Demon hunter's Cooking Manual

Sitting at the desk in his apartment, Esther quickly wrote the report for the ’Holy Serpent Society’.

I’ve already found the correct way to communicate with the ’Masked Man’ and used the application items to make initial contact. Everything is proceeding smoothly, all under my control. Next, I will continue to contact the ’Masked Man’ and gradually probe his impression of the organization, trying to influence him to recognize the organization—D-1314.

…

Looking at the simple report he had written, Esther’s brow slightly furrowed.

He always felt there was something awkward about it.

If he had written like this before he had set aside his pride and arrogance, there wouldn’t have been a problem. In fact, he would have thought that this didn’t highlight his own achievements enough.

But now, after setting aside his pride and especially after seeking advice from his senior, Edmund, he felt that writing like this could lead to problems.

For example… being assigned even more dangerous missions.

"No!"

"It can’t be written like this!"

"It’s far too dangerous!"

Esther grabbed the report he had just finished writing, immediately set it ablaze, and threw it into an empty trash can nearby, then he poured the ashes into the toilet.

Phew!

After flushing the toilet, amid the sound of rushing water, Esther stood in front of the mirror next to him, staring at his own reflection.

Young, handsome.

So...

Must live a long and healthy life!

"Keep it up, you can do it, Esther!"

With those words, Esther returned to his desk once more.

He began to write a second report.

I underestimated the ’Masked Man’s’ strength, the application items have been damaged by the ’Masked Man’, and I’ve been discovered, but luckily, the ’Masked Man’ did not harm me. Instead, he believes that I still have some usefulness. I will attempt to continue contacting the ’Masked Man’ and try to make him understand the importance of the organization—D-1314.

…

"Lacking ability but lucky, still loyal to the organization... Safe!"

Esther looked at this report and silently assessed it.

Then, he folded it up, kept it close to himself, and started writing the report for the ’containment facility’.

This report was extremely detailed.

It was written according to the standard format (PS Volume 10, Chapter 10, Project Report).

After finishing the report, it was already 5 a.m.

Esther got up and stretched, then lay down on the bed.

7:30 a.m.

Beep beep beep!

When the alarm clock rang, Esther immediately opened his eyes and quickly rushed to the bathroom to wash up—this was a habit he had cultivated.

Picking up the report on his desk, Esther left his apartment and headed towards the secret base of the ’containment facility’ in Ang City. As he passed a coffee shop, he bought three cups of coffee and two sandwiches, and at the same time, the report for the ’Holy Serpent Society’ was left in a corner of the coffee shop.

This was the only way he knew to communicate with the organization.

More?

Not something someone of his level could know.

In the past, he felt resentful, thinking that as an elite like himself, he should know more.

Moreover, he had worked hard for it.

But now?

He didn’t want to know more at all.

Because, the more you know, the faster you die.

This was also what senior Edmund had told him.

Very sensible advice.

Just like the other things the senior had said, although they may seem difficult for a true brave person to accept, they were quite fitting for someone like him who desired a long life.

"Morning!"

Esther greeted the security guard and walked straight into the building.

The secret base for the ’containment facility’ in Ang City was hidden underground beneath an office building.

There was a dedicated elevator, which went down to the sub-level one.

Of course, the cover story was that this was the logistics data center of the company.

Their members of the ’containment facility’ were the official employees of this logistics data center.

"Morning!"

He greeted the security guard once again.

This was the security guard of the ’containment facility’, an old man who seemed to be advanced in years and who spent every day beside the ’elevator’ on sub-level one, seeming to the outside world as an old man who was just killing time, waiting for retirement.

In the midst of greetings, Esther placed one cup of coffee in front of the old man and, with a smile, walked past him towards the data rack behind him.

Without a sound, it activated.

The data rack split in two, revealing the ’elevator’.

Esther stepped inside.

He pressed the only floor button on the panel, ’V007’.

The elevator began descending rapidly. When the elevator doors opened again, he was met with a bright and empty lobby. Esther, knowing the place well, turned towards the office area to one side.

There were three C-level personnel here.

Himself, senior Edmund, and another who was often on field assignments, Delinke.

Since he became a C-level member, he had not yet met the other person.

At the entrance to the office area, Edmund’s nameplate had already lit up. After Esther lit his own nameplate, he walked directly to Edmund’s office.

Knock, knock-knock.

"Come in," came Edmund’s voice.

Esther pushed the door and entered, placing the coffee and breakfast on Edmund’s desk.

"Senior, breakfast," Esther indicated.

He was aware that his senior, struggling with car and home loans, almost never had breakfast.

"Thank you, Esther,"

"How’s the report?" Edmund asked.

"I’ve written it, can you take a look and see if anything is missing," Esther handed over the report to Edmund.

This would have been impossible before.

The self-proclaimed elite Esther would never let a good-for-nothing like Edmund review his report.

But now, having made clear his life’s goal, Esther welcomed Edmund’s guidance more than anything.

"Here, here, and here need to be changed."

"Remember, we are just ordinary people."

"Ordinary people who get scared when faced with danger."

