Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 1001

When Minhyuk heard through the notifications that Rocado was in a critical situation, he did not waste any time and immediately rushed to where the Eight Pillar was.

‘If Rocado dies, then I won’t be able to receive any other rewards.’ This thought flashed in Minhyuk’s head. When he arrived, he was greeted by the sight of Herakel crying in front of Rocado, who had already collapsed on the ground and was on the brink of death.

The collapsed Rocado was mumbling something unintelligible. “Ten thousand paintings… Eirin, I want to see you again… The God of Death is not easy to talk to…”

Minhyuk looked at Rocado in confusion as the man, sporting a dreary smile, continued to mumble to himself. However, mentioning the “God of Death” caught Minhyuk’s attention.

Minhyuk had met the God of Death Louis before. He also knew that this dark, dreary, and dull god held a beloved woman named Hella dearly in his heart.

“Rocado, dying! Minhyuk, help!” Herakel cried out to Minhyuk.

Minhyuk slowly approached the mumbling Rocado. He had various divine potions made by God of Alchemy Mandala in his inventory. However, Minhyuk realized, ‘Even if Rocado drinks these potions, he will still die.’

Even if God of Alchemy Mandala made the potions he had on hand, that did not mean they were omnipotent. A potion was more like a trauma treatment and could not be used to treat a disease. Of course, the pain potion that Mandala had created not only had the power to reduce the pains accompanying whatever disease they had gradually but also had the power to prolong life.

Minhyuk gently fed Rocado the pain potion.

‘He won’t be able to get back up right away after taking this potion.’

The pain potion was different from ordinary potions. Its power would slowly and gradually reduce the pain, often taking a few days to take full effect. However, as mentioned before, it was only a potion that could extend life for a bit longer.

“Fwaa…”

The pained expression on Rocado’s face straightened out. He looked more comfortable after drinking the potion. As he grew more relaxed, his unintelligible murmurs gradually grew more apparent.

“I miss you. I miss you so much, Eirin.”

“...”

Minhyuk looked down at Rocado. “Do you want to meet her that badly?”

Only after hearing Rocado’s murmurs did Minhyuk realize why he hid his existence from the world. It was because he wanted to paint. And he has been painting countless portraits of her for a very long time just to get to see her again.

Rocado’s head slowly leaned to the side. Amazingly, he could still convey what he wanted, even when standing between life and death.

Minhyuk said, “I can let you meet her.”

That may have been the case. After all, Minhyuk was the only god with a bit of favorability with God of Death Louis. Of course, it would still be challenging for Minhyuk, too.

“However, there are things that I want you to do for me instead. I want you to make the decorations for my temple. Build a statue in my likeness, paint my portrait, and make samples of my artifacts.”

“Al… right… as… long as I… can… meet her…”

However, Minhyuk just grinned. He knew that he was talking to a delighted man. At that moment, he recalled something.

“And…”

Minhyuk stared at Rocado. He had fought with Rocado during the Restriction of Frustration and knew full well that he was indeed the best regarding things related to DEX. He also could tell that he would never be able to find anyone else in the world who could surpass him when it came to DEX.

Because of that, he said, “Cook the Pillar Ingredient for me.”

Minhyuk usually would cook the ingredients that he obtained by himself. But this time, it was different.

‘This is a dish that Jack-of-all-Trades Rocado would make.’

And it would even be made from one of the Pillar Ingredients. Minhyuk had tried to cook various God-grade ingredients and found that multiple factors always hindered him. Minhyuk judged that the Pillar Ingredient would likely be like that and would not be less.

Since that was the case, there was a chance that Minhyuk would not meet the conditions and be unable to cook the Pillar Ingredient. That was why he asked Rocado to do it for him instead.

“Al… right…”

Ring!

[Sudden Quest: Rocado and Eirin’s Reunion.]

Rank: SSS

Requirement: The one who received Rocado’s request.

Rewards: Rocado will cook the Pillar Ingredient for you. Other rewards cannot be confirmed yet.

