Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 653: Banquet with the Gods

Chapter 653: Banquet with the Gods

The class system among the Gods was extremely clear. In this system, God of Fire Ardees’ status was at the lowest rank. Also, not all of the Gods could view the humans’ world and most of the ones with the qualification to stand here were those that were already born Gods.

However, there was one thing that could not be overlooked. Ardees was the God that had trampled on and bullied the Continental Gods that had ascended and become True Gods, causing them to never come back to this place again. Although Ardees remained in the lowest rank because of his nasty and fiery temper, the Gods could not deny his strength.

To everyone’s shock, Ardees was sent flying back and rolling on the ground after receiving the punch of the God that Loves to Eat.

Crackle—

Blazing flames that were several degrees hotter than normal ignited around Ardees, who failed to hide his fluster and embarrassment. It quickly turned to fury. At the same time, plenty of the Gods present were enjoying the sudden turn of events, finding it funny,

[The God that Likes Drinking Alcohol clicks his tongue at your foolish behavior.]

[The God that Likes Sculpting smiles at you in interest.]

[The God that is Good at Playing Instruments shakes his head and looks at you pitifully.]

On the other hand, Ardees wanted to be the one pummeling the insignificant Continental God, before kicking him out of this place like a measly and dirty dog.

In fact, Ardees was very close to the God of Death. He played the part of a pet dog in front of the God of Death, wagging his tail to show his loyalty to him. The most important factor here was that the God of Death was a figure akin to an Absolute God.

Even among the Gods, the title of an Absolute God was sacred and holy. Even if a thousand of them fought against an Absolute God, the power that such a God could exert would be beyond their imaginations. Their words were the law and a slight move of their hand could change the world. As for Ardees, who was acting all chummy and sticking close to an Absolute God, the Gods found it completely unimaginable. That was how huge the influence of an Absolute God was.

Crackleeee—

Ardees, who had rolled around on the ground, slowly lifted his body up. He knew that the Gods were sneering and jeering. He was also aware that they wanted to witness the great spectacle of him beating the measly Continental God up. To everyone else, what happened was just a fluke, a false bravado of the new Continental God. However…

‘Why, why does it hurt so much?’

Ardees failed to quickly come back to his senses after receiving enormous damage from the Continental God. To think that it was only from being hit by the man’s bare hands.

‘I think this is around the same damage as when I got beaten up by Spear God Aerdes…’

There were many that criticized Ardees and his unpleasant behavior. Among those that criticized him was Spear God Aerdes. Aerdes might have given up her position to someone else and had already stepped down from being the Spear God, but she was still an influential and powerful figure among the Gods. She was a God that none of them dared to look at! That was why Ardees was shocked that the damage he received from the man was similar to the damage from Spear God Aerdes.

Soon, Ardees came back to his senses. He was someone that was close to the God of Death! He even bowed his head and greeted the God of Death yesterday. Of course, the God of Death just passed by him without even giving him a glance, but the fact that a God like him could give his greeting like that was enough to give Ardees great influence and power.

‘How dare you do that to me, someone that’s close with the God of Death…!’

Simply put, Ardees wanted to say, ‘Do you know the God of Death?! I’m close with him…!’. So, he jumped up as hotter flames flared out of his body.

‘There’s definitely some kind of power hidden behind that fist of his!’

Ardees’ thoughts finally cooled down. There was no way that the man in front of him could deal this much damage just by using his ordinary fists alone. For a moment, Ardees wondered if the God that Likes to Eat could accumulate damage in his fists by eating food.

Ardees looked at the God that Likes to Eat and told him coldly, “Hitting a God in the Banquet with the Gods, are you aware of the terrible consequences of your actions?”

“You have done something that you should never have.”

All of the Gods looked curiously at the man after hearing his words. They wondered why the Continental God that just became a True God punched Ardees. Was he someone that climbed the ranks of the Gods because he had a grudge against Ardees? Perhaps that was the reason. After all, if it was not due to resentment, which fool would dare to hit a God in the Banquet with the Gods?

