Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 725: The Sage’s Tower of Magic

[Due to the effects of Trance, the buff effect has become better and the dish grade has increased.]

[You have fallen into a surprising state of Trance.]

[The buff effects and dish grade will become slightly better.]

[Something special might happen due to the effects of Trance.]

[God Grade.]

[All of your stats have increased by 27%.]

[All of your skills’ levels have increased by +2.]

[Your physical and magical attack have increased by 30%.]

[Your HP and MP has been restored to 100%.]

Minhyuk stared at the spicy stir-fried pork in front of him that was struck by a pillar of light as soon as the notifications rang in his ears.

“Fwaaaa…”

He had been so deep in his trance that it was only now that the things around him had started to come into focus. That was when he caught sight of one of the notifications.

‘Something special might happen because of Trance?’?Minhyuk thought, guessing that perhaps the skill Trance had undergone some changes.

He once again inspected the spicy stir-fried pork in front of him. It seemed like while he was in a trance, he had also made some soft steamed eggs that would go together with the dish. There was also some lettuce to make some wraps with, lying next to a bowl of rice, as well as a bowl of siraegi[1] soybean paste soup.

‘I have been working hard for a few days, no?’

Since he had been hunting monsters non-stop, it was only natural that he forgot about his hunger.

The first thing that Minhyuk did was to taste a spoonful of the steaming siraegi soybean paste soup. The deep and savory flavor of the soup spread in his mouth the moment he took that first sip.

Then, he scooped another spoonful, this time with a mouthful of dried radish leaves. He chewed the sprouts that had been gently covered with the warmth of the soup, before scooping a mouthful of the still-steaming rice and putting it in his mouth.

“Kghhhk…”

The rice was good and well-cooked! Every bite was sweet, soft, and chewy. Just like that, he scooped a huge mouthful of spicy stir-fried pork and pushed it in his mouth.

Munch, munch—

The spicy and sweet stir-fried pork created a fantastic harmony of flavors in his mouth.

This time, Minhyuk spread a leaf of lettuce on his palm. Then, he scooped half a spoonful of rice, a huge heaping of spicy stir-fried pork, some garlic dipped in ssamjang, and some kimchi. Then, he closed the lettuce into a wrap that he crammed in his mouth. The various ingredients inside the wrap unleashed a cacophony of flavors that danced in his mouth.

Gulp—

Minhyuk’s throat bobbed as he scooped a spoonful of the soft-looking steamed egg. He then proceeded to dump it in his bowl of rice, mixing it together before putting it in his mouth.

“Kghhk…” Minhyuk burst out in admiration as he took another scoop of the siraegi soybean paste soup.

After eating for some time, he took out another bowl of rice. He dumped the bowl of rice on the bowl of spicy stir-fried pork, sprinkled some seaweed powder on it and mixed everything thoroughly. After mixing everything, he placed two perfectly fried eggs on top of it.

Drip—

One of the fried egg’s yolk dripped down the mixed rice with a slight press of the spoon. Minhyuk quickly mixed everything and scooped a mouthful that he chomped down on.

“Kghhhhk!”

Minhyuk could not help but admire the flavor that spread in his mouth. This time, he cut the remaining egg in larger pieces before eating everything in large bites.

After he finished eating, the barrier slowly disappeared. Minhyuk walked out and faced the 20,000 monsters with a fierce glare as the notifications for the various buff effects that overlapped in his body rang in his ears.

Minhyuk had been working hard in the Valley of Death for this day and the time had finally come.

[Overlapping Delight has increased Sword of Absolute Death from Level 9 to Level 13!]

[The skill: Sword of Absolute Death’s power has reached the level of an Absolute God’s Secret!]

[You have used Andeiro’s Skill Enhancement. Sword of Absolute Death’s Level has increased to Level 14!]

[The power of the Sword of Absolute Death can no longer be measured!]

[You have used Andeiro’s 140% Skill Attack Power Enhancement Parchment!]

[Various Gods are watching with bated breath as you wield the sword with the skill that you created!]

[You have used Andeiro’s 100% Probability Passive Skill Activation Parchment!]

[The Sword of Absolute Death’s effects are doubled.]

[The power of the Sword of Absolute Death can no longer be measured!]

[Incredible! You have created a powerful force that no other gods have ever created!]

[The Greatest God, who has been watching you challenge the impossible, has responded to you!]

[The Eight Pillars from all over the world are responding to your power!]

[You have created a power that is on par with the power of the Eight Pillars!]

