Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 268: Curse of Baldness

Minhyuk looked at Emperor Asvon, he could see that the emperor was genuinely moved by his actions. Just like that, Minhyuk eventually moved on and succeeded in his cooking.

[You have completed the Seaweed Soup & Braised Tofu.]

[Rare grade.]

[You have gained 1 DEX.]

[You have gained 2 REP.]

[You have acquired 200 AP.]

Minhyuk realized that he did not receive a higher rating from what he had expected. However, it was more than enough for the quest that he had received. Just like what was written before, even a rare dish had the effect of promoting the growth and regeneration of Emperor Asvon’s hair several times over.

Then, he placed the seaweed soup and braised tofu in front of Emperor Asvon.

“Huff, huff…” Minhyuk gasped loudly as he wiped the cold sweat off of his forehead.

Emperor Asvon began to eat the seaweed soup and braised tofu placed in front of him.

***

Emperor Asvon’s eyes widened in shock when he sipped a spoonful of seaweed soup. He thought, ‘It’s thick…’?

He had never tasted such thick flavor in his life. Then, Emperor Asvon scooped a spoonful of rice and placed it in his mouth, before slicing some of the braised tofu and placing it in his mouth too. The spicy and savory flavor of the braised tofu spread in his mouth, as it tickled and enchanted his taste buds.

‘My goodness… this flavor is superior to the dishes of the chefs in the Imperial Palace.’

It was so delicious to the point that Asvon wanted to recommend Minhyuk to enter his palace. Then, he placed some white rice in his seaweed soup before scooping them up again. He also placed some well-ripened kimchi on top of the spoonful of seaweed soup and rice before eating it. The warm soup and the crunchy kimchi blended to create a pleasant flavor in his mouth.

Emperor Asvon closed his eyes to savor the flavor of the dishes as he continued to wolf them down hurriedly. He even added a ton of rice in his seaweed soup, before lifting the entire bowl of soup and tipping it in his mouth. He looked like he was drinking water with his posture.

He could not help but smile happily at the pleasant taste of the dishes. Then, Asvon felt a hot current coming out of his head. He suddenly shouted out loud when he felt such a sensation.

“Grow! Hair! Hair! Grow! Hair!!!”

Then, something amazing happened. Emperor Asvon’s barren head suddenly began to sprout hair, as it regenerated and grew at a rapid pace. When he realized what was happening, he could not help but shout louder.

“T…Talmor!!!”

Right at this moment, more than anybody else, he realized the vast greatness of Talmor.

***

“I am both grateful and in awe,” Emperor Asvon said as he gently patted the rich and thick hair that grew on his barren head in an instant.

With his words, the notifications rang for Minhyuk.

[You have completed the Quest: Emperor Asvon’s Curse.]

[You can now choose three artifacts from Emperor Asvon’s Treasure Room.]

“I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have fulfilled my lifelong aspirations and dreams.”

“I just did what I had to do. I’m also happy for Your Majesty.”

Minhyuk did not stop his acting as he thought of ways to continue to win the favor and trust of Emperor Asvon.

“Your work for this Emperor should be taken to the grave, no?”

Minhyuk looked at him in confusion. He said, “Was there something else that I did? I was called because I am an excellent chef, so that I can serve you a delicious meal!”

“Hahahahaha!”

Emperor Asvon smiled pleasantly when he saw how witty Minhyuk was.

“Boy, you’re free to live here. No one would say anything if you come and visit here. Also, I would like to eat your cooking once in a while, would that be alright?”

“There are conditions.”

“Conditions?”

Emperor Asvon’s brows furrowed. He had always seen Minhyuk as a foreigner who had no greed in him.

‘But you’re saying that there are conditions?’

Just as he was about to feel disappointed, Minhyuk said, “Can I call you hyung?”

“Hahahahahaha! Hyung? Hahahahaha!” Emperor Asvon burst out laughing when he heard his request.

‘He’s not being greedy, he’s just asking to call me hyung!’

He could see that Minhyuk just wanted to get closer to him. Hence, Emperor Asvon looked at him and said, “Alright, you can do it.”

“Hyuuung~”

Minhyuk’s voice was filled with endearment and it sounded a lot like the embodiment of “Hyuuuung~?”.

***

Minhyuk was filled with expectations after being given the chance to select three items from Emperor Asvon’s treasure room. The notifications suddenly rang just as he was about to walk around.

[You can now choose three artifacts from Emperor Asvon’s Treasure Room.]

