Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 520: Victory

Musashi Kentaro, the best player in Japan, was able to stand at the summit with the help of none other than Minhyuk. This very same Kentaro was currently in the Japanese Server, having a meeting with Japan’s top guild masters and rankers to discuss the server consolidation that would happen in the near future.

Accompanied with some sake and light drinking, their meeting continued. However, no matter what they discussed, their eyes could not stray away from the TV screen. The screen was broadcasting the Asgan Continent’s disaster. In fact, it was not only them, many people in Japan and the rest of the world that watched and paid attention to the happenings in Asgan Continent through their TVs, Ztube, or even their computers at home.

The screen was currently displaying the superb display of understanding and cooperation between Minhyuk and Ellie.

“C, Crazy…”

“How can they do that…”

“Ho…”

Ellie and Minhyuk’s cooperation was a never-before-seen situation. The two moved as if they were one as they put pressure on Asura until blood dripped down his body. Just one mistake and the two of them would lose the power that the skill granted them but they were making it look so easy. It was beyond shocking.

As he watched everything unfold on the screen, he felt cold sweat pool in his palms. Then, the two stabbed Asura in his abdomen and back causing a huge wave of blood to erupt from Asura’s body and dyeing the entire screen red. Only when that scene flashed by did Kentaro’s tightly clenched fists loosened up.

Kentaro looked down at his sweaty palms and asked himself, ‘How far will you go?’

Kentaro felt complicated emotions stirring. On one hand, he felt jealous of the moves and decisions that Minhyuk had made. On the other hand, he felt happy that his friend and idol was strong and powerful.

Meanwhile, everyone else wondered about the same thing, ‘What kind of reward will he get for hunting a demigod?’?

After all, humans were born with great curiosity in their bodies. The rewards for successfully hunting a boss monster? Tremendous. Then, what kind of reward would they get for successfully killing a being that could not be hunted in years, no, perhaps even hundreds of years, in the game? That was what they were thinking.

Kentaro felt his lips twitch as he said, “You know...”

“Yeah. Kentaro!”

“Yeah!”

The top guild members and high rankers that were looking intently on the TV all turned to look at Kentaro. What would Kentaro, the best player and the master of the strongest guild in Japan, say after witnessing such a spectacular scene like this?

“…I’m really close with the Food God,” Kentaro’s lips stretched into a wide smile as he said those words. Yes, that was right. Kentaro was bragging, just like those people who had celebrity friends that suddenly appeared on the TV in front of them. His words sounded strangely like, ‘I’m friends with them, you know~? We just had a meal a few days ago too!’.?

But the reaction of the people around him was also quite shocking.

“Su, sugoi…!”

“I’ve heard that you’re close with the Food God Minhyuk but it seems like you’re really good friends!”

“Am, amazing… that’s really great!!!”

“Kentaro, that’s really amazing… wow…”

The Japanese rankers and guild masters were looking at Kentaro with utter jealousy. The look in their eyes made Kentaro feel like his shoulders had grown wider and taller as he smirked triumphantly, showcasing a cute side that no one had ever seen before.

***

Asura’s blood covered the entire area the moment Ellie and Minhyuk hit him with their Sword of Frenzy. As if on cue, the Hell Warriors that were still wreaking havoc on the ground slowly started to disappear. The injured and battered dragons, the people of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, the rest of the survivors, and the viewers watching the broadcast only had one thing flashing in their heads…

‘They won?’

Then, the notifications rang in the ears of all of the players present in the area.

[You have succeeded in hunting Demigod Asura.]

[The rewards for hunting a demigod will be distributed based on your contributions.]

Another set of notifications rang in the ears of the players present.

[Common Reward. You will receive 60% EXP Buff for two weeks.]

[Common Reward. You have gained +3 in all of your stats.]

[Common Reward. You have gained 1 platinum.]

[You have gained 714,000,000 EXP as a reward for your contributions.]

[You have gained 20 platinum as a reward for your contributions.]

[You have acquired 1 SP.]

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

All of the players on site were shocked by the ridiculous list of rewards presented to them. These rewards were just the common rewards, but they were already shocking.

‘What about the rewards based on contributions?’

All of them turned to look at one place, to where Minhyuk was all sprawled out on and panting heavily.

‘I wonder what kind of rewards Minhyuk received?’

‘I’m so curious.’

