Leveling Up through Eating

“……!”

Minhyuk’s eyes widened in surprise. His current satisfaction level was just at around 50%. But right now, the quest had already been completed. At the same time, a full course restaurant meal suddenly materialized in front of Minhyuk. He couldn’t hide his excitement when he saw the meal laid out in front of him. However, a series of texts appeared in front of Minhyuk.

[I can roughly guess that my descendant will be busy eating by himself. But I also believe that there will come a day when you will cook for others sincerely and with all of your heart.]

That was the end of the statement. In other words, it was highly likely that this was the Food God’s exact intention when he left the second job class quest ‘To Have a Feast with Other People.’.

No one knew the answer but perhaps this task was more difficult than any other task for Minhyuk whose job class was Food God. It was possible that if he wasn’t able to get the second God’s Legacy Dish and finish the second class quest then he also wouldn’t be able to get the third or the fourth dish nor would he be able to move forward.

Minhyuk smiled happily.

An untimely kindness and good deed had given me plenty of rewards.

Then, Minhyuk placed the steaming chicken porridge as well as a plate of well-ripened kimchi in front of Riche.

***

‘Wow, so beautiful.’ 

The color of the chopped carrot as well as the chopped scallions gave a unique and beautiful contrast on top of the steaming white chicken porridge. Riche looked at it in excitement. When he looked at Minhyuk, he could see that he was smiling softly at him.

Not long after, the same chicken porridge appeared in front of Minhyuk.

“Chicken porridge is best eaten with well-ripened kimchi.”

Minhyuk took his spoon and used it to stir the chicken porridge in front of him. As he stirred the porridge, the steam slowly came out with a shwaaaaa━. Then, he took a spoonful and blew on it gently. The clean and refreshing flavor of the chicken broth and the well-cooked grains of rice met and created a perfect combination of texture and flavor.

Riche quickly followed him, as he scooped up a spoonful of the chicken porridge and blew on it. He stared closely at Minhyuk to copy what  he was doing. When Minhyuk scooped up a spoonful of porridge and placed a piece of kimchi on top of it, Riche copied him down to the T and placed a piece of kimchi on his spoonful of porridge before he chomped on it.

The spicy and sour taste of the kimchi contrasted and added a flair to the clean and plain flavor of the chicken porridge. It also washed away the feeling of greasiness. However, Riche, who was still unaware about the side dish called kimchi, did not know that it was very spicy.

“Ha…… Spicy.”

Riche stuck out his tongue while he tried to fan it and cool it down with his hands. Then, he quickly gulped down plenty of water to wash away the spiciness. But even though he found it quite spicy, strangely enough, he still found his hands continuously getting kimchi while eating his chicken porridge. 

Riche kept on eating his chicken porridge with kimchi. When he raised his head and looked at the person in front of him, he saw that he had already finished his chicken porridge and was already getting his hands on his restaurant full course meal.

***

A restaurant full course meal.

After quickly gobbling up his chicken porridge, Minhyuk quickly picked the before meal bread. As soon as he touched it, he could feel the warmth and the crispiness of the outside of the bread. He quickly tore a piece and dipped it in the sauce that was accompanying the bread.

A warm smile languidly hung at the corners of his lips.

As soon as he finished the before meal bread, the warm broccoli soup that followed immediately whetted his appetite. By the time he finished the broccoli soup with its soft and rich flavor, he could already see the main dish in front of him.

The main dishes were steak, carbonara and pilaf. He first sliced the beef. He could see that the outside of the steak was well-done but as soon as his knife sliced the beef a reddish glow from its juices greeted him. He quickly stabbed a piece with his fork and placed it in his mouth. It was medium rare. Minhyuk’s most favorite and preferred cooking of steak. It was perfectly done. As soon as he chewed on the meat, he could feel the soft texture of the meat. The savory taste of the meat together with the taste of the onions and mushrooms that were grilled together slowly spread in his mouth.

He grinned from ear to ear as he turned towards the carbonara. He was not entirely sure but he knew that the people of his country loved two types of spaghetti the most. And that was tomato spaghetti and carbonara. And Minhyuk? He personally liked carbonara.

