<h4>Chapter 1216</h4>
<strong>Chapter 1216</strong>
The blue mes that engulfed Minhyuk’s body grew stronger.
<i>[You have activated the Skill: zing Dexterity.]</i>
Shockingly enough, the mes no longer burned Minhyuk’s flesh. Why? Because these were the mes that he created. They were burning gently and not intensely.
<i>[You have burned 47 DEX.]</i>
The Pir Chicken burned hundreds of Minhyuk’s DEX with each passing second. Regardless, it was not all the Pir Chicken could do. It also had the skill that allowed Minhyuk to activate. With this skill, Minhyuk could gain temporary yet astonishing power in exchange for burning some stats, which was what was happening.
@@novelbin@@
<i>[Your DEX has increased by 11%.]</i>
<i>[Your chances of obtaining a higher-grade dish have increased by 4%.]</i>
<i>[All of your cooking skills have be better.]</i>
<i>Bubble, bubble–</i>
The sauce continued to boil inside the cauldron at a speed visible to the naked eye. If it continued at this rate, it would soon burn down, and the smell of burnt carbon would waft everywhere.
Unfortunately, thedle in his hands was very difficult to move. Minhyuk immediately transformed both the Food God’s Almighty Tools intodles. With this, he was using threedles to stir the cauldron. Even so, he still could not keep up with the speed at which the sauce was boiling.
Most of Minhyuk’s DEX, which had been close to 100,000, had disappeared. Now, he only had around 20,000 left. The difference between the effects of a 10% buff increase of a 100,000-point DEX and a 20,000-point DEX was like the difference between heaven and earth.
<i>[You have burned 64 DEX.]</i>
<i>[You have burned 44 DEX.]</i>
<i>[You have burned 64 DEX.]</i>
Minhyuk gritted his teeth, continued burning his DEX, and transformed them into his strength. At the same time, mes of varying colors–blue, yellow, purple, and red–appeared and covered his already burnt-ck body. These colorful mes burned bright and created a beautiful painting made of fire.
<i>‘My current DEX is only at 20,000.’</i>
<i>[You have burned 44 DEX.]</i>
<i>[You have burned 76 DEX.]</i>
<i>[You have burned 57 DEX.]</i>
Even so, he continued to burn his DEX. At the same time, the worldwide notification rang in his ears. It told him this skill was on par with the Pir of Dexterity and Jack-of-all-Trades’ Rocado’s skill, the Almighty Hand. Why was it determined like that? Well, Minhyuk soon realized the reason why.
<i>[You have burned a total of 987 DEX.]</i>
<i>[Your DEX has increased by 99%.]</i>
<i>[Your chances of obtaining a higher-grade dish have increased by 28%.]</i>
<i>[All of your cooking skills have be better.]</i>
At this moment, he realized it was fine even if his DEX decreased. He had to continue burning them.
<i>[You have burned a total of 1,654 DEX.]</i>
<i>[Your DEX has increased by 154%.]</i>
<i>[All of your cooking skills have be better.]</i>
Minhyuk continued to burn his DEX. At one point, thedle, which was very difficult to move, finally budged. Then, it grew more manageable for him to stir thedle.
The thickened sauce seasoned the potatoes and chicken evenly and perfectly, so the dish only needed to be simmered for a bit. At this point, Minhyuk was already tired of making this dish. He wanted it to end, but work was still to be done.
There was only one reason why Minhyuk worked so hard on this dish.
<i>‘I want to eat the most delicious dish in the world.’</i>
So, he had to add the most essential ingredient for braised chicken: t noodles. He added the t noodles to the cauldron to finish the dish and soak them in the sauces.
Everyone surely knew that the greatest charm of the braised chickeny with the t noodles. Thebination of t noodles soaked with the slightly sweet and savory sauce and rice was phenomenal. A mouthful of thisbination was enough to pull an exmation of awe out of someone’s mouth. That was why Minhyuk could not give up yet. He still had to add the t noodles.
<i>Thud–!</i>
He put the stiff, t noodles in the sauce and stirred everything together, ensuring that none would stick to the bottom of the cauldron. The t noodles slowly became darker as they soaked the sauces and grew softer. At the same time, the mouth-watering smell of the braised chicken wafted toward Minhyuk’s nose and whetted his appetite.
<i>Crackle–!</i>
Minhyuk then lowered the mes covering his body. As if on cue, the fire burning underneath the cauldron died down. It worked like turning off a gas stove.
Minhyuk finally finished cooking. As hepleted the dish, a world message rang all over Athenae.
<i>[Someone ‘anonymous’ has sessfully cooked or eaten all three Eight Pir Ingredients.]</i>
<i>[If you eat this dish made by someone anonymous, then you can open up a new path rted to your ss.]</i>
<i>Ring!</i>
<i>[You are the first to make this achievement. You will now be able to acquire the rewards.]</i>
<i>[You have gained 10,000 REP.]</i>
<i>[You have gained 3,000 CHA.]</i>
<i>[You have gained 10,000 DEX.]</i>
<i>[You have gained 1,000 Cash.]</i>
<i>[Your chances of obtaining a higher-grade dish will increase by 20%.]</i>
<i>Ring!</i>
<i>[The seal ced on the Imperfect Work Gloves has beenpletely released.]</i>
<i>Ring!</i>
<i>[You did not exchange all of your DEX into buffs. There are remaining points from the DEX you obtained from the challengers.]</i>
<i>[You have gained 4,538 DEX.]</i>
<i>[You have sessfully cooked the Pir Chicken.]</i>
<i>[All of your DEX that has been devoured or burned will now be recovered.]</i>
The notifications rang non-stop in Minhyuk’s ears. Then, something remarkable happened.
