Chapter 162


“There’s neither eye, nose, nor ear.”

Just countless intricate chunks of metal crossed and torn apart.

– Wuuuuuuuuuuuuu.

“Oh, this is going well.”

As I pressed the operation button, the grinder started spinning endlessly like a monster’s mouth.

It was an exhilarating sight for me.

From dessert that looked like marshmallows to scrap metal like bicycles and TVs.

“I honestly didn’t expect to see this here.”

Having watched a lot of grinding machine videos back in the day, I actually felt a bit nostalgic.

But apparently, I was the only one feeling that way.

“…It’s chilling.”

It was big enough to swallow several people whole.

If even a collar or a toe got caught in there, it would be the end.

The slowly rotating wheels would crush you into scrap metal.

“I’ve never thought about something like this.”

It seemed to be a shocking scene for Taldru.

I had a refrigerator scheduled for delivery as experimental trash.

[‘Refrigerator’ has been delivered!]

“Goodbye, 2000s two-door refrigerator…”

Back in the days when points were scarce, I hurriedly got this friend after discovering the Mana Stone.

But now, with all these latest refrigerators, it had become nothing more than an eyesore.

It was time to let it go.

“Hey, brother. Are you really going to grind that?”

– Wow, that’s a damn refrigerator.

– No, give it to me.

– Damn, I’m really hungry now. You got money?

ㄴ It’s the Head of the Gallery.

ㄴ Thanks to that loaded Head of the Gallery, my stomach, which had always been empty, is finally full.

ㄴ Hahaha, your grinding skills are top-notch.

The Gallery and Taldru, who were watching this, had bewildered reactions.

Are you really going to grind that? Wow.

Can it even get ground down?

“It will definitely get ground.”

If it can grind down a fire hydrant and a TV, why wouldn’t a refrigerator get ground?

– Head of the Gallery*: Yeah, go ahead and grind it.

“Eh…”

The dwarf put the refrigerator in with a look full of hesitation.

– Thud!

– Ah, I can’t watch this, damn…

– But can it even get ground?

– Honestly, it looks like it will just spin uselessly.

ㄴ For real, it seems like it’ll just go around in circles and end there?

“…!”

For some reason, Jealousy was shaking violently, while I focused on the grinder.

– Wuuuuuuuuuuuuu.

“Hmm, it’s not catching well.”

Maybe because of its slick surface, the refrigerator was spinning uselessly.

It seemed like nothing more than scrap metal shaking against each other.

– What the heck, it really isn’t working.

– Just take it out and give it to some poor soul!!! It’s not too late!!!

ㄴ Poor soul = me, by the way.

ㄴ Haha, but can it really… huh?

– Clunk.

But why is it called a grinder if it doesn’t grind?

Just once.

It just needs to catch once.

– Crunch, crunch!

The moment the door swung open, it got caught in the gears.

The grinder devoured the refrigerator with terrifying serenity.

The massive form quickly crumpled and ripped apart, beginning to transform into scraps of paper.

– Crunch, crunch, crunch.

With a sound like bones crushing, the refrigerator disappeared entirely.

What remained was only the peacefully spinning grinder.

The scraps of the refrigerator were just rolling around like leftover food stuck in its teeth.

“The performance is definitely solid.”

I was worried it might break down, but it’s store-bought.

It could be used effectively anywhere.

It was about the time I thought I made a good purchase.

– Grrrrrr!

Just then, the timing was perfect as an immortal monster, a golem resurrected from Jealousy’s mana, began to rise.

“Hey, customer, would you like to have the immortal ground into powder?”

It was time to check if it was truly immortal or just a facade.

*

Immortal, literally means not dying.

You won’t die even if stabbed by a spear.

You come back to life even if your head gets cut off.

A blessing or curse from the gods.

Everyone feared it and trembled.

“Ugh, aaaaah…”

So Jealousy could do nothing but cower in fear.

