Gourmet Gaming

Kang Minhoo’s office was?extremely?spacious, so much so that the capsule looked tiny when placed inside the room.

'My son is playing this game…'

He felt like it would be nice to watch Minhyuk play the game, even if it was from a distance. He wanted to see if Minyuk was doing well in the game, and if he was eating to his heart’s content. The thought of seeing his son happy made him smile.

'Ah, wait.'

He recalled the thread that he posted on?Navar?yesterday. He quickly opened the site on his phone and checked the comments posted underneath it.

[I want to go and play Athenae… can anyone please recommend a nickname that's majestic and popular among the youths these days?]

Kang Minhoo was a chairman so he needed a name that was reflective of his status! He also thought of going by a different nickname so he could keep it a secret from Minhyuk for the time being.

Kang Minhoo quickly scrolled through the comments’ section.

[Oh, it seems that we have an uncle here. The best nickname out of them all is Black Dragon.]

—fgdg234: Ah… I was going to do that, why would you let him know that first?

—gg731: Hoho… Black Dragon is the most popular and majestic nickname among the youths these days.

—MommyLucy:......Kyaa. If you think about it Black Dragon is a bit cool, it's like there's a dragon running crazily on my right arm.

—I'mOneandI'mTwo: Look at the power of comments that can make you agree…. Kekekeke

—VeryTasty: I bow down… Just reading the name is enough to make me quake in my boots, it's?the fxxing?best.]

"Oh…" Kang Minhoo let out a gasp as he nodded.

‘Black Dragon, huh? It really sounds a bit cool. It sounds like a name that came right out of a martial arts book.’

"Secretary Park."

"Yes, Chairman,” Secretary Park answered as he rushed to Kang Minhoo’s side.

"What do you think about me using Black Dragon as my nickname in?Athenae?"

"Black Dragon??Hmm…" Park Munsoo pondered, as he stroked his chin while nodding his head.

"These kids are saying that it’s cool, majestic and popular among the youths these days."

"That's how people describe you too, Chairman."

"Do you think it's fine?"

"Yes, I think it’s fine!"

"Does it make me sound like a young man?"

"Yes, of course."

"Hohohoho!"

This was obviously a conversation between two old men. However, no one would know this fact.

On this day, Kang Minhoo started playing?Athenae?with the nickname ‘Black Dragon’.

***

(Minhyuk)

Level: 1

Class: None

HP: 173?MP: 150

STR: 14+9??AGI: 10+8 ?STM: 10+5

WIS: 10+5 ?INT: 10+5 ?Rep: 3

Fullness: 100%/5

Bonus Point: 0

This was what Minhyuk saw when he checked his stats window.

According to Instructor Valen, the numbers behind the + were the total points that he received from the?title effects and item effects.?Anyone who saw Minhyuk’s stats right now would definitely be shocked at how high they were. He even received a hidden reward?and a Food Storage Inventory?after successfully hunting the golden chicken.

The Food Storage Inventory?was a unique item. It was a separate inventory that could be opened by saying or thinking ‘Food Storage Inventory’. However, what made it unique was that he could set the temperature of this inventory. In other words, it was practically perfect for Minhyuk, and seemed almost custom-made for him.

‘I have already reached /5 in my fullness stat.’

The figure had already become /5. He did not know how the system worked but it seemed to increase by a point every day.

Minhyuk did not pay it any further attention. He continued eating chickens inside the novice zone’s hunting training grounds.

'Should I ask Instructor Roina to help me get some ingredients?'

Minhyuk could easily get more ingredients and groceries just by leaving the place, but he found it enjoyable to eat here. Besides, he believed that he would be able to find a way to solve his problem with the ingredients.

'I have to make the best chicken dish out of the golden chicken. Sigh…..'

He finished gobbling up the pieces of meat in his ginseng chicken soup as this thought flashed in his mind. In fact, the only reason why he was still eating ginseng chicken soup was because he did not have any other ingredient that he could use to cook with.

After finishing all of the meat, Minhyuk lifted the entire pot and drank the soup.

