The Grill-Wielding Saintess of the Dead

Chapter 18: Adaptation 1

After the ethical inspection or whatever it was by the Returnee Management Bureau ended, I headed to a meat restaurant near Hapjeong Station with Yeonseo and Yeonhwa.

When I asked if there were any meat restaurants open at this time, Yeonhwa mentioned the Yeon family’s name, made a few calls to the owner, and it all proceeded smoothly.

Our Bingu… I didn’t expect her to come from a well-off family.

Sizzle, sizzle.

Who would be grilling meat at 11 a.m. in the morning?

Yes, that’s right, it’s me, the Saintess of the Dead, Shia.

A whole Black Minotaur, and you’re asking if I’m not full?

Excuse me, what are you talking about?

Though it may be a bit, I didn’t eat the Black Minotaur all by myself.

Yeonhwa definitely ate with me!

Okay… maybe I ate a few hundred kilograms, and what Yeonhwa ate probably didn’t even amount to a kilogram, but still, I didn’t eat alone.

Sizzle, sizzle…

At first, I thought it was nonsense for a meat restaurant to be open in the morning.

But the moment I stepped into this restaurant, the dazzling interior, almost like an illusion spell, made my eyes confused.

The decor alone told me this was no ordinary meat place, but what was even more surprising was the absurd price of 10,000 won for a single soda.

Of course, there might be some restaurant reputation, service fees, and premium stuff involved, but no matter how long I’d been away—64 years after going to another world from 2024—seeing a 10,000 won price tag for a soda made me almost curse out loud.

Why are they running a business like this?

Could it be that inflation skyrocketed while I was away, and the value of money has dropped significantly?

Well, it’s 2088, so I guess all the price tags I know have changed.

However, the various prices I saw along the way weren’t much different from what I remembered in 2024.

I even asked Yeonseo just in case…

“The prices themselves haven’t changed much since 2024,” she said.

I couldn’t comprehend how that could happen.

According to Yeonhwa, during the First Great Rift, humanity was almost wiped out.

Though it seems peaceful and developed now, civilization survived after reaching the brink of destruction, so the price tags in 2088 haven’t changed much from the time I disappeared.

What’s this? Why?

I’m no economics expert, and I haven’t used my brain for decades, so I couldn’t understand it well.

Menelapie would have figured it out right away…

“Well, don’t worry about the price and eat to your heart’s content. I feel sorry and grateful to you, so I want you to eat until you feel better.”

“Um… Grandma, I eat a lot…”

“Do you think I’m joking? I really want you to eat a lot, Shia. It doesn’t matter how much, so go ahead and order…”

“Well then… um, ten servings of sirloin… to start.”

“Is that enough?”

“…”

Well, who cares if a soda costs 10,000 won?

It’s not my money, and she’s offering to buy it for me…

“Hey, young one. Bring twenty servings of sirloin to start. As for rice and drinks, just bring whatever seems appropriate.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Since I wasn’t sure what to order, Yeonseo took the lead and ordered twenty servings of meat for the staff.

It seemed Yeonhwa had tipped her off that I eat a lot.

“Hoho, I need to eat too, don’t I? After working hard since early morning, my stomach is growling.”

“Oh, right, Grandma… were you part of the rescue hunters?”

Yeonhwa’s words made Yeonseo nod.

“Yes, even though I’ve retired… many still seek me out, which makes it hard to find time to see my granddaughter.”

“…It’s okay.”

As a slightly awkward atmosphere lingered between Yeonseo and Yeonhwa, the timing was perfect when the staff brought out the meat.

“Shall I grill the meat for you in advance, ma’am?”

“Yes, this young one and I are both very hungry, so grill it all.”

“Understood.”

With that, the staff left a bit of meat on our table and began grilling more at another.

Since there’s only so much they can grill at once, and we eat fast, I guess they have to use another table.

“Hunters always eat a lot. Eating well is key, after all.”

“I agree, Grandma.”

“Haha… I’m fine. Thanks to the Black Minotaur meat I had with Unnie earlier, I’m still full…”

“You could have started without me…”

“No, watching Unnie eat is so fascinating that I couldn’t stop watching. How does so much meat fit into that little mouth…?”

“Hehe, I eat well. Sorry.”

“What’s there to apologize for? Eating well is a good thing.”

I couldn’t help but admire the skilled hands of the staff grilling the meat efficiently.

Even though we had reserved the whole restaurant for the day, they refilled drinks without being asked and replaced the grills whenever they got slightly charred.

Despite the early hour, they didn’t show any signs of fatigue, and every time they came to our table, they greeted us with a bright smile.

Of course, in the Imperial Palace, it was expected that the Emperor would have countless attendants serving with utmost loyalty and devotion, but this is South Korea, right?

