Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 240: Battlefield's Great Ruler

“Pride is important, but I don’t think that it makes sense to prioritize something like that when we need to take care of our troops.”

“That’s right. What’s more, the commander of the Rice Supplement company is a kind and virtuous man. He even told us to come whenever we feel hungry, right?”

“I’m jealous. I’m very jealous of the members of the Rice Supplement company!”

“Did you see? At night, they went inside the tent, drilled a hole inside and even warmed up the air inside with fire magic. They definitely slept sweetly.”

Meanwhile, they were all shivering in the cold.

Nelson and Audrey gazed at the Rice Supplement company from a distance. They could see them grinning and smiling over their cups of coffee from who knows where. There was a warm, pleasant and happy atmosphere surrounding them that was completely contrary to the current situation of the other two companies.

“…How about we join them?”

“His Highness Asvon will definitely be angry…”

“In the end, those two are foreigners. Isn’t it possible to deprive those foreigners of their command any time we deem necessary? And, I think that His Highness would be understanding if we told him that our troops of 100 men were on the verge of annihilation?”

“…I see.”

Generally, the command of the foreigners was finite and limited. The knights and soldiers could turn around and not follow their orders if they felt that the foreigners were misdirecting them and giving them bad orders.

In fact, both Asvon and Ellie were very cautious when they handed the command over to the foreigners. They even said that they could easily take over the command once they felt that the foreigners were immature and could not give any correct orders.

‘The most important thing right now is to rescue Prince Argon after all, right?’

Not long after, Nelson and Audrey both looked at each other before looking behind them.

They finally made a decision.

***

Bach felt that his head would explode from all of the complicated thoughts that were running in it.

‘The favor kept on decreasing!’

Such a decrease might result in his knights leaving the company. Eclei even logged out after saying that he would take a nap to clear the stress away.

However, before they could even do something about the favor, the knights started to move strangely. The knights of the Iron Blood and Reapers all began to move towards Rice Supplement.

“Where are you going!”

“…We’ll rely on the commander of the Rice Supplement company to lead us.”

“Wh…what?!”

Bach was caught in surprise. It was understandable that they wanted to leave the company. However, the knights moving towards Rice Supplement and sticking to their group was quite incomprehensible to him.

“Shit…! Do you think Emperor Asvon will stay still if he learns of this?!”

“I think Emperor Asvon will be able to understand our situation to some extent.”

Emperor Asvon was a very competitive man. That was why he wanted to win the God’s Bet, since it was a competition between the two empires. However, more than that, Emperor Asvon had other, deeper thoughts.

‘If you dare lay a hand on my brats then I’ll kill you.’

He was an emperor who treasured his people and his men, more dearly than anyone could know. In the end, he would trust them more than these two foreigners.

Bach just stared dumbfounded as the 100-man troop moved away. Minhyuk was even opening his arms widely in front of them.

“Ah. You came. Let’s have a meal!!!”

He was smiling brightly as if he was welcoming some regular customers.

“…!”

Bach’s clenched fists trembled.

The competition between the Gods was supposed to begin earnestly in Zone 2, but they were completely robbed of their opportunity, even before it started.

“Euhahahaha!?This is really delicious!”

“That’s right. It’s really good!”

“Hahahahaha!”

They were all laughing and giggling.

On the other hand, Bach’s side was completely empty. Things could not proceed like this. Bach marched up to them.

“You bastard! You did it on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Huh? What?”

Minhyuk looked at him with a very carefree expression on his face.

“You purposely stole our troops!!”

“What are you saying? I’m just giving food to the hungry.”

“Bach, we came here of our own free will. What are you trying to do to a person who just wanted to give something to us?”

“That’s right!!! What’s wrong with the good-natured commander of the Rice Supplement company?”

“Booooooo!”

Flinch!

The knights had started to accuse him! Bach’s head turned blank at their accusations.

‘How did it come to this?’

Then he spat out in anger, “Strength is also important for a commander. You want this weakling as your commander?! Ridiculous!!”

