Leveling Up Through Eating

PD Kim Daeguk had been following Minhyuk for a long time. He knew Minhyuk since he was called the Frying Pan Killer. Of course, his affection for Minhyuk had grown over time.

When Minhyuk said in his broadcast that he would make twenty God-grade dishes in a row and Epic-grade dishes for everyone in the Beyond the Heavens Empire without failing once, it was utterly absurd, even to someone like PD Kim Daeguk, who had admired the young man.

‘What is this…’

It was natural that PD Kim Daeguk could not understand what was happening in front of him. These words had completely damaged Minhyuk’s image.

Right now, in the eyes of everyone, Minhyuk was just like those politicians who made ridiculous and futile promises before the election. After all, he looked like he was spitting nonsense just to gain their votes.

“If he’s going to act like that, then I will be utterly disappointed in him.”

As someone who did not do any activities and showcased their power during the previous days of the voting period, Minhyuk’s words sounded highly absurd. His words were enough for the people to view him as a greedy politician who often made empty promises.

PD Kim Daeguk, thinking like the rest of the people, suddenly jumped up from his seat when he saw the notifications from Minhyuk’s view.

“Heok!”

“Alright. Let’s start making twenty God-grade dishes in a row.”

Minhyuk was standing by the fountain area in the Beyond the Heavens’ central plaza and talking big. Hundreds of thousands had already flocked to the area to see Minhyuk.

“Boo!”

“That’s bullshit!”

“Minhyuk! I’m so disappointed in you! Stop the bullshit!”

“You said you will feed everyone in the Beyond the Heavens Empire an Epic-grade dish? Bullshit!”

A considerable number of viewers were also watching his broadcast.

[Why does it sound like propaganda during the presidential elections? Stop making empty promises!]

[Lololol. Twenty God-grade dishes in a row? It’s much more realistic to say that he can eat twenty God-grade dishes in a row.]

[Many people will definitely be disappointed in Minhyuk this time, right?]

Minhyuk, who watched the comments constantly flashing in his live broadcast, did not engage and did what he had to do. He immediately ate the dish that he had prepared in advance.

[For real? Lmao.]

[Wth? Is it not about making twenty God-grade dishes in a row but eating twenty God-grade dishes in a row?]

[Ah. Then, it’s really possible. Agree?]

[Lolololol. He’s just doing anything at this point.]

Despite the growing criticism about how he was just eating, Minhyuk continued eating the dish before him and ignored them. Anyway, the people watching his live broadcast could see the notifications he would see and hear soon.

[You have eaten a Dolsot Bibimbap.]

[The dish is God grade.]

[Your DEX has increased by 38%.]

[The level of your skills related to DEX has increased by +1.]

The people who were criticizing Minhyuk had expected this much. They all knew he would increase his DEX as much as possible before cooking. But he’s going to make twenty God-grade dishes with just that much?

Then, Minhyuk took out a pair of worn-out gloves and put them on one after another. The moment he put them on, the gloves seeped into his skin and disappeared.

[You have equipped the Imperfect Work Gloves.]

[All of your stats have increased by 1%.]

[Your DEX has increased by 22%.]

[The other special abilities have been blacked out.]

In just an instant, Minhyuk’s DEX increased by almost 50%. The clamoring viewers fell silent.

A series of notifications rang again as a beautiful, angelic woman stood by Minhyuk’s side.

[The One Releasing Sacred Power.]

[The area around Angel Aemira has been transformed into an auspicious site.]

[The effects of the auspicious site will remain for an hour even if the one who entered the auspicious site has left the area.]

[Your DEX has increased by 8%.]

[Your rate of creating higher grade dishes or artifacts has increased by 15%~25%.]

The chat window looked like it had been frozen.

[...?]

[...?]

[...?]

Soon, they returned to their senses and continued to speak of something more realistic.

[Even so, making twenty God-grade dishes is impossible. Lol.]

[Good luck with the bullshit.]

Unfortunately for them, Minhyuk was not yet done. He put each of the Divine Drops he acquired from Archangel Michael on the gloves he had equipped and set a drop on each of the artifacts he had on.

[Your DEX has increased by a total of 16%.]

Divine Drops could be applied to each artifact he owned and equipped.

Everyone was left astonished by the increase in Minhyuk’s DEX.

Then, Minhyuk took out a sprig coated with a bright, blinding light. It was also a precious item that he had obtained from Archangel Michael.

[You have applied the Sprig of Realm Ascension.]

[The effects of the Sprig of Realm Ascension will be applied for one day.]

[The Sprig of Realm Ascension can increase the chances of creating a higher-grade dish with every successful dish made.]

[Successfully cooking an Epic-grade dish will increase your chances of creating a higher-grade dish by 0.5%.]

[Successfully cooking a Legendary-grade dish will increase your chances of creating a higher-grade dish by 5%.]

[Successfully cooking a God-grade dish will increase your chances of creating a higher-grade dish by 15%.]