Penalty for Failure: Favorability with Rocado will drop

Description: Rocado wants to meet with his departed lover, Eirin, for one last time. He had tried to meet her by painting ten thousand portraits of Eirin. But with only a few days left to live, he could no longer do so. Help Rocado reunite with Eirin using all means possible. Because you have negotiated with a delirious Rocado, only the reward ‘Rocado will cook the Pillar Ingredient for you’ has been recognized. The other rewards would depend on Rocado’s choice.

Minhyuk nodded. According to the explanation, it would be up to Rocado if he would help him complete his new temple. Then, Minhyuk looked at the tower rising in the sky.

[Tower built by Rocado.]

[This tower built by Rocado is filled with 3,313 God-grade items, 32,310 legendary-grade items, and 3,107,897 epic-grade items.]

[The tower built by Rocado would soon become his life’s masterpiece.]

He had already felt it before but was again reminded of how crazy Rocado was.

‘He made 3,300 God-grade items by himself?’

Perhaps he had created more than tens of thousands of items that weren’t here.

‘Maybe this will be the easiest and most comfortable quest that I will do.’

After all, Minhyuk knew of a straightforward way to negotiate with the God of Death.

“Rocado, will it be fine if I tell the God of Death that you will paint a portrait for him?”

Rocado nodded his head in his unconscious state.

Minhyuk, who was about to turn around, stopped in his tracks. “By the way, what’s the Pillar Ingredient?”

Rocado automatically answered, “It’s Snow Crab.”

“...?!”

Minhyuk’s eyes grew wide from shock. Even his hands started to tremble.

‘Woah, shit. Jack-of-all-Trades Rocado will make Steamed Snow Crab and many other snow crab dishes for me?’

The thought was enough to make Minhyuk’s mouth water. He hurriedly turned around to go and meet with the God of Death. But at that moment, a notification rang in his ears.

[You can now view the video about Jack-of-all-Trades Rocado and Eirin.]

[Do you want to watch it?]

Minhyuk was very curious about why Rocado wanted to meet this woman named Eirin so severely, so he immediately agreed.

At the same time, the scene in front of Minhyuk changed.

***

[There was an extremely ordinary boy who wanted to become a knight but could not do so because he lacked the skills.]

“Why can’t I…?!”

[The boy worked harder than anybody else, yet he could not pass even the most basic soldier’s examination.]

[He scored exceptionally in his physical and stamina tests, but when it came to fighting and sparring against another… he failed. Every. Single. Time.]

[It was because he was a coward.]

“Why do I shake and tremble when standing before others?”

[He was so frustrated that he cried every single day.]

Although the boy had a greater physical condition than anybody else, he still lacked the qualities and qualifications to become a soldier and a knight.

A girl approached the crying boy. She said, “It’s alright, Rocado. You’re cool and amazing enough.”

[The girl was none other than Rocado’s childhood friend, Eirin.]

[She always stood by Rocado’s side, consoling him every day.]

[When he failed the examination the following year…]

“I’m a useless bastard. I can’t do anything.”

“That’s not true, Rocado.”

“I want to do something big and contribute to my nation, too!”

“...If that’s the case, then… Why don’t you use your excellent techniques?”

[Until that moment, the boy was completely unaware of his skills. He just thought that he was slightly better than others regarding techniques.]

“You don’t have to win a war to contribute to your nation.”

With those words, Rocado ventured down a different path and began to make something. When he started making things in earnest, Rocado realized something: his hands-on skills were exceptional.

He manufactured weapons that were far more outstanding than the weapons created by the best blacksmith in the kingdom. He even painted a portrait that was far more beautiful than the painting painted by the most excellent painter in the empire. Then, the world began to recognize his feats.

One day, he suddenly realized that he had grown famous.

“Aren’t you tired, Rocado?”

However, Rocado knew.

[The girl continued to stand beside the boy.]

Even when he was a nobody.

[She was always together with him.]

