Byeol wasn’t necessarily a picky eater. However, this only applied when vegetables were the only option on the table. Now, if both meat and vegetables were available, Byeol’s spoon would inevitably go straight for the meat. After devouring three bowls of glossy fried rice and smearing her mouth with its remnants, she rubbed her now-rounded belly and beamed. “All done?” Do-Jun asked. “Yep!” Byeol answered cheerfully. Her portions of spinach salad and fresh lettuce wraps that were set aside remained untouched in her bowl. It was obvious she had only eaten the meat-laden fried rice and completely ignored the vegetables. Scratching his head, Do-Jun sighed deeply. Even with a full stomach, Byeol always had room for a post-dinner snack, almost like she had a separate stomach just for that. She opened a drawer, pulled out a bag of potato chips, and tore it open. Then, grabbing a handful of chips, she munched loudly while dashing toward the door. Compared to when she first arrived, her cheeks were rounder, and her belly had grown noticeably plumper. “I’m going out to pway!” she said. “Go ahead,” Do-Jun replied with a grin. Even if Byeol was a picky eater, as long as she ate well and grew healthily, it didn’t seem to matter. It wasn’t like she was going to be affected by the type of nutrients she consumed, anyway. Kiriel was sitting by the food stall, engrossed in a book titled The Wise Vegetarian. It explained the benefits of adopting a vegetarian diet, and he became interested in vegetarianism after reading it. Although the text was full of complicated terms like “plant-based diet” and “vegan,” it boiled down to one simple message: eating vegetables makes you healthier. “What are you doing, Kirieh?” Byeol asked. Kiriel was absorbed in the book and momentarily lowered it to look at Byeol. “I am reading,” he said. Kiriel chuckled softly and nodded. Byeol poured the last of the potato chips into her mouth straight from the bag and licked the crumbs off the corners of her lips with her tongue. Then she closed her eyes and sniffed the air. The smoky aroma of charcoal-grilled meat tickled Byeol’s nose. Turning toward the source of the scent, she saw Hakase grilling skewers over charcoal. “Meat!” she exclaimed, excited by the sight. “Oh, hey, Byeol. Want to try some?” Hakase asked her. “Of course. Here, have a taste.” Hakase handed her a perfectly grilled skewer. Byeol pulled off a piece of meat and started eating. The combination of teriyaki sauce and smoky grill flavor was unmatched. Hakase turned toward Kiriel, who was still buried in his book. “Hey! You come and try it too.” Kiriel glanced at the skewers roasting over the charcoal but shook his head. “I’ve just become a vegetarian.” Hakase was dumbfounded, unable even to laugh. Shaking his head in disbelief, he devoured a skewer in one bite and handed another to Byeol. “What’s a vegetawian?” Byeol asked. “It means someone who only eats vegetables and fruits,” Hakase explained. Byeol was shocked. How could anyone eat only vegetables when there were so many delicious foods in the world? She loved pork belly, ribs, fried chicken, pizza, chocolate bread, snacks, and soda. The idea of eating only vegetables made her think she would rather die. Kiriel went to the fourth floor of the Core, known as the Celestial Realm and the domain of immortals. Its treacherous mountain terrain and steep cliffs often caused newcomers to get lost. However, Kiriel, being accustomed to the environment, confidently climbed the mountain and headed toward a specific destination. He was here for Celestial Fruits. The trees in the area were laden with them, a staple of the immortals. Resembling peaches, they were known for their poor taste but exceptional nutritional value. Kiriel picked one and took a bite. He started coughing hard, the terrible flavor making him choke momentarily. Just then, a voice called out, “Who goes there?” An elderly man with a long white beard and a flowing white robe appeared. It was Cho Yang-Un, one of the immortals of the fourth floor. His eyes widened when he saw Kiriel. “K-Kiriel? Is that really you? What brings you here...?” Kiriel swallowed the remaining fruit, prompting Cho Yang-Un to smile knowingly. “Have you decided to walk the path of an immortal?” he asked. In the past, when Kiriel reached the fourth floor, it was Cho Yang-Un’s turn to take a new disciple. Adventurers often learned Taoist techniques from the immortals here, but Kiriel had found the process dull, tedious, and especially off-putting because of the vegetarian diet required during training. He had refused. Kiriel flinched and answered, “N-no, I’ve simply decided to become a vegetarian.” “Hahaha! Wonderful! Simply wonderful! Immortals naturally attune themselves to nature’s essence. You’ve set your mind in the right direction.” With a flourish, Cho Yang-Un grabbed Kiriel’s arm. “First, let us go greet Haetae.” Haetae was a sacred being revered by the immortals. Those aspiring to walk the path of immortality would first pay respects to Haetae, who resided at the top of Daeyangsan Mountain. Kiriel approached the resting Haetae after being reluctantly pulled along by Cho Yang-Un.