Gourmet Gaming-Chapter 1303

Chapter 1303

Demeter stood in the emperor’s audience hall and stared at Minhyuk on his throne. Fortunately, the misunderstanding regarding Demeter harming someone had been resolved. Nevertheless, the cold and icy glare that Minhyuk directed at her made her heart throb painfully.

‘There were no lies. That’s the truth.’

For the gods of Olympus, there was no such thing as succession. They were already gods from the moment they were conceived and born. Perhaps that was why they had been arrogant and treated humans like bugs. It seemed like they were sending Demeter here for the sake of the Gaia Continent, but that was not the truth.

Demeter was the only god in the Gaia Continent who cared for and loved humans—seeing Minhyuk still caring for and loving his people despite his high position captured her heart.

Unfortunately, the words she was about to say were not whispers of love: “I came here to convey Zeus’ words.”

Demeter did not speak in the voice of a woman longing for her beloved, but in a voice filled with frost and arrogance.

“Our Gaia Continent and your Western Continents have taken the path of coexistence. And on this path, the Gaia Continent has made many concessions. The people of the West have inflicted immense damage upon our continent. You have even forced some of our gods’ status to fall and have taken away much more from us than we have expected, just to fill your stomachs. Now, it’s time for us to receive compensation. If your compensation does not meet our expectations, we will no longer continue coexisting with the West.”

Demeter’s presence in the Western Continents was a signal. This meant that all of the gods of Olympus would be able to enter this place freely. Perhaps a war between these two continents was also possible.

‘Lord Zeus wishes to trample on the Western Continents.’

So, what they were asking for was much bigger than they could ever imagine.

“Pillar supporting the Western Continents, we demand dishes or ingredients for our people. It should be something we will never get tired of and will continue to eat every day, like wheat and rice. Also, the people of the Gaia Continent have to enjoy eating it, and it should be possible to cook it in a hundred different ways. If it’s a dish, it should be possible to cook it even if you replace the main ingredient.”

Demeter was the Goddess of Agriculture, so she knew better than anybody else that procuring something like this was impossible.

Mankind has been around for tens of thousands of years and has developed steadily, especially with technology and cooking. However, it has mostly reached its limits when it comes to finding improvements and developments.

Besides, it was nigh impossible for a single dish or ingredient to produce a hundred varieties of dishes. Even if there was such a dish or an ingredient, the Gaia Continent and the Western Continents have already made the most of the ingredients. A typical example of this was wheat. Wheat could be turned into hundreds or even thousands of types of dishes.

‘There’s no way something other than wheat exists in this world.’

Not long after, a world message rang out.

[The Gaia Continent demands compensation from the Western Continents!]

[If you fail to meet Olympus’ demands, the peace agreement will be broken, and a war might break out.]

Everyone who has explored the Gaia Continent agreed on one thing. The current Western Continents were lacking compared to the people of Gaia. And this was true for every field and class. It was because the people of Gaia Continent had a higher level and standard in the first place. They could expect enormous damages to the West if a war broke out between the two continents.

Demeter also knew that a war was not far-fetched. She knew that Olympus was just using this as an excuse to slaughter the people of the Western Continents. In fact, Olympus had already started to prepare for war. They were even given the order to kill at least a third of the West.

As Demeter loved the people, she was heartbroken. She could only do one thing; she handed over the cloth bundle she was carrying and said, “If you can accomplish this, then I will give this to you.”

The item hidden inside her cloth bundle was a batch of unprocessed wheat. Minhyuk checked the details of the wheat.

(Goddess of Agriculture’s Wheat)

Grade: Gaia’s Elixir

Special Abilities:

•Your favor with the Gaia Continent will increase.

•Your DEX will increase by 180.

•All of your stats will increase by 10.

•All of your skills related to farming will increase by one level.

•This can be changed to flour immediately as long as you wish.

•This is the best wheat in the entire Gaia Continent.

“...?!”

Minhyuk was in awe.

‘It’s different from the Western Continents...’

Of course, potent elixirs like this existed in the Western Continents. Regardless, that was all in the past. As the updates continued, they slowly disappeared and faded out of existence.

Although elixirs were rare and hard to obtain, some were still on the market. The world’s richest had even begun to buy out these elixirs whenever they were out for sale. Even so, none of those elixirs were as powerful as this.

Simply put, this was a reward that only the Gaia Continent’s Goddess of Agriculture could give.

[The Goddess of Agriculture Demeter makes the effects of the Goddess of Agriculture’s Wheat even better.]

“...?”

Minhyuk had slighted Demeter earlier. Of course, it was justified because Demeter hid in the Beyond the Heavens Empire with suspicious intentions. He had grabbed her wrists rudely, but for some reason, her cheeks were dyed red, and this notification rang in his ears.

[Demeter’s favor has increased significantly.]

