Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 486: The King’s Building

While everyone was looking around in doubt, Minhyuk looked like he had already expected this to happen. He thought, ‘The Absolute Gods would stop a player’s ongoing quest? Even if they were gods, that would still mean that there was a huge collapse somewhere, right?’

If the quest was going to be stopped midway then it should not have existed in the first place, right? Minhyuk noticed right away that the Absolute Gods were only ‘scaring’ them and he had confirmed it with the remarks that he said earlier. The Absolute Gods had various reactions to his words too with one of them becoming extremely furious.

[The Absolute Gods have started a discussion.]

Minhyuk’s expression turned solemn after hearing the notification.

‘They might not be able to stop us but they can get involved.’

The key here was how they would get involved. Then, additional notifications rang in his ears.

[The Absolute Gods have suggested that you make the grandest and noblest building in existence.]

[A Bet With the Gods Quest: The Noblest and Grandest Building]

Rank: SSS

Requirements: The One that received the King’s Building Quest.

Rewards: ???

Penalty for Failure: -30 on all stats, -1 on all skill levels, the Five Stars will receive a punishment from the Absolute Gods.

Description: The Absolute Gods are furious that the humans are trying to create the grandest building in existence for just a mere human king. But they are willing to give you one last chance. If you’re going to make one, then make it so the building would invoke their admiration. The rewards that you receive will be dependent on the scores that they will give you. If you give up now, then you will not incur any penalties.

‘The penalty for failure…’

It was tremendous. A thirty point decrease in all stats and even a one level decrease of all skill levels? The worst part? The one level decrease in all skill levels was equivalent to at least a sixty level decrease in his overall level. And that was not all. The Five Stars were also going to be punished by the Absolute Gods. This notification was not only received by Minhyuk but also by the Five Stars and the players present. They also saw the penalty for failure. However, they only received a -2 in all stats. It was much less compared to the penalty that Minhyuk and the Five Stars would receive but it was still something that could sting. They were also informed that they would not incur any penalties if they withdrew now.

“A -2 in all stats? There’s even a +1% in skill cooldown?”

“My gosh… what the hell is this?”

“Why did the gods suddenly intervene?”

Minhyuk could tell what this was. ‘What a shallow and petty trick…’ That was right. The Gods were intent on making them give up by allowing them to refuse the quest with no penalties incurred.

“Well, it’s just a -2 on all stats, right? Won’t we gain more if we eat our Sect Leader’s dishes?”

“To be honest, a -2 on all stats for penalty is well-deserved with the level of those dishes.”

“Yeah, yeah. I have never eaten anything that’s more delicious than that in my entire life.”

They were the ones that had eaten Minhyuk’s dishes! None of them were afraid of the -2 in all stats penalty. After all, the taste of Minhyuk’s dishes were so divine that it was enough for them to ignore such penalties. The ‘pleasure of eating’, something that they had never felt before in their life, was something that could completely overwhelm the stat penalty. Also…

“Aren’t the rewards marked as ???, right?”

“Have you ever seen the gods make this kind of quest?”

“Of course not.”

“Then, wouldn’t the rewards be ridiculous?”

“Well, let’s try it just once.”

…the players were extremely determined. None of them left their posts.

[One of the Absolute Gods is impressed by you after seeing everyone unite together.]

After confirming everyone’s willingness to stay here, Minhyuk said, “Let’s hurry and get back to work!!!”

“Yes, sir!!!”

Then, Minhyuk stood up and went somewhere. He was actually very angry. It was already a quest in the form of a ‘bet’ but the Absolute Gods tried to stop it by inducing ‘fear’ in them. The place where he went to was where PD Haruo, Reporter Yuka and the rest of the KBTV, the top broadcasting station in Japan, employees were. All of them were still working crazily and banging their pickaxes just so they could ‘eat more dishes(?)’.

“Everyone from the broadcasting station! You have something else to do.”

Of course, he took out some watermelon juice for them.

“What, what is it? We’ll do anything!”

“Loyalty! Salute!”

