Leveling Up through Eating

PR: MattForgenti

Barchel couldn’t understand what was happening right now.

How can the Frying Pan Killer be here?

In addition, he also believed that he had some of his allies around him. It did not cross his mind at all that he was able to hunt Poison Dragon Ambacca at all. He was more inclined to believe that his allies were hiding from somewhere waiting for the right time to step in.

But if the person in front of him was really the Frying Pan Killer, then things would still make sense even if he was alone. That was when he remembered that he was Blackstone’s enemy. Callauhel wanted the death of the Frying Pan Killer. Even if he was alone, he had a high chance of winning. After all, he was a powerhouse who defeated the gold medalist Carr in Athenae: Korean War. 

However, the knights from the tower that were accompanying him were people who had wielded their swords since they were young. They were talented and hard working. Each and every single one of them were on par with Carr. In addition, they had achieved the highest level of the Faramil Swordsmanship, the strongest swordsmanship of the Cordis Empire. 

There was a legend about the Faramil Swordsmanship. It was a legend that was said to have happened when the Knight’s Tower was just built. This swordsmanship was praised as the strongest swordsmanship in the continent and was created by Arakkan, the man who built the Knight’s Tower. And Arakkan had also said……

‘This swordsmanship originated from a boy. And that child had told me that he wanted this sword to protect and not to kill someone.’ 

And he also said……

‘Also, I was defeated by this little boy.’

His words came as a surprise back then. Arakkan, the person who built the Knight’s Tower, was the strongest swordsman of that time. No, he was only second to the Sword God since he was defeated by a child. He had also imitated the child’s swordsmanship to create the Faramil Swordsmanship. And from then on, Faramil Swordsmanship was known to be the strongest swordsmanship of the continent. It was a difficult swordsmanship that only a few from the Knight’s Tower could learn. However, once this swordsmanship was learned, their strength would surely increase by leaps and bounds. And these knights that accompanied him had learned such swordsmanship. And of course, there still existed a wall between the users and NPCs so even if the knights were of lower rank in the Knight’s Tower they were still a lot more powerful than users.

‘I can win against him……  And once I kill him, I can report it to Callauhel!’

With this, I will be able to climb comfortably to the deputy tower master position. And in time, I would be able to sit on the Knight’s Tower’s Tower Master’s throne.

“You shithead, don’t keep on blabbering!” 

At the same time, Barchel gripped the hilt of his sword and tried to strike at him. But before he could even land a strike, Minhyuk’s sword had already slashed his sides.

Slash―

[Intangible Sword.]

[Your sword strike has ignored all of the enemy’s defenses.]

“Keup!” 

A groan spilled from Barchel’s mouth. His opponent’s reflexes were extremely fast. He never thought that he would be able to strike him with his sword at that moment.

‘20% of my HP has been cut down with just a single attack, crazy shit……!’ 

His hairs stood on end. 

But at that moment, the three knights did not miss the gap as they moved quickly.

Dash―

‘Quite fast, huh?’ 

Minhyuk was a bit surprised. They narrowed the distance like ghosts suddenly appearing in front of him and their swords flowed smoothly like water running down a stream.

‘I can’t see the trajectory of their swords?’ 

He couldn’t see it. Usually, when fighting with swords, one could predict the attack through their muscle and arm movements. The attacks were not determined through the swing of the sword. But he could not read their movements at all. He couldn’t even get through to Barchel since they easily narrowed the distance with their efficient moves.

Clang!

The three knights’ eyes made eye contact. It seemed like they immediately made a unanimous decision as they triggered their swordsmanship at the same time. 

[Faramil Swordsmanship Chapter 1]

[Wailing Child]

[An unpredictable fast swordsmanship.]

Papapapapapapapapapa―

The swords of the three knights moved unpredictably fast. 

‘……that’s a lot faster, right?’ 

Minhyuk frowned. He could see that the speed of the swords of the three knights were much faster than his Rampant Sword. And the sharpness of their flashing swords were also extraordinary. 

Minhyuk quickly took a step back with his ‘Like the Wind’.

At the same time, the three knights stabbed their swords strongly.

