Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 923

These notifications rang in Minhyuk’s ears before he went to where Ben was, cementing his thoughts of wanting to do the only thing he could do.

Minhyuk did not want to threaten Farraden and the Pinnacle Strong Men. He knew better than anybody else that Ben would not want him to do this. So, the only thing he could do was beg on Ben’s behalf. If all else failed, he would insist on taking the punishment in the old man’s stead.

‘I don’t think it’s something I should be ashamed of.’

Minhyuk would make the same choice for anyone in the Beyond the Heavens Empire. If he could keep and protect his precious people by just bowing once, he would do so repeatedly.

But one question was running through his head: ‘Why did the God and Knight get triggered with Farraden...?’

The God and Knight was a skill that would randomly trigger whenever he met someone who had the potential to become his knight. The fact that this skill got triggered meant that Farraden could become his vassal.

Right now, Farraden could be said to be the central pillar and the representative of the Pinnacle Strong Men. After Amoure and the Pinnacle Strong Men and the disciples that followed him, Farraden took control of most of the new Pinnacle Strong Men and led them to a different path.

Meanwhile, Minhyuk heard Rhoa’s voice when he arrived at where Ben was.

“Then, go die in his stead.”

Minhyuk, who bowed his head, was not afraid of dying, especially since he had increased his level by six. But even if his level did not increase, he would still not be afraid of dying.

As he bowed, Minhyuk thought, ‘How can I show my sincerity to Farraden?’

When it came to Ben, there was no question. Minhyuk could do anything for the old man. Only this question stumped him. As he pondered and agonized over the matter, he replied, “Even if I die a hundred or a thousand times. I will do it for his sake.”

***

When Minyuk raised his head, Farraden saw the sincerity on his face.

‘Is it because he does not want to lose the Spear God?’

Or perhaps this man cared for Ben just like Ben cared for him. Farraden was truly quite surprised by this turn of events. A ruler who ruled and commanded an empire bowed his head and declared that he was willing to die a hundred or a thousand times for the sake of his vassal.

Then, Rhoa, the second-ranked Pinnacle Strong Man, said, “Aren’t those words that anyone could say?”

Rhoa did not have a shred of trust in kingdoms and empires. Why? Because his family, which was completely devoted to the empire to the point that they swore their eternal allegiance to it, was accused of treason and murdered. The accusation was false, and it was made up by the imperial family that they devoted themselves to.

There were quite a lot of the Pinnacle Strong Men and their disciples who experienced the same thing. This was also the reason for a clause that said, “You cannot belong to an empire or a kingdom.” listed in the Pinnacle Strong Men’s rules.

Although the current Pinnacle Strong Men did not have the Pinnacle’s Stigma branded on their bodies now, most still chose not to belong to the kingdoms and empires for the same reason.

However, the situation with the Luvien Empire was different. The Luvien Empire, known as the strongest empire on all continents, threatened them with its lifeblood.

Farraden listened to Rhoa mock Minhyuk and took a dagger out. He possessed a very shocking and unusual power. Farraden was hailed as the King of Vows because if someone promised or accepted his offer, this promise would be fulfilled.

“You will die if this dagger enters your abdomen fully. That death will be equivalent to twenty deaths. Will that be okay? If you’re fine with that, I won’t kill Ben.”

Farraden was fully aware that death would cause huge damage to foreigners. This damage could be considered fatal for Minhyuk, an emperor and an existence who stood on top of everyone.

At the same time, the notifications rang in Minhyuk’s ears.

[If you get stabbed by the dagger in Farraden’s hands, you will be forced to log out twenty times in a row.]

[If you get stabbed by the dagger in Farraden’s hands, he would have to remove the Pinnacle’s Stigma that was branded on Ben’s body as the contractor!]

[However, these will only take effect once you agree!]

It was truly a surprising and special skill. However, there was just one thing: Farraden’s ability would only be triggered if the other party accepted his conditions. In other words, it was not very easy to trigger.

Farraden looked at Minhyuk. Twenty deaths was no small matter. Minhyuk would be pushed out of the top spot if he died twenty times. However, Minhyuk did not even hesitate to answer, “Alright.”

“...”

‘No way...’

Farraden approached Minhyuk the moment he heard the man’s agreement. He looked at Minhyuk as he slowly removed his Transcendental’s Armor before stabbing him with the dagger.

