CH 481

One week ago.

After receiving the second of the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage quest from Jarrod, Minhyuk was left lost in thought, ‘From what I heard, quite a few people have received the second of the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage quest.’

A quick look at tinyurl.com/2p9emv8w will leave you more fulfilled.

However, no one had succeeded in clearing the second quest. Based on what Minhyuk had heard, it might be possible to win the heart of one Star, but impossible to win the heart of all of them, including the villagers. On top of that, there was little to no information about all of the people that settled in this village.

‘The nearest Star would be the Star Painter Elise, right?’ Minhyuk thought, immediately deciding on Star Painter Elise as the first Star that he would visit.

***

Star Painter Elise was well over forty this year but it was obvious from her looks that she definitely made many men cry in her younger years. The image of her painting a vivid and green landscape in the middle of her exhibition hall was extremely beautiful and awe-inspiring.

After painting for a long time, Elise finally took a short breather. She stretched her body before grabbing the cup of tea nearby and looking outside. Not long after, her expression morphed into that of puzzlement. A man stood outside while admiring the paintings that she hung in front of her shop.

In the man’s hands were…

‘Takoyaki?’

…takoyaki. The very same takoyaki that came in those rectangle paper boxes. Strangely enough, the takoyaki, complete with mayonnaise, takoyaki sauce and bonito flakes sprinkled on top of it, was still steaming hot. Elise folded her arms on her chest as she watched the man. She thought, ‘Is there a shop that sells takoyaki around here?’

As far as she could remember, there was no shop selling takoyaki in this place. Then, she watched as the unknown man stabbed a piece of takoyaki with his long toothpick before placing it in his mouth.

‘The takoyaki is still piping hot…’

The man immediately huffed and puffed while rolling the still steaming takoyaki in his mouth. The best time to eat takoyaki was while it was hot and fresh out of the pan. This was because the takoyaki would be crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. If one chewed on it while it was still hot, they would be able to munch on the chewy octopus hidden inside.

“Takoyaki is really delicious!”

The man ate one, two, three, four takoyakis in a row! A drop of Elise’s drool fell down on the ground as she watched the man eat.

“Sluuuuuurp!”

This was the very same Elise, who was known for her elegance in the village! For a moment, she wondered about how shameful her actions were. But…

‘I want to eat some takoyaki…’

…the way the man ate so happily made the food look extremely mouth-watering. As much as she wanted to, she could not take her eyes off of him. Elise watched as the man looked around while eating his takoyaki. And as he looked at the pictures, the man shed tears while eating the last piece of his takoyaki.

“Sob. So beautiful…”

“…?!”

Elise was extremely shocked to see the man cry over her painting. She thought, ‘Those tears are sincere and truly from the bottom of his heart.’

She could tell just by the look on the man that was bawling his heart out. Elise personally believed that a painting contained both the painter’s thoughts and feelings. Unfortunately, there were many times where these paintings were used to garner false admiration from the nobles, for their wealth and false elegance. That was why she felt like it had been a long time since she last saw sincere and heartfelt tears!

‘Aaah. He’s crying his heart out. He’s bawling!!!’

Elise’s hands immediately shot up to her chest when she felt a twinge of pain from watching the crying man. Then, she made a decision, ‘I’ll go ask him where he bought his takoyaki, then I’ll show him my other paintings! After all, he’s someone that truly loves paintings!’

She rushed out the door and said to the man, “I saw you shedding tears while looking at my paintings. I’m sure you understood the loneliness that I felt when I created this. Fufu. It has been a long time since I last saw someone like you. Someone that can truly understand the meaning and sincerely love my paintings.”

***

The notifications rang for Minhyuk.

[You have received Elise’s favor.]

[You have received Elise’s favor.]

Minhyuk could tell that the woman that ran out of the shop was Elise. However, he could not understand the nonsense that she was spouting. She said, “I saw you shedding tears while looking at my paintings. I’m sure you understood the loneliness that I felt when I created this. Fufu. It has been a long time since I last saw someone like you. Someone that can truly understand the meaning and sincerely love my paintings.”

“…???”

Him? Crying over a painting? Of course, it was an undeniable fact that the painting that Minhyuk was looking at was extremely beautiful. But…

‘I cried because I ate the last takoyaki though?’