[If you fail to produce a dish of the specified grade during the cooking process, the effects of the Sprig of Realm Ascension will be considered null and void.]

The effects of the sprig were basically what the notification had mentioned. If Minhyuk could successfully make a specific grade of dish or higher, his chances of making a higher grade dish would increase. But the Sprig of Realm Ascension would disappear if he failed to cook a dish with the specified grade.

The public, who had been continuously criticizing Minhyuk, was once again rendered speechless. The criticism was now overshadowed by one question.

‘How high is Minhyuk’s DEX now?’

Minhyuk was not yet done. A man suddenly walked out of the crowd that gathered and almost filled the entire plaza of the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

“Heok?!”

“Isn’t that The Strengthener Bragon?!”

“The Strengthener?!”

“Isn’t he the candidate in the 8th place in the polls?”

“Why is Bragon here?”

A faint smile appeared on Minhyuk’s face when he saw The Strengthener Bragon walk out of the path created by the crowd.

“I knew you’d come.”

Minhyuk had sent a message to The Strengthener Bragon through Brod. Why did he send Beyond the Heavens’ Commander Brod to meet with him? Of course, it was a show of respect and courtesy. The contents of the message that Minhyuk sent were simple.

‘Doesn’t the power of The Strengthener increase the more attention it receives from the people?’

Bragon, who received at most a few thousand votes more than Minhyuk, was sure that he would not be able to become one of the Pillars. Nonetheless, no one would feel happy if they were one of the bottom feeders.

“It’s just like you said. I also think that I can exert my greatest power at this stage. Of course, that does not mean I will side with you.”

They were just helping each other for the benefit.

“And just like promised, you will give me one million platinum if you fail to keep your pledge,” Bragon said as he stood before Minhyuk.

Minhyuk nodded slowly.

Bragon had the power to enhance and strengthen artifacts that could no longer grow. But because the extent of his reinforcement and strengthening was not that great and explosive, it failed to live up to the people’s expectations, so he was not very popular.

Regardless, the story would be different if the artifacts he would reinforce were already good.

Bragon actually had a more special power of reinforcement. It was the power that Minhyuk saw in one of his highlight videos and also one of the reasons why he asked for his cooperation. This power was none other than the power of Temporary Reinforcement.

A blue light appeared and covered Bragon’s hand.

[Temporary Reinforcement.]

[The Imperfect Work Gloves have been strengthened.]

[The Imperfect Work Gloves have been strengthened.]

[The Imperfect Work Gloves…strengthened.]

[The Imperfect Work Gloves…strengthened.]

[The Imperfect Work Gloves…]

The notifications rang constantly.

One reason reinforcement and strengthening could not remain in the spotlight was that excellent reinforcement and strengthening needed to be delivered before they were worth it.

However, the Temporary Reinforcement’s effects were only applied for three to six hours. In exchange for that, no materials were needed, and because it was temporary, the chances of successful reinforcement were several times higher than the typical and ordinary reinforcement. On top of that, it exerted a more incredible power because the one casting it was The Strengthener.

[The Imperfect Gloves have been strengthened by +7.]

[The duration of the effects is four hours.]

[Your DEX has increased by a total of 18%.]

Thanks to that, the Imperfect Work Gloves could now display far greater power than before for four hours.

A faint smile curled at the corner of his lips as a subtle blue light appeared around his hands.

[The Transcendental’s Armor has been strengthened.]

[The Transcendental’s Armor….]

[The Transcendental’s Armor….]

The notifications continued to ring in his ears. In the first place, all of Minhyuk’s artifacts were equipped with effects that significantly increased his stats. Just by strengthening these artifacts, Minhyuk’s DEX would also increase.

Of course, even if Bragon was The Strengthener, he could still not reinforce and strengthen artifacts non-stop. He eventually reached his limits and took a step back. Still, Minhyuk could increase his DEX by 25% thanks to him.

Minhyuk, whose entire body was now covered with a faint blue hue, looked at the crowd, which had been criticizing and cursing him just a few moments earlier.

“...”

“...”

All of them were looking at Minhyuk in shock.

One of the players murmured, “Then… how high is his DEX now…?”

Minhyuk has long been known for possessing a monstrously high DEX. Because of that, this series of actions made the live broadcast’s chat window go wild, asking about how high Minhyuk’s DEX was.

Minhyuk smirked as he displayed his DEX.

[DEX: 19,724 +21,574.]

[Hiiiik?!]

[Isn’t that more than 40,000?!]

[Is it even possible to have 40,000 DEX?!]

[This is nuts… shake, shake]

[Minhyukkkk! Please give me just 100 DEX.]

[Wow. Sht… Doesn’t the player that’s second to Minhyuk in terms of DEX only have at most 8,000 DEX?]

As the people expressed their shock in the chat window, the votes in the top left part of Minhyuk’s view changed.

[Pillar of Gourmands Minhyuk. Votes: 2.7%.]

Minhyuk’s votes, which were only at around 1%, experienced a significant increase.

