Leveling Up through Eating

Translator: ChubbyCheeks

QC: MattForgenti

Her forehead creased in irritation. 

This person!He doesn’t even have a bit of interest in me at all! 

“Excuse me. Did you hear what I said?” 

“Kghhk. I think it’s good to make a sauce with pineapples and cherries…… Ah, I should try and make it later~” 

In the end, Runie couldn’t take it anymore so she placed her hands on his shoulder. 

“Ah, Nim! Kim Seokhyun is offering you 1 billion won as compensation right now……” 

Slap! 

The man roughly shoved her hands away from his shoulders. 

“Ah, Nim! You answered me earlier. I know that this is delicious but why are you so annoying!” 

“N, no… 1 billi…” 

“What 1 or 10 whatever, I don’t care how much it is. What’s important right now is that I eat this tonkatsu!” 

Minhyuk currently has 90 billion won in his personal assets. 

“Y, you say that it’s not much… And it was even from Kim Seokhyun himself…” 

“Touch me one more time and I’ll stab you to death with my fork!” 

The man glared at her as he picked up his fork like it was his weapon. There was a real killing intent emanating from him. 

Swoooosh! 

He brandished his fork menacingly. 

“Kyaaak, I’m sorry!” 

She escaped in a flurry. 

Then she sent a whisper to Ravel. 

[Runie: Ravel-nim…… ㅠㅠ] 

***

“I, I’m here. There’s an answer!” 

Lee Hyunie hurriedly spoke. 

Kim Seokhyun stood in front of him with his face filled with interest and a smile curling around his lips. 

‘1 billion. No one could keep their eyes closed with that amount. But, I could even pull out more than 10 billion of his value. Also……’ 

I will be able to eliminate my competition. The title of the best isn’t for nothing. 

He would make him his ally or if it did not work then he would step on him. This was Kim Seokhyun. This was the person who made the special dish with his hands. 

“About the proposal……”

Lee Hyunie’s words abruptly ended while Kim Seokhyun’s lips started curling up. 

“Of course he will accept……” 

“He refused.”

“What?” 

“…R, really?!” 

“Heok?!” 

Everyone let out surprised sounds at what they heard. 

“What nonsense are you saying? Tell it straight to me.” 

“According to my female guild member, he didn’t even know who Kim Seokhyun is and he threatened her that he will stab him with a fork to death because she touched him.” 

“……?” 

“And……” 

Lee Hyunie looked at them seriously. 

“He didn’t care if it was 1 billion or whatever. What was important was eating the tonkatsu right now.”

“……” 

“……” 

“……” 

A moment of silence passed all over them. 

And Kim Seokhyun thought… 

‘……Did he bounce it back? Does he want to increase the compensation?’ 

It was quite a ridiculous story. 

Who would say that tonkatsu is more important than 1 billion? 

It only meant one thing… 

This man knows what he’s worth. That’s why he’s trying to raise the compensation. In other words, he’s telling me that ‘You can’t buy me with just that. Raise it up a bit more!’ 

‘Interesting.’ 

He smiled slightly. 

Right now, in Athenae, he has already arrived at Isbin Village. And he would be able to catch up with the goblin subjugation force if he went after them immediately. 

That’s where I’m headed anyway. 

‘Yeah. If he refused, then I can just raise it a bit more when we meet. The fact that he started the deal himself means that he’s at least interested.’ 

Kim Seokhyun. 

He has now one-shotted [1] a pot of kimchi soup. 

***

The subjugation force kept on marching forward. With this pace, they would arrive at Bordy Plains sooner or later. Once they arrived, then they would be able to begin a full-scale conquest. 

Minhyuk was washing dishes late at night when he suddenly thought of the event that happened a few days ago. 

‘Kim Seokhyun……’ 

Of course he knew who he was. Minhyuk also knew how the world worked outside. 

He was the best chef in the country. He was Alex’s disciple so how could he not know of him. However, Minhyuk has driven a wedge right here. 

‘Is he trying to get me with money?’ 

He was mad. 

He might be preoccupied with tonkatsu but he kept on hearing about money here and there. 

Food God’s Cooking. 

He wanted it, that was why he was offering money.

Minhyuk learned this from his father… 

‘If you want to get something from someone, never offer them money first.’ 

Before he could do that, he had to show his character first. He had to show that he was a business partner that you could trust and believe in. 

That was it. 

This was why Minhyuk felt that it was truly ridiculous. 

‘Does he think he can get everything with money? And to think that I was welcoming Tonkatsu-nim at that time.’ 

He was really angry because they talked about money while he was trying to enjoy his tonkatsu. 

