Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 697: The Ten Plagues

‘What a crazy king.’

Even if he came here personally, it would not matter if he was a king or not, he would still not be able to punish the knights of the empire without any clear justification. If it was found that he did something to them, the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom would be forced to pay the price for that crime.

Rend and Elainey looked back at the knights and the soldiers that gathered behind them, ready to go.

“What’s the status in Esser Fortress?”

“The Masserati Kingdom’s resistance is much stronger than what we expected.”

It was only natural. This was because the Masserati Kingdom’s territories would continue to be devoured by the great and mighty Luvien Empire once they had taken over Esser Fortress.

“However, looking at the current situation. We believe that it would only be a matter of time before they fall.”

“Once we enter the battlefield, they will most definitely fall within a week.”

Elainey and Rend nodded at each other. The knights that they were going to lead were the ‘Hundred Battle Knights’, the very same knights that His Majesty Nerva Sephiroth had nurtured with his own powers.

The Hundred Battle Knights were the ones that had received the Battle God’s recognition and rewards after Nerva had successfully met the conditions upon completing the conquest of another kingdom. The level of their force could be said to be so high that no other knight within the empire could fight against them.

These people, along with fifty thousand troops of the Imperial Army, were more than enough to deal with the enemy. There were only 120,000 troops of the Imperial Army who were fighting actively on the battlefield. If they joined, it would likely only take a week to obtain control of the war and gain victory.

At that moment, a knight approached Elainey and Rend and gave them a report.

“…What?!”

“What did you say…?!”

The knight’s report was extremely shocking. They could soon see a man approach them right after the knight finished his words.

Elainey and Rend had witnessed how this man danced around the battlefield. He was the king of a nation and a god and was the first person to make the Luvien Empire suffer a defeat. This man was none other than Minhyuk.

“Are you going to war now?”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

Even if they were the Swords of the Gods, Minhyuk, the man in front of them, was the king of a nation. They had to bow down and show courtesy to him.

“I have disturbed His Majesty Nerva’s bedtime because I suddenly requested an audience. So, as an apology, I’ve asked that he let me personally cook a meal to cheer on his men that are going to war.”

“A meal…?”

From what they heard, the dishes made by Beyond the Heavens’ Minhyuk were so delicious that one would be able to hear a heavenly voice the moment they took their first bite. There were also many rumors about how excellent his buffed dishes were to the point that he could bring an ordinary soldier to the level of a knight.

‘Are those fake and ridiculous rumors what made the present Beyond the Heavens Kingdom?’

Indeed. The Luvien Empire’s Swords of the Gods Elainey and Rend did not believe such rumors. In fact, even Emperor Nerva did not believe it. This was because none of the people from the Luvien Empire had encountered Food God Minhyuk’s dishes even once.

After all, those dishes could only be made by Food God Minhyuk. There was no way that he would cook for the people of the Luvien Empire, or even do something that would be beneficial to them.

‘It seems like the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom has created several false rumors to attract people when they established their kingdom.’

In fact, there was someone that could confidently say that those were rumors. That person was the Imperial Chef Ruval. Although not at the level of the Swords of the Gods, Ruval was considered a chef that had received the favor of one of the Absolute Gods, the God of Cooking. He was also considered as a Buff Chef and was someone that increased the power of the Swords of the Gods with his dishes.

‘His dishes are very surprising. However, the effects in the rumors are too absurd to be considered real.’

Eating Ruval’s dish would make them 1.3x stronger. But from what they heard, eating the Beyond the Heavens’ King’s dishes would make anyone at least 1.5x stronger. What kind of bullshit was that?

‘What? What the hell is this?’

However, Elainey and Rend found it ridiculous that someone like him would bother to cook for them.

‘Is he going to put poison in?’

The quick-witted Elainey shook his head. “It’s fine. We’ll just get sleepy on the road if our stomachs are full. Beef jerky is more than enough for us.”

“We’re also fine with the way things are.”

“This won’t do. I have already made a promise with His Majesty.”

They knew that the man in front of them came here to catch them. Knowing that fact made Elainey lose his temper.

“Why do you even want to cook for us?!”

Although the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom was not allied with the Masserati Kingdom, they were not hostile with each other. This was a fact that Elainey knew full well. So, why would someone like Minhyuk hold on to them even though they had already firmly refused his offer?

“Are you trying to poison us?”

“Sir Elainey.” Rend tapped him on his shoulders.

However, Minhyuk’s face had already turned cold. “That’s quite a rude thing to say to a king of a nation, don’t you think so? You’re saying that I’ll kill everyone here?”

