Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 995

Rocado, one of the Eight Pillars of the world and the only human among them, looked like an ordinary middle-aged man at first glance. However, his pale complexion showed that he was in poor health.

He looked at Herakel, who was crying like a child, with tears and snot dripping down his chin, and he looked fierce.

‘What should I do if something happens to you?’

Herakel ran non-stop when he saw Rocado vomit a mouthful of blood. And what happened when he came back?

–Herakel made a friend! Strengthen Herakel’s friend’s artifact and give him rare ingredients! Herakel said that Rocado would do everything for Herakel!

This was what Herakel said. Herakel’s bragging was more like a child stubbornly insisting on something. It was pretty cute, considering the circumstances. However, there was something that Rocado was quite shocked about.

“So? Who is your friend? And where is he now?”

Rocado just could not understand. Herakel's power was far too frightening. Not just ordinary people, even the gods were scared by it.

‘Of course, no one could stop him once he set his mind to it.’

This was also why Herakel did not say much in the cave after he declared that he would protect Rocado. After all, Rocado would stop him from going out of the cave. But even if Rocado hugged him by the waist and tried to stop him, Herakel would just drag him out with him while saying, “Herakel, go!” So, who would dare to befriend Herakel, who acted like this?

Herakel looked sad. “Gaerna’s Life Elixir… no more in the world. Herakel… In the end, Herakel can’t save you.”

Then, Herakel began to talk about what he had experienced outside. Rocado, who listened to his story, could not help but look at Herakel in shock. Herakel had put himself in danger and had almost died for his sake. However, Herakel's words after that made Rocado’s jaw drop.

‘He endured eight of Herakel’s hits?’

He was in pure awe and admiration. Enduring eight of Herakel’s hits was a method that Eirin and Rocado had thought of together. The two believed that there was no one unless they were at the level of the Eight Pillars or an Absolute God, who could endure eight of Herakel’s hits. Why did they think of this method? This was so Herakel, who had a pure and innocent heart, would not be ignored and taken advantage of outside.

“Did he endure eight of your hits and attack you eight times?”

Herakel shook his head when he heard Rocado’s question. “No. Minhyuk, Herakel’s friend, did not attack. He hugged Herakel tightly!”

“...?”

Rocado’s pupils shook when he heard those words.

“He hugged you?”

“He hugged Herakel tight! He told Herakel that it was okay! He also stopped the other gods from attacking Herakel!”

Rocado was once again in awe. ‘Another person who understands Herakel…’

Then, Rocado said, “Why are you only telling this to me now, Herakel?!”

“Because Rocado made Herakel kneel for no reason!”

There was a reason why Rocado was feeling panicked and urgent. ‘I’m going to die soon.’

He was one of the Eight Pillars, hailed as the Jack-of-all-Trades. Because of that, he knew better than anybody else that his days were already numbered. However, before he closed his eyes, he felt a faint presence beside him. This was none other than Herakel. The pure yet strangely powerful Herakel had always been in his mind.

‘Perhaps he would be able to take care of Herakel.’

But at that moment…

[A challenger has entered the Cave of Restriction.]

“...”

Rocado was left stunned. He could tell that the man who entered the Cave of Restriction was the same man that Herakel said was his friend. Now, it has become a problem.

The Cave of Restriction was located deep inside the cave where Herakel used to stay. If they could pass through it, they could come to this place where Rocado lived. As for Herakel, he only needed to take a few steps, and Rocado would automatically bring him inside.

“Didn’t you tell your friend how dangerous the Cave of Restriction is?”

“Herakel said! But Herakel’s friend said that there was something that he wanted to get. Also, Rocado told Herakel!” Herakel giggled. “If Herakel made a friend, bring Herakel’s friend anytime. Rocado and Eirin will welcome Herakel and Herakel’s friend!”

“...”

Rocado felt his heart ache. That was right. They had told Herakel that once before. They told him he could bring his friend whenever he made one. By then, he and Eirin would welcome his friend warmly.

“Will Herakel see Eirin soon?! Herakel is so excited!”

Rocado felt his chest ache once more. Herakel believed that Eirin would return if he brought a friend over. But Eirin was already dead. In this world, only Herakel and Rocado were left behind. A bitter taste lingered in Rocado’s mouth.

Jack-of-all-Trades Rocado had created the Cave of Restriction so he could hide from the world. So, what was the Cave of Restriction?

‘Even if one of the Eight Pillars came here, they couldn’t clear that cave.’

