CH 711

A notification rang in the ears of Minhyuk, who was busy making spicy stir-fried chicken for his people.

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[God’s Second Knight Luo is starting to develop favorable feelings toward you.]

[You might be able to win over his heart and loyalty.]

As soon as Minhyuk brought Luo to their kingdom, he had asked Informant Abel to gather information on him. Abel, quick on his feet as always, performed his task swiftly.

‘An excessively devoted person to his wife and child.’

‘A Sword of the Gods that is loved by the people.’

‘The Sword of the Gods that has never caused a fuss or a problem in the empire.’

The Swords of the Gods held both great power and authority. More often than not, they would cause trouble. It would either be them killing a soldier because they found him offensive, or taking a woman home, sometimes by force, just because they coveted their appearance. These scenarios were frequent and could not be helped. After all, the world of Athenae was set during the middle ages, and such conduct was commonplace back then.

However, Luo did not cause any stir or waves at all.

‘Why has his heart wavered like that?’

Luo and Minhyuk had forged a relationship, akin to a master and his dog, to kill Nerva. However, it was also true that Luo would never become a true vassal if Minhyuk could not win his heart and loyalty.

(Luo)

Rank: Sword of the Gods

Type: Vassal

Level: 626

Attack: 6,430

Defense: 2,211

Special Abilities:

•Passive Skill: God of Assassination’s Blessings

•Active Skill: Dance of the Assassin

•Active Skill: Ghostly Arts

Potential: 165

Experience Value: 23% / 100%

Description: Although he has lost his left arm and his level has decreased by quite a bit, Luo is the one that is considered as the best assassin in the Luvien Empire. His existence is completely unrivaled. And as the leader of the Divine Assassin Corps, he also has an excellent ability when it comes to raising assassins.

If he won Luo’s heart, Minhyuk might just be able to acquire the greatest assassin in the continent.

‘We’ll just have to wait and see.’

Minhyuk put aside everything about Luo away for a moment and focused on cooking the spicy stir-fried chicken in front of him.

Sizzleeeeee—

He had already stir-fried the chicken legs, sweet potatoes, rice cakes, cabbages, onions and perilla leaves together for the spicy stir-fried chicken.

‘Stir-fried dishes taste even better as the sauce seeps deeper into the ingredients.’ This was what Minhyuk personally believed. Thankfully enough, the trailer was capable of producing a bulk amount of this same dish.

Once the dish was almost done, Minhyuk did not forget to add some udon noodles to the stir-fried dish. He originally wanted to make the dish and use preservation magic on it to prevent the noodles from swelling and getting soggy. After all, he planned on using different kinds of add-ons to the spicy stir-fried chicken and allow the people to choose what they wanted when he handed it over to them.

In a way, it could be said that his idea was reckless. In fact, he looked completely overwhelmed just by cooking the spicy stir-fried chicken. Furthermore, it still did not have any sauce yet.

‘However, they will enjoy it better that way.’

As someone that suffered from an eating addiction, Minhyuk only felt pleasure when he ate by himself before. Whether it was a hundred or a thousand dishes, he would only find it fun when it entered his mouth.

However, when he started playing Athenae and his eating addiction was slowly being overcome, he saw how food made people happy and delighted. That was when he discovered a new form of pleasure, the joy in cooking for others. The most important thing that he learned and realized as he continued to play this game was the joy of eating together.

Although his people would only be able to eat this meal once, he wanted to do his best so that they would be happy once the food entered their mouths. Since this was a dish that he wanted to make for the people of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, he naturally included a portion each for the people that he was very grateful for like Genie, Ascar, Ben, Conir, Aruvel, Mei Wei, Crow, Ace, Abel and many more.

Since there were a lot of people that helped him along the way, it was only right that he did his best for them after all.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep—!

Perhaps the trailer sensed Minhyuk’s thoughts, it began to spew out Eternal Flames with more intensity, working harder for his sake. Five hours soon passed and Minhyuk had not stopped cooking yet.

[It’s already been five hours.]

[Food God Minhyuk has not yet rested in those five hours. The moment he’s finished cooking, he would immediately wipe the pot and put in a new batch of ingredients to continue cooking.]

[Athenae might just be a game but if one continues to work repeatedly then they will experience both mental and physical exhaustion once their stamina runs out. Food God Minhyuk intends to feed all of his people. However, I still cannot fathom what kind of method he intends to use.]

None of them had an inkling as to how Minhyuk would feed all of his people. Meanwhile, the viewers had started to voice their own opinions.

[He’s not going to cook for 700,000 people without taking a rest, no? Haha.]

