Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 741: God of Birth Gaerna

Those that had tasted Minhyuk’s dishes in Athenae had said this: ‘I felt like I heard a divine and heavenly voice in my ears.’

It was a testament to how good it tasted. They even mentioned how the flavor was completely unforgettable. People had different tastes and palates. For the same dish, some might find it disgusting while others thought it to be delicious. However, with regards to Minhyuk’s dishes, it was widely recognized to be delicious.

According to an announcement made by Joy Co. Ltd., Food God Minhyuk’s ‘Flavor Increase’ helped the people feel like the dish was more delicious and more in line with their palates. Of course, it was possible inside the dream-like virtual reality world. Because of that, the public always wondered if Minhyuk’s cooking was truly that great in reality.

Right now, Minhyuk, the one who had received the highest votes in the I Really, Really Want to Try this Person’s Cooking Before I Die survey, spoke up inside Ilhwa Tower’s 135th floor’s special restaurant, “Would it be alright if I cook?”

Choego Group’s Chairman and Michael both stopped in their tracks when they heard the question.

Minhyuk spoke very carefully. After all, just because this tower was built by the Ilhwa Group did not mean that he owned it. On top of that, it would also be very rude to offer to cook in a restaurant with its very own chef. However, Minhyuk really wanted to treat Genie to a very special meal today. Thankfully, the chef in this restaurant was one of Artheon’s executives.

“Oh, if it’s Minhyuk’s cooking then I would like to taste it.” Chairman Kim Tae-Seong, who was already moving to stand up from his seat with disappointment, expressed his delight.

The same was true for Kim Hae-Ri. “I’m looking forward to it.”

However, it was different for Michael. Working as Aepel’s agent had made him very busy. Because of that, he did not know much about Athenae. However, he knew that Minhyuk was a famous chef inside the game.

‘Things are different in fantasy and reality.’

However, unlike Michael, Amy was very happy. “Wow, Daddy! I can eat the dishes made by the Food God today?”

This was the brightest expression that he had seen on Amy in the last few days, which made it very hard for Michael to leave this place. So, he sat down once again.

After everyone was seated, the manager, who had gone inside the kitchen and returned, said, “The chef had said that if Mr. Minhyuk is willing to do it, then he could trust his kitchen to Mr. Minhyuk and leave for the hospital. I’m really sorry but we will leave it to you. Of course, we wouldn’t charge our guests here for their meal.”

After receiving the approval of the chef, Minhyuk smiled softly and looked at the people around him. “I know that I’m lacking but I hope that you will enjoy it.”

“I would be able to see Minhyuk cook up close. That’s good, no?”

This restaurant’s special feature was that the chef would be cooking right in front of the customer’s table, whether it was stir-fried dishes or stew. However, Minhyuk could not really do that.

“If you don’t mind, would you please gather around here?”

They moved their chairs and tables accordingly after hearing Minhyuk’s words. Although it was Michael himself that moved the table in this fancy restaurant, his daughter Amy was very, very happy.

“Wow. I’ll be able to see the Food God up close like this. I’m so happy, Daddy.”

Michael smiled faintly as he stroked his daughter’s head. He had investigated Minhyuk’s eating addiction before he went to Ilhwa Group to talk about the contract. Eating addiction was a disease that already existed for a very long time. Among the three most recent patients with this disease, one had died. So far, most of the patients with this disease had died from the complications brought about by hyper-obesity. None of them lived past the age of 22.

‘It’s a disease where one cannot suppress their appetite.’

Yet someone with that disease would cook? Michael shook his head. After all, he knew how terrible the disease was.

‘I’ll never know unless I experienced it myself.’

This place was a fancy restaurant. It had a clean and tidy ambience, as well as fantastic dishes and breath-taking views. Of course, the ingredients that they used were all top-notch. For most Koreans, there were no rare or special Korean dish that they had not heard of or tried. This particular restaurant always made clean and neat dishes that both Koreans and foreigners liked. That was why there were plenty of customers that came to this restaurant.

‘What shall I cook?’

