CH 480

Eto Kingdom, located in the Japanese Server, was a kingdom that resembled Barras Kingdom in a way that they were both kingdoms of production classes. However, there were slight differences between them. Unlike in the Korean Server, the Eto Kingdom did not have the concept of ‘towers’. Instead, there were existences hailed as the Five Stars.

The First Star was a sculptor that created sculptures in honor of kings and emperors of the past. The gods, who saw his creation, admired him greatly and even commissioned his service.

The Second Star was a tailor that catered to both kings and emperors. In fact, the rulers of all the empires and kingdoms in the continent only wanted to wear the clothes that the Second Star created. Rumor had it that even emperors from other continents coveted her work.

The Third Star was a chef that treated King Valex, the king of Eto Kingdom, curing him from his chronic illness by feeding him an incredible meal that he made himself.

The Fourth Star was a painter that saved the kingdom from the demons’ invasion by painting the image of an archangel.

Finally, the Fifth Star was known to be the greatest star. He was the one that suggested to the Fourth Star to draw the archangel to chase the demons away. He was not a sculptor, a blacksmith, a chef, nor a painter. He was a tactician and strategist, the hero that saved the Eto Kingdom from countless crises.

However, the Fifth Star, along with the four other stars were all retired. They had established their home in Arsa Village and gave their positions to their successors. Still, their prowess were infinitely superior to that of their successors. In fact, it could be said that they far surpassed the Asgan Continent’s tower masters.

‘Hmm? Who’ll come to find me today?’

Tactician Jarrod was well-known for being an eccentric and picky NPC. After the death of King Valex, he came to Arsa Village with the other stars, and spent his time harassing and bullying the foreigners with short riddles. Nevertheless, they still kept on approaching him. After all, he was the only one that knew the location of the ‘Eternal Flames’.

Enticed by the fact that the Eternal Flames could help them create a God Artifact, people kept on approaching Jarrod. However, all of them failed to answer his eccentric riddles and were all sent back. This was because his riddles were all nonsense quizzes.

“What do you call a strawberry that was fired from the kingdom troops?”

“I know, I know! It’s strawberry syrup[1]!”

“How can a strawberry lose its job?! It’s a fruit!!!”

“That, that’s too much! This is unfair!”

“But I’m in the mood for something like this now. Hehehehe!”

Only a few had completed the quest to acquire the Eternal Flames. This was because they had to pass through this first gate, Jarrod’s quizzes. Many could not answer the quiz. The truth was, all they needed to do was give Jarrod an entertaining and fresh, new answer.

However, it was extremely difficult to please Jarrod, especially since the questions remained largely the same.

“I wonder which player I should send to the hellish hunting grounds today? Haha!”

The act of receiving quests from the eccentric and cranky Jarrod was called ‘Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage[2]’. Jarrod was basically modeled after the cranky and eccentric Zhuge Liang, only telling the location of the Eternal Flames if they successfully cleared three missions from him. And right now…

Chew, chew, chew, chew, chew—

…a man approached Jarrod, who was looking for his next prey in the village, with a huge backpack hanging in front of him. The backpack contained several boxes of Japan’s specialty, Loyce Chocolate[3], as well as a huge plastic container with a straw connected to the man’s mouth.

“Hiyaa… Loyce Chocolate is really delicious.”

“…?”

Jarrod looked at the approaching man that was eating Loyce Chocolate.

“It melts the moment you put it in your mouth. There’s also the sweet taste that spreads! There’s even this chewy texture! Kghkk!” The man exclaimed, touching his cheeks in happiness until he stood in front of Jarrod.

“Hello! Are you mister Jarrod?”

“You’re right?”

The man continued to munch on Loyce Chocolate. Seeing the man eat the chocolate happily, Jarrod, who personally disliked sweets, felt his mouth suddenly start to water.

“The cold chocolate melts in your mouth the moment you put it in your mouth. And when you feel like your mouth is dry from all the chocolate…” The man said as he sipped the black liquid in his huge plastic bag through the straw, “Fwaaaa! Chocolate and iced americano are really the best combi!”

“…H… hey. Why are you carrying your backpack like that?”

“I got too lazy trying to get the chocolate from behind me so I placed it in front of me. This is so I can take a box out easily to eat. I eat one box of chocolate per minute, you see? It’s easier for me if I carry it this way.”

‘A, a box per minute…? No, what is this? Is this guy nuts?’ 

This was what Jarrod thought but strangely enough, the guy was very polite. So, Jarrod coughed and said, “I also want some chocolate and that iced ame…”

“No way!”

A straight refusal! Jarrod looked at the man in doubt. Plenty of foreigners had tried to bribe him to make themselves look better in front of him. However, the man in front of him was so stingy that he did not even give Jarrod some of his food.

“So, you’re a cheapskate? Fine. You must have come here to get the Eternal Flames, right?”