He held the spoon with his right hand while his left hand picked up some of the pasta with his fork. Then, he brought the fork with the pasta towards the spoon as he gently turned it. He looked at the slightly steaming and gently wrapped pasta on the fork before placing it on his mouth.

Chew, chew━

He could taste the rich flavor of the milk as well as the bacon and mushroom spreading in his mouth.

It’s truly rich and savory.

That expression perfectly fit the carbonara that he had just tasted. Then, he quickly turned towards the pork pilaf.

When he scooped a spoonful of the pilaf, he could see that it was packed with plenty of minced vegetables and meat. As soon as he chomped on it, the varying flavors of the different ingredients showed great harmony that resulted in a pleasant and enjoyable taste.

‘Really delicious…… The craftsmanship is no different from the jokbal set that I had before……’

It’s really the best.

He couldn’t help but let out gasp after gasp of admiration. He looked at the second God’s Legacy Dish, the restaurant full course in admiration the same way he looked at the previously eaten jokbal set.

Before he knew it, he had already finished everything. At the same time, Riche also finished the chicken porridge all by himself.

“I’m full……”

Minhyuk tilted his head at him.

“A hundred bowls of porridge is the basic amount. You’re already full?”

“Yes. I’m very, very full!”

Minhyuk couldn’t understand him at all. Nevertheless, he still gave the boy in front of him a gentle smile. Then, the notifications rang out.

[You have eaten God’s Second Legacy Dish, the Restaurant Full Course.]

[The amount of your Buffs has increased by 100%.]

[You have acquired the skill: Allurer’s Cooking.]

[You have gained 50 reputation points.]

‘Allurer’s Cooking?’

Minhyuk was taken aback as he quickly checked the contents of the skill.

(Allurer’s Cooking)

Active Skill

Level: 1

Penalty for Use: -2 to all stats.

Effects: 

━ You can create a recipe that the other person wanted to eat. There is a possibility of taming the person once they ate your food. The probability of taming will increase and decrease depending on various sets of conditions.

━ It is impossible to tame a creature that has a 100 level or higher gap from you.

━ Current number of possible uses: 3/3

It was an interesting skill. It was literally telling him that he could tame and get a subordinate just by feeding them his cooking. But in a way, he still had to be careful.

‘The mouths that I needed to feed might increase……!’ 

He should definitely avoid the increase of mouths to feed.

Then, Kaistra went up and approached them.

“How was it?”

“It was really delicious, Kaistra! Surprisingly, I remembered the time when we were fed that kind of food……! No, it was more delicious than that time before.”

Kaistra grinned widely at Riche’s enthusiasm. And Minhyuk also smiled at the scene in front of him.

‘He finally looks like a kid.’ 

Just one look at Kaistra and he knew that he was just a boy. When Minhyuk looked at Kaistra again, he could see that Kaistra did not know how to express his gratitude. Then, Minhyuk said…….

“There are more children in your village, right?”

“Yes, there are.” 

Minhyuk smiled at him as he continued to speak.

“They should access the game. I’ll treat you all to a dish but the ingredients should be provided by Kaistra. But it’s up to you. And don’t forget to pay for that dish.”

Kaistra smiled at him.

‘He’s trying to show me that he did not suffer any loss. I can feel that he’s being considerate to me……’

Minhyuk was thorough like that. If Minhyuk had said… ‘I won’t accept your payment.’ then Kaistra would have been at a loss for what to do. Kaistra was a powerful person and he had more than enough to offer the same value as the dish that he had made. That was why Minhyuk just tried to relieve him from his feeling of gratitude by asking him to pay for the dish.

***

As soon as the morning came, Kaistra immediately went straight to Riche’s house. He saw that Riche had gotten up early and was now drinking some water.

“Kaistra! It seems like I just caught a cold! My body is filled with energy now!”

Riche grinned widely, showing his white teeth at him. Kaistra hurriedly approached him and hugged him tight.

“That’s a relief, Riche…… That’s a relief……”

“Yeah, Kaistra.”

Riche gently patted Kaistra’s back as tears flowed down on their faces. After quite a long time, the two of them went out of the house together.

“No, let’s eat first!”

“Me too! Me too!”

They heard the sound of the children’s laughter ringing loudly in their village.

“I ate the chef’s dish yesterday. It was really delicious!”

