Leveling Up Through Eating

PR: MattForgenti

59 The Eat Quickly Contest

[You can choose to remain anonymous or post your ID or a different name.]

“Anonymous.”

[You will receive additional rewards for climbing the Hall of Kings.]

[You have acquired 10, 000, 000 EXP.]

[You have gained a ticket to Athenae: Korean War.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

Considering that Minhyuk needed five times the normal amount of EXP to level up, leveling up five times in a row was a considerable amount of reward. And as usual, he chose to remain anonymous. But when he saw the ticket to Athenae: Korean War, he couldn’t help but feel confused.

‘Huh?’

And he did not know of this but the notification for climbing the Hall of Kings would ring for the first person to get a ‘Half-God’ skill, first person to create a ‘Half-God Artifact’ or plenty of other ‘firsts’ for such a rank. So what was the reason why no one had experienced such a notification? Simple, it was because no one had ever received or created one yet.

In fact, the users described the artifacts and skills that came out from the Hall of Kings as ‘Half-God’. Athenae had already planned these ‘Half-God skills’ and ‘Half-God artifacts’. However, only when users had reached a much higher level than the rest could they reach the ‘Half-God’ realm. In other words, Minhyuk was the first ever user to have learned a ‘Half-God Skill’.

In addition, the ticket to Athenae: Korean War meant that he could skip the qualifying round and he would advance straight to the finals. Of course, they would still undergo the strict examination of the organizers. But compared to the others, they would still have higher chances of being the ‘National Representative’ after they had received the approval of the organizers. However, Minhyuk still had no thoughts nor intentions to participate right now.

Minhyuk checked the information of the Fluttering Sword in detail. The damage was exceptional but it needed five seconds before it got launched. In addition, the cooldown was too long. It could only be used once every two days. And the amount of mana that it required was as high as 3,000.

“Why don’t you try it once?”

Valen clapped his hands and……

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud─

Hundreds of monsters appeared ahead of them. Without wasting any time, They ran straight towards them. The monsters that appeared were around Lv 350~400.

‘How will he hunt them?’

Valen was unaware that the skill that Minhyuk previously wielded was Ellie’s Swordsmanship. So it was also natural that he was unaware of the strength of the skill that his swordsmanship had incorporated into.

Meanwhile, Minhyuk heard a notification.

[The Skill Cooldown will not be applied once you leave the site for Gremory’s Trials.]

Minhyuk nodded his head in understanding.

This meant that the cooldown of the skills that he used inside would be restored to normal once he went outside. Among the various skills that got incorporated and created, he was most curious about the Fluttering Sword. So he had thought of trying it out.

The hundreds of monsters ran fiercely as if to show how threatening their presence were.

“Kiieeeeee!”

“Kyaaaaahaaaack!”

“Fluttering Sword.”

A light breeze suddenly started to blow around Minhyuk. Then, the wind that was created from the breeze began to blow and follow the sword.

Shwaaaaaa─

Then, hundreds of silver leaves appeared in the surrounding wind. The leaves were fluttering gently as if they had just fallen from the branches of the tree.

The Fluttering Sword had about five seconds of cast time.

Valen looked in interest.

After the gruelling five seconds, Minhyuk moved his sword. At that exact same moment, the falling leaves that were almost going to touch the ground suddenly rose in the air and began to fly towards the monsters at an unbelievable speed.

Shweeeeeeeek!

Fwish─ Fwish, fwish, fwish, fwish, fwish, fwish!

He could hear the wind tearing the space in front of him as the hundreds of leaves flew and fluttered among the crowd of monsters. Then, silence followed soon after.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!

The monster’s began to collapse one by one. There wasn’t a single monster left standing. Then, the falling and fluttering leaves swirled and turned into a whirlwind before disappearing in the air.

‘As expected, a Half-God skill is really strong.’

Minhyuk nodded in satisfaction. When he realized that the person beside me was unusually quiet, he turned back and looked at him curiously.

“......”

Valen was looking at Minhyuk with astonishment and shock.

***

Valen couldn’t feel anything.

‘Wh, what the hell is this?’

He gave him the skills that he had honed and Minhyuk had incorporated it to his skill. At first glance, he thought that it was just a unique or epic ranked skill. After all, it was in front of Sword God Valen’s skill that held an infinite amount of power. But that wasn’t the case. When his strength and the strength of Minhyuk’s skill combined, the results were completely ridiculous.

