Leveling Up through Eating

62 Samgyetang with Thousand-year-old Ginseng

[You have acquired the ‘Automatic Mixer and Bowl’.]

[The ‘Automatic Mixer and Bowl’ has turned into ‘Gorac’s Cancelling Mixer and Bowl’.]

[Gorac’s Lightning Millstone, Gorac’s Aging Jar, and Gorac’s Cancelling Mixer and Bowl are part of a set artifact.]

[You are the first to collect three of the set artifacts together.]

[You have gained 500 reputation points.]

[Gorac’s Cancelling Mixer and Bowl has evolved from Unique rank to Disaster rank.]

“Oh?”

Minhyuk had realized earlier on that Gorac’s artifacts would only show its true power when two of the artifacts meet together. However, he was not aware of a case of having a third artifact. He quickly checked the information of the artifact.

(Gorac’s Cancelling Mixer and Bowl)

Rank: Disaster

Restriction: Gorac’s Set Artifact

Durability: ∞ / ∞

Special Effects:

─  Having this in your possession alone will increase your magical defense by 50%.

─ Passive Skill: Automatic Stirring Mixer

─ Active Skill: Cancel

Description: A set artifact hidden by Gorac. They will only show their strength if two artifacts meet together but it will be different if three of the artifacts meet together.

(Cancel)

Artifact Skill

Level: None

Mana Required: 2,500

Penalty: -1 on all 5 basic stats.

Cooldown: 480 hours

Effects: Cancels and nullifies all skills and magic within a 5-meter radius from the user.

“Oh……!” 

It was an incredible skill. Minhyuk continued to look at the skill in admiration. No, he was not staring at the skill ‘Cancel’ but at the skill ‘Automatic Stirring Mixer’.

“Kgghk! This is such an amazing ability~ Kyaa!”

Then, he turned to look at the Cancel skill again with a subtle expression.

“Well, it’s useful~”

And that was it. Cancel was a very formidable skill that could bring horror to other users. The Millstone of Lightning had two powerful skills: Lightning and Lightning Hell. However, the strength of the skill Cancel was comparable to those two. After all, it was a skill that cancels and nullifies all skills and magic within a 5-meter radius of the user. In other words,  even if he was surrounded by enemies, he would still be able to exert tremendous power if he nullified and cancelled all of the lethal skills and attacks that those users would direct at him. However, even if he knew that, Minhyuk still thought that the skill ‘Automatic Stirring Mixer’ was the best.

“Kongie agrees with me too. Right?”

“Oink!”

[Kongie agrees with you.]

Kongie even nodded furiously with his shining eyes.

Of course! The function of Automatic Stirring is definitely the best! Oink!

Then, Minhyuk took something out of his arms. It was none other than the World Tree.

‘Hmm……’ 

The World Tree had no other special ability. It was the part of the World Tree that was shaped like an organ inside a transparent glass.

While thinking about what he should do to the rest of the World Tree, Minhyuk recalled something.

“Ah……!” 

At this very moment, there was one thing that came to Minhyuk’s mind. It was none other than samgyetang. 

Samgyetang was considered to be one of the top healthy foods during the summer. It was a dish that could restore and replenish one’s energy. It also contained a variety of ingredients that could also help in maintaining energy like jujube, ginseng and wood. The wood could come from a variety of trees like castor tree, lacquer tree or sometimes even oriental raisin tree.

How about making samgyetang with the remaining branches of the World Tree?

He also recalled something else.

It just so happened that summer was already approaching in reality. He wanted to take this opportunity to try and do that here in Athenae. He wanted to try and make samgyetang properly with the World Tree.

While browsing and selecting the ingredients, Minhyuk saw one ingredient.

‘Thousand-year-old ginseng!’ 

The thousand-year-old ginseng was one of the best medicines that was made public in Athenae. The reason why this ginseng was considered to be one of the best was simple. It was because it could increase the mana reserves, or the MP, by 1.5x. For example, if the user had an existing 10,000 MP, then they would immediately have a 15,000 MP after taking the ginseng. That was how miraculous the effects of the medicine was.

However, there was no information about the exact location and related quests on the official homepage. He was clear that it was something that was difficult to get but he still wanted to get it. So Minhyuk sent a whisper to his guild’s informant, Abel.

[Minhyuk: Abel-nim~!]

[Abel: Oh, Minhyul-nim! Hi.]