[You cannot check the information of the three artifacts beforehand.]

‘The artifacts’ information is not available?’

However, it was obvious to him that the things placed inside the treasure room were outstanding artifacts. In a way, the restriction seemed like it was a way to stop him from taking three of the best artifacts away from this room. No, perhaps being able to choose artifacts from the emperor’s treasure room was too much of a ridiculous privilege.

Then, at that moment…

[GM: Hello, Minhyuk. This is Joy Co. Ltd’s president, Kang Taehoon.]

“…?”

Minhyuk tilted his head in confusion.

‘You’re not a regular operator but the president, Kang Taehoon, himself?’

[Minhyuk: Yes? What’s going on?]

[GM: I contacted you, Minhyuk, because I wanted to have a conversation with you. Is that possible?]

[Minhyuk: I see.]

[GM: Let me take you to the operator’s room for a moment.]

[Minhyuk: Okay.]

A bright light wrapped Minhyuk’s body, and when he reopened his eyes, he saw the figure of President Kang Taehoon.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Yes. Hello.”

President Kang Taehoon smiled at Minhyuk when he saw him greeting him politely.

Then, Minhyuk proceeded to ask him, “May I ask what business you have with me?”

Kang Taehoon began to tell Minhyuk the reason why he went ahead and contacted the latter. It was not that long before Minhyuk heard the entirety of the story. His words were about the patches that they would implement based on his high Holy Power. Minhyuk was convinced by Kang Taehoon’s words.

‘This game company is different from other companies.’

When other game companies implemented patches, they would usually make it worse for the players. However, Joy Co. Ltd increased the percentage of the heals and Holy Power efficiency, and they even went to negotiate with some of the best players with high Holy Power that would be affected and might lose out during the patch.

They even told him that they needed to take the Saint’s Sword away from him.

“I’m sure you have heard of this, but the Saint’s Sword is something that was not supposed to be pulled out.”

“But I pulled it out easily?”

“….”

President Kang Taehoon’s lips were pressed tightly together. There were even words that tickled the end of his throat.

‘It’s because you seduced all of the priests with food and increased your Holy Power to 4,000!’

That was what he wanted to say, but he just laughed awkwardly.

“Ha, hahahaha! I-Is that so? I wonder why it got pulled out so easily? Why was that the case?”

“Really?”

“In any case, I intend to retrieve the Saint’s Sword. Don’t worry, we’re going to compensate you with an artifact that’s comparable to it. I’m also going to patch up the double effect on the Holy Power of Pandora’s Helmet and pay the right price,” President Kang Taehoon said as he looked at Minhyuk, who was thinking deeply about the former’s words. Then, Minhyuk began to present his own conditions.

***

President Kang Taehoon entered the Special Players Management Team with a carefree expression on his face.

“I’m done talking with Player Minhyuk.”

“Really? What did he ask for?”

“He had no greed for other things except for food, so what he asked for was obviously not that great. As compensation for retrieving the Saint’s Sword, he asked that he be allowed to verify the information of the artifacts in the Emperor’s Treasure Room, a place where it’s impossible to check the artifacts’ information.”

“If it’s that much, then it should be fine.”

The Emperor’s Treasure Room was filled with legendary artifacts. Whatever Minhyuk picked would likely be a legendary artifact at the most. However, if he was given the chance to check the information, then he would be able to get the best among them.

“And as compensation for the Holy Power, he asked for an additional 20% recovery rate in his Absorption Conversion Skill, as well as two of the Four Heavenly Kings’ treasures.”

“The treasures of the Four Heavenly Kings…”

Team Leader Park Minggyu shook his head. He knew that Minhyuk was now trying to collect the treasures of the Four Heavenly Kings. Once he collected them, he would use them in combination with the Demigod Production Method. However, in Team Leader Park’s opinion, Minhyuk would at least take four months to complete this quest.

‘He’ll use Gorn’s SSS Treasure Chest to get one extra treasure so all he needs to get is three more.’

Minhyuk still did not check Gorn’s SSS Treasure Chest, so he was still unaware of it, but its effect would give him the artifact that he wanted. It would definitely be a way for him to obtain an artifact that he knew the information of, but was difficult to obtain. In this way, Player Minhyuk would have already obtained the treasures of three of the Four Heavenly Kings. Regardless of that, he would still need four months to collect the other treasure.

Then, President Kang Taehoon continued, “Finally, he asked for the information on the Demon World’s Tower, as well as a promise to maintain the additional 50% on attack and defensive power based on the Holy Power against the demons for one week.”

