Chapter 48: Eating to Acquire Skills

"Wait, what exactly are the seeds?" Minhyuk asked, quickly diverting the topic to avoid answering Bran’s question. He had obtained a total of seven seeds after hunting the Sweet Potato Men. Each of the seeds was in a different color.

“A fruit will grow from that seed if you plant it.”

"Oh!" Minhyuk shouted in awe. This meant that the seeds in his hands would provide him with fruits and vegetables other than sweet potatoes!

"Those aren't yours though, boy."

"Not mine? But… but these are the rewards that I received!"

“Wait a bit. The one for you is different,” Bran said as he went inside his hut.

Bran thought,?'There's no way that he will choose the seeds.'

Minhyuk had met the final condition. So, Bran had to put him to a test. When he went inside his hut, he opened a small jewel box, which contained an expensive-looking ring. It was a unique artifact that went by the name ‘Mahava’s Double Ring’. Mahava’s Double Ring was a great artifact among all of the existing double rings. Artifacts like this could definitely only be counted on one hand.

'It's an artifact that increases the magical defensive power by +40, and has the special ability Absorption Skill attached to it.'

The skill Absorption attached to Mahava’s Double Ring had a 50% chance of absorbing a skill as long as the opponent that released the skill did not have more than 100 level difference with the player that had the ring equipped. The skill that the ring absorbed could also be used within ten minutes since the skill was absorbed. In other words, it was an extremely valuable ring. The trial would involve Bran presenting the ring to Minhyuk, in exchange for the seven seeds.

'If he chooses Mahava's Double Ring, then he will only get the ring. He will not get anything related to the seeds.'

In fact, this was a path to a hidden piece, as well as the trial’s secret.

'Of course, everyone will think that Mahava's Double Ring is more important than the seeds,'?Bran thought. In fact, even he himself found Mahava’s Double Ring to be more profitable and useful than a seed. However, a notification had rung in Bran’s head asking him to drop a hint, that the fruits or vegetables that would grow from the seed would be more delicious than normal crops.?This was so he could test the player if they could achieve the hidden piece, the perfect reward for this Farming Dungeon.

Then, Bran walked back to where Minhyuk was and said, "Well, this is the final reward. Once you hand me the seeds, you will be notified that you have completed all of the quests in the dungeon, and I'll give this to you as a reward."

[You can now acquire Mahava's Double Ring.]

"But, what happens once this seed grows into a fruit?!"

"Hey, it's nothing special. It will just produce a much more delicious fruit. Just give me the seeds, don't you want this ring?"

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Much more delicious than normal fruits?"

"Yeah, much more delicious. Quickly give me the seeds, you won't be able to complete the quest if you don’t give them to me quickly! Don't you want this ring?!" Bran said, thinking that this rascal was quite lovable. However, no matter how much he liked Minhyuk, he still believed that Minhyuk would not receive the final rewards.

Then, Minhyuk smiled while in a daze, and said, "A more delicious fruit. Wow!"

"...?"

Bran looked at him in puzzlement.

"Are you telling me that there will be seven delicious fruits?!" Minhyuk asked. It seemed like he was not even interested in Mahava’s Double Ring.

"Then, I will not give you any seed at all. I will grow them myself and eat the delicious fruits!"

"...Are you serious?"

"Isn't that obvious? Anyway, the seeds with the delicious fruits are much better. Who cares about items? Are items more important than eating?!" Minhyuk declared solemnly, living this truth every day. He continued to say, "When I eat, the food gets absorbed in my body, but an item is just an item."

Minhyuk’s words sounded strangely convincing, but Bran’s mouth twitched, as he said, "Boy. You're really curious about what the seeds will bear, right?!"

"...?"

Minhyuk looked at him with suspicion.

‘What does he mean? All I want is to eat something delicious!’

Then, the notifications suddenly poured in.

[You have received Bran’s favor.]

[You have received Bran’s favor.]

[You have received Bran's...]