“That’s right. Wow! You’re really smart, just like the rumors said!”

“Then, let me ask you a question.”

Jarrod thought, ‘You did not give me any chocolate, huh? Annoying. I will banish you from this village if you don’t give me a satisfactory answer.’

Jarrod was someone that could adjust the quest that he sent out at will. If the foreigners failed to give him a satisfactory answer, they usually ended up having to pay a steep price. That was why there were significantly fewer people that came to challenge the Eternal Flames these days.

As for the man, Minhyuk, in front of him, the penalty for failure was a -10 in all stats, as well as banishment from the village. Jarrod had this authority since he was also the head of the village. People began to flock to the two of them the moment they saw them talk.

“I feel a bit sorry for that guy.”

“Jarrod looks extra grumpy today.”

“He’ll definitely get the worst penalty.”

They all clicked their tongues as Jarrod raised his question, “What do people say the most in their lives?”

The usual answer to this question was ‘breathing’. But Minhyuk said, “That’s easy.”

“…Easy?”

Then, Minhyuk said, “The answer is ‘I’m hungry.’”

“…???”

That was right. Based on Minhyuk’s standard, the most common words that came out of a person’s mouth was, ‘I’m hungry.’

“What is the soy sauce that no one can eat?”

The original answer should be ‘anxiety[4]’.

“…But I can eat all the soy sauce in the world? I even ate the Poisonous Toad’s soy sauce before?”

“…???”

“What would you do if you found food on the street?”

The general answer was ‘pududuk(Flap, flap)[5]’, a combination of Food (pudu) and duk[6].

“Hiyaaa?! Picking up food on the street? Ah, isn’t that a good thing? That will definitely be my lucky day! I will definitely pick it up and run as fast as I can to go back home and eat it alone.”

“…???”

“What’s the bridge that no one saw?”

The answer was, misunderstanding[7].

Of course, Minhyuk knew the answer. He said, “A misunderstanding? Ah. Speaking of misunderstanding, I want some squid tentacles[8]. Munching on some squid while playing games in a PC room is the best!”

“…???”

‘No. Isn’t this guy strange?! How come all of his answers are related to eating?!’

Then, Minhyuk said, “What’s the color of hamburger?”

“…a variety of colors,” Jarrod answered the sudden question with a little uncertainty.

When you're just trying to make great content at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

“Wrong! It’s a tasty color! Keuhahahaha!”

“Keheok?!”

“Why is a cannibal complaining about his meal?”

“I don’t have the will to live[9]! Right! This is the answer!”

“Anyone that complains about their meals should be hit in the back of the head! What’s the fastest chicken in the world?”

“It’s, it’s swift[10]! That’s the answer! I’m sure of it!”

“Wrong! Minhyuk already ate the chicken! Hahahahaha!”

“Ugh, aaaaargh! Why did I not think of ‘Minhyuk already ate the chicken’?!”

Jarrod fell. He completely and utterly fell in Minhyuk’s rhythm and was slowly becoming Minhyuk-ified. Jarrod grabbed his head in frustration wondering why he could not get anything right!

“Someone dealt with Jarrod and even gave him a reverse quiz…?”

“Oh my god…”

The players in the area that saw this scene were all shocked. This was because the player completely had Jarrod in the palm of his hands.

“Q, quick! Give me the next question! Huh?! I think I’ll be able to get the next question right! Wahaha!” Jarrod shouted in excitement. He had never felt this exhilarated and amused during his long and boring stay in this village.

At that moment, Minhyuk heard a notification.

[You have completed the Quest: ‘The First of the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage: Bet Against Jarrod’ in a spectacular way.]

[You have gained +3 in all five of your basic stats.]

It was immediately followed by another notification.

[The Linked Quest: The Second of the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage: ‘The Four Stars and the Villagers’ have been created.]

Minhyuk immediately checked the quest.

[Linked Quest: The Second of the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage: ‘The Four Stars and the Villagers’.]

Rank: SSS

Requirements: The One who has completed and answered Jarrod’s Riddle.

Rewards: +15 to all five basic stats and gift from the Four Stars.

Penalty for Failure: -20 to all stats. Banishment from the town.

Description: This is the second of the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage. The Four Stars refer to the Star Chef, Star Tailor, Star Sculptor, and Star Painter. Increase your favor with the Four Stars and the Villagers. The quest will be completed if you achieve 70% favor. The duration of the quest is ten days.

“All the Stars were once connected. But with the death of the previous king, our connection has been lost and we no longer work together. Of course, the same is true for me. Build your favor with them and the villagers, and help us reconcile.”

Most of the people that lived in this village settled here after the death of the previous king of Eto Kingdom. According to rumors, it was not only the Stars, even the villagers were meticulous and strict. Minhyuk nodded. This was something that he already knew.

Jarrod looked away. He thought, ‘It’s impossible to win their hearts.’

