Leveling Up through Eating

Translators: ChubbyCheeks

There was nothing else on the page of the book except for a picture. Then, the picture began to move like a video.

The demon race moved when they heard the alleged existence of minerals. As soon as they found the minerals, they ground them. Fine powder that shined a bright yellow light fell down from the minerals that were being sharpened and ground.

And along with the moving pictures, words appeared in Minhyuk’s mind.

[The MSG that was created from the grinding of the minerals was vastly superior to any seasoning that Gorac had ever tasted in his life.]

“……!” 

Minhyuk’s eyes widened in awe.

Vastly superior to any seasoning in the world?

The pictures then suddenly disappeared with a swoosh. Then, words and sentences continued to appear on the pages of the book.

[Gorac. He was an eccentric fellow. Therefore, he has created many special and powerful job classes. Mysterious man, Gorac’s Book is now granting you this job.]

Flutter!

With a flutter, the phrases written on the book scattered in the air and disappeared. Then, two words appeared in his head.

[Eccentric Gourmand]

[This is not about those monkey head dishes or foie gras. This is a person who enjoys those regular and mundane foods more deliciously than everybody else. Someone that uses amazing and special ingredients in your own way. In addition, Gorac has prepared a reward for the Eccentric Gourmand.]

Flash!

A black light flashed from Gorac’s book and entered Minhyuk’s body.

[You have changed your job class to the Legendary Class ‘Eccentric Gourmand’.]

[You will need two times the amount of EXP to level up.]

[Class Quest: Make a Special Tool.]

Rank: Class

Restriction: Eccentric Gourmand

Rewards: Gorac’s Special Skill

Failure for Penalty: None

Description: A special tool can be something like this, for example you can use the Gardin Trees. The Gardin Trees are an excellent material that are used to make bows. You can use this SS-ranked material to make a charcoal. This is how an Eccentric Gourmand makes a tool. The quest will only be completed if it meets Gorac’s criteria and requirements.

[Class Quest: A Surprising Dish with the Help of a Special Existence!]

Rank: Class

Restriction: Eccentric Gourmand

Rewards: Resistance to Magi

Failure for Penalty: None

Description: There are countless monsters, gods, demons, angels that exist in the world. There are even legendary and mythical monsters or people. In other words, there are various beings in the world. Create a delicious dish with the help of a legendary, a mythical or more beings. For example, the Water Dragon Barraca has a cintamani pearl that creates a ‘holy water’. With the help of this cintamani pearl, make a ramyeon. That’s how an Eccentric Gourmand makes a dish. The quest will only be completed if it meets Gorac’s criteria and requirements.

[Class Quest: Special Seasoning.]

Rank: Class

Restrictions: Eccentric Gourmand

Rewards: Gorac’s Artifact

Failure for Penalty: None

Description: There are countless minerals in the world. In addition there are God’s or Dragon’s minerals. You can use these minerals to create seasonings. The quest will only be completed if it meets Gorac’s criteria and requirements.

[The Passive Skill: Eccentric Chef has been created.]

[The Passive Skill: Eccentric Gourmand’s Insight has been created.]

[The Passive Skill: The True Worth of an Eccentric Gourmand has been created.]

[The Passive Skill: The Eccentric’s Greatness has been created.]

(Eccentric Chef)

Passive Skill

Level: None

Effects: Once the Eccentric Chef creates a uniquely surprising dish, they can earn stats or reputation points depending on the Eccentricity Score.

(Eccentric Gourmand’s Insight)

Passive Skill

Level: None

Effects: 

─ When something special is placed in front of you, it will guide you on ‘what way’ it can be used.

─ When someone special is in front of you, it will guide you on ‘what way’ you can make a dish more special for them.

(The True Worth of an Eccentric Gourmand)

Passive Skill

Level: None

Effects: With various ingredients, the Eccentric Gourmand can make a dish with special powers when following that way. The power from the special dish will be permanently gained by the person who ate it. However, only one dish can be eaten with the same effects. After eating a new dish, you can only delete the existing effects.

(The Eccentric’s Greatness)

Passive Skill

Level: None

Effects: ???

Minhyuk checked every notification and skill. Once he finished everything, he had no choice but to tilt his head in confusion. The only thought that passed through his mind was a vague ‘Huh?’.

The reason for his confusion was none other than the contents of the ‘Eccentric Chef’. It was because he would be able to gain additional stats and reputation points depending on the Eccentric Score.

