Leveling Up through Eating

Translator: ChubbyCheeks

PR: MattForgenti

But Minhyuk was just sitting there looking at her with great expectations as if he did not know the waves of shock that he brought her.

“Hmm? Waiter?”

“Ah. Yes.”

Genie hurriedly moved to place the white plate with the steak in front of Varen.

“I’m the only one who’s supposed to be eating so why are you also sitting, boy?”

“I’m also going to eat with you.”

Varen tilted his head in confusion. And just as Genie placed the plate down…

[The Joy of Eating Together.]

[A dish that is similar to the dish presented to the other party has been created.]

A plate of steak similar to what was placed in front of Varen suddenly appeared in front of Minhyuk.

“Hoo. A special ability, huh?”

“Hehe. Thank you for the food!”

Minhyuk smiled brightly as he pulled out the knife and fork out of his inventory and started digging in. Varen watched him and quickly moved his hands. His left hand held the fork while his right hand held the knife. He used his fork to steady the meat and used his knife to slice the meat into a bite-sized piece.

‘Hoo. The meat is grilled moderately, the juices are perfectly contained inside and there is the unmistakable red inside that arouses the appetite.’

Varen was in awe but his face still maintained a stoic expression. He thought that the food would be lacking since they lacked ingredients and it was cooked in a hurry but it seemed like it was cooked well.

Then, he placed a piece in his mouth.

King Varen was quite a gourmand. Once the meat entered his mouth, he closed his eyes and chewed lightly to savor the flavor slowly. The filet mignon was tender and soft and the juices that came out in every bite was able to put a small smile on his face. In addition, the sauce that Minhyuk made using red wine, butter, olive oil, sugar, laurel leaves and soy sauce emphasized the flavor of the steak and gave off a harmonious flavor.

‘It, it’s cooked really well! So delicious……!’

After swallowing the meat down, Varen’s eyes opened with a tinge of surprise as he looked at Minhyuk. He saw him eating his steak quickly as if someone would steal it away from him.

‘He’s almost comparable to Rald!’

Minhyuk’s steak dish tasted so good that he was even compared to the legendary chef.

He watched Minhyuk eating hurriedly for a while before he continued to eat at a faster pace.

Varen also pointed his attention towards the steaming and golden brown matsutake mushroom on the side. He picked one up with his fork and placed it in his mouth. Once he chewed on the mushroom, he felt that the greasiness of the meat that he had just ate was washed away.

Varen continued to eat.

One bite, two bites, three bites, four bites.

And finally…

“Wow…… It’s really really delicious……!”

The pent-up and hidden admiration for the food suddenly burst out. When Minhyuk heard his words, he just shrugged his shoulders as if it was something natural.

“Boy, forgive me for disregarding your talents earlier.”

Cooking and delicious food could always make a person feel better and refreshed. It was the same feeling when one accidentally found a good restaurant, eat delicious food and feel better, right?

This was the case for Varen. He met a chef named Minhyuk and a woman named Genie at a time when his life was at danger and his anxiety was at its peak. His nerves were rattled and ragged to the point that he even showed them an unsightly face. Although Varen was a king of a kingdom, he was a gentleman through and through.

“I can’t believe that I could be served with such a delicious dish. I am truly grate……”

But before he could finish his words, more amazing things happened…

[You ate a dish from a recipe specially made for you.]

[You won’t be able to eat another dish from a recipe specially made for you for a month.]

[You can’t receive any duplicate buffs during the duration of the buff retention period.]

[Filet Mignon.]

[You have received an increase of 5% for all of your stats and a +2 on your skill: Evolution for 10 days.]

“……!”

Varen was astounded.

NPCs could also hear the notifications. In the first place, the notifications were something that was commonplace and natural for them. However, the notifications he just heard were truly too astounding that he couldn’t believe himself.

Did I just hear about a +2 on my Evolution skill?

An increase of 5% on all my stats?

He had never heard this kind of buff from a dish in his entire life. Of course, the increase in abilities like the increase in stats were commonly attributed and done by priests.

But the ability to increase a skill?

