Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 1181

The Exploration Team carried the weight of the world's expectations. After all, the range in which the players could actively move would depend on the team's Exploration Rate.

However, after careful consideration, they realized there seemed to be no substantial reward for the members of the Exploration Team for achieving a high Exploration Rate. No matter how they viewed it, the Exploration Team was performing charity.

What would the Exploration Team receive in return for obtaining a high Exploration Rate? Just the respect and cheers of the players? That was bullshit. Every amount of effort should be rewarded.

Minhyuk knew this, too. Although there was no notification or quest window related to the Exploration Rate popping up before him, Minhyuk firmly believed there would be a reward.

Finally, that faith had borne fruit.

[The morale of the Slaughter Squad has dropped sharply after losing two of their commanders.]

The members of the Slaughter Squad had lost their will to live and were being swept away so easily in the canyon.

[You have eliminated 80% of the Slaughter Squad.]

[Thanks to you, the Gorodis Kingdom gained victory over the Slaughter Squad.]

[Your Exploration Rate increases sharply.]

[Your Exploration Rate has reached 45%.]

[Once the update is completed, you can earn 1.5% of the taxes all players will have to pay when visiting the places you open in the map with the Exploration Rate.]

‘What did I just hear…?’

Minhyuk was left dumbfounded by the notifications that rang in his ears after he surpassed 40% in the Exploration Rate. Of course, only 1.5% of the total taxes would be given to Minhyuk.

Nonetheless, the number of people playing Athenae had already reached hundreds of billions. The Beyond the Heavens Empire only had around forty million players and fifty million NPCs. In other words, they could only receive taxes from around forty million people.

In contrast, for the Gorodis Kingdom, hundreds of billions of players would visit the place that Minhyuk had pioneered. These players would pay taxes to sell the drops they would receive from hunting monsters. They would also have to pay taxes if they wanted to buy something from places like the Gorodis Kingdom. They would have to pay taxes if they wanted to sleep in an inn.

Everything would be taxed. And Minhyuk had a 1.5% share of those taxes. He would receive an astronomical amount with just that much alone. Yes, even if only 1.5%, this money could instantly increase the Beyond the Heavens Empire’s annual revenue by around 30%.

Minhyuk doubted the reward. It was too astronomical. He wondered, ‘Is this what Joy Co. Ltd. intended to happen?’

Minhyuk did not know, but Joy Co. Ltd. did not intend this to happen. They had initially expected the Gorodis Kingdom to be destroyed. Had Minhyuk not arrived, the Gorodis Kingdom would have fallen in two weeks.

If the Exploration Rate reached 100%, then something else would happen. Once the players opened the map for the Gaia Continent, a vast blank map would be shown to them. However, there would be a very tiny speck of light on that map that represented the Gorodis Kingdom.

‘If I can fill the Exploration Rate to 100%, then I will be considered to have pioneered the Gorodis Kingdom and the areas within its vicinity.’

But would that be the end? If Minhyuk met certain conditions, then it might just be possible for his Exploration Rate to go back down to 0%. Then, what would happen? There was a high chance he could open up another portion of the map, right?

‘There’s a high chance of that happening.’

Then, what would happen after that?

‘If I can open up more areas on the map, then I will be able to earn a lot in taxes!’

Delight bloomed on Minhyuk’s face.

***

At the same time.

President Kang Taehoon and Team Leader Park Minggyu sighed as they watched Minhyuk through the monitor. They could see what Minhyuk was thinking right now.

Minhyuk’s predictions were accurate. However, there was one condition that he had to fulfill for these predictions to come to life.

‘He has to complete the Guardian Deity’s Dish.’

That was not an easy task at all.

***

Minhyuk, who was pondering many things, suddenly heard a series of notifications ring in his ears.

[The Gaia Continent’s ??? are furious at the loss of the Slaughter Squad.]

[To punish the Gorodis Kingdom, who dared to fight back, they send more troops.]Nôv(el)B\\jnn

[Divine Punisher Andreas will be leading the charge.]

“Divine Punisher?”

Ancas immediately answered, “He is the one who comes and punishes the people on behalf of the gods. He’s someone who has temporarily inherited some of the gods’ powers. He is completely different from the Slaughter Squad and the Slaughter Squad Commanders. In the end, the members of the Slaughter Squad are still human beings. But that guy? He’s one of them.”

Minhyuk nodded. Then he looked down and saw the time. He could tell that the cooking would soon begin.

***

King Anton felt his heart ache deeply as he looked at his precious daughter, Aelona, who could only move her eyes and sit there limply.

This young and small child finally awakened after ten years of slumber. Alas, she was left in an even worse state. It was completely different from what they had said, which was they would keep her asleep. Perhaps those manipulative bastards had only said those words because they wanted to make Anton feel more miserable.

“Urk…!”

The blood on his handkerchief indicated that his lifespan as a human was nearing its end. He did not have much time left.

