The Grill-Wielding Saintess of the Dead

Chapter 138 Blade Centipede Soup 1

Shia broadcasted a frying of a blade centipede… More precisely, she deep-fried an entire massive segment of the S-class monster Centipede Dragon that had been hiding in the Rotten Mountain.

And it happened during her very first broadcast.

In her official debut, she showcased herself eating a repulsive insect-type monster, one of the top five most grotesque and fearsome creatures, fried to a delicious crisp, for all to see.

From that very first broadcast, Shia’s reputation as a unique figure spread across the internet, including the Hunter Gallery.

This time, Shia… or rather, the Gallery Master (*a term used by her fans), flashed a bright smile and suggested that the viewers, who had joined the co-broadcast, eat blade centipede with her. Surprisingly, some viewers didn’t think it would be that bad.

Although it was called centipede dragon fry, or blade centipede fry, the dish turned out to look much better than expected once it was properly cooked and fried.

The centipede’s leg-like blades, which clattered together, were a bit off-putting, but the key part was that Shia had removed the venomous innards, leaving a flavor that was said to resemble a mix between lobster and crab.

It only had the unfortunate name of centipede fry.

But in terms of taste and appearance, the general consensus was that it wasn’t all that bad.

In fact, right after Shia’s shocking debut broadcast, a wealthy hunter once bought dried blade centipede from the Hunter Market and tried frying it.

Though the visual was horrifying, they admitted the taste was surprisingly good.

‘Well, it’s not that strange… I mean, centipede fry is definitely weird, but it tastes good, doesn’t it?’

‘Honestly, it looks like it might taste better than expected…’

‘I’m just glad I’m not being harassed by that Menelapie woman anymore…’

‘When else would you get the chance to be treated to a meal by Gallery Master?’

‘Heueung, t*tty…’

Sure, frying is okay.

Considering the vile things she’s done, if it ends at frying, it’s almost a relief.

Who knows?

If she continues to get away with this level of vile acts, maybe the forced co-broadcasts themselves will become part of Gallery Master’s content.

Plus, wouldn’t this increase the opportunities for us to meet her in person?

Of course, it’s not easy to have that much audacity, but getting to see Gallery Master Shia and the golden-haired woman, Menelapie, in person is already a feast for the eyes.

All you have to do is close your eyes and go along with some mild mischief, get forgiven, and then be served food?

It’s a profitable deal.

It’s definitely good.

If you seize the chance, you might be able to meet Gallery Master more often in the future.

That was what the viewers thought.

But then, Shia, with her eyes sinking into a feigned sadness, began speaking again.

“At one point, I learned a big lesson.”

Her light footsteps were gentler than an angel’s feather, and her voice, imbued with newfound wisdom, was clearer than the dew awakening the lake at dawn.

The Saintess of the Dead, who had just been feeling embarrassed for not being able to hide her emotions, now smiled with joy as she cast aside her former self, gaining a new goal and new realization.

“Humans are creatures that tend to cling to what they know… what’s familiar to them.”

Familiarity becomes habit, solidifying like old customs.

It restricts flexible thinking and removes adaptability to situations.

That’s not good.

If you refuse to accept new things because you prefer the old, that’s stagnation, and without realizing it, you’ll stop moving forward.

“So, as the Saintess of the Dead, I’ll share this important revelation.”

Humans are beings that always change and evolve. How can you deny the fundamental nature of humanity?

“Grilling meat isn’t always the best way!”

Clap, clap, clap

Only Menelapie’s clapping broke the awkward silence, but Shia proudly shrugged as if satisfied.

With an innocent face free of blemish, Menelapie clapped as if to say, ‘Everything our Shia says is right.’ However, those who had been dragged into the forced co-broadcast by Yeonseo, and those who had yet to be forced, were left speechless.

[….]

[?]

[LMAO, what is she even saying now?]

[What the heck is she talking about?]

“……..”

“Um, I don’t understand at all…?”

“What in the world…”

Naturally, people looked confused as Shia suddenly started spouting what sounded like nonsense.

“No, listen, it’s simple! What I’m saying is, the common idea that almost all foods—especially meat—are delicious just by grilling them is wrong!”