When Minhyuk checked the information about the steak after he finished cooking, he noticed the absurd increase in the preservation time of the buff and the increase of +2 in the skill Evolution. At that time he thought…

‘This is a strong buff that can only be received using the recipe creation skill!’

However, even though it was a strong buff, the balance was still not broken with this much. After eating the dish, the user or NPC would not be able to eat any dish made with the recipe creation skill. They would also be unable to receive any other buffs during the duration of the buff retention time. With these restrictions, it was only natural that the merits were huge.

It must have been a huge shock for the other party to discover such a great dish that could increase their abilities by so much.

Then, a thought flashed through Minhyuk’s head…

‘If I was able to get my hands on the ingredients that the recipe creation skill listed and cooked them……’

How much buff will he get?

Then Varen spoke after a while.

“You’re a really surprising chef……”

He was quite overwhelmed with awe and admiration towards Minhyuk.

“I was really satisfied with the dish.”

[Varen’s favorability has increased.]

[Varen’s favorability has increased.]

[Varen’s favorability has increased.]

Three consecutive notifications rang in Minhyuk’s head. These notifications just showed how much satisfaction Varen felt with his dish. And Minhyuk, who was able to eat the dish together with him, smiled slightly.

“Furthermore, your dish has made me stronger albeit temporarily.”

His skill was naturally at MAX. But Minhyuk’s dish was able to add a +2 on his skill that was already at MAX. Varen’s skill, Evolution, was already at the point where it could no longer grow stronger. However, it had a +2 right now and was even stronger and better than his skill at MAX. In other words, the person who would be on the other end of the Evolution skill would also be able to receive greater effects.

[You have completed the Hidden Quest: Satisfy the Hungry King Varen.]

[Varen’s Evolution skill can evolve your skill.]

[You will be able to eat the sushi made by the Legendary Chef.]

Varen continued to talk to him.

“Boy, I have only tasted one of your dishes but I can see your limitless talent and endless possibilities. Do you want to be a royal chef together with Rald?”

[King Varen of the Valkyrie Kingdom has proposed that you become a Royal Chef.]

[You have gained 20 reputation points.]

[If you accept the proposal to be a Royal Chef, you will be able to receive 500 million gold every month and endless rewards from King Varen.]

However, Minhyuk’s answer was one that was to be expected.

“I’m sorry. But there are still a lot of delicious things in the world that I haven’t tasted yet for me to be tied up somewhere this early.”

“I see.”

Varen looked a bit disappointed but he cheered himself up and moved on to the main point.

“I have eaten your dish so I will strengthen one of your abilities as promised.”

“Is it possible here?”

Varen nodded his head while he told Genie…

“If anything happens, please wake us up immediately.”

“Yes.”

Genie nodded her head in acknowledgment as she looked at Minhyuk with envy.

Varen sat on the floor of the carriage with his legs crossed. He also instructed Minhyuk to sit in front of him in the same position.

“We’re going to enter our dreamscape for a while.”

In fact, there was no need for them to use this method but their situation was dire so it was inevitable that they used whatever means was at their disposal.

Minhyuk slowly closed his eyes.

The moment he closed his eyes, he felt like he was being sucked to another place.

***

When Minhyuk opened his eyes again, he saw that he was in the middle of a very huge field.

Varen was standing right in front of him with his hands behind his back.

“Boy, try using your attack skill here.”

Minhyuk nodded his head.

“Ellie’s Swordsmanship.”

“W, what did you say?!”

“Yes?”

Minhyuk looked at him in askance when he saw Varen react with surprise. His body was even trembling hard.

“Boy, what did you say just now?”

“I said Ellie’s Swordsmanship?”

“When you say Ellie’s Swordsmanship, do you mean……”

“That’s right. Ellie is my noona, we’re very close.”

“……”

Varen was shocked speechless.

You’re calling the Empress of a great Empire noona?

He thought that he was just lying but he saw Minhyuk prove it to him when he used his skill.

‘He underwent sword training? Don’t tell me… Did Ellie teach him?”

He couldn’t hide the surprise that he felt.