“…”

“Elainey. Do you think that he would give us poisoned food right now? Once everyone dies here, the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom will not be able to escape the wrath of the Luvien Empire and face destruction.”

“…”

Unless someone was a fool, they would not let something like that happen.

“Please forgive me.”

“The damage has already been done. It has already made me feel uncomfortable. I have no choice but to report this to His Majesty.”

“That… Please forgive us, Your Majesty Minhyuk.”

Elainey, even Rend and the rest of the knights, bowed their heads and showed courtesy.

Even though Minhyuk was nothing but a king of a small nation, Emperor Nerva was someone that placed importance on courtesy and manners. If it was made known that his vassals were doing as they pleased and acting rudely, as a strict Emperor, Nerva might even take their heads off.

Minhyuk looked at them. “I’ll be honest with you.”

He took a step closer toward Elainey and Rend and lowered his voice so only they could hear. “I am a king. However, His Majesty Nerva might just be the emperor of the entire continent. Why do you think I came here and declared that I will cook for you?”

“…”

The two were at a loss. After all, it was better to seek a friendship and alliance with the Luvien Empire. Of course, there was no way that they had not seen the majesty and dignity of the Luvien Empire.

‘He’s wise.’

‘If he cooks for us then he will be able to contribute to our victory. Will he use that opportunity to get a proper audience with His Majesty?’

‘This makes sense.’

“Still, your sins will not disappear.”

“Cough!!!”

“I’m sorry.”

Minhyuk looked at them fiercely. However, in the end, he just sighed and patted them on their shoulders.

“Alright. Let’s do it like this. I will still cook for you. However, if you are satisfied with my dishes, you have to give me a book about your ‘Spearmanship’ or ‘Axe Technique’.

“…Yes?”

The Swords of the Gods had books where the art that they were proficient in were written on. For players, these books would become skills. For NPCs, they would only be a book that they could learn and practice on.

This was something that all of the players were aware of. In fact, among the players, there were quite a few that had received something similar from the Swords of the Gods. However, what they received were the lowest ranking books. But even that had exceeded a considerable number of swordsmanship that are considered excellent in this world.

“That’s only if you’re satisfied with my dishes. You can just forget about it if you’re not satisfied.”

“We understand.”

“Yes, only if we’re satisfied.”

Minhyuk grinned widely. ‘If their spearmanship and axe technique gets passed down to the soldiers of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, they will surely become stronger.’

In fact, Minhyuk had deliberately spoken words that he did not mean, in order to coax them and induce a quest, which was now floating in front of him. The quest required him to satisfy Elainey and Rend with his dishes. The grade of the book that he would receive would depend on the amount of satisfaction that he would get.

“I’ll get started then.”

Rumbleeeeeeee—

Pppiiiiiiiiiiiiii—!

Minhyuk threw out a small trailer, which grew larger, in front of them. The trailer immediately recognized the strong existences near him, Elainey and Rend.

Rumbleeeeeee—

Hot flames soared from the chimney and the two vents on the roof.

***

Minhyuk, who climbed into the trailer, was sporting an expression that was filled with interest.

There was one more reward that he had obtained after he defeated Rex, the ‘God of Death’. It was none other than the ‘God of Death’s Black Duck’.

(God of Death’s Black Duck)

Ingredient Grade: Legendary

Special Abilities:

•God of Death\'s Black Duck has the power to lay eggs.

•The Black Duck will lay 100 eggs every month.

•The duck that will come out from the Black Duck’s egg will automatically come out as an adult.

•Black Duck is a delicacy. It has a flavor that is hard to come by in this realm.

•The duck born from the Black Duck’s egg will greatly increase one’s STR and AGI. It can also help increase the level that has not risen for a long time.

It was a special ingredient. Minhyuk could obtain a hundred black ducks every month. Of course, the black ducks that he obtained would be incapable of producing eggs. Still, it was a hundred ducks every month. Their meat could even increase STR, AGI and a variety of other things.

Shwaaaaaaaa—

Minhyuk stood in front of a cauldron and cooked with everything that he got. The dish that he was preparing was none other than duck jumulleok, a dish made by stir-frying marinated duck with red seasoning. It was a dish that could make Minhyuk drool just by thinking about it.

Shwaaaaaaaa—

Sweat started to flow down Minhyuk’s forehead as he continued to stir-fry the marinated duck inside the huge cauldron.

Minhyuk was truly doing his best. The first reason was so that he could partake in the tasty dish. The second reason was, ‘The greater the buff that they received, the more they will weaken.’

However, for those that did not know him, thoughts appeared as they watched.

‘Why is he working so hard for someone like us?’

‘A king of a nation is actually cooking for us?’