[Minhyuk: Yes, hi! I’m not going to beat around the bush. Do you have any information on the thousand-year-old ginseng!]

[Abel: Thousand-year-old ginseng. Of course I have.]

[Minhyuk: Oh, Abel-nim is so cool! Just sending a whisper to Abel-nim is making me feel like I’m a cool guy! Uhh. Manly, charming, a man among men……!]

[Abel: Thank you. So, let’s talk about the terms for exchange? ^^]

As expected, life was filled with twists and turns. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Abel did not fall for Minhyuk’s flattery.

[Minhyuk:……ㅠㅠ]

[Abel: Let’s meet and talk?]

[Minhyuk:ㅠㅠ Yes.]

***

Director Kim Daesik brought a box containing his belongings to the Special Users Management Team.

“Let’s relax. The Special Users Management Team is very relaxing and comforting!” 

He placed his box on Team Leader Park’s usual spot. 

After the competition, Team Leader Park immediately went on a seven days six nights vacation. In fact, he thought that it was a very long vacation but Team Leader Park Minggyu had told President Kang Taehoon in a tearful voice……

‘I haven’t had a day off in seven months!’ 

‘Just come back.’ 

So that was the reason why Team Leader Park went on a trip.

Meanwhile, Director Kim Daesik who sat back down after taking a cup of coffee turned towards Lee Minhwa, who had turned into a panda with how deep her dark circles were, and said……

“Let’s take it easy. Take it easy. Huh? All we need to do is to tap the keyboard a few times while looking at the monitor and make a report on the special users. We’re not responsible for everything in our company. Right?”

“Hohohoho. I, is that so……” 

However, Lee Minhwa thought……

Director Kim is originally from the ‘Event Preparation’ team. But the biggest event was the competition that was done not too long ago. The Athenae: Korean War. Maybe that’s why he’s  free during this period of time. And since we needed someone who can do any department’s job, he’s temporarily placed here.

But Director Kim Daesik welcomed the opportunity. He believed that the Special Users Management Team, a team that was not involved with developing anything nor creating NPCs, was a very relaxing and comforting environment.

On the contrary, Team Leader Park left for his vacation while shedding tears.

‘I’m finally going on a vacation! Hahahahaha!’ 

‘Team Leader. Are we going to contact you if we have any problems with the Special Users……’ 

‘Nope. I’m not going to pick up! Hahahaha!’

‘Yes……?’ 

Team Leader Park looked happy while Director Kim Daesik took over the throne in the meantime. Director Kim Daesik was even looking at the tables and numbers on his table.

“What’s this?” 

“Ah. It’s a table based on the ratings of the special users. We use it to manage the users.” 

“I see.” 

While he was looking over his workspace, Director Kim Daesik stopped at one part of the table. He saw a name encircled with a red pen. And there were even special symbols written above it.

[★★★★ Dreaded Users ★★★★]

And the name written below it……

[Food God Minhyuk. Pay attention.]

“W, what’s this?” 

“The user that needs monitoring the most.” 

“No, well, how special is this user for you to spend that much time monitoring him?” 

Director Kim Daesik clicked his tongue because he felt that they were too sensitive when they were doing their jobs.

But Lee Minhwa just thought……

‘……I can clearly remember the Team Leader’s face when he wanted to rip his head off!’ 

Lee Minhwa grinned widely.

Not long after, Director Kim turned to look at User Minhyuk in his monitor.

“Hmm? He’s going to see Veron. Veron is an NPC that gives beans that can let him go to Beas Village. Let’s see.” 

Tap, tap, tap, tap!

Director Kim couldn’t help but frown when he poked around and tapped on his keyboard.

“The quests in Beas Village will not be allowed to someone at User Minhyuk’s level. He’s wasting his time. Tsk, tsk!” 

Director Kim clicked his tongue before leaning back on his chair.

‘The Special Users Management Team is heaven!’ 

He did not know the ‘disaster’ that was coming at him.

***

Minhyuk was walking to meet the NPC called ‘Veron’.

Based on the information that he got from Abel the Informant, he knew that he would only be able to obtain the thousand-year-old ginseng if he went to a place called Berest.

Berest was a place that Minhyuk knew best. He knew that it was the ‘meeting place’ for users all over the world. However, it was very difficult to enter Berest and its nearby villages so it was actually rare for users to go there.

Minhyuk arrived in front of a small cave where the man named Veron was currently located. Veron was what they call a ‘farmer’. He was someone who was living in a remote cave while growing and tending to a garden in front of it.

