Chapter 740: Depriver
Translator: CKtalon
âGlutton?â Lumian said approvingly, âQuite the image.â
Ludwig ignored Lumianâs mockery and continued with the brief introduction, âAt this Sequence, hunger truly becomes ingrained in our bodies, allowing us to evolve around it.â
âWhat kinds of evolutions are there?â Lumian was concerned that Ludwig would only mention this about Gluttons, just as he had described the Tramp Sequence. Therefore, he took the initiative to inquire.
Ludwig paused for a few seconds to swallow his food.
Then, he stuffed a small piece of lemon cake into his mouth and replied in a muffled manner,
âInternal organs that are better suited for digesting food and absorbing energy. Stronger, more powerful teeth, a bite force and appetite that exceed normal limitsâŠ
âThis will help us obtain different abilities from food more efficiently. We wonât have to worry about being affected by the toxins, viruses, and bacteria that food brings.â
âIn other words, even if itâs highly toxic, as long as you consume it with your mouth and treat it as food, you wonât die from the poison?â Lumian suddenly felt that Ludwig would make a suitable assistant for Apothecaries.
Ludwig took a sip of milk and shook his head.
âWe canât exceed a certain limit. Many Gluttons die from eating random stuff.â
And youâre not eating random stuff? Lumian scoffed inwardly.
At the same time, he inwardly sighed.
This guy is quite honest. Heâs indeed like a child most of the time. He actually forgot to protest that I had asked additional questions.
Ludwig set down the milk bottle and picked up a box of cookies.
Amidst the munching sounds, he continued, âThe corresponding Sequence 7 is Gourmet.
âAt this level, our digestion and eating abilities will improve further. We can discern which ingredients are edible, which are inedible, which ingredients can bring about special effects, and which ingredients need to be combined with others.â
Lumian thought seriously before asking, âIs extracting the corresponding information from the consumed food one of a Gourmetâs abilities?â
This ability had helped Lumian a great deal.
Ludwig, donning a thick yellow cotton nightcap, nodded obediently. âYes.â
He didnât elaborate on the corresponding abilities.
âAlthough a Gourmet is useful, I can sense that at this Sequence, you lack sufficient combat strength. Yes, perhaps Tramp will grant you a certain level of street fighting abilities,â Lumian commented from his own perspective.
Ludwig didnât argue, nor did he bother to. How could delicacies already in his mouth or subsequent delicacies be less important than what he was talking about?
He peeled a lollipop and placed it in his mouth, a hint of enjoyment on his face.
âBeyond that is what you call Sequence 6âChef.â
âI thought it was Bartender,â Lumian teased.
Ludwig pondered seriously and said, âChefs cover a wider range. Itâs not like they can only make cocktails.â
Lumian nodded pensively.
âIs a Chefâs ability to use special ingredients to create mystical dishes, pastries, drinks, and cocktails?â
Ludwig had displayed this ability numerous times.
Ludwig couldnât help but reveal a smug expression.
âThatâs right. Every Chef has different characteristics and abilities due to the ingredients theyâve obtained and the food theyâve prepared.
âChefs have one thing in common: they have excellent skills in processing ingredients. This includes finding weaknesses and techniques like cutting, chopping, and slicing.â
Only at this Sequence would one from the Gourmet pathway truly possess combat strength⊠However, a Chef is similar to a Contractee. Their actual combat strength depends on their synergy of abilities. The upper limit is very high, and the lower limit is very low⊠Lumian, thinking of a Contractee, asked curiously, âIs there a limit to the number of permanent effects a Chef can obtain through various mystical foods?â
As for the negative effects, Lumian, who had eaten Ice Lemon Fish fillet before, had a deep understanding.
Depending on the ingredients and finished products, mystical dishes or cocktails brought different negative effects, but they were significantly weaker than those a Contractee experienced.
âNo.â Ludwig quickly shook his head. âAs long as you fully embrace hunger and greed, there wonât be an upper limit.â
This upper limit is a little crazy⊠However, this also means that thereâs no limit to the number of negative effects. Even if each one is far inferior to the ones brought about by a Contractee, they will undergo a qualitative change after stacking⊠Lumian pondered for a moment and looked at Ludwig, who had roughly finished his meal.
âThat first time we met, when I saw you chowing down on rats, were you just a Glutton or a Gourmet?â
Ludwig didnât try to hide anything.
âGourmet.â
Indeed, heâd been critiquing the dishes 1 served him⊠Lumian pondered for a moment, then said, âDid you recover to Chef status during that Batings Black Insect incident?â
Ludwig curtly confirmed it.
