Chapter 999

Chapter 999

World-renowned psychiatrist Kim Han-Wool was a colleague of Minhyuk’s personal doctor, Lee Jinhwan, at Seoul University’s medical school.

–Honestly, it was shocking for me. I witnessed an ordinary person overcome the countless papers, materials, and studies we researched and presented.

Those were the words that Lee Jinhwan had said while they were out drinking.

–I prayed and hoped from the bottom of my heart for that child to endure and hold out. I kept on asking god, why? Why do you have to take him? I was aware. All of the medical evidence and research that we had done had pointed to that child’s death.

Jinhwan chuckled as he emptied a glass of alcohol.

–But that child did it. That’s the kind of person that child is.

–...

Han-Wool just clinked his glass with Jinhwan back then. He never really understood why Jinhwan was praising the child so much. As a stubborn and straight-laced doctor, Han-Wool believed the child’s improvement after meeting Athenae was a lucky coincidence.

Thanks to this game called Athenae, that child was able to improve. Because of that, other patients suffering from eating addiction would also be able to improve by playing the game.

Then, Team Leader Park said, “That’s the kind of person he is.”

Those words made Kim Han-Wool’s heart shake. He had always believed something if it was proven medically and had a scientific basis. He did not believe in miracles.

Team Leader Park’s words carried a lot of meaning. Han-Wool had already admitted that Minhyuk had already gone beyond the limits of a human being at this point.

‘How can someone only 21 years old do something like that for six months straight?’

It’s already beyond what Kim Han-Wool could explain. The man was frustrated. Extreme frustration would often make one feel helpless and lethargic. But he kept on saying the same thing again and again.

[I can do it.]

Kim Han-Wool was speechless as he watched Minhyuk smile bitterly on the screen.

“I am just one of the team leaders of this gaming company. However, I would like to ask you to let us keep watching Player Minhyuk, who wants to stand back on his feet a bit longer. Just for another month. If anything happens, I will take full responsibility for the matter.”

Team Leader Park's words were evidence of how highly he viewed Player Minhyuk. The executives were already speechless when they saw Minhyuk stand back up despite the overwhelming number of setbacks he had faced.

Was there indeed someone like that?

A person who would show all the sincerity in the world and put so much effort into what he was doing. A person who would ignore their inferiority complex and strive to do well. This was the type of person Minhyuk was.

“I’ll take responsibility. Let us wait and see first, Doctor Kim Han-Wool,” President Kang Taehoon said.

Kim Han-Wool looked at the executives, who had agreed to stop Minhyuk with him before. He could tell that they also wanted to give Minhyuk another shot so he could get back on his feet once more. He closed his eyes and pondered deeply about the matter.

Han-Wool slowly nodded and said, “I have lived and worked as a doctor for a long time. It seems like today would be a special day for me.”

He was a stubborn and old-fashioned man who had always chosen to stop his patients and their guardians whenever they tried to cross the line he had set. But this time, it was different.

“If Minhyuk can truly do it, then perhaps this would be a turning point in my life as a doctor.” Han-Wool chuckled bitterly.

One more month. He had decided to give Minhyuk that much time.

They all watched the days pass by in the video. Then, President Kang Taehoon suddenly jumped up from his seat. Even the executives reacted the same way as him.

Then, Team Leader Park said, “He has opened up a possibility.”

It was because of a notification window that popped up on the screen.

***

Minhyuk felt refreshed after he had cried. The words “I can’t do it.”, which had eroded his mind and almost devoured his sanity, disappeared as he recalled and pondered over the words “I can do it.” once more.

The words “I can do it.” were words that could only give Minhyuk strength. But now, it meant far more than that. It was like him saying, “I will continue doing it until I can do it.” Because that was the kind of person that he was.

After coming back to his senses, Minhyuk began cooking once again. This time, his consciousness was sharper and brighter than ever. Even the Divine Will gave him greater power after it got triggered. Perhaps this was God's way of praising those who had stood up after being left in frustration. Not only that, but his luck was turning for the better, too. High-grade dishes continued to appear one after the other.

Armed with the determination to obtain the Pillar Ingredient, Minhyuk worked non-stop. He even completely forgot about his exhaustion.

