Leveling Up through Eating

PR: MattForgenti

“……!” 

“……!” 

The two of them could tell that he was really the Frying Pan Killer.

“Hyuuuuung~.” 

Conir dashed to Minhyuk’s side as he jumped up and down happily.

Aruvel won’t become my vassal just because he accompanied me, right? 

He felt tired just at the thought of it so he disconnected first and talked with the broadcasting company and logged back in. He came to the Demon World Shelter in preparation for his climb to the Demon World’s Tower. When he came to the Demon World Shelter, he talked to Aruvel before logging out again to rest before his climb. 

Conir had told him that he would study making ramyeon while he was gone. He felt assured since the Unicorn’s Mysterious Weapon had a special effect that would allow him to enter the vassal’s room when his vassal’s HP dropped below 10%. Entering the vassal’s room was only possible thanks to an effect that was attached to special artifacts. 

So he logged out with confidence, but what was happening right now?

Minhyuk knew that Conir was a child who would not harm anyone. Conir might be loud and would talk to himself sometimes but Minhyuk knew better than anyone that he was not the type to cause harm to others.

As soon as he arrived here, Minhyuk had already noticed the overturned pot and gas burner. This fact had proven that they were the first ones to touch and bully Conir. 

“F, Frying Pan Killer…… Y, you bastard…… C, Callauhel-nim won’t let you go!” 

‘Callauhel?’ 

When he heard his words, Minhyuk had realized that Callauhel was the one who manipulated Carr and put pressure on him and the other members of Legend Guild during Athenae: Korean War. But since Minhyuk appeared, they had the illusion that this was a ‘trap’ that he had set.

Jingxiao looked around as he prepared the Poison King’s Dagger. Then, he quickly dashed towards the Frying Pan Killer.

Vwoooooong―

The Poison King’s dagger quickly split into a dozen images as it moved freely as if they had a mind of their own. It would immediately lower the HP of the target once it struck the body. 

Then……

Oiink―

Kongie was summoned. The summoned Kongie was wearing Hepas’ pot like a helmet with the flipper and the lid on both of his hands. Perhaps he had already prepared himself for the battle inside the summoning room.

“There’s really no sane bastard in this area……!”

Minhyuk spoke at that moment……

“Kong-ah, absolute defense.”

“Oiink!”

[Absolute Defense.]

[No attack will be allowed to touch Kongie and his master for two seconds.]

With absolute defense, Minhyuk was able to deflect the dozens of daggers that aimed at him. Taking advantage of that gap, Minhyuk used Like the Wind and arrived in front of Jingxiao.

Stab―

“Keoheok!”

Jingxiao’s neck got stabbed. He slowly collapsed as the screen in front of him turned black. 

Rochan did not stop to look at his comrade as he lifted his hammer as high as he could. 

Shwaaaaaaaaaak―

[Cursed Hammer]

[As soon as the hammer slams on the ground, your body will explode causing a x5 damage to your surroundings.]

It was literally a self-destructing skill. But Conir suddenly moved.

“Are you trying to bully my hyung?!”

The tongs that Conir was holding turned into a sword as he used the 3rd chapter of his swordsmanship, the Wailing Child. Dozens of powerful black sword lights were fired one after the other. The intensity of the sword light was so strong that it was incomparable to the sword light from earlier. 

Pipipipipipipipi―

After being hit by the dozens of sword lights, Rochan eventually had to stare at the black screen without being able to slam the hammer to the ground. But before he could lose consciousness in the game, he was able to hear Minhyuk’s voice.

“Tell this to Callauhel.”

The voice was low and filled with a bone-setting coldness.

“I’ll go up there so he should wait for me.”

Then, Rochan quickly leapt out of his capsule. Rochan, or Pierre, a French with shining blonde hair, hurriedly went out to contact someone.

***

On the 28th floor of the Demon World’s Tower, countless demon corpses were piled up in a mountain. Callauhel walked over these piles of corpses with an eerie expressionless face.

Then, a whisper came.

[Rochan: Callauhel-nim, Frying Pan Killer has appeared in the Demon World Shelter.]

“……” 

Even Callauhel, who was known for his expressionless face, couldn’t help but be startled by the message. A crack appeared in his otherwise stern face. 

This was the person who had ruined his plans time and time again. 

He was also told that three of his guild members had been killed in the skirmish. Then, Callauhel gave them his instructions.

[Callauhel: Inform Blackstone’s two monarchs right now.]

