Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 911

Hunger. It was something that Minhyuk was very familiar with. He, out of all people, was fully aware of how painful hunger was. It was so painful to the point that he felt like he could shove anything that he could get his hands on down his throat.

If I give up everything and die, would I be able to escape this terrible hell? Minhyuk was just a human being. He once had a moment when he felt like dying and almost gave up on everything.

Then, he appeared in front of the Transcendentals.

‘The next few decades... perhaps a few hundreds of years...’

He could tell that the Transcendentals had been suffering from hunger for a long, long time. Minhyuk could also tell that they would give it their all if he gave it his all for them.

Thud–!

Thuuuuud–!

Thuuuuuuuud–!

That was why he never gave up and never backed down. Even if he was about to keel over from exhaustion, he continued to swing his pickaxe and endured, with only his indomitable will powering him through. He continued to work for one, two, three, four, five, eleven, twelve, thirteen, and fifteen days. He only worked hard for fifteen days, but all of this effort would ensure that these people would be full and satiated for a very long time.

Thuuuuuuuud–!

Moisture began to appear in the barren land’s soil.

Thuuuud–!

Tiny sprouts began to grow in the soil.

Thuuuuud–!

Finally, all of his efforts came to fruition.

[The barren land of the Fortress of the Transcendental’s Fantasy has turned into fertile land!]

[You can now grow any seed in these lands!]

[You have reminded and imprinted what ‘transcendence’ truly means in the minds of the Transcendentals!]

[The transcendence you have imprinted upon them is the transcendence of ‘Will’ and ‘Effort’!]

After hearing these notifications, Minhyuk collapsed from exhaustion. He fainted after murmuring, “I did it!”

***

Nekk was extremely against Minhyuk’s entrance to the Fortress of the Transcendental’s Fantasy. However, despite his negative perception, Minhyuk remained steadfast and strong. He even served them some warm and delicious chicken porridge. When Minhyuk was left startled, and in a daze after using his pickaxe for an hour or so, Nekk advised him to give up and return.

But Minhyuk told them that he would do it. He would do it, so he asked Nekk to make armor for him with as much effort as he used for them. And Nekk, who denied his qualifications when he first saw him and advised him to give up when they finally met, agreed.

Nekk watched Minhyuk work for one day, two days, three days, four days, and thought, ‘I did not know a thing about him, but I said that he did not have any qualifications and did not deserve to enter this place.’

‘I told him that he would never be able to turn the barren land into fertile land.’

‘I have been watching you.’

He made two mistakes, but he also made a promise to him after that. At this moment, Nekk felt his heart grow warm. He watched him, who never gave up, and cheered him on.

After looking at him for a long time, Nekk moved forward and picked up Minhyuk, who had fallen asleep on the ground. Then, he said, “I promise you. I will do my best and work as much as you have worked for us.”

Nekk was a man of his word. It was one of his strongest points.

At that moment, he heard Minhyuk mutter, “Hmm. Mountain Ore doenjang jjigae. Yummy...”

“...”

Nekk decided to pretend that he did not hear that.

***

Minhyuk woke up on Transcendental Bender’s bed. Bender, who sat before him, said, “As promised, I will tell you the story about the child named Ruffiso.”

[You can now watch the video of the story of the Leader’s Child.]

[If you do not wish to watch it, you can just say ‘Decline.’]

Minhyuk did not even hesitate. He said, “Accept.”

Immediately after that, the scene in front of him changed. It showed a village as Bender’s voice started the narration of the story about Ruffiso’s birth.

[There were no rules in the first Transcendentals’ Village. Most of the people who lived there were extremely arrogant. No man could ever compare with them. Among the people who lived in the Transcendentals’ Village was a woman named Blaine.]

[Blaine was the most beautiful and the wisest woman in the village. She insisted on making rules. However, even after countless arguments, many still denied and refused her proposal. Then, one day, he appeared.]

[He was the strongest Transcendental in the village. And he was in favor of Blaine’s suggestion to make rules. The two immediately began to make rules.]

[The fights slowly started to dwindle, and the village regained its peace and tranquility. If someone tried to cause trouble and break the rules, Gerram, the strongest, would stop them.]

The village that was once filled with fighting every single day slowly disappeared. It was replaced with a peaceful and tranquil village.

[But one day, she descended upon the earth.]

It was Immortal Sorceress Helenia.

[She started killing the humans and even the gods who tried to stop her non-stop. Her existence threatened the survival of the entire world. And our leaders? They looked for ways to stop her.]

[At that moment, a very reckless Transcendental suddenly made a move.]

That Transcendental’s name was Bender.

[Yes, that was me. Gerram created law and order in the village, but as time went by, I grew stronger. I grew to the point that I surpassed Gerram in his heyday. And I have done something reckless and stupid that affected all gods, humans, and Transcendentals.]

The scene in front of Minhyuk changed. It showed Bender running away with two of Helenia’s ores in his hands.

[But because of my reckless act, Helenia grew weaker, and her tyrannical acts slowly died down. The next thing that we did was exactly as you know it. We sealed the Mountain Ore using a sealing stone and turned the Sun’s Ore into the Sun’s Salt. I thought everything would be over after that.]

The scene now showed Blaine holding her newborn child and looking at him with love and adoration. Gerram stood beside her, carefully caressing the child’s head with a loving smile.

"He’s the only child born among the Transcendentals.”

Gerram laughed when he heard Blaine’s words: “This child will grow to become a wise and strong man who will lead the Transcendentals as their leader. I’ve already thought of a name for this child.”

"What is it?”

"Ruffiso.”