“It was really delicious but he’s somewhat strange.”

“Why?”

“My goodness! The chicken was this big but he said that we should at least eat 100 bowls of chicken porridge. Does it even make sense for him to eat that much?”

“Woooooow.”

That was right. Yesterday, Minhyuk had taught about the greatness of ‘Chineunim’ to the African children.

A smile was constantly hanging on Kaistra’s lips as he watched the children having fun. Kaistra  brooded over what had happened yesterday.

‘Kang Minhoo-nim and Minhyuk-nim.’

There were so many things that were overlapping with those two people. First of all, there was the ‘Min’ character in their names.

A thought suddenly flashed in Kaistra’s head.

Back then, he had asked Park Munsoo whether there were also hungry people in Korea, and he answered like this……

‘There’s a man who’s very, very close to the Chairman. That’s why he knows about hunger more than anyone else.’

And Minhyuk acted like he was a person who was always hungry.

After thinking for quite some time, Kaistra stood up and accessed Athenae with a determined look on his face.

***

As soon as Kaistra accessed Athenae, he could see the stuffed Minhyuk surrounded by the equally stuffed children. He approached them just like that.

“I want to repay you now.”

Kaistra smiled widely as he looked at Minhyuk and the baby pig named Kongie that was perched on his shoulders.

He summoned Penrus. As soon as Penrus came out, the two of them made eye contact. Penrus was a huge and majestic wolf with white fur. He was quite intimidating but he still stared at Kaistra as he asked him through their link.

[Kaistra. Are you really willing to give all my Breath to that incarnation?]

Kaistra nodded his head at him. Penrus’ Breath had a limited number available. His breath had an amazing power that could boost the power of other pets and his breath would eventually be consumed. However, Kaistra still nodded his head at him as he laughed sunnily.

[Penrus. That person is my benefactor.]

Penrus slowly nodded his head.

[I will always trust you and follow your decisions. Kaistra.]

Penrus smiled slightly at him and Kaistra also answered him with a smile. Kaistra slowly walked to where Minhyuk was.

At that moment, Minhyuk asked him……

“How is Riche’s condition now?”

“It must have just been a cold. He’s now filled with energy.”

Minhyuk smiled broadly when he heard his words.

“That’s a relief.”

He looked so happy as if it were his own concern too. Kaistra shook his head as he smiled at him. Then, he asked……

“By any chance, is your father’s name ‘Kang’, ‘Min’ and ‘Hoo’? Am I right?”

“……?”

Minhyuk’s eyes widened in surprise when he heard his question. However, he quickly schooled his expression to blankness. Kaistra smiled slightly at him. Then, he slowly got down on one knee.

He was given a new life by a single person. And that person was Ilhwa Group’s Chairman, Kang Minhoo. He might not be aware about his existence but he cared and respected him. And now, from his son, he had received a second blessing.

Kaistra, who was on one of his knees, placed his hands together and prayed.

“Uhmbad, ahbad, sa baht.”

It was their tribe’s ritual.

There was a saying in Kaistra’s tribe.

‘You must not forget if you have been given kindness. And you must remember the person who had given you such kindness as your friend, forever.’

This was the ritual of connection. Kaistra mumbled the words in order before slowly opening his eyes. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Minhyuk staring at him.

“I don’t know you, but I am indebted to your father. I would also like to repay you for that.”

Minhyuk looked at him in confusion as sweat began to rain down from his forehead.

‘W, why does this sound familiar?’

Then, Kaistra spoke out some shocking words.

“I want to follow you, Minhyuk.”

“……!”

Kaistra was 9th in the unofficial world rankings. He was at Lv482 with a God Class Envoy of Incarnation. Yet, he was willing to bow down and follow Minhyuk.

If the Ilhwa Group did not come back then then I wouldn’t be here in the first place.

Perhaps it was Minhyuk and his father who had given him a new life. Kaistra did not regret the words that he had spoken. If it was him or his father then he believed that he would be willing to follow them forever.

Minhyuk hesitated for a moment before asking him with trembling lips.

“Are you good at washing dishes?”

“……?”

***

Notes: I don't know if you guys still remember chineunim being Chicken God or smth like that. But it just mean that chicken is the best or smth along those lines.