Stab–

The dagger slowly dug deep into Minhyuk’s abdomen. The dagger, constantly being pushed in, stopped at some point.

“...”

When Farraden looked up at Minhyuk, all he saw was Minhyuk staring straight at Ben. He could see the bitter smile on the man’s face. However, there was also relief on his face.

‘He’s truly sincere...?’

Drip– drip–

His warm blood dripped down the ground, but Minhyuk did not take his eyes off Ben.

Farraden was furious. He was furious at Ben, who sinned against him and his daughter and served someone else. Of course, he wouldn’t have gone to find Ben himself if the Luvien Empire had not sent them here. This was because he knew that everything was because of Amoure.

Even so, Farraden was still angry. He believed that Ben, who seemed to be only trying to find someone to lean on, became a madman obsessed with his emperor. However, he was the one who was mistaken.

“...”

Farraden slowly pulled out the dagger that he had stabbed halfway through Minhyuk’s abdomen. Minhyuk looked back at Farraden in doubt. However, Farraden just turned around and walked away. When Farraden opened his hands, the hanja engraved on Ben’s back surfaced. Then, they floated in the air and slowly disappeared into nothingness. At the same time, Ben, whose face had turned a pale white, slowly returned to normal. Even his ragged and weak breathing had already started to regain its vitality.

“Sir Farraden, why...?”

Farraden did not fully stab Minhyuk’s abdomen with the dagger in his hands. And according to the vow, the effects would only take effect if the dagger was fully inserted into Minhyuk’s abdomen.

A commotion broke out among the Pinnacle Strong Men and their disciples.

“What do you think you’re doing...?”

“If you don’t kill Ben or that emperor, then we will all die.”

Farraden remained silent, opting to only stare at Minhyuk for a moment.

“I no longer harbor any resentment against him.” Then, he opened his mouth and told Minhyuk what he wanted to say to Ben: “Once he wakes up, please tell him that he no longer has to feel sorry for me.”

The two of them were once the best of friends in the world. Although Farraden knew everything happened because of Amoure, he was still angry at Ben. Why? Because he believed that Ben was serving the wrong man. However, he fully understood why Ben stood by this man’s side.

“And please tell him not to miss me.”

Seeing Farraden acting like this, the Pinnacle Strong Men immediately shouted, the veins on their necks popping with the volume of their shouting.

“No!”

“This dogmatic choice of yours will bring us all to our deaths...!”

“In the first place, we do not have the right to kill Beyond the Heavens’ Ben and his emperor.”

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

“And the Luvien Empire does not have any intention of sparing us. If Ben truly dies, do you think that man over there, who cares deeply about his subjects, would truly let us go and keep us alive?”

That was the truth. If Ben died, then Minhyuk would kill everyone here.

The current Pinnacle Strong Men were different from the Pinnacle Strong Men of the past. They only came to kill Ben because they branded him as Farraden’s enemy. However, as Farraden had implied, the Pinnacle Strong Men no longer had a place in this world. This truth would not change no matter what choice they made.

But Farraden still found the results of his capricious choice to be very heartbreaking, especially since they would harm his comrades.

“I’m sorry. I will pay the price for this crime. Let’s go back now.”

The Pinnacle Strong Men and their disciples looked at Farraden blankly. Rhoa broke the silence. He said, “I will follow whatever you say, Sir Farraden.”

Rhoa loathed the kingdoms and empires but respected and followed Farraden’s orders. It was proof of how good a leader Farraden was. No one spoke against him. After all, it was not Farraden’s fault. It was the Luvien Empire’s fault for forcing them into a situation where they would kill them if they did not choose to kill who they wanted them to kill.

Just when they were about to turn around and leave, a voice rang out.

“If you go just like that, Ben will feel sad and miss you more for the rest of his life,” the Beyond the Heavens’ Emperor said as he helped Ben lie on his legs.

“...”

At that moment, the notifications for the God and Knight rang in Minhyuk’s ears.

[Origin Authority God and Knight has the power to help you obtain the loyalty of the God’s Knight of your choice through various methods.]

[If you can show Farraden, the Pinnacle Strong Man that had lost the place he could lean on, what kind of emperor you are, you might win his heart!]

However, this was not the reason Minhyuk was determined to lose his life twenty times in a row. Even without these notifications, he would still trade his life for Ben’s life, even if he had to die twenty or a hundred times over. But his actions made the Pinnacle Strong Men, who harbored distrust toward empires and kingdoms, realize something.