For hundreds of years, everything was out of the populace’s control, and they had lived a life of the oppressed. It was now time for Anton to make a stand. He patted Aelona’s head and said, “This father of yours will save you, my dear little princess.”

Then, he went outside. Aelona, who could only look at her father’s retreating back, cried silently.

When Anton was finally out of his daughter’s sight, he took out a bottle filled with purple colored potion.

‘The Potion of Yearning.’

This potion was something that he had obtained with incredible difficulty. It was the crystallization of their powers. This potion would burn one’s vitality and temporarily allow the person who consumed the potion to reach an even higher realm.

Gulp, gulp, gulp–

Anton gulped down the potion. At the same time, a burning heat surged through his veins as his blood began to flow backward. The process was excruciating. However, he held himself back from screaming. He did not want Aelona to hear it. Only when the pain subsided did Anton step outside.

Since he did not know the aftermath of the cooking process, he chose to do the cooking on the kingdom's walls. As he made his way to the walls, he looked around his kingdom.

“...”

Then, he cried.

He had told his people to leave immediately. He said the people who wanted to live to go anywhere. They could live in the mountains, forests, and caves or even become wanderers, going from one kingdom and empire to another. But none of them left.

They were a small kingdom with only ten million people and a few hundred thousand soldiers. These ten million people knelt together as if declaring, ‘We will fight beside you today.’

The representative of the people stood up and said, “If we’re going to live, then we’ll all live together.”

[The Divine Punisher and the one million Slaughter Squad’s Cavalry have appeared!]

“If we’re going to die, then we’ll all die together.”

[In thirty minutes, the Divine Punisher and the Slaughter Squad’s Cavalry will begin their advance.]

“We have no regrets.”

[The Divine Punisher and the one million Slaughter Squad’s Cavalry will kill all living and breathing beings in the Gorodis Kingdom!]

“We will not run away.”

“It has been, and will always be, an honor for us to be able to live under your care and protection.”

“Thank you.”

“It is an honor for us to be able to fight alongside you, Your Majesty, until the very last minute.”

“Even if time has run out, please do not stop.”

Anton saw the weapons lying on the ground. There were sickles, scythes, pickaxes, stones, frying pans, and kitchen knives.

“We will stop them.”

“So, please go.”

“Please complete it.”

“Lord Guardian Deity has left that in this world for us, but they took it away.”

Every one spoke with sincerity as tears continued to flow down Anton’s cheeks.

“Let’s go together.”

‘Even if I die, I will die with you.’

Anton and the other chefs grabbed their cooking tools and stood before the four Gaia Continent’s Treasured Ingredients. Their knives had turned into the sharpest sword in the world, while their flying pans had become shields that could stop anything. All of the chefs here no longer held fear for their deaths.

Finally, they started.

Samseon jjampong has three main ingredients: squid, shrimp, and mushrooms. Of course, a variety of other ingredients can be added. The outstanding chefs chosen were tasked with preparing and chopping the ingredients. Anton, the most accomplished chef, would cook all the prepared ingredients.

The chefs began to prepare the ingredients.

However, Balvark, who was to remove the impurities from the squid, found it difficult to perform his duty.

On the other hand, Andrej was watching the shrimp, when suddenly, he turned red as if his airway had been blocked.

And when another royal chef touched the mushroom, a green smoke-like poison burst.

It proved that the Continent’s Ten Treasured Ingredients were not easy to cook with. Even so, none of them stopped moving.

Andrej did not stop despite the heavy and suffocating pain. He continued to move, only surviving by wheezing through the gap in his airways, which thankfully was not yet fully closed. The truth was, Andrej’s airways were not blocked. The shrimp had just plunged him into this very painful illusion. Even so, Andrej did not stop and continued to prepare the ingredient assigned to him.

The same was true for Balvark. Every corner of his body was covered with the squid’s black ink.

Sizzle–!

The black ink suddenly turned hot at that moment as if it would melt Balvark’s entire body. Balvark’s lips trembled, and his body shook from the burning pain. Despite the screams being constantly ripped out of his mouth and the tears dripping down his face, his hands did not stop moving and continued to hold onto the squid.

The same went for the chef dealing with the mushroom. He had already been poisoned, and his vision had already started to grow blurry, but his hands did not stop.

The preparation process took at least twenty minutes. Finally, the long and torturous process ended with the ingredients entirely and perfectly prepared for cooking.

Once the preparation process was over, Andrej, with his breathing still rough, said, “Your Majesty.”

“...”

An ache settled deeply in Anton’s chest. He could tell by the look in Andrej’s eyes that the chef knew this would be his final moments.

Yes, Anton would die once this was over. Whether the dish was completed or not, Anton would die. And all of the chefs were aware of it.

“Thank you.”

They were grateful for the fact that they were able to serve a king like Anton.

Anton gritted his teeth as he watched the chefs collapse from pain and exhaustion. Then, he put all the ingredients for samseon jjamppong in the pan and started stir-frying.

