Gourmet Gaming

Minhyuk prepared to return the day after Dwarf Vernon proposed to High Elf Allei.

‘The power of the Beef Shank of Growth needs to seep in through their bones and would take two weeks before it could show its full power.’

In other words, it would take two weeks before the dwarves grew in height. Only after that time would they be able to get the Black Hammer Dwarves’ help. So, for the time being, Minhyuk had to return to the Beyond the Heavens Empire and make preparations.

At that moment, Black Hammer Dwarven King Vernon appeared hand in hand with High Elf Allei in front of Minhyuk. There were also a few Black Hammer Dwarves carrying their black hammers right behind them.

Minhyuk could see that the dwarves carrying black hammers looked five centimeters taller than when he first met them. This was all thanks to the magic tool that Minhyuk had handed them to complement the Beef Shank of Growth. What was the magic tool in question? It was none other than insoles. And the dwarves that were given these insoles looked very, very satisfied.

“These dwarves are the best-armored weapon craftsmen among the Black Hammer Dwarves. They will be able to help you complete Bless’ blueprint and make additional armored weapons for you.” Vernon smiled.

Vernon was very grateful for Minhyuk’s help. Because of this man, he was able to overcome his inferiority complex. It was also thanks to Minhyuk that Vernon realized that Allei truly loved him and that getting taller and everything else was just because he lacked the confidence and felt he did not have the qualifications to receive her love.

On the other hand, Minhyuk was very happy. He initially thought that the Black Hammer Dwarves would only help them recreate Bless after their heights had increased. But now, Vernon personally said that they would help him create additional armored weapons.

Minhyuk reached his hand out and held Black Hammer Dwarven King Vernon’s stubby hands in a handshake.

***

This story happened after Beyond the Heavens Empire sent Locke to negotiate with the Black Hammer Dwarves.

Whenever Athenae was in danger, the high-rankers of the virtual reality game Athenae would stand at the forefront of the battlefield and lead all the other players to fight on the battlefield. Seeing this scene, Ethan would always recall the dream that he had dreamt at least once in his life.

Ethan had hoped that one day, he would climb the robot's cockpit, the robot he had dreamt of since he was a child, hold a fantastic sword in his hand, and stand at the forefront of the battlefield to defeat the enemies. Yes, this was the dream of Ethan, the number one ranker in the Armored Pilot rankings.

Ethan wanted to pilot an armored weapon with a stronger fist and a defense that was sturdier than any other player so that no one could stop him. However, his dreams were shelved, and was left gathering dust in the corner when he became one of the lowest-ranking knights of the Luvien Empire.

Thud, thud, thud– thuuuud–!

“Ack! Kghhk! St- stop– stop!”

Well, he was one of the knights of the Luvien Empire up until yesterday. However, today, his qualifications as a knight had been revoked.

The ones that recruited Ethan first were the Luvien Empire. They promised him these.

–We will make your dreams come true.

–We will build an armored weapon for you, put you at the forefront, and allow you to fight in the vanguard of the battlefield.

–We will do our best to help you.

Ethan, a player, had been rolling around, tinkering, and piloting old armored weapons. However, Ethan could not fully showcase his power because the armored weapons were too old and decrepit. At that time, the Luvien Empire came to him and promised to create a new armored weapon. That was why he came here. But what was the result in the end? Just today, he received this notification.

–The plans for the Armored Weapon Knight Order have been revoked.

–The Luvien Empire will not produce any armored weapons.

Of course, Ethan immediately asked the reason.

–Why?

–Of course, it’s because making armored weapons is too expensive. And even if we can produce one, it would be inefficient. Then, wouldn’t that put us at a loss? fre(e)novelkiss.com

It was expensive, and operating it would be inefficient. Ethan knew that those were nothing but excuses. This was because the Luvien Empire could not make any outstanding armored weapons.

An excellent armored weapon could produce mana on its own. And when an excellent armored weapon met with an equally fantastic pilot? They would create a synergy and become several times more potent than usual.

And that was what the Luvien Empire also had in mind. That was why they recruited Ethan in their knight order. But they abandoned him when they failed to create an excellent armored weapon.

–You are no longer a part of the Armored Weapon Knight Order.

–Then- then where would I go?!

–How should I know?

This was how Luvien was. If they needed you, they would use any means to entice you to their side. However, once you no longer had any use for them, then they would throw you away.

