Gourmet Gaming-Chapter 1388

Chapter 1388

A huge commotion broke out in the Pillar Great War’s stadium when the people learned of the official statement that Ilhwa Group had released while Minhyuk was asleep.

Joy Co. Ltd. could not stop the competition just for the sake of a single individual. However, The Persistent and the Master of Life and Death immediately declared their intention to withdraw from the competition. As a result, this became the de facto ending of the competition.

Joy Co. Ltd. had heard that many players from all over the world were coming to Athenae after learning that Minhyuk had won the battle and became Athenae’s Strongest. So, President Kang Taehoon considerately allowed Minhyuk to enjoy the moment with his friends and family when he woke up.

Of course, it was not solely due to his consideration. Minhyuk’s eating addiction had been completely cured with the help of Athenae. The fact that a rare disease like that could be cured with the help of the virtual reality game Athenae was obviously very beneficial to their company.

“I AM LIVING!!!” Minhyuk shouted happily.

The people at the stands watched him as he ran around like a child with obvious tears still streaming down his face. The Beyond the Heavens Empire’s people joined him. They hugged him, teased him about being a crybaby, and cheered him on for his new life.

While Minhyuk was basking in the joy of being completely cured of his disease, a woman hurriedly entered the stadium.

“Haa... haa...” She gasped and stared at Minhyuk, who stood in the spotlight surrounded by people.

The woman’s in-game name was Rice Minhwa. She was none other than the Special Players Management Team’s Deputy Team Leader Lee Minhwa.

Lee Minhwa joined Joy Co. Ltd. around the same time Minhyuk started playing Athenae. When she joined the company, many people had dissuaded her and urged her to choose differently. After all, they heard that the Special Players Management Team was the most terrible department in the entire company.

And it was the truth. In the Special Players Management Team, they could not take their eyes off the monitor. There were many reasons, but the main one was the players’ sudden and unexpected actions and behaviors. Their long hours of work would often result in conjunctivitis, turtle neck syndrome, and even a herniated disc.

When Lee Minhwa first started, she truly had a difficult time adapting. Then, she saw Minhyuk eating. She saw Minhyuk happily eat a single loaf of bread, and for some strange reason, tears began to well up in her eyes.

What would he eat today? What kind of new relationship would he make today? Watching Minhyuk was therapeutic for her. She felt pleased just watching him go about his day.

At one point, Lee Minhwa realized, ‘Ah. I seem to like this twenty-year-old young man.’

Of course, it was not the same as the countless women in his fandom from all over the world. She did not like him because of his appearance, his wealth, or his fame. She just grew to like him as a person. She just had him in her heart... as a woman.

Lee Minhwa knew best that she was someone who should not appear before him. She just wanted to join the crowd in congratulating him... She knew that it was her greed. There was no need for her to appear. After all, he already had the blessings of many people.

Lee Minhwa stared at Minhyuk and whispered in her heart, ‘Congratulations, Minhyuk. I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart.’

Minhyuk and the people surrounding him moved to walk out of the stadium. Lee Minhwa was standing in the direction where they were headed, so she turned around and tried to run away.

At that moment, someone put a hand on her head. Looking up, she realized it was Team Leader Park Minggyu.

“Team Leader?”

Team Leader Park Minggyu looked down at Lee Minhwa with a wry smile on his face. He knew that Lee Minhwa had once loved Minhyuk, though that was no longer the case. The only reason she came here was to sincerely congratulate the young man and show support for his new life.

Minhyuk was just about to pass by Lee Minhwa when he suddenly stopped in his tracks. Then, he called out, “Team Leader Park!”

Minhyuk’s eyes were red and puffy, but the smile on his face was bright. And it grew even brighter when he saw Team Leader Park.

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you! Let’s have a meal together next time. Kghhk~ I’ve become someone who can ask others to a meal too!”

Team Leader Park smiled. Then, he looked down at the woman beside him and gently pushed her out. Lee Minhwa stared blankly at the now confused Minhyuk.

‘His eyes are clear and deep. This is the first time I have seen them up close.’

Before Lee Minhwa’s mouth could open, Minhyuk said, “Ah. Is this Miss Lee Minhwa?”

Lee Minhwa’s pupils shook. She believed that she was the only one who knew him. She never expected that the young man in front of her would know about her existence.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from the team leader.”