“Huh?”

“So… what’s your point?”

“By following common sense, I’ve already suffered a great loss. When I tried to cook the rare, delicious unicorn meat by grilling it well-done, it turned into a hard, tough rag!”

Didn’t I already disprove the common belief that grilled meat is always good? Right?

“That was just because that meat was weird…”

“So today, I won’t be grilling any meat.”

“No, can’t you just fry the centipede again like last time? It didn’t look that bad…”

“Yeah! Can’t we just do it the way you did before?”

“Ah! I said we need to break away from common sense and habits, didn’t I?”

“No….”

So, despite all the grand talk, the conclusion is this:

No blade centipede fry.

Something else is coming.

[LMAO]

[LMAO, why does our Gallery Master always do crazy stuff every time we see her?]

[For real]

[She’s really acting crazy now]

[Crazy mode on]

[What kind of nonsense is she spouting with that holy saintess expression, LOL]

“Hmm, yeah, no need for more talking. It’s better to just go and prepare it right away, huh?”

Boom!

Without further delay, Shia bent her body slightly and shot toward the middle of Rotten Mountain like a missile, followed closely by the drone camera filming her.

“Ah, no…”

“Wow, she’s so fast…”

“Fast, but isn’t this like kidnapping!?”

“Yes, if she’s being evil, stay quiet.”

“You’re evil too, what are you even saying?”

The participants in the co-broadcast, unable to properly protest, could only stare in the direction Shia had disappeared, far from their sight in an instant.

“Just in case, I’ll ask you all…”

And as murmurs of discontent began bubbling to the surface, Menelapie smiled coldly.

The suffocating atmosphere of murderous intent returned, pressing down on the air as the previously optimistic participants quickly sealed their lips.

“Does anyone think Shia is wrong? That the food she’s preparing is unworthy of your respect? Any foolish and treacherous soul who dares mock Shia’s cooking will no longer be here.”

“………”

“Yes, yes…”

“Heueung… Noona… your voice is so good…”

That guy is really persistent.

Even after becoming a forced co-broadcast participant, to say something like that in real life… It seems less like he’s being vile and more like it’s become his conviction.

○○○○

“Hmm, hmm~”

And so, Shia started hunting blade centipedes in earnest as she ventured deeper into Rotten Mountain.

Rotten Mountain was teeming with blade centipedes—countless numbers of them crawling everywhere.

Blade centipedes were monsters with relatively high fertility rates.

There were even intelligent individuals among them.

After the Centipede Dragon had disappeared, many more blade centipedes had reproduced and formed groups to fill the void it left behind.

Thanks to this, Shia encountered swarms of blade centipedes rushing at her without fear.

[Screech!]

[Crunch!]

[Screeeech..!]

“Hehe, that’s 32 of them…”

Thankfully, they were easy to catch.

If these were nimble blade centipedes like Yane, constantly darting between trees, dirt, and rocks, catching them would have been tough. But these blade centipedes were brave enough to charge at her instead of fleeing, which was rather amusing.

Later, she would learn that blade centipedes became incredibly aggressive during their breeding season.

[Isn’t she just tearing them up like they’re bean sprouts, LOL]

[For the record, these are B-class monsters…]

[It’s like she’s pulling weeds, LOL]

Shia grabbed the head of a centipede that was biting at her hair and twisted it 180 degrees, adding it to the growing pile.

The way Shia caught the blade centipedes wasn’t difficult.

Their venomous fangs, claws, and sharp legs—though formidable—were no match for the hardness of Shia’s skin, which was tougher than steel.

The most distinctive strengths of the blade centipedes were their venomous fangs and claws. However, since those couldn’t even scratch Shia’s hair, let alone her skin, all she had to do was grab the centipedes by the neck as they tried to latch onto her, and the hunt was over.

Perhaps these centipedes didn’t know how terrifying Shia was because they were newly born.

In that sense, it was fortunate for Shia.

If they had been like the older generation of centipedes, who had witnessed the defeat of the Centipede Dragon, their fear of Shia would have been imprinted on them

. The centipedes might have migrated in large numbers or desperately tried to escape from her.

