Gourmet Gaming

Back when Minhyuk was still negotiating with Calauhel.

[Minhyuk: By the way… the next time you contact me, it will be 250 billion.]

[Calauhel: You’re crazy.]

Minhyuk stared at Calauhel cursing him as he ended the whisper.

‘It’s a fair price.’

He had judged that asking for 250 billion was not that excessive. After all, he had also witnessed the complete massacre of the 500,000-strong troops that marched first in the hands of Gaerna.

Minhyuk was also aware that the Allied Army was trying to turn the tables with just a handful of elites. He was certain that they would not be able to put up a good fight at all, especially with Gaerna’s army’s overwhelming numbers.

What did 250 billion represent? It was a lot. Of course, the reason why he asked for so much was that he felt quite repugnant and disgusted with Calauhel’s request. Both the Rothschilde Kingdom and the Qingdao Kingdom had declared that they would kill Gaerna to the world and targeted the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. However, the moment they were pushed to a corner, they came running to him and sent him a whisper.

However, that was not the decisive reason why he asked for so much.

‘Can we even measure the true value of this box?’

The Battle God had given Minhyuk his blessings. Among the blessings that he received was an item called the ‘Battle God’s Treasure Box.’ What was the Battle God’s Treasure Box?

[The Battle God’s Treasure Box will give you the ingredients, artifacts, orders, potions or whatever it is that you desire. However, you can only get one item and its rank would randomly be chosen from legendary~god!]

As it turned out, the box would give someone whatever they wanted once. However, the rank or grade of the item would depend on luck. If they were lucky, they would be able to get a god-grade item and if their luck was bad, then they would get a legendary-grade item.

Minhyuk would choose to get a god-grade ingredient, cook it into a dish, and use it to increase his powers. However, his plans had now changed.

“Select an ingredient that has an effect that would allow the complete removal of all poisons and abnormal status from the Battle God’s Treasure Box.”

[The Battle God’s Treasure Box is searching for the ingredient that you want.]

Ring!

[You have acquired the Bean Sprouts Grown by the God of Poisons.]

Minhyuk immediately checked the ingredient that he acquired.

‘You will have the power to resist all kinds of poisons and abnormal status.’

This was the most important point. Since it was a god-grade ingredient, Minhyuk could expect additional effects like a tremendous increase in stats or skills. Of course, this was all under the assumption that he would be able to serve a high-grade dish.

Minhyuk immediately started cooking.

Bean sprouts were ingredients used in various dishes. It could be used in stir-fries, fried rice, rice noodles, and many others. Simply put, bean sprouts could be used in a variety of ways. The dish that Minhyuk chose to make was ‘Vietnamese Rice Noodles’, well known for its refreshing and delicious soup.

‘It’s easy and quick to eat.’

Minhyuk had recently received the privilege where he could raise one of his skills to MAX, which allowed his Everyone’s Happiness to reach Level 9. Although it could only be used once, it could still allow him to feed 10,000 people all at one go, during that one time.

Then, he started cooking.

‘I just did not respond to Calauhel’s offer.’

That was right. Minhyuk just chose to not respond to Calauhel’s offer. However, that did not mean that he would not help. He also wanted to protect Athenae. After all, he was very grateful to the game Athenae for giving him a second chance at life. If it had not been for Athenae, his condition would not have improved.

As he cooked with all his might, he remembered the words that Brod told him before.

—Your Majesty, I’m sorry but I would like to visit the place that we lived at in the past with them.

In the Land of the Gods, there was a collapsed empire. It was the place where Brod, his Red Knights and his soldiers once lived. Right now, that was where he wanted to go with the souls of his men. Brod assured him that it would not take that long.

Meanwhile, the reports from Genie kept on ringing in Minhyuk’s ears.

[Genie: Most of the 20,000 rankers had been bitten by the parasitic mosquitoes. They will turn into the enemy in an hour.]

[Genie: The situation is getting worse by the second. Gaerna is blowing up the heads of the mages and the archers.]

[Genie: Minhyuk, I think the top rankers are trying to kill themselves.]

Despite the constant influx of reports in his ears, Minhyuk did not lose his concentration. To protect Athenae, which was dear and precious to him, and for the people fighting there he had to concentrate.