The two monarchs were Blackstone members with special characteristics. The Monarch was a legendary class that could summon more than 20 people per day at any time they wanted. In addition, with the presence of the monarch, the guild members would receive a 5% buff in all five of the basic stats as well as a 10% increase in EXP acquisition. In addition, the two monarchs were both leading giant guilds in Blackstone. Were their guilds equivalent to Korea’s four great guilds? No, their guilds were far more than that. 

[Callauhel: Also, tell the two monarchs to gather our elites in the Demon World Shelter. Make sure to chase him down and kill him.]

That bastard won’t be able to come up here. You think I’m afraid of you because you will break my new record? No. It’s because you’re just annoying.

Grin―

Callauhel grinned wickedly as he continued to move forward.

***

Minhyuk once again entered the Demon World Shelter. The inside of the Demon World Shelter looked like it was a very huge dining hall. He could see some users and demons here and there. The demons in the Demon World Shelter were all quite friendly and amiable.

Right now, Sage Aruvel was sitting in front of Minhyuk.

“Hahahahaha! This is really delicious!” 

Aruvel was currently eating the ramen that Conir had cooked. Arubel, with his gigantic horns, was currently slurping the noodles while Minhyuk watched him with a heartbroken expression.

‘This glutton……!’ 

Aruvel was a true fanatic of food. He really loved to eat. And that was where the problem lied. Minhyuk’s heart couldn’t help but feel his heart break when he saw him eat once before. 

As if to try and leave the pain aside, he went ahead and checked Aruvel’s information.

(Aruvel)

Rank: Legend

Type: Pledge of Allegiance (Penalty Applied)

Level: 625 (547)

Attack Power: 6,461 (5,261)

Defensive Power: 4,374 (3,973)

Special Abilities:

― Passive Skill: Sage’s Knowledge

― Active Skill: Sage’s Potion Manufacturing

― Active Skill: Demonic Dragon’s Spear Arts.

Potential: 151

Experience Value: 13% / 100%

Aruvel was an NPC that was on a higher level compared to the current Minhyuk. This resulted in a penalty after he made a pledge of allegiance to him. The items that were enclosed by the ‘( )’ were the power that he could exert right now. However, even if his level was currently downgraded and his strength was lowered, the numbers were still formidable. 

After having his fill, Aruvel handed Minhyuk a table that he had filled in. The table listed the rewards that he would be able to receive on every floor of the tower.

[1st Floor, new record rewards: You will gain additional EXP acquisition rate once the first floor is cleared at a record breaking time. Food Rewards: Italian Pizza and Carbonara Spaghetti.]

[2nd Floor, new record rewards: Mysterious Scrolls. Food Rewards: Bulgogi Hotpot.]

[6th Floor, new record rewards: 200 reputation points. Food Rewards: Sushi and Udon.]

[8th Floor, new record rewards: Demonic Races’ Count Nadhl’s Purple Earrings. Food Rewards: Vietnamese Rice Noodle Soup.]

[13th Floor…… Omitted.]

[17th Floor…… Omitted.]

[23rd Floor…… Omitted.]

Minhyuk smiled happily as he checked each reward listed per floor. He also discovered something special from what was written on the table that was handed to him.

“There are artifact rewards every 10th floor?” 

“You’re praiseworthy enough if you’re able to reach the 10th floor. You can think of it as a special reward if you achieved a new record on every 10th floor.” 

Minhyuk shook his head as he asked another question.

“Why isn’t there any information about each floor?” 

“I may be called as the Demon World’s Sage but I was not necessarily involved in the creation of the Demon World’s Tower.” 

“Then, can we get the tower’s information from others?” 

“No. I know.” 

Aruvel looked confident. Right now, Minhyuk and Aruvel’s relationship was close enough to call them ‘Trading Partners’. Aruvel would only give Minhyuk information if he gave him something delicious. He wouldn’t open his mouth if he did not give him anything. Because of this, Minhyuk had badly wanted to slit his throat but he stopped himself. He believed that suffering from such a small loss would eventually give him a huge difference later. 

Just look at the enormous food rewards hidden all throughout the tower when you achieve new records!

The listed rewards could make his water as he imagined those delicious things filling his stomach and teasing his taste buds. The 1st floor rewards were pizza and carbonara, something that you should definitely eat once you go to Italy. The 2nd floor had a bulgogi hotpot, a dish that was famous in his own country. The 6th floor had sushi and udon, a dish that was well known in Japan. The rewards listed were the country’s representative food but they were also globally popular food. 

“What’s this?” 

“All we need to do is get the information from the tower’s creator.” 

“The tower’s creator?” 

