Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 1042

Minhyuk was delighted when he heard the notifications ringing in his ears. He even obtained the Beef Galbi-jjim Across All Eras, a dish with ridiculously overpowered power.

The Absolute Gods, who had finished eating, nodded to the gods. Only then did the gods, whose eyes were already shining with impatience, begin to eat the spicy pork bibimbap in front of them.

“Isn’t this delicious?!”

“D– Delicious. It’s really delicious…!”

The gods shouted as they ate the dish with great relish. Some gods even closed their eyes and shed a few tears as they savoured its flavour.

Then, notifications constantly rang in Minhyuk’s ears.

[Nagan’s favour has increased.]

[Veimin’s favour has increased.]

[Uraghan’s favour has increased.]

There was a considerable boost in the gods’ favour. Minhyuk was sure that this would be of great help. Of course, Minhyuk did not forget the reason why he came here.

“I received a huge penalty for allowing thousands or tens of thousands of gods to eat the same dish. But it’s fine. I’m fine.” Minhyuk began to lie through his teeth. “You’ve eaten the most delicious dish in the world, so whatever damage I receive is alright. It’s really, really fine.”

The gods, who could taste the most delicious dish in the world, felt very moved.

“Are you saying that you receive harm in exchange for allowing us to eat the most delicious dish in the world?!”

“Well, there’s no way that he would not receive any harm for letting all of the gods have a taste of such delicious food, no?”

“But he said that it was fine(?). He’s a kind, generous and broad-minded person.”

“He said that it’s fine. Well, he will understand.”

When Minhyuk heard the words of one of the tactless gods, he spoke with great emphasis. “I’m reaaaaaally fine. You’ve all had a good meal, no?”

“See, I told you he understands.”

“...”

Minhyuk was rendered speechless by the slow-witted god.

“We have been treated to such a delicious meal. We just can’t accept it without giving anything back.”

“No. He clearly said that it was fine. So, why are you guys…”

“We have to pay for the meal that we ate. Even a small amount will do.”

“Yes. We have to show a bit of our sincerity.”

“He said that it was fine. But if you’ll give him some, I have no choice but to give it too.”

A happy smile flashed on Minhyuk’s face when he heard the gods’ conversation. These were the people standing at the peak of the world. Their small sincerity would help revitalise the Beyond the Heavens Empire in the long run.

After a while, all the gods and Absolute Gods were covered in light as they got transported out of the coliseum. When Minhyuk opened his eyes, he was already standing in the meeting hall where the Absolute Gods were meeting.

It was now time for him to tell them the most important thing, the thing that he came here for.

“It’s quite surprising that you have received recognition from all of us.”

The Battle God indeed found it incredible. He had believed that the Dish Across All Eras was something that Minhyuk would not be able to beat. But he chose to win by the taste and the flavour, not the cooking process or its abilities. And he had done it.

“So, what do you want from us?” the Battle God asked.

Arlene, who Minhyuk turned to look at when he heard the question, seemed utterly puzzled.

“Do you know about Athenae’s Frenzied Ingredients?”

Of course, they knew. There was not a single god here who did not know about it. After all, no one, not even the gods, has ever succeeded in cooking this ingredient.

“I want you, Arlene, to help me cook Athenae’s Frenzied Ingredient.”

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

They were all shocked. In a way, what Minhyuk wanted from them was for the God of Cooking to cook with him. He could not understand why all of the Absolute Gods looked so shocked.

Then, with a calm and composed voice, Arlene said, “Minhyuk. You can die.”

“...?!”

Her words brought infinite shock to Minhyuk.

***

According to the description of Athenae’s Frenzied Ingredient that Minhyuk had seen, many Gods of Cooking had failed to cook this ingredient. Aside from that, it also said that it was the most incredible ingredient in existence.

When he saw the description, Minhyuk thought Athenae’s Frenzied Ingredient was similar to ordinary God-grade ingredients. After all, even the most ordinary God-grade ingredients would release a ridiculous amount of force to bother the ones trying to cook them.