…this was the reason why he cried! He was crying his eyes out because he ate the final and last piece of the piping hot takoyaki in his hands! Minhyuk felt sad because he could not believe that the delicious takoyaki was all gone. It was something that was truly worth crying over!

But then, the woman in front of him even took things a step further as she said, “Please come inside. I want to show you more of my paintings. Someone like you is qualified to do so.”

“…???”

From what Minhyuk had heard, Elise’ exhibition hall was ready for viewing. However, no outsider was allowed to enter to view her artworks. She had not opened her exhibition hall for a long time and was only painting inside all by herself. No one could enter even if they wanted to. But Elise personally invited Minhyuk to come inside and view her art.

Then, another set of notifications rang the moment Minhyuk entered the exhibition hall.

[You have entered Elise’s Exhibition Hall.]

[Something amazing will happen every time you view Elise’s Paintings.]

Elise smiled lightly and said, “You can take a look at the paintings as much as you want. A person like you, who truly loves paintings, is always welcome in my exhibition hall.”

Just like what was previously mentioned, no one else had entered Elise’s exhibition hall since she settled down in this village. That was also the reason why he was eating takoyaki and looking at the paintings outside, he had been trying to find a way to enter.

“Aaaaah. Thank you. I can’t believe I will be able to see Miss Elise’s beautiful paintings up close! Ah, I can’t help but feel emotional! I feel like I’m going to cry again!” Minhyuk said, tears falling from his eyes again. His figure was the epitome of a scammer who could sell a glass of water for five million won!

Minhyuk turned to look at the paintings while maintaining an expression of being moved. The first painting was a landscape painting. It depicted the sight of a tall mountain, with snow that looked like fluttering petals falling down on it.

[You have seen Elise’s ‘Falling Snow on a Lonely Mountain’.]

[You have seen the Star Painter’s painting.]

[You have gained 2 DEX.]

There were no titles under the paintings, but the notifications rang for Minhyuk. He quickly exclaimed, “Snow falling atop the mountain. It’s a very beautiful artwork. I can’t take my eyes off of the details of the snowflakes.”

Elise smiled lightly as Minhyuk continued to talk, “However, as beautiful as it is, your lonely heart is evident in this painting. It’s both lovely and lonely. What a bitter and sad piece.”

Minhyuk’s words shocked Elise. She said, “Ac… actually, the name of this piece is Falling Snow on a Lonely Mountain. I can’t believe it. You completely understood the feelings that I wanted to express in this painting…”

Elise gently placed her hands on her chest as she looked at Minhyuk with genuine admiration.

[You have received Elise’s favor.]

Not long after…

[You have seen Elise’s ‘Mother Bear and Baby Deer’.]

[You have gained 2 DEX.]

“Survival of the fittest. The mother bear needs food so it could feed its cub. That’s why it has to hunt the poor and pitiful fawn. This piece is a clear representation of survival of the fittest. A work that shows a sad, yet undeniable truth of our reality.”

“H, how…”

[You have received Elise’s favor.]

Next…

[You have seen Elise’s ‘Bird’s Flight’.]

[You have gained 3 DEX.]

“Ah! A bird flying high in the skies! From what I can see, the bird seems to express your desire to take flight and soar to the beautiful skies once again. Just like when you were younger. The blue sky represents the splendor of your youth.”

“I can’t believe this. You’re able to easily see through my heart like this… I feel ashamed.”

[You have received Elise’s favor.]

[Your favor with Star Painter Elise has reached an extremely high level.]

[You have gained 50 DEX.]

[You have gained +1 in all five of your basic stats.]

Was it possible for an ordinary person to improvise this fast? No. This was only possible because Minhyuk completely understood how others’ minds work! In the end, Elise sat down and offered to serve Minhyuk tea.

That was when Minhyuk delivered the final blow. He even purposely made his voice shake as he said, “Hoo. That’s really sad.”

“Yes? What…”

“I can tell what you’re feeling with your paintings. You’re very lonely right now, but you can’t go out and show yourself to the world again, because of something.”

“…!”

Elise was taken aback. What Minhyuk said was completely true. Then, Minhyuk smiled softly as he continued to say, “You were once hailed for your beauty and even your paintings were known to be the best in the continent. But it seems like something had happened. May I ask what?”

Elise felt her heart shake as Minhyuk held her slender hands. The person in front of her completely understood what she was thinking and feeling! There was also his soft and gentle smile!