“Right. The tower creator. In fact there’s a tower creator in this place too.” 

“Hoo?”

Minhyuk nodded his head. He knew that he had received Aruvel, a high-leveled hidden NPC, for a really cheap price. If anyone knew about this, they would be shocked that he was able to recruit Aruvel, the Demon World’s Sage, with just a bit of food and some ramyeon. What was worse was that he would get the tower’s information from the tower creator himself through Aruvel. 

“He’s the demon drinking booze over there.” 

According to the information that he had heard from Aruvel, demons were divided into two categories. They were the ‘Fighter Race’ who loved to fight and participate in wars and the ‘Peaceful Race’ who loved peace and prosperity and loathed the idea of fighting. Aruvel had also explained that the demons that invaded the human world were demons from the fighter race. The peaceful race, like them, only wanted to live their daily lives at peace. Just like the demon that was gulping booze over there. 

“He knows all of the tower’s design.” 

“Oho.” 

His words meant that they would be able to receive the remaining information about the tower from this demon. 

“But how do we get the information from him?” 

“It’s simple. The tower creators are very prideful beings. In fact, there was no one who had crossed the tower’s 40th floor for decades now. So, if you look down on the tower that he has created, then he will initiate a bet with you. Because he likes to bet.” 

Minhyuk sighed.

“I’m not good at that stuff.” 

He had never done something like that because he had always been kind and polite to others. 

“You mean being cocky?” 

“Yes.” 

“But aren’t you going to do it? So you can eat what you want?” 

“Sigh. That’s true.” 

Minhyuk really sucked at these kinds of things.

Conir was busy making ramyeon, Aruvel was busy eating several bowls of ramyeon and Kongie was also busy eating ramyeon with rice. All of them were concentrating on their own matters. Minhyuk was forced to stand up alone and sit in front of the man that Aruvel pointed at earlier.

“Ha~ That’s really the Demon World’s Tower?” 

He turned to look at the window that showed the Demon World’s Tower that was standing tall from a distance.

“There are not that many floors. It seems like I’ll be able to finish climbing it in a day.” 

The demon smirked at him as he continued to drink his booze. 

“That’s what they all think. But the Demon World’s Tower is not as easy as you think.” 

“Really? Eyy. I don’t think so. But it doesn’t look that good from the outside? Ah. I’ll just try and do it! I think I’ll be able to get to the top!” 

“I’m so dumbfounded by your ridiculousness.” 

“Eyy. I think I can make something better with my feet. No, maybe I can break through that place easily with just my feet?” 

Roven, the demon that was one of the creators of the tower, suddenly felt agitated. 

“Your feet will easily break it? Humans are really conceited!”  

“It’s not conceit, it’s real though? I can break through the first floor within 10 minutes. Do you think I’m lying? Ohohoho. I’m not lying!” 

“Th, this…… Crazy human……?” 

“Blahblahblah! I’ll break it with two of my fingers!” 

“You won’t!” 

“Ole~!” 

Minhyuk grinned at him mischievously as if he was an ahjussi who was going to do something bad. 

“I will~”

“You won’t!” 

“I will do it~” 

“You won’t!” 

“I will! Hahahahaha! I’m the strongest!” 

“……” 

“……” 

“……”

Meanwhile, Aruvel, Conir and Kongie who were all watching him while eating their ramyeon. 

‘H, he’s doing good though? I even want to make a bet with him. He looks so hateful right now!’ 

‘As expected of my master. Oink!’ 

‘W, wooooow…… Hy, hyung is so cool……!’ 

Not long after, the demon Roven spoke to Minhyuk.

“Then, boy, make a bet with me!” 

Minhyuk couldn’t help but tilt his head when he heard his words.

‘I think I’m really bad at doing something like this but why did he fall for it so easily?’

Minhyuk did not think that he did well. However, his performance was unexpectedly good!

Then, a quest window floated in front of him.

[Quest: A Bet with Roven, one of the Demon World’s Tower’s Creator.]

Rank: A

Restrictions: The person that Roven offered the bet to.

Rewards: Partial information about the Demon World’s Tower.

Penalty for Failure: Banned from entering the Demon World’s Tower.

Description: Roven, one of the Demon World’s Tower’s creators, takes great pride in the Demon World Tower that he and his colleagues had created. If you win a bet against him, you will be able to get some information about the Demon World’s Tower’s attack patterns.

***

TL’s corner!

TBH… I know that Minhyuk’s firepower and aggro when it comes to taunting is really high… It’s more surprising that he thought that he was bad at it. Lol.