[Faramil Swordsmanship Chapter 2]

[Roaring Child]

[A powerful force is condensed at the tip of the stabbing sword, it will give a longer range than what it looks to the naked eye.]

Stab!

Minhyuk clearly tried to steer away from the range of the swords but his abdomen was still pierced even though the range was far shorter than their distance. Then, another attack flew towards his chest.

‘This is dangerous……’

As soon as that thought crossed his head, he heard a loud sound even if the sword did not reach his chest.

Clang!

[Physical Damage Reflection!]

[Returns the physical damage with a x2 increase in strength.]

“Keuaaaack!” 

One of the knights staggered as he clutched his chest after the Armor of Immortality’s effect was triggered. Minhyuk took out his frying pan and enlarged it to block another attack.

Clang―

Their swordsmanship was quite unpredictable. Without realizing it, Barchel had taken a potion out.

‘It will be hard to use Fluttering Sword or Rain of Kitchen Knives.’ 

It was because his casting time was reduced. In fact, even before he had met them, he had already reduced his casting time by 60% by tearing up one of the parchments that he had. But it was quite difficult to use because their movements were quick.

Then, at that moment……

[Lis…… ten……]

Minhyuk had heard Conir’s voice from his spiritual body. Conir continued to speak to him.

[Sound…… listen……]

‘The sound?’ 

Minhyuk was confused for a moment.

That was when one of the knights named Radvel approached him quickly. Radvel was using the 3rd chapter of their swordsmanship, the Reckless Child. Reckless Child was a sword that had the power to explode anything indiscriminately within a certain radius. Several strands of black lights spilled out from Radvel’s sword.

‘Why am I familiar with this swordsmanship……?’ 

He was definitely familiar with this technique. Minhyuk knew that he had seen this swordsmanship at least once. Then, Conir spoke.

[Listen…… to the…… sound…… coming from the tip……. of the sword……]

He was not afraid of the strands that were stretching out from the sword. What he was worrying about was the damage that would come to him even if the sword had not touched him yet. So Minhyuk decided to listen to Conir. He quietly focused on the sound. Then, he heard it.

Shwwiiiiiiiiik―

He could hear a sound coming towards him ahead of the sword that was targeting him. Minhyuk slashed his swords towards where the sound was coming from. 

Bang!

The strands of black light that were stretching from the sword scattered in the air and disappeared.

“Heok……!” 

Barchel and Radvel both let out a gasp of surprise.

At the same time, Conir continued to speak to Minhyuk.

[Lend…… me…… your…… body……]

‘……?’ 

Minhyuk frowned for a moment. However, he understood what Conir was feeling. These people were clearly those who took advantage of the children’s hunger just so they could seek and accumulate plenty of riches. He must have wanted to take revenge on them. Besides, he had faith in his strength. Even if the entire Legend Guild had cooperated, they were still unable to hunt him. They were only able to do so because they relied on food.

[Conir is attempting to ‘possess’ your body. Are you willing?]

‘Yes.’ 

Minhyuk’s eyes began to turn black as Conir was sucked inside his body.

***

Count Peru’s expression was quite serious.

‘Why isn’t Conir coming back?’ 

Conir was on an entirely different level compared to other chimeras that were made from ordinary children. He found him lying beside the Cup of Essence when he discovered the Dungeon of Sin. He was a mummy, to be exact. But he was just like a normal person with extreme hunger and desire. He had also found Rafielt-nim’s writings there.

‘The Devil Swordmaster has fallen asleep.’

When Count Peru looked at the man that was called Swordmaster, he realized something. This was the boy that Arakkan, the first captain of the Knight’s Tower and the creator of Faramil’s Swordsmanship, was talking about. This boy was none other than Conir. And Conir would not be able to come back and shine on the world anymore.

However, when he realized that he was dead, he thought about the Cup of Essence and the Essence of Flavor. The Essence of Flavor that filled the Cup of Essence.

‘Rafielt was a very mischievous man.’ 

He was given two choices. The first choice was for him to drink it and his second choice was to give it up. But for someone like Count Peru, whose greed and ambition had reached the heavens, it wouldn’t make sense for him to choose the second choice.

