Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 820

Velma’s entire body was covered in black flames, while red flames covered the place where her mane should be.

‘She’s higher than Level 600…’

This came as a disappointment to Minnyuk, who was trying to harvest the final Sin’s Ingredient, the Sin’s Cabbage. Did this mean that he had to deal with Velma while harvesting the cabbage?

Given Velma’s level, Minhyuk would probably only be able to deal with her if he could utilize all the cooking buff effects available to him and go all out. However, the problem was that they were in urgent need to harvest the Sin’s Cabbage.

‘Hella’s soul might get destroyed.’

If Minhyuk was forced to fight Velma, then Hella would be left alone to harvest the Sin’s Ingredient, which would be a huge problem. If that happened, then Minhyuk was sure that the aftermath of the battle between him and Velma would definitely affect Hella.

Minhyuk put his hoe back into his inventory and grabbed his sword. He looked nervously at Velma, who was standing arrogantly a few meters away from them. But then, something strange happened.

“…”

Velma could not take her eyes off of Hella. Under normal circumstances, Velma would have already displayed her ferocious nature by charging at intruders and biting them. However, Velma just stood there and looked at Hella.

Then, tears started to well up in Velma’s eyes.

“Hihihihing…” Velma cried softly.

Seeing this, Hella stopped harvesting for a moment. She looked at Velma with a bitter smile on her face and said, “Have you been well, Velma?”

“…Ah.”

Minhyuk finally understood the situation. Velma was owned by the God of Death. If Hella was the God of Death’s lover, then she must have spent quite a lot of time with Velma.

The flames that covered the Barren Land almost disappeared.

[Velma is the god tasked to protect the balance in Hell!]

Crackleeeeee—!

The flames that were on the verge of dying down burst out once again. This was a restriction placed upon the guardian god. Even if Velma did not want to, she would be forced to protect the balance in Hell without fail.

“Hihihihihing!”

Thud—

A terrible pressure fell upon Velma as she took a step back with a loud thud. When she tried to take another step back, her entire body flinched and she was forced to stop in her tracks.

“Hihihihihihihihihing!” Velma’s loud cries clearly represented the struggle she was feeling.

The Hell Horse remembered the look on her master’s eyes before. He had this dark, dull and gloomy look on his face. Even his eyes seemed to be empty as he lost interest in everything. But then, one day, her owner asked her to go with him to earth. Her master disguised her as a young and tiny foal.

That was when they met Hella. The God of Death worked on the field with Hella. It was quite interesting. The God that was in charge of death suddenly engaged in activity which gave rise to new life.

—Ah, for real? Louis. Why can’t you do anything in the field?! Is there anything that you’re good at?!

—…I’m good at turning the living into the dead.

—Is this the time for that…?!

—Sorry…

—Hihihihihing.

Velma could clearly remember how Hella nagged the God of Death. However, even when Hella nagged at him, she could see the small smile that curled at the corner of her master’s lips. Both Velma and the God of Death caused problems back then. However, they were both very happy.

Hella smiled as she stroked Velma’s face.

Crack, crack, crack—

Thud, thud, thud—!

As the guardian god tasked to protect the balance of Hell, Velma was bound to receive punishment if she chose to defy and not fulfill her tasks. Intense numbing pain ripped through Velma’s body as the sounds of bones cracking rang loudly in everyone’s ears.

[Velma is the god tasked to maintain the balance of Hell.]

Velma took another step forward as the sound rang.

Thud—!

And another…

Thud—!

However, that was her limit. She could no longer move from the pain. Velma felt like her body was being stabbed by dozens of swords as her bones broke.

“Hihihihihihing!” Velma screamed as she fell on the floor twitching.

“…Velma.” Hella looked at the Hell horse sadly.

‘This is terrible.’ Minhyuk felt sorry for both Hella and Velma. Especially for Velma, who was suddenly given the task to kill one of the beings that were most precious to her. In fact, it could be seen how resistant Velma was with how she would not attack Hella, even when her entire body was in pain.

Then, Minhyuk mumbled, “Perhaps this is because Velma is owned by the God of Death?”

“What…?” Hella looked at Minhyuk in confusion.

But just to be sure, Minhyuk voiced out his thought, “By any chance, is the God of Death the one that imposed such a restriction on Velma?”

“Probably? Although the God of Death cares deeply and cherishes Velma, this is something that he has to do.”

Minhyuk nodded as he turned to look at Velma, who was screaming while her head was being pressed down on the ground. Then, he said, “What would happen if I took over Velma’s ownership?”

