The Grill-Wielding Saintess of the Dead

Fortunately, Yujin managed to escape from the place before she could try the mint chocolate-flavored Uranium Dragon stew made by Shia.

It wasn’t intentional, but Yujin had no hobby of cooking and eating the sparkling Glowing King Dragon either. She just moved to check if the elves, including Olgania, were in potential danger due to the sudden attack of an S-grade monster.

Yujin was an S-grade Hunter from Korea and also a representative of the Returnee Group, but her reason for boarding the Hunter Train was primarily to escort and guarantee the safety of the Daesanrim and Olgania.

Since the dungeon invasion hadn’t even occurred yet, if monsters suddenly ambushed the train as a group, Yujin needed to prioritize the safety of Olgania.

‘First of all, anything made by Isia is crazy food…’

Actually, Yujin had seen Shia’s broadcasts a few times. Recently, she had gotten busy due to issues related to Daesanrim and the elves. Originally, she had quite a long history as a Hunter streamer, having occupied the Gallery Master position several times even before Shia began her broadcasts.

Naturally, she occasionally kept up with Shia’s broadcasts. Yujin had seen Shia create bizarre otherworldly foods with all sorts of monsters.

There were successful dishes, but from Yujin’s perspective, it was common sense that if Shia was cooking, she should run away first.

Anyway, Yujin started to check for any damage to the vehicle the elves were riding.

“We didn’t see any Uranium Dragons coming this way while we were on guard.”

“What about the others?”

“They went to support the human hunters under Olgania’s orders.”

Seeing the expression on Yujin’s face asking if that was true, Olgania smiled slowly while sipping tea brought from Daesanrim.

“We’re on the same train, and whether it’s elves or humans, helping each other is a good thing, right?”

“You’ve changed quite a bit, Olgan.”

Despite the urgent situation outside, Olgania leisurely drank tea with Lirisia, who had somehow become quite close with her during this time. Originally, Lirisia had been monitored by Olgania in a nearly prison-like manner, but perhaps judging that there was no longer any danger, Lirisia was now allowed to walk around freely and meet Teresa.

She was no longer as toxic as before. More than anything, it seemed that the large Olgania had developed a fondness for Lirisia by working alongside the elves as the head of the terraforming crew.

“The elves I knew wouldn’t even associate with humans and shot laser guns, huh?”

“…What the heck are your elves doing?”

“I was curious, but unfortunately, they were the first to be destroyed by the Demon King, so I don’t really know.”

Fortunately, the elves’ vehicle suffered no damage.

Monsters instinctively avoided the blessings of the World Tree and the spirits that elves possessed, but the Uranium Dragons’ primary targets were the enormous magical energy emitted from the Hunter Train’s power source and the food stored in the food cars for over a thousand hunters. Therefore, they had relatively little interest in the lesser presence of the elves.

“I’m currently checking the damage situation. Anyway, it seems there are no more attacks, but we detected radiation infused with the dragon’s mana, so be careful, Olgan. I think the Lotus Lake Knight Squad can handle it, but just in case, it would be best to continuously purify the area with wind and water spirits.”

“Ha ha ha, it’s fine. It’s fine. I’m glad you’re worried about me, Yujin! But I’m here, so it’ll be okay, right?”

“…Olga, it’s my job to make sure you don’t have to step in.”

“Oh my…”

As Yujin’s words made Olgania’s face turn bright red, Lirisia, who was watching, finished the tea in her cup with a laugh.

From the outside, it seemed that only Olgania was active in their relationship, but it was slightly different in reality.

“Mmm, this is delicious.”

It felt almost like drinking an aid rather than tea with lots of fruit pulp in it.

“Hey, Elf View Beam, aren’t you worried about me?”

“Shut up, fake saint.”

“Oh my, oh my. Lirisia, even so, if you say something so straightforward, Yujin will get embarrassed. Hehe~”

Olgania’s face brightened as she smiled widely, seemingly pleased by Lirisia calling Yujin the Elf View Beam.

‘At least it seems like Olgan’s fine, so that’s a relief.’

Even if the Uranium Dragons had attacked the elves, it would have been okay.

Although the Uranium Dragons were rated as S-grade monsters, their level of threat, when considering the radiation imbued with dragon mana and the radioactive breath, was classified as S-grade to humanity, while in terms of physical strength and power, the Uranium Dragon was barely A-grade.

The elves of the Daesanrim, blessed by the World Tree, could repel the dragon’s radiation with the power of spirits, so practically, there was no need for Olgan to get involved. The elves of the Lotus Lake Knight Squad, who had come as attendants and guardians, were likely enough.

“Anyway, it’s a relief that Olgan is safe.”

“What about the saintess side?”

“Ixia isn’t someone who really needs worrying. She was also saying something about making Uranium Dragon stew…”

“Gasp, that sounds delicious…!”

At the mention of Uranium Dragon stew, Lirisia drooled, and Yujin suddenly realized that the Witch of the Dark Star was essentially the same person as Isia.