***

‘Wh, what the hell……!’ 

Barchel’s thoughts were in disarray. He was using Faramil’s Swordsmanship’s 6th chapter, the ‘Skilled Child’.

Skilled Child was a skill that would show the opponent’s weak points and gaps through a red dot. For ordinary users, there would be at least seven dots appearing on their bodies. His knights had around four dots on their bodies. And with Minhyuk he was able to see around 2~3. But that was earlier. Right now, Minhyuk, with his blackened eyes, did not show any single weakness and gap even though he was just stretching his sword out. 

Then, Minhyuk approached them. He did not use any skill at all. He was just approaching them, plain and simple. 

Radvel hurried forward to block his front with chapter 5, the Dancing Child. Dancing Child was a skill that let them move around like a skilled dancer. It was a skill that allowed them to avoid any and all attacks from the enemy in one single breath.

But just as Radvel was about to do his dance-like evasion……

Slash―

“Keuaaaaaaack!”

“……!”

“……!”

“……!”

Blood spurted out of Radvel’s chest with just a light swing of Minhyuk’s sword. Arancar, who was standing beside Barchel, quickly dashed forward with his sword using the 1st chapter.

Minhyuk was immediately besieged with quick sword strikes from all directions. 

Claang―

But, he easily blocked it. And using the recoil from the block, he quickly twisted his sword and pierced the neck of the knight in front of him.

[You have hunted the Knight’s Tower’s Knight Radvel.]

[This is an NPC that has an accumulated Chaotic Number, your status will not become chaotic.]

[You have gained 3,154,673 EXP.]

If one killed an NPC that had accumulated quite a lot of chaotic numbers, the user would not become chaotic. NPCs that were in this state were usually those who had killed innocents or the miscreants of society. 

Then, Minhyuk dashed forward.

“C, crazy……!”

Barchel couldn’t believe the scene in front of him. Arancar quickly used the 3rd chapter, Reckless Child. Dozens of black strands of light stretched out of his sword. At the same time, Knight Roband used the most powerful chapter out of the six chapters of Faramil’s Swordsmanship, the Surging Child.

Several sword lights that looked like they could tear everything on their path to pieces rushed at Minhyuk. But Minhyuk easily blocked the sword of the knight who used Reckless Child. 

Clang!

And just like before, the Reckless Child was offset by his strike as it scattered through the air. 

“This……!” 

Barchel ran towards Minhyuk when he saw him trying to pierce through the neck of the remaining knights. 

[Faramil’s Swordsmanship Chapter 8]

[Storming Child.]

[A powerful tempest of swords will rush straight towards the enemy.]

A storm of blades immediately formed when Barchel brandished his sword. Minhyuk just looked at it indifferently before striking his sword out. Two sword lights quickly flew from his sword. It was none other than the Splitting Sword. And the moment the sword lights met with the storm of blades……

Shweeeeeeeeee―

The storm of blades scattered and disappeared in the air, just like a cogwheel being stopped from rotating by a metal chopstick. 

“……” 

The overwhelming difference in their strength and skill made Barchel tremble. 

‘Th, this is impossible!’ 

He knew everything about Faramil’s Swordsmanship. From its power, to its movements and patterns and how to prevent them. 

“Wh, what the hell……” 

Just as he was flustered and confused……

Stab!

Another one of the knights fell down.

Puhaaa!

And the final knight also fell under Minhyuk’s sword.

[You have hunted the Knight’s Tower’s Knight Arancar.]

[This is an NPC that has an accumulated Chaotic Number, your status will not become chaotic.]

[You have gained 3,511,473 EXP.]

The notification rang one after another in Minhyuk’s head.

[You have hunted the Knight’s Tower’s Knight Roband.]

[This is an NPC that has an accumulated Chaotic Number, your status will not become chaotic.]

[You have gained 3,154,673 EXP.]

Barchel was left dumbfounded when he saw the overwhelming gap between them.

Right now, the approaching Minhyuk looked like a demon to him. 