The chef that would be working in this restaurant today was Minhyuk. After pondering deeply, Minhyuk began to cook.

Tak, tak, tak, tak, tak, tak—

The rhythmic and regular sound of chopping rang in the small restaurant. All of the vegetables that passed by Minhyuk’s hands were quickly chopped and sliced.

“Wooaaaah.” Amy smiled brightly and innocently at the scene.

Minhyuk decided to just go with an ordinary menu. He planned to serve some japchae, kimchi stew, and braised short ribs, along with various vegetable side dishes and a freshly made kimchi salad.

Anyway, the food would feel more luxurious depending on how one plated it. In fact, there was even a saying about how one is actually paying for the ambience and not the food when dining in a restaurant.

Shwaaaaaaaaaaaaa—

Minhyuk poured cooking oil in his sizzling pan and a blazing hot flame rose from the pan.

“Woooooah!” Amy smiled brightly, enjoying the view in front of her.

“Little lady, where are you from?”

“America.”

“Then, today I’ll let you taste the true flavor of Korean dishes.”

“Okay!”

Michael felt an unknown emotion rush into him as he watched his daughter converse comfortably with Minhyuk.

‘How…’

There was a question that he wanted to ask. What kind of an expression would people with rare diseases make, knowing that they would die soon? People like them often sank into despair, fearing each and every single day and blaming themselves even though it was not their fault. Of course, that was not the case for Amy. She was just a little girl and she did not know much about something like that.

However, Michael had researched everything that he could with regards to rare diseases and found out that most patients that suffered from such diseases would often be diagnosed with severe depression.

‘How could he smile like that?’

Michael understood that Minhyuk was still working on his recovery. However, he knew that those with rare diseases rarely improved. Either they get completely cured, or they would walk forever with this ticking time bomb.

‘How can you be cooking?’

He also questioned why Minhyuk could cook. After all, Michael knew that people with eating addiction would always lose their reason when presented with food. So, how could the man in front of him cook?

Michael, who had been watching Minhyuk, noticed that Minhyuk’s mouth or hands would flinch and twitch every once in a while.

‘He’s actually enduring…?’

That was very, very shocking. The only thing that Michael could do was stare wide-eyed at Minhyuk along with the others, who were admiring his flamboyant hand movements, as he cooked.

Then, there was the delicious scent of food being stir-fried that whetted their appetites. Not long after, the dishes were served. Although the selection was ordinary, they have been plated as nicely as they could be.

Fresh kimchi, bean sprouts salad, shredded radish, kimchi salad with oysters, and steamed eggs were plated neatly and nicely on each plate and served to each person.

Amy tasted the soft steamed eggs that were served in front of her. “Wow. So delicious…”

The perfectly seasoned steamed eggs, gently passed by her throat the moment she placed a spoonful in her mouth. Even Michael was somewhat surprised by the flavor of the steamed eggs when he tasted it.

‘It’s soft and tasty.’

The flavor could truly stimulate one’s appetite.

It did not take that long for the main dishes to be served in front of each person. Once the braised ribs and kimchi stew were served, each of the guests began to eat.

“Thanks, Minhyuk. You didn’t have to go through all that trouble.”

“Jihye, it’s fine. I haven’t done anything for you, you know?” Minhyuk smiled faintly.

Meanwhile, Michael hurriedly took care of Amy, who had been eating in a hurry, and started to eat together with her. Despite being sloppy, he used his chopsticks to pick up a mouthful of japchae and place it in his mouth. The japchae was savory and warm, but the Korean’s unique saltiness and spiciness were not there.

‘It’s delicious.’

Then, he scooped some soft steamed eggs and ate it with a mouthful of the well-cooked rice. Next, he tried some of the kimchi stew. The moment he placed a spoonful in his mouth, he felt the spiciness hit instantly. But even though it was spicy, he could not help himself from scooping and eating more.