Just when his True Value of Food had lost its effect, something like this had popped up in front of him. This meant that he would still be able to continue increasing his stats by eating and cooking.

***

“……”

“……”

“……”

Everyone that was gathered in the Special Users Management Team were at a loss for words. Meanwhile, Lee Minhwa had a subtle look on her face.

‘My gut feeling is giving me the goosebumps.’

Then, everyone’s eyes turned towards Lee Minhwa.

“Y, you can now spread your mat, huh?”

“Ho, hoho.”

Lee Minhwa could only laugh awkwardly at them.

In fact, it was something that she couldn’t just laugh off. In order for them to balance the Food God, the effect of the True Worth of Food’s had disappeared at Lv350. Even now, User Minhyuk was so powerful that he even surpassed the expectations and predictions that the Development Team had originally thought would happen.

But in that state, even though it was a bit different from before, he would still be able to increase his stats. But was that all? No, he could even raise his reputation points.

“What’s the ranking? That’s more important!”

President Kang Taehoon urged them.

There were cases when users were ranked especially if they were within the same job class. And one of those rankings was the ‘Eccentric Class’. The Eccentric Class was the class that was made by Gorac. And among this class, the ranking could be determined. The lower the number in the ranking the more amazing the power of the class would be. It was graded from rank 1~3. In addition, it was not possible for them to check the Eccentric Class until it was given to a user. But once someone changed into the Eccentric Class then they would be able to check the information to some extent.

“It’s rank 1.”

“……”

“……”

“Sigh……”

Someone sighed ruefully among the silence.

After changing into the God Class, he had now received a rank 1 legendary class. Those were the job classes that User Minhyuk currently possessed.

***

Gremory was in awe while she was eating samgyeopsal. Especially if she placed the meat, some ssamjang, garlic, green onions on top of the perilla leaves and lettuce. She could taste the deliciousness of the food.

While she was eating happily like that, she suddenly saw a black book unfold in front of the human who had just finished going through her trials. The book was none other than ‘Gorac’s Book’. When she saw the book, she couldn’t help but be surprised. Gorac was one of the three Great Demons Just like herself, so it was a surprise to see something of his appearing in front of her. Then, she saw the man’s body suddenly being wrapped in black light.

‘Did he get new powers?’ 

She thought that she had to get down to the point after all this was truly the main objective for those who had passed the trials. They still needed to do one thing, but it will be an extremely difficult thing to do.

“You will now be able to inherit the power of the Sword God. And my trial itself was made to do one thing.” 

When Gremory suddenly started to talk to him, Minhyuk was forced to look at her in confusion. Once she saw that she got Minhyuk’s attention, she started speaking calmly.

“In the past, there was an entrance to the Demon World that opened in a small village. When the entrance opened, the demon race came out of it and started killing people indiscriminately. And the person who prevented the demon’s invasion is the person sitting in front of you, Valen. I gave away some of my strength to Valen and his squad members.” 

Minhyuk nodded his head in understanding.

“And one of the demons who opened the entrance was ‘Verus’. Verus is a cruel and vicious demon. And right now, I believe that Verus’ movements are quite unusual. But now, Valen can no longer fight against them like he did before. It’s because the God of Athenae had now given him a new mission. But there’s one thing that’s certain, Verus will definitely let the demon race out in this world again. However, there is no telling when. And you, the person who will learn Valen’s swordsmanship, I want you to stop him instead for one. But before that, I need something.” 

“What do you need?”

“That’s right. I need something. It’s a Demon World’s Mineral. I have hidden ‘my powers’ in ordinary and unfamiliar minerals from the Demon World.” 

Minhyuk could tell that it was similar to when God Roves had hidden his power in the rabbit’s liver.

“And when you acquire this mineral, it will say ‘Mysterious Mineral that we don’t know the uses of.’ or something along those lines. You have to get one of those minerals and it’s going to be a very, very difficult trial.” 

“Is it really that difficult?” 

“Weak humans like you can’t make it.”

When he heard her words, Minhyuk looked like he hesitated for a moment. Gremory glanced at him with a slight smile. But then, he said…

“If I find it quickly then will you praise me?” 

He asked her with a bright smile on his face.

“……Aren’t you too conceited?”

“Nope. There’s no way I’m conceited. It’s just that I think I will feel happy to be praised by someone as beautiful as Gremory-nim!” 

Gremory chuckled at him in embarrassment. It was true that he had finished her trial surprisingly well but the process of getting the mineral was definitely more difficult than the trials. So getting it quickly was nigh impossible since the process itself was difficult.