Finally, he finished cooking.

Ring!

[You have completed Vietnamese Rice Noodles.]

***

The entire world was in despair as they watched the best rankers use their final strength and kill off as many as they could before they got fully infected.

“Even if I go down, I will kill one more of you bastards!!!”

“I shudder at the thought of you bastards surviving and infecting others.”

“Die!!! Die!!!”

They would soon receive the penalty for being forced to log out. For top ranking players like them, being forced to log out would mean that they would lose a lot, more than what an ordinary player would lose. Some of them might even be pushed out of their position in an instant. That was just how huge the penalty was. However, despite that, the top ranking players still chose to fight until the bitter end.

Then, a message rang in the ears of all of the people drowning in despair all over the world.

[The head of the members of the Divine Army that the gods had sent exploded and swept away their allies.]

[Only 50,000 of them survived. Those 50,000 strong troops fought until the very end to protect the Land of the Gods.]

[However, they too became the enemies and started to point their weapons at the gods.]

[In front of Gaerna’s actions…]

The messages were filled with despair. But amidst these messages, a series of notifications popped out.

[The Alliance’s King has arrived at Faelbert Fortress!]

[The Alliance’s King’s appearance has a special effect on everyone present! All of your stats will increase by 7%!]

The moment he snapped his fingers, the same dish appeared in front of all 10,000 top rankers and NPCs, accompanied by a flash of light. The dish was none other than Vietnam Rice Noodles.

Meanwhile, Gaerna’s message continued to ring in their ears.

[For days on end, the gods tried to hunt Gaerna…]

[However, Gaerna’s army just continued to increase…]

[In the end, the Absolute Gods…]

A voice rang loudly over the message that brought despair upon the people of the world.

[The ten thousand strong knights that fight to protect Athenae will cut down Gaerna’s one million strong army.]

Everyone cheered. Hope bloomed in the faces of the people that had stopped in their tracks to watch the battle on the electronic displays on the streets. A guy watching the scene in the subway on his mobile phone could not help the goosebumps that rose on his skin. Even those that were watching the real-time video in the company together could not help but shout, ‘Woah—!’

‘Ten thousand knights will defeat Gaerna’s one million troops.’

The thrill and excitement brought forth by this declaration spread all over Joy Co. Ltd.

“It’s, It’s Minhyuk!!!”

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“Minhyuk came!”

Everyone cheered when they saw Minhyuk appear along with 10,000 dishes.

Meanwhile, President Kang Taehoon stared at Minhyuk on the monitor and thought, ‘Please.’

Gaerna was the most difficult being to deal with among the Six Monster Gods. The only one that could stop her now was none other than Minhyuk. However, there were people that thought that those words were nothing but an empty promise. Having seen what they saw, It was just impossible.

Gaerna’s messages were still ringing.

[One of the Absolute Gods, the God that Ruled and Commanded all of the Armies, took out his sword.]

[One of the Absolute Gods, the God that Liked to Cook, cooked for them.]

[One of the Absolute Gods, the God that Never Knew How to Back Down, gave them the will to stand up and never collapse.]

[One of the Absolute Gods, the God that Ruled the Dead, sent those that could never be infected to defeat the enemy.]

According to the notifications, even the Absolute Gods suffered in the hands of Gaerna. Would the appearance of a single player change the flow of the game just like that?

Gaerna realized something after getting a whiff of the scent of food and immediately moved to try and restrain the rankers and NPCs that were trying to eat. She could truly do so. After all, she had the power to make their heads explode at any given moment.

But then, God’s Voice rang once again.

[Don’t be afraid.]

The majestic and imposing voice struck the hearts of all of the viewers.

[A girl, who has the power to rule the world, will lend her strength for our sake.]

Flaaaaash—

At that moment, a beautiful girl appeared next to Minhyuk. She was the God of Snakes Elizabeth. Light appeared on the tips of Elizabeth’s fingers. The light then shot out and devoured Gaerna.

[Gaerna will temporarily be unable to control the brains of the infected!]

[Gaerna will temporarily be unable to infect others!]

