Gourmet Gaming

Minhyuk hurriedly ended the critical meeting that they were holding, heading straight to the Luvien Empire’s Prison of Indolence after a series of notifications popped up in front of him.

When he arrived at the Prison of Indolence, he immediately saw Valentino, who yapped and chattered nonstop by himself. This made it extremely easy for Minhyuk to recruit the man worth millions of platinum to their side.

“Right. The fact that you came here to find me personally means that you also covet my talents,” Valentino spoke desperately. He sounded like he was grasping at straws.

But unfortunately, that was not the case at all. Minhyuk came to the Prison of Indolence because he had something to do with someone else. And there was a decisive reason why Minhyuk ended the meeting hastily and ran here.

He had recently leveled up his God and Knight skill by two levels. Thanks to that, the God and Knight could now give him the ways or create a situation where he could recruit the talented person he had chosen as his knight. Although it could only be triggered once every two months, it was still very useful.

But was that all? No. The God and Knight had developed to the point that the system could help him find the strong and inform him about them once every six months. Of course, as an overpowered and cheat-like skill, the God and Knight also provided the way or the situation that would help him obtain the strong talent as his knight.

Minhyuk chose Knight Commander Don, the commander of the Luvien Empire’s Swords of the Gods’ First Order, as the target for the God and Knight skill, which could be triggered once every two months.

These notifications rang in Minhyuk’s ears the moment he chose Don.

[Knight Commander Don is a member of the Luvien Empire!]

[There is currently no method to win over and recruit Knight Commander Don to your side!]

[You will be able to choose another talent that you want in two months!]

Minhyuk sighed. Was the God and Knight truly doomed to fail this way? Was there no way to recruit Knight Commander Don to their side? When these disappointing thoughts flashed in his head, a new set of notifications appeared.

[The God and Knight has found a method to win over Knight Commander Don!]

Minhyuk realized at this moment that even though the skill failed to find a method right away, as long as the selection had not yet been refreshed, the effects would still be valid, and the skill would continue to find a way.

And Minhyuk was left in shock when he received the explanation about the current situation with Don.

[Nerva tried to appoint Knight Commander Don as the new Star of the Empire to replace the late Duke Ruffiso. However, it fell through when Don tried to assassinate Nerva during his appointment ceremony to become a duke. The problem was that Don tried to assassinate Nerva before the Swords of the Gods. This meant that his plans to assassinate the emperor failed.]

[Before Don was caught and thrown to prison, he shouted and announced to the world that Nerva rose to the throne and became an emperor using evil means.]

[However, no one believed Don’s words.]

[The Swords of the Gods claimed that this was all because the Beyond the Heavens Empire’s emperor had saved Don’s life in the past.]

[Don was falsely accused of attempting treason and assassination under the orders of the Beyond the Heavens’ Emperor.]

Minhyuk had received this quest, “Sudden Quest: Knight Commander Don’s Memories.” This quest happened in Mandala’s Prison. From what it looked like, Don had recovered his lost memories. But back then, he did not say anything about it. Seeing that he remained silent, Minhyuk did not even bother to ask him about it. But now, something like this has happened.

And the notifications did not end there.

[To win over Knight Commander Don, you will need R?lszd, trapped inside the Prison of Indolence.]

Minhyuk wondered who in the world R?lszd was and why he needed the man. However, no notifications came to answer his question.

‘You’re already a nasty skill. Why not tell me until the end?’ Minhyuk thought. But when he came out and asked Brod if he knew someone named R?lszd, he immediately answered.

–I knew him back when I was still competing with Nerva for the position of emperor. He was the commander of the knight order under Nerva’s command.

Why was such a man left rotting inside the Prison of Indolence? The answer to that question and why Minhyuk needed R?lszd to bring Knight Commander Don to the Beyond the Heavens Empire was right around the corner.

Minhyuk slowly moved toward the figure hidden in the darkness. As he moved closer, the figure of the man sitting right behind the iron bars grew clearer and clearer. The man’s hair was long and unkempt, his body bare and thin to the point that one would think he only had skin and bones left. But what impressed Minhyuk deeply was his eyes. His eyes were glowing dangerously like the eyes of a wild beast.

