Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 459: Luna

“Aren’t, aren’t you the instructor in the scarecrow training grounds in Ardo?!”

Many players were caught in shock. After all, anyone that started in Ardo when they started playing in Athenae would know who Instructor Valen was. Valen even became Ardo’s famous local specialty after repeatedly giving the cheeky and arrogant new players their just desserts.

But was that all? No. His wife, Roina, exuded a cool and frosty aura about her, which garnered them the nickname ‘Cold Couple’ and ‘People that Shouldn’t be Touched’.

That very same Instructor Valen was the Sword God? It would definitely be shocking, right?

‘Valen was famous for not being close to any players, right?’

‘There have been many people that tried to get in his good graces, but everything was for naught!’

Many players had deliberately approached him to try and befriend him because they had thought that Valen was some kind of former hidden or secret class NPC. Yet no matter who tried, none of them could get close to him. From the situation right now, it seemed like Valen had quite a close relationship with Minhyuk.

‘What the hell? What kind of charm and appeal does that man have…?’

‘He’s the person that caught the eye and attention of Instructor Valen.’

‘Even a god came here to congratulate him.’

Everyone would be more shocked if they knew that everything that happened here was a result of Minhyuk happily eating tasty meals.

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you, boy.”

“Thank you,” Minhyuk said as he shook hands with Valen.

Hundreds of thousands of troops all kneeling down on one knee, the king of two different races, the emperors of two empires, the Saintess of Athenae Religion, and the King of the one-man legion, Kingdom of the Dead, all came to congratulate Minhyuk.

Even so, that was not the end yet.

“What?! Our young master became king?! As expected of our chairman’s son, he really is a dragon’s child!”

“My eyes are still red from the grace that I received from Chairman Kang Minhoo, and now this!”

Ilhwa Group was a legendary company with tens of millions of employees, perhaps even more, globally. The company provided generous benefits for their employees, especially the breadwinners of their families. They also funded and operated a home for the elderly, as well as a scholarship foundation. This made many people in the world respect Ilhwa Group as a whole. The employees were also proud of their company, viewing it as something far more than a workplace.

Usually, employees would be dissatisfied with their companies, especially if their chairmen always said, ‘Our company is everyone’s company. I think of you as my family.’

This was because companies that claimed that they treated them like family would always turn out to curse at them and work them to the bone, heaping countless overtime hours on their heads! This was the sad reality.

However, Chairman Kang Minhoo was different. He was a principled man that abided by his words and even made sure that everyone in his company also did the same. In fact, he even knew the names of all the employees that worked for him in his headquarters, a number that reached the thousands.

‘Ho? Seonwook, it felt like it was just yesterday when you joined us as a new employee but you’re already a team leader, huh? Hoho!’

‘Miss Kim Inha, I heard that you got married recently? When will we celebrate your baby’s first birthday party? I will definitely go!’

‘What did you say? Section Chief Kim’s father passed away? I’ll be there.’

This was also what he said to his employees, ‘I think of everyone as the owner of this company and as my family. We will make sure to implement better welfare and policies for everyone, better than any company in existence. In return, I would like to see you work diligently in your given position.’

Some of the new employees might talk a bit about Chairman Kang Minhoo during office hours, but they would never slack off. In fact, even the section chiefs, department heads, and directors worked hard in their roles, every day. As a result, overtime work disappeared and every single employee spent their weekdays happily, as if they were in a dream.

These tens of thousands of Ilhwa Group’s employees that enjoyed such a good work-life balance all appeared in Barras Kingdom’s capital. They came here for one reason and one reason alone, to give their congratulations and blessings to Minhyuk and Chairman Kang Minhoo. There were also countless people that Minhyuk knew and had helped in the past that appeared alongside them.

“Long live Beyond the Heavens Kingdom!!!”

“Long live Beyond the Heavens Kingdom!!!”

The chant of more than hundreds of thousands of people echoed loudly in the capital. And the global media outlets said…

[This is unbelievable. The Korean citizens are willingly coming to the capital to congratulate Minhyuk!]

