MTLNOVEL Chapter 74: Proper Meal
When the shimmering veil of the E-Rank portal finally collapsed, the Hunter Association workers stationed at the perimeter blinked in surprise. It had closed far sooner than expected.
The usual lifespan for an E-Rank dungeon was predictable—several hours of farming time before the boss was taken down and the portal's glow began to wane. But this time, it had all ended in less than half the window.
Hunters began spilling out one by one, and it didn't take long before the air outside the portal was thick with irritation.
"Damn it, I was just starting to rake in EXP," one man snapped, tossing his spear over his shoulder.
"All my loot spots were still untouched," another muttered, kicking a loose stone.
They didn't just leave it at complaining. Soon, small clusters of Hunters were roaming the site, eyes narrowed as they searched for the culprits—the people who had dared to end the dungeon early by killing the boss without warning.
But no matter how many faces they scanned, no matter how many returning Hunters they questioned, they couldn't find a match.
Finally, some of them turned to the Association staff stationed in this dungeon.
"You see anyone come out before us?" a tall, broad-shouldered Hunter demanded.
The nearest worker shook his head, his expression as baffled as theirs. "No… not really. Didn't see any group come through before you all."
That earned a fresh round of grumbling. If even the gate watchers hadn't spotted them, the "early boss killers" might have already fled the area entirely.
Just when it seemed the search would be abandoned, one of the younger workers snapped his fingers, his brow furrowing. "Wait. Actually… I think someone did leave early. Maybe… fifteen, twenty minutes before the first of you came through."
The surrounding Hunters instantly turned toward him.
"Someone?" a perceptive voice cut in sharply. "Not a group?"
The worker nodded. "Yeah. Just one person."
That single sentence drew a low ripple of surprise through the small crowd.
"What did they look like?" another asked.
The worker glanced around at the ring of armored, armed Hunters staring him down. If the pressure bothered him, he didn't show it. "Tall. Wore a white mask—looked like a toy mask. Couldn't see much else."
"Only one?" a woman repeated, crossing her arms.
"Yes. Alone."
The murmurs started immediately—sharp, doubtful, and growing louder.
"You saying one Hunter took down the boss?"
"That's insane."
"No E-Rank can do that, and if they were D-Rank, why waste time on a low-level dungeon?"
Logic didn't seem to matter. Whether they believed it or not, the story began to take on a life of its own. A lone, masked Hunter—slipping in, killing the Dungeon Boss, and vanishing before anyone could see them.
By the time the last Hunters had cleared the area, the whole site was buzzing with rumor. And somewhere beyond the growing chatter and suspicion, the real masked man was already gone.
…
River placed his white toy mask inside his Inventory, the cheap material dissolving into a faint white shimmer before vanishing entirely. Without the mask, his face felt oddly exposed, yet there was a subtle sense of relief—no more curious stares or hushed whispers following him around.
He reached for the laminated menu resting against the salt shaker and began flipping through it. The rich smell of grilled meat and simmering broth wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the faint tang of oil from freshly fried dishes. His lips curled into a small smile as his eyes scanned the colorful photos and neatly printed descriptions. There were far too many things he wanted to try, but his stomach was more than ready to accommodate at least half of them.
After stepping out of the portal earlier, he hadn't wasted a single moment. He made straight for the nearest Hunter's Exchange, the one tucked between a pawn shop and a battered old weaponsmith. The place reeked faintly of old leather, mana residue, and freshly counted money. River had emptied his Inventory onto the counter—Rotling claws, monster cores, swamp moss, and even a few rare drops from the Zombie Swamp Eater. The appraiser, a wiry man with a monocle infused with mana, had examined each item with methodical precision before naming his price.
River didn't settle for the first offer, of course. A few minutes of haggling—seasoned with polite smiles and a sharp reminder of the rarity of some materials—finally earned him a sum that brought genuine satisfaction.
Now his money is enough to cover a a few weeks in a decent hotel, several proper meals, and still leave a comfortable margin for "miscellaneous expenses," which in River's mind meant buying Potions, some Enhancers, buying odd tools, or indulging in random curiosities.