"Boy, you're really qualified to become a true farmer! My world! You're even wondering what kind of fruit the seed will bear!"

"No, more delicious..."

"Boy, you have inherited the blood of a natural farmer!"

Misunderstandings could lead to delusions. In fact, it truly did not make any sense for a person to choose the seeds, just so they could eat something much more delicious than the regular produce. In addition, Minhyuk was also someone who had worked hard to dig up sweet potatoes. Hence, it naturally caused Bran to misunderstand, believing that Minhyuk loved and cared for farming deeply.

"It's my good fortune to have met you in this lifetime!"

Minhyuk did not answer him. He just placed the seeds in his bosom and chuckled lightly. He thought,?'I'll just sneak away like this so these seeds will be mine!'

"Well then, you can take this."

Minhyuk was shocked at Bran’s sudden actions. He thought,?'H… he still hasn't given up?!'

"I... I don't like it. No way! I won't give these seeds to you! I will never give these seeds to you!" Minhyuk shouted urgently.

Bran just laughed at him as he placed the Mahava's Double Ring in his hands. He said, "No, you can have it. This Mahava's Double Ring, and even these seeds too. You are their true owner."

At that moment, a series of notifications rang in Minhyuk's head.

[You have achieved the Hidden Piece: He Who has the Disposition of a True Farmer.]

[You can now cultivate the seeds.]

[Novice Farming has leveled up.]

[Novice Farming has leveled up.]

[You have acquired Mahava's Double Ring.]

Surprisingly, it was a hidden quest!

Minhyuk looked at the notifications in bewilderment. He thought,?'But, wasn’t it natural to choose the seeds?!'

How could it be a hidden piece? This was shocking! As Minhyuk thought about it carefully, he finally realized that other players would have definitely chosen the ring instead of the seeds. After all, the players that played this game all wanted to become strong, so they would choose to get the item instead.

"Can I check the seeds?"

"Yeah."

Minhyuk quickly checked the seeds. Earlier, it was only labeled as 'A Useless Seed' so he wanted to check if there were any changes.

(The Seed of Effort and Care)

Material Grade: ???

Special Abilities: ???

Description: The seed of effort and care is a special seed that can only be acquired by a true and qualified farmer. Keep digging! The more you dig, the more you will fill the percentage bar of the 'Seed's Effort'. The fruits of the seed will vary depending on the percentage that you can achieve. In addition, if you give the seeds love and care, the seeds will also react. The seeds can grow in exactly two weeks.

Minhyuk smiled in satisfaction as he continued to check the rest of the items that he gained.

(Mahava's Double Ring)

Class: Unique

Requirements: 60 STR

Durability: 4,000 / 4,000

Defensive Power: 101

Special Abilities:

+40 Magic Defensive Power

?Skill: Absorption

He checked the attached skills right away.

(Absorption)

Artifact Skill

Level: None

Mana Required: 70

Cooldown: 24 hours

Effects: The force of the Magical Attack or Physical Attack of an enemy with a 100 level difference or below can be absorbed once by the wearer for ten minutes.

"Well, this isn't bad."

The power of the artifact was something that he had expected from a double ring. Right now, Minhyuk had two double rings in his possession. Then, he checked his Novice Farming skill.

(Novice Farming)

Passive Skill

Level: 7

Effects:

?You will be 21% faster whenever you gather or dig for materials and ingredients.

?You have a 15% chance of obtaining better materials and ingredients.

The Novice Farming Skill did not change much, but he felt glad that it leveled up since his chances of getting better and more delicious sweet potatoes had increased.

"Come here," Bran said as he led Minhyuk somewhere else. The place they went to was near Bran’s hut. It was the door at the end of the room where his firewood was stacked. Minhyuk had seen this door earlier when he went there to get firewood before. He wondered what it was for back then, but thought it rude to open it without Bran's permission. When the door opened, the scene that appeared caused Minhyuk to be in awe and admiration!

"Wow... Wow... Wow... Waaaaaa!" Minhyuk shouted happily.