“But know this, you and your paintings are still as beautiful as ever. There’s no one on the continent, no, in the world that can draw a more amazing painting than you.”

Elise suddenly burst into tears the moment she heard his words. She sobbed, “Thank you. Thank you for your words of understanding. I was very, very lonely…”

Minhyuk smiled softly as he watched Elise’s tears drip down her cheeks. Then, Elise, with a smile on her face, wiped her tears and said, “Ah. That’s right. Where did you buy the takoyaki that you were eating earlier?”

“No one was selling it, so I made some.”

“But it was in a paper box…?”

“It’s because it will taste more delicious if I ate it that way.”

“…????”

Elise looked bewildered.

‘He ate it like that for that reason?’

Then, she said, “By any chance, can you give me that takoyaki…”

“I cannot.”

“…?”

Minhyuk spoke out of reflex. He was shocked at himself as he thought, ‘Ah! Oh my. What if the favor drops?!’

His favor with Elise was very important right now. So, Minhyuk quickly quipped, “Actually, this takoyaki is very important to me. It’s a dish that my friend and I loved to share together a long time ago. But now, that friend of mine is…”

Minhyuk suddenly looked up at the distant skies as his eyes reddened with tears.

“Ha…”

“Th, that… I didn't mean to bring up something painful! For me to ask you for something so precious… Ah, it’s, it’s just that I really want to eat it but…”

Even after hearing Minhyuk’s explanation, Elise’s disappointment was still clear on her face.

“I can make some for you. However, I want you to know that takoyaki is really precious to me. My friend is even called Takoyaki. Ah! Takoyaki! I miss you!”

“Aah. Then… ah!” Elise was suddenly put in a tight spot. She immediately tried to remedy the situation, “I can’t just ask you for something so precious for nothing. How about this; can I give you the Star’s Blessing in exchange?”

“A Star’s Blessing?”

“That’s right. A Star’s Blessing is a power that only the Five Stars can use once every three years.”

“Very well, I understand.”

Minhyuk was a veteran at spewing lies and expending his saliva just so he would not make dishes for someone for nothing! Then, he took out his takoyaki pan.

“…Why do you have a takoyaki pan with you?”

“I always carry it with me to remember my friend. It’s his keepsake, you know?”

“Th, that…”

Minhyuk quickly poured the takoyaki mix, placed some octopus bits inside before pouring the mix again. Then, Minhyuk quickly flipped the takoyaki upside down, showing the perfectly golden brown underside. His dexterous hand movements were flashy and ornate, just like a takoyaki stall owner!

“Wow…”

In a blink, Minhyuk had finished cooking the takoyaki. He placed them neatly in a paper box before sprinkling some mayonnaise, takoyaki sauce, and bonito flakes on top. The bonito flakes fluttered and danced from the heat of the freshly-made takoyaki.

Then, Minhyuk took out a small glass bottle and tapped a few drops on the dish.

“What’s that?”

“A special sauce.”

“Aha!”

Elise looked at the takoyaki in awe as she stabbed a takoyaki covered in the fluttering bonito flakes with the long toothpick, before putting it in her mouth. The heat immediately spread in Elise’s mouth which prompted her to roll it in her mouth. And the moment she chewed on it, the chewy octopus greeted her.

While she was savoring the dish, a notification suddenly rang in Minhyuk’s ears.

[Elise, one of the Five Stars, has the power of the stars.]

[The Sea Honey will not be able to show its powers.]

“…?!”

The notification was very shocking. But then…

“It’s so delicious. For real…” Elise exclaimed.

And the look in her eyes…

‘It looks similar to the eyes of my devout fanatics.’

Then, another set of notifications rang out.

[Your favor with Elise has reached the highest level.]

[You have gained 100 DEX.]

[You have gained 30 REP.]

[You have discovered the secret hidden in the second of the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage Quest.]

[As the king of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, there is a chance for you to take Elise in as your vassal.]

[However, this is only possible if you can capture the hearts of the rest of the Stars.]

He had won the heart of one of the Five Stars, the greatest painter.

‘The reason why the quest was called Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage…’

According to the records, Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang three times before he was able to get him to his side. Just like the notifications said, there was a chance that he would be able to get the greatest painter for the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.

‘There’s a chance that I can make her become the Painter’s Tower’s tower master.’

If Minhyuk got the four remaining Stars then…

‘Plenty of players will flock to Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.’