Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 975

New world, Utopia.

In this world, what was waiting for Minhyuk at the finish line was the opportunity to create the skill that would allow him to plant and nurture God-grade ingredients.

During the process, Minhyuk could also level up his Food God skills. How? Minhyuk had learned that those who had inherited the blood of the Food God and possessed some of his powers were living somewhere in Utopia. If he could complete the quests given by the Food God’s progenies, he could increase his skill level to correspond to their talent.

Because of that, he had been curious about what skill Rhoando possessed. And when Rhoando said, ‘Overlapping Delight,’ Minhyuk could not help but be shocked.

‘Did he say Overlapping Delight?’

There was a reason for his shock.

(Overlapping Delight)

Absolute God’s Secret

Level: None

Cooldown: 24 hours

Effects:

• You can overlap the buff effects of two different dishes.

• Once the buff effects of two different dishes overlap, you can see the impact of the overlapping dishes even if you consumed one food and thought of ‘consuming’ another.

• A ‘cooking dice’ will be thrown when the two dishes’ buff effects overlap. The number that will be displayed on the dice will determine the duration of the buff.

• The lower the number, the shorter the duration of the buff effect. The duration per number rolled is as follows: thirty seconds for number 1, one minute for number 2, two minutes for number 3, three minutes for number 4, four minutes for number 5, and seven minutes for number 6.

• The EXP you can obtain will double for as long as the unique effect of the Overlapping Delight is in effect.

Overlapping Delight was one of the few Absolute God’s Secrets worldwide.

‘And this Overlapping Delight also belongs to the God of Cooking.’

But if one considered it closely, one would realize that the God of Cooking and the Food God had always maintained a fairly close relationship. This was mainly because most of the Food God’s skills came from the God of Cooking.

And there was also another reason why Minhyuk was surprised.

‘Overlapping Delight' falls into the skills category that cannot be leveled up. After all, it is already a skill that could allow someone to obtain the buff effects of two dishes simultaneously.

Of course, the duration of the buff effect of the Overlapping Delight was shorter than the duration of ordinary buffed dishes. It was even set randomly. At most, one could have the buff effects for seven minutes.

But what would happen if Minhyuk’s Overlapping Delight leveled up?

‘Maybe I will be able to overlap three dishes?’ The thought made Minhyuk’s heart thump.

His Overlapping Delight could already increase the power of his skills by 1.5 times right now. But what if he could eat three dishes and overlap three buff effects?

‘Maybe I will be able to double the power of my skills. No, maybe more than that?’

Then, at that moment, a notification rang.

Ring!

[Linked Quest: Hunt the Half-God, Half-Dragon with Rhoando.]

Rank: Class

Requirements: The one who has built a high favorability with Rhoando.

Rewards: Overlapping Delight will level up by one.

Penalty for Failure: Rhoando and the mercenaries’ death.

Description: Rhoando wants to become a complete god. Help Rhoando ascend to the throne and sit in the position of god.

Minhyuk, who checked everything, saw that the end of the quest related to Rhoando was to make him into a god.

Rhoando, with a worried expression, said, “There’s nothing we can do.”

In the end, Rhoando could only give in to Minhyuk.

“But if things get dangerous, you must run away. Here, take this.” Rhoando handed over a small bead to Minhyuk.

[You have acquired a Return Stone.]

One look and Minhyuk could tell that this Return Stone had a spell that would allow him to return to Utopia.

“I’m pretty strong. I’m going to be of great help.” Minhyuk looked at Rhoando and the mercenaries, who were looking at him with worry and concern. “Just like you, Rhoando, I have also inherited the blood of the Food God. Even though I have only been in this land briefly, I want to help you protect what’s precious to you.”

Minhyuk was sincere with his words. He had lived a terrible life where he could not eat whatever he wanted to eat because of an illness. But these people were not like him. Others were just controlling them.

‘Perhaps they are in a more terrible situation than me.’

The mercenaries', or to be precise, the rebels', eyes had changed as they looked at Minhyuk.

‘We are living in this land; that's why we want to protect it with our lives.’

‘But that’s not the case for hyung-nim. He has only been here briefly, yet he wants to fight with us just because he learned that food and cooking have been banned and controlled here.’

‘Even if hyung-nim is strong, it will still be tough for all of us to deal with the half-god, half-dragon being in that dungeon.’

The rebels were all fully aware that their power might not even reach the king if something went wrong. There was even a chance that they would be wiped out inside the Dungeon of Oppression. After all, it was not that easy to get the opportunity to become a god.

But even after Minhyuk learned about it, he still chose to fight with them.

[You have received Rhoando’s favor.]

[You have received Edron’s favor.]

[You have received Espio’s favor.]

Their favorability toward Minhyuk increased a bit more.

Rhoando looked at Minhyuk softly and gently and said, “Thank you, hyung-nim.”