“…What?” Hella’s eyes grew wide.

What would happen if Velma’s master became Minhyuk? If this was possible, then they might be able to do something about their overall situation.

Minhyuk opened his skill window.

(Allurer’s Cooking Skill)

Active Skill

Level: 2

Penalty for Use: -2 in all of your stats.

Effects: You will be able to tame the opponent by creating the recipe that they want and feeding it to them. The probability of successfully taming the opponent will increase or decrease depending on various factors and conditions.

Number of Available Uses: 2/3

The Allurer’s Cooking Skill was one of the class-specific skills that the Food God had. Minhyuk had used this very skill to bring the Baphomet named Rune under him. If Minhyuk succeeded in taming Velma using the Allurer’s Cooking Skill, there was a chance that the coercive pressure that was making her suffer would disappear.

“Create a Recipe.”

[Creating a recipe that the other party desires.]

[You can now check the recipe for Yukhoe Bibimbap.]

[The amount of buff that can be used has been decreased due to creating a recipe.]

(Yukhoe Bibimbap Recipe for Velma)

Required Ingredients: Benya’s Eye of the Round Steak, Dew-covered Lettuce, Sun’s Gochujang, Foltoni’s Pears, etc…

Expected Dish Grade: Unique~Legendary

Expected Effects:

•Velma’s Blazing Dash will dramatically increase.

•Velma’s Flame Related Skills will dramatically increase.

This was quite unexpected for Minhyuk.

‘She wants a Yukhoe Bibimbap?’

Then, he caught sight of Velma’s teeth, and instantly understood why.

‘It looks sharper and tougher than a lion’s teeth.’

Velma was most probably an omnivore.

“She wants yukhoe bibimbap.”

“It’s because I used to give her yukhoe bibimbap before.”

Minhyuk nodded when he heard Hella’s words. It was likely that Velma could not forget the taste of the bibimbap that she ate back then. Fortunately, yukhoe bibimbap was very quick and easy to cook.

Minhyuk quickly began to cook for the distressed Velma. He swiftly chopped and sliced the vegetables, before moving to take out the eye of the round steak that he always carried in his inventory and sliced it thinly.

After that, he scooped rice on a huge bibimbap bowl and began to add the bean sprouts, lettuce, carrots, pears, and the yukhoe. Then, he placed some gochujang on top of the yukhoe and drizzled some sesame oil, before placing an egg yolk in the middle as a decoration.

Minyuk placed the yukhoe bibimbap in front of Velma the moment he completed it. It was quite a sight to put food in front of the struggling Hell Horse. Even so, it still allowed Velma to take in the scent of the food.

The scent wafting from the bowl was very nostalgic. It was a scent that she had smelled a long time ago. It was obvious that Velma had not forgotten the yukhoe bibimbap that Hella had given her before. After all, it was a delicacy that she could never eat in Hell, a place where nothing grew or thrived.

‘The most important part to take into consideration here is that the chances of the Allurer’s Cooking Skill becoming successful depend on various factors.’

At this moment, Velma did not want to hurt Hella. This could be a reason for a higher probability of the Allurer’s Cooking Skill becoming successful.

Hella approached Velma and swept her hair. “Do you remember this dish?”

“Hihihihihing!” Velma cried.

Hella smiled as she mixed the bibimbap for the Hell horse. The moment she placed the bowl down again, Velma immediately ate the dish.

Munch, munch, munch—

Minhyuk, who went back to swinging his hoe, watched Velma chew the bibimbap like crazy. Watching her eat like that made Minhyuk remember the taste of yukhoe bibimbap that he ate before. He remembered popping the egg yolk placed in the center.

Fwoosh—

The yolk had dripped down the rice and the vegetables as he mixed everything with the red gochujang. At the same time, the appetizing and savory scent of the sesame oil had wafted and further stimulated his salivary glands.

Mix, mix—

Once everything was mixed and had turned red, he then scooped a huge bite and put it in his mouth.

Munch, munch, munch—

The spicy flavor of the gochujang and the savory sesame oil had then spread in his mouth the moment he chewed the mouthful of bibimbap. But that was not all. The assorted ingredients like pears, bean sprouts, carrots, lettuce, and many other vegetables also added splashes of flavors that created a pleasant mixture in his mouth.

Gulp—

Minhyuk gulped at the memory.

At the same time, Velma finished all of the yukhoe bibimbap. Seeing this, Minhyuk felt very nervous.

