the immortal traitors with incredible regenerative abilities instinctively fled.

Sensing that such an attack could easily kill them outright, regardless of their abilities.

While many fled, only the Flesh Cook remained standing.

He looked on with interest, switching the knife in his right hand to his left, then clenched his empty fist and struck at the falling catastrophe above him.

━━━━!!!!

When fist met fist, an indescribable roar echoed, and a shockwave like a tidal wave extended in all directions, breaking and uprooting nearby trees.

It was like witnessing a meteor strike, such was the unbelievable impact.

But what was even more astonishing was the result.

The result of fist colliding with fist.

Incredibly, the broken fist was not the Flesh Cook’s but the giant’s.

[GRAAAAARGH!]

The giant clutched his shattered fist, screaming so loudly the forest shook, while the Flesh Cook stood proudly on the debris of the shattered fist.

As if nothing had happened.

The only damage the Flesh Cook suffered was some dust on his clothes and a torn right sleeve from the shockwave.

“Limited edition for summer.”

The Flesh Cook murmured regretfully.

It was an utterly incomprehensible sight.

Indeed, the Flesh Cook had not used any dark magic during that punch, relying solely on the strength of his body, yet the outcome…

Over a hundred rebels stood overwhelmed by what they witnessed.

By the sheer power of the Flesh Cook.

They all imagined what could happen if he enhanced his body further with dark magic abilities…

…And their imaginations only bred fear.

“Don’t be scared…”

The only rebel who wasn’t afraid spoke. It was Romang.

As the direct disciple of the Flesh Cook, even he had transformed.

Not only had his body size tripled, but patches of red scales appeared on his skin, rough horns had sprouted from his head, and his arms and legs had taken on the form of a massive reptile.

“Did you eat a worm or something?”

The Flesh Cook sneered at Romang’s appearance.

But Romang ignored the taunt. He opened his mouth wide and inhaled the surrounding air.

Masses of air filled his now-expanded chest, and simultaneously, the red scales shone fiercely like molten metal, radiating intense heat.

Despite it still being summer, the heat was so suffocating that smoke could be seen rising.

As the heat continued to build, not just the ground but also the nearby trees began to dry up and wither.

“Move back!”

Other dark sorcerers, sensing the danger, shouted. But it was too late by a single step.

Before the warning could even finish, Romang exhaled. A breath of fire and storm.

The enormous flames falling short of description burned down everything in its path, even the mountains.

Countless trees, stones, the land itself, even the lake and its own comrades…

Everything turned to ashes in an instant.

Everything except for the Flesh Cook.

He emerged from the flames unscathed and instantly passed by Romang, now a Dragonoid.

Drip… Drip… Snap. Snap.

“Delicious.”