Gourmet Gaming

‘I would have probably failed to protect the Kingdom of Eden, and lost Hanwoo too.’

That was just how strong Rumacar was. The envoys of the god of Edea were no different.

‘It’s similar to how I can’t beat Grandpa Ben in a one-on-one fight.’

The true gods had this sense of detachment that no player could dare to touch.

Minhyuk had just been taking a break after rescuing Black Dragon, Beanie and Luna when he heard the notifications. As someone that was aware of how frightening their existence was, Minhyuk immediately hid his appearance using the Great Demon Verus’ Mask the moment he arrived at the Land of Fantasy. After all, he needed to prepare well.

‘If I make a move right away, then the one that would die would only be me.’

Not too long ago, Minhyuk had fought against the executives of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom in a 10:1 battle. The result of that battle was a draw.

However, just because Minhyuk was able to beat them and force the result into a draw did not mean that his strength overwhelmed the other ten of them combined. It was similar to the case of ten Level 500 players that would have a difficult time fighting and winning against a single Level 580 player.

However, something noteworthy was that Minhyuk had not received any buff from his buffed dishes during the duel. To be fair, the biggest advantage of the Food God was none other than his buffed dishes. If Minhyuk received the effects of his buffed dishes, then he would be able to exert the power of someone at Level 700 at any given moment.

Minhyuk quietly took out the meal that he had kept in his inventory while trying to keep as much distance as possible from the other players. The meal consisted of a 30-cm-long MyWay Sandwich. The brand had plenty of stores globally. Its main charm was the fact that one could choose whatever type of bread they wanted, as well as the types of vegetables and sauces, on their sandwich. In Minhyuk’s case, he wanted to eat the MyWay Sandwich so bad that he made one himself.

‘It’s easy to store and very convenient to eat.’

Minhyuk always kept some high-grade dishes in his food storage inventory in case of emergencies. Even if he stored some fried chicken in his inventory for a long time, its crispy golden skin and warmth would not disappear. In other words, as long as his food was stored in his inventory, he would still be able to eat it at its peak condition.

He immediately used Double Food to replicate the MyWay Steak and Cheese Sandwich. Then, Minhyuk triggered ‘Overlapping Delight’ so he could get double the buff effects. After doing all of that, Minhyuk started to devour the steak and cheese sandwich.

The bread’s slightly crispy texture, along with the ‘barbeque & mustard’ combination, created a perfect harmony. The biggest reason why Minhyuk loved MyWay sandwiches was because of the huge amount of vegetables one could get in it. One bite and he could taste the cacophony of flavors of the onions, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, olives and many other vegetables packed in his sandwich. Even the full and savory flavor of the steak and the melted cheese added to its charm. When he felt like his throat had gone dry, he would fill a glass with ice and cider and drink it all up in one gulp.

“Kyahaaa!” The bubbly and refreshing feeling that traveled down his throat made him shout in delight.

“Keuaaaaaaaaack!” One of the players screamed after getting hit by an attack.

“Keheoheok! Urk! This, this crazy bastard! What the hell?!”

The player, who had been on the verge of death after getting hit by Viel’s attack, looked dumbfounded when he saw a player run around with a sandwich in one hand and a drink in another.

However, Minhyuk did not care. He just continued to eat his sandwich while running around to avoid Viel’s attack path.

[Overlapping Delight.]

[You can now receive the effects of two dishes.]

[The duration of the buff effect will depend on the number that the die will cast.]

The golden die shone brightly above the players who were trapped in a circle of flames.

[The die has been cast! You have rolled a four!]

[The Overlapping Delight’s buff effect will last for three minutes!]

[You have rolled a six, your EXP Acquisition Rate will double for seven minutes!]

[You have received the effects of the Legendary Grade Steak and Cheese Sandwich and the Legendary Grade Steak and Cheese Sandwich.]

[Your STR and AGI have increased by 24%!]

[Your physical and magical defenses have increased by 22%!]

[Your Sword’s Basic Attack has increased by 70%!]

[You can choose one of the skills in your possession and use it once without worrying about its cooldown!]

[Your Passive Skill Activation Percentage has increased tremendously!]

Minhyuk did not even delay the moment the number appeared on the golden die.

‘Did you say bug?’

Perhaps humans were nothing but weak and insignificant bugs in the eyes of the gods. After all, the gods could easily take the lives of these humans that served them.

