Leveling Up through Eating

PR: MattForgenti

It was definitely Kongie. The only difference between the Kongie now and the Kongie in the mural was the golden crown and the sword that mural Kongie was wearing.

Then, another picture began to be painted. Minhyuk watched with bated breath as the colors moved. A black current seeped and imprinted itself into the painting. 

When the painting was finished, Minhyuk couldn’t help but mutter to himself.

“Dragon……?” 

The painting was clearly a dragon. However, the dragon in the painting looked different from Britney, Destiny and Ambacca who were with his father. Dragons were the greatest existence in this world! And Kongie with his golden crown was staring at such a dragon. 

Then, the notifications rang.

[You, the master, have taken the Incarnation of Gluttony as your pet.]

[You have met the conditions for reading the Quest: Incarnation of Gluttony’s Golden Crown Fragment.]

[You can view the video of the birth of the Incarnation of Gluttony (1).]

[If you do not wish to view the video, you can just say ‘I refuse’.]

Minhyuk was also curious about Kongie who looked like a baby piggy. Minhyuk already knew that Kongie was the Incarnation of Gluttony. 

‘Well, just in case……’ 

Perhaps there was something delicious hidden in Kongie’s secret since the word “Gluttony” was attached to him. And he was also very curious about Kongie’s existence. 

“Accept.” 

[You have accepted to view the video.]

[Your character becomes ‘invincible’ while watching this video.]

Minhyuk’s soul flew out of his body as a bright light wrapped around him. The shell of his character fell down into a deep sleep. Then, Minhyuk’s soul disappeared into the light.

***

[Around 500 years ago, chaos began to engulf the world as continents waged war against each other.]

When the light faded and Minhyuk opened his eyes, the first thing that greeted him were bloody red words imprinted on a white background.

[There were more than ten continents that existed all over the world. The war had killed countless people including the people of the Asgan Continent, Foricon Continent, Carbia Continent, Vale Continent, and Bielei Continent. The cause of this war was none other than the ‘Empires’ Ferocious Guardians’.]

There were also guardians in the two Empires in the Asgan Continent where Minhyuk’s local server was located. The guardians of the Eivelis Empire were the Minotaur and the Phoenix. And as far as he knew, the Cordis Empire’s guardian was the Wyvern.

[The guardians once lived together in ‘Utopia’. One day, the guardian of the Rontley Empire, the Griffin, suddenly attacked the other guardians. The attack resulted in the death of the guardian of the Archden Empire, the Black Leopard.]

‘Hmm……’

Minhyuk’s head shook in thought. 

There was a huge difference between the guardians and the regular monsters. For example, the Phoenix. The Phoenix was the guardian deity of the Eivelis Empire but the Phoenix that was classified as a guardian and a regular phoenix were completely different from each other. First of all, the guardian Phoenix known as the ‘Empire’s Guardian’, was stronger than regular phoenixes thanks to their special privileges. In other words, those that were classified as guardians would be considered as Emperors and Kings of their own races.

But the Griffin killed the other guardian?

This was definitely not a simple matter over guardianship. Such a huge commotion would also bring forth conflicts between Empires. 

Then, the words started to appear again.

[But the disaster did not end there. The guardian of the Iron Empire, the Dark Bear, suddenly became violent as it started to attack the other guardians too. One after the other, the guardians began to become violent and ferocious. As a result, the Empires became enraged as they began to cross other continents. They used all means possible including ships and magic. This was the reason why the ‘Continental War’ began.]

Minhyuk kept on listening to the explanation. According to the explanation, the war between the Empires escalated and led to the war between continents. And in the midst of that war, Great Mage Moldoron announced one fact.

[The guardians must have been under a very powerful brainwashing spell so they started a fight.]

The guardians basically had incredibly high magical defenses. In addition, the utopia was a place where lower or moderately high magic could not fully express its power. Many had wondered about who had expressed such a magic. 

However, even if they knew this, there was no end in sight from the continental war that had already broken out. Eventually, the war began to spread in the entire world as the divine beasts started to battle against each other. A lot of blood was spilled as countless people died. 

And towards the end of the war, the video finally changed.

“The divine beasts and the people are dying. This must be stopped.” 

