/
Everyone watched as Diablo, the zero-ranked monster, moved to stand in front of Food God Minhyuk the moment he revealed his appearance. All of them, whether they were in the stands or inside the stadium, were left in doubt and disbelief.
“What the hell? Is this some kind of bug?! Why would a monster like that show interest in a player?!”
“I know that this is the very first World War, but aren’t you a bit too lax when it comes to this part?!”
Even the commentators voiced their concerns.
[Unlike other games, Athenae is famous for not having any major bugs. On top of that, President Kang Taehoon and Joy Co. Ltd. have always been transparent with us about their work process and etiquette. So, there shouldn’t be a fatal error especially with the whole world paying attention to this event.]
[Wouldn’t it disrupt the game if the Zero Monster shows interest in a player?]
In fact, even the management team was also in a mess.
“This is impossible…!”
“Team Leader, what should we do?”
Park Minggyu and Lee Minhwa stared at the huge screen, which was displaying the scene of Diablo looking at Minhyuk, in shock.
“I didn’t expect that Player Minhyuk’s influence on Diablo would be so strong. For him to recognize him even though he is in a ‘Frenzied State’ is very shocking…”
Of course, the Athenae management was aware that Diablo and Minhyuk met in the past. However, Supercomputer Athenae, the god that controlled the Athenae worldview, wanted Diablo in this contest.
God Athenae’s involvement in the game process was very considerable. In fact, it was safe to say that most of the events in Athenae were created by the A.I.. The job of the Athenae management was to add more flesh to the plans and make it more complete. They also voiced their concerns about Diablo meeting Minhyuk, but the supercomputer had emphasized Diablo’s frenzied state.
A lot of things happened in the Demon World after Minhyuk and Diablo’s meeting. Diablo conquered the Demon World’s Tower, then went to the ‘Demon’s Land’ and pointed his sword at Great Demon Verus. As his resentment against Great Demon Verus grew by the day, his strength also grew.
However, the difference between a great demon and a lesser demon was definitely a huge chasm that he could not cross so easily. In fact, the truth was, it was Great Demon Verus that gave Diablo the foothold to grow stronger. This was because he viewed Diablo as a form of entertainment of some sorts. When he found out about that, Diablo’s anger and resentment grew even further, to the point that he reached a frenzied state which resulted in the loss of most of his feelings as a human that he had regained just recently.
However, with the appearance of someone that was deeply ingrained in his memories, Diablo was able to regain some semblance of his sanity and emotion.
Eventually, President Kang Taehoon began to talk.
[It would be a lie if I said that I’m not surprised by this situation.]
Kang Taehoon knew that he would appear proud and knew-it-all, if he were to pretend as if he and his team had predicted this to happen.
[However, Joy Co. Ltd. has always considered the anomalies and variables that would appear in every event. And the same is true for the players associated with Diablo. But please don’t forget that the name of this event is ‘Named Monster Hunting’ event.]
The clamoring crowd slowly returned to calm after hearing Kang Taehoon’s firm and unshakeable voice.
[One has to hit or hunt the Zero Monster to get closer to the medal. So, what would happen if the player was friends with them? That means that they’ll get further away from the medal.]
That was right. This was the Named Monster Hunting event, an event where they get ahead of others by literally hunting monsters. Kang Taehoon continued to speak…
[However, don’t you think that it would be interesting if a player made the shocking choice of teaming up with Diablo? In the end, that player is just one among dozens of other players. We don’t know what or how much power he will be able to give to Diablo, but I’m sure that the variables that will come out from that choice will be very interesting.]
President Kang Taehoon’s words had the power to attract people and make them understand. Even the commentators agreed with him.
[That’s right. In the end, this event is called Named Monster Hunting event.]
[We don’t know if they would work together, but we know that this is a field where they have to hunt named monsters. It wouldn’t matter if they met once, they have to hunt that monster.]
Right after the commentators’ words, an Indian player named Sajan did something that he should not have done. He threw his huge axe and attacked Diablo. That was when a truly shocking scene unfolded in front of everyone, an invisible sword suddenly appeared near Diablo and stopped the axe’s descent. At the same time…
Shwaaaaaaaaa—
…a strong and powerful force stretched out of Diablo’s body and covered the entire stadium. Then, invisible swords flew towards the players. But they were high rankers, they could easily predict the course of the attack with the change in the air, or the sound of the attack, and defend against it.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!
“Keuhaaaaaaaack!”
“Aaaaaaaaaaargh!”
“Keheok!”
However, something strange happened. The rankers were able to successfully take on a defensive posture, but their bodies were still torn apart and blown away, receiving great damage. This was an AOE attack that damaged forty players all at once! Surprisingly enough, Minhyuk was also among those that had been affected by the attack.
[Player Minhyuk was also attacked by Diablo’s invisible weapons!]
[Player Minhyuk was able to enlarge his frying pan and defend against the attacks, but he still flew back from the impact! His frying pan is already torn apart even though it has only received one attack. It seems like he won’t be able to use it anymore.]
Sajan, the Indian player, had moved at the perfect time, just after President Kang Taehoon’s words. This made the crowd believe his words more.
[But why did Player Sajan decide to suddenly attack Diablo?]
[I know right. It seems like all of the players will view him in a bad light from now on.]
[From what I can see, Player Sajan has lower chances of getting a medal compared to the other players. I think he’s aiming for higher chances of getting a medal by forcing the other players to attack and keep Diablo in check.]