The only thing that Minhyuk showed them was him shooting a bow. In fact, Bach did not know anything about him at all. On the other hand, the members of the Rice Supplement company had seen him ravaging hundreds of mobs all by himself.

‘What’s that crazy punk saying?’?

‘Weakling? Who? You?’?

To some extent, the current Iron Blood and Reapers members seemed to agree with his words.

“The commander should also be strong!”

“I’m strong!!!”

“You keep on barking like a dog. You’re already lucky enough if you can survive three of my attacks. Are you even confident that you will survive if we do a PVP here, huh?”

Minhyuk hesitated for a moment, while he put on an expression of fear on his face. Meanwhile, the members of the Rice Supplement all looked at Minhyuk in wonder.

‘What’s wrong with him?’?

‘But he will easily win against that kind of person?’

‘Hmm?’?

Bach was a God-class player, but he was more inclined to being a commander. Of course, his individual skills and abilities were all excellent, since he was an assassin-class player. However, compared to the other god classes, his strength was not that great. Still, it was also a fact that he was ranked third in the local assassins’ rankings.

“Th…then, I have a condition!”

Minhyuk looked like he was very afraid. His expression was screaming that he just plucked up the courage to speak these words out. He said, “If I win, you will tell Emperor Asvon that I took over the command of your troops because you died on the way.”

“…Good. But if I win, then I will take over your troops.”

Bach’s mouth curled up in a smirk.

The only thing that Bach was sure of, was that all Minhyuk had was his archery. Even then, he did not even show him his skills yet. From what he had heard, he was an excellent chef. In other words, he was originally a chef class player.

‘I guess the bow is just a bonus.’

Bach guessed that Minhyuk was one of the two. He thought that he was either admitting the fact that he lacked the commanding ability, so that there would be no confrontation, or that he had some expectations of winning this showdown, even if the chances were slim.

Of course, Bach believed that he would win and that he would get the Rice Supplement company as additional troops. If his forces get a boost, then their hunting speed would definitely double and his enemy kills, commanding ability and contributions would definitely increase. This was his chance to beat Eclei.

Minhyuk was finally fully prepared. He had donned his armor and equipped a sword. After changing all his artifacts, he held his sword out.

“Before we begin, let’s make a foreigner’s pledge.”

The foreigner’s pledge was a pledge between players that would take effect once both players signed each other’s name on a pledge parchment.

[You have signed the Pledge Parchment.]

[You have to follow what was written in the pledge once you lose to your opponent.]

[If you fail to follow the pledge, your level will drop by five.]

The words written on the pledge parchment could never be broken. If one broke the pledge, then they would incur huge penalties.

Bach’s lips curled up in an overconfident grin.

‘How long will you even last. Hehe.’

Bach was very confident that Minhyuk would not be able to hold out in front of him. Then, he started his attacks.

[Splitting Clone]

[Five clones with 40% of your abilities will be created.]

Poof!

Five clones appeared around Bach after he placed his hands together. Each and every one of them was holding a dagger in their hands.

Dash!

The clones dashed towards Minhyuk as Bach prepared to deal a huge blow to him.

[Killer’s Blow]

[Momentarily narrows the distance between you and your opponent for a surprise attack.]

Dash!

Bach immediately appeared near Minhyuk, who looked surprised to see him suddenly appear near himself, as he hurriedly defended with his sword.

Clang!

At the same time, the clones approached and put pressure on Minhyuk.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

“Keuheup!”

Minhyuk staggered back.

“Hoo. I didn’t expect you to stop that one.”

Bach swished his dagger around his hands. He looked relaxed as he threw a mocking compliment at Minhyuk.

Fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh—

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

Stab!

“Keuaaaack!”

“It’s a dagger that’s coated with poison. It will eat away at your HP as your head starts to get dizzy.”

Minhyuk shook his head as the clones continued to put pressure on him.

Poof!

Minhyuk dealt with a clone as it disappeared into a fog of dark clouds.

Poof, poof!