The worst part? The knights of the Luvien Empire mocked and trampled on Ethan, who had been recruited as a part of the knight order because of his superb talent in operating armored weapons.

“What- What did I even do wrong?!”

“Shut up! The fact that a bastard like you with no qualifications joined the Great Luvien Empire is your mistake!”

“I- I am the best and strongest pilot!”

“That’s what they said. Yes. But what’s the point of being the best and the strongest pilot when you don’t even have any proper armored weapon? There’s nowhere in the world that operates and maintains armored weapons.”

“Keooooook!”

They punched and beat Ethan as if he were some kind of dog that did something wrong.

Ethan felt that everything was unfair. He always believed that someday, he would be able to meet an armored weapon that suited him and that he would be able to stand at the vanguard and fight on the battlefield, receiving the admiration of many.

He never gave up on his dreams, and he even continued to work hard and operate the old and decrepit armored weapon given to him when he changed class to Armored Weapon Pilot. Even when a thousand armored weapon pilots ended up giving up on their courses, he continued to increase his level and establish himself as an excellent armored weapon pilot.

‘One day, I will make you regret that you cast me, an armored weapon pilot, away!’

But at this moment, Ethan felt like it was him that was stupid. Even the Luvien Empire gave up on producing armored weapons. So, who in the world would be willing to do so?

Ethan might be the number one-ranked armored weapon pilot. However, with just his old armored weapon in hand, he would not be able to win against the top one million rankers. What use was being excellent and talented when his armored weapon lagged far behind in performance?

“Sob, sob, sob– Sob, sob, sob–” Ethan choked in his tears as he got beaten up and dragged like a dog and eventually got thrown out of the walls of the empire.

Ethan clenched his fists. ‘Never again... I will never play Athenae again!’

This dream started when Ethan first played and put together Lego pieces as a kid and watched the robots transforming on the TV in front of him. He clenched his fists tightly, vowing to make that dream come true. However, Ethan was now entertaining the thought of abandoning his plan.

But at this moment, the figure of a man flashed in his head. Unlike himself, this man stood at the forefront of the battlefield and never backed down, even though he had to face the Luvien Empire. This man was a man who received the respect and admiration of many. And this was none other than Minhyuk.

“Ethan. The best-armored weapon pilot. From what I heard, you are a very skilled and talented man that even the NPCs cannot match, no?”

While Ethan was staring at the ground and sobbing, someone’s voice rang above his head. The voice was booming yet warm; it embraced him as if soothing the exhausted Ethan. However, Ethan could not bear to raise his face, which was covered with tears. The man leaned down and stretched his hand out toward him.

“The Beyond the Heavens... No, I need and covet your talents.”

And when Ethan raised his head? He saw the man he aspired to be, the same man he watched through videos, standing before him. The man even told him that he coveted and needed his talents. This man was the Supreme player and the Beyond the Heavens Empire emperor, the only empire that stood and fought back against the Luvien Empire.

“Will you join my side?”

Ethan was deeply moved. This was the first time that he had heard such heartfelt words during his entire time playing Athenae.

‘I need and covet your talents.’

The crying Ethan nodded as he grabbed the man’s hands.

“Come to the Beyond the Heavens Empire once you’re ready.”

After leaving those words, Minhyuk turned and left with his white cape carrying the symbol of a fork and a knife crossed together, fluttering behind his tall and broad back. Ethan, who watched his sturdy and reliable back, continued to cry.

“Minhyuk-chan! I will live my life for your sake!!! Thank you for believing in me! Aishiteru!”

That was right. Ethan was a full-fledged Gundam otaku.

***

Minhyuk looked at Vernon and the Black Hammer Dwarves, smiling happily as they swung their black hammers to reproduce Divine Weapon Bless and created six other armored weapons by themselves.

[You have successfully reproduced Divine Weapon Bless!]

[Compared to the original Bless, this divine weapon performs 25% lower. However, the fact that it is the strongest armored weapon cannot be denied!]

A faint smile curled at the corners of Minhyuk’s lips when he heard the notification. Even though they could not wholly reproduce the Bless of the past, he believed this was more than enough. After all, they had Ethan with them. The same Ethan had closed his eyes and placed his hands on Bless’s body.

“Bless-chan... I can hear your heartbeat. Please take down and tear apart the Luvien Empire with me, okay?”

“...”