After that event, they no longer worked together. Jarrod smiled sneakily as he thought, ‘I might have fallen into that rascal’s hands without noticing it, but he will definitely fail this mission.’

Jarrod was confident about the outcome of this quest.

***

One week later.

Every six months, the villagers would set aside a day and gather to discuss their village’s development in the future. And today happened to be that day. The village’s population was very small, their total only a thousand people. The villagers all stood behind the Five Stars, who had not seen each other in a long time, sitting in front of a circular table.

Everyone, except Jarrod, looked unhappy.

“Why the hell do we have to do this?”

“Jarrod. In the end, everything is up to you, right?”

“Do I really have to sit with these people? It’s making my mood turn sour.”

There was a time when the Stars treated each other warmly, but now the mood around them had turned for the worse. Even the villagers looked reluctant to be here. Jarrod hoped that they would return to what they were before, and become as close as they were back then.

“You probably know this already but the members of the Vigilante Corps have suffered great injuries after being attacked by monsters not too long ago. As such, I would like to recruit more members for the Vigilante Corps. Do we have any applicants here?” Jarrod said plainly as he started the meeting.

Although everyone here was very reluctant, they still participated on grounds that they were all citizens living in this village.

“Ah. The clothes of Evelyn’s daughter are already worn out.”

As soon as he heard the words, Berk, the Star Sculptor, snorted and said, “Didn’t Evelyn lose her husband not too long ago? Oh my. Hey, tailor! What are you doing? Why didn’t you make some new clothes for the child?!”

“What?! Do you not know how busy I am?! If you’re so kind then why don’t you pay me for my services and I’ll make it?!”

“Money?! Why is it always about money?!”

“What?! What the hell is wrong with you, you sleazy cook?!”

These people that were once called Stars were now arguing and quarreling with each other. Jarrod felt his temples throb at the sight as he barked, “Stop, stop!”

Things settled down slightly after his intervention. Then, Chef Star Cord said, “I have a customer coming in today. I think we should end this early.”

“Me too.”

“Same.”

“Fufufufu.”

“…?”

The Stars all smiled as a person’s figure flashed in their minds. They all looked strange. That was when Jarrod remembered the man, Minhyuk, that he met not too long ago. So, he opened his mouth to change the mood and said, “Not too long ago, a man that loves to eat came to find me. It was quite funny. The rascal dared to challenge me, a Star, to a reverse quiz. He’s a strange guy. No, perhaps it’s more apt to call him crazy?”

Jarrod chuckled. He was confident that the man would never be able to win the hearts of these Stars. He believed that they would curse the man along with him. Alas…

“What? What do you mean by strange man? Someone that likes to eat? No way, are you talking about my boy, Minhyuk?”

“You dare call my boy Minhyuk a crazy guy?!”

“You called my boy Minhyuk a strange guy?! Jarrod, do you want to die?!”

“…?”

Confused, Jarrod looked at the Four Stars, who suddenly went crazy as they defended Minhyuk. These people, who had not worked together and agreed for a long time, shouted and cursed at Jarrod with veins popping in their necks. What was more…

‘What, what do you mean by ‘my boy Minhyuk’?!’

“Jarrod, how dare you curse my boy Minhyuk?! You! How can you do that?!”

“That’s right! That’s my boy Minhyuk!”

It did not end there; even the villagers standing behind them…

“How dare you call Minhyuk a strange guy?! He’s a very good person!”

“Stop calling Minhyuk like that!!!”

“Long live Minhyuk!”

“Long live Minhyuk Religion!”

“That’s right! Long live Minhyuk!”

“Jarrod, you have disappointed us!!!”

“You are a disappointment!”

Then, they all rushed out and left Jarrod behind. He was left speechless and confused. He thought, ‘What, what just happened…?’

1. Syrup sounds like the word 실업 (which means unemployed). A play on words ☜

2. 삼고초려 - A story about how Liu Bei visited the tactician and strategist Zhuge Liang with patience and sincerity to recruit him. It can also mean ‘to patiently and sincerely recruit a talented individual’. ☜

3. A reference to Royce Chocolate ☜

4. Soy sauce is 간장 (ganjang) and anxiety is 애간장 (aeganjang). ☜

5. 푸드득 (pududuk), an onomatopoeia for flapping ☜

6. 득(得) which means gaining a profit. ☜

7. 다리(dari) was bridge and 헛다리 (heottari) can mean a lot of things including ‘misunderstanding something and doing something wrong about it. ☜

8. 오다리(odari) (means legs, he’s talking about those spicy squid leg snacks) sounds like 헛다리(heottari) ☜

9. 살맛 안 나! 살맛 here can mean both flesh and will to live. ☜

10. Swift, nimble or quick is 후다닥(hudadak) while chicken is 닭(dalk) which sounds similar to the last syllable of 후다닥 ☜