Regardless of the reason, it was very good to build a good rapport and forge a friendship with an Olympus god.

(Goddess of Agriculture’s Wheat)

Grade: Gaia’s Elixir

Special Abilities:

•Your favor with the Gaia Continent will increase.

•Your DEX will increase by 350.

•All of your stats will increase by 30.

•You can acquire the Goddess of Agriculture’s Farming Skill.

•This can be changed to flour immediately as long as you wish.

•This is the best wheat in the entire Gaia Continent.

The wheat has changed into something incomparable to what it was before. Of course, Minhyuk could only obtain this on the premise that he could achieve what he had to achieve.

“And...” Demeter sighed when she recalled the roguish Zeus. “If you can accomplish this, you will be allowed to use Zeus’ fields.”

Demeter created and maintained Zeus’s fields, which were abundant with outstanding ingredients. Surprisingly enough, Zeus offered Demeter the chance to use his fields.

‘Why?’

It was because Zeus knew that this man had no chance of ever entering that field. Goddess of Agriculture Demeter was free to harvest whatever was inside because she was the one who cultivated them. For outsiders? It was impossible.

Even those with the highest DEX in Gaia Continent could not carelessly obtain crops from the fields that Demeter had nurtured and cultivated. This was because the ingredients required a ridiculously high DEX. The fact that he was willing to give a chance to enter these fields meant he was just taking them as a joke.

“You can do as you please in those fields for a week. He said you can eat as much as you want that week.”

“I see. Nonetheless, I think the reward is too stingy. Of course, the Goddess of Agriculture’s Wheat that you have improved is excellent.”

The most important thing was...

“I have an inkling that you’re making me do something that will determine the future relationship between the Gaia Continent and the Western Continents.”

Demeter could only admit this. Indeed, Zeus was trying to corner Minhyuk, basically forcing him to take responsibility for this matter.

“This burden is too much for my shoulder to carry alone. Do you think there’s a dish or ingredient in those fields that is comparable to that weight?”

Minhyuk frowned. To be honest, he thought that there was something like that already. But Demeter did not know that he was feeling like that. Besides, she also believed it did not make sense to give such low compensation for something so big.

“Does Ares have a field, too?”

“All of the Twelve Gods of Olympus have fields. I gave each of them one as a gift.”

“Then, please arrange it so that I can also use Ares’ field once I accomplish this.”

“...”

It was not that difficult for Demeter. Nevertheless, the fact that it was impossible to harvest anything from those fields would remain. Even if the compensation increased, wouldn’t it be all for nothing if he could not harvest them?

“Also, make it so I can take away whatever I take from Ares’ fields outside and not only be limited to eating it on the spot.”

“Alright,” Demeter agreed despite knowing that Minhyuk could not harvest anything.

“I have a question. Can I just bring you a single serving of the dish or ingredient?”

“Yes. If you bring it to me, then it will be distributed to the entire Gaia Continent through the great power of Olympus.”

Minhyuk nodded, the gears in his head turning rapidly.

‘If we do this well, then we’ll be able to generate huge profits.’

The name of this operation was: Stripping Olympus Bare.

“Then I...” Demeter said, trying to end their conversation.

Minhyuk knew that he owed her one. Because of her kind heart, she made the reward even better. So, he thought that he should at least feed her one meal. The menu that he chose was the soft and tender bossam.

“By any chance, do you like bossam?” Minhyuk asked.

***

[The Gaia Continent demands compensation from the Western Continents!]

[If you fail to meet Olympus’ demands, the peace agreement will be broken, and a war might break out.]

The impact of these notifications was huge.

For now, the players have no idea what the Gaia Continent was asking for. Nevertheless, the situation where war could break out so easily remained. The players, who were aware of the level and the standard of the Gaia Continent, trembled with both fear and anxiety.

[Who would win if our continents fought with the Gaia Continent?]

[This will be Gaia Continent’s landslide victory. Zeus’ level alone is at Level 1,600, you know?]

[I think Poseidon’s level is at around Level 1,500?]

[Our Absolute Gods’ levels are only at around Level 1,000...]

[Hey. Their soldiers are in the Level 700s while ours are only at Level 480.]

[Oh. Is the new episode called War of Destruction?]

[To be honest, I think our continents should go to Gaia Continent and have a long discussion with them...]

[Agreed... Are the Luvien Empire and the Beyond the Heavens Empire preparing for war?]

Those feeling a sense of crisis would always seek those who were strong and in a high position. Naturally, they could not help but wonder what kind of response the Beyond the Heavens Empire had and how they were preparing for this. They were all paying particular attention to Minhyuk because he was the Battle God and recently became the Pillar of the Gourmands. Amidst the questions wondering what he was doing and what actions he was taking, someone who saw Minhyuk posted a screenshot of what he was doing.

[(Screenshot)]

[Minhyuk is making kimchi? Is it because it’s the kimchi-making season...?]