A man suddenly appeared when the screen changed. The man was wearing a helmet in the shape of a wolf while a gigantic white wolf stood beside him. 

Then, the man’s information suddenly appeared in Minhyuk’s head.

[The Envoy of Incarnation. Baroque.]

‘The Envoy of Incarnation?’ 

Minhyuk, who was watching him in soul form, could easily guess that he was the ‘Envoy of Incarnation’ of the past. In other words, he was the original owner of Kaistra’s job class. 

Then, someone came in. It was a man with dragon tattoos all over his body. 

‘Is he the one similar to dad?’ 

This was the thought that passed through his head when he saw the dragon tattoos that were littered all over the man’s body. 

Then, the man’s information also appeared in his head.

[Dragon Monarch. Barnacle.]

‘Dragon Monarch……? I heard from dad that he recently received a job class quest for the Dragon Monarch class……’ 

Not long after, the Dragon Monarch opened his mouth.

“Baroque, I finally figured out the root of all this commotion. It’s the Black Dragon, Vormon.” 

“Black Dragon Vormon?”

“Right. Among the dragons, he was the most destructive even when they were children. But what’s surprising is that when he was still a young hatchling, he used so much magic and power that even the Dragon Lord couldn’t defeat him.” 

“Why is that guy……” 

“I don’t know what his reason is but he manipulated the guardians and started a war between the continents. We must kill him and stop this war from spilling any more blood.” 

Then, the words floated in front of him again.

[The masters of the three great divine beasts and the divine beasts that ruled over other divine beasts did not want to have a war between the divine beasts and the humans so they tried to stop it.]

Barnacle suddenly spoke.

“I’ve found out where he is so I’ll go right in.” 

The images in front of him immediately changed. 

The result was disastrous. The masters of the three great divine beasts were forced to flee under the assault of Black Dragon Vormon. The three divine beasts who existed ever since the creation of the world couldn’t win against him even if they combined their powers together. Black Dragon Vormon easily defeated them and they were only able to escape with only a breath of their lives left. 

“At this rate, we will not be able to stop the final war……” 

The final war would divide them into winners and losers. The war might end but it would result in disastrous damage that could not be easily repaired. 

Then, Great Mage Moldoron spoke. Moldoron joined them since he was able to summon his divine beast, the predatory snake. 

“There’s a way.” 

Everyone listened carefully when they heard the word ‘way’.

“We need to awaken the Supreme Divine Beast.” 

“……!” 

“……!” 

[Supreme Divine Beast. A divine beast that is leagues stronger than the three great divine beasts. The object of dread and terror among the divine beasts.]

The explanation briefly passed by as Baroque, the Envoy of Incarnation, spoke up.

“But the Supreme Divine Beast is dangerous. Isn’t he either of the two?” 

The Dragon Monarch also chimed in.

“Right. He either brings forth great catastrophe or serene peace.”

Either of the two. Whatever would happen would depend on what personality he had when he was awakened.

“But what’s clear is that this is the only solution to this impasse.”

They couldn’t deny his words. So in the end, they decided to awaken him. All of them went inside a dark dungeon. Inside the dungeon was a huge coffin surrounded by thick and large chains. 

“It was said that God Athenae had sealed the Supreme Divine Beast because he thought that he could bring forth dangers in the world. That’s why he used the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron to stop his awakening.”

The masters of the three great divine beasts stood in front of the ten thousand year cold iron. Only when they combined their powers would they have enough strength to cut off the ten thousand year cold iron.

Each of their divine beasts used their powers. Penrus, Predatory Snake and the four Legendary Dragons all let out white lights from their mouths. The white light started to corrode the ten thousand year cold iron. 

Sizzle―

Clang!

The corroded chains broke off and fell on the ground with a loud thud. Moldoron immediately casted powerful spells. The Envoy of Incarnation summoned a spear made out of bones as he and Penrus began to prepare for battle. Even the four Legendary Dragons and the Predatory Snake prepared immediately.

Creaaaaaaaaaak―

Baaaaaaang!

The lid of the coffin opened loudly as a being slowly emerged from its depths. The being was none other than a sleeping baby piggy. 

“Wh, what……?!”

“The Supreme Divine Beast is a pig?!”

