Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 523: Inside the Overlord’s Dreams

The truth was, Minhyuk was extremely nervous. What if the dragons had said that they wanted to take Luna away? But it seemed like he got nervous for nothing. Then, the notifications rang.

[You have been given full authority to raise and nurture Luna.]

[The dragons are creatures that never take their words back.]

Not long after, Dragon Elder Velach said, “We will not forget the sins that we have committed. If you call for us one day, we will run to you with everything we have. Please do remember that it will only be a one-time thing.”

[The Dragon’s Oath has been triggered.]

[Dragon Elder Velach and the dragons that he leads will heed your summons if you call for them one day.]

To have the power to call for the dragons once in the future, it was an unbelievable trump card. Right after that, the polymorphed dragons soared to the skies, turned back to their original form and flew far away.

Just when Minhyuk was about to move again…

“Food God.”

“…?”

Minhyuk tilted his head in confusion especially after seeing Ares and his guild members look at him with shining eyes. After the situation had been sorted out and everything had been settled, Minhyuk had greeted and thanked Ares. But now…

“Please take us in! We want to be a part of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom!!!”

Ares was an arrogant, yet outstanding, high ranker. Right now, he, one of the strongest players leading one of the top four guilds of the nation, was asking to come under the banner of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. In fact, when Minhyuk and Ares talked not too long ago, his guild members still looked at him with hostility as if they were saying ‘Ares is still the best!’.

But now? For some strange reason, they were looking at Minhyuk with great respect and admiration.

Meanwhile, Ares was a bit anxious. After all, Ares Guild had always kept on making trouble for Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. Right now, the ball was in the Food God’s court. The right to choose was in his hands. While Ares was plunging further into the depths of his worries, Minhyuk’s voice rang, “Stand up.”

‘…As expected, it won’t work. Huh?’

Ares’ expression stiffened. What if it was him in that position? If he was the Food God, then he would definitely kick up a fuss and go crazy on them. The enemies that were aiming for their downfall were suddenly asking him to take them in and become allies, after all.

Ares could only sigh as he lifted himself up slowly. He could not help but look curiously at the hand that was generously stretched out in front of him. This was the hand of the Food God and the king of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.

“I can’t allow a friend to kneel, right? Welcome, Ares.”

“…!”

A bright smile finally bloomed on Ares’ face as he grabbed Minhyuk’s outstretched hand.

Graaaab—

“I’ll do my best for myself and Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.”

Ares really could not say that he would only be playing for Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. After all, he was not close with any of them yet, and he was still unaware of the true worth of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. However, he would do his best at whatever task was given to him.

So, Ares asked excitedly, “Then, what should I do in Beyond the Heavens Kingdom? A close combat instructor? Or an attack commander?”

Ares dreamt of even sitting at an executive seat! The thought was enough to make his heart flutter. It was not just a job in a guild, but a job in a kingdom!

‘I’ll be satisfied even if I’m just a Legion Commander!’

Ares was filled with great expectations. Then, Minhyuk smiled happily as he took something out of his inventory and held it out towards him. It seemed like it was a parchment with a form where they had to write down their personal information.

‘As expected of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. They’re taking note of each of their guild member’s personal information and classifying them based on their specialties, huh?’

Just as Ares expected, they were a very systematic nation.

However, the questions that greeted them on the form, where they had to write down their personal information, were strange.

[Are there dishes that you’re good at making? For example: You can cook a tastier ramyeon with a secret recipe.]

[You are eating samgyeopsal with Minhyuk but there’s just one last piece left. Are you willing to concede and let him have it?]

“…????”

[What is your hobby? Field work, fishing, or looking for good restaurants? Additional: It would be good if you can tell Minhyuk about all the famous restaurants with good food.]

“…???”

Question marks popped up above the heads of Ares and his guild members.

“Aah. You shouldn’t feel too pressured. You know? Just write about special dishes or a secret to make another dish more yummy. Just write about things like that~”

“My mom’s steamed egg is the best in the world. Can I write that down?”

Clap, clap, clap!

Minhyuk clapped in awe while saying, “Excellent! Very excellent!!! Yes! You have to write that down. Make sure to put an asterisk right next to it!”

Then, Minhyuk approached the guild member who claimed his mother cooked the best steamed egg.

“How about being friends?”

