Leveling Up through Eating

PR: MattForgenti

Rowena was the woman that every man in the world liked. She was also an existence that was very popular among the women. This was all thanks to her chic and cool personality. She was hailed as everyone’s girl crush and there were only a few people who did not like her. When her death was predicted to be just around the corner, everyone fell in despair.

However, the Frying Pan Killer suddenly appeared! And the sword that he held suddenly burst out a bright light.

[It, it’s the Saint’s Sword!]

[The user who pulled out the Saint’s Sword in the Athenae Temple must have been User Minhyuk!]

The media and the people all over the world were agitated. However, just in time, the world’s rankers began to speak one by one.

[The Frying Pan Killer appeared flamboyantly. But there’s a high chance that the Frying Pan Killer will not be able to protect Rowena.]

[Carn just narrowly defeated the Commander of the Paladins, Corr, earlier.]

[Even if he is the Frying Pan Killer there are only a few users who can defeat the Paladin Corr.]

[What’s worse is that Paladin Corr told everyone that no one can use skills related to holy power inside the barrier.]

That was just how people are. Once they were overcome with jealousy and envy, they would try to deny everything in front of them as they watched. Especially the rankers, did they even think that he would be someone awesome? No, so they spat those words out as if to look at his jokes. They looked forward to his mistakes and downfall.

But at that time, one man asked……

[But what if he wins?]

[Well then, we’ll have to rethink our views of the Frying Pan Killer.]

Everyone was in the middle of denial.

Meanwhile, Minhyuk was conflicted for a split second. His Pandora’s Helmet had the God’s Targeted Praise which could increase the holy power of the targeted object by as much as x2. His choice was between Rowena and Corr.

However, it was safe to say that Rowena had no combat capabilities at all. But she was a woman who had a tremendous buff and healing abilities. On the other hand, Paladin Corr was a powerful man. Even though he was knocked down by Carn, he was someone that couldn’t be ignored anywhere.

It was just a split second of conflict but his decision was also made as quickly.

“God’s Targeted Praise!” 

[Is he trying to use skills? I think it’s a holy power related skill.]

[They clearly can’t use any holy power related skill……]

Flash!

However, something surprising happened. A bright light surrounded Corr’s body, breaking everyone’s expectations. Corr could feel a great amount of holy power seeping into his body. He knew that his holy power was becoming more powerful than usual. But no matter how strong his holy power was, he still fell down on the ground gasping.

“……How were you able to use holy power in this area?” 

Carn questioned him as his brows furrowed in thought. He could clearly feel it. He could feel a tremendous amount of holy power in him. And there was also the Saint’s sword in his hands.

‘So, he was the man who pulled out the Saint’s Sword?’

However, Carn, a person originally named as one of the Strongest Men, was strengthened and reinforced by Verus. 

Carn laughed loudly. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to stop his attacks anyway. Because of the increase in his magi, his sword’s attack and defense had also increased significantly. Even the Paladin Corr would not be able to survive after a few of his hits.

In addition, he had also received other things from Verus. It was none other than ‘Verus’ Frightening Musical Instrument’. Just like Gorac, one of the three great demons, had created a variety of disaster artifacts, Verus had also created his own artifacts.

Without any hesitation, he took out the first artifact. It was a violin. The power of the violin prevented Corr from ever making contact with Carn’s body. Not long after, Carn played the violin. Along with the terrible melody that could scratch and make everyone’s ears bleed, a pile of sword lights poured down from the violin. It was at that moment when the notifications rang.

[You have listened to the Violin of Slowness.]

[Your AGI will be reduced by 30%.]

[You have an invincible body that can ignore and resist all abnormal states.]

[You have resisted an abnormal state.]

“Like the Wind.” 

Like the Wind could allow him to move 3m all at once but it could also allow him to travel a distance of 1m thrice. Minhyuk quickly used his Rampant Sword which allowed him quick sword strikes with plenty of sword lights striking his opponent.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

“Hooooo……” 

Carn grinned darkly. It seemed like this man was much more powerful than what Carn had initially thought. Paladin Corr was devastated by his blows because he could not use any of his holy power related skills. But this man was different.

