Leveling Up Through Eating

PR: MattForgenti

In front of a dark and dreary temple, a statue in the form of a female demon stood tall. The space beside the statue was suddenly torn apart revealing a woman. Her body was glistening even though it was jet black in color. To others, she was seductively charming and beautiful. This was none other than the demon Gremory.

Gremory, one of the three great demons, stood beside the statue as she murmured about something that caught her interests.

‘Someone unsealed my map. Will you be coming to my temple soon?’

She chuckled lightly before starting to mutter something. After the spell-like incantation, a middle-aged man was suddenly summoned in front of her.

“Why did you call me?”

The man who spoke impudently in front of the Demon Gremory was none other than a human being! This scene might have been too shocking for others but Gremory just smiled as she crossed her arms.

“It seems like being cold and frosty still lingers over time, right?”

“Just tell me the reason why you called me.”

The middle-aged man asked irritably.

“Well, I just wanted to see the face of the man they call ‘Sword God’ who saved the world a long time ago. You know?”

She had called the man Sword God. However, the man just furrowed his brows at her words.

Gremory and the Sword God. These were two existences that were strongly connected in the Athenean System.

Their story was something that dated back to 10 years ago. During that time, an unidentified entrance was found in a small village. And from the depths of the entrance, plenty of the demon race jumped out to wreak havoc as they began to kill the people in the vicinity. But then, one of the existences appeared. It was none other than the Sword God who came leading his Ghost Squad. Their techniques and movements were elusive which helped them succeed in killing the demon race. Eventually, they also succeeded in closing the ‘entrance’. This was how the middle-aged man in front of her became the Sword God.

Gremory, on the other hand, was created due to the conflict of two different demons in the system. In addition, even if she was a demon herself, she did not wish for the demon race to invade the human world. She was an emotional and sentimental demon. She only wished to look and play at the land where the humans were living. And during that time, it was Gremory who lent her great skills and strength to the Sword God and his Ghost Squad. And because of that, the Sword God was now in front of her.

Sword God was also one of the Seven Myths but no one knew anything else about the Sword God and his squad. Whether it was their faces of their names. They just showed up like ghosts and disappeared like ghosts.

“Are you still hiding yourself?”

“It’s comfortable this way.”

“What are you doing now?”

“I teach the foreigners who first step into this world in a small village. I think it was what the Athenae God wanted me to do.”

“......”

Gremory was left speechless.

“Just, just…… like a teacher?”

“Yeah. I got married too. My wife recently just gave birth to a baby.”

It was their small reunion after a long time but Gremory squinted at him.

“Where did you put that sword that you always carry around all the time? That shabby looking sword that did not suit you.”

He smirked at her.

“I gave it to a person who gave me good memories.”

“Hmmm.”

Gremory nodded her head. She knew that in the end, the Sword God was also a human. But he was a human who used the most amazing sword that had ever existed. Meanwhile, the Sword God asked her first.

“Is someone going to arrive soon?”

She nodded her head as she told the man.

“If they overcome those things then they will be able to gain some of my strength.”

Then, the man grinned as he spoke.

“I can’t wait to see who it is.”

***

Minhyuk had heard the notifications. The Map to the Hidden Temple was the item that Gorac had given him when he asked him for something delicious before and he promised him that there would be delicious ingredients in that place.

He quickly checked the contents.

[Linked Quest: Hidden Temple]

Rank: SSS

Restrictions: Lv340

Rewards: 300,000 EXP

Penalty for Failure: -30 to all stats

Time Limit: 48 hours

Description: This is the map to the Hidden Temple. Once you find the hidden temple, you will know about the rewards that you can receive. You have to go there within 48 hours. Otherwise, you will have to face the penalty. In addition, if you have a noble title you can take one of your vassals with you and share the quest with one user.

The rewards were still ‘undetermined’ but he was sure of one thing.

‘I think there will definitely be ingredients……’

He did not know what ingredients were there but the penalty for failure was too huge. Furthermore, there was a time limit and the quest had a very surprising rank.

‘SSS.’

When one looked at the country or at the entire world, there were quite a few instances when SSS-ranked quests have appeared. However, it was difficult to find. Its difficulty was comparable to finding and transferring to a God class.

‘I’ll have to do it because of the restrictions.’

Of course, even if there was no time limit, Minhyuk would have still gone to do the quest. He knew that something tasty was hidden there so he had to go.

Looking at the description, he tilted his head in thought.