Head of the Gallery*: Let’s try grinding it.

This was the first being that actually wanted to ground it into powder, rather than fear it.

It would crush and tear it apart until its original form was irrevocably unrecognizable.

Crunch, crunch.

“I-I don’t want to hear this… stop…”

Those sounds still echoed in my ears.

I witnessed that massive chunk of metal being ground down and torn apart right before my eyes.

The scariest part was that I too might end up in there.

Head of the Gallery wasn’t just trying to scare her.

Head of the Gallery*: Would it still be immortal if ground?

Would something immortal still come back to life if ground into powder?

Just out of sheer curiosity.

To see if that was truly possible, they had manifested this great magic in the form of a grinder.

All within just a few seconds.

“Grrrrrr…”

– Thud!

Just then, at my feet, the golem-style immortal monster collapsed.

Naturally, the remains scattered everywhere.

But the dwarf deliberately waited for its resurrection.

‘Why?’

Because the Head of the Gallery told him to wait.

– Wuuuuuuuuu.

“Brother, the golem is rising again!”

Soon, the golem that had been destroyed and scattered began to rise again, slowly.

It was a scene of immortality that defied all logic.

One would normally expect to be afraid, right?

Logically, it should be frightening.

Head of the Gallery*: Hmm, okay it takes about five minutes.

Head of the Gallery casually replied as if observing and conducting an experiment.

Before long, they gave a short command.

Head of the Gallery*: Gather up the remains.

“Everyone, gather the remains!”

Taldru shouted loudly as they hurried to move the destroyed immortal golem’s remains.

The size and scale were such that even a well-built worker couldn’t break it with a pickaxe.

But the dwarfs didn’t crush it; they threw it into the grinder.

– Thud!

That was all.

– Crunch!

The endless jaw, something you’d expect to see only in a cold hell, kept grinding the rocks.

Of course, once ground, there was no chance for the golem to recover.

Everyone knew that.

[Title: ?: Hey, try this…jpg]

(Grinder Meme)

Hey monster, try this!

Just give it one more shot at resurrection!

(Piled-Up Powder Meme)

Can’t do it, damn!

[Likes 4192] [Dislikes 12]

– Hahaha, damn.

– Wow, but what kind of magic is that?

– Damn, I’d never imagined that for real.

– I imagine a finger getting crushed.

ㄴ Urgh!

ㄴ Elky, aaaaah!

ㄴ Ah damn, I was just thinking about that!

[Title: How deviously refreshing.]

(Picture of an amazed demon)

Even demons would faint and take notes, damn.

[Likes 3012] [Dislikes 14]

– I mean, I kinda get the purpose…

– It’s kind of eerie, like a monster’s maw.

– Watching that seriously feels like it’s going to drive me insane, it’s terrifying;

– How on earth was that made?

ㄴ Head of the Gallery*) You guys.

ㄴ ?

ㄴ ???

ㄴ We’re not demons; how could we think of something like that, haha.

Seeing the sight of the monster being experimented on made them chuckle.

“Ah, ah…”

No matter how much of a soulless golem it was, how could it come to this?

A foreboding feeling arose in Jealousy’s mind.

They had ground scrap metal to experiment on the monster.

And the result? Of course, a great success.

It’s only an empty shell of a mana-revived being, without an actual self.

‘But what comes next?’

More advanced immortality, Jealousy herself.

At that moment, the Gallery’s gaze shifted towards her.

“Eek!”

Jealousy trembled without realizing it.

Jealousy? Desire? Who knows what that is.

She just wanted to go home.

Wanted to rewind time back to before witnessing such horrifying scenes.

Who would dare imagine grinding lives to challenge immortality?

“I-I’m sorry…”

Right when she was mumbling this, trembling, unable to even look at the Gallery.

Head of the Gallery*: You.*

“Y-yes?”

That elusive chat.

Now, even the text felt frightening.