“Keok!”

Each and every one of them were flustered.

“B, but he’s still the Supreme Divine Beast!!!”

“Everyone, don’t let your guard down!!!”

The being slowly opened its eyes as they all stood on alert. 

Gulp―

Someone gulped their saliva loudly. And with that sound, the baby piggy appeared in front of them with a broad smile.

“Oink!!!”

It was the happiest smile that ever existed in the world.

The screen suddenly froze in that part. Then, the notifications rang.

[The video of the birth of the Incarnation of Gluttony (1) has ended.]

[You can now check the Incarnation of Gluttony’s Diary (1) ‘Who am I?’.]

[The quest will be triggered once you read the diary’s first entry.]

Minhyuk tilted his head in thought as a torn diary appeared in front of him. Then, he started to read the contents of the diary.

[ Who am I? This is the question that I asked as soon as I was born in this world.

There was only one being around me. That was ‘Athenae’. Athenae told me that I can either bring disaster or peace to this world. Then, he pushed me inside this cold and dark coffin.

Back then, I thought that it was not that frustrating. Because God Athenae said that this coffin was my one and only world and he even put a lot of things in there for me. 

1 year later, 3 years later, 5 years later. I always ate something delicious there. I felt happy since I like to eat delicious food. I thought that it would be nice if I could always eat something delicious like this over time. 

But one day, I suddenly cried.

I don’t know why I cried. All I know is that tears kept on flowing.

Who am I?

Why am I alone here?

So a few decades passed like that. 

There was also a book there so I found out things while reading that book. It seems like there’s this thing called friends in the world. There’s also a thing called family. I finally realized that no one really exists alone in this world. 

The loneliness in me grew bigger.

Then, one day, I heard unidentified voices. Those voices began to cut off the big chain outside. The door that left me all alone in the world suddenly opened. 

When I opened my eyes, I saw that those unidentified voices were creatures with long arms, legs, two eyes and little fur. They were even holding something in their hands. 

Ah, are these the humans that I saw in the book?

There’s also a hairy creature and creatures that are long with long mustaches. 

I felt so glad to see them. The corners of my mouth couldn’t help but curl up the moment I saw them. 

Today, for the first time in my life, I learned how to smile.]

That was where the diary entry ‘Who am I?’ ended. 

Then, a bright light burst out of the page.

Flash―

Minhyuk’s body was once again surrounded by light as he got sucked back into his character. 

After watching the video and reading the diary, Minhyuk was lost for words.

He knew what loneliness was.

I did not wish nor want this. I did not want to have a disease called bulimia. I didn’t even do anything bad. I was just unlucky being born with this disease. I even cursed the world. This world that took everything away from me and left me all alone. 

Minhyuk knew this feeling more than anybody else so his heart was deeply moved. 

Then……

Kongie left the summoning room on his own as he tilted his head and looked up at Minhyuk. 

“Oink?”

Kongie felt confused when Minhyuk remained silent. 

Even though he called Kongie his ‘emergency ration’ every day, it was just more of a joke. Who would eat someone who protected him? Besides, Kongie had already become someone special to him since they have been together for so long. 

Kongie was even trying to make him feel relaxed by wiggling his butt and picking his nose in front of him. But Minhyuk couldn’t laugh so easily after seeing what was written in Kongie’s diary. 

Then, Kongie jumped on his shoulder as he pressed his paws and nose on his cheeks. 

“……Huh?”

“Oink!!” 

When Minhyuk turned his head to look at him, he saw Kongie smiling happily just like he did in the video.

***

Notes

[Black Dragon’s Royal Class] Previously, I think I used Dragon Lord for his class. But looking at it, it seems like it’s more of Dragon Monarch so I’m going to use this moving forward.

[만년한철] Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron. Basically 한철 (hancheol) is a metal that’s the strongest among all of the metals. It’s like 3 levels higher than steel. It’s called Cold Iron in western texts and the best among them is the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron.

TL’s corner!!!

Noooo! I teared up at the end. Kongie deserves all the love. Huhuhuhu.

PR’s corner!

I was going to make an Avatar reference about how all the guardians were living in harmony, and then everything changed when the Griffin attacked, but then Kongie’s diary…my heart…