Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 1160

The Beyond the Heavens Empire no longer needed to stop those who wanted to move into its territory. Thanks to the Territory Reinforcement, it had more territories and needed more migrants to move in quickly.

Upon Minhyuk’s return, they could pay off their debts and secure additional funds. After selling all of the rare items he had received from the people of the Happiest Country, they also secured an extra 100 million platinum in funds. However, expanding their territories cost an astronomical amount. They spent around 200 million platinum, leaving only around two million platinum.

There was only one way for them to continue expanding their territories and recover and profit from their initial investment. And that was to accept more migrants and transfer several people concentrated in the capital to their new territories. If more people went to their new territories and treated that as their home base, they could expand their territories faster.

Minhyuk, as the emperor, gave his order to Haze. He said, “Find a way to move the migrants and those who have already settled in the cramped city to move into our new territories.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Haze said. She had recently been looking at Minhyuk with hearts in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Minhyuk continued to write something down.

“Is that what the Storyteller asked you to write?”

After receiving the deep and endless love of the Happiest Country's people, Minhyuk immediately visited Gardin.

He had heard the story of the Storyteller from Supreme Rundalk. From what he had heard, the Storyteller possessed shocking power. He, who wrote stories for his chosen target, had the most significant influence and power to promote his target to the world. And, of course, he also possessed a variety of other powers.

There was just one thing that Minhyuk found unfortunate.

‘I wanted to make him my vassal.’

Gardin was now the king and the god of the Happiest Country. So, unfortunately, everything ended at the level of rewards and compensations. Still, it wasn’t that bad.

‘He’s going to write my story.’

As the Storyteller, Gardin possessed an extraordinary power beyond Aruvel’s best-selling works. And most of his powers exerted significant influence on NPCs. If Minhyuk had written down his experiences from the beginning, when he started Athenae, up to now, the Storyteller would have adapted it and presented it to the world using his extraordinary power.

Gardin spoke.

–In the end, a story will touch people’s hearts. It’s OK, even if the story is uncomfortable or not pleasant. I will be able to relay it beautifully.

His words were very reliable. Then, Gardin continued.

–You said that you’re hoping to get more migrants, right? I think adapting your story will be of great help to you.

So, Minhyuk planned to go around the Beyond the Heavens Empire for a few days and write his autobiography. Of course, just as he ordered Haze, he would also try to find ways to make people migrate to the new territories and attract new migrants as well. ř

“What’s the gap between us and the Luvien Empire?”

“It’s still quite big. Even if Your Majesty used Territory Reinforcement on all fifty territories, we still won’t be able to fill half of that gap.”

The difference in the sizes of their territories was more than ten times. They had already done an excellent job closing the gap by this much.

“Furthermore, the Luvien Empire had already seen through and confirmed the unusual trend in our empire. That’s why they have started to be more flexible and began to acquire more migrants at a faster speed.”

“That’s quite a problem.”

Just as they had narrowed the gap, the Luvien Empire moved to widen it again.

“That means our Beyond the Heavens Empire has to find a way to take away even the migrants going to their empire.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

Minhyuk and Haze brainstormed together. But even after pondering it for a long time, the two found it difficult to reach a conclusion and find a solution.

“I think I need to recharge my sugar to come up with something?” Minhyuk said as he munched on some ABD chocolates. “Maybe it’s because I ate too little? I can’t think of anything…”

“Your Majesty, that’s your 30th bag.”

“Yep. It’s too little.”

“???”

Their emperor needed to eat at least a hundred bags of chocolate before he could say he had recharged himself with sugar.

‘That’s amazing…’ Haze thought. Her rose-colored lenses from yesterday were obviously still firmly on her.

***

Rumors were quite scary.

If Benson had bought a foal yesterday, by lunch, rumors about how he had made a lot of money and bought a nice, elegant horse would have already spread. By evening, the rumors would have increased to the point where they said, ‘His Majesty has given him a great horse for his great contribution.’

Rumors spread fast. That was why they were terrifying. It was like the saying, ‘Even though words have no wings, they can fly a thousand miles.

It was just like how the rumor about how Locke scolded Minhyuk spread. By the next day, the rumors had turned into Locke grabbing Minhyuk by the collar. Because of these rumors, Locke’s eyes were covered with bruises, and his hair was almost torn off by one being.

And that was not all. This being gathered all of the mighty men of the Beyond the Heavens Empire, including Brod, Ben, Elpis, Mandala, Conir, Herakel, and many more. A variety of people had gathered with his call.