[You have taken a step closer to becoming one of the Eight Pillars.]

A shocking series of notifications rang non-stop in Minhyuk’s ears. But it did not end there. As the only knight that the Greatest God had ever acknowledged, the Greatest God praised Minhyuk for his new achievement.

[The lowest God…]

Without any further hesitation, Minhyuk swung his sword toward the 20,000 monsters that stood in front of him.

“Sword of Absolute Death.”

[…wields the greatest sword.]

The message, a world message, resounded all over the world as tens of thousands of red sword lights appeared in the sky and shot toward the monsters, sweeping them away without mercy.

[Damage cannot be measured!]

Even Minhyuk, the one that used the skill, could not determine the extent of damage that he dealt to his opponents. What was more surprising was the fact that the attack did not dissipate even after it slammed into the walls of the canyon. It just continued to cut through the walls of the cliffs as it was.

Rumbleeeeeeeeee—

Even the named monsters that were known for their hard and tough skins split in half at the slightest touch of the blood-red sword lights.

Rumbleeeeeeeeee—

The canyon walls, which had been carved out after thousands of years, collapsed and crushed the monsters that fled from Minhyuk’s devastating attack.

Shwaaaaaaaaaaaaa—

A thick cloud of dust shot up to the sky as Minhyuk, the only one left in the place, walked forward silently.

[You have broken through Andeiro’s Valley of Death with amazing records!]

[You have gained 50,000,000,000 EXP.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have gained a +1% increase in all of your stats.]

[You can ask Andeiro one question that you are most curious about.]

[You can ask Andeiro one thing that you want the most.]

[The level of the Sword of Absolute Death has increased by +2.]

Just when those notifications rang in Minhyuk’s ears, goosebumps suddenly bloomed all over his body while his legs buckled and his vision went dark. A pitch-black darkness engulfed Minhyuk completely. In this darkness, several eyes—some were yellow, some were off-white, some were clean and pure, and some were blood-shot—stared at Minhyuk.

[Some of the Eight Pillars are looking for the one that created a power that transcended their own!]

[Their eyes are staring at you.]

[Their eyes are about to see your face.]

“Keheoooook!” A loud groan escaped Minhyuk’s mouth. This mysterious and unknown phenomenon felt so stifling to the point that he felt like he was going to die.

[Obren, who is slumbering inside the Puzzling Seasoning Jar, has awakened!]

Shwaaaaaaaaaaa—

At that moment, a bright light burst out in the darkness as Obren appeared and hugged Minhyuk tightly, hiding his face from the eyes that were staring at him in this endless void.

Obren glared sharply and coldly at the entities pressuring Minhyuk and spat, “Get lost!”

Shwaaaaaaaaaaaa—

The scene changed in an instant.

[Some of the Eight Pillars failed to find out your identity!]

[The power of Obren, one of the Eight Pillars, is protecting you!]

“I did not expect that you would be able to create a force that could be on par with the powers of the Eight Pillars…” Obren mumbled in shock as he slowly let go of his hold on Minhyuk.

].

Minhyuk, the lowest-ranking god, had created a power that is close or perhaps even surpassed the power of the Eight Pillars. It was shocking as even the Absolute Gods could not create something like that as they wanted. Of course, it was only a one-time thing.

“Are you telling me that you’re really one of the candidates of the Eight Pillars of this era?” Obren asked Minhyuk. However, he quickly said, “You’re acting way too unruly. You can’t be like this. Try to think about your body next time.”

“Why are the Eight Pillars…”

“There is no one in the world that likes the emergence of a new powerhouse.”

“…”

Minhyuk could not answer back. It was just like what Obren said. There might be some from the Eight Pillars that did not pay any heed to Minhyuk. However, each person and being had a different personality. There would probably be some that were wary of his existence and wanted to nip him in the bud before he grew any further.

Shiver—

Goosebumps once again appeared on Minhyuk’s back. What would have happened if Obren did not appear and protect him?

‘I would probably be forced to give up on Athenae…?’

Perhaps that would happen. After all, the power of the Eight Pillars that Minhyuk knew of was absolute.

“It would be impossible to hide from their eyes for a long time. My power to protect you is also limited.”

Obren was in a weakened state. There was no way that he could protect Minhyuk forever. In other words, Minhyuk had to grow stronger, strong enough to protect himself from them.

“I’m going back to sleep.”

Obren might not have manifested a body but he had spent plenty of energy when he protected Minhyuk from them. Obren left Minhyuk behind, whose back was still dripping with cold sweat, and returned to the Puzzling Seasoning Jar.

