Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 358: Two Food Gods

Chapter 358: Two Food Gods

Lucaro had been fighting an uphill battle all by himself, for a long time. This was the case ever since the rumors about the original Food God being an evil and vicious person started circulating. Rumors about how he looted, pillandered, and killed other races to fill his stomach and eat their food for himself, surfaced one after the other. However, Lucaro denied the claims every time.

‘He’s a good person. He’s someone that doesn’t want anyone to go hungry in the world.’

But Lucaro’s words were met with curses and stones. The people swore at him, pointed fingers at him, and spat at his storefront. Nevertheless, his belief remained firm. He protected the Food God’s legacy by himself. He was truly alone. He was the only one that believed in the Food God.

Oftentimes, he would wonder if Allen was not the God that he thought he was, but because of the piece of bread that he handed over to him, Lucaro was able to remain steadfast in his trust towards him, as he continued to stand by him and think about him. And right now, his God had responded to his pride and dignity. Lucaro gulped down the drink that Minhyuk had handed over to him without any hesitation.

Then, Anton approached them. He wanted to bring Minhyuk over to his side, thoroughly bringing despair upon Lucaro. He acted as if he was astonished with the sudden turn of events and said, “H… hey! The Legendary Sun’s Wheat will burn a normal person’s hands the moment they touch it! Even if this competition is very important, you shouldn’t risk something like that!!!”

Anton acted as if he was concerned, but Minhyuk could tell what he wanted to say.

‘Stop acting pretentiously. This is an ingredient that the likes of you can’t touch.’

The same thought ran through the minds of everybody else. Then, the gourmands began to speak one after the other.

“We are very grateful that you allowed us to see the light of the Legendary Sun’s Wheat, stranger. We can see yours and Lucaro’s will. This is more than enough to spread your name to the future generations.”

“We hope that you don’t try to go any further. We do not wish to see any more of your sacrifices. A chef’s hands are his most important assets, and it could burn away from your willful sacrifice.”

“You should stop cooking, we still need talented people like you!”

There were also the spectators!

Clap, clap, clap, clap!

“You did well enough, Lucaro!!!”

“Thank you for showing us the Legendary Sun’s Wheat!!”

“Please stop now!!! We don’t wish to lose someone like you!!!”

“Please stop!!!”

The spectators and the gourmands applauded their bravery and contributions.

‘Morons…’ Anton thought, as he watched the scene unfold.

Why did they sing praises for Lucaro? What did he even do? Anton firmly believed that Lucaro did not deserve those applause. After all, he was not someone that could cook the Legendary Sun’s Wheat. On the other hand, Anton might have a chance to do so. So, they should stop applauding him! The person that they needed to applaud was him!

Anton really could not understand the thoughts of the people. Instead, he said, “It’s not an ingredient you can handle.”

Right at that moment, something strange happened. The place where Lucaro’s left hand should be now had a left hand made of light. Then, the notifications rang for Lucaro after he finished drinking the drink that Minhyuk handed to him.

[You have drunk the Sacred Drink for the One Acknowledged by the Food God.]

[Your latent and dormant potential is being drawn and raised.]

[You have opened your eyes to a new level.]

[You can now cook the Five Legendary Ingredients.]

[As the One Acknowledged by the Food God that drank the Sacred Drink, you have temporarily acquired God’s Cooking Skill.]

Then, Lucaro made eye contact with Minhyuk. He said, “Boy, you’re really a chef, huh? No. You’re truly the one that has succeeded the Food God of the past.”

“Yes. I’m not a tamer.”

Then, the two of them both raised their hands towards the blazing red Legendary Sun’s Wheat, which evoked an extraordinary scene.

Shwaaaaaaa—

The flames that covered the Legendary Sun’s Wheat were sucked in both of their hands.

Minhyuk was the Food God. He was someone that had learned and mastered ‘God’s Cooking’ skills. On the other hand, Lucaro was the One Acknowledged by the Food God. He was someone that had ‘temporarily acquired God’s Cooking skill’ and was the person that could cook the ‘Five Legendary Ingredients’. These two people began to grind the burning Sun’s Wheat until its texture became fine and smooth. The movements of their hands were very illusory and worthy of the title of a master craftsman.

The ever-burning Sun’s Wheat had soon turned into white flour. However, the two of them did not stop. The temperature of the Sun’s Wheat flour remained hot, yet not as scalding as the burning flames when cooking, as they added water and began to knead. They both kneaded at the same rhythm and in cadence, with their fantastic and illusory skills. It was as if they were dancing to a tune that only they knew.

Not long after, the dough, which was once as round as a ball, spread out gently in a wide circle, while emitting a dazzling red light. The dough was like a peacock showing its beautiful feathers for everyone to see.