Then, two more clones were cut down. Then, he rushed out to attack Bach.

Clang, clang, clang!

Bach easily blocked the attack with his dagger as he looked at him in a relaxed manner.

“Wow. You’re really going to take this weakling as your commander?!”

Grin—

At that same moment, Bach slashed down on Minhyuk’s arms. There was a buzz among the members of the Reapers and the Iron Blood troops, while the members of the Rice Supplement company were all watching in curiosity.

‘What’s this?’

‘Why is he using only 1/3 of the power that he used earlier? Why isn’t he using that powerful skill?’

Just as they looked on in wonder and curiosity, they heard Minhyuk shout.

“Urkk!?I can’t let someone like you command them! I’ll definitely be with them every step of the way and I’ll save the prince with no one dying!!!”

“…!”

“…!”

Minhyuk had cuts all over his body as he shouted desperately. The members of the Iron Blood and Reapers company all looked at him with their hearts breaking.

‘Aaaaah! Just to be with us…!’

‘He’s a true commander… He’ll fight desperately just to be with us!’

‘Aaaaaaaaah! Commander Minhyuk!’

One knight even shed tears for his passion and dedication.

[Calo’s favor has reached the highest level.]

[Basman’s favor has reached the highest level.]

[Kenia’s favor has reached the highest level.]

[Lunman’s favor has reached the highest level.]

[You have acquired 10 CHA.]

That was when the soldiers of the Rice Supplement company realized.

‘He’s doing this on purpose, right?’

‘He’s definitely a swindler among swindlers!’

‘It seems like I can witness with my very own eyes, how the knights of Iron Blood and Reapers will soon become loyal to Minhyuk for life.’

That was right. He was a swindler. However, Bach, who was unaware of this fact, was smiling broadly. He said, “Keuhahahahaahahahah!?You weakling! How can you command your troops if your strength is just like this?!”

However, contrary to what Bach expected, the knights of the Iron Blood and Reapers company cursed at him madly.

“Be sure to win!”

“Sob, sob, sob!?I was so thrilled with the courage and love that you have for us!”

“We will also risk our lives for you!”

‘Huh?’

Bach tilted his head in confusion.

At the same time, Minhyuk slowly collapsed. Bach tried to give him a final blow, but Minhyuk suddenly grabbed his wrist.

“I will conquer the Immortals’ Land with them!!!”

At that moment, a bright light suddenly burst out of Minhyuk’s body. The knights suddenly stood up in shock and trepidation.

Bach thought that he could easily pull out his wrists from Minhyuk’s hold but before he could do so, the grip on his wrists tightened. He realized that Minhyuk's grip on his wrist was tremendously strong.

‘Wh… what the hell? What’s with this strength?’

Something was strange. And then…

Stab!

…Minhyuk’s sword suddenly pierced his sides.

“Urgh!”

[Your HP has dropped below 60%.]

[Your HP has dropped below 50%.]

“Let go!”

Stab, stab, stab, stab!

Although Bach tried to stab him with his dagger, they did not reach Minhyuk at all. Then, Minhyuk attacked Bach again, slamming his head against the latter's head.

Bang!

“Keuheup!”

Then, Minhyuk stabbed his sword into Bach’s chest.

Stab!

[You received a fatal blow.]

[Your HP has dropped below 10%.]

Then, a phrase in a dark window surprisingly appeared in front of Bach.

[You have been forced to log out.]

After he was forced to log out, Minhyuk raised his arms and shouted.

“I have overcome this obstacle! Now! You can stay with us without any worries!!!”

“Waaaaaaaaah!”

“Minhyuk! Minhyuk! Minhyuk!”

Then, notifications rang one by one in Minhyuk’s ears.

[You have achieved the highest favor among the knights.]

[You have acquired the Title: The All Talk Commander.]

[You have achieved 100% in commanding ability.]

[You have acquired the Food God’s Spicy Chicken Feet Set.]

Along with the notifications, Bach also dropped a piece of item.

“A map?”