Leveling Up through Eating

Chapter 1115

Minhyuk was very excited to attend the Candidates’ Banquet. He was sure that he would be able to meet his master, The Teacher Beradon, among the candidates.

The Teacher Beradon was an outstanding man. Not only did he have the power to help others grow, but three of his disciples also became members of the Eight Pillars.

Perhaps it was because he had met such an outstanding candidate in the past. Or maybe it was because he had recently met with the Master of Nature and Boleyn, figures who were close to becoming Eight Pillars? Nevertheless, meeting those people gave him high expectations about the candidates.

Alas, they were instantly shattered when he met with the Land of the Leaders candidates. Why? Because most of the people present here were pathetic excuses for a candidate.

“I have never had such ugly and stupid younger siblings like you in my entire life.”

Every word Minhyuk uttered brought them shame and a great sense of disgrace. Their faces had all turned red because of his words. The worst part? The words that they would take Minhyuk in as their hyung and oppa if he knocked Wels down in ten seconds came out of their mouths.

Disgusted, Minhyuk rejected them and their promises. “Anyway, it’s nothing but a verbal promise.”

Rokan’s face grew even redder. He was the one who orchestrated this strange propaganda. So, why was Wels the one who stepped forward when all of the candidates present were far more outstanding and possessed far greater power than him? The reason was that he was the most insignificant being among them. That was why he had to step out for the rest of them.

“There are many people here who can suppress you all at once, you bastard. Tch, cooking? Even with that, there will be people comparable to your powers,” Rokan said.

Of course, this was the truth, though that was not the point.

“Demanding someone to bow and act courteously toward us even though it’s out of the blue? Yes. That’s only right, don’t you think?”

“Do you think you’re the King of All Creators? Why do you try to use his influence and power like you’re him?” Minhyuk asked, his gaze landing on the place where the other Monarchs of All Creations were.

The Monarchs of All Creations flinched at his words.

“Aren’t you guys just sticking close to the King of All Creators so you can use his power and influence?”

Their faces grew even redder the more Minhyuk spoke.

Minhyuk looked around and said, “My manners and etiquette are good.”

Indeed. He bowed and greeted them politely the moment he arrived in this place.

“But what did you guys do? You threw the food on your plate and told me to try and eat it.”

Minhyuk had a bellyful of words for them.

“Of course, some of you are better than me. But… have you become Pillars?”

Flinch–

Flinch–

Flinch–

Countless people flinched at his words.

Minhyuk had made countless assumptions from the moment he entered the banquet hall up to this point.

“Pillar Candidates will only possess the power of a true Pillar once they become Pillars.”

Minhyuk believed there was a high chance that he would awaken and receive an even more special power when his status changed from Pillar Candidate to Pillar.

Although it was just a guess on his part, it was the truth. Regardless of the candidate, they would obtain an even stronger power once they won and sat on the throne of the true Pillar.

“In the end, we’re in a situation where those who had been eliminated to become a Pillar are ganging up on someone just because they recently became a candidate. Tch.”

Their faces grew even redder at Minhyuk’s mocking words. Although they had nothing to say, tremendous and overwhelming power began to surge everywhere. Since they had nothing to say, they should just show something else.

“Right, everything you said is correct. We’re candidates who failed to become true Pillars. You’re wondering why we want a stranger to kneel before us?”

Rokan agreed that Minhyuk’s words were valid. Nonetheless, he considered it ridiculous due to his pride.

“You know, there’s this saying that I’m very fond of.” Rokan laughed arrogantly. “Law of the jungle.”

The law of the jungle states that the weak eventually become prey and are eaten by the strong.

“Because you’re living so easily in this world, you have taken for granted this fact. Ever since the beginning of the world, all living beings have been living by the law of the jungle. And since we live by the law of the jungle, isn’t it only natural that someone like you, who is far less than us, bow down to us?”

Minhyuk just laughed in response to Rokan’s grating laughter. “Is that so? So, you’re saying the weak should give in to the strong and remain obedient, right?”

“That’s the logic that the living goes by, no?”