But for now, the fearless new generation of centipedes allowed Shia to easily slice, cut, twist, and crush them, gathering the ingredients she needed to cook for the co-broadcast participants.

“Hmm, so what should I cook with this?”

Though she had boasted loudly, she wasn’t sure what to make yet.

[Just grill them]

[Grilled blade centipede? That’s a bit…]

[How about boiling them?]

[Boiled centipede is used in traditional medicine]

[That’s regular centipedes, not blade centipedes…]

“Guys, give me a serious idea. It’s not just for me; the co-broadcast participants have to eat it too.”

[But they’re all jerks, aren’t they?]

[LMAO, you’re being so nice to those jerks]

“That’s true, but they’re still my fans, right? They just haven’t grown up yet, so they’re expressing themselves the wrong way.”

[Aaah, attack of the cringe, please stop]

[Someone, please take this chatroom away]

[LMAO, why is she attacking us all of a sudden, LOL]

Grilling and frying were out.

She had just made a saintly proclamation about not using conventional cooking methods, and going for a safe bet like grilling or frying wouldn’t leave any memorable moments.

“Hmm, how about blade centipede kimchi stew?”

[Ewwww, gross]

[When you hear it, there should be a spark like ‘This is it!’ but that just sounds disgusting, LOL]

[For real, LOL]

[If you make kimchi stew with blade centipede, the stench and the venom would ruin the pot]

[Imagine a pot of red kimchi stew bubbling with centipede legs sticking out, just Yikes]

Hah, isn’t there something appropriate… something just right?

[How about making centipede cutlets?]

[Centipede cutlet…?]

[Centipede cutlet actually sounds good, LOL]

[Why does it suddenly seem tasty, LOL]

Cutlets…

That’s a good idea, but if I actually make cutlets, although the method and ingredients differ, it’s still technically fried food, which contradicts what I said earlier.

“Oh…!”

Come to think of it, while cutlets are out, there is something that pairs with cutlets.

It’s soup.

In the past, whenever people had Western-style cutlets, they would always start with a soup to whet their appetite before elegantly slicing into the cutlet, mimicking bourgeois manners.

The cutlets were tasty, but strangely enough, the soup that came with them was even better.

“Alright! It’s soup! I’ll make blade centipede soup!”

[Ah…………]

[I can’t even imagine what kind of food that’s going to be now, LOL]

[Heueung, please just die from the poison soup…]

Making soup usually begins with creating a roux.

A roux is a basic ingredient not only for soups but also for making sauces and other Western-style dishes.

The process isn’t difficult.

“First, you prepare butter and flour in a 1:1 ratio… but how many people are there…?”

There’s Menelapie and me.

And the 29 co-broadcast participants.

To make enough roux for that many people… hmm…

“I’ll just use an entire bag.”

○

“Um, excuse me…”

“What is it?”

“I’ve been too overwhelmed by the atmosphere to ask, but who are you, really?”

With that question, the other participants, looking as if they had just remembered, turned to stare at Menelapie.

Although they had been silenced by her presence and words, none of them knew who Menelapie was or what her relationship with Shia was.

“Oh, right, who are you?”

“Are you Gallery Master’s older sister? A streamer?”

“…….”

As the participants’ gazes focused on Menelapie, she merely shrugged as if she had no intention of answering.

“Heung, what do you think?”

“Uh…….”

“I mean, how would we know?”

“Should we just guess?”

“Gallery Master’s older sister?”

“Maybe Gallery Master’s mother…?”

“Are you an idiot? Gallery Master’s mother appeared during that unicorn meat broadcast. Even considering the cognitive filter, her voice and figure were totally different.”

“No way, with the way she was looking at Gallery Master with honey dripping from her eyes, she’s definitely Gallery Master’s lo—”

Boom!!!

“……………”

The ground to the immediate right of the viewer who had yelled out ‘lo’ was slashed deeply.

The earth was sliced cleanly as if by a knife cutting through tofu, leaving the co-broadcast participants speechless for a moment.

“What did you just say?”

No one had seen Menelapie draw or sheath her sword, but a faint golden aura flickered around her blade.

“…Nothing at all.”