‘He should have received the rewards now, right?’

None of them felt jealous at the fact that Minhyuk had monopolized most of the good rewards. After all, Beyond the Heavens Kingdom and the Food God had taken greater risks and dangers and fought more fiercely than them in this battle. At the same time, the notifications rang in the ears of Minhyuk, who was lying down on the ground.

[You have successfully hunted Demigod Asura.]

[You have made the highest contribution. The rewards that you will receive will be better than the rewards received by the regular players.]

[You will receive a 200% EXP Buff for two weeks.]

[You have acquired a 1% increase in all of your stats.]

[You have gained 1,000 platinum.]

[You have gained 3,000,000, 000 EXP.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[…leveled up.]

The rewards that Minhyuk had received based on his contributions were clearly different from the other players’ rewards. But the notifications were not yet over. There were still the rewards from Asura himself left.

[You have gained 24, 112 platinum.]

[You have gained 45,000,000,000 EXP.]

[You have gained 3 God’s SP.]

[You have acquired the Asura’s Successor’s Ring.]

[You have acquired Asura’s Bloody Buddhist Beads (3).]

[You have acquired Aeopus’ Stairway Parchment.]

[You have acquired Slaughterer’s Armor.]

Then, a notification rang in the ears of everyone present.

[‘Anonymous’ has been announced to the entire continent for your achievement in obtaining an artifact closest to God.]

A commotion broke out among the crowd. It was only natural. After all, the only one that could get a God-rank artifact here was none other than Minhyuk. While everyone was directing their heated gazes at Minhyuk, the notifications began to ring in Minhyuk’s ears again.

[The One that hunted Demigod Asura will be given an additional reward.]

[Please choose the reward that you prefer.]

[Please choose one from: 1. Artifact, 2.?Stats, 3. EXP, 4. Food, 5.?Gold.]

Without any hesitation, Minhyuk chose, “Food.”

[You have chosen: Food.]

[Food. You can choose the dish that you want to eat. This dish will be made by the God of Cooking and will contain a special power.]

The moment he chose food, a person’s face flashed in Minhyuk’s head. The person that he first met in the Dragon King’s Sea, who had been fishing for a long time while dreaming of taking revenge for his son. WIth Minhyuk’s help, this person was able to get his revenge. Ever since then, he has stayed by Minhyuk's side. Despite the hardships, adversities and struggles, he stood firmly next to Minhyuk. And when Minhyuk was having a hard time…

‘Your Majesty, here. Have some refreshing iced americano. Make sure to take a big sip. Hoho.’

…he would comfort Minhyuk with his words and actions.

But that person was no more. He was definitely gone. The thought alone caused Minhyuk’s eyes to water once more, as tears threatened to drip down Minhyuk’s cheeks once again. But before they could do so, Ben’s voice seemed to ring in Minhyuk’s head.

‘Your Majesty. Just like always, make sure to live happily, eat all of the delicious food that you can get and eat all of the food that you want to eat. And one day, this old man will definitely come running back to your arms.’

Grip—

That was right. Minhyuk believed in Ben. He might have left but it would only be for a moment. One day, one day he definitely would be back by Minhyuk’s side.

Minhyuk smiled. There was only one thing that he had to do while he waited for Ghost Spear Ben to return to his side, and that did not include being sad, regretful and frustrated.

“Eat delicious food. Enjoy life. Just like before.”

All Minhyuk needed to do was act the same as usual. He just needed to eat happily and smile in this world, in Athenae, while waiting for him.

“Snow Crab.”

Minhyuk chose the snow crab. Something that reminded him of the Blue Crab Ramyeon that he ate together with Ben during their first meeting. Just like how the two of them genuinely enjoyed and relished in the taste of that ramyeon back then, Minhyuk would also savor and relish this delicious snow crab, whether it was a snow crab bibimbap or snow crab ramyeon, he would enjoy it thoroughly. After Minhyuk chose his reward, many people looked at him in wonder. What kind of reward did he get? But the viewers already knew Minhyuk very well.

[He’ll run somewhere to eat again without checking the rewards, right?]

[We’re talking about the Food God here. No one can take it away from him so he’s going to eat it alone!!!]

Even the guild members and troops of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom thought the same thing. But the dragons and Baroque Kingdom’s King Lloyd definitely did not know Minhyuk. They thought that Minhyuk would at least give them a hint of the rewards that he received.