Then, the two of them both grabbed their knives at the same time. Minhyuk was using the Food God’s Kitchen Knife, the item that he attributed to Beanie, while Lucaro used the kitchen knife that he used in the past, as they both sliced and chopped the toppings.

Tak, tak, tak, tak, tak, tak—

Tak, tak, tak, tak, tak, tak—

The two men stood facing each other as they sliced, chopped and cut the ingredients on their respective chopping boards. Lucaro and Minhyuk’s gazes met in the air.

‘Even if I die now, I wouldn’t have any regrets. After all, he responded to me and my faith in him.’

‘You have to live longer. Let’s save this territory together.’

The various ingredients for the toppings, like cheese and the likes, were sliced and chopped nicely before getting sprinkled evenly on top of the dough twinkling with a red light.

Both of their hands moved swiftly and accurately. After they finished chopping the ingredients, they immediately washed their hands and dried them, before proceeding with the next steps. Even if they were in the midst of a hectic cooking competition, they did not forget the most basic and most important part of cooking… ‘Cleanliness’.

“Ah, aaaaaaaaaah…!” A woman from among the crowd could not help but burst out in awe and admiration, after witnessing their fantastic cooking skills and tandem.

‘Two Food Gods!’

More than that, what she felt as she watched the Food God and the One Acknowledged by the Food God cook, was actually warmth. Of course, she knew that Lucaro was just a shabby bakery owner, and the other man was just a ragged young beggar, but for some reason, she felt as if tears would fall down her cheeks as she watched the two cook.

Then, Lucaro asked, “Boy, what do you think cooking is?”

“Something that anyone, whether they are a man or a woman, rich or poor, sad or happy, without any distinction at all, can eat. That is cooking.”

“Then, what do you think a chef is?”

“Someone that will give his all to cook for you, for me, or for anybody else. Sometimes, they will smile when they see someone eat their dishes, sometimes they will feel disappointed whenever they see someone grimace at the food that they made, and tell them that it barely fits their taste. Although that might be the case, they are still the creators of one of the most amazing and greatest things in the world,” Minhyuk said as he wiped off the water from his kitchen knife before moving again. His kitchen knife moved swiftly as a bright light scattered from its movements. He continued to say, “That’s what a chef is.”

Lucaro smiled softly. Those were the words that Anton would never understand in his life. Meanwhile, the gourmands were all in awe.

“The sound of their movements sound just like a fantastic performance made by superb performers.”

“The sound when they slice the ingredients, the sound of the water dripping, even the sound of the oven heating up. All of these sounds put together creates a harmony! It’s practically music to our ears.”

“Their movements are faster, more sophisticated, more elegant than any other chefs that I have seen before.”

“Lucaro is one thing, but who is that stranger?”

While the gourmands were in awe, there was a man that felt hurried. That man was none other than Anton.

‘Crazy bastards!’

Anton quickly went back to his place and began to cook again. He was in disbelief. He could not understand the reactions of the gourmands and the people in the stands.

‘What food can they even make?’

It was just ‘pizza’, a food that was commonly enjoyed by ordinary people. It was a very common dish where they place plenty of toppings on bread, sprinkle it with cheese and bake it in an oven. What was that compared to the food that he was making? The dish that he was making was a luxurious dish that only consisted of awe-inspiring ingredients that could never be bought, or eaten, by anyone easily, even if they had the money. These were the delicacies that the former Emperor, Adron, enjoyed! However, the people around him only cared about the pizza. They did not even pay attention to the delicacy that he was making!

Then, the chefs finished their dishes one after the other.

Ager, Sunset Restaurant’s master of Korean dishes, made bibimbap. The enormous bowl where the dish was placed was much larger than the large pot that companies usually used in their canteens. The ingredients inside the bowl were beautifully laid out with a surprisingly large yolk placed in the center. This yolk was from the drake’s egg.

The Gourmet Dragon was a monster. That was why they made delicacies with ingredients that were enticing for monsters.

Balza, Paradise Restaurant’s head chef, cooked steak together with his disciples. A large slab of meat was placed on top of a gigantic plate, coupled with countless grilled and roasted cherry tomatoes, onions, and well-chopped, stir-fried garlic.

Anton, on the other hand, made a delicacy that was usually enjoyed by Emperors. Foie gras. It was a dish that was made with goose liver, an expensive ingredient with high fat content that could not be normally enjoyed by ordinary people. The fact that Anton and his disciples created it together gave it an astronomical value.

The chefs had finished their dishes, but there were still some other people cooking. They were none other than Minhyuk and Lucaro, these two people. Cooking was something that could not be hurried, even if they were skillful.