[1] Cho Yang-Un handed him the fruit of the Chinaberry tree. According to legend, Haetae only ate this fruit, which was imbued with nature’s pure essence. “Place this in front of Haetae,” Cho Yang-Un said. “Okay...?” Kiriel cautiously placed the fruit in front of Haetae. The creature slowly opened its eyes to examine the offering. Then, it furrowed its brows, bared its sharp teeth, and growled, exuding an intimidating aura. Startled, Kiriel stepped back and shot a questioning look at Cho Yang-Un, silently demanding why this was happening when he had simply followed instructions. “Haha, worry not. This is how Haetae always reacts. It’s a sign of approval.” “This... is approval?” “Indeed. The Chinaberry embodies nature’s concentrated essence.” It was the first morning of his new life as a fully-fledged vegetarian. Kiriel had started living at Cho Yang-Un’s home. It had been quite some time since Behemoth left, saying they were going to visit Earth. Cho Yang-Un, seemingly delighted to have a new “disciple” after so long, brought breakfast with a cheerful expression. “This is Gujisin Leaf Broth. It expels impurities from the body and fosters celestial energy. Hehe, any vegetarian would kill to have this meal,” Cho Yang-Un boasted. The food was raw and uncooked. The breakfast Cho Yang-Un brought was, to put it mildly, unappetizing. Each bite released a grassy smell that made Kiriel nauseous. Kiriel forced it down after recalling a line from the book: Healthy food is bitter. Soon, it was lunchtime. The meal this time was bright red berries called Sanguyoo Fruit, which brought a faint smile to Kiriel’s face. At first glance, they looked sweet and sour, like a treat. However, appearances were deceiving. As soon as Cho Yang-Un left his sight, Kiriel spat out the berry. “Why would anyone eat this?” he said in disgust. Doubts started to grow in Kiriel’s mind. Each time they did, he pulled out The WiseVegetarian from his pocket to calm himself. After reluctantly eating half the Sanguyoo Fruit, Kiriel lay flat on the ground, staring at the ceiling. And then, it was dinner time. “This is Spirit Mushroom. It’s excellent for restoring vitality. Whenever we immortals feel weak, we either drink the essence of nature or consume Spirit Mushroom. It’s extremely effective.” Naturally, this dish was also uncooked. Satisfied with himself, Cho Yang-Un quietly closed the door and left. Alone, Kiriel stared at the Spirit Mushrooms, his legs trembling. The next morning, Kiriel woke up to the chirping of sparrows. It was the second day of his journey to the fourth floor of the Core, the Celestial Realm, where he had vowed to become a vegetarian. He let out a deep sigh as he looked at the untouched Spirit Mushroom. Who knew being a vegetarian could be this torturous? Just then, a small shadow appeared beyond the doorway, followed by a childlike voice. “Hello? Is anyone here?” Kiriel sprang to his feet and rushed to the door. There stood Byeol, dressed in a yellow chick-pattern outfit. Overjoyed, Kiriel lifted her into his arms. “Oh, what brings you here? Did you come because you missed me?” he asked. Byeol was holding a Core Talisman. “My goodness. Did you come here all by yourself?” “Yup. But Kirieh, what are you doing here?” Kiriel set Byeol down. “I’m training.” “Yes. To become a true vegetarian... Huh!” Kiriel froze as he saw Cho Yang-Un approaching, holding the Chinaberry. Cho Yang-Un paused momentarily, tilting his head as he looked at Byeol. Byeol accompanied Kiriel to the top of Daeyangsan Mountain. Cho Yang-Un used a teleportation technique to quickly get ahead, while Kiriel carried Byeol on his back, leaping across the ground. Cho Yang-Un explained that he feeds Haetae every morning. The sleeping Haetae’s ears twitched as it sensed their presence. It glared at Cho Yang-Un and Kiriel, baring its teeth and letting out low growls. Unfazed, Cho Yang-Un chuckled as he approached the growling creature with the Chinaberry. “You seem especially pleased today, hahaha,” Cho Yang-Un chuckled, content. At that moment, Byeol tugged on Kiriel’s sleeve. “What is it, Byeol?” Kiriel asked. “That lion is angwy.” Kiriel smirked and replied, “That’s Haetae, not a lion. And apparently, that’s how it shows that it’s happy.” “No.” Byeol was adamant. Byeol could hear Haetae’s voice, and Haetae was, without a doubt, furious. She translated the meaning of the growls. “It said, ‘I told you not to give me that twash!’” “Huh...?” Kiriel glanced at Cho Yang-Un. With a benevolent smile, Cho Yang-Un placed the Chinaberry in front of Haetae, who growled even louder. “Why do you keep giving me this disgusting stuff?! You’re pissing me off!” Byeol continued translating. Finally, Cho Yang-Un appeared to notice Byeol’s words. Could she truly be understanding the esteemed Haetae’s words? Cho Yang-Un gulped nervously and addressed Haetae. “D-disgusting? But the Chinaberry isn’t for taste. It’s a great source of nature’s essence—” He was interrupted by even fiercer growls. “What’s it saying?” Kiriel asked. Byeol replied, “If it’s so gwate, you eat it! Stop pissing me off evewy morning!” Cho Yang-Un slumped to the ground in defeat, and Byeol tugged on Kiriel’s sleeve again. “I’m hungwy. Let’s go now.” Seasoned cockatrice meat sizzled on the charcoal grill. Hakase plated the golden-brown meat and smothered it with his special sauce. He planned to introduce it as a new menu item. “Hey, Kiriel! I’m thinking of adding this to the menu—oh, right.” He remembered Kiriel had become a vegetarian. Scratching his head in resignation, Hakase turned away, only to see Kiriel approach and casually start eating the cockatrice meat. Hakase tilted his head in confusion. 1. Haetae is a Korean mythical animal that resembles a lion with a horn on its head. It is regarded as a guardian! ☜