Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 1424 - Side Story 33

Minhyuk had already achieved most of what he wanted. He was completely cured of his eating addiction and even became the Master of the Western Continents. Not only that, he had also proven his competence and talent as the team leader of the Athenae Cooperation Team and the successor of the Ilhwa Group.

‘The only thing I want as of the moment is Philos’ complete cure.’

Minhyuk had met with Kevin, the researcher from the World Rare Disease Research Institute, just recently. According to Kevin, Philos’ improvement was more likely to be faster if she ate something that had a flavor beyond imagination. In other words, she had to eat something incredibly delicious.

Alas, that was where the problem lay.

‘It’s hard to obtain ingredients like that.’

There was also the fact that Philos was still in the Gaia Continent after she declared that she would run away from home. From what he could tell, Philos, who had gained the love and affection of the Gods of Olympus, was able to eat incredibly delicious and rare ingredients that could only be obtained in Olympus.

‘But we need more.’

A dish with a flavor that went beyond anyone’s imagination, that could make anyone feel as if their taste buds weren’t enough to taste how delicious it was.

Furthermore, they needed many such dishes. Minhyuk had eaten a lot of such dishes in Athenae. Of course, those dishes were born because they were all made from high-quality ingredients. ‘Where else can we obtain ingredients like that?’

Minhyuk had already asked the others for favors. He asked them to check if there were ingredients like that in the Western Continents and even in the Gaia Continent.

At that moment, Abel materialized from Minhyuk’s shadow. He said, “The ingredients that you’re asking me to find? I found them.”

“Oh! As expected of Abel!”

Beyond the Heavens’ Informant Abel was now leading Black Hound, an intelligence organization much larger and far-reaching than God of Assassins Boleyn’s Immune.

“I’ll treat you to a meal next time!”

Abel shuddered at the thought of being treated to another meal. He immediately said, “Treat me to a meal? Just give me money. You always say that you will treat me to a meal, but you always eat my food too. You have already been completely cured of your eating addiction, but you still always do this. Are you doing it on purpose, huh?!”

‘Ah. I got caught.’

To be honest, Minhyuk found it funny to watch Abel and his changing expressions whenever he treated him to a meal.

“Do I look like such a bad person to you? Abel, you… you’re really…”

A flash of embarrassment appeared on Abel’s face.

‘As expected. It’s fun to tease Abel.’

“What kind of ingredient is it? Where is it?”

“Have you heard of the Grania Continent?”

“This is the first time I’m hearing of this continent.”

“Ah. Yes. It makes sense that you have never heard of it. It’s neither in the West nor in Gaia.”

“It’s not in the West or Gaia?”

“It’s a continent from a completely different world. So, it’s only natural that you haven’t heard of it. To put it simply. Grania is the Continent of Cooking.”

There were quite a few places that have declared themselves as the Kingdom of Cooking. There were many occurrences. The kingdoms and empires often take on titles like the Empire of Blacksmiths or the Kingdom of Sculptors whenever they excel in a particular field.

For an entire continent to declare itself as a place that was exceptional and solely devoted to cooking was a shocking and unfamiliar story.

“I can’t say for sure what kind of ingredients are in that place, but since it’s the continent for chefs, I’m sure that the place will have incredibly delicious ingredients with flavor that goes beyond extreme.”

“I see. So, I have to go there personally and check it out for myself. Thank you for your hard work, Abel.”

Abel smiled wryly. It was a tough job. Regardless, since it was for Philos, it was more than rewarding enough.

“I’ve written down the way to get there in this paper.”

After receiving the paper from Abel, Minhyuk took out some platinum and handed it over to him.

“Alright. Then, I’ll give this to you. Thank you… Really.”

Minhyuk gave Abel five platinum. Interestingly, five platinum was not a lot of money for a high-ranker like Abel.

‘Seems like he still has some conscience left. He knows that I will refuse it if he gives me a large amount of money.’

At this moment, Abel regretted blurting out, ‘Give me money instead!’ earlier. In the end, he had to reflect on himself.

“I’ll use it well.”

So what if it was not a lot of money? This was much better than Minhyuk saying, ‘I’ll treat you to a meal!’ only to eat everything himself.