"Kyahhh. This is it! This oily flavor!" He burst out in admiration as he savored the intense flavor.

Just then, he saw Instructor Roina coming to work, perhaps because it was already the morning shift. Looking at her, he thought,?'She looks like she's as difficult to deal with as Instructor Valen.'

In fact, it seemed like she was much colder and indifferent towards the players than Valen. It was to the point that the players had dubbed the two Ardo instructors as the ‘Instructors who will scold you about the tiniest things.’.

'I wonder what's the best method to approach her…'

Just as he was thinking this, he saw Instructor Roina approaching him.

'Hmm?'

It was the first time that Minhyuk saw Roina leave her position.

"Cough!"

"Good morning, Instructor!"

"Right, good morning. Minhyuk. It's just…" Roina replied awkwardly before she took out something wrapped tightly in cloth.

Minhyuk’s eyes grew wider by the second as he watched Roina carefully untie the cloth. The items inside the cloth were none other than red chili paste and potatoes!

'T… That…!'

Those ingredients would allow him to make spicy braised chicken! A delicacy that was completely different from ginseng chicken soup! A sweet-and-spicy dish hailed as a rice stealer!

Roina held the ingredients tightly as she stuttered, "B… by any chance…"

"Yes, Instructor!" Minhyuk answered with a gulp, his eyes fixed on the ingredients in Roina’s hands.

"Is Instructor Valen… doing well over there?"

"Huh?"

"We… We worked together before, in the same unit. He was my direct superior. So, I was curious if he's doing well or not."

"Why not go visit him yourself and ask him if you’re so curious?"

Roina remained silent, her cheeks turning red at Minhyuk’s words.

"Ah…"

Her current expression was completely unexpected.

‘The cold and stern Instructor Roina could have a reaction like this?’

Roina’s figure, with one foot behind the other, her toes twirling on the ground, was the epitome of shyness.

Seeing this, Minhyuk’s food antenna suddenly twitched. It seemed like it had received some signal.

If I do this well, I can get my ingredients with ease!

Minhyuk spoke eloquently, however, to others, he might just sound like he was reading off a dull language book.

"Ah, that's right. No other players could go back and forth to the scarecrow training grounds except for me. But Instructor, you are?not?a player, right?” He asked, feigning ignorance. It seemed like Minhyuk could be meticulous when it came to food.

"Wh, what?!" Roina shouted in surprise.

Her eyes widened as she stared at Minhyuk.

"You, you could really go back to the scarecrow training grounds?!"

"Yes, that’s right."

"But, but how…?"

"Instructor Valen gave me this sword, and I got a notification that said that I can go back and forth anytime I want."

"Is... is that so?" Roina said, her face turning beetroot in shyness from the loud and fast thumping of her heart.

She looked at Minhyuk, whose hands were stretched out in front of him, like a well-behaved puppy, and placed the ingredients in his hands. 𝐛𝗲𝐝𝐧𝗼𝐯𝐞𝐥．𝐜𝐨𝗺

‘Can I continue approaching this player…?’

In fact, Roina still had a lot of questions for Minhyuk. She wanted to know why Valen gave the Sword of Rebellion to Minhyuk. She also wanted to know Minhyuk's reason for hunting chickens to the point that the players had started complaining about the lack of chickens in the hunting training grounds.

However, despite the complaints, Roina did not have the power to restrain his actions. Even after having killed and eaten around 200 chickens, it still looked like he did not want to leave. Which meant…

'He, he'll still be staying here for a few more days, right?'?this thought flashed in Roina’s mind.

She looked at Minhyuk smiling happily at the ingredients that she gave him.

'I'm really curious about what Instructor Valen is doing these days…'

To be honest, Roina liked Valen, which was why she wanted to know what he was up to. She wondered if there was a way that she could convey these feelings to him.

***

Minhyuk was looking at the spicy braised chicken that he prepared in awe and admiration.

Spicy braised chicken was a dish that anyone could enjoy anytime, anywhere. It was sweet and spicy, and its flavor was perfect with rice. Adding just a small bite of some well-seasoned potato, mashed together with rice, would be able to put a smile on anyone’s face.

