Chapter 1185

Chapter 1185

After the update-related broadcast ended, a lottery was drawn. One million players were selected to enter the Gaia Continent from among those who had pre-registered to explore the new continent. The lottery winners were delighted, while those who did not win vowed to follow right behind them.

Among the winners was BJ Know-it-all Dictionary, Korea’s best BJ and a member of the Beyond the Heavens Empire. He could stand tall as a world-class BJ by creating videos and broadcasting new information and attack methods to the players of Athenae. This allowed him to stand among the top 100 in the Global ZTube Rankings.

To his delight, he was one of the one million players chosen to enter the Gaia Continent. The moment he accessed the game, BJ Know-it-all Dictionary received an invitation. Upon clicking the invitation, he was immediately warped to the Gorodis Kingdom.

Upon landing on new land, he received various quest notifications. There were several types of quests, including kingdom recovery quests, materials and ingredients procurement quests. There were also quests that required the players to increase the favor of the people of Gorodis Kingdom and become friends with them.

When BJ Know-it-all Dictionary started broadcasting, many viewers flocked to watch.

[Dictionary hyung, you’re not going to do a broadcast that praises and compliments Minhyuk just because you belong to the Beyond the Heavens Empire, right?]

[Do you not even know what kind of person Dictionary hyung is? This hyung right here is known as the Player Insulter.]

People flocked to and believed in Know-it-all Dictionary’s broadcasts because he never used unscrupulous methods or praised someone to gain an advantage or create more revenue. Even though he belonged to the Beyond the Heavens Empire, Know-it-all Dictionary often pointed out the mistakes that the empire made.

“Guys! Since we’re here, let’s go and do some quests.”

Know-it-all Dictionary looked around until he found an NPC. He decided to approach said NPC and talk to them.

“...I don’t like talking to people from other continents.”

But he was ignored.

“...?”

Know-it-all Dictionary was dumbfounded. He tried to use his excellent social skills to talk to other NPCs, but they were all stubborn and hard to approach. Looking around, he realized most players could not even speak to them, let alone receive a quest.

[The citizens of the Gaia Continent harbored hostility toward people from other continents.]

[This all stemmed from a legend passed down in the Gaia Continent.]

[According to the legends, the gods of the eastern continents have stolen the powers and technology of the gods of the Gaia Continent so they could grow stronger.]

[As a result, the people of the Gaia Continent believed that the people from the eastern continents had stolen something from them.]

Know-it-all Dictionary’s expression turned unsightly.

‘Then, should we do something so we could get to know the people and be able to talk to them first?’

Nevertheless, after looking around, he realized that almost all players were being treated coldly.

Thankfully, Know-it-all Dictionary had a cautious and reserved personality. Because of that, he was only ignored. But the arrogant and cheeky players? They were not only treated harshly, they were also kicked out of the gates.

As he watched the situation, Know-it-all Dictionary unknowingly muttered, “How did Minhyuk manage to get by in this place...”

Right then, the people turned around to look at him.

“Lord Minhyuk?”

“Minhyuk?”

“Are you talking about our dear Minhyuk?!”

Suddenly, the people of the Gaia Continent flocked toward him.

The man who had just looked and spoken to Know-it-all Dictionary with contempt earlier was now looking at him with bright eyes.

The man said, “By any chance, do you know Lord Minhyuk?”

“Ah. Well, yes.”

“Do you just know him by name? Or do you know each other and have a close relationship?”

Know-it-All Dictionary was a very high-ranking person in the Beyond the Heavens Empire. So, he could be considered to be close to Minhyuk.

“Well, we’re quite close.” Know-it-All Dictionary remarked.

“Goodness~ I did not recognize such a noble person.”

“Come, come! This person is close to our dear Minhyuk!”

“Oh! Oooooooh!”

[Garal’s favor has dramatically increased.]

[Bess’ favor has dramatically increased.]

[Connor’s favor has dramatically increased.]

“...?”

“Here, try this~”

“Goodness. You’re a bit handso—or not?”

“If you’re Lord Minhyuk’s friend, you’re also our friend!”

“...?”

Know-it-all Dictionary was left dumbfounded by the sudden and sharp increase in favor at the mere mention of Minhyuk’s name. It was proof of how significant Minhyuk’s influence was in this place.

During this time, the former king, Anton, had already died. The newly crowned Aelona had gathered all the people, including the foreigners, by the walls of the still chaotic and messy Gorodis Kingdom.

Then, Aelona began her speech. She said, “I am now crowned as your new king and ruler. Although I am lacking...”

Murmur, murmur.

Not long after, Know-it-all Dictionary felt that something was strange.

