Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 1228

Chapter 1228

The citizens of the Land of the Gods feared the Monster Gods. Compared to the Absolute Gods, who led and commanded the land, the Six Monster Gods symbolized greed, destruction, and slaughter.

Hence, they viewed the Seventh Monster God Angara, even though she was only made to be one, the same way. Nobody present here was interested in her story. They only wanted to feed this god the dish that would keep her satiated, fulfill the promise made more than a thousand years ago in the Land of the Gods, and finish their mission.

Yes. None of them cared to listen to the story of a monster. All of them just pulled their weapons out. Their fear dictated them to fight and kill. They swung their blades at her spider lower body, and used their spears to stab and pierce through her human upper body. There were even some who aimed for her head.

Only one person reacted differently. It was none other than Minhyuk.

Angara was like a ticking time bomb. She was already on the verge of going berserk. Minhyuk stepped forward and gently placed his hand on her and said...

“How about we destroy the Abyss together?”

It seemed like there was still a way to subdue and conquer the Abyss while protecting the 50,000 Heavenly Army troops and the heavily injured Battle God’s Five Generals. And that was to fight alongside the Seventh Monster God.

“Wh-what...?!”

“She’s a monster...!”

Fight alongside a Monster God? Neither the Five Generals nor the troops of the Heavenly Army have heard of a precedent event before this.

Obren had grown corrupted and turned into the Evil God while Elizabeth slaughtered people in the Land of the Gods. Some of the Six Monster Gods enjoyed killing just for the sake of enjoyment.

Yet Minhyuk was asking them to fight together with a Monster God who was crueler than the Great Demon, no better than a tyrant, and was more indifferent to humans than dragons.

Minhyuk gently stroked her arms and said, “Tell me your story. The story that no one has ever listened to.”

Everyone could not understand. Why was Minhyuk still trying to talk to Angara when the Seventh Monster God herself was on the verge of going berserk?

Minhyuk had Elizabeth. She was one of his people. He recalled a conversation that he had with her before.

–I was in misery before. Of course, the other Six Monster Gods had been suffering in misery, too. But our misery is no match for the misery that the Seventh Monster God, the Monster God that the gods made, is suffering from.

He did not know the exact details of the story. All he knew was that Elizabeth had visited Angara a couple of times in the past.

–The people of the Land of the Gods who turned such a being into one of the Monster Gods do not have any right to call others ‘monsters.’

Ferrod, who had lost his eyes, stepped forward. He did not understand why Minhyuk had to talk to the Seventh Monster God. Just then, a voice rang in Ferrod’s ears. The first words that Angara spoke to them were laced with sadness and despair.

[I... was the Guardian Deity of the Vegni Forest.]

***

Everyone listened to Angara’s story.

The Vegni Forest was a paradise in the Land of the Gods more than a thousand years ago. It was beautiful. Angara was the guardian deity that protected this forest near the Abyss.

She loved all the beings that lived in that forest and had protected them with her power. In return, the beings living in that forest would give her something delicious whenever she felt hungry. Although Angara was born with an ugly appearance, she was loved by all of the beings living in the forest.

Unfortunately, one day, the power of the Abyss began to extend and seep into the forest. The monsters, who were supposed to stay within the Abyss, began to invade and wreak havoc in the Vegni Forest. It became increasingly difficult for Angara to protect the beings living in the forest.

At that time, they came to find her. According to her, the God of Tactics and several other gods that accompanied him gave her an offer. They vowed to take responsibility for the Vegni Forest and all living beings in it, promising to protect them if Angara maintained the barrier enclosing the Abyss. The God of Tactics also said they would help her and ensure she would not go hungry for a long time.

Angara pondered over the offer for a very long time. She looked at the beings living happily in the forest. These beings all believed in her. The longer she pondered, the more monsters from the Abyss came over the forest. In the end, she bid farewell to the beings that loved and cherished her and left.

She left the place filled with love and life and entered the cave filled with despair and loneliness in the Abyss. And she did it all just to protect her beloved forest.

Just like that, she began to live a lonely life inside the cave. Nevertheless, she endured and held on. This was because she knew that all the beings in the forest could continue living a happy life with her sacrifice.

Then, one day, a man named Clad approached her. He had already turned all the Abyss monsters into his minions. Stretching an olive branch to her, Clad demanded that she became one of his own.

Angara refused him without any hesitation. Unfortunately, her refusal to come with him brought her endless and tormenting pain. Even so, Angara gritted her teeth and endured through the pain. After all, she could not bring herself to help bring down the Land of the Gods.

That was when Clad dropped a bombshell, “You’re not telling me that you believed the promise the gods made about protecting Vegni Forest, right? The fairies, who sprinkle light and fly around like birds, are good materials for making the swords of the Heavenly Army troops. The skin of the graphan, with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse, is an excellent material to make the army’s leather armor.”

[...]

“The long tail of the purgaen, which resembles a cute puppy, is also a good material for making bow strings. You must be wondering how I know these things, right?”

