Leveling Up through Eating

Translator: ChubbyCheeks 

8 Someone Better than You [1]

[I didn’t buy more than I thought, how much is the total?] 

Lee Minhwa, who was checking the monitor, turned her head. Her eyes locked with Team Leader Park who was sporting a serious look. 

“Team Leader.” 

“Yeah.” 

Team Leader Park sighed. 

He didn’t know if his common sense was still working.

“He doesn’t care about the legendary quest…?” 

“It seems like it.” 

Roina only mentioned yanggaeng and Allon to user Minhyuk. With that much, she practically escaped the influence of the God of Athenae. 

“My god, he wanted to eat yanggaeng more than doing the legendary quest so he went straight to see Allon…” 

It was too ridiculous to the point where he almost laughed. 

“Ah, that’s right. User Minhyuk. Isn’t this his first dungeon hunt?” 

“Yes, that’s right.” 

“Compared to solo field hunting, aren’t you supposed to have a party for your first dungeon hunt? But in the first place Twilight Graveyard wasn’t made for party hunting, right?” 

Team Leader Park nodded. 

The first dungeon hunt was required to be done in a party. 

No, right now Minhyuk needs to go and meet the hunting NPC and ask for the hunting NPC’s guidance. 

The general RPG games have stages. 

Swing your sword. 

Pick up items. 

Go to your first hunt. 

Once you complete these steps then you would be able to move on to the next level. You would never be free from this cycle. 

Just like that, Athenae required users to do a party hunt quest. Users were not allowed to enter the dungeon alone before finishing the quest. 

“What, it’s a party hunting tutorial so it’s not that hard. And he would be able to get a job after finishing Twilight Graveyard.” 

“Well…” 

Maybe he was interested in the items that the Boss Mob drops.

“Ah, how was the user who received the Puppeteer doing?” 

“Yes, the secret class Puppeteer. It was a much stronger class than what we thought, he grew very fast. But the user right now…” 

Team Leader Park had an expression of curiosity. 

Lee Minhwa looked back at Team Leader Park with astonishment. 

“…He’s looking for party members to go to Twilight Graveyard?”

***

Minhyuk met with Charlie, the hunting NPC that Roina recommended. 

She told him that he would have a smooth hunting quest if he met with Charlie. 

“Oho, you have already hunted the chestnut demons? Boy, I think you’re a bit strong.” 

“Thank you for your praise. Hehe.” 

“You’re going to Twilight Graveyard… Boy, you have to form a party in your first dungeon hunt.”

“Eh?”

“You should know that parties are very important in Athenae, right?” 

“Yes, I heard about it.”

“That’s why it’s impossible for you to do your first dungeon hunt without a party.” 

Party hunt.

A hunt where several people gather together to attack a dungeon that was hard for them to defeat on their own. The experience, items and gold would be clearly divided between the party members. 

‘Th, then…’ 

I was too preoccupied with pork. I looked into the Twilight Graveyard but I didn’t look through the rest of the tutorial. 

“Well then, go party hunting. Ah, wait. You don’t have to come back to me to get the rewards for the party hunt. Also, unlike other tutorials you will be able to get experience if you catch monsters.” 

Ring! 

[Quest: First Party Hunt] 

Rank: Tutorial 

Restrictions: None

Rewards: +5 Bonus points, 10,000 gold

Penalty for Failure: None

Description: Party hunting is a very important part of Athenae. Learn the system for party hunting. 

Minhyuk thought about it for a moment.

‘D, don’t tell me…’ 

He was extremely worried. 

‘There are other users who want to get pork like me…?!’ 

Of course, this was just Minhyuk’s personal concern. There would definitely be no other user like Minhyuk. 

‘Eyy, I don’t know if we could share them.’ 

Minhyuk was genuinely concerned about the things that he did not know about. 

As he thought about those things, Minhyuk said goodbye to Charlie as he moved towards the central plaza. 

“Your desired job is close at hand, get them here. Quickly!” 

“Who wants to join the Lizard Tail Quest, urgently needed!” 

“I’m Blue Palm’s Powerade Flavor!” 

“Looking for Athenae GF! I’m thirteen years old and they call me Fire Fist Ace in school, not long ago I defeated Shanks of Eunpyong Elementary School!” 

The central square was still as lively as ever. 

Minhyuk looked around to find people who’s looking for party members to raid the Twilight Graveyard. He squeezed through the gap between users and continued to look around. 

At that moment…

“Twilight Gathering, quickly looking for members. One spot left!” 

