Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 260: Hungry Children

The carriage was filled with silence. Corr turned towards the coachman and said, “Coachman, pull over for a bit.”

He then sighed deeply as he shook his head and left the carriage. Beanie also stood up as it looked at Conir’s spiritual body with pity. Then, it slowly walked out of the carriage with the chuchubar in its paws.

“Ooink.”

‘Cheer up. Oink.’

Then, he went away.

[Gu, guwoo…?]

When everyone else went out of the carriage, Conir suddenly felt terrified. It was because Minhyuk’s expression was changing every second!

“Hahahahaha! You want a bite? A bite?”

[Gu, guwoo… H, hungry…]

“But, can a spiritual body eat?”

Minhyuk suddenly became curious as he gave a piece of cabbage leaf to Conir. Conir reached out to try and grab the food, but he could not touch it. Minhyuk finally realized that spiritual bodies could not eat. Conir also had a very sad and despondent look on his face when he realized this.

“I’m so sorry about this.”

Beanie and Corr went out without realizing that Minhyuk was treating Conir differently. It was because Minhyuk knew how much Conir had suffered from his hunger. He knew this more than anybody else. Sometimes, asking for one bite was a desperate plea.

Minhyuk had also experienced being too eager to eat his 5,000 pieces of cherry tomatoes, just so he could appease his eating addiction. He even thought that it would be fine for him to die if he would be allowed to eat all of the delicious food that he wanted to eat. He wanted to go to a buffet just like a normal person and bring a plate filled with food, as he continuously stacked his bowls. For others, those were just common routines. However, it was not the same for Minhyuk. For him, those were only a part of his dreams. As it turned out, it was also not a routine for Conir.

Then, Minhyuk suddenly asked him a question, “Conir, what kind of person were you?”

[I… don’t… remem… ber…]

“Huh?”

Minhyuk tilted his head in thought.

‘You don’t remember? That’s strange.’

Conir clearly told him about the girl named Haze, the other kids left behind, as well as the atrocities that Count Peru had committed. However, Conir could not remember who he was.

Minhyuk looked at Conir with a bit of regret. He shook his head as he continued to eat again.

***

The notifications in Minhyuk’s ears kept on ringing after he started eating the dishes that he bought using his contribution points.

[You have eaten the Fantastic Bossam & Tray Noodle Set.]

[One of your equipped artifacts will be randomly selected. The chosen artifact will have an increase in ranking.]

[The system has randomly selected Hepas’ Legendary Frying Pan.]

[Hepas’ Legendary Frying Pan has certain limitations and can no longer be upgraded.]

[The ranking has not increased. Only the effects of the artifact has been enhanced.]

(Hepas’ Legendary Artifact)

Rank: Legendary

Requirements: 300 STR, 300 AGI, 500 DEX

Durability

:?∞ / ∞

Attack: 845

Defense: 1,045

Special Abilities:?

?A +20% in all stats

?A +200 in Magical Defense

?The effectiveness of the Magical Defense will double.

?There will be a +50% increase in the probability of Magical Reflection.

?+50% increase in Spirit Affinity.?

?You can use Third Tier Magic of all of the five attributes without casting to cook with the frying pan.

?Skill: Gryphon’s Cry

?Skill: Frying Pan Gigantification

Description: A legendary artifact produced by Hepas’ Descendant with all his attention and care. He especially gave his all on the cooking aspect of the artifact. When cooking with this frying pan, low-leveled spirits will appear to help with the cooking.

[You have eaten the Fantastic Chicken and Pizza Set.]

[The special abilities of one of your equipped artifacts will be upgraded.]

[The system has randomly selected ‘Food God’s Kitchen Knife’s Skill: Food God’s Blessings' to be upgraded.]

(Food God’s Blessings)

Artifact Skill

Level: None

Mana Required: 700 per hour of use

Cooldown: None

Effects:

?Three Food God’s Kitchen Knives with 817 attack will appear to protect the owner or attack the enemy at any time.

?There is a 17% chance of the Food God’s Kitchen Knife’s having an additional 160% critical damage.

In the Frying Pan’s case, the attack increased by 200 and the defense increased by 150. In addition, the +100 on the magic defense had now become +200 and the Second Tier Magic had become Third Tier Magic. The most important addition was the appearance of low-leveled spirits that could help with his cooking. In the Food God’s Kitchen Knife’s case, the initial two kitchen knives had become three.

At that moment, their carriage had finally reached the Collodis Empire. They were entering an area named Vanchester. It was a territory under Count Peru.

“Can you show us proof of your identity?”

The guards looked at them suspiciously. Minhyuk showed them the invitation that Emperor Asvon had sent them.

“Sa…salute!!!”

“Please excuse us, you may enter.”

This just showed how much power the invitation of the emperor possessed. Minhyuk quickly passed through the guards and entered Vanchester smoothly.

Vanchester was a holy ground. It was a territory famous for its riches. However, Minhyuk knew that all these dazzling displays, colorful marbles and stylish buildings were possible due to the production of ‘chimeras’. The only thing he felt as he looked through these extravagances was disgust.

Now, this was their problem…

‘How can we infiltrate the lord’s castle?’

According to Conir, the defenses in the castle were no less than that of the Imperial Palace. After getting his riches from conducting chimera experiments through the use of children, it was only natural for Count Peru to be more vigilant with his territory’s defense.

At that moment, something that Conir had mentioned before had flashed in his mind.