Angara denied the words that she heard. She thought that they were something that Clad used to manipulate and mislead her. But when the promise made by the God of Tactics was not kept, the promise that they would come here every year to tell her about how happy and loved the children of the forest were, was not kept, Clad’s words began to gain credibility. Nevertheless, Angara did not leave the cave. She could not. Because she knew that protecting this place was the only way for her to protect them.

Clad’s power continued to torment her with pain. As time went by, the pain grew more and more. Only then did she realize it.

[Tell me!]

She glared at the Five Generals.

[Did you kill the fairies to make your swords?!]

The Five Generals flinched. It was the truth. The swords of the Five Generals and the troops of the Heavenly Army were all carrying the fairies’ lights.

[Did you peel off the graphans’ skin and use it to protect yourselves?!]

There was nothing they could say. After all, it was also true. The armor that they were wearing was made with the graphan’s skin. They wanted to kill this being called the Monster God because they were afraid of such a monster. Now, they realized that the true monster was them all along.

They felt their strength leave their hands, and they let go of their weapons. Since they were destined to die anyway, they could not resist, recognizing themselves as the real monsters. They just stood there and looked at her in a daze.

As they began to realize their atrocious acts, webs that were as sharp as spears appeared from the almost berserk Angara’s body. It symbolized her fury, a sign that signaled her impending berserk state.

[Tell me!!! Why?! Why the hell did you do that...?! WHY!!!]

The spear-like webs shot out and pierced through Minhyuk’s neck, shoulders, chest, and legs as she cried and wailed. Nonetheless, Minhyuk did not shy away from her. Even if it meant that the sharp webs would dig deeper into her.

“I’m sorry.”

Angara’s pupils, slowly losing the light of reason, shook momentarily. Meanwhile, the Heavenly Army troops bit their lips as they looked at her. There was even someone who bowed their head in shame. They were the ones who should apologize. Yet, the one apologizing was Minhyuk, who was doing it as the next Battle God.

Anger stained Angara’s eyes once again.

[Liar.]

Those people also had the same expression that Minhyuk was sporting now. They had told her they were very sorry to have made her do something like this, but they still pushed her to do it.

In the end, wasn’t Minhyuk doing this so that they could get her help and get out of the Abyss? When this thought flashed in her head, the anger that was bubbling inside her reached its peak.

Rumble–!

Webs continued to spread from her body, creating an oval-like enclosure that trapped her and Minhyuk together. Although he could move away, Minhyuk did not intend to escape.

The Five Generals and the Heavenly Army troops could not hear anything. It was as if Angara’s Power was blocking the sound. They could only stare at Minhyuk’s moving lips, which seemed to say, ‘Just trust me and wait.’ The webs created a small enclosure around the two.

Not long after, Minhyuk was completely trapped inside the small space created by Angara’s power.

***

[I’m going to kill you.]

[Those people that you want to protect?]

Angara laughed.

[All of them will be ripped and torn apart by Clad’s monsters.]

[I will make you feel it. You shall feel how those people who used me made me feel.]

[I will make you feel how sad and painful it was for me when I lost the beings who I wanted to protect and sacrificed myself for.]

[I don’t have a day to live anymore. Regardless, with my remaining time, I will live by the name of the Monster God.]

Sizzle–!

Minhyuk’s body, which was covered with spiderwebs, began to burn.

Just like mentioned before, Minhyuk came here for Rocado’s achievement. Because of that, he had all of the dish's ingredients that Rocado had made for Angara before.

[You have discovered one of Rocado’s achievements. Rocado has fed the Guardian Deity of the Vegni Forest and made it so she would not go hungry for a thousand years.]

Although it was an achievement, Minhyuk knew it was not a difficult feat for Rocado. As someone who had competed with the man, Minhyuk knew that this was nothing but a piece of cake for him.

‘Rocado must not have known about the plans of the people of the Land of the Gods.’

Rocado was the type of person who would find meaning in something before making it. He had personally made this dish and watched Angara go to the Abyss. He must have made this dish, hoping to serve Angara a delicious meal. After all, Angara had smiled back at the Vegni Forest even though she was going to sacrifice herself.

Of course, Minhyuk was no different. He also wanted to feed her something delicious. So, he began to cook. There were many kinds of greens and sprouts among the ingredients that he had on him. Most of them were, of course, God-grade ingredients.

Fortunately, he had the Perfect Working Gloves with him. The gloves dramatically increased his DEX, making it easier for him to cook. For Minhyuk now, the obstacles posed by God-grade ingredients were no longer a hindrance. It was now easier for him to deal with these kinds of ingredients.

The only thing that made it difficult for him to cook was the spiderwebs burning his body.

[Your HP has fallen below 84%.]

[Your HP has fallen below 83%.]

[Your HP has fallen...]

Despite the constant notifications that rang in his ears, Minhyuk never stopped.

[Stop. I don’t want to eat your filthy meal!]

Yet Minhyuk continued to cook. He continued to cook even when spears made of larger and thicker webs pierced through his body.

Minhyuk gulped down a potion and looked back. He saw the terrified Heavenly Army troops and the monsters looming from the distant horizon. All Minhyuk could do now was cook.