[I can understand why there are many employees from Ilhwa Group. Most of the time, company employees think of work related to their companies as an extension of their own work. But when looking at their faces, anyone can tell that these employees are truly happy and are sincerely giving their congratulations and blessings.]

[This just goes to show how Black Dragon and Player Minhyuk live their lives.]

[They have already cultivated a kingdom. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.]

On this day, the number of people that flocked to the capital of Minhyuk’s kingdom was recorded to have exceeded a million. It was a day filled with many blessings and congratulations for Minhyuk and Beyond the Heavens Kingdom from all of the people that appeared.

Meanwhile, in Instructor Valen and Roina’s home.

Valen heaved a huge sigh as he said, “Phew~ I almost came back to the village without doing anything at all.”

“Hohoho! It’s a relief that it did not happen, right?”

Instructor Valen and Roina smiled widely at each other, a fact that proved how tough their mentality was. This was the cuteness that was hidden under the cold exteriors of Sword God Valen and his wife, Roina.

***

With the establishment of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, Minhyuk would naturally become as busy as a bee. But before that, Minhyuk first sat on his throne again after seeing everyone out to check the things that he had gained.

First, he checked the notifications that rang when his kingdom was established.

[You have established the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.]

[You are the first ever player to have ever established a kingdom.]

[You have acquired the Title: Brightest Sun.]

(Brightest Sun)

Unique Title

Requirements: King of a kingdom.

Title Effects:

•All stats will increase by 10%.

•CHA will increase by 100%.

•Passive Skill: King’s Voice

The 10% increase in all stats and the 100% increase in CHA were tremendous. The increase in CHA in particular, seemed like it was showing Minhyuk the importance of a king’s dignity and influence.

There was also the passive skill ‘King’s Voice’, a skill that had the effect of making every word that he uttered become more powerful, and sometimes filled with great sincerity. In addition to the unique title Brightest Sun, Minyuk also received plenty of rewards when he sealed Great Demon Verus.

First, he received the map where one of the Absolute God’s Secret was hidden. Second, he received a map to the Demon World’s Trainers Island, Slaughter. Third, Great Demon Verus’ Demon Summoning Ring. Fourth, God’s Ore Vlad. Fifth, the Great Demon’s All Creation Production Book. And sixth, Great Demon Verus’ Mask.

Back when they were fighting Great Demon Verus, Genie had returned the rights to distribute the items that the guild would receive during a hunt to the guild master, the moment Minhyuk accessed the game.

This meant that not only the items that they gained when they hunted and sealed Great Demon Verus were acquired by Minhyuk, but also the items that the three demons dropped. Everything would be distributed fairly and anyone that would receive insufficient artifacts would be paid in gold.

Among all of the items that he acquired, Minhyuk decided to keep Verus’ Mask, the Great Demon’s All Creation Production Book, and God’s Ore Vlad.

(God’s Ore Vlad)

Material Grade: God

Special Abilities:

•If the strengthening is successful, the artifact will receive +1~+5 strengthening.

•If the strengthening fails, there will be no negative consequences, whether it is a minus effect or the artifact’s destruction.

•Upon successful strengthening, the artifact will experience better strengthening effects than normal artifact reinforcement.

Description: God’s Ore Vlad is a special ore that can only be obtained from the gods. There are rumors that the one with the greatest sword in existence used God’s Ore Vlad to create it.

(Great Demon’s All Creation Production Book)

Rank: God

Special Abilities:

•A production book that can create anything that the user desires.

•If the book user demands something ridiculous to the point that even the gods can’t make them, the production book will be destroyed.

•The production book can create most of the items in existence, including artifacts, cooking ingredients, materials, and many more.

•There’s a chance that you will be required to bring some materials for the item that you desire.

(Great Demon Verus’ Mask)

Rank: Legendary

Requirements: Level 500

Durability: 50,000 / 50,000

Defense: 1,241

Special Abilities:

•All stats will increase by 13%.

•Magical Defense will increase by +400.