Minhyuk used Absolute Defense, triggering an invincible barrier that would last for seven seconds, as he shot forward. Because of that, the hook-shaped sword lights could not tear Minhyuk apart even if they wanted to. Passing through hundreds of sword lights, Minhyuk finally reached his target.

“Sword of Carnage.”

A total of thirty-eight fierce and vicious attacks slashed at the arrogant god, Viel.

“Keuaaaaaaaaaack!!!” Viel shrieked and fell to the ground.

Minhyuk, who got off of the god, looked back at him and said, “Then what does that make you? Someone who’s being beaten by a bug?”

“…”

The shrieking and screaming Viel felt an unbearable shame and disgrace envelope his body.

The man who appeared in front of him was none other than the man who killed Rumacar, who almost became the king of the Kingdom of Eden. This man had also won the heart of the king of the Kingdom of Rama, also known as the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal Sun Wukong. Because of that, the residents of Edea slowly began to worship him instead of the Jade Emperor and his envoys.

Viel’s screams finally stopped. Despite the blood spilling from his body, he took a step forward toward this impudent man, his expression one of fury.

Viel had been the Jade Emperor’s envoy since he was young. In other words, he was a person who walked the path of Gods for his whole life. Since the number of gods in Edea was few and far in between, the arrogance that was bred in his bones knew no bounds.

Viel raised his greatsword. However, Minhyuk did not give him any chance to counter. He immediately used the power that he kept in his skill ‘Save.’

Flaaaaaaaaash—

“Sword of Carnage.”

Once again, Minhyuk passed him swiftly, his sword cutting his body all over the place.

[You have successfully landed one attack!]

[You have gained 100 platinum.]

[You have successfully landed one attack!]

[You have gained +1 DEX.]

[You have successfully landed one attack!]

[You have gained +1 INT.]

[…one attack!]

[…one attack!]

[…one attack!]

Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab—

Viel was once again buffeted by a torrent of attacks, blood spurting all over his body. However, he endured the pain and glared at Minhyuk with bloodshot eyes.

“This f*cking dog…!”

“…”

Minhyuk was quite surprised. The Sword of Carnage’s 38 attacks was not yet over, but Viel was still able to hold on to his sword and move to attack him. In other words, Viel chose to run toward Minhyuk while enduring the pain of his body being ripped and torn apart.

‘This guy is crazy…’

The Sword of Carnage had the power to unconditionally land a successful attack on Minhyuk’s enemies. If Minhyuk could not control his enemy even with such a skill, then what could he do? The worst part was that his opponent was still fine even after enduring the power of the Sword of Carnage twice.

‘His HP and defenses must be beyond one’s imagination.’

The man in front of him looked like a general, an arrogant and unrelenting one at that. Of course, Minhyuk would not just stand still. Once again, he swung his sword and passed by the charging Viel.

[You have chosen the ‘Sword of Carnage’ among all of the skills in your possession to be used once.]

Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab—

Blood spurted out of Viel’s body as the attacks ravaged him yet again. At that moment, Minhyuk realized, ‘I won’t be able to keep this guy in place.’

Crackleeeeeee—

Blazing flames spurted out and covered his sword. If a wild beast was running rampant then he had to deal with it as soon as possible.

“Let’s leave it at that.”

Ping—

[Your HP has dropped below 81%!]

“…”

Minhyuk looked back in surprise. He did not even feel the presence of the huge man carrying a woldo. The man’s eyes were cold yet calm.

‘Guan Yu?’

The man looked just like Guan Yu of the Three Kingdoms. At the same time, a horizontal slash swept past Minhyuk’s chest. It was an attack that he could not avoid or defend against.

[Critical Strike!]

[Your HP has dropped below 55%!]

“Urk…!”

Blood dripped down Minhyuk’s chin. When he looked back, he saw three talismans floating and burning above the palms of Daoist Heron. The burning talismans turned into huge flames that moved to devour the other players.

To be honest, Ferro, the man with the woldo, was secretly shocked.

‘I can’t believe he was able to push Viel to this extent.’

Of course, the opponent only used skills that Viel could not fight back against, but it was obvious that the opponent was able to inflict severe damage on their fellow envoy. If Ferro and Heron were not here, then Viel might have already died.

Still, Viel was the strongest among them. The next time they met, Viel would most likely be able to read through all of his schemes and lock down the possibility of him being able to fight back.

“This is my win.”

However, Minhyuk still laughed despite the flames that fell upon the other players. Blood was still flowing out of his mouth from Ferro’s attack earlier. However, Ferro could only accept the words of the man who smiled through his blood-stained teeth.