Aelona continued, “This is all thanks to the grace and kindness of my master and the god that we serve, Lord Minhyuk. Long live the Food God!”

All of the people of Gorodis Kingdom cried out. “Long live the Food God!!!” Aelona said, “From this day forward, our Gorodis Kingdom will be able to live and interact with people and foreigners from other continents. All of this is thanks to our lord, the Food God. Long live the Food God!”

“LONG LIVE THE FOOD GOD!!!”

“Our meals were really delicious today. Long live the Food God!”

“Long liiiiiiiive!!!”

They listened to a long and continuous speech filled with “Long live the Food God!”. When Know-it-All Dictionary looked around, he saw everyone in the Gorodis Kingdom crying and shouting the same cheer.

“In conclusion, LONG LIVE THE FOOD GOD!”

“LONG LIIIIIIIIIIIIVE THE FOOD GOD!!!”

Know-it-all Dictionary then turned to look at other places. On one side, he saw the royal guards growling at some players. They said, “Why aren’t you shouting ‘Long live the Food God!’? Can’t you see that everyone is shouting and cheering?”

The quick-witted players hurriedly shouted, “L-long live the Food God!”

At this moment, Know-it-all Dictionary realized that Minhyuk had finally successfully Minhyuk-ified an entire kingdom.

***

Minhyuk was confident that becoming allies was better than accepting the Gorodis Kingdom as a vassal state. In fact, because of this decision, the Gorodis Kingdom decided to worship him and adopt his religion. This was already far more valuable than receiving them as a vassal state.

The concept of a vassal state would have placed the Gorodis Kingdom under the rule of the Beyond the Heavens Empire. If that had happened, there would have been times when they would be dissatisfied and unhappy with the empire. But now, that was no longer a problem.

Now that they had chosen to worship him and adopt his religion, they might also give Minhyuk a unique quest.

And the results of Minhyuk’s decision finally appeared.

[The Gorodis Kingdom will offer you three Gaia Continent’s God-grade Ingredients every year.]

[Their offering includes five legendary-grade and ten epic-grade ingredients.]

[The Gorodis Kingdom will pay you 2% of the total taxes they earn every year.]

[Their faith and trust in you runs very deep.]

[They have chosen to increase the rewards. They will pay you 3% of their total taxes.]

[Many people will receive help just by being close to you.]

[Many will be left at a considerable disadvantage and be treated with hostility by the Gorodis Kingdom’s people by being hostile and against you.]

[You have gained 100 Divine Power.]

However, the notifications were not yet over.

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

[You have obtained the ownership of the Guardian Deity’s Dish, the Samseon Jjamppong.]

[All of the buff abilities within the Samseon Jjampong will be removed. However, the permanent effects will be retained.]

[You cannot eat the Guardian Deity’s Dish.]

When Aelona awakened, Minhyuk was delighted she did not need to eat the dish. Sadly, he was left in another situation where he could not eat the Guardian Deity’s Dish again.

‘I wonder what kind of permanent power the samseon jjamppong has?’

Unfortunately, that was something that Minhyuk could not even see.

At that moment, Aelona, who had been shouting “Long live the Food God!” outside without Minhyuk’s knowledge, finally returned.

“Fufu. I have informed everyone of my master’s greatness.”

Minhyuk smiled faintly at Aelona, who was sporting an expression that asked for praise.

There was now a flood of players outside. They all came here to explore the new continent. It seemed like she had gathered them earlier.

“Master, you said the Guardian Deity’s Dish is sealed, right? Would you like to come with me somewhere?” Aelona said, prompting another smile on Minhyuk’s face.

Aelona trusted Minhyuk more than anybody else in the world, and it was not just because he was her master. When Minhyuk declined their offer to become his vassal state and insisted on allying with them, Aelona decided to treat him better than a master.

Aelona led Minhyuk down a long and narrow passageway toward the Gorodis Kingdom’s secret room. When they entered the dark room, they were greeted by a huge statue. The statue was none other than a statue of an electric eel.

“Is this the Guardian Deity of Lightning?” Minhyuk asked.

“That’s right. From what I know, I was meant to eat the Guardian Deity’s Dish upon its completion. However, things have developed differently. Perhaps only the sealed deities are the only ones who know how to release the seal on the dish.”

The fact that Aelona willingly brought Minhyuk to the kingdom’s secret room proved that Minhyuk’s decision to refuse to accept the Gorodis Kingdom as a vassal state and insist on becoming their ally was the correct choice.

‘Had my choice been different, perhaps the Guardian Deity’s Dish would be left where I cannot eat it for the rest of my life.’

Minhyuk was craving this dish so much. His stomach was grumbling for it. At the same time, he was also curious. After all, the Gaia Continent’s dishes specialized in bestowing permanent effects.