“Then can we just wait now? When does the train depart?”

“First, we need to assess the damage situation. After that, once the recovery procedure is completed, we can depart again…”

“Y-Yujin Hunter!”

Just then, a train staff member rushed over from the hallway, desperately calling Yujin’s name.

Upon seeing the staff member, Yujin seemingly didn’t want to show her true nature and flipped her usual disguise as a handsome man.

“What is it? I told you to contact me via smartwatch if you needed anything.”

“Gasp…”

As Yujin showed a displeased reaction, the staff member let out a tense breath.

It was understandable since Yujin, being an S-grade who was also a returnee from Korea, had considerable experience and was one of the sponsors of this Hunter Train.

If it weren’t for Yujin, there was talk that the elves of Daesanrim wouldn’t have been able to board the Hunter Train.

“I’m sorry. But it’s an urgent matter…!”

“Urgent matter?”

The staff member, glancing at Yujin cautiously, began to stutter.

“U-um… The Uranium Dragons have taken over four train cars.”

“What? They didn’t destroy it; they took it over?”

“Yes, yes…”

It was strange that they had lifted the entire heavy train, but what was even stranger was that a dragon had taken a train car.

Yujin couldn’t help but imagine the dazzling, glowing dinosaur waddling along, clutching the Hunter Train in its embrace.

Ah, indeed, it was quite funny.

“Currently, the seized train cars consist of three food storage cars and one used as a hunter dormitory. Five individuals have been detected inside.”

“The food is a problem, but they took the dormitory car for hunters? Why?”

“That, I’m not sure…”

“So there are people kidnapped by the dragons?”

“Yes, yes…”

At the staff member’s words, Yujin felt a headache coming on.

‘Even though I can understand taking the food car, why are the Uranium Dragons going after people?’

Monsters have various reasons for abducting humans.

In the case of orcs or goblins, they would use powerless human women as breeding vessels for their species. There are also many monsters that primarily consume meat, including human flesh.

However, for the Uranium Dragons to abduct humans was somewhat unexpected from Yujin’s perspective.

‘While it makes sense to take the magical stones used as the train’s power source or food, why are they so intent on taking humans…?’

It was unlikely that a dragon would use a much smaller human as food or for breeding.

“Well, since they have been abducted, I must go. What about the other S-grades?”

“They’re either dealing with the remaining dragon minions nearby or helping with the internal recovery. Some of the tired ones have locked themselves in their own quarters, though.”

“Okay, understood. That means there aren’t many available to act. But have you identified the kidnapped individuals?”

“Ah, yes! We have.”

If it was Isia, she would surely help if asked.

It would be lonely to go alone, but if she went with that girl, they could finish the job faster.

“We have confirmed that the missing individual is A-grade hunter Kim Hana. Along with Isia’s companion, D-grade Hunter Yoonjeong and…”

“What?”

Yoonjeong…?

Isia’s mother…?

Hearing that, Yujin felt another headache coming on.

—

[Good job, comrades!]

[Come in quickly!]

Inside a secret nuclear facility in North Korea.

Filled with all sorts of nuclear fuel, missiles, and radiating substances stacked high, this was the hideout of the Uranium Dragons.

Having defeated the Gem Dragon, the Uranium Dragons completely made the underground facilities their own base, roaming all across North Korea to collect all sorts of uranium, nuclear power sources, and mana stones to enrich their lives.

As the mana stones combined with all sorts of radioactive minerals, this place naturally became an otherworldly area swirling with mana and radiation, which humans would call a dangerous area, but for the Uranium Dragons, it was like a paradise.

Living here for decades naturally allowed them to emit radiation embedded with dragon mana.

[Our great leader Dragon comrade has raided the food of the American bastards!]

[How long has it been since I’ve had plain rice with meat soup!]

[Long live the leader comrade!]

However, the Uranium Dragons were suffering from chronic food shortages.

Of course, the Uranium Dragons wouldn’t starve to death without material meals.

As long as they have the radiation and mana coming from their underground hideout, they won’t die, but they too ultimately have the desire to eat proper food as living beings.

When they lived in the dragon world, they survived by absorbing only the ambient mana, having been pushed out in competition. But since the other dragons realized the Uranium Dragons’ threat and blocked the entrance to the world of dragons, their active area became limited to North Korea.

And naturally, in North Korea, due to the lack of human interaction for decades, food was scarce.

There was virtually no food available that the Uranium Dragons could eat, including livestock and beasts, and the Uranium Dragons, who had no concept of cooking, would rather not eat goblin or troll meat.

In the meantime, when they sensed the vast amount of food from the Hunter Train, the Uranium Dragons intentionally aimed for the food and the train’s power source.

While their aim for the train’s power source was unfortunately blocked by S-grade hunters, Shia, and Teresa, a few Uranium Dragons moving in a special task force succeeded in seizing the food car and the enormous mana source-laden train car.

[Everyone quiet down!]

[Be quiet!]