After listening to Arlene’s explanation, Minhyuk discovered that dealing with Athenae’s Frenzied Ingredient was not as easy as he thought. Of course, Athenae’s Frenzied Ingredient was much trickier to deal with than any other God-grade ingredients.

And that was not all. Simply trying to cook it was challenging. According to Arlene, they only had a few seconds. In a few seconds, some of these ingredients would immediately return to their original state even after they had started to chop them or cook them. Furthermore, if the ingredients received excessive damage, they would immediately rot away.

But there was something that shocked Minhyuk.

“The previous generation God of Cooking died trying to cook one of Athenae’s Frenzied Ingredient.”

“...”

Minhyuk did not know that. No matter how extensive Minhyuk’s information network was, he was still a player.

“The fact that the ingredient is already tricky to deal with is already troublesome enough. But the bigger problem is that ‘running bastard’ who comes right when you start cooking it.”

“That running bastard?”

“The Frenzied Ingredient is the supreme ingredient. And that ingredient is being guarded by the Supreme Monarch. The Supreme Monarch is powerful.” God of Cooking Arlene smiled bitterly. “There’s no limit to the number of people who can cook together. But even if there is a limit, this ingredient can only be tamed and controlled by a God of Cooking. And since the Supreme Monarch will pressure the ones cooking, the cooking side can also choose someone to protect them.”

Minhyuk, listening silently to the story, learned that the previous God of Cooking died despite choosing one knight to protect him. And who was that knight? The God of Cooking turned to look at the Battle God.

“...!”

Minhyuk’s shock grew deeper.

“The Battle God was protecting him, but he still couldn’t stop the guy?”

“I have also sustained severe injuries. He’s an opponent who we can’t kill or win against.” The Battle God spoke bitterly.

The brave and heroic Battle God ran away? This was what Minhyuk thought, but Arlene shook her head.

“The Supreme Monarch will only attack those who dared to cook the ingredients even if the ingredient has already been destroyed. The Battle God sustained severe injuries because he stood in the way and tried to stop the Supreme Monarch. After that, the God of Cooking died.”

Only then did Minhyuk understand the bitter look on the Battle God’s face and the miserable look on Arlene’s own. Even though the Battle God stood before the Supreme Monarch, he failed to protect the God of Cooking and was the only one who came back alive.

There was one thing that Minhyuk was curious about. Didn't they know that it was dangerous?”

“We knew that it was dangerous.”

But…

“Everyone wants to achieve something no one else has ever achieved.”

Whether it was a human or a god, anyone would want to challenge something that has never been cooked for a very long time. They would like to do something that others have never done before.

“The previous God of Cooking was my master. After he died, I researched and found out many ways to cook Athenae’s Frenzied Ingredient.”

Even if Minhyuk had not come to find her, Arlene would have challenged cooking the Frenzied Ingredient even at the risk of her death. But there was a problem.

“Getting one’s hands on the Frenzied Ingredient is difficult. I did not expect you to have it.”

Arlene still could not forget her master, who taught her how to cook, and the lessons he imparted to her.

–Arlene. Watch me. The world’s most extraordinary God of Cooking will be born.

After leaving those words, her master, who went with the Battle God, faced extinction. His body could not even be found anywhere. And Arlene? She wanted revenge. And the greatest revenge against the Supreme Monarch was for someone to succeed in cooking that ingredient.

“Do you still want to do it?” Arlene asked.

For Minhyuk, death meant a forced logout. But based on Arlene’s words, those who would dare to cook the supreme ingredient would suffer heavier penalties. Furthermore…

‘By bringing out the Frenzied Ingredient and asking her to cook it with me, we might lose the God of Cooking…?’

Minhyuk’s vision darkened. He did not expect that Athenae’s Frenzied Ingredient was so dangerous. But the God of Cooking was hoping for this moment. Minhyuk was the one who asked her to cook Athenae’s Frenzied Ingredient together. But would she be willing to do it together with him?

“Arlene, you know this too, no?” Minhyuk already noticed it. “We can only cook this ingredient if we do it together.”

