Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 745: God of Birth Gaerna

Minhyuk was able to hunt almost forty Great Spirit’s Fragments by himself because their HP was almost gone. It was also because of the difference between NPCs and players.

In most cases, NPCs would either use their inherent skills or the skills that they have created themselves. On the other hand, players acquired skills in various ways. Some could be acquired through special skill books, while others through a class change. Because of that, skills had been considered a part of a player’s power. After all, they could just use another skill if one of their skills were in a cooldown.

Overlord’s Technique was a skill that Overlord Raldo possessed. Even the Sword of the Gods could not recklessly go against it. It just went to show how powerful it was.

“At this rate, it’s not me that should stay behind and send support but you, right?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

All of them were left speechless.

Why did the Swords of the Gods tell Minhyuk to stay at the rear? It was because they thought they only needed his buffed dishes. Besides, there was little need for him since they already had skills that were excellent enough to be called the best on the continent. To them, Minhyuk, someone that they had to protect and shield, was nothing but a deadweight. To put it simply, they were secretly ignoring Minhyuk.

Minhyuk was aware of this too. However, he did not feel the need to express his discontent.

‘He could have expressed his anger toward us.’

‘As a king of a nation, our actions must have hurt his pride. However, he did not even express his anger before. Perhaps it is because of his magnanimity.’

‘Perhaps he has judged that it is faster to show us through his actions.’

They are people who had sworn by the chivalry code. As knights, they could admit their faults and apologize, especially if they treated another rudely. They also knew how to treat those that they were indebted to properly.

[You have gained Beloch’s favor.]

[You have gained Revor’s favor.]

[…Gratt’s favor.]

Their favor toward Minhyuk increased dramatically. He might be the king of an enemy nation but they were still people that knew how to show respect and repay the grace that was given to them.

“Let me tell you this: do not judge others by their appearance.”

Everyone agreed with those words.

“We are very grateful for your help.”

“We will not forget this grace.”

Minhyuk nodded at their words. He knew that there was no need to make them feel embarrassed in a place like this. Also, there was one thing that he knew that he could get from them.

‘I have the Six Monster Gods’ Skill Creation Book.’

That was right. Minhyuk had a skill creation book in his possession, and he only had one chance to create a skill. According to the description, he could run up to twenty simulations during the skill creation process.

‘The Swords of the Gods.’

They were born geniuses who had grown up and dominated the entire continent.

‘What if they help me create a new skill?’

Perhaps something that would exceed someone’s wildest imagination would appear. Unfortunately, his thoughts were cut short.

“Uggghhh!” Knight Commander Don collapsed on one knee, his hands clutching his abdomen tightly. “Urk!”

Knight Commander Don, who took on the attacks of forty of the Great Spirit’s Fragments by himself, vomited a mouthful of blood. He was very confident that he could stop the enemies as much as he could by himself. However, everyone knew that he did so just so he could protect the other Swords of the Gods.

“Commander.”

“Commander Don!”

Knight Commander Don was sent down by the Battle God as a reward when Nerva conquered a portion of the continent. As such, he was just recently appointed as the knight commander.

However, even though he was in position only for a short period of time, the Swords of the Gods had already trusted and followed him more than anybody else. This was the result of how worthy Knight Commander Don was and how he treated his comrades.

The light in Don’s eyes dimmed as he collapsed on the ground.

“Hurry and get your potions out!”

They quickly opened the potion and poured it into Don’s bloody mouth. However, Knight Commander Don’s complexion was turning paler and paler by the second.

At that moment, Minhyuk realized, ‘Did his HP fall below 2%?’

At this point, players would have heard the notification saying, ‘You will die from excessive bleeding.’ Most of the potions had cooldown times, and Minhyuk had clearly seen Don take a potion a few minutes ago.

“Urk!” Knight Commander Don vomited another mouthful of blood. As his vision started to blur, he began to entertain the thought of getting eternal rest. He looked at the Swords of the Gods that appeared in front of his gradually dimming eyes.

“Commander!”

“C, Commander! Please wake up!”

[The black magic that has bound you has loosened as you fall into eternal rest.]

Then, Don’s memories returned to him as he slowly and gradually approached his death.

‘Your Majesty Brod…’

The events of the past flashed before his eyes. Brod appeared in front of Don, who was dying by himself, and stood against tens of thousands of enemy troops.

—You can’t die yet. You said that you’ll become the Sword God.

‘Why? Why did he risk his precious life and throw himself amidst tens of thousands of enemy troops, just to save a mere member of his troops?’

After cutting everyone down, he walked back with his hands supporting his shoulders and his entire body covered in blood.

—Your Majesty. I will live for Your Majesty for as long as I’m alive.

Don had promised to live for his sake just like that.

“Haa… haa…”

Don reached his hand toward the sky.

‘I remember now. I remember the face of my true master, the one that I truly serve. However, I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep that promise.’

At that moment, Minhyuk spoke up.

“I have a very precious potion with me. It’s the only potion of its kind that I got from hunting Gaerna.”

The knights looked at Minhyuk as he stepped forward with desperate eyes. However, they all knew that in the end, he was the king of an enemy kingdom. The death of Knight Commander Don was something that he should take joy in and greatly welcome.

On top of that, it was the only bottle of potion that he had acquired from hunting Gaerna. Its preciousness was something that was beyond anyone’s imagination.

Minhyuk looked down at the bottle of potion for a while. ‘I actually have five of these.’

That was right. Minhyuk had obtained five Mandala’s Elixir. He gave Elpis one, which left him with four. Minhyuk looked down and caressed the bottle for a long time. He sported an expression that made it look as if he was very conflicted.