Even after he gained everyone's respect.

[She was always with me.]

Rocado, who grew up from that young boy to an experienced man, knew this was love. And he had always taken it for granted.

Then, Rocado said, “Eirin, will you marry me?”

[The two became a couple.]

Minhyuk continued to watch the couple’s story. The scenes of them together flashed by at an incredible speed.

The two laughed together while eating and held hands while walking. They stood side by side even when dozens of kings and emperors rushed to meet with Rocado. And even though Rocado had already become the object of admiration of the world's people, he could only lower his head in front of Eirin as she nagged at him.

It sounded too ordinary for a love story with one of the Eight Pillars as the protagonist, but because of its ordinariness, it felt more beautiful.

“Rocado, I want to have a child with you.”

But, of course, the two also faced hardships and trials.

[She could not carry a baby.]

Even so, Rocado held her hand and nodded to tell her it was okay.

One day, when the two were walking around the imperial capital, they saw a tiny child. The child looked like he was only around five years old, yet he was fighting fiercely against dozens of beggar children. The child, who was as strong as a bull, knocked out a dozen children surrounding him.

Eirin and Rocado could not understand the situation. Why were those children bullying this small child? Eirin, with a bright smile, approached the child and said, “What’s your name?”

“Herakel. My name, Herakel!”

[The two finally had a child together.]

Rocado’s excellent talent was enough to intimidate others. But Herakel was different. Although he grew slower than ordinary children, Herakel was dependable as a child.

Once again, time flew by.

The wrinkles on Eirin’s face started to grow. On the other hand, Rocado remained the same.

“I’m sorry, Eirin. There are far too many people in the world who need me.”

He ate the Herb of Immortality. Eirin, who had now become a middle-aged woman, only smiled and said that it was fine.

Again, time flew by.

The video showed Herakel growing bigger and bigger while Rocado remained the same. As for Eirin? She grew older, her skin getting more wrinkled as she aged. In the end, Eirin, who had become an old lady, lay in her bed and said her final words to Rocado and Herakel before slowly closing her eyes and lying in eternal rest.

“...”

The video ended just like that.

Then, Minhyuk went to the God of Death. However, the moment he appeared, he was immediately surrounded by many troops. He even told Eirin and Rocado’s story to God of Death Louis.

“Isn’t that such an ordinary and obvious ending to the story?”

The God of Death had received Minhyuk’s grace before. But he had already given rewards and compensations for all of them. Because of that, he also confronted Minhyuk, who was asking for his help.

“That’s right. It is a very common story.” Minhyuk shook his head, a bitter smile on his face. “They aged together while the other one died. The one who is left behind misses the departed one.”

It was a typical and familiar story.

“But for that reason, it can also be considered the saddest story.”

“...”

“It’s something that anyone can experience. Although Rocado’s case is a bit different since he ate the Herb of Immortality, you can say that everyone still has to go through it. And, of course, everyone always had one wish.”

“...”

“Before I die, I hope to meet them again.”

Minhyuk understood everything after watching Eirin and Rocado’s story.

“Isn’t that the most beautiful and saddest story?”

Because everyone could experience it, Minhyuk smiled bitterly as he watched God of Death Louis turn silent.

Then, the God of Death, who had remained silent for a long time, opened his mouth and said, “Will Hella’s statue that Rocado will make for me be beautiful?”

Ultimately, God of Death Louis also had an ordinary love story with Hella.

Minhyuk nodded. “It will be the most beautiful thing in the world.”

***

Rocado looked at Eirin, who had returned to her youthful appearance, in disbelief as she stroked his cheeks.

He could see a gloomy man wearing a tattered black robe standing beside the man named Minhyuk right behind Eirin.

Tears dripped down Rocado’s eyes. That was right. This was the most common and ordinary love story. And just like anybody else, Rocado only wanted to say one last word to his departed lover. Rocado finally spat out the words that he had kept in his heart for a very long time.

“Thank you.”

For being with me and staying by my side.