CH 483

[You have been given the Star’s Blessing of the Star Chef Cord.]

[You have gained 200 DEX.]

[You have gained +30 Physical and Magical Defense.]

[All of your stats will permanently increase by 1.]

[You have been given the Star’s Blessing of the Star Tailor Ellen.]

[You have gained 200 DEX.]

[All of your skills’ cooldown will be reduced by 2%.]

[All of your stats will permanently increase by 1.]

[You have been given the Star’s Blessing of the Star Sculptor Berk.]

[You have gained 200 DEX.]

[You will get a higher increase in stats after looking at a remarkable painting or sculpture.]

[All of your stats will permanently increase by 1.]

Minhyuk was able to increase his favor with all of the villagers with only a few simple dishes in the form of ramyeon, rice cakes, fritters, and blood sausages! On top of that, the things that he received were not limited to the Star’s Blessings. As he strolled around the morning market…

“Minhyuk! The apples that I got today are very fresh. Have some!”

[You have acquired a delicious apple from Lorenei’s Fruit Store.]

“Minhyuk, this is a sculpture that I made before. I want to give it to you. I carved your image when you were cooking!”

[You have acquired a sculpture from Caddy’s Sculpture Store.]

“Minhyuk, have some cold juice!”

“Minhyuk, have some ramen!”

“Minhyuk?!”

“Minhyuk!!!”

“Our dear Minhyuk?!!!”

“Sect leader!!!”

Just like that, all of the villagers showed great enthusiasm with Minhyuk.

“Hiyaa. This apple is very ripe. Chomp!!!”

Minhyuk received countless gifts from everyone in the village. As he continued his stroll, one man watched him. This man was none other than Jarrod.

‘Ho?! How…?’

Since that incident, the villagers and the Five Stars had disbanded and grown apart. They even became hostile towards each other. Jarrod had tried many times to mend their relationship but he failed every single time. However, in just a short week, Minhyuk was able to revitalize the village and even succeeded in increasing his favor with them.

‘What an amazing guy. If it’s him, then perhaps…’

Jarrod felt like Minhyuk might be able to pull off the thing that he had been trying to do for a long time. But before that, Jarrod went to visit Minhyuk’s shop and ordered something to eat. The ramyeon was so delicious that it even made him cry. There were also rice cakes, fritters, blood sausages, and fish cakes!

“Now, please follow after me.”

“I was the one that ordered but why are you eating with me?”

“Ah, no~ I don’t really want to eat it but I have to eat some to show Mister Jarrod how to eat it.”

“…Wipe your saliva first before you speak.”

“Sluuuuuurp!” Minhyuk quickly slurped the drool that dripped down his mouth while Jarrod copied what he was doing.

Minhyuk first took a sip of warm fish cake soup which Jarrod immediately copied. The deep and rich flavor of the soup immediately spread in their mouths!

“As expected, fish cake soup really tastes best when you eat it out on the street.”

“Yeah!”

Jarrod copied Minhyuk down to the T. He clamped a piece of fried seaweed roll, dipped it in the spicy red rice cake sauce, then placed it in his mouth.

Crunch, crunch, crunch—

The crunch of the seaweed roll rang sweetly in Jarrod’s ears the moment he took a bite. The spiciness of the rice cake sauce washed away the greasiness brought about by the fried seaweed roll. Just like that, he continued to move his chopsticks.

This time, his chopsticks stretched out towards the blood sausage. He dipped the blood sausage in salt and placed it in his mouth. The chewy texture of the blood sausage brought a smile to his face. After that, he grabbed a piece of the dry liver and dipped it in the rice cake sauce.

“It’s not fishy at all…”

The spicy rice cake sauce perfectly complemented the dryness of the liver and the slightly fishy aftertaste that accompanied it. Then, Jarrod lifted the bowl of fishcake soup, blew on it, and drank everything in one go.

“Sluuuuuuuuuuurp!”

Next, Jarrod picked up a skewer of fish cake, brushed some soy sauce on it, and munched on it.

“Ho~” A sigh of satisfaction gently flew out of Jarrod’s mouth after he finished savoring the warm fish cake in his mouth. He admired his bowl happily as notifications began ringing in Minhyuk’s ears.