‘Then, what about this?’ 

He switched out the Violin of Slowness with a kayagum. Carn sat in front of the kayagum as he began to pluck at its strings and play.

Ting—

At that moment……

Boom!

An explosion happened right in front of Minhyuk. Carn had no intention to stop so he continued to play as explosions happened one after another.

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!

Every time he plucked the strings of the kayagum, a fierce explosion would occur followed by a black magi rising above the site of the explosion.

“It’s done.”

“……What the hell. Is it over already?”

“So the Frying Pan Killer was not that big of a deal……”

“Rowena……!”

The users all fell in despair. However, Minhyuk suddenly popped out of the black magi.

Dash!

Then, he started running.

“Wh, what the hell!”

Carn’s beady eyes widened in shock.

His attack power was currently exerting a ridiculous amount of strength but there was not even a single scratch on Minhyuk’s body. No, to be exact, there was a baby piggy who appeared on his shoulder. It was because the Absolute Defense, a skill attached to Hepas’ Silver Pot Lid, was triggered.

Dash—

Carn played the kayagum to attack Minhyuk who was running towards him. 

Boom, boom, boom!

However, Minhyuk used Like the Wind to evade all of the explosions.

‘Then, let’s aim for a big shot.’

Black magi began to condense in the kayagum. As soon as a huge amount of magi was collected in the kayagum……

Boooooooooom!

A series of explosions happened within a 5m radius, shooting down Minhyuk’s running form.

‘This time, for sure……’

It should definitely be over. After all, he had used a considerable amount of his MP just for that single attack. However, a voice came through the smoke.

“Blooming Sword.”

“……!”

Carn keenly felt a strong sense of danger as the ground shook wildly. He rapidly minimized the kayagum until it became small enough to be held in one of his hands. It was none other than castanets.

Tak, tak!

As soon as the castanets clacked together, black magi wrapped around his body. Clacking the castanets together would double Carn’s defenses temporarily. Because of this he believed that his attacks and the swords sticking out of the ground would not deal much damage to him. He believed that those puny swords would not be able to pierce his skin at all. But at that moment……

Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab—

The sword blades that rose from the ground stabbed and penetrated all over his body. 

“Keuaaaaaaack!”

Carn couldn’t believe it.

How?

He did not know but Minhyuk’s Saint’s Sword had the Intangible Sword as well as the 60% chances of disregarding the defenses of anyone with magi. This was also thanks to his x2 increase in attack power which was dependent on his holy power when fighting against the undeads and demonic race.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

A powerful explosion suddenly occurred. The swords that penetrated through his body blasted one by one. However, it did not end there, Minhyuk still used his Splitting Sword. And two red, fiery sword lights flew out in a cross.

Slash—

Slash—

Suddenly, the sound of something being cut down was heard. 

“Heng! You’re messing with me, huh?!” 

Minhyuk wiped his nose with his thumb just like Bruce Lee before he started a fight.

“……Is, is it a one shot?” 

“Is, is it over?” 

“He’s a Strong Man, right?” 

The users outside of the barrier were all astounded. They saw him fire the Splitting Sword but they did not expect that Carn, who knocked down the Paladin Corr, would easily collapse with that attack.

[……]

[……]

[……]

And the talkative rankers all over the world who were boasting about their predictions earlier all fell silent.

[Rankers, why aren’t you saying something? Ah. Oh dear~ Where was the one who said that go was played with two people!!!]

[Pfft. Snort…… Keuhahahaha. Keuheop……! Keuhehehehehe! Kehuhuhuhuheop! Lol, lol, lol, lol! Kyahahahaha! Kikikikikiki! Keuheuk. Ah sorry. I shouldn’t laugh…… Pfft!! Keuhahahahahaha! Keuhehehehehehe!]

The regular users began to clap back at the arrogant users before. The rankers were all left speechless.

Meanwhile, Minhyuk approached Corr hurriedly. The barrier had not gone away yet and Minhyuk had to face the current situation hurriedly. It was clear that the situation was not over yet so before things went bad, he had to save Corr, who was on the brink of death, first. 