The Cave of Restriction was not a place that could be cleared with sheer force alone. It could bring the most excruciating and unbearable pain to whoever was challenging it. It did not matter how powerful one was; it would be useless in that place.

There were times when the Cave of Restriction would take away one’s vision. There were times when it would take away one’s sleep. There were even times when it would take away one’s body.

Once someone entered that place, Rocado would no longer be able to take them out of that place.

‘I want to leave Herakel in his care.’

But for him to be able to do that, that person has to come and see Rocado first.

“Herakel, what did you promise to him?”

“Herakel promised to strengthen his artifact!”

“As long as you bring him to me?”

“Y– Yeah!”

Rocado squinted at Herakel. But Herakel just rolled his eyes and looked elsewhere. He pretended as if he did not know what Rocado meant. Rocado could only sigh at this.

Rocado had created tens of thousands of items so far and was able to obtain the power Hand of Almighty. This was a skill that could be considered to be a Disaster Skill. Why? Because it had the power to strengthen an artifact once. Any artifact.

“What else did you promise?”

“He– Herakel’s friend likes eating. Herakel said that Herakel would give him Rocado’s rare ingredient.”

“No way. Are you talking about the Pillar Ingredient?”

Seeing Rocado narrow his eyes at him, Herakel shook his head and said, “He– Herakel’s friend just said that he wants rare ingredients.”

Rocado was the Father of Dexterity. This meant that he also possessed exceptional skills in farming. Not only did he have unique ingredients, but he also had the most outstanding ingredient in the world, the Pillar Ingredient. Fortunately, Herakel did not speak about the ingredient.

‘I have to raise his chances, even if it’s just a bit.’

Rocado knew Herakel’s friend couldn’t clear the Cave of Restriction. However, he still wanted to help him increase his chances even a little. So, he added some rewards for the Cave of Restrictions.

***

Minhyuk, stuck(?) by Herakel’s side, entered the cave where Herakel used to live to get to where Rocado was. However, Herakel disappeared from his side when they entered the cave. Minhyuk was not too surprised by the sudden turn of events since he had already been informed by Herakel beforehand.

‘I must clear all the trials in this cave to get to Rocado.’

He had to do it to strengthen his Sword of Aeon and Transcendental’s Armor.

‘Hoo… Rocado definitely has some rare ingredients in hand.’

Aside from that, he wanted to ask if he could help him decorate and make Temple Evangel look more splendid and outstanding.

As he went inside, the notifications started ringing in his ears.

[You have entered the Cave of Restriction.]

[Inside the Cave of Restriction, one day would be stretched out into a year.]

[The Cave of Restriction will restrict and control your possessions. It will continue to do so until it has forced you to give up.]

[If you choose to give the trial up, you will be forced to log out.]

[You will be able to move on to the next trial of the Cave of Restriction only after reaching 50% achievement of the current trial.]

[If you want to continue taking the current restriction trial, you can choose not to go to the next trial right away.]

[The higher the achievement, the better the reward.]

Minhyuk nodded as the torches lining up the walls of the dark Cave of Restrictionlit up one after another.

Crackle–

A single bed greeted Minhyuk after the entire cave was lit up. There was nothing else inside the cave except for this bed.

‘One day stretches out into a year…’

He could roughly understand what the trial wanted to do. During that year, the Cave of Restriction would restrict and control something within him or something he possessed and continue to annoy and bother him until he was forced to give up.

When Minhyuk wondered what the first trial would restrict, a notification rang.

[The master of the Cave of Restriction has added a reward.]

[If you can clear two of the Cave of Restriction’s trials, you can reinforce a chosen artifact once.]

[However, you will only be able to receive this reward if you reach 50% of the trials’ achievement and exit the Cave of Restriction safely.]

“Oh…?” Minhyuk was quite surprised. ‘This was what Herakel told me earlier, no?’

That was right. Herakel confidently patted his chest and said, “If Herakel said it, Rocado would definitely do it. Herakel will say it because you are Herakel’s friend!” And now it has translated into one of the cave's rewards.

Minhyuk truly wanted it.

‘But according to Herakel’s words, this is something I could get even if I don’t overcome these trials, right?’

Herakel told him he would make it so Minhyuk’s artifact would be reinforced. Of course, Minhyuk could only think this way because he did not know that Herakel was just bluffing and bragging.

After a while…

[The first trial of restriction has begun.]

Minhyuk listened to the notification that continued to ring in his ears.

[The first restriction will be slumber.]

Slumber. It meant sleeping.