[You have completed the Linked Quest: Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage: Four Stars and the Villagers.]

[You have achieved more than 90% favor with the villagers and the Stars.]

[You have gained +15 in all of your stats.]

[An additional +5 in all of your stats is rewarded for achieving more than 90% favor.]

[You can acquire gifts from the Four Stars.]

[Please accept the gifts from the Four Stars.]

“When we first met, I actually believed that you won’t be able to complete it. You’re quite amazing, huh?” Jarrod smiled softly before continuing, “This is my last request.”

Then, Jarrod began to tell his story.

The Five Stars were the most prominent individuals of the Eto Kingdom. Most of the kingdoms and empires were ranked based on their power and force, but not for Eto Kingdom. This was because the commercial value of their art and products was so remarkable and outstanding, that it allowed them to be exempted from that ranking rule.

In fact, Painter Elise only needed to create a few paintings and she would already be able to fill up 3% of the kingdom’s finances. But that was not all. Whether it was the Star Chef, the Star Tailor, or any of the stars, they were all so talented, that the kings and emperors of other kingdoms and empires coveted them.

Painter Elise was known for being able to paint the real sky. Tactician Jarrod was famous for repelling a 40,000 strong monster corps with only 500 soldiers. Star Tailor Ellen was well-known for being able to craft ordinary cloth armor with defense that was as good as sheet metal armor. Star Sculptor Berk was famous for being able to carve the figure of the gods. Because of these, the Five Stars were hailed as the legendary and supreme figures in the history of Eto Kingdom.

However, their loyalty was only exclusive to King Valex. And of course, King Valex also cared for them.

There was one more person King Valexcared for: his treasured queen. Then, Queen Aria, the most beautiful woman not only in the kingdom, but the entire continent, had gotten pregnant.

That was when things began to spiral out of control. Wild rumors suddenly started to spread in the kingdom.

‘The child in Queen Aria’s belly is the child of one of the Stars.’

This unfounded and ill rumor started to spread. At first, Valex did not believe the rumors. But as time went by, his suspicions gradually grew as if he was being possessed by something. Even the Stars suspected each other. Elise, the only woman among them, became disgusted with them, while the male Stars all doubted each other.

Eventually, they grew distant. In the end, King Valex suspected them to the point that he even interrogated them. But the truth was nowhere to be found. He could not charge the Stars of a crime that had no evidence and was only based on groundless rumors.

The relationship between the queen and King Valex deteriorated as well, which plunged him further into madness. Soon, he went crazy. The once gentle and benevolent King Valex began to thread the path of a tyrant as he killed off his beloved queen’s servants. However, this journey to tyranny did not last that long. Plagued by his suspicions, King Valex turned to alcohol. One day, he was found dead in his bedroom, surrounded by empty bottles.

Queen Aria took to the throne and gave birth to her child, which left the entire Eto Kingdom shaken. The people no longer wished to follow Queen Aria nor the Stars.

Much later, these Stars, who doubted each other, only found out that everything was planned by the Verax Kingdom.

Verax Kingdom’s black sorcerer manipulated and weakened King Valex’s spirit, while spreading false rumors throughout Eto Kingdom. Even though they discovered the truth, it was already too late. The Stars had already screwed everything up. All they could do was leave the palace and settle down in the same village.

“We grew to hate each other, but we still settled down in the same village. I believe deep down, no… I know that we all wish to be together again. And you… you might be able to tear down the walls that us, the Stars, have built between ourselves,” Jarrod smiled softly as he continued, “I hope that we can show the world, that the Stars the people thought could not shine anymore, are still and will still shine brightly in the skies, illuminating the heavens where the former King Valex is now resting in.”

Minhyuk nodded silently.

“This is my final request. I want to build a building for the despairing Queen Aria and His Majesty King Valex, assuage the chaotic minds and disorganized thoughts of the people, and stabilize the shaken Eto Kingdom.”

The crazy tyrant King Valex’s tomb was so shabby that it was hard to believe that a king was resting in that place. After all, Aria could not bring herself to treat the crazy tyrant that doubted her with care upon his death. However, she now knew that everything was a ploy of another kingdom. This story was also circulating among the masses.