“If you bring it quickly then I’ll give you a blessing.” 

“Wow. For real?” 

“That’s right.” 

Gremory was also a person who liked to bet so she agreed quickly.

“That is if you can bring it to me in three days. From now on, I’ll explain to you how to get……”

Just as she was trying to continue her words, she saw the young man in front of her take something out from his arms. Then, he proudly stuck it out in front of him.

It was none other than the ‘antarinium’, one of the minerals that she had hidden.

“Tadah!”

“……”

***

When Minhyuk heard her talk about minerals, he couldn’t help but become stunned. That was because he now had an antarinium, a ‘Mysterious Mineral that we don’t know the uses of.’ in his hands.

Before revealing this fact, Minhyuk pondered about some things.

Right now, he had just recently acquired the skills of the ‘Eccentric Gourmand’ as well as the quests related to it. One of the quests was even called ‘A Surprising Dish with the Help of a Special Existence!’. And Gremory, one of the three Great Demons, was definitely a special existence.

But just to be sure, Minhyuk used the ‘Eccentric Gourmand’s Insight’ on Gremory. At the same time, a notification was heard.

[Gremory’s Blessing]

[Gremory’s blessing would give you some of her magi. Her magi is so powerful that it is near impossible to compare it with the other people in the demon race. If you use the powerful magi and make ‘ganjjajang’ you will be able to taste a ganjjajang that is the most delicious in the world.]

“……!”

Minhyuk was once again caught in surprise.

‘So is the magi black? That’s why it’s ganjjajang?’

I don’t know the conditions but is it really possible to make ganjjajang with magi?

It was really worthy of the name Eccentric Gourmand’s Dish. But his mouth was still filled with saliva. So Minhyuk gently led Gremory around without any feelings of guilt or remorse. And just like expected, she fell for Minhyuk’s tricks. The NPCs’ degrees of freedom were quite lax and free, just like ordinary people, and when they do things like literally ‘ask’ or ‘bet’ with the users, a quest would be triggered.

Just like that, the ‘Quest: Gremory’s Blessings’ was triggered. And with a blink of an eye, he heard the sound of the quest completion. 

[You have completed the Quest: Gremory’s Blessings.]

[You can now receive Gremory’s Blessings.]

“H, how……”

Minhyuk hid his laughter with a serious expression.

‘Hehe. You got caught in my net!’

It was time for him to check his power that he received as soon as he got the job class.

Gremory was shocked. The antarinium was the most remarkable mineral that she had ever hidden. Of course that wasn’t the only one.

‘If he assembled everything……’

At that moment, her powers would open up at last.

“Right. A, a promise is a promise. I don’t know where you got this mineral but……”

It was a bit ridiculous for her since she was unaware of the fact that Minhyuk was able to hunt the ‘Demonic Monster Baphomet’. But she still had to hold her end of the deal.

Just as she was about to give her blessings, Minhyuk suddenly spoke up.

“Please wait!”

Then, he suddenly began to cook. He began to stir-fry the ganjjajang sauce in his frying pan. And Gremory, Kaistra, Ben and Valen who were watching him were all wondering about what he was doing. When he was almost done cooking, Minhyuk said……

“Well then, please give your blessings right here! Clap, clap!”

“……Right, right there?”

“Yep! It’s because Gremory-nim’s magi will make my ganjjajang taste better!”

“……”

Gremory was left speechless. Then, magi began to flow out from her hands. The magi slowly seeped through the ganjjajang sauce that was stir-fried in the frying pan.

‘I’m…… one of the three great demons…… but my magi……. My magi is being used for ganjjajang right now……’

But a promise was a promise so she had to endure it. For a moment, Gremory suddenly had the urge to hit the head of the human in front of her with a large Chinese fan. But she endured.

When she was pouring her magi on the ganjjajang sauce, the notifications went off.

[You have completed the Class Quest: A Surprising Dish with the Help of a Special Existence!]

[You have acquired a resistance to magi.]

***

Footnotes

[돗자리 펴도 되겠군] – Spread your mat, a saying that means you’re good at making predictions or good at guessing about what will happen. I think it’s because fortune tellers spread mats so it’s used like that. Back

Food Discussion Corner

[간짜장] ganjjajang – a type of jjajangmyeon where you don’t pour water or broth on it. The ingredients are mainly grilled and roasted and there’s little to no water used for the sauce.