Rend and Elainey had attacked Beyond the Heavens Kingdom just a few days prior. Of course, they were confident that the Food God and his vassals were unaware of that fact.

As the king continued to cook, sweat started to drip down his body while his muscles twitched and moved beneath his sleeves. He was already handsome. However, this figure made him even more dashing.

‘…Is this the kind of person the king of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom is?’

For a moment, the thought of wanting to serve such a king floated in their heads. However, that was blasphemy. It was completely unloyal. How could they think of leaving His Majesty Nerva? Still, they had never heard of a king working so hard for just mere knights.

Meanwhile, Minhyuk’s mind was filled with his own thoughts.

‘You f***ing bastards. Eat your fill and prepare to fight. This will be your last supper so you have to eat well, huh? You bastards.’

Minhyuk had not forgotten the fact that Rend and Elainey were the ones that attacked the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.

[Elainey’s favor has increased.]

[The Luvien Empires’ Sword of the God Elainey has realized something new as he watched Beyond the Heavens King.]

[All of your stats will increase by 0.1%.]

[Elainey’s favor has increased.]

[The Luvien Empires’ Sword of the God...]

[…stats will increase by 0.1%.]

‘Huh?’

What kind of expression would they sport once they realized the true reason why Minhyuk was doing this? However, Minhyuk did not stop there. He even triggered his God’s Voice.

[The god, the king of a nation, is trying to bring comfort to those that are heading to a faraway battlefield.]

[Even if it\'s only a small gesture, he hopes that his dishes would be able to cheer up those that would march a long and arduous path.]

[He is doing his best to cook for you.]

Ppiiiiiiiiiiii—

Rumbleeeeee—

At the same time, the blazing Eternal Flames shot up from the trailer’s vents. It was not just the Swords of the Gods, even the knights and the soldiers could not help but watch in admiration as the sound of the dish cooking rang in their ears. There were even some soldiers that started to cry.

[Elainey’s favor has increased.]

[…stats will increase by 0.1%.]

[Rend’s favor has increased.]

[…stats will increase by 0.1%.]

[Hundred Battles’ Volvotta favor has increased.]

[…STR will increase +1.]

[Hundred Battles’ Ambro favor has increased.]

[…STR will increase +1.]

[Soldier Verlyn’s favor has increased…]

[Soldier Venom’s favor has increased…]

However, Minhyuk did not hear these notifications. He just did his best to complete the best and the worst dish while thinking about their punishment.

[You have completed the Duck Jumulleok.]

[Trance. It’s a dish that has your wrath, a heart to kill, hatred, and will to take revenge, poured into it.]

[Due to the effects of Trance, the buff effect has become better.]

[You have acquired the Title: ‘Furious Chef’.]

‘Eh?’

In reality, one could still decide to cook for others even if they hated them. Just like a wife that cooked even after fighting with her husband, a chef toward a bad customer, and an employee toward a boss that they did not like.

However, Minhyuk’s anger was far greater than that. The cries of sorrows of his beloved people, the soldiers, and the family of the bereaved were still echoing in his ears. Because of that, the first dish that contained his anger and fury had made an appearance.

Another set of notifications rang.

[You have only ever cooked with a happy heart.]

[However, sometimes, you will need to cook even if you are overcome with anger.]

[You, who have made an excellent dish despite being consumed by anger, have received a special privilege.]

[The skill: ‘Ingredient Tracking’ will change into ‘Ingredient Search’.]

***

Emperor Nerva did not even bother to give a room to Minhyuk inside the imperial castle, opting to drive him out to one of the houses inside the capital. It was a cold and harsh treatment. However, it was also very favorable to Minhyuk. A man, who looked just like Minhyuk, suddenly appeared inside the castle grounds. It could be seen that the man was holding a black book that was wrapped in thick chains.

This man was made using the ‘Great Sage Heaven’s Equal’s Cloning Technique Parchment’. Minhyuk’s clone slowly unfolded the thick chains that wrapped around it before reading the book’s first chapter aloud, “The First Plague.”

Elsewhere, at the same time.

Nerva was hand in hand with his dearly beloved princess, who had just turned eleven years old, taking a walk and gazing at the pond inside the castle grounds.

“F, father…”

“What’s the matter princess?” Nerva asked, a shiver suddenly running down his spine as he hurriedly looked at the direction where his princess was pointing her finger at. There, he saw the pond turning red with blood.

At that moment, the sky covering the Luvien Empire darkened, as a dark and dreary voice rang loudly in everyone’s ears.

[The First Plague.]

[Blood will color the rivers red.]

“…!”

The Beyond the Heavens Kingdom’s counterattack had finally begun!