•Active Skill: Demon’s Face

•Active Skill: Demon’s Pupils

Description: This is the mask that Great Demon Verus’ wore whenever he descended to earth to have some fun. When wearing the mask, Great Demon Verus can change his face into any of the humans that he has met.

‘I’ll take these things first since they are useful to me.’

They had gained a lot of items and rewards during this battle. Among these, there were plenty of things that would be able to help him. Great Demon Verus’ Mask would be able to hide Minhyuk’s face, while the Great Demon’s All Creation Production Book was very useful to him and could give him a great boost in power.

‘Maybe I can get a God-rank artifact from it too.’

However, if Minhyuk asked for something more than that, then the production book would disappear. In other words, he had to think carefully about what he wanted to make before using it.

Then, there was also God’s Ore Vlad.

‘If I can successfully reinforce the Continent Destroyer Sword, then…’

From what Minhyuk could gather, the Continent Destroyer Sword would gain even more power than it had now. As for the maps for the Absolute God’s Secret and the Demon World’s Trainers Island, Slaughter, those things could be pursued and dealt with at a later date.

‘What should I make with the All Creation Production Book?’ Minhyuk thought as he pondered about what he wanted to make. Of course, the first thing that came to mind was ‘dishes and cooking’.

‘But once I finish the dish, then that will be the end of it…’

Minhyuk might be making great progress in his eating addiction treatment, but he was still very crazy about food and eating. He thought about whether he should eat something tasty once, or eat them continuously.

‘Just as I thought, it’s better if it’s the latter.’

Minhyuk believed that it was better to eat something delicious continuously and consistently. After all, he should milk this opportunity and not let it be just a one-time dish.

‘What should be the best way for me to eat and make more yummy dishes?’

All of Minhyuk’s artifacts, whether it was his sword, armor, or accessories, were all excellent. There was nothing more that he could wish for in this area. That was why he believed that he should no longer be greedy for something like that.

Instead, he thought long and hard about how to make more delicious dishes.

‘What can be useful in battle like my sword and accessories, but also good enough to be out of ordinary, so I don’t have to worry about the restriction of equipping only one kind of that item?’

It would be great if he could come up with something. After all, he did not need to have two of the same thing. If that was the case, then…?

‘Something that will be useful for me when I cook during battles and when I’m gathering regular ingredients and materials…’

What could possibly fit this criteria? Minhyuk pondered deeply as he recalled everything that he had been through in this game. That was when he recalled the time when he joined the Goblin Subjugation Troops for the Sun’s Wheat in Isbin Village. Minhyuk had joined the troops and became a military chef, which allowed him to meet Len, the chef with no sense of taste. And in there, there was…

‘A cooking trailer…!’ Minhyuk jumped up from his seat as the thought flashed in his head.

It was something that could help him make more dishes and did not overlap with any of the items that he had now! A cooking trailer was a truck-type cooking ware that could help him cook outdoors.

‘Of course, the dishes that I make inside that trailer will definitely be tastier than the dishes that I make out in the open!’

What more if it became a God-rank cooking trailer? And…

‘I can also make it so that it can shrink to a very small size that I can carry in my pocket and only push a button for it to transform into the cooking trailer!’

…he would also take care of the portability of the item.

At that very moment, Minhyuk had finally decided on what item he would make with the Great Demon’s All Creation Production Book.

***

At the same time.

Brod, just like usual, was spending his time leisurely with the cows, the pigs, and the chickens. But then, at that moment…

Crack, crack, crack, crack—

A sudden, unknown sound rang in the area. Brod immediately turned his head to the direction where the sound came from. That was when he saw the red dragon egg that he, and His Majesty Minhyuk, could not break, no matter how hard they tried!

Shwaaaaaaaaaaaa—

Along with that sound, something extraordinary happened. A red stream of air gushed out and swirled around the egg, as a notification rang in Brod’s ears.

[A new legend is trying to break free from the egg and hatch into the world.]

Plop!

The hay in Brod’s mouth fell down on the ground.

‘It’s only hatching but it’s already a legend?’

It was clear to Brod, that whatever it was that was hatching from that egg, it was an existence that would shake the entire world.