The God of Cooking and the Food God cooked together. This story would be recorded in history and told for a long time.

“I really want to do it, Minhyuk.”

Minhyuk could feel the firm will and determination of the God of Cooking. He knew that even if they did not do this now, the God of Cooking would somehow try to find a Frenzied Ingredient and do it on her own.

“Then, let’s do it together.”

Just like that, the two agreed to do it together.

***

Minhyuk began to prepare for their challenge.

Arlene mentioned that she had found ways to cook the Frenzied Ingredient after her master died trying to cook it. They were going to cook based on her ideas and hypothesis.

She proposed going to the Maze of the Unknown, a maze inside the Land of the Gods, where many gods wandered off for a long time without finding the exit.

‘But if we can pass through the maze, our chances of completing this dish well will increase.’

Everything in Athenae would be rewarded, especially when someone took the risk. For those who would be able to pass through the Maze of the Unknown, they would be granted three wishes inside the maze.

Of course, they could not make any ridiculous wishes. For example, they could not say, ‘Take this and complete this quickly!’ Arlene said she would like to use one of the three wishes to increase their chances of cooking the ingredient easily.

‘Even if we die, repeat the process.’

For the second wish, if they died inside the maze, they could be revived and repeat the process. However, they could only be revived ten times in total. For the third wish, they have not yet decided on what to wish for. Arlene had never cooked this ingredient before and could only come this far.

Since various parchments and potions could be used inside the maze, the gods prepared and packed the best things for them.

The entire Land of the Gods was buzzing. This was because the God of Cooking and the Food God were trying to cook an ingredient that killed the previous God of Cooking and seriously injured the Battle God. The Battle God also decided to join the two chefs, saying he wanted to wash away the disgrace of the past.

Minhyuk, who had finished all of the preparations, was just about to leave when the God of Magic came to find him.

“The gods were fully satisfied with the meal you presented to us. So, we gathered a bit to show you our sincerity. Here, use this to buy tea.”

[You have gained five million platinum.]

Minhyuk smiled at the development funds for the Beyond the Heavens Empire that he had easily acquired. Then, at that moment, another god approached him. This god was the same god who was utterly disrespectful and curtly said, ‘Didn’t he say that it’s fine?’ when Minhyuk said it was fine earlier.

“You said it was fine, so I did not give any money when they collected earlier.”

“...”

‘Huh? Why is this guy so tactless and slow-witted?’

The God of Magic leaned into Minhyuk and whispered, “We call him the God of Tactlessness, but he originally has another name.”

Minhyuk could tell that it was the case. He was truly like the God of Tactlessness. He thought that it was good that he was born a god. If he had been an average person and worked for a boss, he would have definitely been scolded every single time.

Minhyuk turned to leave.

“But it’s not as if I am completely tactless(?).”

“...?”

“I know I have to pay for the meal I enjoyed. Originally, that kind of dish would be worth around ten thousand gold in the human world. To show my sincerity, I will give you something more. You see, I also have tact.”

[You have gained 20,000 gold.]

“...?”

The god before Minhyuk smiled smugly as if he were saying his tact and wit were perfect. The corners of his mouth were even threatening to curl up high. He looked like he wanted to praise himself and say, ‘Wow. I did well this time.’

Only then did Minhyuk see the name floating above the god’s head. Even gods could not identify each other’s names when they were far away, like when someone was standing in the middle of the coliseum, and one was sitting in the stands. As it turned out, the actual name of this god was indeed something else.

[God of the Directionally Challenged]

“...?”

He was indeed a unique god.

Minhyuk smiled awkwardly and nodded at the god. Then, the God of the Directionally Challenged turned around and smiled happily.

“My sense is incredible. I even considered the cost of labour and the price of the ingredients. I don’t think anyone will be more quick-witted and tactful than me in the eyes of the next generation Battle God. Fufu.”

Minhyuk looked incredulously at his departing back. At this moment, he did not know that the God of the Directionally Challenged was the key to opening a locked door.