However, this time, both guesses were wrong. Minhyuk took out a mysterious pouch from his chest pocket, smiled and looked at it for a long time. Then, he acted very secretively, climbing alone in his trailer. The trailer also had an enormous pot that could boil large amounts of water. What Minhyuk did was pour the coffee beans in the pouch in that pot.

Originally, coffee beans needed to be ground finely, placed over a filter and poured water on. But Ben’s coffee beans were different. They were both mysterious and amazing. All one needed to do was place the coffee beans in the water and it would make it into the most delicious coffee.

The moment the coffee beans were poured over the water, a bright golden light bursted out of the trailer while a notification rang for everyone present.

[The ‘Legendary Coffee Beans’ nurtured and made by the Legendary Barista for a very long time is expressing its power for the first time.]

[With its first display of power, the Legendary Coffee Beans can help you make coffee infinitely.]

[However, the infinite coffee’s special effects would disappear after the first 24 hours.]

The bloody and gruesome battlefield was now filled with the delicious and fragrant scent of coffee. Just like the notifications had mentioned, these coffee beans would create an infinite amount of coffee. But after the first 24 hours from the initial use, the buff effects that accompanied the coffee would disappear and one could only savor its taste. What would happen if 24 hours had not yet passed?

‘Everyone here can drink it.’

Minhyuk began to distribute coffee to all of the survivors. These coffee beans were a sign, a mark that he was in Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. It was a mark of who that man was. Everyone looked at the cup of coffee in their hands in confusion. Some received hot americano while others received cold americano. However, none of them took a sip of the coffee, until Minhyuk had taken his first one.

It was a very strange sight. The ones that sustained severe injuries, the ones that lost their limbs, the ones that were still struggling, those that suffered from the terrible war earlier all stood still and held a cup of coffee in their hands.

When Minhyuk was down to the last cup of warm americano, he carefully placed it on the ground before taking out a spear from his inventory. Those that have watched the old veteran’s battle knew the identity of the spear in Minhyuk’s hands. The spear with a red cloth tied near its tip was the spear that Ghost Spear Ben used. Everyone was aware that the red cloth was the gift that Ben received from his son.

Stab—

Ben, a man that never learnt how to back down.

.

Minhyuk stabbed the spear next to the cup of warm americano. He stared at the spear and the red cloth that flapped with the wind for a long time.

“The old veteran’s spear…” Velach murmured as he looked at it with pure awe and admiration.

Then, Minhyuk said, “For everyone that has shed their blood in this place. For everyone that has died here, never to return to the families that are waiting for them. For everyone that has died, leaving their dreams behind.”

And…

“For my teacher. For my friend. For Ghost Spear Ben that will come back to us one day.”

Minhyuk bowed, paying a silent tribute to those that they have lost in this battle.

Velach had personally witnessed the battle of the old veteran. And now, he was witnessing how Minhyuk honored the ones that stayed with him and the ones that made sacrifices for them, instead of getting drunk on the joys of victory.

‘He’s a great king.’

‘He’s a great liege.’

Velach and the other dragons also paid a silent tribute to Minhyuk’s men, together with the people of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. Even Baroque Kingdom’s King Lloyd hurriedly jumped outside to pay his own tribute. Everyone present honored Ghost Spear Ben and those that sacrificed their lives in this battle.

Minhyuk felt as if he heard Ghost Spear Ben whisper in his ears, ‘Hoho~ Your Majesty, sluuuuurp~. Have a sip from this cup of refreshing coffee.’?as he gulped down the iced americano in his hands. The refreshing flavor and magnificent taste of the coffee beans harvested by the Legendary Barista brought a thrill down his spine. Then, a white light surrounded Minhyuk’s body and healed his wounds and injuries.

Swiiiiiish—

Then, the others began to drink their own coffee too, prompting a white light to burst out in the area. It was immediately followed by a set of notifications.

[The Legendary Coffee Beans made by the Legendary Barista have the power to heal the wounded and energize the exhausted and fatigued.]

[Your HP has recovered and reached 100%.]

[Your fatigue and exhaustion disappears as if it has been washed away.]

[Your consciousness returns to clarity.]

Ben had given them a present until the very end.

In the middle of the battlefield shrouded with a pristine white light, stood Ghost Spear Ben’s spear with a red cloth tied on it, fluttering in the wind.