‘C, Callauhel-nim couldn’t handle him if he’s this strong……!’

Of course, it was because he was unaware that the person he was fighting right now was not Minhyuk. 

“Th, this is ridiculous……!” 

Stab!

His chest was stabbed by the sword.

[Your HP has fallen below 60%.]

“Keop!” 

He was stabbed by Minhyuk’s sword continuously.

Stab, stab, stab, stab!

Barchel was then met with a black screen after experiencing those continuous stabs. The sword that he was holding earlier also dropped on the spot where he had died and disappeared from.

[The Possession has been released.]

Then, Conir’s spiritual body separated from Minhyuk’s body.

“……” 

Minhyuk was left speechless when he saw Conir’s strength. No, he had the exact same reaction as Barchel earlier. He also couldn’t understand how he knew the swordsmanship that they used well. 

Then, Minhyuk put the thought aside for a moment, as he walked towards the Cup of Essence. He purposely left it behind just so he could easily catch Barchel’s eyes.

Then, the notifications came in.

[You have acquired the Cup of Essence.]

[There are two different methods on how you can use the Essence of Flavor.]

[You can immediately ingest the Essence of Flavor and your class will immediately be upgraded.]

[When those who have been deprived of their ‘desire and longing’ eat the Essence of Flavor, they will be able to escape the pain of their desire and longing.]

“……?”

Minhyuk tilted his head in thought.

There were two choices offered to him for the Essence of Flavor. From what he had read, his class would only get upgraded if he drank everything in the cup without leaving a drop behind. So if he chose to let the children, who had their desires deprived of, drink it, that effect would not be triggered anymore. 

Minhyuk stared at the Cup of Essence for a moment. Then, he saw Haze and the other children feeling relieved that they were alive and well. There was also Conir who was watching them silently.

Not long after, Minhyuk smiled at them.

***

Conir knew the power of the Cup of Essence. After all, Count Peru had retrieved it dozens of times already.

He was very grateful to Minhyuk for saving the children and preventing Count Peru from making any more chimeras. So even if he drank everything from the Cup of Essence, he believed that it would still be fine. Because it was a reward for helping him.

But not long after, he saw Minhyuk taking out a frying pan as he started to make fried rice. When he completed the fried rice, he made sure to sprinkle a drop or two of the Essence of Flavor on it before placing it in front of the children.

“Wow! It’s really, really delicious!” 

“It’s very, very, very delicious!” 

And the same dish was also created in front of Minhyuk. 

“It’s very delicious?!!” 

“Yes, it’s very, very delicious!” 

It was very ironic. They were all eating happily even though Poison Dragon Ambacca’s body and corpses littered the place. However, Conir couldn’t help but smile when he looked at this scene.

***

The notifications rang while Minhyuk was savoring his fried rice. 

[You have chosen the second method for the Essence of Flavor.]

[You have achieved the Hidden Piece: One Who Makes Good Choices.]

[As a reward, your class will be upgraded and enhanced.]

[Food God (Food Fighter) is a class that can no longer evolve.]

Surprisingly enough, even though he chose the second method, he was still able to obtain the rewards from the first method when a hidden piece was triggered. However, the reward was something useless for Minhyuk.

Then, the Cup of Essence started to crack. The light that came out of the cracked silver cup started to envelope Conir’s spiritual body.

[Selecting the second method will destroy the Cup of Essence.]

[The Cup of Essence is exerting its last power before getting destroyed.]

When the shining light disappeared, what appeared in front of him was a clean and neat boy. Not some bandaged person or a spiritual body but a neat and lively boy.

“I’m Conir.” 

Minhyuk was speechless as a feeling of dread spread in his guts. He could feel himself getting doomed.

“I will serve you.” 

[Sword Saint Conir vows his eternal allegiance and loyalty to you.]

Minhyuk’s face was distorted in pain.

***

TL’s corner!

Another mouth to feed? Get! Lol. It’s funny how he does not want to get followers but they still arrive at his doorsteps. Kek. I also don’t understand why this arc is titled Ramyeon Making Sword Art… Maybe he’ll let Conir make ramyeon noodles with his sword art?