Yet, the service spirit here was as good as that of the Imperial Palace…

“Hoho, it’s all thanks to money.”

“…Gulp, Grandma… indeed, gulp. I… gulp…”

“You’ll get indigestion. Eat slowly. Oh my, look at how well you eat. I wish our Yeonhwa would eat as much as Shia…”

“…Huh? Are you telling me to eat thirty servings of sirloin by myself?”

Yeonseo and Yeonhwa certainly lived up to the Yeon family’s reputation for not forgetting kindness.

After consuming thirty servings of sirloin, ten servings of tenderloin, ten bowls of rice, and four bowls of cold noodles, Shia finally leaned back in her chair, looking satisfied.

“…I ate too hastily… I think I ate less than usual.”

“…?”

That’s eating less?

Yeonhwa’s eyes shook as she stared at Shia.

It was important to note that Shia had devoured hundreds of kilograms of ‘Black Minotaur’ earlier in the morning and then came to this fancy meat restaurant for a second round.

Yeonhwa, who had barely eaten about a kilogram of the Black Minotaur’s finest meat, didn’t have room for any more and only nibbled at a few pieces here at the restaurant.

Was there a black hole in the Saintess of the Dead’s stomach?

However, unlike Yeonhwa, who was flustered, Yeonseo smiled proudly.

“Hohoho, you eat well. Oh, by the way, Shia.”

“Yes?”

“You said you were 21 in 2024, right?”

“Yes, yes, that’s correct?”

“Then it’s been 64 years since you returned to the present day. And how many years did you spend in the other world?”

“It should be similar since time flowed the same in both worlds. So, yeah, 64 years.”

“Hoho… so you’re 85 now?”

“Well, if you calculate it, yes…?”

At those words, Yeonseo grinned mischievously.

“Call me Unnie.”

“Pardon?”

“Call me Unnie.”

What the heck is she talking about?

Yeonhwa looked at her grandmother, who was suddenly spouting nonsense.

“This granny… no, this Unnie is 86 years old.”

“Uh…”

“But you’re 85. Doesn’t that make us practically friends?”

“…Is that so?”

“No, what do you mean ‘is that so’!?”

“Unnie.”

“…!!”

Satisfied with being called “Unnie,” a smile spread across Yeonseo’s face.

How long had it been since she had been called something as youthful as “Unnie”?

Even though she maintained a youthful appearance, everyone knew Yeonseo as the 86-year-old living legend.

Back in the day, when her face wasn’t as well-known, men used to hit on her at entertainment districts, but that thrill disappeared once she became treated as a living legend.

“Ahh, this feels right…”

“Grandma, stop being ridiculous…”

“Ridiculous? Yeonhwa, how can this Unnie be jealous when she’s making a new friend?”

“Then should Bingu call me… Grandma Shia too?”

“No…..”

With my white hair and all, being called Grandma wouldn’t be so strange.

However, Yeonhwa’s face stiffened, clearly not wanting to.

“Grandma…”

“What is it?”

“Grandma, you’re definitely 86 years old mentally. But Shia Unnie’s mental age was declared to be 21 during the ethics inspection!”

“…What?”

“Oh, really?”

Yeonhwa pulled a crumpled paper from her pocket.

It was clearly written there.

[According to records, Returnee Isiah’s age is ‘85,’ but her mental age is presumed to have remained at ‘21’ since the time of disappearance. Additionally, her appearance is confirmed to be that of a woman in her twenties.]

“…..”

Seeing the document with Director Lee’s seal, Yeonseo looked at Shia with eyes full of betrayal, like a tragic heroine.

“……….”

“Shia Unnie, just let me call you Grandma like I do.”

“Sure, why not.”

“………How could this happen?”

No matter how much I take care of myself and look young, I’m still 86… But why are you still 21? Why?

“Thanks for the meat, Grandma.”

“…Yeah…..”

Yeonseo suddenly felt drained.

○○○○○

“Then, is it okay if we proceed with checking Isiah’s combat capabilities?”

“There’s already been testimony from Yeonseo. If it’s enough to say they had a fight, it means Isiah is at least top-tier among A-rank hunters. And since they exchanged blows, it’s safe to assume Isiah is S-rank. You’ll be testing her again during the second ethical inspection, won’t you?”

“Yes, indeed. The first inspection is just to check, ‘Is this person sane?’ anyway.”

Director Choi Bomi, who handled psychology, brought in information, giving Director Lee a headache.

She exchanged blows with Yeonseo?

Though Yeonseo sometimes played lighthearted pranks when she had time, lying wasn’t her style.