“…”

Ares realized that something had gone wrong. Then, another of Ares’ guild members spoke up and said, “My hobby is fishing.”

“Excellent!!! Truly excellent!!!”

“Ah. I’m a chef in reality.”

“I love you!!!”

As people talked about dishes and hobbies related to cooking, a very warm atmosphere surrounded them. As they talked, their gazes suddenly turned towards Ares, who felt a great deal of pressure when he saw the gazes focus on him.

‘Why am I suddenly nervous about this?’

Then, Ares hesitantly said, “My mom has a secret recipe for soybean paste stew. It’s really delicious, you can even eat two bowls of rice in one go.”

“…Kghk!!”

Minhyuk immediately hugged Ares tightly.

“Amazing, Ares!!! You’re really amazing!!! Hahahahaha!!! Let’s be friends from now on!!!! Ah, by any chance, do you have your mother’s secret recipe? Can you write that down for me?”

“Ha, haha… Of, of course. Leave it to me!”

Ares realized that something had gone really, really wrong here.

This was how Ares and his guild joined Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, making the kingdom even stronger.

***

Minhyuk, together with some of the Beyond the Heavens’ Kingdom’s executives and troops, immediately set out for Lumae Kingdom. Of course, Prince Votto also accompanied them on their journey. The fact that Prince Votto returned as a prisoner of war, defeated in the war that he waged alone, stirred the resentment from many of Lumae Kingdom’s people, who were crying loudly.

“Prince Votto! How can you bring shame to the Warrior’s Nation?!!!”

“Your Majesty Raldo!!! How did our Warrior’s Nation fall this far?!!!”

“Sob, sob, sob, sob, sob!”

The cries of the people roared loudly in the kingdom. The Lumae Kingdom, the Warrior’s Nation, under the rule of an absolute strong man was a kingdom that could not be ignored in terms of power, despite it being a small nation. Unfortunately, this absolute leader had fallen into a mysterious and unexpected deep sleep.

But no matter how hard the people cried, they could do nothing to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom’s King, executives and troops that brought Prince Votto as their prisoner of war.

Prince Votto, who was tied by a rope and walking ahead, turned to look back at Minhyuk and said, “I hope you won’t forget the promise that you have made.”

The promise between Prince Votto and Minhyuk was something that they had discussed while on the way here and involved the knights and troops that Prince Votto led to war. He had asked Minhyuk to take in his troops. Prince Votto had created his own faction in Lumae Kingdom, who had followed him in this war. Their loyalty to him was of course very high. In return, Prince Votto wanted to repay them by saving them from this predicament.

Unfortunately, as a citizen of the Warrior’s Nation, the Lumae Kingdom, coming back defeated meant that their life was already forfeit.

“I know.”

Minhyuk nodded. However, a thought flashed in his head, ‘The question here is if I can win their hearts and loyalty.’?Minhyuk did not hope to have as much loyalty as they have for Prince Votto. If they continued to resent and hate him, then they would not be able to work with each other.

‘If I win their hearts, then I will be able to raise a strong unit.’

The knights and troops of Lumae Kingdom could be said to be equivalent to the elite troops of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom in power. Minhyuk continued their march, entering the palace with Prince Votto at the lead. The knights of Lumae Kingdom pointed their swords at Minhyuk and the executives and troops of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, but were forced to stand down.

How would they dare to point their swords at them when the other party had Prince Votto in their hands? They dare not attack at all.

Not long after, Minhyuk arrived in front of the door where Raldo was sleeping. In front of the door stood a man, guarding and protecting the place. This man, Evan, was hailed as Lumae Kingdom’s Guardian. He was an old man with a long white beard hanging on his chin and a light rapier hanging around his waist.

However, despite the fact that the rapier was a very light weapon, the power of it was something that no one could ignore. Evan was a very skilled swordsman, whose power even exceeded some of the legends. In fact, in Minhyuk’s perspective, Evan could rank among the Supreme NPCs.

‘The NPCs’ skills and abilities are far above ours.’

There was no other choice but for them to acknowledge this fact. It did not matter if Minhyuk was hailed as the strongest person in the way of the sword, these NPCs would still be stronger and mightier. After all, they had held the sword since their birth. And these people wielded their swords to kill and survive. That was the main reason why NPCs, who were at the same level as the players, were far more skilled than the players. There were even many cases where an NPC of the same class could deal with more than three players by themselves.