Meanwhile, President Kang Taehoon took off his headset and headed to where the management team was for a rest. Lee Minhwa, with her hands clasped together, looked at her president with respect and admiration. She thought, ‘Oh my god! The president is really on a different level! He can attract the attention of the crowd and make them understand the situation! As expected of our president!’
However, contrary to her thoughts, President Kang Taehoon was actually very nervous. He rushed to where his employees were and…
“Team Leader Park.”
“Yes, president?”
“What do I do? I think I’m in trouble,” Kang Taehoon said, sweat dripping down his back and forehead.
“You made that up?”
“What I said should be right. In the end, Player Minhyuk had to keep Diablo in check. If he did not do so, then he would not be able to win a medal.”
Lee Minhwa, on the other hand, could not understand what they were worried about. She said, “President, you’re still worried about his ‘methods’?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Lee Minhwa looked at him in doubt. But then, Team Leader Park said, “But if Player Minhyuk chooses to use ‘Let’s Have a Meal’ and join hands with Diablo, then…”
“…!”
Only then did Lee Minhwa realize that it would have gone as President Kang Taehoon said if it were any other player. However, Minhyuk was different. With his abilities as a ‘buffer’ in the form of his dishes, Minhyuk could create the best and worst team possible.
“And if he makes a legendary-grade dish then…”
The monster hunting field would usher in a new stage. It would be Diablo and Minhyuk versus forty global players. The problem was that they could not guarantee who would take the victory.
***
If they knew about what Minhyuk was thinking while they were having a serious discussion, President Kang Taehoon and the management team would surely shout, ‘Stop that thought, you rascal!’
‘It’s an AOE attack, so it’s understandable that he attacked everyone and did not avoid me.’
The truth was, Minhyuk was also conflicted about what he should do with his and Diablo’s relationship. Should he attack him or should he make him his ally? However, there was a way for him to solve this problem. It was none other than Minhyuk’s skill: ‘Create a Recipe’.
‘Create a Recipe’ was a skill that could allow him to peek at the food that the other person wanted to eat the most. But that was not all, there were also cases where he could take a peek at the other person’s physical and psychological state. Then, Minhyuk used his Create a Recipe skill on Diablo. Minhyuk’s lips curled into a wide grin after using the skill.
‘I can do it with Let’s Have a Meal.’
As expected, that was the conclusion that Minhyuk had reached.
***
Before Oh Changwook came to work under Kang Minhoo’s mansion as Minhyuk’s health trainer, there was Lee Jin-Sung. He was also the informant that leaked the fact that Minhyuk had ‘eating addiction’. Of course, Lee Jin-Sung did not do it by himself. He only did it because of someone’s instigation.
Right now, he was fidgeting in anxiety as he sat inside the police station. His biggest problem was the fact that Ilhwa Group’s legal team did not want to let him go. Lee Jin-Sung looked around the dark investigation room in trepidation.
‘I might have done something bad, but are you telling me that my sin is so heavy that you’re even investigating me in an environment like this?’
Lee Jin-Sung really could not understand what was happening. Then, suddenly, a man opened the door and came inside. Lee Jin-Sung had no choice, but to stand up after seeing the man’s familiar face.
“Cha, Chairman…”
This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
That was right. It was Chairman Kang Minhoo. Lee Jin-Sung felt suffocated and pressured when he saw him come inside and sit in front of him, despite the kind smile on his face.
“That was a bit shocking. I did not expect that you would go around revealing Minhyuk’s secret.”
It was only natural. After all, Lee Jin-sung did not lose his job because he was fired, but because he decided to quit to do something else. Before he quit, he and Minhyuk treated each other as if they were brothers.
“I’m… I’m sorry,” Lee Jinsung apologized. Even if he had ten mouths, he would still have nothing to say to the man in front him. All he could do was apologize.
“Is that so? Ah, did you eat yet?”
Lee Jin-Sung went silent. He had not eaten yet. Chairman Kang Minhoo looked at him before turning to the policeman and asking for two bowls of hot soup with some rice. Not long after, two bowls of hot soup and rice were placed in front of the two. The soup was none other than blood sausage soup and was filled with plenty of ingredients. Lee Jin-Sung could not help but cry after eating spoonfuls of the soup.
‘Aaaaaaah! Chairman Kang Minhoo!’
Lee Jin-Sung felt the extent of Kang Minhoo’s generosity and mercy. He even took care of a great sinner like him! Lee Jin-Sung felt regret flood in him as his tears fell down his cheeks.
“Who is it?”
“…Whoever you’re thinking of is correct.”
“Daehan Group?”
“…”
Lee Jin-Sung nodded silently. He thought that he would only be able to leave this place if he asked for the forgiveness of the man in front of him.
Kang Minhoo nodded as if he had expected it. Then, he said, “I’m sure you received a lot of money for that. What a mistake to make, and at such a young age too.”
Lee Jin-Sung nodded, thinking that Chairman Kang Minhoo was indeed a very nice person! He hated the fact that he had done something so despicable for money. It seemed like the man in front of him had forgiven him too. That was right, Kang Minhoo was still the kind person that he met in the past! Lee Jin-sung felt both gratitude and respect for a man like him, who was willing to forgive someone bad and lacking like him.
Then, Kang Minhoo softly said, “You should eat a lot,” before continuing, “I believe you won’t be able to eat something like this for a long time. You should eat a lot of this bean-mixed rice too.”
Jin-Sung’s eyes widened at that moment. The gaze that Kang Minhoo was using to look at him had turned extremely cold. He looked completely different from the person that he knew before.