This was the real draw of being a Hunter. As long as you walked out of the dungeon alive with spoils in hand, money practically fell into your lap. The rarer the drop, the faster the gold flowed. Higher-rank dungeons could make a man rich overnight—if they didn't kill him first.
But the risk was always there, lurking like a shadow. One mistake, one miscalculated step, and a Hunter could lose a limb… or their life. No amount of gold could help you if you ended up bleeding out on dungeon stone.
Still, for most, the lure wasn't just wealth. Hunters chased power, fame, and the respect of their peers. Others sought revenge, redemption, or simply the thrill of defying death itself. River, however, had his own reasons—deeper and far more personal than any purse could hold.
He closed the menu and raised a hand to call for the waiter. The young man approached with a notepad, eager to take his order. River spoke calmly, listing a handful of dishes—steamed rice, seared beast meat with spiced gravy, and a bowl of seafood broth. He even added a dessert, because why not?
The waiter scribbled quickly, offered a polite bow, and disappeared toward the kitchen. River leaned back, letting his eyes wander toward the wide restaurant window.
Outside, the sunlight bathed the cobblestone road in bright gold, casting long shadows against the passing crowd. Hunters fresh from other portals walked by in groups, laughing, boasting, or limping on bandaged legs. Merchants hawked talismans and quick-repair potions from their stores, their voices cutting through the morning air.
River exhaled slowly, his breath fogging the glass for just a moment. It felt good to sit in a warm, quiet place after hours of battle. But in the back of his mind, he knew the peace wouldn't last.
After this meal, River would head straight to another dungeon.
There would be no leisurely strolls through the city, no detours for sightseeing—just more grinding. The day was far from over, and the coming days promised to be the same, a relentless loop of combat, loot, and survival. If he wanted to push his limits, there was no time to waste.
He was already Level 23—not 25 yet, despite what he had hoped—and the path upward was steep. With a thought, he summoned his Status Screen in front of him, its faint bluish glow reflected in his eyes.
STATUS SCREEN
Name: River Faelan
Skill: Bubblecrafter [Tap to see details]
Class: Mage
Level: 23
Experience Points: 2,090 / 17,305
Status Points: 3
Title(s): Undying Soul [Tap to see details]
BASE STATS
HP: 100
MP: 150 / 150
STR: 16
AGI: 13
INT: 15
WIS: 14
VIT: 12
DEX: 11
A tired sigh escaped him. Seventeen thousand Experience Points. The number hovered mockingly in front of him.
It wasn't the kind of goal one cleared in a single dungeon run—not unless you were raiding something well above your level and walked away without being turned into monster food. Even soloing an E-Rank dungeon boss, like he had earlier, is not going to be enough.
He would need multiple runs—three, maybe four, before the day was done—if he wanted to reach at least Level 25. And that was assuming every boss fell to him alone. No shared EXP. No "team effort." All or nothing.
Most Hunters would groan at the thought, maybe even take a week to spread that grind out. River felt the opposite.
A quiet thrill stirred in his chest.
The numbers were a wall, yes—but walls could be broken. The higher the level, the harder the climb, but the reward was also greater. More stats. More mana. More strength to face what was coming. And what was coming… would make today's battles look like child's play.
The fate of the world didn't allow for slow progress. Not for him.
River let the Status Screen fade, the light dissolving into the air. The faint hunger gnawing at his stomach reminded him of a more immediate need.
First: eat. Then: fight until his legs gave out.
The clatter of ceramic drew his attention. His food had arrived—three steaming dishes and a small bowl of dessert, arranged neatly on the table. The rich aroma of spiced gravy and freshly cooked seafood curled into the air, making his mouth water instantly.
"Enjoy your meal, sir," the waiter said with a polite bow before retreating.
River took a moment just to look at the spread before him. In the original timeline when he spend decades as one of the Last Hunter, meals like this had been a rare luxury. Now, it was fuel. The battlefield didn't care if you were hungry or tired, but he had learned one thing: a full stomach made for a sharper mind and steadier hands.
He picked up his utensils. The first bite was hot, savory, and perfect. He closed his eyes briefly, letting himself savor it before the grind resumed. There would be blood, sweat, and mana ahead—but for the next few minutes, it was just him and this feast.
And when he was done, the hunt would begin again.