As it turns out, rewards are directly proportional to risks.
The moment Gibbs and his team crossed the Milk River and stepped beyond the safe zone, danger came at them within only a few steps.
A wild boar charged—massive, bulkier than a tank. Honestly, everything here, from animals to plants, was absurdly oversized. Other than huge, there was no other word for it.
[Barbecue Pig]
[Mana Required per Unit: 60]
[HP: E+ ~ D | Strength: E+ ~ D | Intelligence: E- | Endurance: E+ ~ D | Speed: E+]
[Overall Combat Power: E+ ~ D]
"This monster looks… delicious."
The Barbecue Pig's body radiated scorching heat, steam rising from its skin. Just being near it was enough to singe. The instant it spotted Gibbs' group, it let out a guttural roar—the air thickened with the intoxicating smell of roasted meat.
After a hard-fought battle, the pig collapsed, dead at their feet. Two members of the Falling Hammer Squad were injured, and Gibbs nursed a bleeding bite wound.
Its strength wasn't overwhelming—ten well-armed, sturdy ordinary folk might have been able to bring it down. But without casualties? Unlikely.
While the others worked on carving the corpse, Dany stood silently, lost in thought.
"What's on your mind?" Ellie asked, watching him.
He rolled the bloodstained dagger in his hand, eyes distant. "Stabbing that pig felt… incredible. No, more than that—it was the best texture I've ever experienced when piercing flesh. It's addictive."
Ellie stared at him for a beat… then quietly shuffled two steps away.
"How did this thing even survive?" Zilaj wondered aloud. After tending to the wounded, he circled the pig's corpse with curiosity. "It literally cooked itself alive! How was it still walking around?"
After some hesitation, he sliced off a piece of meat and cautiously took a bite.
"Hmm…"
The others held their breath.
Then his eyes widened. "It tastes exactly like premium roasted pork!"
The pig's body was covered entirely in tender, sizzling meat—perfectly edible, right off the bone. The only shame was that their long fight, and the pig's excitement, had burned parts of it.
Driven by curiosity, the others tried it as well. That was all it took—their restraint vanished. They sat around the carcass, tearing into it together.
Even without seasoning, the taste was heavenly.
Then Zilaj, struck by inspiration, caught a soy-sauce grasshopper, squeezed out its sauce, dipped the meat, and took a bite. His eyes rolled back as flavor exploded across his tongue. He nearly ripped his shirt off in ecstasy.
That's when it hit him—the Gourmet Zone's true secret: combine the ingredients, and you could create the ultimate menu.
"This dungeon is unreal," the timid priest murmured between bites. "I've never even read about a monster that cooks itself."
"Milk rivers, chocolate fountains, pudding mushrooms, meat trees…" Ellie let out a dreamy sigh. "It feels like a fairy tale. Why don't we just come here after every adventure? We'd save a money on meals."
Dany raised both hands in agreement. Gibbs, cheeks bulging with pork, mumbled something that sounded like, "Seconded."
"Too bad Stella isn't here," Ellie said. "She's really missing out."
After stuffing themselves, both squads pushed deeper into the zone.
The Gourmet Zone stretched wide, rivaling the swamp's size—but far richer in resources. Every few steps brought something new: bats dangling upside down with broccoli tails, mice covered in crispy fries, mushrooms with textures like gelatinous pork trotters rich in collagen.
At first, they documented everything. But soon their ink ran dry—and the discoveries kept piling up. Eventually, they became numb to the endless novelty.
It felt like the Adventurers' Guild hadn't logged this many new species in a year, let alone a day.
Then they hit an unexpected crisis—
They were too full.
After endless eating and minimal fighting, everyone's bellies bulged. Their pace slowed until, helplessly, they collapsed beneath a tree.
"Let's… hic… summarize," Dany groaned, sprawled on the grass. Beef-tongue dandelions perfumed the air nearby, but he couldn't bring himself to take another bite.
"Alright," Zilaj said, massaging his swollen stomach before pulling out his notebook. He and Ellie had handled all the records so far.
"For now, we'll designate everything from the cave to the Milk River as the Safe Zone, and everything beyond it the Danger Zone."
He flipped a page. "We've identified forty-six new species in the Safe Zone alone, both plant and animal. The actual number must be much higher—probably in the hundreds."
Ellie leaned over. "And all of them are edible. Every last one. No magical materials, no treasure chests. It's like this dungeon was designed purely for cuisine."
Zilaj added, "We spotted unusual plants and aquatic life in the Milk River too, but none of us can swim. We left the underwater survey for future explorers."
"Fair," Dany said. "We can't do everything."
Ellie scanned their notes again. "So far, the ecosystem looks stable. Beyond the Milk River, the first creatures we ran into were the Roast Pigs and smaller critters. About half an hour in, we encountered Bread Lions—and giant crocodiles that hunt them."
"The crocodiles stay near another river, wider than the Milk River. Following it leads to a lake. You can see schools of colorful fish swimming near the surface. Oddly enough, the closer you get to the lake, the safer it feels—only harmless creatures live there."
"Sounds like a fishing paradise waiting to happen," she joked.
It became clear the Gourmet Zone was divided by rivers. Crossing the Crocodile River led into an even harsher territory. Even the Morning Wind team had felt it—the air itself carried danger. Battles there would be real.
Yet that colossal plant in the distance still called to them, irresistible. Adventurers' instincts pushed them forward.
Perhaps, Zilaj mused, the stretch between the Milk River and the Crocodile River could be classified as the Low-Danger Zone.
He shut his notebook with a snap. "Even ordinary people could come here with just one or two adventurers for protection. It'd be safe enough."
And he, at least, had gathered enough ingredients to sell for a small money.
Dong… Dong…
The dungeon's closing bell tolled in the distance, echoing across the plain. Only then did they realize how much time had passed.
"Too soon," Ellie sighed. "I don't want to leave yet."
The others felt the same. Some even wished they could stay here forever.
"What a shame," Gibbs muttered, staring longingly at the colossal tree on the horizon.
As the final chime faded, their bodies shimmered, then vanished—without a trace.