With his pink bulging belly and his hands behind his back, he looked at the strongmen of the Beyond the Heavens Empire with a fierce glare. This being was none other than Beanie.

“Oink! Oink, oink! Oink! (Who dared to harass my master?!)”

Everyone looked terrified by Beanie’s ugly expression, but deep inside, they held back their laughter. It was because he was charming. Beanie almost ripped Locke’s hair off because of what he had heard.

Beanie had heard that Minhyuk was very troubled by the expansion of their territories and the migration of people to these new territories. Most people focused on securing more funds because the Beyond the Heavens Empire and the Great Luvien Empire were in a truce.

“Oink! Oink, oink! Oink! (I have thought of a perfect idea to help my master!)”

Everyone perked their ears up and listened carefully.

“Oiiiink! Oink, oink. Oink, oink, oink. (We’re going to those territories! Then, we’ll open restaurants!)”

“...?!”

“...?!”

Everyone was surprised by Beanie’s ingenious idea. How could such a brilliant idea come from a baby piggy’s head?!

Beanie was in with the trend! In Athenae, they could watch dramas in real-time and even catch up with social media. Beanie had always done that with Minhyuk’s help.

“Oink. Oiiiink, oink. Oiiink! (With a beautifully decorated restaurant and our skills, we will be a huge hit on SNS!).”

Beanie’s words were by no means an exaggeration. What kind of empire was their empire? It was an empire made for eating. Perhaps it was only natural for an empire to create tourist attractions and attract migrants to live in their territories by their taste buds.

Just like that, they quickly executed their plans.

***

Kravok Territory.

This was the territory that BJ Kondo and other mindless and reckless BJs had attacked. Because of that, it has garnered the attention of the masses. However, the visitors who visited Kravok Territory were left disappointed. This was because the territory was desolate. Only a few players and people could be seen on the streets.

Nevertheless, some still liked the quiet atmosphere of the territory. And that was the case for the BJ Lovey-Dovey Couple. BJ Lovey-Dovey Couple was a couple with 800,000 subscribers who went on a date daily. They would go to popular places posted on SNS and post it on ZTube.

And BJ Lovey-Dovey Couple had now arrived in the desolate Kravok Territory.

“Today, we’re going on a date in the quiet Kravok Territory.”

[Look at how they are holding their hands so tightly.]

[The two of them look so handsome and pretty.]

[Speaking of Krakov Territory, there’s no one there, right?]

“Even if there’s nobody, there will always be romance! You don’t know how great it is to walk in these empty streets with my dearly beloved Ji-Hoon!” Ha-Yoon said as she hugged Ji-Hoon in her arms.

However, the two were surprised upon entering Kravok Territory. This was because there was quite a huge crowd. That was when they caught sight of the names of the restaurants and shops lining the sides of the road.

Beanie and Luna’s BBQ Gui [1]

Conir’s Ramyeon, Herakel’s Gimbap

Ben’s Cat-Poop Coffee

Dishwashing House

Pirate King’s Sashimi Resto

Dance with the Great Demon

Locke’s Animal Farm

The names of the shops in the shopping district were very distinct and striking. But there was one thing that caught Ha-Yoon’s eyes. It was a man lying on a tree and reading a book. The man could be considered a great looker with his black hair and fair skin as smooth as jade.

The man was none other than Obren, the Guardian Deity. He was lying on the tree after being threatened(?) by Beanie.

“Kyaaaaaa! Brenie oppa!”

“Please take me!”

Obren was annoyed. He said, “You’re annoying. Go away.”

But the moment he combed his hair with his fingers, gold coins piled up in the collection box with the name “Beanie’s Snacks” that Beanie had left behind.

“Waaaaaaah! Oppa, take me!!!”

Ji-Hoon immediately led Ha-Yoon, who had already lost her mind, away. The funny thing was even Ji-Hoon himself found Obren to be extremely cool. Nevertheless, he continued to pull Ha-Yoon, who was very reluctant to go, away. And the place where the two entered? It was none other than Beanie and Luna’s BBQ Gui. The restaurant was already flooded with customers.

Not long after, a girl with a towel hanging in her arm approached them and said, “Order.”

“...?”

“...?”

Flustered by the short yet blunt word, the couple looked at the girl. That was when they realized the girl's identity.

‘Elizabeth?!’

‘The God of Snakes…?!’