‘He’s not someone who abandons his subjects.’

‘He’s someone that puts his vassals before himself.’

The Pinnacle Strong Men have never seen an emperor like this.

“Come to the Beyond the Heavens Empire.”

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

Everyone’s eyes grew wide when they heard his words. This was the only way for them to live now. At this moment, Rhoa felt a cold sweat break on his forehead.

‘Was he able to read the flow in just this short moment?’

Did he figure it out just by hearing their short conversation? Or perhaps it was another way? In any case, it would be a surprise. Maybe he led them toward this path and forced them to choose.

Then, Farraden asked, “I- I was going to kill your vassal.”

“I understand that.”

“...”

“I might have done the same thing.”

“...”

Farraden clenched his fists. However, this was not something that Minhyuk and Farraden had to discuss and agree on.

Ben, who had already recovered from the effects of the damage caused by the stigma, said, “I’m sorry.”

“...”

Farraden turned to look at Ben silently. As someone who knew Ben well, Farraden could tell that the apology was his apology for killing his daughter and an apology for asking him to come with them.

Farraden looked up at the sky for a moment. Then, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He did not blame Ben for what happened with his daughter. He knew that Ben cared for his daughter as his own, and he also knew that his daughter would not want him to resent Ben for what happened, either.

“I’ll go with you.”

[The God and Knight has succeeded!]

[God’s Knight Farraden has the power to make any vow made before him take effect!]

[God’s Knight Farraden will not hesitate to risk his life for God!]

Farraden agreed to go with them. Meanwhile, the sudden turn of events left the Pinnacle Strong Men looking confused. At this moment, Minhyuk’s high CHA showed its strength once again.

“I will destroy the Luvien Empire.”

“...”

“...”

“...”

These were words that no one could say carelessly like this.

“Then, I will join you.”

“We will also join you.”

They all knelt and swore their allegiance to Minhyuk.

***

At the same time in Joy Co. Ltd.

A sigh rang loudly inside the conference room. With a sad and bitter voice, Team Leader Park said, “Love and care for each other. This is the bond between Minhyuk and Ben. I thought it would be enough for Player Minhyuk to receive the rewards and release the ad today. But it seems like it\'s a bit lacking now.”

Carron boasted that the effects of the advertisement video about Ben would be beyond their imaginations. Everyone was waiting in anticipation for it to be triggered. However, there was a slight difference that made it unable to be triggered right now.

And on the monitor they were watching, they saw Ben and Minhyuk walking toward the sunset.

***

Minhyuk had heard through the Vassal’s Voice that Ben saw him as his son. He also saw how the old man did his best to grind the coffee beans and make coffee for him even though he was already on the brink of death.

As they walked toward the sunset, Ben carefully handed the thermos with the coffee he had made to Minhyuk and said, “Your Majesty, actually...” Ben smiled kindly. “The stigma won’t be able to kill me. Aren’t I a god? The power that a god possesses can restrain Farraden’s power of vows.”

Minhyuk just listened silently to Ben’s ramblings. He knew the old man was just saying it so he would not be worried or sad. At that moment, the words that Ben said when he was dying flashed in his head.

–I... I wanted to die.

“Hoho. It seems like this old man’s acting is quite good, huh? Hoho. I was even able to deceive you, Your Majesty.” Ben smiled in satisfaction.

As Minhyuk listened to Ben’s laughter, the old man\'s words flashed again in his head.

–But I wanted to live again.

Minhyuk sported a surprised look on his face as he continued to walk with Ben. Then, he said, “Grandpa, you’re telling me all that was just acting? My god. You got me there! I was completely fooled!”

All Minhyuk could do now was let Ben feel at ease. Then, Ben’s words once again flashed in his head.

–I have never once viewed him as my ‘lord,’ my ‘king,’ or my ‘emperor.’

–I have always thought of him as my son.

The two showed their care and love for each other in their ways. Minhyuk pretended he was deceived by the rambling Ben, who did not want him to feel sorry or sad. And Ben? He acted as if he was not going to be killed a few moments prior. Ultimately, everything they did was because of their love for each other.

Then, at that moment...

[The bond between you and Ben has reached its peak!]

[You have obtained the Title: The One with His Friend.]

[You can now view the advertisement video “Old Man and Young Man.”]

[Would you like to watch it?]