Did you not hear the great leader’s words?]

[Quickly, quiet down.]

The largest Uranium Dragon, known as the leader, straightened its head and spoke to the other dragons.

[Today, I have something to tell all comrades of the people’s dragons.]

[Yes!]

[Please, proceed, leader comrade!]

As the room fell silent, the leader dragon said:

[It has been over 14 years since we have starved.]

[…Has it already been that long…?]

[The last thing we ate were a few goats from the mountain…]

[But as you can see over there, thanks to the struggles of our comrades today, we were able to bring back a lot of food!]

[Wow!]

[Can’t hold it…!]

[But, leader dragon, where are the other comrades?]

[……]

[Ah…ahh..]

Seeing the leader dragon close its eyes in what seemed like pity, the other Uranium Dragons started to sigh or quietly swallow their sadness as they realized what had occurred.

[Today we have, many of our good comrades who were unjustly sacrificed. We must not forget the sacrifice of our comrades, the people’s dragons. I wish to say this to you all… Even though we all have different skills, and different lives, we are all the people’s dragons who do not bow to the violence of the American lizards!]

[Absolutely, leader comrade!]

[The sacrifice of our comrades is so bright and tragic, but our people choose to die for everyone!]

Well, in reality, the leader dragon believed it was too dangerous to directly confront humans, so he intentionally assigned the task of drawing the attention of hunters to other Uranium Dragons. It was only a few trusted ones, including himself, who managed to safely seize the food train amid the chaos.

When in the position of a leader, such art of survival became commonplace.

[To remember our comrades’ sacrifice, we must eat to our hearts’ content!]

[Absolutely!]

[As expected, the words of our great leader comrade!]

[Let us all remember the proud people’s dragons who became souls protecting this land and our sacrificed comrades….]

Bang!

At that moment, a small explosion occurred in the food car stacked in the train.

As the leader dragon’s emotional speech was interrupted, the furious people dragons turned their gaze toward the food car.

[What?!]

[What kind of commotion during the great leader dragon’s speech!]

[That damn traitor!]

[But who are you referring to?]

[That bastard’s food, of course!]

Kiik!

Suddenly, an unidentifiable sound echoing through the underground base focused everyone’s attention again.

Kiik?

[Is someone there?]

[A large mana is felt coming from there!]

[Is the food of the American bastards alive and moving?]

[In what place could a traitor sneak in?!]

[…….]

As the dragons had excellent sensory awareness, it wasn’t hard to detect an abnormal movement coming from the food car.

They hadn’t realized it due to the mass of the hunter train concealed by human food and Greed Ore, but the sudden flow of presence had made the Uranium Dragons tense up.

It might be fine outside, but this underground nuclear facility was their sanctuary they had safeguarded for decades.

The fact that something alien had entered here made some of the dragons, unable to hide their anxiety, already begin to growl, preparing to unleash their Uranium Breath.

Finally, unable to hold back any further, the leader dragon pointed to the dragon closest to the seized train car.

[Hey, comrade dragon over there!]

[Did you call for me, leader comrade?]

[Go check quickly!]

[……]

Though he too felt anxious, having been called by the leader, he had to obey and slowly made his way to the train car.

Thud

Thud

The Uranium Dragon’s footsteps resonated in the underground facility but eventually stopped, and it sniffed like a dog, bringing its snout to the Hunter Train car.

And then…

Peh!!!

[W-What!!!]

At that moment, a small black shadow wriggled and jumped out of the food car.

The shadow pierced through the Uranium Dragon’s jaw and brain, turning it into mush, creating a squelching sound as blood and flesh splattered.

‘What the freak…! Did humans really lie in wait aboard the train, following us? Did they deliberately got captured to find out our hideout!?’

The leader dragon gulped nervously.

The leader dragon knew very well what the Uranium Dragons’ weakness was.

While radiation capable of disrupting mana and cells was a powerful weapon, if there was a means to nullify the radiation imbued with dragon mana, the combat power of the Uranium Dragons would plummet.

Knowing this, the leader dragon had deliberately taken on the role of seizing the food and power sources without risking danger.

But if strong humans were inside that train car they seized, and if someone had the means to nullify the radiation imbued with dragon mana, it would be a serious problem.

As the massive body of the Uranium Dragon with its jaw and head pierced collapsed, someone began to slowly emerge from the Hunter train car.

[Something is out!]

[Those bastards dare…!]

[I won’t let them!]

[They’ve hidden among our food!]

It was a shadow resembling a human but was not human.

“Weeeek~”

One had blade-like legs like a bug, confidently striking a pose with its hands on its hips while looking proudly at the Uranium Dragons.

Another was a liquid seamlessly fused with its head and body.

Yet another looked like a flower petal and seemed to be nodding off, drooling.

Lastly, a shadow with fish fins for ears lazily sat down as if it was annoyed.

“What in the world are those?”

As the sudden appearance of the four strange beings made the leader dragon mumble quietly.

[…What the hell are those crazy bastards saying?]

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