Minhyuk quickly swept the incident to the side. It wasn’t worth any of his concerns. 

“My favorability has really increased by a lot.” 

Some of the NPCs who weren’t very friendly towards him before have now increased their favorability with him. His favorability notifications just kept on coming up. In addition, his dishes with buff effects have easily conquered them. 

Right now, he could hear the patrolling soldiers fighting with the goblins outside. However, a military chef’s job was to prepare for tomorrow’s meal. 

‘Someone eats my food and feels happy……. This doesn’t feel bad.’ 

Was what he thought, but… 

‘And I could also eat the best. Huhuhuhuhuhu?’ 

At that moment… 

[You have achieved 40% of contributions in the Bordy Plains Subjugation Force.] 

[You have received the title ‘Subjugation Force’s Soldier’.] 

[You have gained 3 reputation points.] 

“Oh……?” 

Minhyuk was very surprised with the notification. He hurriedly checked the contents of the title… 

[Subjugation Force’s Soldier] 

Unique Title

Title Effects: +3 to all 5 basic stats

There were twenty people who participated in the subjugation quest and among them, Minhyuk has contributed 40% alone. 

It was a very surprising thing. Minhyuk only ate and cooked after all. However, there was only one reason as to why his contributions have gone up this high. 

‘It was because of the buff.’ 

The soldiers kept on telling him that it had become easier to hunt because of him.

It might just be a few % increase but the strength of all 70 of the soldiers have increased. Minhyuk has inadvertently influenced the entirety of the subjugation force. 

‘I heard that there’s a title that will change once it reaches a certain number.’ 

These titles are called evolutionary titles. 

Assuming that the previous 20% would increase to 40% then the title would change to a better title. Of course it would not change unconditionally. Some titles could change while some could not. 

“Ahem!” 

Len coughed loudly so he could catch Minhyuk’s attention as he went inside. 

***

Len could always feel a sense of kinship whenever he saw Minhyuk. He also felt happy and proud of him. 

He really took off and had tremendous growth. 

And Len was certainly happy to see that happen.

Is this how it feels like to have a disciple? 

He did not have any students in the palace. One reason was because he was a very strict chef. The other was that he only wanted to draw and maximize the ‘flavor’ of his dishes. And Minhyuk was someone who prioritized ‘flavor’ above all else. 

Minhyuk would soon leave the subjugation force. 

He was walking near the campsite late at night when he saw that the lights in the kitchen carriage were still on. 

It was Minhyuk. 

He was in there. He coughed to get his attention. 

“Ahem!” 

“Ah, you’re here?” 

“Yeah. Sit down and get some rest.” 

“Yes!” 

Minhyuk brought some hard bread and milk as he sat down beside him. He also recommended it to Len. 

“Captain should have some too. Hehe.” 

“Huh? Why is what you say different from what your eyes say? Why does it look like you’ll tear my hands if I touch it?” 

Screech! 

Minhyuk smiled awkwardly as his movements stopped. 

“T, that’s not true!” 

Len squinted his eyes at him. 

“We have enough food for the soldiers to eat for a month but…… ten days worth of food has disappeared in an instant.” 

Screech! 

It was the second time that Minhyuk paused awkwardly.

However Len was smiling softly at him. He was the one who allowed him to eat all of these things, besides Isbin Village was not lacking in food. 

Minhyuk chuckled when he saw that he was only joking around. 

“Come to think of it, I have never seen teacher Len eat anything.” 

He has never seen him eat even once. 

“I usually eat my packed lunch, there are times when I need to take medicine so my diet should be healthy.” 

“Ah… Is that so? I thought teacher was also a flavor-seeker like me!” 

“Flavor. I also pursue it. But my mouth tastes differently than other people.” 

“…….” 

Ah, there were people like this too. Was the thought that brushed past Minhyuk’s head. 

Len slowly began to tell him things. 

“I have never tasted anything in my life.” 

“Eh?” 

Minhyuk was so shocked to hear Len’s words. 

At that moment, a notification rang in Len’s head. 

[The Gods of Athenae are imposing sanctions on you.] 

[This quest can’t be given to another user. There is a user currently working on this quest.] 

‘Damn it!’ 

Len bit his lips in anger. 

There was a quest that he could give and he wanted to give it to Minhyuk. But someone was currently undertaking the said quest. 

He wanted to give Minhyuk that ‘item’ if he could. However, the Gods of Athenae had imposed sanctions on him. As soon as the sanctions have taken effect, he wouldn’t be able to say a word about the quest at all. 

“Are you sick?” 

“No.” 

“But… How did you become a master if you can’t taste the food……?” 