“Uwoooooooh!”

The broadcasting crew cheered and rushed in like zombies when they saw the watermelon juice in Minhyuk’s hands.

“Please broadcast about the bet with the gods and tell them that we’re recruiting people. Ah, you can use the scenes that you have personally seen here.”

“I understand what you mean,” PD Haruo was a veteran among veterans. He could easily edit and send videos that would attract everyone’s attention. Minhyuk also thought that he needed something that could ‘stimulate’ the public’s enthusiasm.

“I think this will be a good title…”

PD Haruo and the rest of the crew looked at Minhyuk excitedly.

“The Ones Making their Stand Against the Gods.”

“…!”

PD Haruo had a hunch. Everyone knew that humans were incapable of going against the gods. After all, even the demons that were far stronger than humans remained helpless under gods. However…

‘One player is gathering his forces to go against the Absolute Gods!’

He could expect a huge impact from this.

***

Ever since they joined the company, PD Haruo and the rest of the KBTV broadcasting station’s crew had been overly enthusiastic regarding editing the videos. They were the ones that could edit simple videos and make it the center of attention.

“Remove this part! This will get severe criticism and invoke hostility!”

“In the end, Player Minhyuk is Korean. Many of our fellow citizens would be against him just because he is of a different nationality. We have to package him up nicely.”

“We have to make it so that it would be the most stimulating video so we can get the highest ratings. That way we can get more people to come!”

The biggest reason why they were working this hard?! It was because Minhyuk, while rubbing his thumb and index finger in a gesture as if he was talking about money, promised to give them a lot of food if their broadcast was successful.

And then, the video was broadcasted to the world. The video showed how everyone turned into zombies crazed for something as they gobbled up Minhyuk’s dishes. The notable fact here was that Minhyuk did not add any ‘Sea Honey’ in his dishes this time mainly because he was prepared for scenarios like this. That was right, these people that were showing extreme fanaticism and crazed actions were purely because of Minhyuk’s dishes. Of course, the video was accompanied by the broadcasting company’s experienced commentary.

[With the advent of advanced technology, Athenae, a virtual reality game, has now become our second world. However, in this world, the existence of ‘Gods’ have put pressure upon the players. It has always been that way. As if to answer their overwhelming existence, Food God Minhyuk, a player, stood tall and declared war against them.]

The figure of Minhyuk standing up and looking up at the sky was displayed in the video. Then, he spat…

[Hey! Gods! Stop the bullshit. Do I really have to listen to your nonsense?]

Of course, the commentary did not end there.

[The ones that can make a stand against the Gods. Food God Minhyuk is recruiting such individuals. Those that are willing to fight with him, please head over to Arsa Village.]

Plenty of people went wild after seeing the video.

[Standing against the Gods? Doesn’t that sound so cool?]

[Have you seen those dishes? Everyone suddenly started working hard the moment they got a taste of it. Just how delicious is the Food God’s cooking?]

[I’m from the Restaurant Exploration Association. Who wants to go to Arsa Village with me?]

[But… don’t you think that it’s a bit overboard? Isn’t it too ridiculous for someone to become like that after eating one dish?]

[Aren’t those things rampant on public TV these days??? That’s too obvious, right???]

[The Food God is too disgusting. Did you see his fat picture? I almost threw up when I saw it.]

[I don’t think anyone will go there…?]

[If we go there then he’ll just exploit us for labor.]

[He’s not even a player from our country, why do we have to help him with his quest? Anyone going there is just complete BS.]

[The bastards that will go there are a disgrace to Japan. Bakayaro!]

Everyone was divided into two distinct opposing opinions. But then, at that moment, some people posted other posts.

[Still, I think I want to go and help the Food God. I still can’t forget how he went to Yuuta. It moved my heart deeply.]

[I don’t think the Food God is a bad person. Just look at what he did for Yuuta. I believe he’s a very cool and collected adult.]

[Back then, the Food God has received and rejected countless offers for advertisement and contracts offered by companies that were worth tens of billions of won. However, he went out of his way to visit Japan for a while for something that could not garner him any profit.]