“Damn it… how… you bastards…!”

Viel wanted to rip the guy in front of him to shreds and kill him right away. However, as one of the Jade Emperor’s envoys, he had to follow Ferro’s advice. They did not want to show anything more to their opponents. Besides, Minhyuk’s words were actually right. He truly won.

The flames fell on the ground.

Roaaaaaaaaaaaaar—!

Crackleeeeeeeee—!

Blazing flames engulfed an entire area of a 300-meter radius and turned everything into ashes. At the same time, these notifications rang in everyone’s ears.

[The Land of Fantasy is over.]

[Players who have been forced to log out will not receive any penalties.]

Minhyuk, who slowly disappeared into the flames, raised his middle finger at Viel and said, “F*ck you!”

When he finally disappeared, another set of notifications rang in his ears.

[You have successfully hit the Jade Emperor’s envoy 100 times in a row!]

[One of the four envoys’ treasure boxes is being randomly selected.]

[You have acquired Rumacar’s Treasure Box!]

[You can choose the type of treasure that you want to obtain from the treasure box!]

During this event, Minhyuk was able to gain a total of 4,000 platinum and nearly 80 additional stat points, of which about 20 points were STR, 20 points were AGI, 10 points were STM and about five points each in DEX and INT. Even though he was angry that he died in the flames, he was still the real winner.

***

The Jade Emperor groaned as he sat on his throne. He had only raised one of his eyebrows when the man killed his most trusted envoy Rumacar, and even trampled on one of his envoys Viel, almost killing him. He was not agitated at all.

‘If, by any chance, he gets Rumacar’s Treasure Chest then…’

Rumacar did not have the qualifications to wield the Sword of Aeon. As for the other envoy, Viel, he should never get his hands on it too.

Viel was quite an ambitious man. If that sword fell in his hands, then the Jade Emperor was sure that Viel would definitely turn that sword on him. That was also the reason why Rumacar hid the sword.

‘That won’t happen.’

The Jade Emperor grinned. His envoys’ treasure chests were all special. Anyone that could get their hands on it would be able to get what they wanted. They could get money to buy anything, a special artifact, or even a unique skill that only his envoys had. Each item was obviously a great thing.

So, where did Rumacar hide the Sword of Aeon? He hid it in a cooking ingredient in his treasure box. The Jade Emperor recalled the conversation that he had with Rumacar back then.

—My Lord, the Sword of Aeon will only reveal itself if one cooks the ingredient and eats everything.

There was no way that someone would actually choose a cooking ingredient after all. With Rumacar’s voice lingering in his ears, the Jade Emperor opened his eyes. The power of both the god and the emperor filled his eyes as he took a peek of the man called Food God from the sky above.

He watched as the Food God browsed through the choices offered by the treasure chest.

“Perhaps he will choose to acquire Envoy Rumacar’s Ring…”

Envoy Rumacar’s Ring was not inferior to a God-rank artifact. What was interesting about it was that it could absorb an opponent’s attack and return it with 100% of the attack’s damage back to his opponent. However, it had a restriction where it could only be used once a week. Of course, the ring was not comparable at all to the Sword of Aeon. But, on the surface, it was still superior to any other artifact there.

Swoosh—

Minhyuk looked carefully over the items offered by the treasure box. Then, with a serious look on his face, he murmured to himself.

[Of course, what I’m going to choose is…]

The Jade Emperor looked relieved.

‘Yes, it’s just as you said.’

Of course, he would choose Rumacar’s Ring, which looked good on the outside, but was still lacking on the inside. After all, it was the best choice. As for the cooking ingredient that Rumacar hid the Sword of Aeon at? It was nothing more than the Sky World’s Native Chicken that he enjoyed eating before.

Not long after, the serious look on Minhyuk’s face dissolved and turned into a bright and wide smile.

[Keuhahahahahahahaha! That’s right. Of course, the reward that I will choose is the Sky World’s Native Chicken!!! Hahahahahaha!!!]

“…?”

For a moment, the Jade Emperor wondered if his ears were truly working. However, when the treasure box finally opened, what appeared in front of Minhyuk was truly the Sky World’s Native Chicken.

“…?”

[Why should I choose that ring? I can’t even eat that~ Eating is what’s more important. Ah, it’s only natural, right? Wahahahahahaha! Keuhahahahahaha!]

“…?”

After a long stretch of silence, the Jade Emperor said, “So, he’s a crazy bastard?”