Chapter 486: The King’s Building

Chapter 486: The King’s Building

Jarrod, one of the Five Stars, thought that the Absolute Gods’ anger would definitely soar and they would wipe everything out here after hearing Minhyuk’s shocking remarks. After all, no one had ever dared to say ‘Do I even need to listen to your nonsense?’ to these gods. Even if they stood against the wrong opponent, Jarrod thought that this was still too much. But then, something strange happened. No, more like nothing happened.

‘What?’

While everyone was looking around in doubt, Minhyuk looked like he had already expected this to happen. He thought, ‘The Absolute Gods would stop a player’s ongoing quest? Even if they were gods, that would still mean that there was a huge collapse somewhere, right?’

If the quest was going to be stopped midway then it should not have existed in the first place, right? Minhyuk noticed right away that the Absolute Gods were only ‘scaring’ them and he had confirmed it with the remarks that he said earlier. The Absolute Gods had various reactions to his words too with one of them becoming extremely furious.

[The Absolute Gods have started a discussion.]

Minhyuk’s expression turned solemn after hearing the notification.

‘They might not be able to stop us but they can get involved.’

The key here was how they would get involved. Then, additional notifications rang in his ears.

[The Absolute Gods have suggested that you make the grandest and noblest building in existence.]

[A Bet With the Gods Quest: The Noblest and Grandest Building]

Rank: SSS

Requirements: The One that received the King’s Building Quest.

Rewards: ???

Penalty for Failure: -30 on all stats, -1 on all skill levels, the Five Stars will receive a punishment from the Absolute Gods.

Description: The Absolute Gods are furious that the humans are trying to create the grandest building in existence for just a mere human king. But they are willing to give you one last chance. If you’re going to make one, then make it so the building would invoke their admiration. The rewards that you receive will be dependent on the scores that they will give you. If you give up now, then you will not incur any penalties.

‘The penalty for failure...’

It was tremendous. A thirty point decrease in all stats and even a one level decrease of all skill levels? The worst part? The one level decrease in all skill levels was equivalent to at least a sixty level decrease in his overall level. And that was not all. The Five Stars were also going to be punished by the Absolute Gods. This notification was not only received by Minhyuk but also by the Five Stars and the players present. They also saw the penalty for failure. However, they only received a -2 in all stats. It was much less compared to the penalty that Minhyuk and the Five Stars would receive but it was still something that could sting. They were also informed that they would not incur any penalties if they withdrew now.

“A -2 in all stats? There’s even a +1% in skill cooldown?”

“My gosh... what the hell is this?”

“Why did the gods suddenly intervene?”

Minhyuk could tell what this was. ‘What a shallow and petty trick...’ That was right. The Gods were intent on making them give up by allowing them to refuse the quest with no penalties incurred.

“Well, it’s just a -2 on all stats, right? Won’t we gain more if we eat our Sect Leader’s dishes?”

“To be honest, a -2 on all stats for penalty is well-deserved with the level of those dishes.”

“Yeah, yeah. I have never eaten anything that’s more delicious than that in my entire life.”

They were the ones that had eaten Minhyuk’s dishes! None of them were afraid of the -2 in all stats penalty. After all, the taste of Minhyuk’s dishes were so divine that it was enough for them to ignore such penalties. The ‘pleasure of eating’, something that they had never felt before in their life, was something that could completely overwhelm the stat penalty. Also...

“Aren’t the rewards marked as ???, right?”

“Have you ever seen the gods make this kind of quest?”

“Of course not.”

“Then, wouldn’t the rewards be ridiculous?”

“Well, let’s try it just once.”

...the players were extremely determined. None of them left their posts.

[One of the Absolute Gods is impressed by you after seeing everyone unite together.]

After confirming everyone’s willingness to stay here, Minhyuk said, “Let’s hurry and get back to work!!!”

“Yes, sir!!!”

Then, Minhyuk stood up and went somewhere. He was actually very angry. It was already a quest in the form of a ‘bet’ but the Absolute Gods tried to stop it by inducing ‘fear’ in them. The place where he went to was where PD Haruo, Reporter Yuka and the rest of the KBTV, the top broadcasting station in Japan, employees were. All of them were still working crazily and banging their pickaxes just so they could ‘eat more dishes(?)’.

[He’s not even a player from our country, why do we have to help him with his quest? Anyone going there is just complete BS.]

[The bastards that will go there are a disgrace to Japan. Bakayaro!]