While the two of them continued to cook, the Gourmet Dragon transformed himself into a hatchling. With his somewhat smaller size, he slowly landed in front of the dishes. He looked at the dishes in turn, while the gourmands also turned to look at the dishes.

“Gulp,” Paradise Restaurant’s Balza gulped when he met with the snake-like eyes of the Gourmet Dragon that landed in front of him.

Not long after, the Gourmet Dragon slowly lowered his snout to taste the plate of steak placed in front of him. He began chewing slowly. However, his expression soon distorted into a grimace. He said, “That taste is very fancy.”

“Haha. Of course. It’s a dish that we made for Your Excellency Gourmet Dragon.”

“It’s not good enough.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Cooking is not just about getting the best ingredients. Sometimes, cheaper ingredients can help you achieve a better flavor for your dish. Somehow, you made something like this, with those expensive ingredients.”

“…”

Balza trembled. The Gourmet Dragon’s words meant that his dish was worth 70,000 reeked of money alone. Then, the gourmands also tasted his steak.

“It doesn’t taste like the steak the Balza usually makes.”

“I can’t believe that he made something taste this fancy and showy for the banquet…”

Rather than serving something delicious, Balza served something that tasted worse. This was because they were trapped with the notions of ‘ingredients’ and ‘fancy’.

Meanwhile, the bibimbap.

“Ptew!” The Gourmet Dragon spat the dish without any scruples. He said, “Monster ingredients and human ingredients are ingredients that taste differently. However, one can find a way to make them complement each other properly. For some reason, this dish tastes like trash.”

“…!”

The chefs panicked. Who were they? They were the best chefs of Albero Territory, the chefs that have reached the ‘Master Craftsman rank’! But the Gourmet Dragon had deemed their dishes to be trash.

Just like that, most of the chefs’ dishes had been shunned by the Gourmet Dragon. These were dishes that the gourmands had praised as delicious, but once the Gourmet Dragon tasted them, all he would say was that it tasted bad.

That was right. He was the ‘Gourmet’ Dragon. He was a very picky dragon, especially with the food that passes through his palate. Not only did he take into account the taste and flavor of the dish, he also took into account the heart and soul of the chef that they imparted in their dishes.

In a blink of an eye, the Gourmet Dragon has arrived in front of Anton. Anton looked very nervous, his eyes darting to one place. That was the place where Minhyuk was placing the pizza on the gourmands’ table. The gourmands had asked to taste the pizza that Lucaro and Minhyuk had made, while they were waiting for the Gourmet Dragon. Anton hurriedly looked back only to meet with the eyes of the Gourmet Dragon.

“I heard that you call yourself ‘Food God’.”

“It’s just flattery on their part.”

Contrary to his seemingly humble answer, Anton’s back was straight and proud. No, he even looked arrogant. It seemed like he was telling them that they should not compare him to the Food God of the past. He was a far better person than him!

The Gourmet Dragon lowered his snout and tasted the foie gras that Anton made. The food passed through his big mouth and went down his throat. With his eyes closed, the Gourmet Dragon said, “How… how… How can it taste like this…”

“…!”

Anton was very delighted to hear his words. He was the Twilight Chef and the lord of Albero Territory! Just one taste of his food and the Gourmet Dragon was filled with admiration!

The spectators and gourmands turned to look at the scene. The Gourmet Dragon slowly opened his eyes and said, “How can your food taste and smell like this? It has the flavor of greed and a very vile stench…”

“…”

What made Anton devastated were the words that the Gourmet Dragon uttered next.

“This is a dish of someone that wants to take power. You must have trampled on a lot of people to make this dish. Just how many did you drag down?”

Anton could not understand his words. His dish was reeking with greed? The Gourmet Dragon’s words also implied that his cooking was not delicious. He completely denied these words.

However, at that moment…

“Ah, aaaaah… aaaaaah…!”

Someone exclaimed from somewhere. Anton and the Gourmet Dragon both turned their heads to the direction of the sound. The one that made a fuss was none other than one of the seven gourmands. He was the man standing in the center of all the other gourmands. The name tag attached to his chest said ‘Lonesome Gourmand Arcay’.

Who was the Lonesome Gourmand Arcay? He was well-known among the humans to be the most difficult to please, and had quite the picky palate. He was someone that could completely grasp the essence of the food and taste the true flavors inside the dish. He was also very famous for being strict.

The Lonesome Gourmand Arcay was such a man. However, tears started to flow down his cheeks the moment he took a bite of the pizza that was served in front of him.

“Aaaaaaah…!”

Arcay’s tears kept on flowing down his cheeks as his cries echoed inside the coliseum.