Leveling Up through Eating

Chapter 999

World-renowned psychiatrist Kim Han-Wool was a colleague of Minhyuk’s personal doctor, Lee Jinhwan, at Seoul University’s medical school.

–Honestly, it was shocking for me. I witnessed an ordinary person overcome the countless papers, materials, and studies we researched and presented.

Those were the words that Lee Jinhwan had said while they were out drinking.

–I prayed and hoped from the bottom of my heart for that child to endure and hold out. I kept on asking god, why? Why do you have to take him? I was aware. All of the medical evidence and research that we had done had pointed to that child’s death.

Jinhwan chuckled as he emptied a glass of alcohol.

–But that child did it. That’s the kind of person that child is.

–...

Han-Wool just clinked his glass with Jinhwan back then. He never really understood why Jinhwan was praising the child so much. As a stubborn and straight-laced doctor, Han-Wool believed the child’s improvement after meeting Athenae was a lucky coincidence.

Thanks to this game called Athenae, that child was able to improve. Because of that, other patients suffering from eating addiction would also be able to improve by playing the game.

Then, Team Leader Park said, “That’s the kind of person he is.”

Those words made Kim Han-Wool’s heart shake. He had always believed something if it was proven medically and had a scientific basis. He did not believe in miracles.

Team Leader Park’s words carried a lot of meaning. Han-Wool had already admitted that Minhyuk had already gone beyond the limits of a human being at this point.

‘How can someone only 21 years old do something like that for six months straight?’

It’s already beyond what Kim Han-Wool could explain. The man was frustrated. Extreme frustration would often make one feel helpless and lethargic. But he kept on saying the same thing again and again.

[I can do it.]

Kim Han-Wool was speechless as he watched Minhyuk smile bitterly on the screen.

“I am just one of the team leaders of this gaming company. However, I would like to ask you to let us keep watching Player Minhyuk, who wants to stand back on his feet a bit longer. Just for another month. If anything happens, I will take full responsibility for the matter.”

Team Leader Park's words were evidence of how highly he viewed Player Minhyuk. The executives were already speechless when they saw Minhyuk stand back up despite the overwhelming number of setbacks he had faced.

Was there indeed someone like that?

A person who would show all the sincerity in the world and put so much effort into what he was doing. A person who would ignore their inferiority complex and strive to do well. This was the type of person Minhyuk was.

“I’ll take responsibility. Let us wait and see first, Doctor Kim Han-Wool,” President Kang Taehoon said.

Kim Han-Wool looked at the executives, who had agreed to stop Minhyuk with him before. He could tell that they also wanted to give Minhyuk another shot so he could get back on his feet once more. He closed his eyes and pondered deeply about the matter.

Han-Wool slowly nodded and said, “I have lived and worked as a doctor for a long time. It seems like today would be a special day for me.”

He was a stubborn and old-fashioned man who had always chosen to stop his patients and their guardians whenever they tried to cross the line he had set. But this time, it was different.

“If Minhyuk can truly do it, then perhaps this would be a turning point in my life as a doctor.” Han-Wool chuckled bitterly.

One more month. He had decided to give Minhyuk that much time.

They all watched the days pass by in the video. Then, President Kang Taehoon suddenly jumped up from his seat. Even the executives reacted the same way as him.

Then, Team Leader Park said, “He has opened up a possibility.”

It was because of a notification window that popped up on the screen.

***

Minhyuk felt refreshed after he had cried. The words “I can’t do it.”, which had eroded his mind and almost devoured his sanity, disappeared as he recalled and pondered over the words “I can do it.” once more.

The words “I can do it.” were words that could only give Minhyuk strength. But now, it meant far more than that. It was like him saying, “I will continue doing it until I can do it.” Because that was the kind of person that he was.

After coming back to his senses, Minhyuk began cooking once again. This time, his consciousness was sharper and brighter than ever. Even the Divine Will gave him greater power after it got triggered. Perhaps this was God's way of praising those who had stood up after being left in frustration. Not only that, but his luck was turning for the better, too. High-grade dishes continued to appear one after the other.

Armed with the determination to obtain the Pillar Ingredient, Minhyuk worked non-stop. He even completely forgot about his exhaustion.

Three days passed by just like that. In those three days, a smile had always lingered on Minhyuk’s face. Why? Because he realized that he was someone who had not yet fallen to that extent.