“Prince Votto, in the end, you have led the Lumae Kingdom to its downfall, huh?”

Evan was a long-time loyalist who devoted his entire life to the Lumae Kingdom and the Warrior God Raldo. After King Raldo fell into his strange deep sleep, many of the loyalists have turned away from him at Prince Votto’s behest.

However, only Evan had always stayed and guarded the room where Raldo slept in. That was why he was a complete loyalist.

‘He’s someone that even I covet,’?Minhyuk evaluated.

Not long after, Prince Votto looked at him with a bitter expression, “Sir Evan. I led the Beyond the Heavens’ King here not to bring harm to my royal father, so please don’t dissuade me and tell me that it’s just mere foolishness.”

“I do not understand. How can you say that when you have led your enemies to the place where His Majesty is resting?” Evan said, releasing his overwhelming momentum.

Evan was the master of the Overlord. Ellie even warned Minhyuk about him, saying, ‘Minhyuk. Evan is a very talented individual.?Even I?dare not say that I can deal with him easily. You have to be careful around him.’

Evan was showing them that his weak appearance did not mean that he was not strong.

“I personally asked the Beyond the Heavens’ King to look at my royal father’s condition.”

Evan scoffed when he heard Votto’s words, “Obviously, nothing would change even if a foreigner looked…”

Minhyuk believed that a showdown with Evan was something that was simply useless. It would only be useless whether it was them that got hurt or Evan. So, what Minhyuk did was simple…

“Everyone, put down your weapons and show courtesy.”

…he hid his weapons in his inventory and ordered his men to put down their own. After removing his weapons, Minhyuk said, “We have received great damage from your kingdom and we have to discuss with Raldo about it. How can we do something like that when he’s not awake?”

Evan just shook his head when he heard Minhyuk’s words. Raldo had been sleeping for a very long time. It was obvious that there was no way for him to get better.

“There’s no method that could awaken him in this land.”

“What if it’s a method that does not come from this land?”

Evan’s eyes shook as Minhyuk pushed one being forward after saying those words.

“How can this be…”

This being was none other than Kimaris, a demon that had a special ability that allowed him to find things and look through memories that have long been forgotten. Evan was also aware of Devil Kimaris’ existence through the records in history. Right now, Kimaris had also put down his weapon and had stayed docile beside Minhyuk. Evan closed his eyes and thought deeply.

‘What decision should I make for His Majesty?’

Evan, who closed his eyes, remained silent and lost in his thoughts for quite a while. Then, he heard a soft and gentle voice in his ears, “I know your worries as a loyal subject.”

Minhyuk’s voice flowed gently, “I also have a vassal that’s as loyal as you. A very loyal subject that chatted, laughed and cried with me and always stayed by my side whenever I was having a hard time. I think he’s around your age? You don’t have to worry.”

Minhyuk approached the old man as he gently and slowly placed his hand on Evan’s shoulder.

“I’ll do my best to wake up His Majesty, the man that you have been waiting for a very long time, from his dreams.”

“…”

Evan knew that there was no lie in those words. The fact that the man in front of him had a loyal subject just like him and the fact that he was a king that did not consider his loyal subjects as someone that was trifling and useless.

‘The Beyond the Heavens Kingdom must be an excellent kingdom. I feel like I’m seeing His Majesty Raldo in this man in front of me.’

The door slowly creaked open as Evan turned his body away. Then…

Shwaaaaaaaaa—

…a tremendous amount of killing intent and intimidation burst out from the now-open door.

[You have seen the Sleeping Overlord!]

[The Sleeping Overlord’s killing intent has restricted your breathing.]

[You have an invincible body that can ignore and resist all kinds of abnormal states.]

[You have resisted an abnormal state.]?

‘He’s asleep but he’s releasing this much killing intent…?’

Minhyuk was terribly shocked as the sight behind the doors presented itself to him. Overlord Raldo slept while sitting on his throne and holding his greatsword with both hands. What was shocking here was the fact that the tip of his sword, which was stabbed into the ground, was supporting Raldo’s entire body and not letting it fall to the ground, despite his unconscious state. Even his black armor shone a light that stood out inside the dreary room.

Step—

Minhyuk took a step towards the sleeping Overlord and Warrior God.