Three days passed by just like that. In those three days, a smile had always lingered on Minhyuk’s face. Why? Because he realized that he was someone who had not yet fallen to that extent.

Then, the notifications rang.

[Your total score is 297.]

[Rocado’s total score is 675]

The wall named Rocado was still far too high. However, this was the highest Minhyuk’s score had ever reached during the six months he had been doing this. For him, that was enough.

Minhyuk continued to cook. He had already confirmed his limits. Frustration? It no longer bothered him. When he focused on what kind of person he was and how long he had lasted, he felt as if his mind had grown lighter and clearer.

[Your total score...]

[Rocado’s total score...]

He could no longer recall how many times he had done this. Even though his score remained far below Rocado’s, Minhyuk tried again. He just lightly shook off the thought about scores and began cooking again.

[Something hidden within the Trial of Restriction: Frustration shows signs of being revealed.]

[Your chances of creating something extraordinary have increased by 10%.]

“...?”

Minhyuk looked at the notifications in confusion when he saw that something hidden inside the trial was rearing its head and revealing itself. Not only that, but it also helped Minhyuk produce higher-grade dishes.

[You have completed a God-grade item.]

And again.

[You have completed a God-grade item.]

This luck would only come once in one’s lifetime. But for someone to use such luck, they had to make an effort and back it up.

After hundreds of days of hard work, Minhyuk had created a synergy with his once-in-a-lifetime luck. He had produced five God-grade dishes in a row. If he were outside in Athenae, the notifications would leave all the players dumbfounded.

But things weren’t over yet. Only a day has passed since he started cooking. Minhyuk continued to pleted a Legendary-grade pleted a Legendary-grade pleted an Epic-grade item.]

Minhyuk was smiling brightly despite the sweat dripping down his forehead.

‘My luck is excellent today.’

Minhyuk knew that it was okay to lose. As long as he could continue repeating his strategy, there would come a day when his luck would be extremely good.

What was his score? How many dishes has he made? What were the grades of his dishes? Minhyuk no longer noticed these things.

[You have fallen into an extreme trance.]

He no longer knew how many times the notifications rang in his ears. Even the notifications about the creation of God-grade, legendary-grade, and epic-grade items no longer registered in his ears.

Minhyuk, who was crazily absorbed in his work, moved with sweat dripping down his body like a waterfall.

***

Joy Co. Ltd.’s conference room.

The executives and operators held their breath as they witnessed an incredibly unbelievable situation.

[Currently, Rocado’s total score is 464.]

[Currently, Minhyuk’s total score is 436.]

Minhyuk finally exceeded 70% of Rocado’s score. This was utterly unbelievable. Through perseverance, he overcame the 0.01% probability that Athenae had initially calculated.

Everyone watched with bated breaths.

It looked like Minhyuk’s luck was very good today. On the other hand, Rocado’s luck went down the drain. There were only four hours left.

‘If Rocado picks up his speed again, then Minhyuk might just lose,’ President Kang Taehoon thought as he loosened his tie.

Then, something very alarming happened.

[Rocado has made a God-grade item.]

[Rocado has made a God-grade item.]

[Rocado has made a God-grade item.]

Rocado started to make high-grade items one after another. With this, Minhyuk’s score, which had surpassed 70% of Rocado’s score, had dropped back to 65%.

‘Right now, Player Minhyuk is only slightly worse than Rocado.’

His chances of creating higher-grade dishes had increased by more than 100%. And even his luck was good. But... in the end, would he still return to square one?

The conference hall was filled with another round of surprised gasps this time.

[Minhyuk has made a God-grade item.]

Everyone’s eyes grew wide with surprise.

[Minhyuk has made a God-grade item.]

Someone gulped dryly.

[Minhyuk has made a God-grade item.]

Someone was so shocked that they eventually gasped loudly.

[Minhyuk has made a God-grade item.]

Someone even spat out a curse, saying, ‘Shit...!’

Finally, the Restriction of Patience hidden underneath the Restriction of Frustration had ended and bore fruit.

[The Trial of Restriction: Frustration has ended.]

[Rocado’s total score is 515.]

[Minhyuk’s total score is 518.]

“...”

All of the executives present in the room had gone mute.

The condition for completing the Restriction of Frustration was for Minhyuk to reach 70% of Rocado’s score.

‘He won?’