‘I can take a vassal or a user with me?’

However, the description was also implying subtly that he did not need to bring anyone with him. It was good if Minhyuk did not need to find someone to come with him. He felt that it would be good to do it alone. But Minhyuk had read something about these kinds of quests before. It was said that the trials would be stronger and more difficult if there was a need for a vassal or a user to come along with them added in the description. And of course, it meant that the rewards would also be better.

‘Hehe. If Kaistra and Old Man Ben are done with getting the ingredients then I’ll ask them.’

Minhyuk chuckled loudly. He looked quite similar to a wicked lord with a wicked plan with how he was smiling

***

“Of course!”

Kaistra smiled when he heard Minhyuk’s proposal.

“I’ll go there with you right away!”

Anywhere is fine as long as I’m by Minhyuk-nim’s side!

His expression was something similar to that. And it was the same for Old Man Ben.

“Hoho. Are we going out on a picnic? With my son… No, we’re going out with the lord?”

“......We’re not going out on a picnic.”

“Well, if we’re going out together like this then it’s an outing. Right?”

“That’s right. I’m so excited! Going out on an outing with Minhyuk-nim! Ah, I’ll wash the dishes as best as I can!”

“I’ll also work hard to make coffee! I got Luwak beans this time, it will taste super amazing!”

‘......These people aren’t normal either.’

Minhyuk felt that he was the only normal(?) person here.

The hidden temple was an extraordinary quest but there was no sign of nervousness from the participants at all. But if one thought about it, it was because they have ‘confidence’ in themselves. Kaistra was the unofficial number one in the country’s ranking and Ben was a legendary spearmaster. So it was only natural that they did not feel any tension at all.

Minhyuk first shared the quest with Kaistra. As soon as he shared it to Kaistra, the same notification rang in their heads.

[Please select the quest’s main host.]

Both Minhyuk and Kaistra tilted their heads in astonishment when they heard the notification.

“Of course, the main host should be Minhyuk-nim.”

Minhyuk was the one who received the quest and Kaistra was only the spoon that was added on top of a dish. Not long after, Minhyuk chose himself as the main host. But before they started their quest, Kaistra said…

“Wait. Genie-noona wanted to meet with Minhyuk-nim. She told me that you should take all the minerals?”

“Is that so?”

Minerals.

Not too long ago, Minhyuk was able to receive two types of minerals after he successfully hunted Baphomet. And one of those minerals was antarinium. This antarinium was a mineral that had a subtle red glow on its body. It was a mineral from the Demon World but since no one had entered the Demon World yet, Minhyuk was the first person to ever acquire the minerals from that place. But it seemed like Genie was trying to yield more benefits to him since he was the one who successfully hunted Baphomet. And the antarinium that was in his hands was identified as ‘mysterious mineral that we don’t know the uses of’. On the contrary, the blutinium was a mineral that was well-known for its weapon-enhancing effects.

Weapon-enhancing mineral.

The weapon-enhancing mineral was something that was not yet released in Athenae. However, the operators said that they would release the update slowly. Just as its name implied, it was a mineral that could reinforce a weapon just like a normal reinforcing stone. However, the only difference was that blutinium could randomly strengthen a weapon from 1~3 levels. Of course the artifacts would still disintegrate if the strengthening failed but in the case of blutinium there were no such side effects. This meant that the artifact would not disintegrate even if the strengthening had failed.

And Minhyuk had two of this blutinium. He had decided that he would strengthen and reinforce his team first before they left to do his quest. According to the description, only those with a DEX above 500 could use and work with blutinium.

[An anvil is needed to use blutinium.]

Minhyuk raised the Ancient Water Dragon Barraca’s Sword on top of the anvil. Then he grabbed the hammer and struck at it with all his might.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Of course, Minhyuk’s vision was filled with red marks so he made sure to hammer exactly on those parts. Then, the notifications rang loudly.

[You have achieved the best strengthening.]

[You have succeeded in strengthening +1.]

[You have succeeded in strengthening +2.]

[You have succeeded in strengthening +3.]

“Oh!”

Minhyuk realized that the effects of DEX were also quite great in this aspect.

Then, he used an additional blutinium.

[You have achieved the best strengthening.]

[You have succeeded in strengthening +4.]

However, even if he achieved the ‘best’ again, there was no miracle like having another straight +3 strengthening in one go. After finishing his strengthening, Minhyuk quickly checked the Ancient Water Dragon Baracca’s Sword.