[You will not be able to sleep.]

[Instead of sleeping, you can do image training. Everything that you imagine during image training will become real.]

[Close your eyes and do image training to achieve harmony between your body and consciousness.]

Sleep was considered one of humans' most significant needs. Minhyuk’s expression turned serious when he heard that he could not sleep.

‘In reality, the system will just make me feel sleepy. But it wouldn’t be such a big deal since only a day would pass,’ Minhyuk thought as he sat on the bed.

He could not help but chuckle before he started doing his image training.

‘Fu– Fufufufufu.’

This was what the explanation said.

[Everything that you imagine during image training will become real.]

In other words, whatever Minhyuk thought and imagined would become real. Of course, it would only apply to this place.

Minhyuk quickly closed his eyes and imagined something. ‘Let’s think of something simple first. Shall we try home-cooked meals?’

He quickly imagined the scene. He came home one day with an empty and rumbling stomach, only to be greeted by a warm and delicious home-cooked meal. Although the dishes on the table were simple, they were the best combination of home-cooked meals. Kimchi jjigae, two fried eggs, fried Vienna sausages, and salty and savory seaweed.

The thoughts that formed in his head slowly became a reality in front of him.

‘Kghhk. This is real, right?’

Minhyuk could see that all the food he imagined had now appeared. The first thing that he tried was the hot kimchi jjigae. He scooped a spoonful and took a sip.

“Kghhk!”

It was pretty hot and spicy, yet it was very refreshing. Then, he scooped a spoonful of steaming white rice and put it in his mouth. Afterward, he scooped another spoonful of the kimchi jjigae, which had equal proportions of pork and kimchi, and put it in his mouth. The kimchi, pork, and soup that had been boiled perfectly created a fantastic harmony of flavors in his mouth.

Next, he placed a fried egg on top of his rice and took a huge bite.

“Kghhk! This is amazing. So freaking amazing. This is not a restriction, right? I think this is something good!”

For Minhyuk, this trial was a perfect and happy one. Then, he turned his attention to the fried Vienna Sausage. He took one and dipped it in ketchup.

“Kyaaaaa!”

Then, he would use the crispy seaweed, the perfect side dish for home-cooked meals, and make wraps.

After finishing his first meal, Minhyuk continued.

‘Since I had home-cooked meals before this, should I eat something sweet? Should we eat some whipped cream cake, tiramisu, and around twenty macarons for dessert?’

Minhyuk closed his eyes and imagined what he wanted to eat. He screamed happily as the food materialized in front of him.

***

The drowsiness that enveloped their bodies made their limbs feel heavy. Even their lids turned heavy, and they wanted to sleep.

Please, just for five minutes. I want to sleep.

This was the scariest part about the first restriction, Slumber. Everyone, including beasts and humans, needed to sleep to restore the energy they had spent while they were active during the day. Humans were considered to have the greatest need for sleep.

This was why Rocado believed that this trial was the hardest. Of course, he thought that it would be the same for the challenger who entered the Cave of Restriction this time.

However, the man was able to endure the trial for one, two, three, four, five days, a week, and two weeks and continue on safely. Of course, only a few minutes had passed. This was only possible because of the power dwelling inside the Cave of Restriction.

Rocado was in awe. ‘That’s amazing. He’s able to overcome the Restriction of Slumber.’

It would not be strange if someone fell if they did not even get a wink of sleep for two weeks straight.

As he was already reaching the required achievement, Rocado thought the man would soon move on to the subsequent trial. As if to prove that, the notifications rang.

[The Cave of Restriction proposes to the challenger to challenge the second trial.]

[After a good night’s sleep, the challenger can start taking on the second trial.]

However, something very unexpected happened.

[The challenger has asked to continue challenging the First Restriction’s trial.]

“What…?”

Rocado could not understand.

‘Is he enjoying the first trial?’

Astonished by the thought that flashed in his head, Rocado hurriedly pulled out his crystal ball to check on the status of the challenger, Minhyuk. He could see Minhyuk with his eyes closed and drool dripping down his chin.

‘He’s using image training to eat something?’

Rocado saw Minhyuk right a number on the ground when he opened his eyes.

‘What does 937 mean?’

Then, Minhyuk’s voice rang in his ears.

[Hehe. I can’t sleep until I have eaten 1,000 dishes~]

“...”

Rocado was rendered speechless. Based on those words, represented the number of dishes he ate while doing image training for two weeks.

‘Is he an elephant?’ Rocado genuinely wondered if this was the case.