And with that, he disappeared into the kitchen once again, while I sat there trembling — not from weakness, but from sheer exhilaration.
Mmm?
Suddenly, all that warmth flooding through my flesh and bones — that intoxicating feeling of nourishment — came to an abrupt halt. My body jolted violently, as if struck by lightning.
"So… this is the current limit of my body, huh?"
A wry smile tugged at my lips despite the ache coursing through me.
Yes, I knew it well — my ability wasn't something limitless. It didn't make me invincible, nor did it grant me boundless growth. Everything it gave me depended entirely on the capacity of my current body.
Right now, I hadn't undergone any proper training. My muscles were frail, my core still recovering from years of malnutrition. To such a weakened vessel, this was the edge — the point my ability could no longer push past.
Instinctive Devourer.
That was the name of my ability. It had three distinct stages:
First — Consumption.
By devouring the flesh of monsters, I could nourish my body. Every bite replenished stamina and pushed my natural healing to its very peak.
Second — Tempering.
Once my body reached its nourished limit, I would have to break it down through intense training — tearing the muscles, straining the bones — pushing the vessel to its brink. Only through pain and effort could my potential truly expand.
Third — Reconstruction.
From the wreckage of what was broken, new life would form. My body would rebuild itself using the monstrous Essentia within me — generating stronger, denser tissue, each cycle making me more resilient, more powerful.
But even so…
There was one thing I could never overcome.
No matter how much I devoured, no matter how many times I rebuilt myself — this ability had an ultimate boundary.
The natural limit of the human body.
That invisible wall had shackled me once before. No matter how hard I trained, or how much monster flesh I consumed, I could never step beyond that line.
That wall — that cursed limit — was what kept me chained to the mortal realm until my death in my previous life.
Even now, I still can't figure out how to break free from my natural limits and shake off the chains that have held me down indefinitely.
Shaking my head, I went back to finishing the dish in front of me.
Yep, I kept on eating.
My ability isn't some miracle gift like the ones others have received.
Take a regular Tier One ability like Stone Skin, for instance; when activated, it instantly hardens the body and boosts strength to tackle Tier One monsters. No training is required, although proper training can enhance its effectiveness and control.
But my ability… it merely speeds up the natural capabilities of the human body. I eat, digest, and gain energy from it — it's not some miraculous power like what others possess.
The food and Essentia I take in after hitting my limit can turn into fat that stores pure energy, which I can later burn to nourish my body again.
Before long, I polished off the Emberhog's Ash-Bacon with Slices of Hearthbread. Old Man Bronnin placed another two servings on the table.
He looked genuinely worried.
Initially, he was mad at me for taking his food as a joke, but now he realized I truly respected and appreciated his cooking — his whole attitude had shifted.
I nodded in gratitude for his incredible dishes.
Even before my regression, there were very few chefs who could whip up monster cuisine as skillfully as he does.
Just meeting this guy here made my choice to join the Expedition Guild feel totally worth it.
Noticing I was still eating, he went off to prepare the last dish I ordered.
In just a few moments, my body underwent an incredible transformation again.
Faen's expression turned to one of utter disbelief.
The skinny guy who looked like he hadn't eaten in ages now appeared like a normal person — and as I kept devouring more monster meat, I even started to look a bit chubby!
Not just him — most of the folks who came here expecting to see me embarrass myself were now completely stunned.
"H-hey, that guy… he seems like he gained a lot of weight in just a few minutes, right?!"
"Yes, you saw it right! That must be his ability!"
"What kind of ability is that? I've never heard of anything like it!"
"I wonder what tier his ability belongs to…"
Before the crowd could grow any rowdier, Old Man Bronnin stomped out of the kitchen once again — this time carrying a new dish that glimmered faintly under the light.
Shard Crunch, made from the wings and carapace of the Glass Locust.
The moment he appeared, the noisy cafeteria fell silent. Every head turned away, and not a single soul dared to meet his eyes. No one wanted to provoke the man who had just threatened to gut an entire crowd minutes ago.
The Glass Locust — an insect-type monster infamous across the borderlands.
They were known for their lightning-fast flight and insatiable hunger, capable of stripping entire farmlands bare within hours. Their bodies, translucent like glass, were incredibly hard yet light, making them difficult to kill.
The dish placed before me was beautiful in its own terrifying way.
The locust's feather-like wings had been removed, its head discarded, and the remaining segments deep-fried in golden oil. The air around it shimmered with the heat, carrying the sharp scent of spice and herbs. The crunchy shards gleamed like amber crystal under the lamplight.
Beside me, Faen gagged. His face twisted, and he slapped both hands over his mouth as if fighting the urge to vomit right there.
"Ugh… gods… that's… bugs," he muttered, turning his face away.
Old Man Bronnin froze mid-step, his thick brows furrowing.
His booming voice echoed through the hall, sharp enough to silence every whisper.
"Oi! Do you have a problem with the food I made, boy?"
Faen went pale instantly. The blood drained from his face as Bronnin's stern gaze locked onto him like a predator eyeing prey.
"N-no, sir! I—I just remembered something important! K-Kael, I'll see you tomorrow!"
With that pathetic excuse, Faen bolted, practically sprinting out of the cafeteria.
His reaction wasn't unusual, though — it was the same expression painted on the faces of nearly everyone watching.
Disgust.
Repulsion.
Fear of the idea of eating insects.
I glanced around the hall and scoffed under my breath. All these people… they lived in comfort, surrounded by luxury. They could afford to turn up their noses at food just because it looked strange or came from a monster.
They had no idea what true hunger felt like.
Only those who had starved — who had been forced to scavenge for scraps just to see another sunrise — could understand the real beauty of a meal.
After my exile from the family before my regression, I became a mercenary — hunting monsters to survive and prove my worth. I learned to eat anything that wouldn't kill me. Later, when those lunatic cult bastards dragged me into their chaos, I barely escaped with my life and fled to the frontier. There, on the battlefield, food was rarer than mercy. We devoured whatever we could find — half-burned rations, stale bread, sometimes even boiled monster bone just to trick our stomachs into silence.
The memories alone made my chest tighten.
I took a slow breath and looked at the shimmering golden dish before me.
Without bothering to care what others thought, I picked up a piece of Shard Crunch and took a bite.
Crunch!
The sound was crisp and satisfying. The texture was brittle, the flavor salty and savory, perfectly balanced with the spices that coated the fried shell. The faint sweetness of the Essentia-infused oil lingered at the back of my tongue. Each bite was addictive — like eating the most exquisite snack in the world.
As I ate, warmth spread from my chest, and a quiet satisfaction welled inside me.
Let others sneer all they want — to me, this was a meal worthy of respect.