“Demon World’s Tower…”

Team Leader Park shook his head. This request was also not too much.

“Player Minhyuk’s request is because of the treasure of the Four Heavenly Kings, right?”

“Who knows? I don’t think that’s the case. He said that he’s going to the Demon World’s Tower because of the food from all over the world that he can receive every time he clears a level, or so I recall?”

The Demon World’s Tower was a place where players from all over the world could gather. And the players who could achieve a new record inside the tower would receive one of the most famous dishes in the world. For example, assuming the country was Korea, then they would receive bulgogi. If it was Japan, then they would get a Japanese dish like sushi.

‘That’s a good enough choice.’

Then, Team Leader Park realized something strange.

“Gasp…!”

“What’s wrong?”

“President… Don’t you think there’s something strange?”

“What do you mean?”

When President Kang Taehoon tilted his head in confusion, Team Leader Park explained. He said, “How did Player Minhyuk know that food will be rewarded for clearing the level with a new record in the Demon World’s Tower?”

“Well, of course…”

When Team Leader Park saw President Kang Taehoon mumbling the end of his words, he could not help but frown.

Currently, there was only one player who had achieved an unrivaled record in the Demon World’s Tower, and it was none other than Calauhel.

‘Did Calauhel publicly share the information about the world’s food reward when hitting a new record? No, definitely not. So, how did he know? This information can only be known once the tower was opened to the public!’

Then, at that moment, Lee Minhwa shouted, “Te…Team Leader! We have a problem!”

“…!”

“…!”

President Kang Taehoon turned around to look at Lee Minhwa. He asked, “What’s the problem?”

“P…Player Minhyuk is now in contact with Aruvel, the Demon World’s Sage.”

“Wha, what…!”

There was only one reason why they were all shocked. It was because Demon World’s Sage Aruvel was the person who knew the most about the mob information in the Demon World’s Tower. In addition, Demon World’s Sage Aruvel was the Demon World’s hidden NPC. One could only meet him after meeting countless criteria and difficulties.

‘You’re telling me that Minhyuk met him in less than an hour after he entered the Demon World?’

“I…It seems like Player Minhyuk already knew how to find Aruvel.”

“How the hell did he know? The only way to know how to meet him is upon entering the Demon World.”

All of them had the same question in their heads. Meanwhile, Team Leader Park thought of something.

‘Although everything that he had asked of us seemed reasonable, maybe what he had proposed were the best conditions that he could get from us. After all, he’s a man who can’t lose…’

Not long after, Lee Minhwa felt relieved.

“Well, Aruvel is still a Level 635 Marquis-class demon. Player Minhyuk will never be able to win against him.”

Before Minhyuk could hear the mob information in the Demon World’s Tower, he needed to win a fight against Aruvel himself. Even though he had a 1.5x increase in his physical and magical attack and defense, it was still impossible to achieve.

Then, President Kang Taehoon murmured under his breath, “That’s right… Even with Conir, it’s still impossible.”

‘That’s a good thing.’

***

Minhyuk laughed happily as he stepped into the Demon World.

He had chosen three artifacts from Emperor Asvon’s treasure room and most of them were for his vassals. The only reason he did that was because there were no groundbreaking cooking utensils that Minhyuk wanted among the artifacts. Even if all of them were legendary artifacts, they still could not compare to the sword and armor that he was using right now. For that reason, Minhyuk focused on Beanie’s and Conir’s artifacts.

Minhyuk also received information about the way to the Demon World’s Tower from President Kang Taehoon.

Gremory had also given information about the Demon World’s food every time she ate Minhyuk’s food. He heard from her that once he achieved a new record in the Demon World’s Tower, he would be able to get food from all over the world. However, she did not provide him with information on how to get to the Demon World’s Tower.

However, he also got information from her about the Demon World’s Sage Aruvel. He needed Aruvel to be able to achieve a new record in the tower. Gremory had told him that Aruvel was around Level 650. However, there was a way to overcome his strength.

Hence, Minhyuk moved towards the Demon World.

[You have entered the Demon World.]

[You have gained 30 REP.]

Following Gremory’s information, Minhyuk headed to Aruvel’s home. The corners of his mouth rose slightly at the contents of his inventory.

The first thing that he had heard from Gremory about Aruvel was that he had tasted the human’s food in the past. She said that he had admired the taste and flavor of the food. He was also known for being quite a gourmand.

The second one was…

‘He talks a lot when he drinks.’?

That was exactly the key point of the information.