[Mother of Hell Horses Velma has eaten the Allurer’s Dish: Yukhoe Bibimbap.]

[The Allurer’s Cooking Skill is attempting to tame Velma.]

[The taming process is very difficult!]

Velma felt something strange. She felt a force appear in her body that tried to separate her from the God of Death. She immediately pressed down on that foreign force.

‘I have to protect the God of Death.’

[Velma is refusing the Allurer’s Cooking Skill!]

Minhyuk’s face crumpled. However, Velma caught sight of Hella’s face.

‘I also don’t want to hurt her.’

[Velma is conflicted!]

[Velma’s great love for Hella has greatly increased the probability of the success of Allurer’s Cooking Skill.]

[Velma is refusing the Allurer’s Cooking Skill.]

[Velma is conflicted!]

[Velma’s great love for Hella…]

The notifications rang constantly. Minhyuk, who saw the very conflicted Velma, shouted loudly, “Velma, I promise you…”

“Hihihihihing…” Velma cried softly. She could see the sincerity in Minhyuk’s eyes.

“I will send you back to your master’s arms.”

He was speaking the truth. Velma was a ferocious Hell horse. Even if he could tame her and make her into his subordinate, there was no guarantee that Minhyuk would be able to control her. He was also aware that the God of Death would not leave him alone if he took Velma with him. Basically, Velma would become Minhyuk’s temporarily.

[The Allurer’s Cooking Skill has succeeded.]

[Velma’s taming has succeeded.]

[However, Velma is the wild and uncontrollable Guardian God of Hell.]

[You have tamed the Hell God. You have made a surprising achievement by doing something that even the God of Summoning has never done!]

[You have obtained the Title: What the Hell? Is There Nothing That You Can’t Seduce?]

In the end, Minhyuk successfully took over the ownership of Velma. Once Velma’s master changed, the pain that wracked her entire body slowly disappeared.

Crackleeeee…

At the same time, the blazing flames started to die down and disappear. Hella embraced Velma, who was finally free from the pain.

While Hella and Velma were busy catching up with each other, Minhyuk continued with his job and stepped up the pace. As he swung his hoe, he saw the figure of a man standing not too far away from them.

The man was wearing a ragged black robe and a bare face that could be considered to be very handsome. His eyes looked completely empty, but there was the unmistakable charisma that an absolute being would have emanating from his body.

‘That guy is… the God of Death…’

Now that the flames had gone down, it was not that difficult to harvest the Sin’s Cabbage anymore.

Thuuuuuud—

With one last swing of his hoe, the notifications rang one after the other.

[You have successfully harvested the Sin’s Cabbage!]

[You have harvested all of the Sin’s Ingredients. You have made an amazing achievement!]

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

[You have gained 500 REP.]

[You have gained 200 CHA.]

Despite the notifications that rang constantly in his ears, Minhyuk stood still and watched the small light that slowly appeared from the places where the Sin’s Ingredients were once buried. Just like electric currents flowing through wires, the light began to wriggle and spread and lit up Hell.

Amidst the beautiful scene of Hell turning bright, the God of Death stood still and looked at Hella with a sad smile on his face.

[You have completed the Sudden Quest: Harvesting Ingredients Before Hella’s Soul Perish.]

The Sword of Aeon flew out of Minhyuk’s inventory on his own and floated in front of him. It then rose and flew with the wind as the God of Death stretched out his hand.

“Louis…?”

The God of Death did not say anything to Hella. He just showed a small smile toward Hella, who had not yet disappeared. After a few moments of silence, he, who blamed himself for her death and ran away in cowardice, finally gathered the courage to say the words that he could not bring himself to say for thousands of years before the woman he loved disappeared.

“I love you, Hella.”

Crackleeeee—

Black flames shot out of his fingertips and filled the Sword of Aeon. The flames spread quickly across Hell, like the aftermath of a nuclear bomb’s explosion. Then, the aftermath suddenly stopped before getting sucked back inside the Sword of Aeon.

Rumbleeeeeeeeee—

Then, powerful winds and tremors shook Hell.

[The Sword of Aeon’s Second Seal has been lifted!]

[The skies, the seas, the land.]

[The greatest and strongest sword that can split the world has appeared.]

The same notifications that rang when the first seal was lifted rang once again. It was followed by another set of notifications, which rang for all of Athenae to hear.

[This Sword…]

[…has cut even the Eight Pillars.]