‘He said that I can use the mysterious seeds that I will get from Veron to get to that village. Right?’ 

Then, Minhyuk stood in front of the cave. He was very polite since Minhyuk was very determined to eat the ‘Samgyetang with Thousand-year-old Ginseng’ this time. However, he was lost in thought trying to think about ways to politely knock on the cave. While lost in thought, he heard a peep coming from the side.

“Boy, who are you?” 

***

Veron heard the reason why Minhyuk came to his cave. He learned that he was a foreigner who wanted to go to Beas Village. But Veron knew that this foreigner did not have the power to fulfill his ‘request’. In other words, his level did not meet his requirements.

Minhyuk’s level was at Lv355. He was not qualified to go to the village since the town was filled with Lv400 users.

“Go back. I don’t think you’re strong enough to do me a favor.”

“Sigh…… As expected, that’s it. Right? But… I heard that all I need to do is plow the field……”

“That’s right.”

“Then, I’ll just help you!”

“……You just want to try and help?”

“It’s not just that. I heard that Veron-nim is an excellent farmer and that you have special fruits and vegetables. I wish I could get a little bit of them in exchange……”

“It’s too much for me to do on my own so I’ll be happy if you did help me. Ah. Then, how about I give you as much ingredients as the fields you plowed? How’s that?” 

“Yep! That’s good!” 

“Wait. It’s not as easy as you think. Plowing a field is harder than what you think.”

Veron said that since he knew how hard it was for the foreigners to plow his fields.

Then, the two of them started to plow the fields. He was left in shock when he saw Minhyuk plow the fields. He could easily till and plow the land with just a strike of his pickaxe! He could see that Minhyuk was far superior to himself and he was even hardworking!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Take some rest.”

“No! Considering the fruits and vegetables that Veron-nim grew, this amount of labor is nothing!” 

“Hahahaha. This friend. Your words are really pleasant to hear.” 

Then, Minhyuk heard a notification.

[Veron’s favorability has increased.]

[Veron’s favorability has increased.]

[Veron’s favorability has increased.]

His favorability was increasing rapidly.

Veron learned about one thing while he spent two days with him. Minhyuk was someone who liked to eat everything but he would not give you anything. And Veron, who was in the wilderness, had a hard time eating delicacies.

And Minhyuk, he was already starting to grill samgyeopsal right now.

Sizzle─

“Ah. As expected! Eating samgyeopsal after farming is the best!” 

Minhyuk was working diligently as he grilled the samgyeopsal, kimchi, garlic and onions on top of the griller.

Veron watched him make a wrap before placing it in his mouth directly. He couldn’t help but say something to him.

“Cough, cough! Can I also have some samgyeopsal with you?”

“No. I don’t think that’s possible.” 

“H, how come……” 

Veron could not understand it at all. He thought that he would let him eat together with him since he was craving it so much!

“Because Veron-nim told me that I can’t go to Beas Village since I’m still immature. I’m glad that the two of us have grown close during this time but I love food so much that I don’t think me and Veron-nim are close enough for me to share samgyeopsal with you. It’s the same thing when you told me that I’m still not strong enough yet.”

“Keuheuk……” 

Veron could tell that he just twisted the dagger that he had stabbed him with and turned it around to stab him in the gut!  It was like he was telling him that ‘You did not request me to do this but I still did it!’. 

Meanwhile, Minhyuk was happily wrapping some samgyeopsal, garlic, ssamjang, seasoned green onions, and grilled kimchi on a lettuce.

‘L, looks delicious…… I think he can taste the pork belly every time he chews. And there’s also the onions, garlic and kimchi that were grilled in the oil of the meat……! I, I want to eat. I really, really want to eat!’

Veron sat near Minhyuk as he started to eat his ‘vegetarian meal’ with the spinach and bean sprouts that he had grown himself.

But wasn’t there such a thing? The smell of samgyeopsal or pork belly that came from a meat restaurant when you come out of work! Or the smell of pizza or chicken in an elevator! It was a smell that could stimulate your appetite and evoke great hunger!

Minhyuk kept on eating well. Veron couldn’t take it anymore, so he approached him.

“I can’t request you a favor yet but I can show you a shortcut to Beas Village. What do you say? How about exchanging this information with samgyeopsal?”

And Minhyuk who was munching on a samgyeopsal wrap smiled brightly. 

That’s right. From the very beginning everything that he did was something that he had planned out!

***