Of course, Minhyuk did not forget to emphasize, “I intended to use this potion for my vassals. I’ve reserved this in case they ever meet with danger.”

“…”

“…”

“However…” Minhyuk looked at the Swords of the Gods with deep sadness in his eyes. “I can tell that he is a very precious person to you.”

Minhyuk nodded his head slowly as he showed the most nostalgic and the saddest look in his eyes, while putting on the faintest smile on his face.

Pop—

Then, he popped the potion bottle open and poured the contents into Don’s mouth.

Gulp, gulp, gulp—

Mandala’s Elixir was a very special potion. First, it did not have any cooldown time at all. Second, it could recover 100% of both HP and MP. And third, it could temporarily increase one’s defense by 20% upon consumption.

Of course, Minhyuk was not using Mandala’s Elixir, such a precious potion, just because he did not want these people to lose a precious person.

[Sudden Quest: Knight Commander Don’s Memories.]

Rank: SS

Requirements: Don’s favor

Rewards: Don’s favor will increase dramatically.

Penalty for Failure: Don’s death.

Description: Knight Commander Don’s consciousness had been altered with black magic. Because of that, he had lost some of his memories. Part of his memories had been reawakened upon his death. You have a bit of connection with him. Saving him might be of help to you.

Don was related to Minhyuk in some way. He was not sure how they were related, but at the very least, he was sure that Don would be of great help to him if he survived this ordeal.

“Get up. Your men are very worried about you!” Minhyuk shouted heatedly, his voice touching the hearts of the members of the knight order around him.

‘Ah, aaaaaaaah… He is a true and genuine king. He’s a man that can understand the hearts of the people, even if they are from an enemy nation!’

‘How can this be? He actually used a very precious potion, a potion that he only has a bottle of, to save our Commander Don?’

‘My god. He’s truly a man with great generosity!’

[Your favor with Beloch has dramatically increased.]

[Your favor with Revor has dramatically increased.]

[Your favor with Cratt has dramatically increased…]

Minhyuk received a huge increase in favor amongst the people present. It was like hitting two birds with one stone! He saved Knight Commander Don, and won the hearts of the Swords of the Gods in one go.

Knight Commander Don, whose consciousness had started to blur and turn dark earlier, gradually regained his senses. Seeing this, Minhyuk, with eyes blazing with passion, clasped the man's hands with his own and said, “I was very worried. I might have used a very, very precious potion that I only have one bottle of, but I’m very glad that it can save you. It’s definitely not a waste at all!!!”

Knight Commander Don felt an unknown emotion surge within him when he saw the relieved expression on Minhyuk’s face. ‘You’re saying that you used a very precious potion, that you only have one bottle of, on me? You? The king of an enemy kingdom…?’

Having survived the ordeal thanks to Minhyuk’s help, Don began to recall the memories that he had lost. Brod, the only emperor that he had served and the Beyond the Heavens’ King, the person who had Don’s emperor under his command.

“I did not waste the potion at all.”

[The God Who is Good at Lying is looking at you in admiration. ‘Wow, you’re really…’]

Minhyuk wrapped Don’s hands with his warm hands once again and smiled kindly at him. “Look, your men are very glad that you’re safe and alive.”

“…”

Don finally looked back at his men. He could clearly see the look of relief that flashed on their faces.

Then, Minhyuk gently let go of his hands and said, “I’m very glad that you survived, Sir Don.”

The Great Luvien Empire’s Knight Commander Don, the current number one Swords of the Gods and a very promising talent under Nerva’s command, knelt down on one knee in front of Minhyuk.

“Beyond the Heavens’ King.”

The other Swords of the Gods immediately knelt down on one knee and followed his example.

[You have reached MAX favor with Don.]

Knight Commander Don looked up at Minhyuk with a very faithful and loyal gaze.

“This… Knight Commander Don is His Majesty Nerva’s subordinate…”

‘I was originally serving His Majesty Brod. Why am I serving Nerva now?’

His memories about what happened at that time were still incomplete.

“To repay the grace that you have bestowed upon me, I will risk and sacrifice my life for you. At the very least, I will risk it for as long as we are inside Mandala’s Prison.”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

The commander’s words were the knights’ law. Seeing their commander show his loyalty to Minhyuk, the Swords of the Gods also showed their loyalty to him. After all, Minhyuk was someone who deserved such treatment.

Minhyuk looked very moved with the display. He slowly approached them, his knees bending slightly as he pulled them up with him. “Don’t kneel down. It’s for you and for Your Majesty’s sake too.”

“Ah…”

If Nerva saw what happened here, they would all be charged with treason. Even if they got beheaded and executed right away, they would have no say in the matter.

“I don’t want your loyalty if that means that you will have to sacrifice your life for me.”

Even though Minhyuk said that, he was still laughing happily deep inside.

‘Fufufufufu. Instead of sacrificing your lives. Just help me with the Six Monster Gods’ Skill Creation Book!’

However, what he displayed on the outside was completely different from what he thought inside.

“Let’s just become comrades that will cross the tightrope between life and death in this place,” Minhyuk said as he drew an X on their right arm. It was the symbol of friendship that Ali loved so much.

“This…”

“What is this?”

“It is a symbol that we have become comrades, at the very least, in this place.”

“Ah. It has such a deep meaning…”

“Ah, aaaaaaaaah…!”

“Well then, how about we give it a try?” Minhyuk raised his right arm carrying the X symbol and shouted as hard as he could, “Frieeeeeeeeeeend!”

“Frieeeeeeeeeeeeeeend!!!”

“Frieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeend!!!”

If Ali saw this scene where they raised their hands and shouted together, he would definitely be moved to tears.