In a hurry to not offend, she lifted her head to respond with extreme nervousness.

Head of the Gallery displayed a bewildered reaction to the sudden change in behavior then quickly asked.

Head of the Gallery*: But this is just a question I have, you know?

“Y-yeah, ask me anything…!”

What on earth does he want to know?

No, regardless, she had to answer.

Just then, while she was shaking nervously, Head of the Gallery*: Did you feel jealous of the golem too?

“…Huh?”

On the surface, that made no sense.

But Jealousy understood the meaning right away.

She was jealous of everything.

To be precise, she felt envious whenever someone else experienced things she hadn’t.

Pleasure, wealth, honor, experiences, even sadness.

“Do you mean…?”

Then the golem right before her was experiencing the ‘experience’ of being ground into powder.

Something that no one in this world had ever gone through.

Head of the Gallery was asking that.

If you’re jealous of the golem, I can grant you that same experience.

“Huh, huuuuuh…”

In the wake of that chilling prospect, tears started welling up in Jealousy’s eyes.

“P-please spare me…”

Head of the Gallery*: Huh?

“I’ll tell you everything! I’ll disclose everything I know, please, I don’t want to suffer…!”

Head of the Gallery*: ???

The relaxed demeanor quickly vanished.

Instead, seeing Jealousy crying in fear and desperation, Head of the Gallery tilted his head.

*

“Wait, what’s going on?”

I ground the golem into the grinder.

After all, it was just a rock without a self.

Then a sudden thought crossed my mind.

“Is she really feeling jealous of this?”

Grinding something down was an experience that no one had ever undergone in the medieval period.

I wouldn’t think to smash even a lifeform, not even an ant, in that grinder.

“That’s just too cruel.”

I had no taste for such gore.

Why on earth would one grind a life into bits?

That kind of behavior was something even in old times, no one would dare imagine it.

So I thought of stopping her if that was indeed what she was feeling jealous about.

“I-I’ll tell you everything, I’ll follow your commands…! So please!”

– Head of the Gallery*: No, I’m not going to do that.

It seems she misunderstood me.

Thinking I’d grind her into pieces, she panicked.

“No, I wouldn’t even be able to do that!”

Even I, the ringleader, had adapted to the medieval lifestyle.

But that adaptation doesn’t mean I’d ever think of something so messed up.

Even if a robber barged into my house, I wouldn’t be able to do that.

– Head of the Gallery*: Damn, calm her down, will ya?

ㄴ Head of the Gallery*: She doesn’t believe a word I say.

So I asked Taldru, one of my dwarf companions nearby.

“…Huh? Oh right. Of course brother wouldn’t be that kind of being! Absolutely not! Though maybe he could actually! Haha.”

For some reason, I felt cold sweat pouring down as I glanced around.

– (Pay attention…Elf Con)

– Why is nobody writing? Is something going on?

ㄴ Damn shut up.

ㄴ Pay attention, you idiot.

ㄴ Just lie down and stay quiet, okay?

Not only that, even the Gallery was unusually slow with comments.

“Ah, seriously.”

I was the Head of the Gallery.

Not some horror or gore gallery director.

“Besides, who even grinds people up in reality?!”

It was the moment when the unjust misunderstandings stacked up and I couldn’t help but shout.

“Can I come in for a sec?”

Just then, with a calm knock outside, Penny walked in.

“What’s up?”

“Malfight, I have something to say.”

Her expression was different from her usual lazy demeanor.

She looked determined, and I turned to face Penny, forgetting about the Gallery.

“Yeah, what is it?”

“About Jealousy. Can I have her?”

And just like that, she made a sudden request.

“Huh, what for?”

This was quite a turn.

Technically, she wasn’t mine to begin with, but I couldn’t help but wonder what she wanted to do with her.

Then, Penny took a moment to catch her breath before replying.

“I just want to devour her whole.”

“…What?”

The expression on my face turned into rare confusion as I looked at Penny.