Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 287: Dangerous Company

“What’s the matter?”

Everyone turned their attention to Team Leader Park.

“Everything is actually going according to Minhyuk’s plans right now.”

“What are you saying?”

“Huh?”

Manager Kim Daesik, President Kang Taehoon and Lee Minhwa focused on his words.

“Player Minhyuk already knows most of the information about the tower up to the 50th floor, not to mention the 40th floor.”

“That’s right.”

“Yeah. It’s thanks to Aruvel and the bet he made with Roven, the tower’s architect.”

“So, Player Minhyuk knows that the 40th floor needed a chef.”

All of them nodded in agreement.

“And he knows that he’s the one that’s most likely to be able to meet the conditions for that floor. He must have guessed Calauhel would be placed in a situation where he had to choose. He would either take his time to find another player, or just cast his net with Player Minhyuk. Both choices are close to impossible.”

Team Leader Park gulped his saliva to moisten his throat before continuing his words. He said, “Player Minhyuk has accelerated his pace in climbing the tower. This was so he could put pressure on Calauhel, ‘If you don’t hurry and clear it then I’ll be there in no time’ or something like that. Of course, teaming up is impossible since the two are hostile toward each other. By then, Calauhel would be forced to make a simple choice.”

“…?”

“Clear the trial with Player Minhyuk’s help, by all means necessary.”

President Kang Taehoon’s eyes widened in shock. He asked, “So Great Thief Elion has to create a quest for that?”

“That’s right.”

Team Leader Park gulped again before continuing once more, “Player Minhyuk will receive a quest from Great Thief Elion. And Calauhel will pretend to be an NPC to lead Minhyuk. And Player Minhyuk is most definitely sharpening his blade, while pretending to be fooled.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

All of them were left speechless. It was a ridiculously impossible plan. First of all, Minhyuk could not have known of the existence of Great Thief Elion. However, he knew that Calauhel would make a move to use him in any way possible. In other words, he was reversing their roles.

“H…he has considered… all of that?” Manager Kim Daesik asked, still in disbelief that Minhyuk would intentionally go along with their plan as he prepared to give them a big ‘surprise’ in return. It was like everything was in the palm of his hands.

Team Leader Park Minggyu’s eyes returned to the monitor. He took in a breath before speaking again.

“I’m sure of one thing now. If Player Minhyuk is not obsessed with food and he plays like a regular player…”

For a moment, goosebumps rose all over Team Leader Park’s body.

“…and he had a regular class… Then, he would have already been in the top ten of the Global Rankings.”

***

Minhyuk could easily see through Calauhel’s plans the moment an old man showed up in front of him because he knew a lot about the 40th floor.

The 40th floor was the floor where ‘King Arthur’ appeared. And, he knew that King Arthur would give a quest that would require the strength of a few vassals and players. According to Aruvel, the 40th floor was also unlike other floors, in the way that it could be climbed without clearing the floor.

However, an old man greeted him as soon as he climbed to the 40th floor, and he was obviously not King Arthur. Then, the man said, “You’re really amazing for reaching the 40th floor. My name is Bero. Can you listen to my story?”

The old man continued to talk. He said, “A long time ago, I lost my beloved to the being called ‘Sly Devil Diablo’. So, I chased him with my comrades. But, killing him was not an easy task and that bastard hid at the last trial in this place. One would need the power of an excellent chef to clear the trials. I need a chef’s cooking to lure and tempt the monster in the sixth trial and get a fragment of the broken blade. Can you do it for me?”

Then, a notification rang at that moment.

Ring!

[The quest that will be created will change depending on the player’s class.]

[Chef Class Quest: The man who had lost his family to the Lesser Demon, Old Man Bero’s Request.]

Rank: SS

Requirements: The person who has reached the 40th floor.

Rewards: Bero’s Treasure

Penalty for Failure: Drop in Bero’s favor.

Description: Old Man Bero had lost his family to the Lesser Demon Diablo a long time ago. Known as one of the Pinnacle Strong Man of the continent, he arrived here with his comrades. However, he has yet to pass and overcome the sixth trial that requires a chef’s expertise. Help him break through the sixth trial and hand him the piece of the broken blade!

‘Hoho. Quite surprising.’

Minhyuk was quite surprised.

‘He can actually create a quest window?’

Minhyuk thought that the old man had drunk something like the doppelganger’s potion. However, he could now tell what the skill of the person in front of him was.

‘So this person has this ability…’?

It was a mysterious ability. In any case, there was one thing that Minhyuk was sure of. The old man was working for Calauhel. Had Minhyuk not known Aruvel or was unaware of the tower’s information beforehand, the chances of him being fooled would definitely be high.

Alas, Calauhel did not know that Minhyuk had the tower’s information up to the 50th floor. In fact, the person that was being fooled right now was Calauhel, not him.

“I understand.”

When Minhyuk accepted the quest, the old man smiled kindly at him. He said, “Come here. I will introduce you to my friends.”

Bero led Minhyuk to where the six people were gathered.

‘One of them is Calauhel.’?

Minhyuk could not see Calauhel’s figure anywhere. In fact, Minhyuk had never seen all of the six people in Athenae.

‘They all changed their faces and pretended to be NPCs.’?