[Guys, do you even think that’s possible? How can a person cook non-stop for an entire week?]

[Even if he cooks like that, he won’t be able to cook enough for 700,000 people…]

[I know, right…]

It was true that it would be impossible for Minhyuk to cook for 700,000 people even if he continued to cook non-stop.

[But you guys know something? He’s a king yet he still cooks for his people. Don’t you think it’s cool?]

[Yep, yep. I agree with you. Which ruler and leader would go that far for his people and nation?]

[The rulers and leaders in reality are all busy flapping their mouths. Haha.]

The viewers complimented Minhyuk’s ideals, saying that he was truly living a life worthy of pride. Among them, there were a few people that said, ‘Minhyuk will be able to make it.’ In fact, many did not know that Minhyuk had gained a new skill, the ‘Divine Will’.

[You have triggered the skill: Divine Will.]

[All of your skills and abilities related to DEX will temporarily increase by 30%.]

[All of your stats will increase by 8%. Your attack and defense will increase by 6%.]

Divine Will was far more special than the original skill, ‘Will’, that Minhyuk obtained before. For Divine Will, Minhyuk only needed a quarter of the efforts that he needed to trigger Will. Furthermore, if he could trigger it again within thirty minutes, his DEX would increase by another 15%. If he could repeat this feat again, then he would be able to get a total of 60% increase in DEX. It could even cleanse his mind and body of the fog and fatigue, making him feel refreshed and energetic, as if he had just woken up and washed up.

‘Come to think of it, I went through all sorts of hardships and trials just so I could get ingredients and cook, no?’

God-grade ingredients were very tricky and troublesome to cook. Some of them had released blazing flames that engulfed Minhyuk and caused him to suffer burning pain all throughout his body. There were also some ingredients that were extremely heavy, forcing him to groan from the weight as he flipped the dish over. There were also some ingredients that sent strong and powerful attacks that created injuries all over his body. There was even a time when Minhyuk had foregone sleeping for a few days just so he could harvest ingredients.

Knowing that there was no penalty and that he had the Divine Will in his arsenal, Minhyuk was far more relaxed than before. Nevertheless, the continuous efforts made Minhyuk reel and stagger as he tried to make another batch of spicy stir-fried chicken.

“Kghhk…”

The people watching him cook all turned anxious when they saw him shake his head and hold it with one hand.

“Your, Your Majesty…”

“Your Majesty Minhyuk!”

The soldiers wanted to rush to his aid but Minhyuk just shook his head at them. “…I’m fine. I have to continue to cook so you must never enter here!”

“B, but Your Majesty…”

“I promised my people that I will cook for them. How can my words as the king of this nation be taken so lightly? My words should carry their weight in gold.”

“Your, Your Majesty…”

The soldiers felt tears begin to well up in their eyes, stepping back as they tried their hardest to not let a single drop fall. Warmth started to bloom in the hearts of the people when they heard those words.

That was not the end, Minhyuk was waiting to deal the decisive blow!

“Trust this king of yours and just wait.”

“Huhuhuhuhu. Your Majeeeeeeeesty!”

“Long live His Majesty Minhyuuuuuuuuuuk!”

At that moment, a set of notifications rang in Minhyuk’s ears.

[The patriotic spirit of the people of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom for their own kingdom has grown deeper. Their loyalty to their king is higher than the loyalty of the people of other kingdoms and empires.]

[You are deeply respected by the people of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.]

[Even though you are a king, it is still not an easy feat to win the hearts of all of your people.]

[A special reward will be given to you!]

[You have gained +1 in all of your stats!]

A glib tongue and a face full of sincerity would usually get one out of trouble. If Minhyuk were to be honest, it was not really that hard to win his people’s favor. All he did was mix the truth with some small actions and duped them somewhat! However, what he did was not necessarily all that bad. The fact that he was still doing his best for them did not change.

That was how four straight days passed by.

***

It was not only Korea, the entire world was also in a buzz. At first, the world was only slightly interested when they heard that Beyond the Heavens’ King Minhyuk would cook bulk dishes for his people. However, the biggest reason for their outburst was the fact that the Beyond the Heavens King had not even slept a wink in four days and was still cooking.

The commentators could not help but admire his will.

[I really don’t know what to say. Just thirty minutes ago, Food God Minhyuk was struggling from exhaustion.]

[I can see his sweat all over his body but he never stopped cooking.]

[Look at his eyes, he looks really exhausted. However, his firm determination to feed all his people is keeping him awake.]

[Ah… As we speak, the Food God has collapsed.]

The commentators could only sigh. They were very speechless at what they were witnessing. One of them gritted his teeth and tried his hardest to speak, his voice quivering slightly.

