262 Chapter 262

He didn't think he had much of an appetite, but the smell of the food brought Min Sung's appetite back to life.

'What is this?'

He was curious, but he held back.

After all, Ho Sung Lee's cooking always exceeded his expectations.

Min Sung held his emotions back. He reclaimed his rationality and calmed himself down.

Suppressing his emotions and nature and controlling his rationality and body first was a habit that he acquired since his Demonic Realm days.

Min Sung breathed in and out with his eyes closed in order to get his blood flowing.

The blood flow that he acquired from the books in Samchunkyo was the flow that promoted magic energy, and that gave him a mysterious power.

He felt his mind and body become clearer, and he could clearly feel the power circulating around his body.

The flow of the magic power had always been stored in his body since his days in the Demonic Realm, but after learning about blood flow, things became much more clear.

And he also acquired the ability to speed up the circulation of his magic power.

He didn't know this at first, but he could later feel more power being gathered as time went on.

As the magic power flowed through the blood, the power gathered gradually.

That also meant that his output was increased, which gave him the hope to leap to a whole new level.

As a result of the proof that he felt on his skin, Min Sung saw much importance in the flow of magic energy, so he put his focus on it whenever he had time.

And whenever he did, his body and mind felt refreshed afterward.

"Sir, your food is ready."

In response, Min Sung opened his eyes.

He felt like it was just a moment, but whenever he focused, time passed by in an instant without him realizing it.

Min Sung got up and walked toward the outdoor table that Ho Sung Lee prepared.

He sat down and checked the menu.

The main ingredient in the meal Ho Sung Lee prepared this time was duck.

"Duck meat?"

Min Sung looked down at the duck placed on a plate and asked.

Ho Sung Lee smiled and nodded in response.

"Duck is a healthy dish that contains a lot of unsaturated fatty acids, so you can enjoy it without feeling burdened."

He didn't expect meat since he just wanted a simple meal, and it wasn't any regular meat, but it was duck meat.

It was roasted duck, but the oil was squeezed out of it.

And on top of the sliced duck were unseasoned chives.

Min Sung picked up his chopsticks and put a piece of the duck meat and chives into his mouth.

The natural flavor of the chives and the soft and smooth flavors of the duck mixed together, causing his heart to feel like it was being treated.

It was much more delicious than expected.

The chives covered up for the oiliness of the duck meat, and the combination was absolutely perfect.

As soon as he consumed the natural scents of the chives and the protein of the duck meat, it almost made him delude himself into thinking he was suddenly healthier.

And that wasn't the end of it.

Min Sung picked up a piece of lettuce. He placed duck meat, chives, and garlic into it, and then wrapped it up and put it into his mouth.

Om nom-

The duck meat and chives covered in fresh and smooth lettuce filled the inside of his mouth.

Once he finished, he realized the chives were so delicious that he could just eat it on its own.

He was thinking of a very simple meal, so the unexpected duck meat resulted in a fancier meal than expected.

And since the portion was appropriate, it was perfect for one meal.

Min Sung gave Ho Sung Lee a thumbs up and put down his chopsticks.

Ho Sung Lee flashed a smile and bowed.

***

They headed to the next destination.

Min Sung led the way, and Ho Sung Lee followed from behind.

When they first left, Ho Sung Lee was right behind him, and that surprised Min Sung.

But as soon as he realized Ho Sung Lee could keep up, he decided to challenge him by going even faster.

As a result, some distance formed between them, but Ho Sung Lee was still in sight.

This was something that he never would've imagined just a day before.

However...

This wasn't his fastest speed.

Since they had to travel a far distance, he had to control his speed, meaning if he gave it his all, he could travel at twice the speed he was going now.

Ho Sung Lee thought for a moment.

What would've happened if he had met the hearthstone bombing terrorist in his current condition?

There was no need for calculation.

He would have destroyed him.

It was even obvious to Min Sung that he had become much more powerful than before, but he didn't compare to Min Sung.

Regardless, his abilities had advanced in ways that were unbelievable.

Thinking about that made his heart pound, and he couldn't believe this was actually happening.

While they ripped through the wind at a high speed, Ho Sung Lee felt as though he was flying in the air.