“A returnee at S-rank hunter level is rare, but if she’s on par with Yeonseo, we might have to consider registering Isiah with the Hunter Association.”

“Uh… I wouldn’t recommend it. As an ethics consultant, I oppose it.”

“Why?”

“First, look at what I found out today from the ethics inspection.”

—-

-Name: Isiah

-Disappearance: Disappeared around 6:32 p.m. on December 5th, 2024, near Hapjeong, Seoul, due to the Great Rift.

-Return: Returned on October 21st, 2088. According to A-rank hunter Yeonhwa and S-rank hunter Yeonseo, it was around 1 a.m.

-Family: None (Confirmed deceased during the First Great Rift)

-Species: Undead (Human)

-Class: Saintess (Presumed)

-Possessions upon return

An unknown language-engraved mace – made of rare dungeon material Acrylitinium

White sacred robes – with automatic repair functions, adjust to the wearer’s body size, resistant to environmental changes, highly durable

Blue orb – returnee refused inspection of this item

Hairband – confirmed as an ordinary hairband

Cloak – part of the same set as the sacred robes, with identical properties

-Stats: S-rank [Based on testimonies from S-rank hunter Yeonseo, A-rank hunter Yeonhwa, and CCTV footage from the waiting area.]

The returnee introduced herself as the Saintess of the Dead.

Suspected of possessing physical and racial traits that make her a ‘non-human.’

Outwardly, aside from her pale skin, she resembles a human.

She appears to have an extreme obsession with food and appetite.

According to A-rank hunter Yeonhwa, the returnee single-handedly hunted the S-rank dungeon boss ‘Black Minotaur.’

Furthermore, since she exchanged blows with S-rank hunter Yeonseo, it is judged that returnee Isiah’s overall abilities are on par with an S-rank hunter.

Currently known special abilities – referred to by the returnee as ‘miracles’ – include healing, purification, intangible shockwaves, bodily mutations (tentacles), body reinforcement, and possibly more undiscovered abilities.

It is also presumed that the returnee uses a force she calls ‘Holy Power,’ superior to mana.

Further tests on the returnee’s power will be conducted during the second ethical inspection.

-Mental state: Monitoring recommended.

It is presumed that returnee Isiah did not live a peaceful life in the previous world.

Based on the returnee’s statements, it can be inferred that there were human species and hostile creatures, monsters, demons, and hostile entities in that world.

The returnee mentioned being acquainted with a being referred to as ‘the Emperor’ and holding a high position, suggesting that the previous world had an ‘Imperial Family,’ and the returnee held a significant role within it, maintaining close ties with the ‘Emperor.’

It is presumed that the returnee’s return was unintentional.

Given her status as a Saintess, one could assume a devout nature or a saintly personality, but it is difficult to deduce her behavioral motives at this point.

It is presumed she generally follows human ethics, reason, and morality and is believed to have a gentle nature, based on current observations.

It seems the confusion regarding her changed gender has already been resolved.

While the returnee’s recorded age is 85, her mental age is presumed to remain at 21, the point at which she disappeared, and her appearance is that of a woman in her twenties.

She’s spent more time living as a woman than as a man, so her mental gender leans more toward female than male.

-Affiliation with any nation: Impossible.

Her behavioral motives and purpose are unclear.

Though there are no signs of mental contamination, it is confirmed that the returnee is in a state that requires psychological stability.

Her family was confirmed to have all died during the First Great Rift.

At this point, there are no blood relatives to care for the returnee’s mental health, and her only known human connections are with the hunters who discovered her: S-rank hunter Yeonseo and A-rank hunter Yeonhwa.

The returnee’s primary fixation seems to be on food, specifically meals.

While her overall desires are lower than average, she shows an obsessive level of fixation on keywords related to food.

-Postscript: According to A-rank hunter Yeonhwa, the returnee spent three hours consuming the S-rank dungeon boss ‘Black Minotaur’ in various ways on the spot.

-Ethical rating: Good, kind

However, due to signs of mental instability, continuous monitoring and management are recommended.

—-

“So, in conclusion, she has S-rank power but is mentally unstable. She looked fine on the surface, but could it be PTSD?”

“From what I’ve gathered, she’s already passed that stage.”

“Passed it?”

Director Lee tilted his head, urging for more explanation.

“Yes, while there might be faint remnants, it seems that Returnee Isiah has already overcome the PTSD from whatever war or conflict she experienced in her previous world. It seems it was healed over time. Now, only faint traces remain.”

“She was in another world for 64 years, so she must have gone through quite a lot. But Director Choi, why did you completely rule out national affiliation? I don’t recall something like this happening easily.”

“True, it doesn’t usually happen.”