“Oh.” 

Minhyuk walked that way and saw a cheerful-looking man. 

The user was wearing the beginners leather armor and was holding a spear. 

“Nim, your Twilight Gathering is going to the Twilight Graveyard, right?” 

“Yes, you’re right.” 

He nodded at him kindly. 

“Can I join your party?” 

“What’s your class?” 

Minhyuk’s words screeched to a halt. 

Come to think of it, I heard that everyone can change classes once they reach Lv10. 

Of course, anyone can switch from their regular class if they satisfy the conditions for a special class in the future. 

“I don’t have one yet. Ah, but I’m already at level 10.”

“Hmm…” 

He groaned lowly at Minhyuk. 

“Is this your first party hunt quest?” 

“Yes.” 

“Well, it doesn’t really matter. It would be the last Twilight Gathering, so one more person is fine. I’ll give you a ride on the bus. [2]”

He then stretched his hands, which were held in a fist, towards him. 

If two users bumped their fists lightly, they will be notified of a party formation. 

Tap—

[Would you like to join the Twilight Gathering Party?] 

[Yes / No] 

“Yes.” 

[You have joined Twilight Gathering Party.] 

“Then, this way please. I’ll first introduce you to the two other party members who joined before you. Ah, I’m Roy. I’m a spear wielder [3] and I’m at level 15.”

“I’m Minhyuk.” 

“Oh, your name is cool.” 

Athenae only shows the nickname and the level in the party window so it was still necessary for people to report their job classes to each other. 

The two men walked together until they saw a man and a woman sitting on one of the benches in central plaza.

“I’ve brought the last party member. Say hello.” 

The woman had brown bobbed hair and a shabby beige robe. It was quite obvious at first glance that she had just changed class to a novice mage. 

The man was about 170cm in height. He had red hair and he was holding a shoddy hatchet and, without suspense, a shoddy leather armor. 

“Hello. I’m Rakku, a mage. I’m level 13.”

“I’m Minhyuk. Lv10. I have no class yet.” 

“Ah, no class…” 

She secretly glanced at Roy, the party leader. 

She did a double-take. 

“Ah, ah, sorry.” 

“Ah, it happens. It’s fine.” 

The woman, Rakku, quickly apologized to Minhyuk. 

She was probably apprehensive because Minhyuk has a low level and has no job class. She apologized because she thought that Minhyuk would take offense with her words. 

‘It’s just a game but she has manners.’ 

Minhyuk thought to himself. 

“Party Leader.” 

“Yes?” 

“He has no class and he’s a complete low level, wouldn’t it be risky for us?” 

“This would be the last Twilight Gathering so it’s fine. Besides I can deal with the attacks so it will be fine. Actually we can break it with just the three of us but I still got another one, just in case.” 

“Is that so?” 

The man didn’t even introduce himself properly. He just threw a sentence at Minhyuk and stared at him sharply. 

“I’m Ver.” 

“Yes. I’m Minhyuk.” 

“…?” 

“Chew, chew?” 

Minhyuk believed that he did not need to consider being kind to someone who was unfriendly to him. 

That was why he just ate his bread without any concern.

Besides, Ver didn’t like Minhyuk the moment he saw him. 

‘Ah… He’s handsome. Annoying.’

Ver was an ugly man. So when he stood next to Minhyuk he somehow looked like a hobbit.

And even if they have only just met, he has already decided that he was in love with Rakku.

To be exact, he was a man who was quick to fall in love [4] with a woman he has just met. 

Tsk, even though Minhyuk has no interest in him, he still thought there was a feeling of rivalry between them!

“You’re very tall.”

“Chew, chew, thank you!” 

Minhyuk replied happily to Rakku’s praise. 

‘Ah, as expected I hate him…’ 

Ver’s forehead wrinkled in disgust.

It was a case of a common inferiority complex. 

“Then, let’s depart now.” 

“Yes!” 

“Depaaart~” 

Four users walked to the exit of Isbin Village and headed for the forest. 

“Is your fullness low?” 

“No, I’m eating because it’s delicious.” 

“Deli……cious?”

Rakku tilted her head at Minhyuk’s calm response. 

‘I think he already ate about ten of those.’ 

It was normal for a character to feel full after all of that. 

However, Minhyuk was still eating castella bread [5] diligently. 

‘It’s really delicious…!’ 

Minhyuk has already made lots of gold now, that was why he was rich enough to buy lots of castella bread.