“...It’s a good name.”

The two smiled at each other.

[Their happiness was short-lived. Helenia came after me and followed me, the one who stole her ores, to the Transcendentals Village.]

The scene changed once again. Although Helenia had lost two of her ores and had considerably weakened, she still possessed a power that no Transcendental could resist. However, Blaine, Gerram, and the rest of the Transcendentals confronted her.

[We fought for days on end.]

Rumbleeeee–

A thick bolt of lightning fell from the sky. The Transcendentals immediately fought back and blocked the bolts of lightning that fell one after another. Then, at that moment, Helenia waved her staff and released a bright light as she unleashed hundreds of magical attacks upon them.

However, the Transcendentals were no pushover. They were also strong. They would lift a gigantic shield to prevent her magic or use a spear to stab Helenia. They would also sometimes unleash powerful spells to confront Helenia’s own.

[However, as time went by, we realized that we were going to ‘lose.’]

But at the moment before they sealed Helenia, her powers seemed to have gone beyond their imaginations.

[She was the epitome of the word disaster. I felt frustrated. This was the consequence of my reckless and stupid actions.]

Bender’s voice sounded bitter. But the humans and gods could survive thanks to his reckless and stupid actions.

[In the end, they made a decision.]

The Transcendentals continued to die one after another as they continued to fight against Helenia. The scene changed once again. This time, it showed Gerram and Blaine with blood dripping all over their bodies. The two were rushing into the house where their child was.

"Uwaa! Uwaa! Uwaa! Uwaa!”

They looked at the crying child. Gerram forced a smile on his face and told his crying child, “Don’t cry, Ruffiso.”

Blaine reached out and held Ruffiso tightly. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Ruffiso... I’m sorry.”

They knew that there was only one way for them to save Ruffiso. But this method made the two feel heartbroken. Blaine gently caressed Ruffiso’s small head as tears started to drip down her cheeks.

"Ruffiso... Mommy loves you very, very much.”

"We don’t have any more time.”

Blaine lowered her trembling lips and gently kissed Ruffiso’s forehead while Gerram hung the small glass bottle containing the Sun’s Salt on his son's neck.

"The angels will take you to a safe place where Helenia cannot find you. Time will stop for you in that world. Ruffiso, I hope you can become a good leader.” Gerram stroked his son’s head sadly.

A basket appeared and carried Ruffiso immediately after the couple gave their order.

Crack–

The basket slowly ascended until it passed the ceiling that Gerram had pierced and broken earlier. The couple could not take their eyes off Ruffiso as the child slowly disappeared.

Baaaaaaaaang–

At the same time, a huge explosion erupted and blew the cabin and the couple away.

[The two Transcendentals knew that they would die soon. They had to send their beloved child, Ruffiso, away.]

"Bastards! Is that your child?! Will you only tell me the location where the ores are if I tear that child apart, huh?!”

Helenia was cruel and vicious. She went so far as to go after the child ascending to the sky. However, Gerram and Blaine would not let her. They held onto her and stopped her from moving.

"Go, Ruffiso.”

The video continued to show the battle where the two Transcendentals fought desperately so that Helenia could not touch the child. Even if their heads got smashed to the ground, they stood back up and held onto Helenia. They even went so far as to hug her ankles to stop her. Even when their arms were broken, and their entire bodies were torn and ripped apart, they continued to fight to protect their child from Helenia.

[Back then, they told us to run away.]

Bender took the other Transcendentals and fled from the village at the sacrifice of their leaders. Once the two Transcendentals confirmed that Ruffiso had safely disappeared from the village, they allowed the flames to burn through them. Even until the moment of their deaths, their eyes looked bitterly at the place where Ruffiso had disappeared.

Then, the notifications rang in Minhyuk’s ears.

[The secret of the birth of Duke Ruffiso has been revealed!]

[You have completed the Sudden Quest: The Secret of the Birth of Duke Ruffiso!]

Crackle–!

Minhyuk, who had been watching the video from the third person’s point of view, appeared on the video with the ‘Something that He was Chasing’ in his arms. The old book flew away from his hold and burned. Then, the entire world turned white. In that world, Duke Ruffiso, wearing an all-white ensemble, appeared before Minhyuk.

‘Ruffiso hated and resented his parents for abandoning him even until his death.’

But Ruffiso’s parents fought desperately to protect him. They only succumbed to their deaths after confirming that Ruffiso had disappeared safely. It was clear that they loved Ruffiso dearly. And Ruffiso? He was already a dead man. Minhyuk could see that there was no longer any resentment or regret in his eyes.

Ruffiso smiled softly and turned around. There, where he was headed, was Blaine, his mother. She smiled warmly at him as she held the hands of his father, Gerram. Then, Gerram raised his free hand and waved at Ruffiso. Ruffiso smiled brightly as he ran towards his parents.

Minhyuk triggered the Battle God’s Voice as he watched Ruffiso’s back.

[The brightest and most brilliant star finally returns to heaven.]

Just like how Ruffiso did not hold any grudge towards him, he did not have any grudge or resentment.

Ruffiso, finally back in his parents' arms, turned to look back at Minhyuk with a bright smile. Then, with a flash of light, their family slowly disappeared.

[You have received Duke Ruffiso’s acknowledgment and recognition.]

[The restriction on the Star’s Armor has disappeared!]

[The Star’s Armor can only be disassembled and assembled by someone you have chosen and designated!]

Thus, Minhyuk possessed two outstanding components: the Star’s Armor Set, which could now be disassembled and assembled, and ‘Nekk,’ who would try his best.