He knew her. He even knew her name; she was not just a passerby in his life.

Lee Minhwa gathered her courage to say what she wanted to say. There were no ulterior motives. She just wanted to say it.

“Congratulations.”

Minhyuk smiled faintly. “Thank you. I’ll treat you two to dinner next time.”

Minhyuk bowed lightly before moving away.

Lee Minhwa looked at his disappearing back with a slight smile on her face. She did not feel any regret. After all, she had long since let go of her feelings for Minhyuk in her heart.

“What are you doing here during work hours?” Team Leader Park smiled wryly as he looked down at her. “You have to go back. We still have a lot of players to monitor.”

Lee Minhwa stared at Team Leader Park. “Team Leader.”

“Yeah?” Team Leader Park answered, confusion on his face.

“Would you like to get dinner with me later?”

Team Leader Park understood what she meant. He said, “Ah, I wanted to be the one to say it first. Then, shall we go to a nice restaurant later this evening? One with a view of the Han River?”

Lee Minhwa stared at Team Leader Park, who was staring at a distance while asking her out. Then, she answered with great enthusiasm, “Yes!”

The story of these two was finally beginning.

Later that evening...

“You said that you will treat me to a meal in a nice restaurant...”

The two ended up getting overtime.

“Sluuuuuuuuurp. S-sorry...” Team Leader Park answered, his face flushed in embarrassment as he ate cup noodles with Lee Minhwa.

***

Brod devised a scheme with Chaos and eventually became the emperor of the Luvien Empire. However, he ultimately did this just to create a foothold for Minhyuk.

After giving his sincere congratulations to Minhyuk, Brod returned to the Luvien Empire with a smile on his lips. The man whom he cared about deeply had finally and completely overcome the disease that had plagued him. It was a genuinely delightful thing.

At that moment, Chaos in the form of a ladybird beetle appeared in front of Brod.

[Do you not have any regrets?]

Brod answered firmly, “None. Besides, I wanted to be the Battle God from the very beginning.”

Brod did not want to become the emperor of the Luvien Empire. In the first place, he had lived as Belson’s successor and had always dreamt of becoming the Battle God.

“Everything’s just going to go back to their rightful places.”

[Are your preparations done?]

Brod smiled faintly. He had been preparing for a very long time. In fact, he had been removing the forces and factions that were against his will one by one, a process that had been ongoing for some time. Nevertheless, it would still take some time to make the empire Minhyuk’s own. Regardless, that was Minhyuk’s job now. Besides, there were other people by his side who could help him.

“Duke Laghman. Duke Vakkaman.”

The two knelt in front of Brod. These two were actually the biggest obstacles to Minhyuk becoming the true master of the Luvien Empire.

Duke Laghman was someone who served the former emperor, Cardin. So, the majority of the factions that served under Cardin had gathered under his banner. As for Duke Vakkaman, he was hailed as the Luvien Empire’s other emperor. There were even stories about how he would have become the real emperor if he had not been loyal to the emperor and the empire.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

At first, the two of them hated Minhyuk terribly. It was only natural. After all, Minhyuk was the emperor of their enemy empire. In fact, even Brod failed to buy the hearts and trust of these two completely. Only after Nerva and Emperor Cardin stepped down was Brod able to become the true emperor. So, it was only natural that Brod would be hated by them too.

“We will never forget when Emperor Minhyuk saved our lives.” Duke Laghman smiled faintly.

Duke Vakkaman stared at Brod and said, “To be honest, I don’t like you, Your Majesty Brod.”

“Is that so? Hahahaha!” Brod laughed heartily at his joke. He knew full well how much power those words carried.

“But if it’s Emperor Minhyuk, the man who saved my life, then it will be a different story.”

“We will punish those who rebel!”

“I don’t think we need to worry about our citizens. This is Emperor Minhyuk whom we’re talking about. He’s someone who will always be loved by the people wherever he goes.”

Brod nodded. “We should get ready to welcome the new emperor.”

***

Joy Co. Ltd.’s conference room.

“We have seen a significant increase in the number of players joining Athenae.”

It was all thanks to Minhyuk.

“A lot of people who were once doubtful and suspicious of virtual reality games are buying our capsules.”

During the early days of the virtual reality game Athenae, numerous doubts and suspicions plagued the developers. Many doubted its safety, asking if there was a chance that they would fall into a brain-dead state while playing games. However, Minhyuk had demonstrated and proven that this game could also help cure a rare disease.