The dragon in the Dungeon of Sin must be killed after 30 cycles and a new one would hatch from a new egg. This had become a vicious cycle. In addition, they needed to find a sacrifice secretly for this cycle to continue.

‘That’s really strange though. He doesn’t remember anything about himself but he remembers the process clearly.’

‘Is it because he’s a chimera?’

Meanwhile, Minhyuk was able to meet an unexpected character.

“Minhyuk-llujah! Pope… No, Minhyuk, what are you doing here?”

It was none other than the most fervent supporter of Minhyuk Religion, Priest Kenneth.

***

Priest Kenneth had received a commission through the Athenae Temple to travel around Collodis Empire and pray for the people.

Based on Conir’s words, Count Peru’s aim was none other than ‘Kenneth’. It seemed like he was their target sacrifice this time. As it happened, a very convenient method to infiltrate the lord’s castle had appeared in front of them.

Minhyuk pulled out one of the items that he had bought at the Royal Shop. He just bought it on a whim, but he did not expect that it would be used like that. It was none other than the ‘Doppelganger Potion.’

Drinking this potion would allow the user to change into someone else. Once Minhyuk drank the doppelganger potion, he would be able to turn into Kenneth. Then, he also made sure to ask Kenneth for some change of clothes.

“I’m very honored! Minhyuk will be wearing my clothes!” Kenneth shouted. He looked like an excited fangirl with the way he reacted. He was also furious with Count Peru when he heard about the Count's atrocious deeds from Minhyuk.

“Those despicable bastards!”

Then, Minhyuk quickly turned into a replica of Kenneth before moving around wearing his priest robes. Kenneth told Minhyuk that all he had to do was say some good words, pray once and walk around.

“Good day, Priest?”

“Athellujah.?Please let me pray for you, sister.”

Minhyuk stood in front of the woman as he clasped his hands together and prayed. The woman became excited. She hurriedly closed her eyes as she clasped her hands together.

“God Athenae who is in heaven, please give us our daily bread once, twice, thrice, four times. I hope that you can enrich the meat so that delicious side dishes are served every day. Ramen… Ah, no. Amen.”

‘Eh?’?

The woman tilted her head in confusion while Minhyuk, who looked like Kenneth, just grinned widely at her.

“Athellujah. I hope you have something delicious every day.”

The woman could not help but twirl her fingers on the side of her head as she watched the priest walking away.

***

Minhyuk wandered around the market all day. As he walked around, he faintly felt someone trailing his movements. The stalker ambushed him silently.

Slam!

A powerful hand chop hit the back of his neck. However, it did not cause much damage to Minhyuk’s HP and defense. Regardless, he still pretended to sag and turn unconscious.

Then, they started to put something mysterious on Minhyuk’s body. It seemed like it was an item that could determine his holy powers.

“He’s filled with holy power.”

“He’s clearly a priest.”

They quickly moved the ‘unconscious’ Minhyuk towards their destination. With that, he easily infiltrated Count Peru’s domain. The assailants continued to go down after entering Count Peru’s castle.

“Save me!!!”

“P…please give me something to eat!!!”

Then, he heard the cries of the children who were trapped in the prison. When he opened his eyes, he could see more than ten iron doors along the hallway. Each iron door had several children locked in them. In other words, they had captured dozens of children in this horrible place. Minhyuk’s fist clenched tightly. These were still NPCs but nevertheless, this act was extremely disgusting and infuriating.

Then, the people who brought Minhyuk along woke him up as he felt something being placed on his wrist.

[You have worn the Devil’s Bracelet.]

[All of your Holy Powers have been restricted.]

Perhaps they were concerned about the priest’s holy power. After all, once an ordinary priest got his holy powers sealed, then he was no different from an ordinary man.

Minhyuk begged and screamed for help. Then, he was stuffed in one of the iron doors. When he was left there, he began to shout and beg for help again.

[Ha… z… e…]

Conir opened his mouth. Minhyuk had heard about this child. This child was special. The child was stronger than anybody else in this place. It was said that a chimera could only be transformed inside after the ‘hunger’ had accumulated for years. Perhaps this was the reason why Haze was special. She had always been told that she needed to become a pillar for the other children.

Minhyuk asked her in a trembling voice as she tried to console him, “Wh…what is your name, child?”

“Haze.”

“It…it’s a pretty name. May God Athenae be with you.”

Minhyuk held her hands tightly as he prayed for her sincerely.

‘May these children not experience hunger anymore. May the hunger of the people disappear from this world. And may there be no one who makes someone else go hungry.’

Haze looked down at him and asked, “What’s your name?”

Minhyuk answered that question in his heart.

‘I’m here to save you, Haze.’

However, he opened his mouth to say, “Minhyuk.”

“Minhyuk… Minhyuk… I’ll remember that.”

She smiled as she continued to mull over the name over and over again. Minhyuk could see what she meant by remembering.

‘We’re about to die but I don’t want to forget everyone here.’

Haze truly looked like a special girl so Minhyuk used his ‘Eye of the Abyss’ on her.

[Using Eye of the Abyss.]

[Observation is successful.]

(Haze)

Rank: A name that can become a legend.

Level: 5

Attack Power: 57

Defensive Power: 48

Special Abilities:

?Passive Skill: Clever Mind

?Passive Skill: Elaborate Language Skills

?Passive Skill: Legendary Aptitude

Potential: 134

Experience Value: 13% / 100%

Description: Haze. She is a girl born with a clever mind, and will become a legend if she becomes a tactician, a strategist, or a merchant.