Minhyuk slurped up all of his spicy braised chicken until his bowl was sparkling clean. Although he clearly enjoyed the dish, he still felt a little dissatisfaction. Just then, he saw Instructor Roina approaching him.

"Hmm…?Are you busy?"

"No. I'm not busy!"

She was carrying a cloth bag again.

‘What will it be this time?’

When she unwrapped the cloth, what appeared was none other than…?Rice! Minhyuk's hands trembled at the sight of the ingredient in front of him.

Rice! The crystallization of carbohydrates! The mortal enemy of weight loss! This was also the very ingredient that made Minhyuk choose the 2nd reward from the golden chicken hunt, more delicious eggs! In fact, he had already planned on asking for rice from Roina before!

“I’m saying this, to be clear. I’m giving this to you. However, in exchange, I want you to tell me about Instructor Valen, can you do that?”

"Sure!"

"Really?"

"Yes! I even remember how many spoons and chopsticks are in Instructor Valen's house!" Minhyuk answered happily, knowing that things were going according to his plans.

"You've even been to his house?!"

"Of course!"

"How are his living conditions?"

Minhyuk told Roina everything that he knew about Valen. He even told her how he received the Sword of Rebellion. The news broke Roina's heart.

'That's right… He has always lived a righteous and lonely life…'

She felt a tender sympathy for him. However, a look quickly flashed in her eyes.

Perhaps, this is my chance!

Roina handed the rice over to Minhyuk.

[You have gained Roina's favor.]

"Thank you for the food. Instructor! Wait, Instructor."

"Yeah?"

"This is just my wishful thinking, but I too, will say this, to be clear," Minhyuk said as he set his plans in motion.

"If you have something you want to tell him, I can pass on a letter to him on your behalf, but in return, you have to give me ingredients!"

Give and take.

Roina's face brightened at his proposal. On the other hand, Minhyuk looked like he had expected this to happen.

'Hehe… It doesn't even take that long to go to Instructor Valen’s place.'

He could go there, deliver Roina's letters, then receive her ingredients. Roina would be happy, and Minhyuk would be happy too.

‘Isn't this a win-win situation?’

"W… Would you really do that?!"

"Yeah!"

Ring!

[Quest: Tell Valen what Roina hopes for]

.

Rank: E

Limit: Go back and forth to the Scarecrow Training Grounds.

Rewards:?Ingredients.

Penalty for Failure:?You will lose Roina's favor.

Description: Instructor Roina agreed to your direct offer which led to a quest being triggered.

At the present, the lowest known rank of a quest was E and the highest known rank was S.

Quests could also be triggered when an NPC and a player had agreed to a promise, or an offer. Quests can be triggered through a variety of factors. It was not unusual. Minhyuk knew about it and did not mind taking advantage of how to take advantage of this knowledge. This quest was definitely something that could?only?be triggered if the player was close to Instructor Valen, and if he or she could go back and forth from the training grounds.

Minhyuk watched Roina nod profusely before heading back to her original position. She became deep in thought, pondering over what she wanted to write. Minhyuk started to prepare for the dish that he wanted to cook for so long. He had always been craving this particular dish, and it was none other than soy sauce egg rice.

Soy sauce egg rice was a common, easy dish to prepare, that anyone would eat whenever they felt hungry at home, especially if there was no food, or whenever one craved food.

Minhyuk quickly washed the rice and cooked it. He had already memorized the entire recipe that he found on the internet. This was because Minhyuk had wanted to be prepared, to cook and eat soy sauce egg rice at the drop of the hat.

After the rice was done, he took out his frying pan, greased it with oil, and set the temperature to high to heat the pan up. Then, he re-adjusted the heat to the weakest setting once the pan was heated enough.

Finally, he took out his secret weapon! The egg produced by the chicken statue that dropped from the golden chicken! In fact, Minhyuk actually saw the statue lay an egg… It just suddenly popped out of his inventory, laid an egg, then went back in the inventory, all by itself.

Sizzle!

Minhyuk heard the pleasant sizzling sound of the egg the moment it came into contact with the oil in the frying pan.