He was still not yet done. Even with this much DEX, it was still not enough. Minhyuk still needed a lot of things before he could make twenty God-grade dishes in a row. Minhyuk started to carefully and diligently do every step of the process.

A dozen gas burners appeared around Minhyuk. Right now, Minhyuk intended to take advantage of the effects of the Sprig of Realm Ascension.

Minhyuk, who could use Large-scale Cooking, only needed to make one dish to serve tens of thousands of people. That was why the people and the viewers were left confused at the sight of the dozens of burners lined up around Minhyuk with pots on top of them.

[...?]

[Sir Minhyuk, excuse me. Are you hungry…?]

Then, Minhyuk opened one pack of ramyeon after another and placed them in the pots filled with boiling water.

‘No. Didn’t you say you will make twenty God-grade dishes in a row? Why are you suddenly making ramyeon?’

At that moment, Minhyuk said something that shocked everyone. He said, “I’ll make this dish into an Epic-grade dish.”

[The Sprig of Realm Ascension has recognized the dish.]

[The effects of the Sprig of Realm Ascension will only be applied if you make a dish with Epic-grade or higher.]

The viewers who saw the notification could not help but voice their confusion.

[He’s just boiling some instant ramyeon… But he’s saying that he’ll make it into an Epic-grade dish. Does that even make sense?]

[Wow. He’s so proud of himself because his DEX has reached 40,000.]

[What kind of ramyeon can become an Epic-grade dish? What is that? Is that some kind of golden ramyeon…?]

Soon, one of the ramyeons was done.

[The dish is Epic grade.]

The viewer, who was typing excitedly on the chat window, was left stunned.

[Is it really possible…? Is this really some kind of golden ramyeon…?]

Dozens of pots continued to boil and cook several ramyeons simultaneously.

[The dish is Epic grade.]

[The dish is Epic grade.]

[The dish is Epic grade.]

[The dish is Epic grade.]

[...?]

[...?]

[The dish is Epic grade…!]

[The dish is Epic grade…!]

[The dish is Epic grade…!]

The chat window grew silent. It looked like it had been frozen by the notifications that rang every few seconds. They had never heard about someone cooking simple ramyeon and getting an Epic-grade dish.

At that moment, the shill that Minhyuk planted in the chat window appeared. This shill was none other than Chef Black, who now belonged to the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

[The reason ramyeon can never become an Epic-grade dish is because of the ingredients and the effort put into cooking it. Ramyeon is a dish that you can cook in just ten minutes. Its cooking process is so simple that even a five-year-old can cook it. Not only that, its ingredients can be considered to be poor and insignificant.]

Everyone was aware of this fact. They already knew, even without the appearance of the shill, Chef Black.

[So, why did an Epic-grade dish appear?!]

[Who knows? Isn’t it because he’s the Pillar of the Gourmands?]

[...]

[...]

The logic was so absurd that the viewers could not find any words to retort.

Of course, the notifications continued to ring for them.

[The dish is Epic grade.]

[The dish is Epic grade.]

[The dish is Epic grade.]

[...Epic grade.]

A different set of notifications about those Epic-grade dishes also appeared.

[You have successfully made a dish with the specified level.]

[The effects of the Sprig of Realm Ascension have been applied.]

[Your chances of making a dish with a higher grade have increased by 0.5%.]

[...higher grade has increased by 0.5%.]

[...higher grade has increased by 0.5%.]

[...higher grade has increased by 0.5%.]

The notifications continued to ring.

The words that Black said were nothing but complete nonsense. There was something that Minhyuk did not reveal to Black. Of course, it was something that the public did not know either.

With the title “The One Who Reached the Pinnacle” any dish that Minhyuk made would always be Epic-grade at the very least. The effects of this title and the effects of the Sprig of Realm Ascension created a synergy that brought about this ridiculous and shocking situation.

Not long after, a hundred bowls of ramyeon was done.

[...higher grade has increased by 0.5%.]

[Your chances of making a dish with a higher grade have increased by a total of 180%.]

[The effects of the Sprig of Realm Ascension can no longer increase the chances of making a dish with a higher grade.]

The entire world was left in shock.

[The votes have increased significantly.]

[Pillar of Gourmands Minhyuk. Votes: 4.7%.]

‘Not yet.’

Minhyuk had yet to show all of his cards. He still had one that he has not yet shown to the world.

“This time…”

Everyone perked their ears up as they listened to Minhyuk. Despite the hundreds of thousands of people in the plaza, the entire area was silent. Even the chat window was so still that it looked like it had been frozen like before.

Minhyuk grinned. “I would like to ask for the help of the archangels.”

“...?!”

“...?!”

[...!]

Heaven was a place that was still hidden underneath a thin layer of veil. It was one of the places that players wanted to visit. The presence of the angel Aemira by Minhyuk’s side was proof that Minhyuk had visited Heaven.

[The votes have increased significantly.]

[Pillar of Gourmands Minhyuk. Votes: 7.8%.]