Aelona knelt and worshiped the statue of the guardian deity in front of her.

Bzzt, bzzt, bzzt!

Sparks appeared and covered the electric eel-shaped statue’s surface.

[The Guardian Deity of Lightning has awakened temporarily!]

***

The Guardian Deity of Lightning, who possessed a clean and pure soul, looked at the man hailed as the Food God.

He, who was connected to the other sealed deities, spoke to them.

[He’s a good man. He’s different from the people in the past.]

In the past, the Olympians showed care for the guardian deities. They not only pretended to love the humans but also pretended to care for them. The guardian deities believed in them, but it turned out that they were just doing that because they wanted to obtain their powers.

After being sealed and oppressed by such beings, the guardian deities no longer hold any faith or trust in humans and gods. And, of course, the same was true for the words that the Guardian Deity of Lightning said.

[I no longer believe in humans and gods.]

[You still trust them even after everything we’ve been through?]

[I refuse! I will not allow you to release the Guardian Deity’s Dish for the sake of those humans and gods!]

[The worst part? He’s a dirty being from another continent!]

Amidst their clamoring, the wisest guardian deity spoke.

[Then let’s put him to the test. If he passes the test, then we will release the seal. But if he fails, then we will completely seal the dish.]

Everyone, except the Guardian Deity of Lightning, believed Minhyuk would fail their test. When they were told of the testing method, the Guardian Deity of Lightning protested.

[But...]

[This is the only way! I still believe that he is no different from that bastard Zeus!]

Ultimately, the Guardian Deity of Lightning was forced to implement the test at their behest.

[The Guardian Deity of Lightning tells you how to release the seal on the Guardian Deity’s Dish.]

[To release the seal on the Guardian Deity’s Dish, 15% of the total population of the Gorodis Kingdom has to bow in front of the statue of the guardian deity for ten hours every day.]

[It doesn’t matter who does it. The children, the women, or the elderly are included.]

[The Guardian Deity’s Dish’s seal will be released after they complete the task for 100 days.]

[The faith and trust that the people of the Gorodis Kingdom have in you can pierce through the sky.]

[With a single word, they will willingly bow for 100 days for your sake!]

Minhyuk frowned.

“You want me to force the people to work hard to unseal the dish...?”

[The Guardian Deity of Lightning says you deserve such a reward.]

However, Minhyuk did not think that at all.

“Right now, they are just trying to get back on their feet and get over the pain that they had suffered. Of course, they will probably do that for me, but you want me to ask them to do that just so I can eat one dish?”

[The Guardian Deity of Lightning says that it doesn’t matter.]

“It matters.”

The guardian deities had seen how the Olympians killed humans so that they could satisfy their greed and fill their stomachs.

Yet, the man before them said, “I don’t want to make other people suffer and work hard for a very long time just so I can gain a fleeting sense of happiness.”

The gods of Olympus had oppressed and made the people of the Gaia Continent suffer so that they could become stronger.

“I’d rather go hungry than eat that dish.”

[The Guardian Deity of Lightning says it is very uncharacteristic for someone hailed as the Food God.]

“What does it matter if I am the Food God? Because I love eating? Yes, that’s right. I love eating. But I do not want to let others suffer just so I can eat,” Minhyuk said as he turned around without hesitation.

[The Guardian Deities says that you passed the test!]

[The four Guardian Deities do not have a single shred of trust left for both humans and gods.]

[That’s why they wanted to test you.]

[The Guardian Deity of Lightning says he will release the seal on the Guardian Deity’s Dish for you.]

The guardian deities were in awe at Minhyuk’s behavior.

However, Minhyuk’s reaction was cold.

“What the hell are you doing?”

[...]

[...]

[...]

[...]

“Alright, I get why you want to put me to the test. I understand that it’s because you suffered a lot. However...” Minhyuk’s expression was sharp and cold. “You wanted to use the

humans

who trusted and cherished you, the same humans you wanted to protect, for a test? Did you think that what you did was correct? Do you even deserve to be hailed as their guardian deities?”

Only then did the guardian deities realize they had made a grave mistake.

“It’s just a simple test? Don’t you understand? The problem here is that you used the people you were supposed to protect as test subjects.”

The cold and harsh words stabbed the guardian deities deeply.

“Do you expect me to be happy just because I passed your test? What? You want me to dance in joy? No. You’re wrong. I don’t feel happy at all. Don’t use the people who care about you and love you deeply just so you can test someone.”

The guardian deities finally realized that the man before them was not someone they could dare to test. They also learned that their momentary lapse in judgment and act of stupidity had left this man utterly disappointed in them.