‘This man… he’s not just a simple chef.’

Varen knew. He might have the chef job class but he was not your average chef.

In all honesty, Varen expected that his offensive skill was the offensive skill that chefs normally use but it was not.

“Shall I continue?”

“Yes.”

“Rampant Sword.”

[Rampant Sword.]

[A flurry of rampant swords with additional 30% attack power will be created for 6 seconds.]

The flurry of swords were so fast that it left afterimages in the space in front of him.

‘Amazing. It might look like he just swung it indiscriminately but his attacks were accurate.’

His posture and movements were just like the Sword Emperor, Ellie.

‘I did not expect that I would be able to strengthen this ability.’

Then, another skill was performed in front of him.

[Step.]

[Quickly move a distance of 1m for two steps.]

Dash! Dash!

Minhyuk was extremely fast. He moved a distance of 1m in one step and immediately came back to his original position in another.

“Sword of Fury.”

[Sword of Fury.]

[There will be an additional 53% for strong lunges and stabs, if a vital strike is successful then the additional attack power will be 83%.]

The edge of his sword was suddenly filled with energy.

Vwoooom!

The moment Minhyuk stabbed the sword, Varen almost lost his tongue in surprise. It sounded like the space in front of him was torn with how powerful the blow was.

Varen remembered every move that was shown to him.

[Skill Analysis.]

[Quickly analyzes a skill.]

A hologram appeared in front of him as Varen utilized his power. He checked the first movement, Rampant Sword.

‘This Rampant Sword has tremendous speed and accuracy. It also has quite a long duration.’

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Holograms suddenly appeared in front of him. One of the holograms was showing a mini Minhyuk that was using the Rampant Sword.

‘How should I enhance this ability?’

Varen thought deeply about the adjustments that he would make. He thought for quite a while before finally realizing what he needed to do.

‘This would be good.’

The greatest advantage of the Rampant Sword was that it could instantly cut down the enemies with the flurry of swords. But it wouldn’t be able to show its full power in a 1:1 match.

So, how about giving this Rampant Sword the ability to attack only one person? I can make the Rampant Sword hit a single target with a huge number of attacks.

Varen waved his hands and a wooden puppet appeared in another hologram. The mini Minhyuk wielded his sword and used Rampant Sword to attack the wooden puppet.

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

‘As expected, the attack is going all over the place.’

Varen moved his hands continuously.

The Rampant Sword that was going all over the place slowly began to change into a concentrated attack. The flurry of swords that were slashing in all directions soon began to hit the wooden puppet in the hologram.

Just as the attack struck the wooden puppet, a surprising thing happened…

It was just a single attack but the wooden puppet shook and vibrated wildly as a series of damages appeared on top of it.

Slam, slam, slam, slam, slam, slam, slam!

The first skill was then completed.

[Rampant Sword. Connection (Inherit) is completed.]

[One attack will hit seven times. The damage has been increased by 40%.]

After he completed the first movement, he moved on to the second one.

Sword of Fury.

‘It’s a single blow that can easily overpower your enemy. As soon as the strike hits you, a huge force will be extended and transferred over to you. If I condense the force that leaks after that strike then the blow will be more powerful.’

Varen’s hands never stopped moving. He spent quite a long time adjusting and strengthening the movements of Minhyuk’s skill.

‘The effect of the +2 in my skill after eating that dish is truly amazing. The effect has been really great.’

He gave a silent praise of admiration to his enhanced skill.

Not long after, Varen finally succeeded in evolving and strengthening Ellie’s Swordsmanship.

Then, he approached Minhyuk and stood in front of him as various holograms popped out. The mini Minhyuks in the holograms were sucked one by one in Minhyuk’s body.

The moment the mini Minhyuks were absorbed, a notification rang.

[Ellie’s Swordsmanship has evolved from Epic to Legendary.]

***

TL’s corner!

Well… Ellie’s Swordsmanship was already strong to begin with even at Lv2 but it seems like it will become much stronger. Legendary. I wonder how the administrators will react. Lol.

PR’s corner!

At this point, they’d probably just shake their heads.

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