It was really surprising. 

Len smirked at him proudly. 

“Because I’m dexterous.” 

“……” 

“I placed everything on my dexterity.” 

“Ah…!” 

Minhyuk knew about NPCs having the concept of stats. Then in Len’s case, he kept on increasing his DEX. 

‘If his DEX reaches 20 then he will be able to get a +1 in flavor. With the influence of DEX he can make his food more delicious. But not being able to taste it and still getting to that level……’ 

How much should I increase my DEX? No, was that even possible. 

“I’ve done everything to raise my DEX. I even followed blacksmiths, painters, carpenters, miners and even fishermen.” 

“……!” 

It was an amazing story. 

It wasn’t even for his own but it was so he could cook for others. On the other hand, all he could think of was… 

‘I, it’s a pity…’ 

He was just an NPC. But more than anything, Minhyuk could feel a sense of kinship with him.

He knew more than anyone how important taste was. He was already sick and tired of eating 5,000 cherry tomatoes everyday.

He couldn’t eat but he couldn’t stop his stomach. More than once or twice, he would run to the bathroom and try to throw it away. 

This ‘dish’ was a vital part of everyone’s daily life. And flavor and taste always played a big part in every dish. 

“I did everything I could to increase my DEX, and after doing all that I could… My cooking has stood tall because of it.” 

Minhyuk thought… 

If he can taste everything and place all of his efforts in cooking then he can reach the realms of a craftsman, no, he might even go beyond that. 

“Boy, what does food mean to you?” 

He pondered over the question for a moment. 

“It’s like I’m discovering a new life each and every day.” 

“Discovering a new life.” 

“I eat three meals a day. In my lifetime, I will probably eat 1.5 million times but there are more than 30 million dishes in the world.” 

“That’s right.” 

“If I can eat something different and new every day, then it will be a kind of healing in this boring life of ours. Of course, it’s only good if you know that you’re eating something delicious.” 

“Yeah.”

Len grinned at his answer as he stared at the sky without saying anything for a moment. 

“Me too… I also want to taste it.” 

“……” 

Minhyuk couldn’t say anything. Len stood up to leave. 

“Get some rest.” 

“Yes.” 

Len thought as he stood up… 

I feel sorry that I couldn’t give the quest to this person. This person should be the one who deserves to receive it. 

Then he walked away. 

“Hmmm…” 

Minhyuk fell silent as he thought about Len who has lived a life far longer than he had. He chewed on his bread as he thought about him. 

‘How does it feel to have no sense of taste?’ 

If I eat sweet potatoes will I feel like I’m chewing eraser in my mouth? 

He wouldn’t know. 

‘Maybe this is…’ 

He suddenly thought of a possibility. 

Is this a quest? 

It was possible. 

The tasteless chef. 

But why did Len turn around and leave without giving the quest? 

However, Len was the one who taught him how to cook so he wanted to help him. 

He thought of things that might help when an idea suddenly popped in his head. 

‘Ah… Maybe it can help!’ 

What came to his mind was none other than his ingredient tracking skill. 

‘It’s the ability to help me cook what I want, it can even let me choose the type of dish that I can cook.’ 

To be honest, he kept on thinking that he needed to test the ingredient tracking skill. 

Let’s take this opportunity to test it. 

“Use the Ingredient Tracking Skill once.” 

A hologram window popped in front of him. The variety and type of food were listed on it. 

Korean food, Western food, Japanese food, Chinese food, etc.

“Hmm…… Chinese food.” 

When Minhyuk thought of getting the Sun’s Wheat he already had Chinese food in his mind. 

[You have selected Chinese food.] 

[What is your desired buff effect?] 

“Save someone who has no sense of taste.”

[Searching for the ingredients in a 1-km radius.] 

Minhyuk was excited for the results. 

It was not just for Len. He just got this feeling that it can also be related to his DEX. It was clear that something was hidden from him. 

Minhyuk had this great ambition to improve his cooking skills. 

The notifications rang. 

[The search has failed.] 

[The search will continue for 3 days and will depend on the user’s movement and travel range.] 

[You have 2 more times to use your ingredient tracking skill.] 

[The penalty does not allow you to use the True Worth of Food for one day.] 

***

Footnotes 

[1] 원샷 one shot, or bottoms up. 

TL’s corner!!! 

Wew. Let’s go and save Len’s taste buds!!!

I have decided to follow the suggestion of our dear friend from woop gen server about the titles. We will now use unique and common for the types of title instead of sole and multi. 

QC’s corner!

After reading this, the thought of no longer having taste is a very scary prospect. All these delicious tastes, gone forever…

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