Just when Abel tucked the pouch in his chest and was about to stand up…

“I’m hungry. Abel, what about you? Are you hungry too?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

He was starting to feel the pangs of hunger. So, the two went to one of the fancy restaurants in the Beyond the Heavens Empire. Even if Minhyuk was already completely cured of his eating addiction, he still ate a lot in the game. Just like any other day, Minhyuk still ate Abel’s food.

‘Huh? Something’s weird.’

When Abel paid for their meal…

“I always paid for your meals, right?”

‘Ah.’

Now that he thought about it, Abel realized that he had never paid for a meal whenever he was with Minhyuk.

“So, treat me to a meal today. Thanks, Abel. I ate well!”

Then, the cashier said, “That will be five platinum.”

“...?”

Abel felt something was off.

‘What? I got money from Minhyuk. So… why does it feel the same as before?’

It was bizarre.

****

The relationship between Team Leader Park Minggyu and Lee Minhwa had developed, and they became lovers. However, even though their relationship had developed to that point, they always remained professional at work, except for a few pranks and inside jokes.

The two looked at each other.

“Lee Minhwa…” Team Leader Park supported his forehead as he stared at the monitor displaying Minhyuk, who was now on his way to the Grania Continent. “Tell me, Player Minhyuk being the first person ever to set foot in the Grania Continent… is it only natural or not?”

In the past, there were various towers where players could visit and learn something. The position of the tower master was usually held by someone at the great mage level or a sword master. These towers would give quests and skills to players, which allowed them to grow stronger. Those with unusual talents would even be able to awaken special powers in these towers.

Alas, as time went on and the average level of the players increased, the number of players visiting the towers decreased. The reason was simple. The tower served as a guide that would lead them to the right path. However, with the players’ level going higher than Level 400, they found out that it was much more beneficial for them just to go hunting or clearing quests and class quests than to visit the towers.

To supplement this, Joy Co. Ltd. and Athenae came up with a new way to help guide the players. They chose to create a continent solely devoted to a class group. As a result, the continent that they completed the fastest was the Grania Continent.

“The biggest problem here is the fact that the Beyond the Heavens Empire has the greatest intelligence agency under its command.”

They had only just released a hint about the Grania Continent yesterday. Yet Abel and his Black Hound immediately bit on that morsel of a hint and took it for themselves.

They had released hints about the Grania Continent in hopes of attracting chefs or any other players with classes related to cooking with levels beyond Level 400 to visit. They even made sure that those who visited the continent first would not only be able to explore the continent but also gain a lot.

“The first visitor is the Pillar of the Gourmands…”

They were still preparing to open the Grania Continent. Because of that, they had set a friendly and welcoming system that would allow the first ten thousand visitors to adapt quickly. It was a system that was similar to the tutorial system when they first started the game.

“No… nothing’s going to happen, right?”

“Team Leader Park… no… Minggyu oppa…”

“Hmm?”

“That’s a taboo.”

“Ah…” Team Leader Park’s face grew dark.

No way, nothing’s going to happen, right?

No way. He’s not going to do it, right?

No way. He’s never going to get it.

Every time they said something along those lines when watching Minhyuk, something would always happen. If not that, then he would do what they specifically thought he wouldn’t do or get something that they believed he wouldn’t get. In the end, they banned those words and made them taboo.

***

Grania Continent, Aras Village.

Aras Village resembled the novice villages that new players to the game would appear in. The guardians stationed in the village served as guides and were tasked with telling the foreigners, who would arrive on the continent, what they needed to do.

For example, they could help the chefs who had never been able to make Epic-grade dishes despite reaching Level 400. Or they could also teach those who relied solely on their levels and skills a lot of advice, including but not limited to tips on how to get ingredients and how to cut and slice them.

It was just like how the guardians in the novice villages would give a lot of tips and advice based on the person's goals and needs. Although the guardians in Aras Village were just ordinary guides in this place, most of them were chefs with levels over Level 550. Of course, once the foreigners left this place, they would be able to meet chefs with higher levels.

“It’s so boring.”

“When the hell are the foreigners going to come?”

“I’m going to die from boredom.”

Around fifteen or so chefs were sitting together and yawning one after another. At that moment, a bright light fell in front of them.

“They’re here!”

“The first visitor is here!”