Minhyuk smiled softly in return. Then, he said, “Ah, I will cook and serve you with a very delicious dish when we're in front of the dungeon.”

Minhyuk intended to make bulk dishes using his cooking trailer in front of the dungeon and feed them to give them buffs.

After finishing all the preparations, Rhoando said, “Everyone, let’s go! To battle!”

***

Once they reached the vicinity of the Dungeon of Oppression, Minhyuk immediately took out his cooking trailer and cooked bulk dishes for Rhoando and his band of rebels. The dish that he chose to cook for them was chicken porridge.

‘These people have only eaten potatoes for a very long time. Their stomach might have problems if I suddenly feed them something greasy.’

Minhyuk watched them gobble the chicken porridge. A faint yet happy smile was on his face when he saw them happily devouring the dish he had made.

‘Goodness. Their god has restricted and banned them from eating dishes like this for hundreds of years. I wonder how delicious is that chicken porridge they are eating right now?’

Minhyuk completely understood what the rebels were feeling right now.

After eating the food, everyone heard the same notifications ring in their ears.

[You have eaten Chicken Porridge.]

[The dish is legendary.]

[The effects of the Bizarre Cauldron have taken effect. All buffs will be 15% better.]

[All of your stats have increased by 16%.]

[Your total HP and MP volume have increased by 1.2x.]

[All of your attack power has increased by 6%.]

[All of your defensive power has increased by 8%.]

[The buff will last for four days.]

The rebels were left stunned after they finished eating.

‘This– this is ridiculous…!’

Even Rhoando had the same reaction.

“This dish has great power. Hyung-nim, it seems like you have inherited the blood of the Food God and more of the Food God’s power.”

Rhoando did not know any details or information about the world outside of Utopia. But, based on what he had seen, he assumed that Minhyuk was a unique being who had inherited more of the blood of the Food God. Of course, he still did not doubt Minhyuk if he was half-god or half-elf. And all of these led to one answer.

“I can see why you have hunted so many Steel-Armored Ogres.”

Rhoando thought that since Minhyuk could give them such fantastic buffs, then Minhyuk would also be able to give himself better buffs.

Then, Rhoando bowed toward Minhyuk. “Hyung-nim, thank you. Thanks to you, our chances have increased.”

The thought that he would die inside the Dungeon of Oppression had crossed Rhoando’s head countless times. This was because he was not confident in killing the half-god, half-dragon inside the dungeon.

Even though he was not confident, that did not mean he couldn’t do anything. And now, thanks to Minhyuk’s dish, their chances of winning have increased significantly.

After finishing their meal, everyone began to move and enter the Dungeon of Oppression.

[You have entered the Dungeon of Oppression.]

[The unknown existence being oppressed and subdued at the end of the Dungeon of Oppression has started showing signs of movement.]

‘The unknown existence that is being oppressed and subdued.’

Rhoando also explained to Minhyuk. “According to the legends, the half-god, half-dragon protects the unknown existence being oppressed and subdued in this dungeon.”

“What is that unknown existence?”

Rhoando, with his face filled with anticipation, said, “I don’t know. But maybe it’s ‘food’.”

“Food?”

“Yes. There’s a chance that the food that god has taken away from this world is being oppressed and subdued in there and is now showing its presence.”

Minhyuk and the rebels continued to venture deeper into the dungeon. After a while, Rhoando stopped and said, “They’re coming. Get ready to fight. Hyung-nim, you might be in danger, so please stay behind.”

Even though the rebels that had gathered here were strong, they would still be nervous. After all, they were inside the Dungeon of Oppression, which only existed in the legends shared and written in Utopia. Listening to the sounds, one could tell there were many incoming enemies.

‘Since it’s a dungeon that can accommodate this many people, then there’s bound to be a lot of monsters to deal with.’ Minhyuk watched silently.

A huge clutch of mantises appeared in front of the group of rebels.

[Giant Mantis. Level 622.]

“...?”

Minhyuk was left in shock. A giant mantis could reach Level 622? What kind of mantis was that? The worst part? The clutch of giant mantis had around 200 mantises charging at a speed that could rival that of a rhinoceros.

The rebels immediately shot their arrows at the monsters.

Ting, ting, ting, ting–!

But most of their arrows failed to pierce through the thick skin of the mantises.

‘They have outstanding accuracy.’

They were obviously on a different level since they were half-human, half-elves. Soon after, one of the giant mantises finally collided with the rebels.

Slash, slash, slash, slash–!

The mantises’ forelegs were as sharp as a blade, allowing them to cut one of the rebels in half easily.

“Don’t fall back and collapse!”

Minhyuk watched the battle and analyzed the situation. ‘They’re outstanding.’

After observing them, Minhyuk believed their average level should be around Level 610. And even though a massive clutch of giant mantises was attacking them, they were not being pushed back. Based on their tacit understanding, they seemed to have worked together for a long time.