Then, the man looked at the food on the floor and said, “You have made my beef steak fall on the ground.”

“…?”

“…?”

“…?”

The Gods looked confused, while the man actually looked like he was about to cry. Everyone could not hide feeling embarrassed for him. What was this crazy guy saying?! However, what was even funnier was the sincerity of the man’s expression.

As for Ardees, he was sure that this crazy bastard was just one piece of shit. He was confident that the blow was definitely a fluke.

“Come at me, you fiery potato bastard.”

“…”

‘Does this guy compare everything to food?’

But then, Minhyuk said, “Ah. That was my mistake. I can’t compare you with food. That would be putting food at a disadvantage and wronging them.”

“…”

Ardees was rendered speechless. He was already thinking about fighting this m***erf**king bastard. However, the man continued to provoke him, “It was not that hard, no? Hitting you? It seems like the Gods are nothing. Come at me.”

Ardees broke out into a fit of laughter after hearing the man’s words. The other Gods joined in as well. A measly Continental God actually thought that he could go against them. No matter how much of a lower rank God Ardees was, he was still a God. The flames that his body released could instantly turn thousands of human soldiers into ashes.

Then, a very interesting thought flashed in Ardees’ head.

“Everyone, today I will make this foolish Continental God realize his own insignificance, as well as the greatness of us Gods,” Ardees said, trying to incite the Gods as he looked back at them. All of the Gods nodded in interest.

“But before that, I would like to propose some interesting conditions.”

“Conditions?”

“Fufufufu. That really sounds interesting.”

“However, shouldn’t the Continental God agree to it first?”

Ardees looked at the God that Likes to Eat and said, “I will bet my ‘God’s Recognition’. You will get it if you win a fight against me.”

“Hooo?”

“God’s Recognition?”

God’s Recognition had a slight twist. The increase depended on the God’s degree of recognition, and the person would receive an effect that was similar to a permanent increase in stats. For the lower-ranked Gods, there was also a chance that their class would change if they received several God’s Recognition. However, as a restriction, the Gods could only give their recognition once every hundred years. As for lower ranking Gods like Ardees, they could give their recognition once every thousand years.

“As for you, why don’t you bet on your qualifications as God?”

“Ohoooo!!! That sounds really fun, no?”

“Qualifications as God, huh? This is getting more and more interesting.”

“Hohohohoho!”

“Ahahahahaha!”

For the Gods, this was just another source of fun and entertainment. As for Ardees, he thought to himself viciously, ‘This bastard, if you’re a True God then you have to agree…’

“Sure, let’s do it.”

“…?!”

“…?!”

“…?!”

The man readily agreed. At the same time, Ardees immediately heard a voice in his ears.

[The bet with Food God Minhyuk has begun.]

[Food God Minhyuk has bet his qualifications as a God.]

[You, the God of Fire, have bet your ‘God’s Recognition’.]

[The God’s Oath has been fulfilled in the name of the greatest God, Athenae.]

The corners of Minhyuk’s mouth were curled into a smile.

***

Before the Banquet with the Gods.

Minhyuk appeared in the vicinity where the Banquet with the Gods would be held and met an unexpected person. She was none other than the God of Cooking, Arlene.

Arlene was one of the Absolute Gods and had told Minhyuk a lot of stories. She had told him about the resident bully, the God of Fire, and the other Gods that would laugh and sneer. She warned how Minhyuk would be at the center of everything. Arlene had appeared to give him advice and that was to be careful.

After hearing those stories, Minhyuk came to realize that it did not matter whether they were Gods or not, things were the same everywhere. However, he also thought that this was an opportunity.

That was the reason why Minhyuk punched Ardees when he came to him and deliberately flipped his plate. Was Minhyuk, the king of a nation, a hot-tempered person? Not at all. Everything had been planned.

Besides, Minhyuk also needed the God’s Recognition so that he could fulfill the requirements for use of the Corrupted Goddess’ Ring. Furthermore, it was not him but Ardees, who brought up God's Recognition first.

