Chapter 1139
Haze could not hide her excitement.
They were receiving an unusual number of applications for migration from all over Athenae. Whenever an applicant was accepted, they would immediately go to the shop, find a quest, or visit their hunting grounds. As the emperor, Minhyuk also triggered empire quests that could reward players with the Food God’s Ingredients.
“They’ll pay taxes when buying Food God’s Ingredients from our shops. They’ll pay taxes to progress further with their empire quests. They’ll also pay taxes if they want to hunt in the dungeons and hunting fields owned by the Beyond the Heavens Empire. No matter what the migrants want to do, they’ll have to pay taxes.”
Haze’s eyes glowed brightly. It looked like shooting stars were passing her eyes with how much they twinkled.
“Haze, why are you counting money?”
With a ‘Ptew!’ Haze spat in her hands and proceeded to count bills. Then, she said, “If I do this, my mood will soar.”
Minhyuk watched her count the bills in her hands over and over again. Then, he told her that he would take a break for a while as he logged out. Once he logged out, he went on the internet and accessed the community sites to grasp the current flow of the situation.
Articles continued to pour in.
[Korean Athenae’s Experts Association’s president has been dismissed. He wrote a formal apology to Minhyuk. Minhyuk responds: ‘No mercy.’]
[Everyone turns their attention to the possibility of Minhyuk becoming a Pillar.]
[Minhyuk’s ability to create ingredients prompts complaints toward Joy Co. Ltd.]
[Minhyuk ends the controversy. He announces that he and the vassals and executives of the Beyond the Heavens Empire cannot abuse and take advantage of the ingredients he has created.]
[An unanswered question. Why is the Beyond the Heavens Empire still much smaller than the Luvien Empire despite growing rapidly?]
[The number of Level 650 players is rapidly increasing. NPCs are also growing along with the players.]
Minhyuk nodded when he saw the articles.
‘As expected, more and more people believe that I have a chance of becoming a Pillar.’
Like the other Pillar Candidates, his foundation as a Pillar had been firmly established. However, as the articles mentioned, there were still many unfinished and unresolved dilemmas that he had to tackle.
The land occupied by the Luvien Empire remained more than five times larger than the land occupied by the Beyond the Heavens Empire. If the two empires went to war, there was a 100% chance of the Beyond the Heavens Empire being defeated.
‘The problem is that while we’re growing, the Luvien Empire is also growing.’
The other players also worked hard to grow and follow their paths. Meanwhile, Minhyuk needed to grow not only as the Pillar of the Gourmands but also his powers, help the Beyond the Heavens Empire develop, and progress further as the Food God.
‘It’s time for me to focus on being the Battle God and the emperor of the Beyond the Heavens Empire.’
Luvien was once again working on increasing its powers and territories. Of course, the Beyond the Heavens Empire was doing the same, but their growth rate was technically similar.
Despiteproliferatingy, the Beyond the Heavens Empire lagged behind the Luvien Empire mainly because of its territories.
‘It doesn’t matter how many migrants move to our empire. Since our territory is small, they will leave again.’
The Beyond the Heavens Empire’s situation was similar to that of five people living in a space that was only good for three people. Because of that, their hunting grounds, fields, and dungeons fell short. There was also a lack of space for players to rest, eat, and have a drink, which meant that there were also fewer quests.
‘In the end, many migrants will leave because they know that ingredients are scarce and there’s a lot of competition to get it.’
Nevertheless, there was a reason why the Beyond the Heavens Empire could not forcefully expand its territories.
‘Because everyone wishes to stay and live in a good place.’
The place should have all four seasons, and the land must be fertile enough for farming. Something like a mine should also be nearby so that the people could make money.
On the other hand, what would happen if they tried to carve out and reclaim a territory in a wasteland?
‘No one will move to that territory.’
It would turn into an empty land to fill the number of lands under their empire.
At that moment, Chairman Kang Minhoo entered the house. When he saw his son sitting with a solemn expression on his face, he asked, “It seems like you have something that you’re worried about again.”
Minhyuk told his greatest supporter, his father, about his dilemma.
Kang Minhoo had already felt it. He said, “Many people were near the central plaza’s fountain area. I was starting to think that it’s becoming a problem, too.”