After that, Minhyuk walked toward the Sage’s Tower of Magic. The moment he went inside, he received a couple of notifications.

[You have entered the Sage’s Tower of Magic.]

[You have gained 500 REP.]

A man, who looked very reliable despite his age with his tall and sturdy build, holding a staff in his hands appeared in front of Minhyuk. This man was none other than Andeiro, the master and owner of this tower.

Andeiro could not help but gulp dryly. ‘I didn’t expect the Eight Pillars to show their interest in this man.’

Andeiro had witnessed everything that happened with his own eyes. He thought that Minhyuk should never enter his tower. Minhyuk wanted to save Brod, who was sacrificing himself for Minhyuk. However, he thought that Brod’s sacrifice would all be in vain if this man fought recklessly with the Gods.

But at one point, Andeiro changed his mind. Besides, he also had an obligation to fulfill. He had to answer one question and grant one wish for the one that would be able to pass through the Valley of Death without his recognition.

Minhyuk also knew about this fact. So, he went straight to the point. “Sir Andeiro, I heard from Luo that you have served Brod in the past. I believe you already know what’s going on right now.”

Of course, Andeiro was aware of the entire story.

“Please let me know of a way to save Brod,” Minhyuk asked politely.

Andeiro, the greatest mage in the world that even the Great Luvien Empire could not touch, slowly opened his mouth and said, “There is only one way to save Lord Brod.”

“…”

“And that is through the power of the Food God.”

“…?”

Andeiro’s words were confusing. True, Minhyuk had considered the Food God as an extremely amazing god. However, as time passed by and he started interacting and learning about beings like the Absolute Gods, the Six Monster Gods, and the Eight Pillars, he had slowly begun to change his mind.

‘I am but one small and trivial god in this vast world.’

However, Andeiro told him that only the power of the Food God could save Brod.

“What are you saying? I don’t understand. Brod is in the Land of the Gods right now…”

“That’s right. He’s being chased by the Battle God’s Divine Army in the Land of the Gods. The Battle God is the highest ranking god among the Absolute Gods. In that place, he is an absolute existence.”

Could such an absolute being be overpowered by a mere god, someone that was not even an Absolute God, and save Brod?

Thud, thud, thud—

Andeiro turned around and walked away with Minhyuk following right behind his heels. Then, he watched as Andeiro grabbed the knob on a door. The door had the pattern of a fork and a plate engraved on it.

‘Why is that symbol here?’

That symbol was the symbol of none other than the former Food God, Allen.

The moment the door opened, a vast land greeted the two of them.

[The Food God’s slumbering friends and comrades have awakened at the appearance of the Food God!]

Minhyuk just closed his eyes very briefly. But when he opened them, hundreds of people had appeared throughout the vast land and were looking at him. There was even a man sitting on a throne with his legs crossed and looking at him.

[The Food God’s friend, the Continental Emperor, wants to test you!]

[He is a legend of the continent!]

There was also a man sitting on top of a dragon’s head. The man looked at Minhyuk and smiled.

[The Food God’s friend, the Monster Lord, wants to test you!]

[He is…the continent!]

There was a handsome man with his sword resting on his shoulder.

[The Food God’s friend, the Legendary Swordsman, wants…]

[The Food God’s friend…]

[The Food God’s friend…]

[The Food God’s friend…!]

Bright light flashed all over the place with another blink of Minhyuk’s eyes.

[The Food God’s friend, Mage Efren, wants to test you!]

[He is a god!]

[The Food God’s friend, Archer Kallaman, wants to test you!]

[He…a god!]

[The Food God’s friend…]

[The Food God’s friend…]

[The Food God’s friend…!]

Countless notifications rang in Minhyuk’s ears. All of the people that appeared looked at Minhyuk with either a look of interest, or a look filled with arrogance.

“Graaaaaaaaa!”

“Keuhaaaaaaaack!”

“Kihyeeeeeeeeeeck!”

Thump—! Thump—! Thump—! Thump—!

And what appeared behind them were monsters, soldiers, knights and even divine armies, the troops that they were leading.

Then, another set of notifications rang in Minhyuk’s ears.

[Before this place was abandoned and neglected, this was the Food God’s Tower!]

[The souls of the Food God’s friends want to test you, who have inherited his power!]

[The Food God has befriended 643 legends and 3 gods!]

Andeiro looked back at Minhyuk and said, “They’re the only way for you to save Lord Brod.”

1. dried radish leaves