The words that Ethan said sounded completely like those cringe-y otaku lines. However, they were reliable words. As the strongest and best armored weapon pilot, Ethan could make up for Bless’s shortcomings.

While Bless and the other armored weapons were being created, Minhyuk took the time to cook some pretty decent and amazing dishes from the ingredients he had harvested from the Field of the Gods.

At that moment, Haze entered. “Your Majesty! This time, they are attacking the Lonstrei Empire. And that’s not all. After observing their movements, we concluded they were moving to invade the Ardan Territory, which our Beyond the Heavens pioneered and opened!”

“...Alright.”

The oppressive acts of the Luvien Empire did not seize. However, the Beyond the Heavens Empire was already fully prepared this time.

“Haze, start spreading the rumors. Say that there is a ‘dungeon’ housing an extremely outstanding and excellent reward.”

***

Levard, the number four in the Archaeologist Rankings, migrated to the Luvien Empire. When he came to the empire, he heard some information in the streets. From what he had heard, there was an old book amongst the ancient relics that the Luvien Empire had acquired. This book contained detailed information about a place called The Transcendentals’ Holy Land.

‘They said it was a place where the boss is a transcendental being. However, it was also a place housing a myriad of treasures.’

Immediately after that, the Luvien Empire summoned Levard. He was tasked to lead the minimum number of troops and head to the Transcendentals’ Holy Land.

There had been several cases where information regarding dungeons was written in ancient relics and artifacts. However, the information regarding these dungeons was false 90% of the time. And if the information were not wrong, it would usually be cleared by someone else. Because of that, archeologist players, people who could revive even after dying inside those dungeons, were sent to check the situation. Of course, if they were forced to log out, the Luvien Empire would compensate them for as much as they had lost.

‘I’m begging you. Please let this be a dungeon that someone else has not robbed clean!

Following what was written in the ancient book, Levard led a hundred troops. They took only a short time to reach the dungeon's entrance.

‘Its name is The Transcendentals’ Holy Land...’

What were transcendental beings? They were beings that surpassed the limits of a human being and held power far beyond the power that an ordinary god could wield. Knowing this fact, Levard believed that the rewards of this dungeon would be highly excellent and valuable.

The Transcendentals’ Holy Land entrance was hidden behind a thick curtain of vines, which Levard and his troops easily cut down to enter. Once they stepped foot inside the dungeon...

Rumble–

The ground beneath their feet gave way, and Levard and his men began to fall.

“A- Aaaaaaaaaaaack!”

Thud–!

Fortunately, Levard was not forced to log out even after falling from such a steep height. Levard, who returned to his senses after a while, looked around. However, the notifications that rang in his ears shocked him.

[You have entered the Transcendentals’ Holy Land!]

[The Transcendentals’ Holy Land is a God-rank Dungeon!]

[You have gained 500 REP!]

[You have gained 50 CHA!]

[The one that can clear the Transcendentals’ Holy Land successfully will be able to obtain the ‘Transcendentals’ Treasure’!]

[The dungeon has an entry limit. Only one million people can enter the dungeon!]

[The Episode: Transcendentals’ Holy Land has started!]

[The transcendental beings wish to compete with this era’s strongest and greatest empire!]

[The transcendental beings hope the Luvien Empire will enter their dungeon!]

[Those that will enter and clear the Transcendentals’ Holy Land with the Luvien Empire will be able to receive ample rewards!]

Archeologist Levard felt like he was going to choke on his spit. He could not breathe at the fact that the Transcendentals’ Holy Land truly existed and remained undiscovered and that it was a God-rank Dungeon. Based on what had been revealed to him, he could tell this was the most challenging dungeon among all the dungeons released.

‘And there’s also the fact that an episode has been triggered the moment we entered the dungeon.’

However, the most surprising fact was that they could obtain the Transcendentals’ Treasure if they could clear this dungeon. Luvien Empire’s Emperor Nerva declared they would use any means necessary as long as they could obtain anything that belonged to the transcendental beings.

‘Isn’t this amazing...?!’

The best part? Only players related to the Luvien Empire were allowed to enter the Transcendentals’ Holy Land.

Levard calmed his tense and excited nerves and slowly entered deeper into the dungeons. However, he only wandered inside the dungeon for a minute before he was forced to log out. Even so, Levard was still very happy.

‘What a challenging dungeon! Hahahaha! Amazing!’

Levard immediately went to report to Nerva when he could log back into the game.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