Director Choi Bomi knew immediately from the moment she saw the cliff painting that Returnee Isiah’s psyche had been severely shaken.

“Whether it’s loss or pain, Returnee Isiah will undoubtedly reject being affiliated with any nation. Even if you tempt her with money or rewards, she won’t bite. She has no goal, no sense of purpose. And right now, there’s no clear weakness to exploit, so there’s nothing that could force her.”

A being with power but no purpose… Many returnees had power, but those who did were often driven by desires, whether good or bad.

Personal honor, wealth, or some kind of ambition.

“And Returnee Isiah doesn’t have perfect memory at the moment.”

“Memory? Did someone cast a spell to mess with her brain?”

“The brain doesn’t work like that. You can’t just delete information like a computer. Since Isiah introduced herself as the Saintess of the Dead, it’s probably her own issue. I haven’t figured it all out yet. It could be short-term amnesia, or maybe she’s consciously blocking out certain memories. We can’t draw conclusions yet since this is just the first ethical inspection. If we push her too hard and cross the line, that’ll be a problem in itself.”

“True, there have been quite a few hysterical lunatics among returnees….”

About 30 years ago, there was an incident where a returnee lost their temper during an ethical inspection and went on a rampage. Since then, ethical inspections for returnees have been divided into three stages.

The first ethical inspection is primarily to check, ‘Is this person someone who could kill others without reason?’ It focuses on basic ethical and rational standards.

The second and third stages assess the returnee’s overall abilities and, if there are mental disorders, determine the cause, solutions, and management methods, which is the original purpose of returnee reporting.

If further tests are needed, they’ll proceed, but in most cases, the process ends at the third stage.

Since the establishment of proper and systematic guidelines for returnee ethical inspections, cases of mental breakdowns among returnees have significantly decreased.

Currently, many returnees are adapting to modern life with the support of the management bureau and senior returnees.

“Hmm, the problem is that this returnee, Isiah, has power comparable to Yeonseo.”

“Have you reported this to the higher-ups?”

“Yes, as soon as it was confirmed that the returnee had power comparable to Yeonseo’s, the information was immediately relayed to the VIPs.”

A returnee with power on par with Yeonseo’s wasn’t just rare; if viewed positively, it could be an opportunity for the country to usher in a new golden age.

As the first S-rank awakener, Yeonseo created the initial image of a hunter who protected humanity and hunted monsters.

The numerous systems, management methods, and awakening abilities she established still serve as a global standard.

Thanks to Yeonseo’s existence, Korea could claim ownership and rights to several S-rank dungeons, making South Korea one of the world’s top powers, despite its small size.

All of that was solely possible because of the existence of one person, ‘Yeonseo.’

Now, with a returnee possessing power equal to Yeonseo’s, it wasn’t surprising that the higher-ups were making a fuss.

“Hm, this is troublesome. The higher-ups will probably want to register Isiah as a hunter and make her work all over the place.”

“As I said before, as an ethics consultant, I don’t recommend it. At least observe her for a while with continuous management. Forcing her into something without her will is not advised. Didn’t you say Isiah was quite high-ranking? She might know a lot about this line of work too.”

“An empire, huh… Could she have been a chancellor or something? Or maybe being a Saintess itself was a high-ranking position.”

“When it comes to career counseling or self-reliance recommendations for returnees with power, it’s common to suggest becoming a hunter. With proper persuasion and offers, she might be convinced. After all, Isiah seems to be a good person at heart.”

“Well, that’s a relief. If you’d said she was ‘evil,’ I’d have had a heart attack. I’ve already had a rough morning, getting scolded by Yeonseo for half the day…”

Director Lee adjusted his glasses and tucked away the documents containing Isiah’s details.

“Let’s keep an eye on things for now. I’ll approve the arrangements for the returnee’s residence and support funds, so I’ll leave those matters to you, Director Choi Bomi. Let me know if anything special comes up.”

“Understood.”

“…Oh, and. Yeonseo asked me to tell you something.”

“Yeonseo, ma’am?”

“‘That child is under the protection of the Yeon family,’ she said.”

“…….In other words, don’t mess with her.”

Even after her retirement, Yeonseo’s ties to the Hunter Association and the Returnee Management Bureau were inseparable.

Though Yeonseo had been portrayed as a paragon of humanity, guarding humanity after the First Great Rift and acting with absolute righteousness, the brighter the light, the darker the shadow.

Yeonseo knew well just how deep and dark that shadow could be.

“Well, Director Choi, you’re not one to mess around anyway, are you? That’s why I called you this early in the morning to handle this returnee.”

“…Sigh, next time, at least call me in the afternoon. Do you have any idea how hard it is to force yourself to be upbeat in the morning?”

“I’ll try.”