Since this was his first time experiencing how satisfying it felt to be on the rise, the shock of it all made him feel like he was in Heaven.

And at that moment...

Something else that was unbelievable appeared.

He began to see messages from Dionysus gods interested in him for the very first time.

He received a message window explaining that he could start collecting experience points, and for the first time, he was gifted experience points as well.

That meant he was finally acknowledged as a player in Beatrice!

Ho Sung Lee's head went blank because of this unbelievable phenomenon, and as a result of his reduced focus, his speed decreased as well.

When that happened, Min Sung slowed down and grabbed Ho Sung Lee by the throat.

"… Gasp?!"

Ho Sung Lee stared at Min Sung in surprise.

"It doesn't seem like you're out of stamina," commented Min Sung with scary eyes.

"I-I'm sorry. I was just surprised."

"Why?"

"Well…"

Ho Sung Lee explained what had just happened.

He explained that he began to receive interest from the Dionysis Gods, and that he just received experience points as a gift.

Min Sung let go of his throat in understanding.

"Let's go."

"Yes, Sir."

Ho Sung Lee, who was waiting for Min Sung to go first, stared at him in confusion when he just stood there watching.

"You go first," said Min Sung.

"Me?"

"You seem to be out of it because you're powerful all of a sudden. You need my help."

In response, Ho Sung Lee gulped.

He understood what he meant by that.

"Go," Min Sung said in a voice resembling the Grim Reaper.

At the same time, Ho Sung Lee clenched his teeth and took off.

Min Sung followed from behind.

He then kept his eyes on him.

Ho Sung Lee could feel it even if he didn't say anything.

That was his way of telling him not to let his guard down.

That was also his way of teaching him to always have his A-game.

Ho Sung Lee had no choice but to speed up as a result.

He no longer felt relaxed.

He soon began to drip in cold sweat, and his heart pounded faster and faster.

His breathing became heavier, and his eyes turned yellow, but he couldn't stop.

He could only stop once Min Sung gave him the sign.

Ho Sung Lee wanted to become powerful, and it was happening.

It was possible that he wasn't going to stop even if he was ordered to.

***

"Let's take a rest."

He was conceited to have thought that he could exceed the limit.

Min Sung only told him to stop once they had far passed the point where he wished he would give him a sign, and he was on the brink of exhaustion.

But Ho Sung Lee widened his shoulder and controlled his breathing so that he wouldn't look weak.

As expected, Min Sung was still breathing normally.

"I see our destination," Ho Sung Lee said while wiping off his sweat with his sleeve.

He could see the territory in front of them.

Village buildings could be seen.

That must have been their destination, Krok.

The weather began to change.

Dark clouds formed in the sky, and it looked like it was about to rain, but even after they had traveled toward the territory for quite some time, it still didn't rain.

Min Sung walked slowly out of consideration for Ho Sung Lee.

Meanwhile, Ho Sung Lee drank a potion from his item window in order to recover his stamina.

As soon as he did, the speed of his recovery doubled.

He felt his body recovering very quickly.

He felt dizzy and he couldn't feel his arms and legs, but he now felt like his stamina was being recharged.

Meanwhile, Min Sung took out the ancient document from his item window.

The ancient document was now red.

That seemed to be an indicator of something new having appeared, and that prediction was correct.

A new mission appeared on the second page of the ancient document.

***

Min Sung knitted his brows at the new mission written in the ancient document.

This mission was just as troublesome as when he had to find the ancient document from the Dark Elf Forest.

The mission was to find a hidden secret document, and the only information given to them was the name of the secret document, 'Golden Code.'

"Golden code… Its name makes it sound like it contains information just as important as that of the ancient document," Ho Sung Lee said with much anticipation.

Min Sung put the ancient document back into the item window and clicked his tongue.

"So many troublesome things."

In response, Ho Sung Lee smiled.

"But at least we get rewarded for it."

Min Sung answered with silence.

At that moment...

They heard a noise from not so far away.

It was the voice of two men, and they knew where it was coming from.

Min Sung and Ho Sung Lee went back to where the noise was coming from.

Two soldiers in armor were chasing a girl, and that girl and soldiers happened to be running toward Min Sung and Ho Sung Lee's direction.