The man, R?lszd, looked at Minhyuk in confusion. His eyes grew wide when he saw Brod standing right behind Minhyuk. Then, he said, “The Other Sun. So, you’re still alive.”

Brod smiled wryly at R?lszd’s words. The title Sun was given to him in the past. He only knew R?lszd because they were fighting against each other. Why? Because he and Nerva were competing.

“I don’t understand why you have come to this place?”

Brod also could not understand why Don, the knight who followed him, became the knight commander of the Swords of the Gods and R?lszd, the knight who followed Nerva, was left rotting in prison.

R?lszd chuckled bitterly.

“It’s not because of you.” An unpleasant sound, similar to metal grating against each other, left R?lszd’s mouth as he continued, “This was so I could help lead the emperor, who had always wished to rule for the sake of his people and land, back to the right path.”

Minhyuk immediately understood the man’s words. He asked, “You found out that Nerva had used poison to kill the Red Sword Knights and tried to bring him down, didn’t you?”

Nerva used unscrupulous means to become the emperor and receive recognition from the Battle God. Yes, this was true. And just like Minhyuk had said, R?lszd was made aware of Nerva's atrocities and tried to take his emperor down.

“Nerva had locked me up in this place when I refuted him and told him to come down from his throne alone. To prevent my strength and power from disappearing, I let this place gnaw on my strength. Now, I only have two or three days left to live,” R?lszd said with a bitter smile.

At this moment, Minhyuk understood why the God and Knight had guided him to this man named R?lszd. He recalled his conversation with Brod before they arrived at this place.

–Your Majesty, R?lszd was the very person who created the Swords of the Gods that we know now. The loyalty of the members of the Swords of the Gods to him is no less than their loyalty to Nerva.

Minhyuk pondered deeply about the matter. Don was now considered a traitor of the Luvien Empire. In a situation like this, it would be very difficult for them to take him as a talent of their own. In other words, they needed someone to prove the atrocities Nerva had committed and the words Don had declared before.

‘I also have the Sword of the Gods who delivered the poison under my wing.’

That was right. This man was once a member of the Swords of the Gods but now, he was Minhyuk’s shadow. The puzzle pieces slowly started to click together in Minhyuk’s head.

Even Brod also understood the situation. He stepped forward and said, “Please help us. Don will probably be executed soon.”

“If you’re talking about Don, then you’re talking about the knight who served under you?”

Brod nodded as he explained the situation. Of course, Minhyuk did not forget to add that Don was now the current knight commander of the Swords of the Gods and was serving the Luvien Empire and Nerva.

“It’s because of black magic.”

Don was brainwashed using black magic. Brod, who looked straight at R?lszd, said, “Please give one final teaching to your emperor, who chose the wrong path.”

“Ho—Hohoho...” R?lszd's helpless laugh trailed off as he asked, “Do you think there’s a way for me to get out of here? I will never be able to get out. I have tried hundreds and hundreds of times before.”

At that moment, Minhyuk turned to look at the guard and said, “Open the doors. I choose this man as one of my talents.”

Creaaaaaak–

“...?” R?lszd looked in confusion at the door, which opened in just three seconds. Then, he said, “Even if I come out of this place, you’re now the Sun at the lowest point. And isn’t Nerva the brightest Sun now?”

Hearing R?lszd’s words, Brod’s face faintly smiled as he said, “You’re wrong.” Then, he turned to look back at Minhyuk. “This young man is the brightest Sun in the sky.”

***

Knight Commander Don had died before and was only revived, thanks to Minhyuk. When he died back then, the tight hold that the black magic had on him loosened. Because of that, he could regain the memories of his past that he had lost before.

His master was the emperor, who jumped in alone to save him despite being surrounded by tens of thousands of enemies. He also led the Red Sword Knights and commanded the world! His true master was none other than His Majesty Brod! But Nerva brainwashed Don and made him believe that the one he truly served was him.

After returning safely from Mandala’s Prison, the only thing that kept him sane was the thought of stabbing his sword into Nerva’s heart. He judged that he had the chance during the appointment ceremony, so he raised his sword and tried to stab Nerva in the neck when he approached him the moment he went to grant his ducal title. However, Duke Vlad moved faster than him. Don was unaware that Duke Vlad, one of the Luvien’s Stars, had that much power. Right now, the bleeding Don was brought in front of the knights of the Swords of the Gods and the dukes with a rope tied tightly around him.