He also bought milk, the soft castella together with the sweet milk gently melted in his mouth. 

‘I hate castella, but when I watch him eat it… I

I feel like I want to eat one.’ 

Rakku tilted her head in confusion. 

“Rakku-nim, have you seen the movie ‘A Man’s Story’ [6]?” 

“Yes, I saw it.” 

Her forehead wrinkled because of Ver. 

She knew. 

A man who was flirting with her and a man who did not. Ver was very obvious with his flirting.

She was not a person who gets sold with looks. But Ver was too much, just too much. 

“Nim, do you like spaghetti?” 

“I hate it.” 

“Then what type of rice do you like?” 

“I don’t eat rice because I have allergies.” 

“…You’re allergic to rice? Then Nim, did you watch the movie ‘Bad’ [7]?”

“Yes.” 

“That’s right, it hasn’t been released ye… Huh?” 

Ver looked at her blankly. 

Rakku who did not want to feel his pestering quickly went to Minhyuk’s side. She watched Minhyuk eat deliciously with stars in her eyes. 

He gulped down the white milk after stuffing half of the castella in his mouth. 

Her throat bobbed. 

Gulp. 

“Can I have some of tha…” 

“Impossible.” 

‘He shielded me with a no in an instant [8]…’ 

Rakku pouted in dismay while Minhyuk smiled brightly. 

He was kind but that did not mean that he would give his food. 

He was a peculiar man. 

“Today’s party is lively.” 

Roy grinned. 

“We’re near.” 

The other users nodded their heads at his words. 

They exchanged a few words here and there as they walked. It was mainly Roy and Rakku who talked while Ver and Minhyuk stayed silent. 

“Ah, you’re doing this for the quest.” 

“Yes, if I finish this quest they will give me a novice staff.” 

Well, it was one of the usual reasons.

Not long after, they arrived in front of the Twilight Graveyard. 

The entrance to the dungeon was quite similar to the entrance of a cave. They saw a guide written on top of it. 

[Limited to Lv 10-15 users, up to 4 party members only.] 

Some instances have this written while some did not have anything written. 

“Then, let’s get in positions. Me and Ver-ssi will pull it and strike it while Rakku-nim will shoot at it with magic. And Minhyuk-nim can help us out when we really need it. Don’t overdo it.” 

A Lv10 plus his first party quest. 

In fact, sometimes people could make mistakes and ruin a party hunt. That was the reason why Minhyuk became someone who he would use only when needed. 

“Yes, I understand.” 

“I have activated the automatic distribution system, we’re splitting it into 4 equally. If you took a good item then you can sell it separately.” 

As soon as the automatic distribution was activated all the gold and items will be divided into equal parts. 

For example, if they were able to get 40 gold then each of them will receive 10 gold. In the case of items, it would be given randomly and if you were lucky then you would be able to get a lot. 

However, there was not much difference to the items each and everyone could receive and they wouldn’t know who would receive the good item. 

“I don’t think anyone would eat and run [9]. Let’s go.” 

Then they walked inside the Twilight Graveyard dungeon.

[You have entered the Twilight Graveyard.] 

[There will be a penalty for leaving the instance without completing the raid.] 

***

Footnotes 

[1] 뛰는 놈 위에 나는 놈 : lit. translated to: the flying man over the running man. This is a korean expression saying that someone can be better than you.

[2] ride on the bus, i think it means taking them to level up. Like when a high leveled player takes a newb to grind for levels or smth. 

[3] Spear Wielder… I just used that. It was literally spearman (창술사) but I didn’t want the class to be spearman since it reminds me of spearman correlation. Lmao. 

[4] raws say 금사빠 which lit means lovestruck or quick to fall in love. 

[5] Castella bread it’s a sponge cake. It’s a Japanese pastry that has origins from Portugal. It’s fluffy tbh. I just bought castella the other day. Lol 

[6] There really is a movie with this title. There is also a korean series with the same title however you’ll find it as The Slingshot. It both has different stories so idk which one they’re talking about. 

[7] 불량 was the title of the movie he was asking about. I think there’s something with this title.

[8] 단호박 lit means sweet pumpkin. It’s a slang for when someone refuses a person instantly without considering their request. 

[9] 먹튀 lit eat and run, or dine and dash. They actually say that they would 먹다 the items or eat the items lol that’s why dine and dash. 먹다 means eat or take. 

TL’s Corner!!! 

Hello! This is CC, this is our weekly 2 chapter dump. I hope you enjoyed reading it. See you next week! 

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