Chapter 674: Papal Wall

Chapter 674: Papal Wall

Even the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal was unaware of what laid beyond the Papal Wall. However, there was one thing that Sun Wukong knew about it. It was that the Papal Wall was the tomb of Athenae Religion’s first Pope, Kronad.

According to Sun Wukong, Kronad’s Tomb was already there even before he came to this land. No one had ever gone beyond the towering Papal Wall. However, right at this very moment, Minhyuk had crossed the Papal Wall.

[You have crossed over the Papal Wall!]

[You are the first player to have ever crossed the Papal Wall!]

[Anyone that has crossed over the Papal Wall will not be able to leave this land unless they have received permission from this land’s owner.]

[However, you will be able to escape if you were forced to log out!]

[Whispers, guild chats, and any other form of communication have been restricted!]

[You have gained 500 REP.]

[You have gained +5 in all of your stats.]

The land that stretched out in front of Minhyuk was like a new world, one that was surrounded by the towering Papal Walls, and was completely different from Edea.

Minhyuk was only able to relax on Hanwoo’s back after he had crossed over the Papal Wall. The Papal Wall was so thick and sturdy that it did not budge even after he had struck his sword against it for several days.

Gulp—

Minhyuk gulped dryly, his stomach protesting from hunger. Actually, even though Hanwoo had given him a gift set, he could not bear to eat it.

‘I just can’t bring myself to eat the final parting gift that he had given me.’

But now, Hanwoo came back to him and would stay by his side forever.

Gulp—

Minhyuk gulped once again as he sent Hanwoo, who looked as exhausted as he was, to the summoning room. Then, he slowly untied the golden cloth that wrapped the gift set. Inside the box were various cuts of beef in bite-sized pieces gleaming brightly and appealing to him, prompting Minhyuk to quickly check the details of the gift set.

(A Beef Gift Set Given to the Benefactor of the Kingdom of Eden)

Ingredient Grade: Legendary

Special Abilities:

•STR increases by +3%

•STM increases by +3%

•Basic Hit Attack Damage increases by 5%

•Increases favor and affinity with the Kingdom of Eden.

Description: This is a special beef gift set that has been handed down in the Kingdom of Eden for many generations. Only the benefactor acknowledged by the Bull Demon King will be able to receive this special gift set. The beef, cut from the highest grade beef in the Kingdom of Eden, will absolutely taste fresh and will melt in one’s mouth.

“...”

Minhyuk could not help but admire the gift set in front of him, not because of its special abilities, but because it was said to be the highest grade beef in the Kingdom of Eden.

The beautiful, gleaming beef looked alive, as if it would move with the slightest touch of one’s fingers.

Twitch—

However, the most surprising part was its freshness. Parts like the rump were still twitching and wriggling, as if the cow where it was taken from had just been slaughtered.

The first thing that Minhyuk did was to slice the thick rump into thin slices and spread it on a plate. The rump was the part of the cow that was mainly used for yukhoe or beef sashimi. Then, Minhyuk looked at the ribeye that seemed to be blossoming, and chuck flap tail, happily.

Minhyuk had been through a lot since he came to Edea. From meeting God of Money Henry, to cooking for Queen Ari, to jumping into the battlefield to save Hanwoo.

“You did a good job.”

A meal always tasted delicious especially after a tough and tedious job.

Tick, tick, tick, tick—

Minhyuk placed his grilling pan on top of his stove. Then, with his chopsticks, he grabbed two pieces of the beef sashimi that he laid out on the white plate like a blooming flower, dipped them into the sauce that he prepared, and placed everything in his mouth.

Munch—

The distinct savory flavor of the sesame oil spread all over his mouth, lingering and harmonizing with the freshness of the rump.

Minhyuk carefully placed a piece of the well-marbled chuck flap tail on top of the now red-hot grilling pan.

Sizzleeee—

[That was true. He was truly the pope of Athenae Religion.]

[However, the truth regarding his existence had been warped and distorted. Pope Kronad was...]

[...He was the pope of all religions.]

“...?!”

Lee Minhwa stared at the screen in shock and astonishment.

Even Athenae was a god that only ruled the Athenae Religion. But Kronad? It could be said that he was the king of all the popes.

“What in the world is this...” Lee Minhwa voiced her doubts. How could a single pope rule over all of the popes of all religions?

“I don’t know the exact details about that.”

Surprisingly enough, it was a ‘story’ that even Team Leader Park Minggyu could not access at the moment. All Lee Minhwa could do was release a shaky breath and calm herself down as she tried to recall the things that she knew about the world within the Papal Wall.

“Isn’t there a temple called Evangel that Pope Kronad was trying to build in that place?”

There were hundreds and thousands of temples and shrines scattered all over the world. Of course, the one with the most magnificent and breathtaking temples, as well as the one with the most number, was none other than Athenae Religion. However, Evangel was considered to be a cut above that. It was a temple that was only mentioned in myths and legends.

“If, by any chance, Player Minhyuk is given the opportunity to obtain Evangel, then...”

Team Leader Park fixed his glasses and answered, “The lowest-ranking god will become the master and owner of the greatest temple in existence.”

***

Minhyuk vigilantly and carefully explored the world inside the Papal Wall. Then, he caught sight of farmers tending to their field in the distance. Only after seeing that did Minhyuk realize that this world was a place where people lived too. In fact, there were also soldiers wearing shabby armor and carrying rusty spears passing by the farmers.

‘Is it a kingdom? Should I consider it as such?’

To be able to get information about this place, Minhyuk believed that he had to go and talk to the farmers. He planned to make delicious dishes with the crops that they grew, eat together, and increase their favor.

Thinking like that, Minhyuk approached them. The first person that he encountered was a lady that was harvesting cucumbers. However...

[You have met Bellman Religion’s Pope, Airen!]

[Pope Airen. Level 528.]

“...?”

When he looked at the men, who were wearing straw hats on their heads, that surrounded the lady...

[You have met Karr Religion’s First Pope, Kaenin!]

[Pope Kaenin. Level 513.]

[You have met Vendios Religion’s Pope, Anjaru...!]

[...Level 501.]

[...Cannath Religion’s Saintess...]

[...Level 531.]

“???”

Minhyuk could not help but be flustered by the sudden turn of events. To top it off, when he looked at the soldiers with their old and shabby spears that approached him, a stranger to these lands, he was greeted with even more surprises.

[You have met Favron Religion’s Strongest Paladin, Kerr...]

[...Level 589.]

[...Aekero Religion’s Strongest Paladin...]

[...Level 603.]

“???”

Then, at that moment, the hundreds of farmers that were busy tending to their field stopped in their work and turned to look at them.

[Those with high holy power have sensed the evil energy that is leaking from the Puzzling Seasoning Jar!!!]

[They will show hostility towards you!!!]

“...”

As he watched the hundreds of high ranking paladins, saints and popes approach him, Minhyuk thought, ‘I’m f*cked...’