Nerva could not hide the bitterness on his face as he looked at Don.

‘Why?’

Nerva thought back on the people who left his side one after another. The first was Knight Commander R?lszd. R?lszd had told him to step down alone even though he had only sat on his throne.

Is it because I became stronger? Because I became the emperor of the strongest empire?

The second was Sword of the Gods Luo. He turned his back on him and served Minhyuk after being captured by the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

The third was the most promising knight of the Red Sword Knights, Don. In fact, the Red Sword Knights followed Brod with love and care. Perhaps Nerva was very jealous of this relationship, and that was why he wanted to show them at least once that these people would also turn their backs on their masters and follow the greatest and strongest emperor.

Nerva believed that Don would continue to follow him even if he regained his memories. He thought that the man was already intoxicated by the power, position, and wealth that Don had given him.

Like that, everything between him and Don flashed in Nerva’s head. Don’s master was Brod. However, he brainwashed him and made it seem like he was the one that the knight was serving. And they had been very happy.

‘I never knew that loyalty could also be expressed this way.’

Don showed Nerva genuine care. Not only did he care for him, he also loved him dearly. He often had tea with him, and they would chat and relax while laughing together. At the same time, he felt very jealous. After all, Don was genuinely loyal to Brod, and not himself.

This was also the reason why he was angry.

“You sinner! How dare you collude with the Beyond the Heavens Empire to assassinate this emperor!”

Nerva’s killing intent flooded the entire palace. Nerva, who started everything with a lie and would end everything with a lie, was a monster. However, even if a monstrous existence stood before him, Don smiled through his bloody mouth and said, “Did you hope you could gain my heart like that?”

“...”

“Did you look at me and think that everything would be fine despite all the atrocities that you have done in the past?”

“...”

“That’s right! Were you happy that you poisoned all of the members of the Red Sword Knights that stood by my side so that you could become the emperor?!” Don shouted, his anger boiling over.

Who I want to protect, save, and love is Brod. How dare you manipulate it so that you could take me and force me to serve you?!

Nerva jumped up from his seat and went wild.

‘Beyond the Heavens! Beyond the Heavens! Beyond the Heavens!!!! All of these damned bastards always had this name at the tip of their tongues.

‘I am the emperor of the greatest and strongest empire!

‘I am the emperor that encompasses anything and everything!’

But Don just laughed at him. “You are the one left with nothing.”

Nerva picked up the sword next to his throne and took one step after another. He said, “Knight Commander Don, I am depriving you of your position as the knight commander of the Swords of the Gods.”

Thump, thump–

But the only thing flashing in Don’s head now was Brod.

‘I’m sorry, Your Majesty.’

Don believed that killing Nerva was a reward for him and some sort of apology.

“I deprive you of everything that you enjoyed in the Luvien Empire. The gold, the silver, the treasures, your ducal position, everything! I am taking it away from you!”

But the grin on Don’s face just grew more profound. He did not need for any of those. The only one that he needed was Brod.

Nerva finally stopped in front of Knight Commander Don. Using both hands, he lifted the sword high into the sky.

“And I am bringing judgment upon you for the crime of treason!”

Don chuckled dryly. ‘Now, I will be together with my true comrades.’

For a moment, Don felt like he had seen his friends and comrades from the Red Sword Knights waving at him beyond the white light. When he saw that, he hoped, ‘Your Majesty Brod, I hope you will remain happy by his side for a long time!’

The Emperor Minhyuk that he had seen and encountered was a good man.

Clang!!!

A man fell from the sky and struck down Nerva’s sword. Then, he immediately grabbed Nerva’s wrist before stopping entirely and standing there while staring at him. This was Brod. At the same time, another man walked briskly and entered through the open doors of the hall. This man was none other than Minhyuk.

Minhyuk stood inside the hall and declared, “I have already chosen two talents. One of them is Valentino, while the other one is R?lszd. As for the last one...”

“...”

“I believe he’s no longer the Luvien Empire’s knight commander nor your duke. He’s nothing but a common knight, no?”

Minhyuk fixed Nerva with a cold glare and said, “I choose Don.”

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