The people have been complaining about the long store lines and the inconvenience. They had to expand much more than what they initially planned. Just like Minhyuk had thought of before, he had to find suitable land or make good land.
‘There are many empty wastelands.’
“I think it will be better for you to go to the Battle God than to worry about it by yourself like this.”
“The Battle God?” Minhyuk looked at his father in confusion. He did not understand the Battle God’s connection to their land problem. Even if Minhyuk was a very clever young man, it did not mean he knew everything. There would still be things that he did not know of.
Minhyuk looked at them in confusion. He turned to the Battle God and asked, “I came here to unseal the Battle God’s power once again.”
The Battle God did not say what kind of meeting he had attended. After all, there was no need for him to do so. This time, the Battle God’s mission was not given by the Battle God himself but by the statue behind him.
There was a dashing and imposing statue of the Battle God standing behind it. The statue wore a golden crown—the crown once worn by the greatest Battle God in history. Surprisingly enough, the great and mighty Battle God statue did not have a face. This was because the statue represented all the Battle Gods that have ever existed. It housed the collection of their souls.
The statue was going to give Minhyuk the mission and the reward.
The Battle God explained, “Once you complete the mission, the statue of the Battle God will raise the sword and tap your shoulders with it in acknowledgment. If your achievements are great, it will honor you by allowing you to kiss the back of its hands. And if you’re even more outstanding, it will smile at you.”
Just in time, the solemn and sonorous voice resonated from the statue of the Battle God.
[Pandemonium. This is where even the gods could not dare to enter carelessly.]
[Some call this place the Supreme.]
The hearts of the Absolute Gods thumped wildly. That was right; this was where Minhyuk had to do the mission. Pandemonium, or the Supreme hidden behind it. And it has to be known that none of the Battle Gods had ever entered Pandemonium.
[The next generation Battle God.]
A charismatic voice resonated from deep within the statue. And this voice said...
[Go to Pandemonium and wipe out 50 beings hailed as the Supreme.]
[If you do that, I will unseal your next power.]
[The deadline is one week.]
[Do you accept?]
Worried, the Battle God said, “I believe it’s still too early for you. I encourage you to go and gain more power first. Only by doing that will you have the power to fight in that place. If you don’t accept it now, I will make it so the Battle God’s Statue will do its duty again when you ask again.”
The God of Cooking smiled faintly. She believed that Minhyuk would not do it if he judged it impossible.
“I’ll accept it.”
[The next generation Battle God has accepted the quest to unseal the second Battle God’s power.]
“...Mi-Minhyuk!”
Minhyuk ignored his conversation with the God of Cooking and the Battle God's promise to allow him to take the mission later and immediately agreed.
As mentioned, the deadline was a week.
“What!” The God of Cooking almost leaped toward him. “Do you know that you’re being too arrogant right now?!”
At this moment, the God of Cooking could not help but wonder if he had become like everybody else and been overtaken by his arrogance and greed.
Standing at the end of the red carpet, Minhyuk took one step after another toward the statue. Then, something very shocking happened.
Creak, creak, creak–
The Battle God’s Statue began to move.
“Why is the Battle God’s Statue moving?” The Battle God asked in shock.
The Battle God’s Statue would only move and respond to those who have finished the trial that it had given. Yet the Battle God’s Statue moved and took considerable steps to meet Minhyuk.
When the Battle God’s Statue stood before him, Minhyuk asked, “Are you going to tap my shoulders with your sword?”
Minhyuk’s question was a response to the Battle God's words. According to the Battle God, the statue would react differently depending on how much they had achieved during the trial.
“Or will you make me kiss the back of your hand? If not that, then are you going to smile at me?”
At that moment, the golden crown worn by the greatest Battle God in history, sitting on the head of the statue, began to release the most brilliant golden light.
Flash–
So, what did the statue do? It slowly took off the golden crown on its head and put it on Minhyuk’s head with a smile. Then, it spoke.
[You have completed the mission...]
[...with a phenomenal outcome.]
[You have completed the Class Quest: Unsealing the Battle God’s Second Power.]
Then, the statue slowly knelt on one knee and showed courtesy toward Minhyuk.
Everyone on the spot was left frozen.