At the same time, Gaerna’s army charged forward with a shriek, trying to stop the top rankers and NPCs from eating the dish in front of them.

[The greatest and mightiest Spear God will stop the enemies for our sake.]

Flaaaaaaaash—

An old man with long black hair fluttering behind him fell from the sky, his white spear glittering beautifully under the light of the sun.

“Absolute Pinnacle Spear.”

A downpour of spears rained upon the ground and instantly turned 40,000 of Gaerna’s army that were charging toward the rankers into ashes. It was quickly followed up by another notification.

[The Evil God, who dyed the world with blood and fear, will lend his power for our sake.]

Flaaaaaaash—

The Puzzling Seasoning Jar came out of Minhyuk’s inventory and revealed a handsome man who was glaring coldly through the gaps of his long hair.

“Get lost.”

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Tens of thousands of books floated around him and released bolts of black lightning that devoured and slaughtered Gaerna’s Army.

“I’m hungryyyyyyyyyyy!!!” Gaerna screamed as she flew to the sky. “Uweeeeeeeeeeeeck!!!”

Then, tens of thousands of mosquitoes flew out of her mouth. The swarm of mosquitoes flew and grew until they were the size of an average human being.

[Mosquito Knight. Level 531.]

Everyone fell deeper into despair when they saw the mosquito knights. At that time, Minhyuk, who was standing atop the walls of Faelbert Fortress, leapt to the skies.

Then, blazing black flames flared up and shot out from the blade of his sword as he swung them toward the mosquito knights that had started to gather in the sky. Fortunately, the skill: Double Skill with a 1.2% probability of getting triggered, was activated. The skill allowed him to double the effects and the radius of his strike.

[And I will also...]

The entire world, including the rankers that were hurriedly eating the Vietnamese Rice Noodles, watched Minhyuk. One could see the hope in their eyes.

Someone gulped loudly, their hands sweating profusely as they watched Food God Minhyuk unleash a blazing flame from his sword. Then, the blazing black flames turned into a wave that cleared an entire path in the sky that had darkened from the appearance of the swarm of mosquitoes.

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaang—

Crackleeeeeeeee—!

The Overlord’s Technique devoured and annihilated all of the mosquitoes that appeared in the sky. The flames continued to spread until it reached and set Gaerna ablaze.

“Kihyeeeeeeeeeck! I’m going to kill you! Die! Dieeeeeeeeeee!”

[…fight with you. And not only that.]

At that moment, Gaerna burst out into flames.

“Kihyaaaaaaaaaack!”

[Gaerna’s Wrath.]

[Gaerna’s Wrath has awakened all of the insects.]

Gaerna was not only the God of Birth but also the God of Bugs. Just like that, various kinds of unknown and mysterious bugs soared to the sky and covered it in a sea of black. Just like before, those bugs grew the size of humans too. There were at least 60,000 of them flying in the sky and many more in the ground.

“I’m going to kill you!!!” Gaerna roared as the swarm of insects charged at Minhyuk.

Despite the nervous tension that surrounded everyone else, Minhyuk remained calm and composed. All of them believed that no matter how powerful Food God Minhyuk was, there was no way for him to kill almost 200,000 insects in one go.

However, the notifications were not over yet.

[Your idol.]

Thump—

Someone stepped forward and stood right next to Minhyuk. His skin, which was covered with bulging green veins earlier, had now returned to normal. Rather than that, there was this black and imposing aura that surrounded the man’s body. He was Alexander.

[Your friend.]

Thump—

This time, a woman with attractive and alluring brown skin, and a beautiful bow hanging on her back appeared next to him. This woman was none other than Master Archer Miao.

[Your rulers and kings.]

“Alliance’s King, give us your orders!!!”

“Food God, give us your orders!!!”

“Uwoooooooooooh!!!”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”

Almost 10,000 people with black aura oozing out of their bodies gathered around Minhyuk amidst the sea of bugs.

‘Ellie’s Swordsmanship.’

Minhyuk glared sharply at the incoming sea of bugs while his body released an imposing red aura.

[We will all make history by defeating a million troops with just ten thousand strong men.]

With his sharp and cold gaze, Minhyuk ordered, “Destroy them.”