Then, the notifications rang.

[Your total score is 297.]

[Rocado’s total score is 675]

The wall named Rocado was still far too high. However, this was the highest Minhyuk’s score had ever reached during the six months he had been doing this. For him, that was enough.

Minhyuk continued to cook. He had already confirmed his limits. Frustration? It no longer bothered him. When he focused on what kind of person he was and how long he had lasted, he felt as if his mind had grown lighter and clearer.

[Your total score…]

[Rocado’s total score…]

He could no longer recall how many times he had done this. Even though his score remained far below Rocado’s, Minhyuk tried again. He just lightly shook off the thought about scores and began cooking again.

[Something hidden within the Trial of Restriction: Frustration shows signs of being revealed.]

[Your chances of creating something extraordinary have increased by 10%.]

“...?”

Minhyuk looked at the notifications in confusion when he saw that something hidden inside the trial was rearing its head and revealing itself. Not only that, but it also helped Minhyuk produce higher-grade dishes.

The restriction of slumber required him to overcome sleep. The restriction of darkness required him to endure and overcome the darkness-filled world. The restriction of repetition needed him to overcome the limits of his body. So, what about the limitation of frustration? Was he required to overcome frustration? To some extent, Minhyuk had tamped down and suppressed this frustration.

With the notifications, Minhyuk gained more energy. Although the chances increased by only 10%, his motivation and strength to go further were boosted.

He repeated the competition again and again. He went on for three, six, nine days.

[Something hidden within the Trial of Restriction: Frustration is showing signs of being revealed.]

[Your chances of creating something extraordinary have increased by 15%.]

Minhyuk continued to cook.

And there was something that he found interesting. Throughout this competition, Minhyuk had made more than tens of thousands of dishes. This was a beneficial experience. Although he would not be able to acquire any DEX here, the fact that his cooking would grow even better once he left this place was enough for him.

Then, fifteen days passed by.

[Something hidden within the Trial of Restriction: Frustration is slowly being revealed.]

[Your chances of creating something extraordinary have increased by 20%.]

[Your total score is 329.]

[Rocado’s total score is 701.]

The gap between him and Rocado was slowly narrowing down.

Joy Co. Ltd., who declared they would stop him after a month, knew that Minhyuk could continue. There was no longer any need to stop him.

Minhyuk’s face grew brighter and brighter by the day. Every inch of his body screamed at him after he had cooked tens of thousands of dishes. Even so, he did not stop.

‘The notifications have changed.’

The words “showing signs of being revealed” had now changed into “slowly being revealed.” For some reason, he felt like whatever was hidden was already within his reach.

After another dozen days.

[Something hidden within the Trial of Restriction: Frustration has started to reveal itself.]

[Your chances of creating something extraordinary have increased by 25%.]

It was finally coming to an end. With the massive boost in his chances, the grades of the dishes that Minhyuk would cook would be higher than ever. Of course, this effect was temporary and would only be in effect inside the Restriction of Frustration. Even so, the delighted smile on Minhyuk’s face did not diminish.

‘The wall named Rocado was something that I couldn’t reach…’

[Your total score is 378.]

[Rocado’s total score is 699.]

He was finally able to touch it. Just a bit more. Minhyuk felt he only needed to tiptoe a bit, and he could stretch his hands further and reach the top of that wall. He needed to work just a bit harder.

‘A little more…!’

Another dozen days passed by. No new notifications popped up. But after eleven, twenty, thirty days, the thing hidden inside this trial finally revealed itself.

[Something hidden within the Trial of Restriction: Frustration has revealed itself.]

[This is the only way for one to overcome frustration.]

[It is a different, actual restriction hidden underneath the restriction of frustration.]

[The Restriction of Frustration has changed into the Restriction of Patience.]

[Your patience and endurance have paid off.]

[Your chances of creating something extraordinary have increased by 50%.]

[Your chances will no longer be increased.]

[Your patience has started to erode and break down the thick and sturdy wall of frustration that has blocked your path.]

Minhyuk unknowingly started to cry once again. He finally learned that his struggle against frustration was not done in vain.

Minhyuk began to cook again.

The night passed, and day broke through.

The sun had set, and the moon rose to the skies.

The stars faded away as bright clouds appeared in the sky once again.