Edmund rapidly pointed out the ’errors’ in the report, emphasizing his points.

"Understood."

Esther immediately began to make the changes in front of Edmund.

After letting Edmund confirm that there were no mistakes, Esther submitted the report.

Then, back in the office, Esther did not, as usual, leaf through documents searching for any trace of clues. Instead, he leaned back in his chair and, mimicking what he had seen Edmund do several times unintentionally, draped his jacket over himself.

Comfortable, content.

It seems that my current choice is the right one.

As for more?

Esther couldn’t think of anything else.

After all, the report had been handed in.

What’s left?

That would be waiting!

And this wait was shorter than Esther had anticipated.

...

At sunrise, the sunlight streamed through the windows of the combat gym.

In the warm and bright light, Jason and Aras were looking at each other.

Huff, puff.

At this moment, the two of them were leaning against the edge of the ring, hands braced on their knees, panting heavily, but the smiles on their faces couldn’t be suppressed no matter what.

The two of them had fought throughout the night without rest, and they both felt exhausted now, especially Aras, who was using the secret technique for burst strength, was entirely relying on his willpower to keep going.

"Jason, you are the strongest man I’ve ever seen."

Aras said this, then he could no longer hold on and just lay down on the floor, falling into a deep sleep.

And after seeing Aras collapse, Jason then slowly sat down.

It wasn’t because he was slightly less strong than Aras and wanted to surpass Aras in physical strength to save face.

He was tempering his will.

He was holding on to his beliefs. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

And such tempering and perseverance naturally yielded rewards.

Even, it could be said, beyond Jason’s expectations.

[Griffin Combat Technique (Proficient): Having mastered the Griffin Combat Technique, you have begun to glimpse the terrifying potential of this skill. Any part of your body can become the deadliest weapon, especially your hands and legs, which will embody the fierceness of the Griffin’s agility after refinement. The fundamental changes brought by the Griffin Body Refinement Technique make this skill even more daunting; Effect: Strength, Agility +0.3 (Beginner, Proficient, Master)]

[Griffin Combat Technique has reached Proficiency Level, gaining the innate talent ’Fierce Attack’]

[Judging the fundamental change in Griffin Body Refinement Technique, Griffin Combat Technique innate talent change in process…] Stay updated with empire

[Judgement passed!]

[Gained innate talent ’Kick Strengthening’!]

[Kick Strengthening: Born from the altered Griffin Body Refinement Technique, this talent, too, is an unexpected byproduct; when using your legs in attack, you will gain an additional special bonus of Strength, Agility +0.1]

...

The increase in attributes was the most direct change for Jason, while the coordination of knowledge, skills, and body was an extension, especially during his recent fight with Aras.

This type of coordination had almost become an instinct for Jason’s body.

Because facing Aras’s storm-like assaults, he had no time to think.

He could only constantly defend and look for opportunities to counterattack.

By the time the coordination was over, everything had already fallen into place.

Just like with the Griffin Combat Technique going from Proficient to Mastery.

With the constant battles over time, his technique underwent a transformation under the pressure of Aras’s aggressive attacks.

"An increase of 0.1 in Strength and Agility, plus the additional 0.1 from the Talent mutation in both attributes,"

One level up almost resulted in an increase of 0.4 in his attributes, which was a considerable gain for Jason.

However, the hunger cost of the altered Griffin Combat Technique also increased significantly.

To rise from proficient to expert level required 25 hunger points and 1 point of Excitement of Feast.

Keep in mind, going from proficient to expert in Barehanded Combat only required 6 hunger points and 1 point of Excitement of Feast.

And based on the progression from basic, beginner, to proficient, the requirement for Griffin Combat Technique was always just 1 more hunger point than for Barehanded Combat.

Not the current exponential increase.

But Jason wasn’t dissatisfied at all.

On the contrary, he was overjoyed.

He wasn’t worried about the high demand for hunger points; he was only concerned about the strength of his skills and secret techniques.

Especially with a strong training partner like Aras at hand.

Just one night’s effort had raised his Griffin Combat Technique by one level.

Maybe it was due to his previous accumulation, but Aras’s contribution was indispensable.

What if they continued to fight?

Five days!

Ten days!

Or even a month spent in such battles?

His Griffin Combat Technique and Barehanded Combat might reach an unprecedented level.

Thinking of this, Jason’s gaze towards the sleeping Aras became incredibly intense.

He wished he could pull Aras up right now and continue fighting.

But he knew that this would be only a temporary solution.

Moreover, he could hear clear, familiar footsteps in the alley outside the gym.

Then—

Knock, knock knock!

The sound of knocking came.

Jason opened the door, and Edmund and Esther appeared outside with smiles.

"According to your request, I’ve brought the item you need."

"It’s on its way now."

Edmund was saying this, but before he finished, his waist communicator began to flash urgently, and a frantic voice came from inside—

"Report! Report!"

"We’ve been unexpectedly attacked!"

"The ’aberration’ has been hijacked!"

"The ’aberration’ has been...ugh!"

The report came to an abrupt halt.