This time, Michael went for the braised ribs. He remembered eating the same dish in Myeong-dong a long time ago. From what he could remember, it had been extremely expensive and was not even palatable. Michael was not aware, but the restaurant that he went to was actually one that ripped off foreigners through promotions in SNS. In fact, it was a restaurant that none of the Koreans go to.

Recalling the nightmare that he experienced back then, Michael carefully took a bite of the braised ribs. The meat gently separated from the bone, its tender and soft texture gliding smoothly in his mouth as he chewed.

“Ah…?” Michael unknowingly released a gasp of admiration as he picked up another piece of braised ribs.

‘It’s really delicious.’

Michael could only admire the flavor, one that was completely different from the flavor of the dish that he tasted back then.

Then, he turned back to look at Minhyuk, who was serving Amy with some braised ribs.

“Did you like it, little lady?”

“Yeeees.” Amy, who had been eating in a hurry, truly looked satisfied. Then, she said, “I also have a rare disease.”

“Is that so?”

Of course, Minhyuk could tell. For patients with progeria, their appearance would look old, along with their rapidly aging body and their body would be much smaller than their peers.

“People say that I’m going to die before I reach 13 years old,” Amy said innocently. The only reason why she could say those words with a smile was because she was still far too young to understand the gravity of her situation.

“Uncle, aren’t you afraid?”

Amy was a huge fan of the Food God. Especially because she knew he had a rare disease too.

Minhyuk chuckled softly. “I’m beating it. And just like how I’m getting better, the little lady will also be able to beat and win her own battle. When I turn 31 years old and the little lady turns 18 years old, come find me. I’ll make sure to cook something for you again.”

“Really? Can I really live?”

“Of course.”

It might sound like a wild and impossible dream, but Minhyuk had spoken those words with sincerity. Children believed in what was placed in front of them. And right now, the only man that had improved and showed signs of recovery from his rare disease was sitting in front of her and giving Amy a ray of hope.

“Then, when I turn eighteen, please cook something delicious for me!”

“Sure. It’s a promise, Amy.”

“Yeeeees!”

Amy’s face grew brighter. Michael could tell that his little girl had also started to believe that she would be able to survive and live. The man in front of her had given Amy a small ray of hope even though the countless doctors that they hired for billions had shaken their heads in regret.

Once they finished the meal, Michael sent Amy out with his assistant and asked, “By any chance, do you know of me?”

Minhyuk looked at Michael in doubt and confusion at his question. “I’m sorry, but this should be the first time that we have met.”

Michael nodded. He also knew how ridiculous his question was.

“Young man… how can you laugh and smile like that? Aren’t you afraid?”

Despite the doubt on his face, Minhyuk still answered his question, “I might be afraid but that doesn’t mean that I should give up.”

“…”

“Even when I had lost hope and was left wallowing in my frustration, my father stayed and never gave up on me. He trusted me and supported me, even when I reached the point where I wanted to die. Back then, I had asked myself, ‘Should I die?’ Afterward, I thought, ‘I should live.’ And since then, I worked hard and reached this point.”

“…”

“I am not going to die. Amy’s not going to die either. I fully believe that to be the case. I will cheer you on.”

Those words brought a huge shock to Michael.

‘I am a realistic person.’

If they were talking about being realistic, then there was truly no way that Amy would be cured. That was why he thought that he should let the child do all of the things that she wanted to do before she died.

But this man in front of him and his father were different. They trusted and relied on each other and finally made progress. Because of them, Michael found new hope.

“The future of Ilhwa, with you as its successor, seems bright.”

Minhyuk smiled faintly and looked out of the window. “It’s snowing.”

It usually snowed during the Christmas season. Amy was looking at the fluttering white snow with a bright and hopeful smile. Michael picked up his phone and called someone the moment he entered his car.

“Munsoo? It’s Michael,” Michael said as he looked at the white snow outside. “I’ll sign the contract with Ilhwa Group. Huh? Why did I suddenly change my mind?”

A gentle smile flashed on his face as he answered the question. “Because I saw that Ilhwa Group’s future will be much brighter than any other company.”

The car sped up toward the airport.

During this white Christmas, a miracle happened to Amy.