It was a bit hard for him to put it into words.

If the number of monsters that died were only 1/3 of their total, then Valen would have definitely clapped his hands. This was already in consideration of Valen believing that Minhyuk was an outstanding foreigner that was at Lv340. In fact, he really couldn’t tell his entire strength since the only time that they had crossed swords was when their power and strength were equal. This was the reason why he was unaware of the fact that Minhyuk could exert a strength that was equivalent to someone at Lv450 so he was shocked when he saw what happened in front of him.

“How was it?”

“It, it’s not that bad.”

Somehow, Valen had created a monster.

“Let’s also look at the other skills. I’ll also teach you how to control your strength and force.”

***

As soon as Valen and Minhyuk came back to where Gremory was, he cooked for her. And every time he cooked for her, he got information in return.

“Chew, chew. If you go to Area 88 in the Demon World you will see a demonic race called Andanis. If you go to that demonic race, you will be able to get the quest ‘Poor Soul’.”

“Chew, chew. Wow. This jjamppong is really good, you know? If you go to Area 77 in the Demon World, you will be able to find a Demon World’s Earthworm. But it’s a legendary monster……”

Minhyuk made sure to sweep all of the information that he could get from the soon-to-be-opened Demon World. He was certain that the information from the soon-to-be-opened Demon World was something that could help him in the near future.

After getting all of the information that he could get, Minhyuk went out of Gremory’s Temple with Kaistra and Ben. Not long after they stepped out…

“......Did you really just tell them everything?”

“Well, anyway. I’m one of the three great demons.”

“......”

Valen looked at her incredulously before turning into a light and going back to the life of an instructor.

***

Time flowed like a stream. A week had already gone by and the Athenae: Korean War was already starting.

In the VIP stands, Alicia, Cain and Lucia were all sitting together while hundreds of thousands of spectators were sitting at the general stands and looking forward to the start of the competition. Just like the usual, Alicia and Cain were sitting close to each other while Lucia just sat there in the room with them.

“There’s a total of 12 MVPs that will be selected.”

“And those 12 users will get a ticket to Athenae: World War.”

MVP was a prestigious title that was given to the winners of the various events of the competition. It was something similar to a gold medal. But in the case of the Athenae: Korean War, there are no bronze and silver medals. Only the winners of each event will be given the gold medal, the title of MVP. In addition, users were allowed to participate in different events and it was said that the ‘Best MVP’ of the Athenae: Korean War would be given a huge amount of rewards. However, this information was not released yet.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“What’s today’s game?”

Cain answered Alicia’s question.

“Eat Quickly Contest.”

“Ah. Is that so. Wait.”

Alicia shook her head.

“It’s for the production classes, right?”

Cain nodded his head.

The Eat Quickly Contest was a competition where they could see how the production classes fought.

Then, Lucia spoke.

“Based on how the world sees us, our country’s combat classes are already weak and the same goes for the production classes. I wonder if our country’s production class MVP users will be able to defend themselves once they enter the World War.”

Alicia turned her head to look at her.

“That’s right. It’s a bit difficult.”

Cain nodded his head as he looked at the list of the participants of the Eat Quickly Contest.

List of Players

Group 1: Hepas’ Descendant Hyemin’sDad, Labor God Hai.

Group 2: Painting’s Monarch Vhad, Bomb Mage Fabian.

Group 3: Twilight Sculptor Lucan, Bard Master Kennedy.

Group 4: Trap Installer Valcharan, Prince of Bandage Hartz

Group 5:.........omitted

Group 6:.........omitted

Group 7:.........omitted

Nominated Player: Legendary Fisherman Kerry

“What’s a nominated player?”

Lucia asked as Cain answered her question.

“There are 20 people who entered and a total of 10 teams that participated in the Eat Quickly Contest. But just in case something happened, they added one more person. After all, if any of the other players were not able to play then there will be a setback in the competition.”

“But isn’t that something that is more unlikely to happen?”

“Yeah. Well, the Legendary Fisherman Kerry is kinda……”

Cain couldn’t help but just smile bitterly.

“He’s neither one nor the other. What’s more unfortunate was that he wasn’t able to join the competition because he failed to pass the qualifying round by a narrow gap.”

While they were talking about that, Cain remembered the notification that rang loudly not too long ago.

“Is ‘Anonymous’ the one who caused the notifications about the Hall of Kings to ring twice not going to participate in Athenae: Korean War?”