He focused on his tasks again, removing the well-blanched bean sprouts and putting them on the sieve to shake off the water.

Minhyuk believed that Rocado must have thought, ‘Let’s treat her, who is sacrificing herself for her beloved forest, to the most delicious meal in the world.’ when he made a dish for her.

As for himself, Minhyuk thought differently, ‘Let’s treat her, who is now nearing her end, to the most delicious dish in the world.’

He had abandoned and long forgotten the thought of surpassing Rocado’s achievements.

[The monsters are charging forward. Your subordinates will be ripped, torn, and gnawed to their deaths.]

Minhyuk could hear the laughter in her voice, but he still could not stop. He scooped some white and fluffy rice and put it in a bowl. Angara, who watched him almost finish cooking the dish, screamed.

[I DON’T WANT TO EAT THAT!!!]

He knew she was feeling the same hunger he used to feel. He also knew that what he was doing was meaningless. After all, she only had less than a day left to live. In the end, she would still die. Just like the unlucky heroine who died after losing all of her precious and beloved people.

Minhyuk seemed like he was preparing the final meal of an innocent death row prisoner who was about to be sentenced to her death.

Fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh–!

[Your HP has fallen below 13%.]

More spears made of webs pierced through Minhyuk’s already bleeding body. Angara, who could no longer stand it, raised her legs and began to stab him.

[You have fallen into an illusion.]

An illusion engulfed Minhyuk, ignoring his defenses. In the illusion, Minhyuk saw his entire body melting away.

[You have fallen into an Extreme Trance.]

[You are doing your best and giving your all into making a dish that will become someone’s final meal.]

[The dish you are making by thinking about her might become more memorable.]

He overcame the illusion. @@novelbin@@

[Pinnacle Dexterity.]

[Critical Dexterity!]

[Critical Dexterity!]

He cracked some eggs on the well-heated frying pan and continued to cook.

Sizzle–!

The tantalizing sound and smell of the dish he was making spread around as he finally reached the end of the cooking process.

As for Minhyuk’s body? It had already started to shake and tremble.

[Your HP has fallen below 3%.]

Minhyuk scooped the fried egg with the spatula and tried to put it on top of the bowl.

[Your HP has fallen below 2%.]

Angara screamed.

[STOP!!! Stop making a fool out of me!!!]

She raised two of her legs and pointed them at Minhyuk’s neck, with one of them slightly piercing through his flesh. But that was it. She did not move any further.

[Your HP has fallen below 1%.]

All of the power that left Minhyuk in tatters disappeared.

“You’re just like an idiot...”

Perhaps Minhyuk already knew that this was going to happen.

“You said you have decided, but ultimately, you cannot bring yourself to act like a monster.”

In his eyes, she was like an angel.

“How could they turn someone like you into the Seventh Monster God?”

She wanted to kill, but she could not do so.

“You are stupidly kind.”

Minhyuk finally placed the fried egg on top of the bowl and finished the wild vegetable bibimbap. He could not say anything as he watched her walk toward the path of death.

At that moment, a mysterious notification rang in Minhyuk’s ears.

***

Clad appeared near Angara’s cave, with the monsters under his command in tow.

[Abyss Basilisk. Level 897.]

[Abyss Ogre. Level 868.]

[Abyss Dragon. Level 901.]

The Five Generals and the Heavenly Army troops knew their end was near. However, not a single one of them gave up. Just like how Minhyuk did not give up on them.

They looked at the monsters, who were charging like raging waves, and held their swords tightly. They all knew that they were no match for these monsters. They all knew they would not even be able to last thirty minutes. But they also knew that Minhyuk, trapped with Angara, was more desperate than anybody else.

“Keuhaaaaack!”

“Kihyeeeeeck!”

“Kiheeeeeeek!”

Just when everyone had taken the attack position and were about to confront the charging monsters...

Flash–!

Flash–!

“...?”

The Heavenly Army troops were left confused. Why?

Because small lights floated from the swords made from the fairies’ wings and soared to the sky. Black currents also stretched out from the armor made with the skin of the graphan. Light also stretched out from the bow's strings made from the purgaen’s tail.”

[The power hidden by the creatures of the Vegni Forest protects someone!]

“...?!”

Everyone looked back at the dome made of spiderwebs. Although Ferrod could not see, he could already tell what was happening.

‘She protected the creatures of the forest. And the creatures of the forest also hid their powers to protect her?’

[The extraordinary power that the creatures of the Vegni Forest have prepared for someone will soon be triggered and activated!]

***

Meanwhile, Minhyuk was left confused.

[God and Knight has been randomly triggered.]

[The power of the God and Knight has been unleashed upon Minhyuk and Angara.]

The power that could inform him and help him obtain the talent he needed the most. Of course, Angara was an exceptional talent. However, he could not understand why the system had deemed her a candidate to become a knight when she would be dead by the end of the day.

At this moment, Minhyuk realized something. He thought, ‘Are you saying there’s a chance she might not die today?’