[Look at all the people that have said that the Food God is nothing but a genius. Even if he is, beyond a doubt, he’s a hard worker. At this moment, I can say with my own heart that I really respect the Beyond the Heavens’ King, Food God Minhyuk.]

[That’s right. I would also like to express my support for him, but my words fail me. Please do your best.]

All of the viewers and commentators were in awe and admiration as they watched him with their throbbing hearts. Every person watching this scene was cheering for him, albeit in a small voice.

‘We hope you can do it.’

It was true that Minhyuk was exhausted, but only to some extent. It was not actually as hard as it seemed to them.

‘Wow, isn’t the Divine Will really amazing?’

The Divine Will was supporting Minhyuk so perfectly that he did not even get tired even after several days of hard work. He was truly experiencing mental fatigue but the rest of his reactions were somewhat exaggerated.

It finally happened on the fifth day.

‘At this point…’

Clang, clang, clang, clang—

Minhyuk stumbled and collapsed.

“Your Majeeeeeeeeeeesty!”

“Your Majesty Minhyuuuuuuuuuuk!”

The soldiers immediately ran to Minhyuk. Of course, Spear God Ben was among them.

“Are you alright, Your Majesty?” Ben held Minhyuk’s hand carefully and asked.

However, Minhyuk did not move.

‘Did he really pass out?’

Just then, Minhyuk suddenly gave Ben’s hand a gentle squeeze and took it out of his hold. Then, Ben saw him squint and wink at him.

There was a saying: A school dog will recite a poem after three years.[1] Ben had been with Minhyuk as his vassal for quite some time. Of course, he had learned how to put on a show from Minhyuk.

“Aaaaaaaaah. Goodness! His Majesty fainted after cooking non-stop for five days for the sake of his people! Aaaaaaaah. Our king truly cares about his people!!!”

“Aaaaaaaaah!”

“Huhuhuhuhuhu. Your Majeeeeeeeesty!!!”

“Let us all never forget the care and the effort that our dear and noble king has done for us.”

“That’s right.”

“Long live Your Majesty Minhyuuuuuuk!!!”

“Your Majeeeeeeeeeeesty!”

“Aaaaaah…”

The timing was perfect. Ben even did an adlib and slowly placed his ears near Minhyuk’s mouth. “His Majesty is saying something!”

The people and the soldiers, even the viewers and commentators all held their breath as they waited for Spear God Ben to convey the words that Minhyuk wanted to say.

“I will not stop cooking for the sake of my people.”

“…!”

“…!”

[…This is truly a very touching moment.]

[I have been a commentator for four years but this is the first time that I have cried without even realizing it.]

[Hoo… Our Lord, the Food God. Is there even a name that is more fitting than that?]

Ten minutes later, Minhyuk stood up once again after drinking some cold water. Amidst everyone’s worried stares, he tried to prepare the ingredients and cook once again.

[Who are they?]

[Why are there suddenly a lot of people walking toward the trailer?]

[Isn’t the person standing at the forefront quite familiar?]

A man led a large number of chefs in front of the trailer. This man was none other than ‘Twilight Chef Black’. Black and the Louvert Guild had decided that only those that volunteered would go and help Minhyuk.

Seeing them, Minhyuk slowly came out of the trailer. Black looked at him silently. He had been watching him for a few days and had once again started to rethink the dreams that he had when he was a child. Not too long ago, Black had mocked Minhyuk’s challenge, saying that it was reckless. However, at this very moment, he was filled with respect and admiration for the man in front of him.

“Beyond the Heavens’ King Minhyuk, I could not help but feel shame as one of the top ten chefs in the world after watching you.”

“???”

“Thanks to you, I was able to remember the mindset that I had once before, the same mindset that I had when I just started cooking. Thank you.”

“???”

Then, Black slammed his fist on his chest.

“Our Louvert Guild is honored to have stayed by your side, the one with the pride of a true chef. From this day forth, we vow to always walk by your side through thick or thin.” Then, tears started to fall down Black’s face as he continued with a bright smile on his face, “We too want to join you.”

Wipe, wipe, wipe—

Black turned around beautifully and wiped his tears. But then, he suddenly turned back and gave Minhyuk a thumbs up. “You really are a cool punk.”

Minhyuk, who watched the entire thing, thought, ‘…What’s wrong with him?’

Minhyuk had suddenly gained the loyalty of Black and the entire Louvert Guild.

1. 서당개 삼 년이면 풍월을 읊고, you learn what you are exposed to. Even those that are inexperienced will have some knowledge on the field if they stay there for a long time. ☜