However, it was very hard to correct the public opinion that had once faltered due to the rumors. So, in order to remedy that, Jarrod wanted to erect a building for King Valex. Since King Valex’s tomb was already in place, Jarrod was only left with a building that would honour his king.

“Gather the Stars, the villagers, and any helping hand that you can get and create this building.”

[Linked Quest: The Third of the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage: The Five Stars and the King’s Building.]

Rank: SSS

Requirements: The One who completed the Second of the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage.

Rewards: Eternal Flames, ???

Penalty for Failure: Favor with the Five Stars will drop. Banishment from the Village.

Description: Jarrod declared that he needed a building that can support and correct the faltering public opinion of the shaken Eto Kingdom. Gather people and build a building for the king with the Five Stars.

“King Valex’s tenth-year death anniversary will happen a month later. According to the legends, former kings that had passed away would descend upon the earth once again to take a look at their kingdom. The building must be completed before that day.”

“How should the building be done?”

“The building should be the grandest, most noble and greatest building in history.”

“…”

Minhyuk could tell what Jarrod meant. If they could create the greatest building in existence, they would be able to give a huge blow to those that shook the foundations of Eto Kingdom.

‘But, that’s impossible, right?’

As the thought flashed in Minhyuk’s head, Jarrod said, “We are the Stars of Eto Kingdom. Nothing is impossible in our vocabulary.”

That was right. They were the Five Stars of Eto Kingdom. They were the most suited people for the creation of this building. After all, they were the ones that made statues and robes for their king, the ones that painted him throughout his life, made splendid architectures for him, and the ones that cooked meals for him.

“The one thing that bothers me the most is that there are only a few people here.”

Even if all of the villagers participated, they roughly numbered around a thousand. That number was not enough to finish such a grand building in just a month. Then, Minhyuk said, “I have a friend here but… I have to contact him and ask him if he’s free.”

“Is that so?” Even though Jarrod answered him like that, he still doubted Minhyuk's words.

‘He’s from Asgan Continent. He definitely wouldn’t have one or two friends here.’

Even so, Jarrod thought that he should trust Minhyuk for now.

“Can you set up an appointment with the Stars tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

***

The next day, at lunch.

Search bit.ly/3iBfjkV for the original.

Jarrod stood with Minhyuk, waiting nervously for the Stars to come. Ten years. They had been talking ill of and treating each other badly for ten whole years. Would they even come? And when the appointed time came, no one appeared.

‘…In the end, they did not come. Huh?’

It seemed like the walls that they had built between each other were still too high. However, the two of them waited and waited and waited. Thirty minutes went by but still, none of them came. Another thirty minutes crawled by and still no one appeared.

“Hoo…” Jarrod sighed, face pale as he turned towards Minhyuk and said, “In the end, it didn’t work, huh?”

But then, at that moment…

Step, step, step, step—

A woman, wearing a flamboyant attire, appeared followed by a hundred people. She said, “I was running a bit late since I went out to gather my painters. Sorry, Jarrod.”

That was not the end. Chef Cord also arrived followed by his disciples. Even Sculptor Berk and Tailor Ellen appeared leading many people behind them. The villagers had also gathered around them. Most of them came from Eto Kingdom and also wanted to take part in their plans. Jarrod smiled slightly.

However, only a small number of people had gathered. They were only a thousand at most. This number alone could not make the grandest and most splendid building for their king. Then, at that moment…

“My friend is here,” Minhyuk said.

Jarrod saw someone walking through the village, leading tens of thousands of people behind him.

“…?!”

Jarrod was shocked. He thought, ‘How come there's so many people?!’ as he stared dumbly at the people that arrived.

Meanwhile, the man that led the group smiled lightly and said, “Long time no see, Minhyuk.”

“Long time no see. I wasn’t able to greet you properly during the World War.”

The man that appeared was Japan's strongest and the guild leader of Japan’s best guild. The very same man that changed the ‘Summit Five’ and turned it into the ‘Summit Six’.

He was Japan’s greatest, Musashi Kentaro.