Everyone was divided into two distinct opposing opinions. But then, at that moment, some people posted other posts.

[Still, I think I want to go and help the Food God. I still can’t forget how he went to Yuuta. It moved my heart deeply.]

[I don’t think the Food God is a bad person. Just look at what he did for Yuuta. I believe he’s a very cool and collected adult.]

[Back then, the Food God has received and rejected countless offers for advertisement and contracts offered by companies that were worth tens of billions of won. However, he went out of his way to visit Japan for a while for something that could not garner him any profit.]

[He has shown great kindness towards a Japanese child. That’s why I’ll help him.]

The ‘Yuuta Incident’ was an event that touched the hearts of the Japanese deeply.

***

This was a story that happened shortly after Athenae: World War. At that time, the world has declared and chosen the Food God as the top influential figure. However, despite his great influence, he never made a move. Even with countless advertising offers and company offers worth tens of billions of won, he still remained silent.

Currently, a skinny boy sat in front of a window with his hands clasped together in prayer. This boy was none other than Yuuta. Yuuta, born with a rare disease that resulted in a severe gastrointestinal disorder, could only consume ‘liquids’ which forced him to be thinner and smaller than his peers. And this very same Yuuta prayed dearly, ‘Dear God, please let me meet the Food God once. Just once, while I’m still alive.’

Plagued by this rare disease, Yuuta, who had mostly lived in the hospital, did not know how long he could live in this world. However, an existence fanned the flames of hopes in his heart once again. And this person was none other than the ‘Food God’. He was a Korean hero that overcame his rare disease. He was Yuuta’s hero. After praying, Yuuta immediately turned to look back while asking, “Dad. Do you think the Food God received the chocolate and letter that I sent him?”

“Of course, Yuuta. He must definitely be happy to receive them.”

Yuuta’s parents turned sad after seeing him ask so enthusiastically. The Food God was a world-renowned figure. There would definitely be thousands of fan letters and gifts that he received each day. There was no way that he would notice the boy’s chocolate and letter. But the young Yuuta still wrote his letter carefully and diligently with his bony hands.

[Hello Mister Food God! I hope I can see you while I’m still alive! I also have a rare disease like you but I still dream of becoming a baseball player and play in the major league! Also, I hope that you can eat this chocolate once you’re completely cured from your eating addiction!]

Yuuta firmly believed that he would be able to meet with the Food God while he was still alive. But his parents did not.

‘He’s someone that does not even move even when presented with tens of billions of won.’

‘Yuuta... forgive me. I can’t do anything for you.’

The two of them could only despair at their helplessness. But then, one of the nurses rushed into their room and said, “Mo, mother! Father! Hurry! Bring Yuuta to the rooftop!”

“Yes?”

“...?”

They all went up to the rooftop in confusion.

‘No way...’

A completely ridiculous thought flashed in their heads. They wondered if it was possible from the shocking words that the doctor-in-charge had told them earlier. However, they still remained doubtful as they continued to climb to the rooftop of ‘Fuji Hospital’, the largest hospital in Japan. But there was no one on the rooftop. Then...

Whirl, whirl, whirl, whirl, whirl—

A bright light lit up the rooftop as a helicopter appeared above them. On the pilot’s seat, a bulky and muscular pilot wearing sunglasses manned the helicopter to land on the landing spot. With a loud noise, the helicopter finally landed on the hospital’s rooftop.

Whirl, whirl, whirl, whirl, whirl, whirl—

The strong wind brought about by the helicopter’s whirling blade made the hairs on Yuuta and his parent’s head flutter fiercely. Then, several strong and sturdy men wearing suits got off the helicopter. And finally...

Step—

...a 185cm tall man with his swept up black hair and black suit stepped down while loosening his tie. Then, with his hair and collar fluttering from the wind, he walked forward before stopping in front of Yuuta.

The man held out his hand holding a glove and a baseball as he lowered himself until he was at Yuuta’s eye level. He smiled brightly as he gave his gift to Yuuta and said, “Hello, Yuuta? I’m the guy that you call Food God.”

“...Waaaaaaaaaah!”

The boy’s hero, the Food God, the very same person that did not move despite the tens of billions of won of offerings and contract has appeared in front of Yuuta. And the reason why Minhyuk came here...

“Woah! The Food God is right in front of me! I can’t believe it! The Food God even gave me a glove and a baseball! Waaaaaah!”

...was to see Yuuta smile.