But what was more impressive was Rhoando. Minhyuk could tell that Rhoando was a high-level NPC around Level 700 or beyond. He had been standing at the vanguard and slaughtering the giant mantises with his axe.

And since everyone had received Minhyuk’s cooking buff, they fought without fear. In just an instant, they had wiped away the more than two hundred giant mantises. Their casualties? Fifty people died, while nine received severe injuries. That was a small amount of damage, especially since they killed more than two hundred giant mantises.

‘And this is because they did not know how to deal with them since it was their first time challenging this dungeon. As time passes and they get accustomed to the dungeon, the damage they will receive will decrease.’

Minhyuk was fully convinced that this band of rebels was just as brilliant and outstanding as the knights of the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

“How is it?”

“It’s amazing.”

“Just like you have seen, we are strong. So, trust us, hyung-nim. We will not let harm go your way.”

Once a brother, always a brother. This was the type of person Rhoando was.

Rhoando dared say he would protect Minhyuk because he did not know who Minhyuk was. Minhyuk should have probably felt bad that he was being underestimated, but that was not the case at all. He was grateful that these people were willing to protect him even though they barely knew each other.

“My dear younger brother.”

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

“All potatoes that will drop here will be our payment for the chicken porridge.”

“...”

Minhyuk would always make calculations thoroughly.

***

Rhoando quickly led the rebels deeper into the dungeon. Suddenly, a clutch of more than 3,000 mantises appeared before them. But since they had already figured out how to deal with them, these mantises failed to stop them.

‘This is all thanks to hyung-nim.’

That was right. This was all thanks to Minhyuk’s cooking buff. If Minhyuk had not fed them that dish, there was a chance that more than half of their numbers would have died from the 3,000-strong clutch of mantises. Rhoando had only viewed Minhyuk as a hyung-nim in name at first. But as time passed, he started treating him as his real hyung-nim.

The battle with the mantises continued. But as they ventured deeper and deeper into the dungeon, Rhoando started to feel overwhelmed. It was not because of the heavy expectation of becoming a god but because of the hope of getting back the food that God had taken from them and deprived them of.

‘It is just as Minhyuk hyung-nim had said.’

Food might be the most trivial thing, but it sometimes feels like the most significant thing in our lives.

‘The taste of the soup you eat hurriedly when you’re hungry.’

Even if it were only a cheap soup, one would still feel happy and satisfied after finishing the bowl. And just one more time, Rhoando hoped.

‘If food comes back to us, I will go to an expensive restaurant and order food there. Just once. Just once in my life.’

Maybe he would do it on a pleasant day. Or maybe when there was something special. He would make sure to go to the restaurant, which had long disappeared from Utopia, and order expensive food.

There may come a day when they feel the excitement of eating expensive food at a high-class restaurant. And the joy they feel once they take a bite of that dish? It would be immense.

Rhoando vowed to get the food back and let others feel that joy. This was the lifelong mission of the half-Food God Rhoando.

“Let’s go!!!”

“Uwooooooooh!!!”

After dealing with another clutch of mantises, Rhoando finally saw the end of the road. The half-god, half-dragon was waiting for them over there. If he could kill it, he would become a god and be able to kill even gods. Simply put, it was the beginning of this world’s reform.

Rhoando tightened his hold on his axe as he dashed forward.

‘Overlapping Delight.’

Once he triggered this power, he could fight against the strong half-god, half-dragon.

“Kihyeeeeeeeeeck!”

Rhoando, who had already reached their final destination, saw the gigantic half-god, half-dragon with wings akin to mantises on its back.

[The First Half-god, Half-dragon, has made its appearance!]

[Warning! Danger!]

[Warning! Danger!]

[First Half-god, Half-dragon. Level 747.]

Rhoando was brave. He ran with courage to bring food back and bring joy and satisfaction to all the people in the world.

“Uwoooooooooh!!!”

But then, the side walls of the area where the half-god, half-dragon was suddenly collapsed.

Rumbleeee–!

“Kihyaaaaaaack!!!”

Then, another dragon appeared, this time with a bee's wings.

[The Second Half-god, Half-dragon, has made its appearance!]

[Warning! Danger!]

[Warning! Danger!]

[Second Half-god, Half-dragon. Level 786.]

Legend has it that the half-god, half-dragon possessed a cintamani stone that could give someone with half the blood of a god to become a true god. Another legend said that the half-god, half-dragon protected whatever was being oppressed and subdued in the dungeon.

However, all of the legends were wrong.

‘One dragon protects the cintamani stone.’

‘The other dragon protects the thing being oppressed and subdued in the dungeon.’

That was right. The half-god half-dragon in the legends were twins.

“Kihyeeeeeeeeeck!”

“Kihyaaaaaaaaaaack!”

Rhoando, charging valiantly, looked back after seeing the roaring half-god, half-dragons. And the place that he was looking at? It was where Minhyuk was standing.