A terrifying killing intent surged out of Rokan’s body. Like a signal, killing intent began to rise. The overwhelming pressure almost left Minhyuk out of breath. Even if these candidates failed to become true Pillars, they still possessed tremendous power beyond anyone’s imagination.

At this moment, Minhyuk judged Rokan to at least be comparable to him in power. Of course, Minhyuk did not back down.

“Ah. So, that’s why you became the dogs of the King of All Creators?”

“...!”

The anger rose to Rokan’s head. His killing intent grew fiercer. It spread until it covered every inch of the banquet hall and made the air vibrate.

“The King of All Creators has arrived!”

Just then, a loud cry echoed in the hall, and the notifications began to ring.

[The King of All Creators, one of the leading figures of the Land of the Leaders, has appeared!]

[The King of All Creators is the only being who has brought peace upon the Land of the Leaders.]

[Unlike the other candidates, the King of All Creators was once a true Pillar.]

When the notifications ended, the faction members under the King of All Creators lay prostrate on the ground. As for the members of the factions of the King of Good and the King of Destruction, they only showed courtesy by bowing their upper bodies lightly. As for Minhyuk? He remained standing firm.

Seeing him, Rokan growled. “You f*cking bastard. The true absolute of the Land of the Leaders will punish you! You will feel what the law of the jungle is truly like!”

Rokan cackled. Even if he did not come forward, he was confident that the man in front of him would realize how weak he was in front of him, the true absolute.

[The One who was Once a Pillar.]

[Pillar Candidates will not be able to use any of their powers for one minute.]

As expected of an absolute being, they truly wielded a tremendous force. His appearance alone was enough to neutralize and suppress all the candidates present. Of course, the same was true for Minhyuk.

Minhyuk listened to the notifications that constantly rang in his ears upon the appearance of the King of All Creators.

[You cannot use any attacks for one minute.]

[All of your skills will be restricted for one minute.]

[...for one minute.]

[...for one minute.]

[The power of the One who was Once a Pillar overwhelms you.]

[You have an invincible body that can ignore and resist all kinds of abnormal states.]

[You have resisted an abnormal state.]

The overwhelming power of the being who was once a member of the Eight Pillars left everyone in cold sweat as they listened to the notifications.

At that moment, the great and noble King of All Creators ran and jumped into the banquet hall barefoot.

“Where is he?!”

All of the candidates were left shocked. Why did the King of All Creators appear here barefoot?

Not long after, he found who he was looking for. With a bright smile, he said, “I wanted to see you again!”

The eyes of the King of All Creators started to grow misty. He staggered toward the man until he collapsed on his feet.

Thud–!

The King of All Creators, the only Pillar and the only being who brought peace to the Land of the Leaders that was filled with chaos raised his trembling hands and carefully held the hands of the man in front of him.

“Thank you. I’m grateful to you. Everything is thanks to you!”

His teary voice echoed in the banquet hall.

Meanwhile, Rokan, the other Monarchs of All Creations, and the other candidates who had just been mocking someone watched the scene in stunned silence. Their jaws almost fell to the ground when they saw the King of All Creators hold the man's hands and express his gratitude.

This was because the man was none other than Minhyuk.

***

Minhyuk was no fool. He would not beat up Wels and mock the Monarchs of All Creations like that if he had no one or anything to rely on. Of course, that was also why he refused to bow to them.

When Minhyuk arrived at this place, he was met with a guide who talked nonstop about the greatness of the King of All Creators. Then, he discovered something strange.

For some reason, the description of the King of All Creators sounded very similar to that of someone he knew well.

–He was one of the Pillars of the world. And because his great hands can create anything and everything, he is hailed as the “King of All Creators.”

–According to our information, he has lived for a very long time, unlike the other candidates.

–Unlike the other Pillars, who did not want to stay in this land, he chose to live here with his wife.

When all of this information was put together, Minhyuk could only reach one conclusion.

Minhyuk smiled gently as he held the teary man’s trembling hands. He said, “Long time no see, Jack-of-All-Trades Rocado.”

Jack-of-All-Trades Rocado was Herakel’s adoptive father and was one of the Eight Pillars. The cause of his death? Old age. However, there was one dream that he wanted to fulfill before his death. He wanted to meet with his departed wife just once.