[He has shown great kindness towards a Japanese child. That’s why I’ll help him.]

The ‘Yuuta Incident’ was an event that touched the hearts of the Japanese deeply.

***

This was a story that happened shortly after Athenae: World War. At that time, the world has declared and chosen the Food God as the top influential figure. However, despite his great influence, he never made a move. Even with countless advertising offers and company offers worth tens of billions of won, he still remained silent.

Currently, a skinny boy sat in front of a window with his hands clasped together in prayer. This boy was none other than Yuuta. Yuuta, born with a rare disease that resulted in a severe gastrointestinal disorder, could only consume ‘liquids’ which forced him to be thinner and smaller than his peers. And this very same Yuuta prayed dearly, ‘Dear God, please let me meet the Food God once. Just once, while I’m still alive.’

Plagued by this rare disease, Yuuta, who had mostly lived in the hospital, did not know how long he could live in this world. However, an existence fanned the flames of hopes in his heart once again. And this person was none other than the ‘Food God’. He was a Korean hero that overcame his rare disease. He was Yuuta’s hero. After praying, Yuuta immediately turned to look back while asking, “Dad. Do you think the Food God received the chocolate and letter that I sent him?”

“Of course, Yuuta. He must definitely be happy to receive them.”

Yuuta’s parents turned sad after seeing him ask so enthusiastically. The Food God was a world-renowned figure. There would definitely be thousands of fan letters and gifts that he received each day. There was no way that he would notice the boy’s chocolate and letter. But the young Yuuta still wrote his letter carefully and diligently with his bony hands.

[Hello Mister Food God! I hope I can see you while I’m still alive! I also have a rare disease like you but I still dream of becoming a baseball player and play in the major league! Also, I hope that you can eat this chocolate once you’re completely cured from your eating addiction!]

Yuuta firmly believed that he would be able to meet with the Food God while he was still alive. But his parents did not.

‘He’s someone that does not even move even when presented with tens of billions of won.’

‘Yuuta… forgive me. I can’t do anything for you.’

The two of them could only despair at their helplessness. But then, one of the nurses rushed into their room and said, “Mo, mother! Father! Hurry! Bring Yuuta to the rooftop!”

“Yes?”

“…?”

They all went up to the rooftop in confusion.

‘No way…’

A completely ridiculous thought flashed in their heads. They wondered if it was possible from the shocking words that the doctor-in-charge had told them earlier. However, they still remained doubtful as they continued to climb to the rooftop of ‘Fuji Hospital’, the largest hospital in Japan. But there was no one on the rooftop. Then…

Whirl, whirl, whirl, whirl, whirl—

A bright light lit up the rooftop as a helicopter appeared above them. On the pilot’s seat, a bulky and muscular pilot wearing sunglasses manned the helicopter to land on the landing spot. With a loud noise, the helicopter finally landed on the hospital’s rooftop.

Whirl, whirl, whirl, whirl, whirl, whirl—

The strong wind brought about by the helicopter’s whirling blade made the hairs on Yuuta and his parent’s head flutter fiercely. Then, several strong and sturdy men wearing suits got off the helicopter. And finally…

Step—

…a 185cm tall man with his swept up black hair and black suit stepped down while loosening his tie. Then, with his hair and collar fluttering from the wind, he walked forward before stopping in front of Yuuta.

The man held out his hand holding a glove and a baseball as he lowered himself until he was at Yuuta’s eye level. He smiled brightly as he gave his gift to Yuuta and said, “Hello, Yuuta? I’m the guy that you call Food God.”

“…Waaaaaaaaaah!”

The boy’s hero, the Food God, the very same person that did not move despite the tens of billions of won of offerings and contract has appeared in front of Yuuta. And the reason why Minhyuk came here…

“Woah! The Food God is right in front of me! I can’t believe it! The Food God even gave me a glove and a baseball! Waaaaaah!”

…was to see Yuuta smile.