<i>[You havepleted the </i><strong><i>ss Quest</i></strong><i>: Proving Your Worth.]</i>
<i>[None of the challengers was able toplete more than 60% of the cooking process.]</i>
<i>[You have proven that you have reached your ss''s end and pinnacle.]</i>
<i>[Those who want to show respect and admiration for the one who proved their worth have been warped.]</i>
The approximately seven million chefs who had died or given up earlier appeared in a sh of light. However, it was not just them. Thousands of reporters ran toward the open grounds, kicking up a huge cloud of dust over the horizon.
Meanwhile, thementators were all fired up.
<i>[The seven million chefs appeared again to show their respect to Minhyuk, who reached his ss''s end and pinnacle.]</i>
<i>[Journalists and reporters worldwide are running to cover Korea’s pride, Minhyuk.]</i>
<i>[AAAAAAAH! My heart is beating so fast!]</i>
For some reason, Minhyuk’s expression was hideous.
“Aaargh...”
<i>[...?]</i>
“...?”
Everyone was left puzzled by his sudden and unexpected reaction.
***
Minhyuk reached the end and the pinnacle of his ss. He was the first one to face and experience a new change. From then on, he would carry a few dozen glorious and honorable names.
The millions of people tuned in to Minhyuk’s live broadcast felt warmth gush in their chests as they watched the open grounds fill with more than eight million people.
<i>[Woaaaaaah! Minhyuk hyung! I’m so f*cking proud!]</i>
<i>[It’s here! It’sing! My patriotism ising ouuuuuuut!]</i>
<i>[This is so freaking cool! More than eight million chefs came here to show their respect and admiration for Minhyuk.]</i>
<i>[From now on, you’re my hyung!]</i>
All of the viewers of the live broadcast had already imagined what was going to happen soon.
As for the more than eight million yers? They immediately came here after hearing the following notifications.
<i>[You can congratte the one who reached his ss''s end and pinnacle.]</i>
<i>[If you ept, you will be warped to the area where he is. You will be controlled by AI once he epts.]</i>
Every single one of these yers was smiling widely. They all looked proud of Minhyuk and what he had aplished. Minhyuk had proved his worth in front of their very eyes. That was why most of them held pure respect and admiration for him. And their respect grew even more when they saw Minhyuk deny the help of the Food Gods just so he could eat the most delicious dish in the world.
Merlo acted as the representative, standing in front of the chefs while the previous generations of Food Gods stood before him. The scene was truly heart-pounding.
“Food God!” Merlo shouted as he tried to step forward and show his respect.
<i>[Minhyuk refuses the AI’s control.]</i>
“...?”
<i>[...?]</i>
Everyone was left puzzled.
<i>‘NO! Why are you doing something like that in this glorious, heart-thumping moment?! Why do you look like you’re extremely annoyed and ufortable?!’</i>
“Guys, wait a moment.”
“Sir Minhyuk? But our hearts are all ready to burst with awe and respect...”
“No. I’m not that grand or majestic. Everyone, let me ask you a question. Do you have any conscience?”
“...”
“...”
“I made this dish without the help of the other Food Gods, right?”
<i>Nod–</i>
“I almost died, right?”
<i>Nod, nod–</i>
“I havepleted the dish in a shocking and amazing way, right?”
<i>Nod, nod–</i>
“Then, what should I do next after making the dish?”
“Of course, to receive our gree—”
Minhyuk looked at the man who spoke up and blinked at him as if asking what nonsense he was talking about.
“I just finished cooking, right?”
Everyone nodded once again.
“And it’s not good if it gets cold, right?”
The millions of viewers watching the live broadcast also nodded along.
“It wouldn’t taste good if it gets cold, right?”
Thementators focused on the scene also nodded.
“Then, shouldn’t the next logical course of action be to eat it right?”
All of the yers nodded.
“B-but this touching moment...”
“Can you eat that touching moment?”
The entire world shook their heads.
“Ah, I see,” Merlo said.
At the same time, the entire world thought, <i>‘Wait. No! Merlo, what do you mean by that? Did you agree? Wait. Why did we agree to it, too?’</i>
“Now, now. Look here, I have the Pir Braised Chicken, the most delicious dish and the most difficult thing to make in the world, right in front of my eyes. But you want to stop me from eating it? Do you even have any conscience?”
“We... were wrong.”
“Wow. We’ve been awful.”
“Guys, I don’t think we have any conscience?”
Even the viewers watching the live broadcast piped up.