“......It seems to be the case.”

They had expected that a new wind would blow in their favor. When the notification for the Hall of King’s rang twice, the whole country was on fire. They also knew that the person who secretly climbed the Hall of Kings was given a ticket to the Athenae: Korean War bypassing the ‘Qualifications War’.

But all of the participants are people that Cain and Alicia knew. Among them, there was no one that was able to climb the Hall of Kings.

Then, at that moment……

[Athenae: Korean War! The search for the best dancer ‘Pet’ begins now!]

[Search for the best dancer ‘Pet’?]

[Yes. The official mascot of Athenae: Korean War has not been decided yet so Joy Co. Ltd. decided to choose the mascot as an event! Just like in America where they selected Iron Pooh as the American Mascot during the Athenae: American War. Even in Japan, their mascot was chosen to be ‘King of Shibas’. Our country’s mascot will be decided through the search for the best dancer ‘Pet’.]

[Oh, that sounds like it’s going to be fun.]

[The ‘mascot’ will be determined depending on the judge’s votes as well as the audience’s votes. And for the ‘Pets’ that will participate, only the pets of the participants in the Athenae: Korean War will be able to join. Ah. Of course, getting first place in this does not mean that you will get the title of the MVP.]

[So, the 3,000-year-old Eel that’s a great medicine will be given to the mascot?]

[Of course. 3,000-year-old Eel. Ah, just thinking about it is making me feel energetic. I think my wife will love me more if I eat it!]

Then, music began to play in the large coliseum.

It was Psyn’s Kangchon Style.

Oppan, Kangchon Style, Kangchon Style~♪

The users and players in the audience felt relaxed and comfortable because it was a song that was once a huge hit in the world. The song, together with the horse-like dancing was quite popular back in the day. And as if they were willing to become a mascot, more than a hundred pets came out to dance in the coliseum.

“Puhahaha. What’s this? There’s nothing war-like in this.”

“It looks fun.”

Cain grinned as Alicia laughed loudly. It looked like some pets had felt that their pride was lost so they did not budge even if the users shouted loudly at them.

Oppan Kangchon Style~♪

[The bear over there looks like it extremely despises dancing.]

[Ah, I don’t think I’d like to see that too. A Kangchon Style with that huge body and sharp claws……]

[Wait. This is a cute event. Huh? Who’s that entering right now?]

[Oooh? S, sunglasseeeeees?]

[Wow, his sunglasses really look great on him! It’s like I’m really seeing Psyn’s Kangchon Style!]

A surprised voice could suddenly be heard from the commentators. The exclamation caught the attention of Alicia, Cain and Lucia.

Not long after, the screen showed the being that they were talking about. The scene on the screen was showing a baby pig with black sunglasses on his face running towards the stage. The mysterious baby pig wore sunglasses that were as big as his head as he pompously and proudly headed to the center of the stage.

Not long after, the highlight of the song began playing again.

Beautiful, cutie~ (areumdawo, cutieseureowo)

That’s you, hey! Yes you, hey. (baro keugon neoji, hey! Keugon neoji hey.)

From now on, let’s do it until the eeeeeeeeeeeeend~ (ijebuto halddaekkaji haebolkkaa~)

Oppan Kangchon Style!

Along with the booming sounds of the speakers, the lights in the coliseum flashed!

Oppan Kangchon Style!

At the same time, the mysterious baby piggy also started to dance Psyn’s trademark horse dance! The baby piggy looked like he was in a trance as he danced dazzlingly. It was like he was in a world of his own.

Then, loud and passionate cheers began to pour out from the audience.

***

Notes

[Psyn’s Kangchon Style] - A parody of Psy’s Gangnam Style. Just like Gangnam, Kangchon is a place in Korea. And it was literally written as Psyn so… I know it’s the same for Oppa which author-nim has written as oppan. Kek. bear with it, it’s a parody. Just like the blue velvet before. The lyrics are not similar to the original. Lol.

These are the lyrics of the highlight with the differences in italics.

아름다워, 큐티스러워~

바로 그건 너지 hey, 그건 바로 너지 hey.

이제부터 할 때까지 해볼까아까아까아까아~

오빤 깡촌 스톼일!

TL’s corner!

This is me crying out of laughter after imagining a palm-sized white baby pig with huge sunglasses dancing to oppa gangnam style… Don’t lie. You tried to sing it! right?!

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