“Nice to meet you. I’m the Taming Princess, Roney.”

“Yes. Hello. I’m Minhyuk.”

Minhyuk shook hands with them one by one.

“Can a rookie like this cook the dish that we need?” The man openly mocked Minhyuk. He looked like a warrior class player with bulging muscles and an intimidating appearance.

‘Are you going to play the undesirable NPC?’?

Quite a few of the NPCs, especially those that exert great power in their respective Empires, often ignored players.

“Hehe.?Even if I look like this, just one of my dishes will end it all.”

Then, Minhyuk said hello to the last person. Then, at that moment…

[The Royal Class ‘Dragon Monarch’ has been born.]

[May the birth of the first Royal Class be filled with blessings.]

The face of the man in front of him began to distort rapidly at the same time the notifications sounded. Minhyuk could tell just by looking at him.

‘There’s a good chance that this bastard is challenging the Royal Class too. And clearing the 40th floor is his transferring process.’?

In other words, the man in front of him was Calauhel. However, the man in front of him quickly erased his raging emotions and said, “Black Monarch. Orden.”

“Food God. Minhyuk.”

The two shook hands. This was the first meeting between Calauhel and Minhyuk.

***

Ten minutes ago.

Black Dragon was told by the Dragon Knight that the Destruction Dragon Cracana was located on the 16th floor of Demon World’s Tower. After some time, he came face to face with the Destruction Dragon Cracana. Next to the dragon was the Demon Sorcerer that injected him with demonic energy, making him go crazy.

“Because of you, I couldn’t make him mine! If I make you disappear, Cracana will become my dragon!” The Demon Sorcerer shouted loudly at him.

And Cracana also roared with him, “Kiyeeeeeeeek!”

[Destruction Dragon Cracana has been under the influence of the Demon Sorcerer for quite a long time.]

[Based on his explosive state, Destruction Dragon Cracana’s abilities and skills have increased by 1.6x.]

[You should either cure or make Cracana submit to you.]

[To become the Dragon’s Monarch, you must be able to ‘communicate’ sincerely.]

[We hope that you can communicate your sincerity to the?Destruction Dragon Cracana.]

Destruction Dragon Cracana had reddish scales covering his entire body. Then, he flew high up in the sky as he opened his mouth.

“Kyaaahaaaaaack!”

[Destruction Dragon’s Breath.]

[You will receive an additional 300% damage as soon as the attack hits you.]

Shwaaaaaaaak―

A strange sense of death suddenly appeared in Black Dragon’s head when he saw the breath rushing towards him.

Flap―

With a loud sound, black wings spread out from his back. It was none other than Poison Dragon.

[Poison Dragon’s Wings.]

[At the moment of danger, he will spread his wings to protect you. He will also shoot ‘Dragon Plumes’ and randomly target your enemies with poison.]

Fwoosh, fwoosh―

Black Dragon flew as high as he could. Then, a square shield made out of bones appeared in front of him.

Bang―

The square shield collided strongly with the incoming Breath.

“Ugh!” Black Dragon groaned from the powerful impact of the shockwave, as he fell from the sky.

Crack, crack, crack, crack―

Cracking sounds suddenly echoed from the bone shield as Cracana of the Destruction slammed against Black Dragon.

Bang―

Smoke engulfed the huge area.

“Kyahahahahaha!” The Demon Sorcerer laughed loudly.

But then…

Shwaaaaaak―

…as the dust cleared, the man who dared challenge him reappeared. In his hands was a red spear that looked like it was made of bones. It was Britney’s ‘Dragon’s Tear Sword’, which had turned into ‘Blood’s Tear Spear’. A huge pair of wings had also protected Black Dragon from the attack.

Flash―

Black Dragon’s wings spread out as he began to fly.

“Graaaaack!”

Cracana of the Destruction opened his huge mouth to bite on Black Dragon.

Bang―

Black Dragon successfully escaped letting the fierce dragon bite on empty air. Then, Black Dragon opened his mouth to speak to him. He said, “I’m not going to fight you.”

“Fufufufufufu.?I don’t know if you can survive then.”

The Demon Sorcerer laughed wickedly. Black Dragon continued in his attempts to have a ‘dialogue’ with Cracana. He spoke with words that he believed would heal and cure Carcana, and his words were filled with sincerity!

“You’ll be with your siblings. And you, me, and the other dragons will defeat the evil of this world together! We will become the justice of this world!!!”

“…”

At the same time, Ruslein, the sorcerer, got goosebumps from the words that he heard. He thought, ‘What a cringy line…!’?

The Destruction Dragon Cracana was known to be the most brutal and violent among all four of the legendary dragons. No one could tame him at all. This was also the reason why the sorcerer could not tame him, despite injecting him with demonic energy for quite a long time. However, he thought that it would be different if the owner that Cracana had been waiting for suddenly came. But now…

“How can you say that to win Cracana’s favor!” Demon Sorcerer Ruslein shouted, laughing at Black Dragon from the bottom of his heart. He could not believe that the man in front of him would use such a cringy line to win the favor of such a brutal dragon.

However…

[Cracana’s explosive state has calmed down. He is now beginning to heal.]

“…?”

The Demon Sorcerer could not help but tilt his head in confusion.