Bran looked at him proudly and said, "This time, it's potatoes!"

"Uwaaaaaah!" Minhyuk’s shout grew louder. Without further ado, he quickly started digging for potatoes. Of course, he did not forget to plant his seeds too.

There were countless dishes that Minhyuk could cook with potatoes. French fries, potato salad, or even dishes like stir fried potatoes that were best served as side dishes for rice. From then on, he solely focused on digging potatoes. There were 24 hours a day in reality which was equivalent to 96 hours inside the game. He spent most of his hours digging potatoes and only slept for about two hours each day. Sleep? Sleep would not stop Minhyuk when there was something that he could eat in front of him.

[Novice Farming has leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have gained 1 DEX.]

[You have acquired Potatoes.]

Minhyuk dug potatoes continuously.

***

Two weeks had gone by inside the game. The tournament was right around the corner. Minhyuk looked like he was in a daze the moment he got out of the game.

"Minhyuk, don't you want to get some sleep?"

"It's fine. Hehe. I have already gathered a?lot?of potatoes!"

Minhyuk made a big gesture to appease Lee Jinhwan's worries. His face might have looked tired, but he felt happy. Today was another big day. Minhyuk had to go and check his weight, so everyone headed together towards the weighing scale. Taking a deep breath, Minhyuk slowly placed his heavy body on top of the weighing scale. Then, the numbers started to change. Everyone was looking at the scales nervously. It was a bit unfortunate that his father was not able to come today. He had something urgent to attend to, but everyone else came to support Minhyuk. Minhyuk closed his eyes in trepidation.

'Gasp...!'

'Aack?!'

Everyone around looked at the scale in shock, but they tried their best to keep quiet. After all, it would be better if Minhyuk saw it himself.

"Can I open my eyes now?!"

"Y, yeah!"

Minhyuk slowly opened his eyes to look at the number on the scale. The moment he looked at the weighing scale…

172.7 kg.

…his legs softened and he fell down with a thud. That was a whole 500 grams missing from his previous weight.

Clap, clap, clap, clap!

Everyone applauded.

"Congratulations, Minhyuk!" Changwook exclaimed, slinging his hands over Minhyuk’s shoulder.

"Minhyuk, congratulations!"

"Congratulations, Kang Minhyuk!"

"I knew you could do it!"

All of the people present were smiling happily as they congratulated Minhyuk. However, he could not hear them at all. He had always thought that he would die at any moment. Always believing that he had no hope anymore, that he would die without eating anything delicious. But something had changed. It might just be 500 grams. No, for others, it might just be a measly 500 grams, but for Minhyuk, this change was something that he longed for, more than anybody else. That was when tears started to fall from his eyes.

"Hiiik, waaaaaaah!" Minhyuk wept loudly and sadly.

Perhaps, he could really have the figure that he had in the game. Just maybe, he could turn that into reality.

"To be honest, we still have to observe you further, Minhyuk. But, there's clearly a change and you're definitely eating less right now," Jinhwan said quietly.

'Perhaps we can expect some big changes in the future, once he can finally satisfy his hunger and appetite in the game.'

But, Jinhwan knew that this was not yet the time to tell Minhyuk.

"Heuk, heuk, heuk, heuk!" Minhyuk continued to cry pitifully. The people around him were at a loss, feeling his sadness.

"Hey, hey. Why are you crying? Your hyung’s heart hurts seeing you like this."

"Waaaaaaaah!"

"Hyung will buy you candies in?Athenae. Some rice cakes too!"

"...OMG?"

"Gasp..."

"Keok?!"

Minhyuk, who was crying his heart out, suddenly stopped crying when he heard the word ‘candy’. He quickly wiped away the tears in his eyes before looking at Changwook, as if he did not just cry. Then, he said, "You know that strawberry milk is also really delicious, right?"

"...."

"...."

"...."

Minhyuk smiled widely, looking forward to the taste of delicious candy.