Then, Ardees said, “Ah, there’s something that I forgot to mention.”

It seemed like Ardees truly wanted to show off his greatness as a God. However, Minhyuk just found it funny.

“I have received the favor of the God of Death.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

The impact of those words were very great. There were even some Gods that trembled from fear. After all, the God of Death was an Absolute God and the object of fear for some. Of course, everyone here was already aware of this fact. However, the name alone could strike fear in their hearts.

“Do you think you can beat me just like that?”

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaang—

Then, at that moment, the space beside Ardees was torn apart as a huge golem engulfed in fire appeared in front of everyone. The golem was around three meters in size.

Gods had their own envoys, and they would appear using their God's power as an individual. In fact, the God would receive a correction effect in their power whenever they summoned an envoy.

A buzz arose in the area.

“From what I heard, Ardees’ fire golem is like the father of all golems. Wasn’t that fire golem one of the biggest contributors in driving out the Corrupted God?”

“You’re right. That’s absolutely correct. Ardees and his fire golem was the one that drove away the Corrupted God’s subordinate, the God of Combat.”

“We have to admit that Ardees carries great power.”

The Gods were in awe. The fire golem that helped in driving the Corrupted God’s subordinate, the God of Combat, had made an appearance! As for its level, it was hard even for the Gods to measure it.

At the same time, the Gods felt pity for the pathetic Continental God, who would definitely be turned to ashes under the collaboration of Ardees and the fire golem.

However, the man grinned, “In the world below, I am the king of men.”

“What? The king of men? Pfft… hahahahaha!”

“Ahahahahahahaha!”

“Bwahahahahahahaha!”

Everyone burst into laughter after hearing Minhyuk’s words. He was a mere king of men, but he dared to utter those words in front of the Gods?!

Minhyuk took an ‘Almond of Subordinates’ from his inventory and placed them in his mouth.

Crunch, crunch, crunch—

Queen Iris never forgot to send over some Almond of Subordinates to Minhyuk whenever it was time for tribute. This Almond of Subordinates was an item that allowed Minhyuk to summon one of his vassals.

“Since you summoned one, then I will also summon one knight. Will that be alright?”

“Bwahahahahahahaha! You’re going to summon a mere human knight?”

“Can that human even make eye contact with us here?”

“This is really interesting! Very, very interesting! Puhahahahahahaha!”

Minhyuk grinned as he looked at the guffawing Gods. Then, he asked, “By any chance, do you guys know about the Spear God?”

“…?!”

“…?!”

“…?!”

Minhyuk was already aware of the Gods’ hierarchical system thanks to Arlene’s detailed stories. All of the gods that heard the two words ‘Spear God’ immediately shut their mouths.

‘Why did such a name come up?’

Spear God Aerdes was a high-ranking God that stood above the rest. Of course, all of the Gods present here expected the successor that inherited her power to be equally strong. Perhaps that person would even be the closest to becoming the next Absolute God.

Minhyuk looked at them as he coldly declared, “Summon Spear God Ben.”

[The One that inherited Aerdes’ divine name, Spear God, has appeared. He will now participate in the Banquet with the Gods!]

[The One that inherited Aerdes’ divine name, Spear God, is the Food God’s vassal!]

“…?”

“…?”

“…?”

“…?”

“…?”

In just an instant, the entire area was plunged into silence.

Ben, who was summoned under the intense and glaring light, appeared in front of the fire golem.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

His hands moved swiftly and just like that, the fire golem’s sturdy chest was cracked and torn to pieces. It did not take that long for the golem to collapse on the ground, helpless and useless.

Vwoooooooooong—

“Your Majesty, you have called for me?” The Spear God said, getting down on one knee in front of the Continental God, the very same Continental God that the Gods believed to be pitiful, barbaric, and uncivilized.

“…”

“…”

“…”

Everyone’s mouth snapped shut at the sight.