âI was just short to begin with. Eating a Batings Black Insect was all it took to advance.â
âWhatâs the next Sequence?â Lumian steered the conversation back on track.
Ludwig dredged up the memories.
âItâs Depriver.â
âDepriver?â Lumian immediately thought of the Deprivation Bullet heâd gotten from Jebus.
Could this be a transaction from the cult of the Gourmet pathway?
Ludwig thought Lumian wanted him to explain the Depriverâs abilities. He recounted, âA Depriver can strip one to three abilities from a target for a period of time. If they then consume part of the targetâs flesh, they permanently gain one of those abilities, and the target permanently loses it unless they drink a potion again or kill meâno, the corresponding Depriver.
âAt Depriver, our recipes get way more range. A ton of formerly inedible things become food. We can consume things we previously couldnât.â
âGive me an example?â Lumian wasnât sure his interpretation matched Ludwigâs intentions.
Ludwig looked at him and offered two examples.
âCorruption to a certain degree, as well as fireballs, lightning, and other energy forms.â
They can eat way more dangerous stuff and consume things that shouldnât even be considered food⊠Lumian thought of an enemy heâd faced at the Hostel and something Ludwig just mentioned. He asked for confirmation, âSo that ability to process ingredients includes those ingredients too?â
âYes,â Ludwig admitted candidly.
Lumian pulled the matte Deprivation Bullet from his Travelerâs Bag and set it on the dining table.
âThis is from a Depriver?â
Ludwigâs eyes lit up.
âYes.â
He said anxiously, âCan I⊠can I use it as a prize? I donât want that Beyonder characteristic anymore!â
âI think Beyonder characteristics are way more valuable,â Lumian deliberately provoked him.
Ludwig looked sad and said reluctantly, âBut I can only choose one.
â1 canât actually consume Beyonder characteristics yet. 1 can only use them as ingredients for now.â
Is that right⊠Lumian eyed Ludwig and organized his thoughts.
âHow much more do you need to eat to recover to Depriver?â
âThe further along I go, the harder it gets. I canât just eat a ton. I need higher quality, higher energy foods.â Ludwig pointed at the Deprivation Bullet. âIâd need at least 200 of these bullets to reach Depriver.â
Lumian chuckled and whispered devilishly, âWhat if you ate the Depriver who made this bullet?â
âI could recover immediately!â Ludwigâs eyes lit up.
Lumianâs smile widened.
âYou donât seem to have strong offensive abilities. I can help you get the stuff to capture the corresponding Beyonders, but you gotta listen to me and do what I say before 1 become a demigod. We need to be totally in sync.
âThatâs my promise. You gonna hold up your end of the deal?â
Ludwig hesitated a moment before reluctantly nodding.
âDeal.â
Phew, stay calm⊠This is just the start of the âtaming,â not the end. Long process ahead⊠Lumian suppressed his smile and asked curiously, âWho were you following back then?
âNo need for the full title. Just call them something like âthe Great Mother.ââ
Ludwig was caught off guard.
His expression shifted a few times before tears streamed down his face. He wailed like a child.
âI-I donât remember!
âIâve forgotten. Iâve forgotten everything!â
Hearing his cries, Lugano emerged from the guest room in a thick coat.
The Doctor immediately noticed Lumian and asked in confusion, âWhy is he crying?â
Is this really the terrifying cannibal from the Dream Festival?
Lumian chuckled in response.
âI showed him delicacies but didnât give him any.â
âAlrightâŠâ Lugano looked between them in confusion before retreating back to his room.
Luganoâs brief appearance made Lumian remember an item, and he had a dangerous thought.
He pulled the remains of Omebellaâs umbilical cord from his Travelerâs Bag and âconsultedâ Ludwig, whoâd gradually stopped sobbing.
âWhat dishes and cocktails could you make with this?â
That umbilical cord left behind by the Great Motherâs Child of God was thought to be just an ingredient for charms, mystical items, and Beyonder weapons. But now Lumian figured a Gourmet might see it differently.
Looking at Omebellaâs umbilical cord remains, Ludwig licked his lips.
âIt could make three types of food with different mystical effects.
âOne food would completely cure infertility.â
âDonât need that,â Lumian said in amusement. âWhat about the other two foods?â
Ludwig said professionally, âOne grants potent self-healing abilities, though inferior to a Vampireâs.
âAnd anotherâŠâ
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