President Kang Taehoon fell into deep thought. He was very delighted to know that Player Minhyuk had been completely cured of his eating addiction with the help of their game. He was so happy that he screamed his lungs out.

‘Minhyuk will soon become the Master of the Western Continents.’

This outcome was already a given. A player would now become the Master of the Western Continents. It was not just a mere title. The thought alone was shocking.

Chaos intended to create another Pillar class, Master of the Western Continents, once Minhyuk achieved Level 800 and he absorbed the Luvien Empire.

“How about preparing an advertisement just in time for Minhyuk to become the master and lord of the Luvien Empire?”

Kang Taehoon did not want to miss the day Minhyuk became the master of the West.

“Oh. That sounds like a good idea.”

“Right now, this seems like the best opportunity to attract more players to our game.”

The thought alone was enough to make Kang Taehoon feel happy. He could already imagine the advertisement. It would start with the Supreme becoming the true master of the West. While immersed in the idea, he began to think of the final line in the advertisement.

‘N... no...’

‘Please. No more...’

Although he was famous for their well-written and organized settings and concepts, everyone knew what kind of lines President Kang Taehoon was fond of. But when Kang Taehoon delivered the final line that he had thought of, everyone was left stunned.

“It sounds fine?”

“Oh...”

“President, I think this is the best line that you have ever come up with.”

After three years in a village school, a dog could also recite a poem[1]. Just as Minhyuk had cured his eating addiction, President Kang Taehoon was also able to get out of the pit of bad lines and comments.

Just like that, their discussion about the upcoming advertisement continued.

***

[Pillar Quest: Master of the Western Continents.]

Rank: ???

Requirements: Minhyuk

Rewards: ???

Penalty for Failure: ???

Description: Become the emperor of the Luvien Empire and become the Master of the Western Continents.

Minhyuk, who was the happiest person in the world lately, had gone to the Land of the Gods to hold a meeting with the Absolute Gods. This was the quest notification that rang in his ears while he was in the middle of a meeting.

After the Pillar Great War, most of the quests that he received all had “???” as quest names.

‘What in the world is this? What rewards will I get?”

He had no idea what he would receive.

At that moment, Athenae entered the conference room. Minhyuk had been thinking a lot about Athenae these past few days. There were still two things that Minhyuk had not achieved in the world of Athenae. One was becoming the master and lord of the Luvien Empire, while the other was closely related to Athenae.

When the meeting ended, the Absolute Gods filed out of the room. But Athenae remained seated.

“Lady Athenae.”

She looked at Minhyuk, who remained in the conference room with her, her face bearing a somber expression.

***

Athenae actually knew what would happen from then on.

As things were, Minhyuk would not be able to retain his position as the Battle God. However, that was fine. Brod would be the one to replace him. Furthermore, he would be able to lead the Land of the Gods just as well as Minhyuk did, if not better.

But she was left puzzled when Minhyuk suddenly called out to her. Perhaps he had noticed the situation? Chaos had told Athenae that he had created a “quest” that they usually applied to players.

“There’s something that I wanted to ask you for a very long time.”

Athenae stared at Minhyuk. This man was not only the Battle God but also the Pillar of the Gourmands. And just recently, he obtained the title of Athenae’s Strongest. What did this man want to say to her?

“It’s one of my dreams. Something that I want to achieve.”

His dream? What dream did a man who stood in such a high position have? Why was he telling it to her?

Athenae had deep feelings and high favorability toward Minhyuk. Minhyuk not only saved the Land of the Gods from Anas, but he also saved Athenae. Of course, the system would impose plenty of restrictions on the rewards, but in this case, there was a high probability that they would have no limits. So, whatever Minhyuk asked for as a reward would most probably be given to him.

Regardless, Minhyuk was completely unpredictable. Athenae did not know what kind of earth-shattering reward he would ask for. Just when she was getting nervous...

“Will you become my great-grandmother?”

“...?”

Athenae was rendered speechless for a long time. Then, a soft, gentle, and gracious smile appeared on her face as she slowly nodded in agreement.

“Great-grandmother!!!”

From this day on, Athenae was Minhyuk’s great-grandmother. With this, Minhyuk’s family tree was finally complete.

1. A Korean proverb. Basically, it means you learn what you’re exposed to. ☜