“Let’s go.”

“I wonder what the first visitor is lacking?”

***

[You have entered the Grania Continent.]

[The Grania Continent is a continent made for Level 400 or above players with chef classes or other cooking-related classes.]

[You are the first visitor.]

[If you clear the quests given to you, your rewards will be 20% better than normal.]

Minhyuk looked around the moment he got warped into the Grania Continent.

‘It’s always exciting to look around and explore new places… Huh?’

Minhyuk was left puzzled at the sight of about fifteen people huddled together near him.

“Hey, rookie. Welcome to the Grania Continent.”

“Hoho. Come, come. Kid.”

“I… no. We are the people who will help you overcome your problems and make up for your shortcomings as a chef.”

A very familiar feeling washed over Minhyuk. It felt similar to the time when Instructor Valen first approached him and asked, ‘Are you a beginner?’ when he first started Athenae.

“Rookie. What shortcomings do you have that you have to crawl to the Grania Continent? Ahhh. I see. You probably haven’t been able to make a single Epic-grade dish before, no? Should I help you?”

“No, no. He’s a foreigner who has received the special privilege of having those ‘skills’. It seems like he does not know how to cut a potato with his knife. Should I teach you?”

“From what I can see, you don’t know how to make food more delicious.”

“Maybe he does not know how to dig ingredients well without inflicting any damage?”

“Aaaaah! I see! Your cooking skills must be lacking, right? Right?!”

They all opened their mouths and asked at the same time, “What are your shortcomings?”

They all fell into their imaginations, blissfully unaware of the expression of the man in front of them. They were already imagining themselves calling this man stupid when they were teaching him and scolding him if he did not do what they asked him to do properly after knowing what he lacked.

‘He’s the first visitor to the Grania Continent. So, it’s only right that his initiation ceremony is harsh and strict.’

‘I’ll definitely squeeze you dry and make you cry, rookie.’

That was not the only thing that ran through their heads. They also thought…

‘Since you came here on your own, I will make sure to beat you up until your shortcomings are fixed!’

‘We are the people who will guide you. We will definitely guide you to the right path. Hahahahaha!’

They all looked at the man in anticipation. Then, the answer that Minhyuk gave them left them all in shock.

“I don’t think I have any particular shortcomings?”

Dudududun…?

They were left stunned and in a daze. They did not expect to receive such an answer. They just stood there staring at Minhyuk blankly.

‘He doesn’t think that he’s lacking in any way?!’

Then, they grew furious. His words sounded completely arrogant to them.

“You cheeky…!”

“You don’t think that you have any shortcomings?!”

“Boy! Don’t you think that you’re being too reckless and arrogant?”

The chef with the biggest and stockiest build cracked his knuckles. He said, “I’m going to teach you a lesson, you little cheeky chef. I will start by fixing that attitude of yours!”

The old man among the chefs said, “Look here, shouldn’t you at least be careful with what you say? How can a human not have any shortcomings?”

The old man looked at the other guardians around him.

“You guys should calm down, too. This guy here is our first-ever visitor. Why are you all looking at him with red faces? And you, friend. You must have said that because you’re nervous, right? Hoho?” The old man chuckled lightly. Then, he asked again, “Alright. Let’s do this again. Tell us, boy. What are your shortcomings?”

The man, Minhyuk, pondered over the words of the guardians. He muttered, “Epic-grade dishes, ability to handle knives and other cooking utensils, ability to make more delicious dishes, or lacking cooking skills…”

After pondering deeply, his expression grew sullen. Then, he said, “I really don’t have any shortcomings, though?”

The old man finally exploded. He shouted, “Hey, you f*cking bastard!”

“Grandpa Barlan, calm down.”

“Let go of me! I’m going to kill that cheeky bastard and put an end to this shit!”

The old man, Barlan, did not like the first-ever visitor to enter the Grania Continent.

“Regardless of who you are or what profession or class you’re in, there’s always something that you lack! You will always have a shortcoming!” Grandpa Barlan cried out. “What?! Are you some kind of Pillar?! The kind who has reached the peak of cooking?!”

***

“What?! Are you some kind of Pillar?! The kind who has reached the peak of cooking?!”

Minhyuk looked at the old man in surprise.

‘How did he know?’