The two, who were shaking uncontrollably, finished ordering.

‘My god! Where else can you find the God of Snakes taking your order?!’

“Everyone, quiet.” Elizabeth immediately controlled the system, perhaps because she disliked the noisy atmosphere in the restaurant.

[All sounds from outside your table will be blocked.]

[You can only hear the words of the people sitting at the same table as you.]

“Wow…!” Ha-Yoon exclaimed in admiration.

They no longer had to worry about other customers hearing what they were talking about, even though the restaurant was very crowded. After all, all the different noises were blocked. It was like they were in a restaurant reserved just for the two of them.

Of course, what the two ordered was Luna’s Breath Gui.

“If it’s Luna, then it’s the Dragon Lord, right?”

“Maybe they just named the Luna’s Breath Gui after her?”

The two giggled, but a baby piggy wearing a chef’s hat walked over to them.

“Oiiink.”

Beanie placed a barbeque skewer in front of them. His look said, ‘I am your chef for today, Beanie.’ Then, the now grown-up Luna walked out of the kitchen.

“Kihyeeeeeck~” After releasing a sweet and cute sound, Luna spewed out her Breath.

“...”

“...”

The two were shocked to see their barbeque skewer grilled in just one second.

“Y-yummy…!”

“This is nuts! Breath Gui… Isn’t this delicious?!”

The viewers were making a fuss.

[No, wait. Lolololol. Is this for real? They sell BBQ Gui cooked with dragon’s breath? Lmao.]

[What did I just see? Kekekeke. The Dragon Lord is grilling meat, the Supreme Divine Beast is both the chef and the boss, and the God of Snakes is the server?]

[Wow. Shit. Isn’t this perfect for IG?]

[Definitely agree…]

The couple went out after a very satisfying meal. They wanted to visit the other restaurants, but their stomachs were unlike Minhyuk’s. So, they decided to search for a good dating course and finally entered Locke’s Animal Farm.

The two lovebirds were left confused with what they saw inside.

“Welcome.”

Waiting inside was the world-renowned ranker, Locke, and the Cerberus, Love, Hope, and Happiness. The shocked couple flinched when a sudden sound rang in their ears.

“Haha. My kids don’t bite. They’re very nice kids.”

“Grrrrrr!”

“Rrrrrrrrrr!”

“Roaaaaar–!”

“...?”

“...?”

“They don’t bite. Look. Love, Hope, Happiness, hand!”

Slash–!

Cerberus raised their front paw and swiped at Locke’s head.

Drip, drip–!

Locke, who had blood dripping from his head, laughed. “See? They did not bite me.”

‘They did not bite you, but I think they’ll bite me…’

“Okay, look. Fetch!” Locke said as he threw a toy, a ball.

Thud, thud, thud–!

When Cerberus ran, the ground shook and trembled like an earthquake. Then, they picked up the ball and hit Locke with it.

“A-aaaaaack!”

Clang, clang, clang–!

A few moments later, Locke, who was covered with deep cuts and blood, laughed at them. “See? They did not bite.”

“...”

“...”

The couple sat in the corner. That was when they saw the back of a dog scratching his ears. This dog was none other than Bichor.

“Oh my! It’s a bichon! Its smile is so cute…”

The bichon, or to be precise, God of Bombs Bichor, turned his head and said, “How dare you say that this great body of mine is cute? Fufu. I am not cute. I am cool, you weak couple.”

“...”

“...”

They also saw a bird.

“Ah. This bird is the Clone Bird. He looks just like His Majesty Minhyuk.”

“I’m hungry. Give me food.”

“...?”

“...?”

The couple was rendered speechless.

Anyway, Kravok Territory rose to second in the world's real-time search rankings. This was all thanks to the viewers who watched the couples’ broadcast. For the record, the first in the real-time search rankings was “My kids don’t bite.”

After occupying the real-time search rankings, the number of daily visitors to the Kravok Territory increased significantly.

A few days later.

By this time, the Kravok Territory had hundreds of thousands of visitors daily.

Gadon, the world’s most famous chef, BJ, visited Kravok Territory. He was a BJ known for his sharp tongue and nasty comments when encountering tasteless dishes. However, he was a world-renowned figure. After all, Gadon’s subscribers had reached 28,313,049 at this time.

‘Today, I will reveal the truth to the world. I will show the world that the food made by the vassals of the Beyond the Heavens Empire is just hype. A mere exaggeration!’

1. grill ☜