He desperately wanted to eat tteok dumpling soup but Rowena and Corr were also people important to him. In particular, wasn’t Corr a serious ‘fanatic’ who served himself?

“M, Minhyuk-nim……” 

“I’ll treat you.” 

“M, Minhyuk-nim will……?” 

What Minhyuk took out to treat Corr was none other than his bandages.

“Y, you’re going to treat a serious injury with just those bandages?”

[Huh. T, to be honest, that doesn’t help at all, right?!!]

[Healing such an injury with just that bandage thing, what an idiot!!]

The rankers who ate big shit earlier were starting to squeeze back in again.

At that moment……

“Bandage wrap!”

[You have achieved the best bandage wrap.]

[The wound recovery has an additional 5% increase.]

[The recovery time has become very fast.]

“Bandage wrap!”

[You have achieved the best bandage wrap.]

[The wound recovery has an additional 5% increase.]

[The recovery time has become very fast.]

Minhyuk began to wrap bandages all over his body. The red blood that was seeping out of Corr’s wounds had stopped immediately. Most of Corr’s injuries were caused by plenty of slashes and cuts but those cuts had begun to heal at a speed that was visible to the naked eye!

[……I, isn’t this a bug or something?]

[Th, this is a bug!]

[Rankers, will you shut up?]

[……]

[……]

And Corr, who was personally involved and directly experienced Minhyuk’s bandaging skills, felt more absurd.

‘What kind of ability is this? It’s comparable to the Athenae Priests’ recovery skill……’

Are you telling me that he’ll just heal me with bandages?

“Can you move?”

“Yes.”

Corr stood up. He could still feel some pain but he believed that he could already fight. And right at that very moment……

[Carn’s attack and defense has increased by 1.6 times.]

[Carn’s magi has been amplified by 1.5 times.]

[Demon Worshipper Carn has turned into a Demonic Human.]

Carn’s body appeared as the thick cloud of dust waned. And it wasn’t just the normal him. His skin was darkened and there were two curved horns on his head. He had literally become a demonic human.

“FXck.” 

“Corr-nim, what do you mean by fXck? As a Paladin you should have said ‘Oh, I’m in big trouble!’.” 

Corr uttered words that he would usually not say with his position after being subjected to terrible pressure.

“That’s right. We’re in big trouble!” 

Corr, who spoke like he was reciting a Korean textbook, looked solemn. The increase of 1.6x in both attack and defense was an enormous strength. And with this increase in strength, this meant that he would be stronger. He had now become someone who was more undefeatable. 

“……But, there’s a way.”

“A way? What is it?”

“Ah. But I don’t like this way. And Corr-nim can’t possibly do that.”

“……Yes?”

Corr tilted his head in confusion as he watched Minhyuk shake his head hard. He looked like he really did not like the method that he thought of. But Corr still urged him to tell him the answer.

“What is your way? It’s better than just uselessly dying here.”

“But I’d rather be forced to log out……”

But if he thought of it that way, then Rowena might die so he shouldn’t do that to make sure that he could eat his tteok dumpling soup. Minhyuk finally relented.

“Do you know about the ‘Saint’s Protection’ in the Saint’s Sword? If I designate my party member or guild member then their physical attack and defense as well as magical attack and defense will increase by 20% of their holy power stat but……”

“……”

Corr knew what that meant. NPCs couldn’t be their party members or guild members so there was only one way for that to be possible.

“I should be a vassal for it to work, right?”

“Yes. I told you it’s not possible, right? Ahaha. Actually, I think it’s better that we don’t do it either. Never! Never! I’d rather we not do it at all!”

Corr turned to look back at Rowena. He could see Rowena nodding her head at him. The Paladin Corr was completely obedient to Rowena’s orders. He finally spoke after her nodding her head.

“Then, I will become your vassal.”

From today on, Corr could easily spit out ♥s every day.

[Corr vows his eternal loyalty to you.]

Minhyuk’s expression suddenly distorted in pain.

***

Footnotes

Kayagum (가야금) – a traditional KR plucked zither with 12 strings. Can have 18, 21 or 25 strings. Best known traditional KR instrument.

TL’s corner!

I thought it was Rowena…. But it was Corr???? Or maybe Rowena too?