[...?]

[...?]

The screenshot posted on the community site showed Minhyuk sitting on a bath stool and hunched over a tub. He was making kimchi near the walls of the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

[Ah... It seems like it’s kimchi-making season now?]

[Oh. Ah, yeah. It’s kimchi-making season... It’s just right before winter... the pot boiling next to him must be cooking some bossam. He really knows how to eat...]

[...]

[...]

The entire community was rendered speechless.

***

At the same time.

The branch managers worldwide gathered in a conference room in the Korean branch. Every single one of them was clutching their bellies and laughing their hearts out.

“Do you think this makes sense? He’s making kimchi?”

“Right when the Western Continent’s Defensive War episode might break out at any time?”

“This is ridiculous. Why is the Pillar of the Gourmands acting like that? The entire fate of the Western Continents depends on him, too!”

Everyone knew the clash between the Gaia Continent and the Western Continents was inevitable. It would happen one day. Alas, the clash between Zeus and Minhyuk accelerated this by over a year. They were in a much more pressing situation than they let on.

In an urgent situation like this, the player hailed as the Supreme was sitting around making kimchi because it was kimchi-making season. It was both ridiculous and infuriating. However, it was also a good angle for the rest to criticize the Korean Branch.

This was also enough for the Japanese Branch’s Manager, Ito, to laugh and mock Kang Taehoon and Team Leader Park Minggyu.

In fact, one of the reasons branch managers from all over the world gathered here was to strengthen camaraderie and promote harmony. The main reason was to make Team Leader Park and Branch Manager Ito reconcile. This was because the two kept on clashing and arguing.

Nevertheless, the reconciliation attempts proved to be a disaster. Ito, who was firmly adamant on his anti-Korean sentiments, laughed and said that he was the one in the right. Meanwhile, the other branch managers could not help but point out Minhyuk’s foolish actions.

“Team Leader Park. Tell us. Is this how the Pillar of the Gourmands and the Battle God that you acknowledge acts?”

“Don’t just look at one side. Look at both sides.”

Ito frowned. What nonsense was this man spouting?

“What conditions must be met for the dish or ingredient that the Gaia Continent demanded?”

The first condition was that it had to be something that they could eat every day. The second condition was that it had to be something that could be made into a hundred varieties of dishes. The third condition was that it could still be prepared and cooked even if the main ingredient was replaced.

The only ingredients that fit those conditions were wheat and rice. So, what did kimchi have to do with all of that?

“Right now, are you saying that your country’s food can do all that?” Ito spluttered in bewilderment. “That’s not something you eat every day! Do you think we, Japanese, eat sashimi every day?!”

Ito glared at Team Leader Park.

“Are you saying that you eat kimchi every day?! If that’s the case, then are you saying that Indians eat curry every single day? Or do the Vietnamese eat rice noodles every day? Everything has to be in moderation!”

“...?”

“...?”

President Kang Taehoon and Team Leader Park blinked blankly at his outburst. Then Team Leader Park answered, “I... eat kimchi every day...”

“???”

Team Leader Park turned to President Kang Taehoon and asked, “President, what did you have for breakfast today?”

“Kimchijjigae. I also ate kimchi and yeolmu kimchi.”

“...?”

The branch managers present looked at them with wide eyes.

“As for me, I ate kimchi fried rice and kimchi this morning.”

“...?”

Team Leader Park rang the bell. At that moment, a woman, Lee Minhwa, entered.

“Deputy Lee Minhwa, you ate ramyeon last night, right? What did you eat with your ramyeon?”

“Kimchi. Ramyeon tastes best with kimchi.”

This time, he called for some of the staff passing by the conference room door.

“What did you have for breakfast today?”

“Braised mackerel kimchi.”

“Bean sprout kimchiguk.”

“There’s nothing in my fridge, so I just ate kimchi with rice.”

“I mixed my rice with stir-fried kimchi.”

“Mackerel kimchijjigae.”

“Tofu kimchi.”

“...?”

“...?”

Team Leader Park called the cafeteria lady and asked, “Ma’am, what are we having for lunch today?”

“Braised kimchi and pork!”

“...?”

Team Leader Park took out his phone and called someone.

“Mother. What are you going to have for dinner tonight?”

Team Leader Park’s mother’s voice rang from his phone’s speaker as she said...

[I, your mom, will have some tuna kimchi jjigae for dinner tonight.]

Branch Manager Ito’s turned red, the veins popping on the sides of his neck in embarrassment. Then, he shouted, “H-huh! Th-then, are you saying there are kimchi refrigerators where only kimchi is stored in Korea?! That’s more believable than all of this?!”

“...?”

“...?”

Team Leader Park and President Kang Taehoon blinked.

“There is...”

“We have that...”

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

The branch managers from all over the world were shocked.