<i>[Hey. He has a point there.]</i>
<i>[No. Wait. It doesn’t make sense. But the logic is also correct.]</i>
<i>[Hey... We’re definitely in the wrong. Our hearts are swelling with pride, right? So, Minhyuk’s heart is too!]</i>
Thementators also said.
<i>[Our beloved viewers, it might seem very difficult to understand but... it’s also understandable...]</i>
<i>[All people from all over the world have been convinced.]</i>
<i>[What? Why does this feel weird?]</i>
“Anyway, let’s do this after I eat.”
“Uhm, wait. By any chance... can we watch?”
Minhyuk nodded. That much was fine with him!
It was funny to see how millions of yers looked up at Minhyuk like baby birds waiting for their mother to feed them. Of course, the journalists, reporters, viewers, andmentators were also the same.
Nheless, Minhyuk no longer paid any attention to them. He immediately scooped steaming braised chicken from the cauldron and ced it on a te. Of course, he already had a bowl of steaming rice and some purple pickled radish nicely ced on the sides.
Then, Minhyuk began to eat.
The steaming braised chicken included various ingredients: sweet potatoes, cheese rice cake, sweet potato rice cake, t noodles, and more. Because he added some Cheongyang peppers, the sauce has a hint of spiciness amidst its sweetness.
The chicken leg glistened as Minhyuk lifted it to his lips and took a huge bite. The moment he took a bite, the sweet, savory, and slightly spicy vor that coated the chicken spread in his mouth delighted him.
<i>‘Kghhhk. This sauce is superb!’</i>
The vor was phenomenal, just as he expected. After biting the chicken leg, Minhyuk scooped a spoonful of rice into his mouth. Then, he scooped some t noodles and ced them on the rice.
<i>Sluuuuuuuuurp!</i>
The sauce seeped deeply into the t noodles, and their vor alone was enough to tell how delicious the braised chicken was.
“Kghhk...” Minhyuk hummed in awe.
As for the viewers watching the real-time <i>mukbang</i>, they were all drooling with their mouths wide open.
Minhyuk, who did not care about their gazes, scooped a sweet potato and put it in his mouth.
<i>‘Kghhk. The colorful ingredients of the braised chicken are enough to soothe one’s boredom.’</i>
The sweet potato’s sweetness spread all over Minhyuk’s mouth. Wwas that all? Of course not. Minhyuk scooped up the sauce and mixed it with his rice. And the moment he put it in his mouth, someone from the audience shouted in admiration, “Kihyaaa!”
“This is it! This is definitely it!”
“You really know how to eat!”
Minhyuk, who had been eating so well, finally moved toward the next leg of his show, the deboning show. The way that he separated the bone from the meat of the chicken was so beautiful. It was to the point where the people had already forgotten if the one Minhyuk was eating was spicy braised chicken or braised chicken.
Everyone stared nervously at Minhyuk, who was about to reach the end of his meal. The sound of someone gulping their saliva echoed in the area. When the Korean yers saw what Minhyuk took out, they could not help but grab their hairs and shout.
“Uwaaaaah! P-please! I beg you. Stop torturing us!”
“What is this?! Is this some kind of <i>mukbang</i> torture?!”
“My god! I’m dyinggggg!!!”
“This is it! This is it! You’re definitely the Food God! You really know how to eat!”
The thing that Minhyuk took out? It was none other than seaweed kes and sesame oil.
***
ZTube Headquarters.
Ztube Chairman Cuba was sitting inside the conference room, staring at the screen before them. The screen showed Minhyuk throwing a bowl of rice into the remaining braised chicken sauce, sprinkling some seaweed kes on top, and then sprinkling some sesame oil.
<i>Swoosh–!</i>
The stomachs of many of the people sitting in the conference room growled at the sight.
Cuba found it very surprising. He thought, <i>‘No, wait. How can he eat so happily like that? And how can he eat so good like that?’</i>
ZTube catered to a huge number of <i>mukbang</i>-focused BJs. However, this was the first time that Cuba had seen someone who stirred the desire to eat in him.
At that moment, one of the employees hurriedly entered the room.
“What’s the matter?”
“The donations for the past thirty minutes have reached an unprecedented record!”
During the past thirty minutes, the one who had been live broadcasting was Minhyuk and his strange <i>mukbang.</i> In fact, he was still doing his mukbang. He was already mixing the braised chicken sauce with the rice, the sesame oil, and the seaweed kes.
“Heok?! The amount of donations is skyrocketing!”
Cuba had expected an unusual amount of donation to some extent. After all, many viewers, perhaps even the entire world, must be watching Minhyuk’s live broadcast. After all, this was the broadcast of someone who had reached his ss''s end and pinnacle.
At that moment, the employee looked like he was about to foam at the mouth with the unexpected donations they saw from the backend.
“How much is it?”
The employee said, “In thirty minutes... in the thirty minutes yer Minhyuk ate in his live broadcast, the donations have reached 3.2 billion.”
“...”
“...”
The amount of donations was truly unusual.
At this moment, Cuba could guarantee one thing.
<i>‘In the future...’</i>
They would never be able to see a donation like this ever again.
On this day, the term “braised chicken” topped the world’s real-time search list. At the same time, the sales of all the braised chicken restaurants worldwide increased by 2,900%.