Minhyuk did more than reunite the two. He also personally visited and asked the God of Death to help them live together.

“I’ve been very, very happy every single day. Not only did I meet Eirin again, but the God of Death also helped us to live here instead of Hell.”

Perhaps God of Death Louis felt he was almost overcome with pressure after realizing that a big shot like Rocado would stay in Hell. So, he sent him here.

“Boy, you are my benefactor and my dear and beloved friend!” Rocado cried out and tried to bow to Minhyuk.

Minhyuk hurriedly stopped him. “It’s fine.”

“Thanks to you, I’m so happy I could die… Wait, I’m already dead, right? Anyway…” Rocado hugged Minhyuk tightly. “Thank you.”

Minhyuk smiled. He was just glad to see Rocado look so happy.

Not long after, Rocado, practically the de facto leader of the Land of the Leaders, asked, “Ah, that’s right. Did you experience any inconveniences and troubles in the banquet hall?”

Flinch–!

Flinch–!

Flinch–!

Minhyuk saw the hundreds of candidates in front of him trembling simultaneously.

All of them were in disbelief.

‘Wh-what the hell…?’

‘They’re close with each other?’

‘That’s not such a simple friendly relationship.’

‘He said that he’s his benefactor…!’

At this moment, they all realized they had done something they should not have done. The shock did not end there.

[The King of Good, one of the leading figures of the Land of the Leaders, has appeared!]

[The King of Good is the one who possessed the greatest wisdom in the Land of the Leaders.]

[Although he did not become a Pillar, he has been acknowledged and praised as someone on the same level as one of the Pillars.]

Another person appeared in the banquet hall. This time, the faction members serving the King of Good quickly showed courtesy and bowed low.

‘Why do I feel a sense of deja vu?’

‘What?’

The scene unfolding in front of them was quite similar to the scene they had just witnessed a few moments prior. Although he was not running barefoot, the King of Good was actually running as quickly as the King of All Creators.

Then, he approached Minhyuk.

“Master.”

“Oh, Minhyuk.”

“...”

“..

The members of the faction of the King of Good fell into deep silence. Minhyuk had just called out, “Master.” The King of Good was none other than The Teacher Beradon.

Axeman Wels, who also saw this scene, felt a huge sense of shame wash over him. He immediately pretended to faint.

“I’ve heard all about it. It seems like you have successfully killed Helenia.”

Flinch–!

Wels flinched greatly when he heard those words. Of course, the same was true for the others. Wels had boasted earlier that he could land exactly one attack on Helenia.

“Is Obren doing well?”

“Ah~ Evil God Obren~?” Minhyuk stretched his words as if he wanted everyone to listen to their conversation.

“What Evil God? Didn’t he become the Guardian God to protect you? That brat must have sacrificed his own life to save you, no?”

“...”

“...”

The silence that enveloped the hall grew even deeper at Beradon’s words.

The man in front of them was the one who killed Helenia with the help and protection of Evil God Obren.

And just like Rocado, Beradon also asked, “Do you experience any inconveniences or troubles in the banquet hall? I told them they did not need to serve or follow me, and they just didn’t listen. Even King of All Creators Rocado feels the same.”

“Yes, speaking of that. We explicitly told them that we didn’t want any factions to form, but they kept on doing it amongst themselves. More importantly, why do you guys look soaked in cold sweat?”

“Yeah, you’re right. You’re all breaking into a cold sweat. There’s so much sweat that it feels like you’ll create a flood?”

A faint smile appeared on Minhyuk’s face when he heard those words. Then, he said, “Actually, I experienced a bit of trouble when I came here.”

“Trouble?! Who dares to trouble my dear benefactor!” Rocado shouted. He immediately went wild when he heard that Minhyuk had experienced some troubles.

Then, Beradon said, “Hoho. I told you not to back those who come here into a corner, no?”

Minhyuk slowly walked toward Rokan, whose entire body was covered with cold sweat. Then, he said, “Since you’re all fond of that saying, I’ll also make sure to remember this dearly beloved saying.”

Minhyuk leaned down and whispered in Rokan’s ears. “The law of the jungle. The weak will become prey and be eaten by the strong.”