(Ancient Water Dragon Baracca’s Sword +4)

Ranking: Legendary

Restrictions: Minhyuk’s Attributed Artifact

Durability: ∞ / ∞

Attack Power: 850

Special Abilities:

─ An 18% increase in STR and a 17% increase in AGI.

─ An increase of 7 levels to your Passive Skill: Sword Advanced Mastery.

─ A successful attack has an 18% chance of triggering the state: difficulty in breathing.

─ Reduces attack failure probability by 70%.

─ Skill: Artifact Subspace

Description: This is a sword made out of the bones of the Ancient Water Dragon Barraca and God’s mineral, Adamantium. IT is also called the Supreme Sword in the world of Gods.

The attack power increased by as much as 150 and the Sword Advanced Mastery had a +2 increase. The attack speed that was originally 1.5x would definitely increase to 1.7x as a result. In addition, there was an additional 8% to STR and 7% to AGI. The effects of the reinforcement stone were much stronger than what he had thought.

When he finished all of the preparations, Minhyuk spoke up while he was riding behind Kaistra with Ben on Penrus’ back.

“Kaistra.”

“Yep?”

“What are you going to do if you get some delicious ingredients from the Demon World?”

“Of course I’ll give it to Minhyuk-nim!”

“Hahaha. But you don’t have to, though? If you really wanted to give it to me then I will have no other choice. No matter how much I have a ‘serious look’ on my face, it doesn’t mean that I will give you a very hard time, you know? But I would feel bad if I don’t accept it if you give it to me with sincerity so I will have no other choice but to receive it wholeheartedly.”

“Yep. Please make me some bread instead.”

Kaistra liked bread very much. He liked it regardless of its kind. It was because Minhyuk always made bread for him so he liked it. And now, even Old Man Ben called Kaistra this……

“You’re truly a bread addict.”

It was like he was saying that he was a ‘junkie’. Except he was addicted to bread.

Recently, the bread that Minhyuk made for Kaistra had become truly delicious. It was so delicious to the point that if he did not eat at least one for a day then he would get withdrawal symptoms. This was the reason why he called Kaistra a ‘bread addict’.

Since they were riding on Penrus’ back, they were able to arrive at the place that was indicated in the map in no time at all.

“I think this is the right place.”

Minhyuk looked around but all he could see were trees. It seemed like they were in the middle of a forest.

But is it a place that users can’t find easily? That shouldn’t be the case.

“Hmm.”

Minhyuk did not know this but the Hidden Temple was a dungeon that would only appear as soon as the quest began. Also, admission to the dungeon would be impossible if the users did not receive the quest.

As he thought about how they would proceed, Minhyuk saw a subtle glow from the map of the Hidden Temple. Minhyuk tried to move his body and the glow intensified and sparkled in some parts of the map.

“Let’s go this way!”

Minhyuk and his party members moved forward. After moving for quite some time, the sparkling glow disappeared and was replaced by a white light. In front of them, was a thicket of vines that covered the way forward and hindered their vision. Penrus’ opened his mouth and a faint light emitted out of it.

Flash!

Crackle!

The vines immediately grayed out then the ‘entrance’ appeared in front of them. They looked through the entrance and slowly moved inside.

At that moment……

Creaaaaak─

Bang!

They heard the sound of the entrance closing with a bang from behind them. And along with the ominous bang, the notifications began to ring out loud.

[You are the first person to discover Gremory’s Temple.]

[You have gained 10 reputation points.]

[You can now begin challenging Gremory’s Trial.]

[The ‘Second Trial Type’ will be carried out since you have brought a vassal and a user with you.]

Then, at that moment, he felt a presence appear near them.

“Welcome to Gremory’s Trial.”

Huh?

Minhyuk turned his head around. It was because he felt that the voice that he had heard was somewhat familiar. When his eyes widened imperceptibly after it stopped at one place. When the man who spoke saw Minhyuk, he also couldn’t help but widen his eyes in surprise. Then… Minhyuk spoke.

“Why did Instructor-nim appear here……?”

And at that moment… he heard the notifications.

[You have met the Sword God Valen, one of the Seven Myths.]

[You have gained 100 reputation points.]

***

TL’s corner!

Hello. A teacher in a small village, married, with a child. Who gave his sword to someone???? YOU WERE A MYTH???? BRUH I KNEW YOU WOULDN’T BE NAMED JUST FOR NOTHING. We meet again, old friend.

Report mistakes and chat with us at: /Q3dStgu