Sizzle–!

The blazing flames began the cooking process.

The problem was that the Treasured Ingredients were complicated to cook. Having four of them in a single dish created a vast, powerful force that was difficult to manage.

Anton, working hard to cook this dish, saw the army appear over the horizon. He also saw Ancas and the entire Gorodis Kingdom fighting fiercely to stop the enemy forces.

Tears streamed down Anton’s face once again when he saw his men die one after another. His heart continued to break after witnessing their desperate struggle.

‘My people. My beloved people are dying.’

The people who had knelt before him stood up one by one.

“For His Majesty!”

Then, they charged forward to buy more time for them.

Sizzle–!

When smoke finally appeared above the pan, Anton added the chili oil. The spicy scent of the chili oil rose, turning the smoke red. This red smoke wafted and seeped into Anton’s nose.

The moment the smoke entered his body, Anton’s hold on the pan slackened, and he immediately fell unconscious.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw himself as a child standing before his mother.

–Mother. It would be good if I learned how to wield the sword instead of learning how to cook. I want to swing a nice sword and cut down my enemies to protect our kingdom.

His mother brushed his hair gently when she heard his words.

–The sword is not necessarily the only thing that can protect the world. You don’t know it yet, but your cooking might save the world one day. You’re still young. But everyone can tell you’ll become the best chef in the Gaia Continent.

–Eeeeeeeeh? Impossible. How can cooking save the world?

His mother smiled softly.

–At times, cooking might look insignificant. However, it can also be the most significant source of power and strength. Even if it’s not the dish that saves the world, it might just be because of your desire to protect your people and your kingdom, because you are their king.

–...

Anton still could not understand. However, his mother just smiled.

–Anton. If that day comes, will you save your people, your kingdom, or perhaps even the world, with your own hands?

Anton did not understand what his mother meant at the time, but he smiled brightly and replied.

–Of course. They—

The dream ended. He met his mother, whom he had missed dearly, in that dream. However, he still worked hard to overcome this power that had put him to sleep.

[You are Gaia Continent’s best chef.]

[Gaia Continent’s ??? cannot help but admire the power in the dish you are making.]

“I will protect you,” Anton declared as he tightened his hold on the pan again. “I will protect you. No matter what! Even if I die! Even if my entire body gets torn apart, I will protect you!”

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle–!

The dish was finally getting close to being completed.

The strong desire of the Guardian Deity, whose source of power originated from lightning and had the strong wish to protect the Gaia Continent, and of the king of the small kingdom on the outskirts of the continent, who wanted to protect his people and kingdom, combined and created a strong spark.

Sparks appeared and covered the entire wall before shooting to the sky.

Crackle, crackle, crackle–!

Then, the notifications rang in the ears of Anton, who continued to cook amidst the bright and sharp sparks.

[The Potion of Yearning reacts to your wish.]

[Your body has already reached its limits.]

[But with the help of the Potion of Yearning, you can reach a higher realm in cooking.]

[Your arms are in pain; it’s as if they are being crushed into dust.]

[Your legs are out of control; it’s as if they are broken.]

[Your head is throbbing; it’s like they’re being split in two.]

[Your entire body turns numb like your blood is growing cold.]

[Amidst the pain, the power of the Potion of Yearning erupts, bringing out the final burst of energy in you.]

[You have gone beyond your limits.]

[You have gone beyond your limits.]

[...limits.]

It was finally going to be completed. The dish was about to be done. But his arms could no longer move. Even his legs gave up on him, making him unable to stand firmly.

Crackle–!

Lightning bolts poured down from the sky and headed straight toward Anton. It was the final struggle of the ingredients. Anton forced himself to endure. He wanted to turn off the flames and finally complete the dish.

But after being struck down by lightning, he could no longer move even his fingers. He tried to use his entire body and crawl forward. He even tried to force his already numb mouth to open wide and bite the stove’s knob to turn off the flames. But it was useless. He could no longer reach the stove.

He could only watch as his people began to die while his body slowly cooled down. But it seemed like it was not yet enough. He was once again dragged again to the depths of despair.

[All ingredients used in the Guardian Deity’s Dish return to their state before they were cooked.]

[The Guardian Deity’s Dish…]

The dying Anton wept. And in his hazy vision, he caught sight of someone walking in his place and turning the stove off.

Tik, tik, tik–

Then, the man approached Anton and helped him lie down more comfortably. When the lightning tried to strike Anton, who wanted to cook the ingredients and go against them, the man along with him said, “It’s my turn now.”

“...”

Anton could not say anything. But then, a very shocking sound rang in his ears.

[A new chef has started to cook the ingredients, which had already returned to the state they were in before they were cooked.]

Crackle, crackle, crackle–!

Lightning rained down upon the man. But the man, Minhyuk, looked at Anton with a bright smile. Then, with an unwavering and determined expression, he said, “The kingdom that you want to protect… I will protect it for you.”