Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 676: Papal Wall

When Minhyuk first met Obren, he was known as a ‘Grumpy Gochujang that Does What it Pleases’. He spoke as if he did not care about anything and was in defiance of the world. After that, the gochujang turned into a Puzzling Seasoning Jar. In that form, Obren talked a lot. His words were always teasing and edgy.

[The Evil God’s Curse has fallen upon you!]

[The Evil God’s Curse is accelerating the speed upon which you will feel exhaustion!]

[Your stamina will run out quickly!]

[The Evil God’s Curse has bestowed upon you the Curse of the Seasons!]

[Whenever you harvest crops, you might feel as if it is as hot as 40 degrees or as cold as -10 degrees!]

[The fatigue and exhaustion from harvesting crops and the aches and pains from your repeated labor will get worse as time goes by!]

[Your harvesting yield will decrease by as much as 50% of your ordinary harvesting yield!]

These were the notifications that rang in Minhyuk’s ears the moment he started to harvest the ingredients on the field.

Fwoosh—

Immediately after that, a burning heat wrapped around and devoured Minhyuk. Even during the summer, the temperature rarely reached 40 degrees. However, the Evil God’s Curse was making Minhyuk feel feverish with a temperature of 40 degrees.

‘This is really awful.’

Minhyuk started to feel thirsty as the sweat began to drip down his entire body. That was not all.

‘I can feel the strength leaving my body rapidly.’

With his stamina depleting several times faster than usual, Minhyuk felt that it was more exhausting.

‘You’re telling me to harvest all of the crops in this field…?’

The thought that the task was nigh impossible flashed in Minhyuk’s head. There was no helping it. Even disregarding the fact that his stamina would be depleted quickly, it was almost impossible to work alone in this huge field and finish the task in such a short amount of time. However, Minhyuk still held the pickaxe in his arms tightly.

Graaaab—

Thud— thud—

He began to dig the field as hard as he could. The feverish temperature that engulfed his entire body caused him to perspire profusely. It was very hard for him especially since he could feel his strength draining from his body with every swing of his pickaxe.

‘…It hurts.’

Using a pickaxe repeatedly meant that one’s palm would be affected. Compared to before, Minhyuk’s hands started to form blisters. However, he just gritted his teeth and continued, despite his trembling and painful hands.

‘Obren.’

Minhyuk realized the fact that he had never done much for the man. After all, Obren was someone that would often give Minhyuk advice or share his knowledge with him whenever he was able to. There were even times when the god comforted him.

If Obren was here now, he was sure that the god would tell him, ‘Moron. What do you mean you’re working hard because we’re friends? However, this is making me feel quite pleased.’ Minhyuk was sure that Obren would praise him and comfort him in that way.

‘That Obren is the Evil God?’

From what Minhyuk had heard, hundreds of millions of humans had died at the hands of the Evil God. It was even said that he was someone that had cut off the gods’ heads and made them roll on the ground. Was the Obren that Minhyuk knew truly an Evil God like that?

‘Then, if he’s truly an Evil God, would he really give up his chance to awaken to the world once again, just for me?’

The answer to that was definitely a no. This just meant that Obren was completely different from the stories about him.

‘There’s obviously something deeper.’

Swooosh—

Minhyuk continued to swing his pickaxe. Just like that, one hour, then two, then three hours, and pretty soon, five hours passed by.

[You have triggered the skill: Will.]

[All of your skills and abilities related to DEX will temporarily increase by 24%.]

[You have gained 1 DEX.]

[You have gained 1 DEX.]

He felt a burst of strength in his body. However, it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. This time, his body was engulfed in extreme cold.

Shiver, shiver—

Minhyuk’s body shook like a leaf, frost appearing all over his body. His lips started to turn blue as the blisters on his hand became frozen, making it more painful.

“Hoooo…”

Thud—

Thud—

However, Minhyuk did not stop moving his pickaxe. As he dug the ground, he would also often bend down to harvest the crops. The image of Minhyuk harvesting crops with trembling hands looked very pitiful, extremely unbefitting for someone hailed as the king of a nation.

“Hooo…”

Minhyuk gathered his hands together and blew on them to keep them warm. Then, he stood up again to dig with his pickaxe.

[You have run out of stamina!]

[It is highly recommended that you take a break!]

[You have triggered the skill: Will.]

[All of your skills and abilities related to DEX will temporarily increase by 24%.]

[You have gained 1 DEX.]

[You have run out of stamina!]

[…take a break!]

[…skill: Will.]

Minhyuk was trying to endure it and hold out with his skill: Will. However, his body could no longer take it. It had started to stop listening to him.

[Your vision has grown blurry! You are experiencing dizziness!]

He had focused on harvesting for an entire day already. However, even if that was the case, the quest completion was dismal.

‘Just 7%…?’

If things remained as they were, there was no way that Minhyuk would be able to get a 100% harvest by the end of the week. Even so, he still continued to dig the ground with his pickaxe.

Thud—

Thud—

Then, at that moment, blood started to drip down his palms. It seemed like the blisters in his hand had burst. At the same time, a set of notifications that would bring anyone to despair rang in his ears.

[You have run out of stamina! There’s a high chance that you will faint soon!]

[You have resisted the abnormal status: fainting with your strong mental power.]

[However, if you continue like this, you might die from overworking!]

Minhyuk’s body shook greatly. He was about to collapse and faint. However, at that moment, he heard a prayer.

“…Please grant your strength to the poor and pitiful,” the voice of the woman rang in the area. This voice belonged to none other than Pope Airen.

With her words, a warm light covered Minhyuk’s body.

[Pope’s Prayer.]

[Pope Airen’s prayer for you has alleviated some of your physical exhaustion and fatigue.]

[You have recovered some vitality.]

Minhyuk’s body, which felt as if it was being dragged down by a very heavy weight, suddenly became lighter. Even his consciousness that was teetering over the edge of collapse, cleared up for a bit.

Airen also knew that Minhyuk should not meet with Pope Kronad. However, little did she know, her heart was won over a little.

‘Looking at him makes me look forward to what else he can do…’

Who could work in the field like that all day? Airen was sure that there was no one that would choose to do so. Especially with the awfully terrible Evil God’s Curse. But for some reason, Airen wanted to bet on Minhyuk.

Minhyuk, who made eye contact with her, nodded before focusing on harvesting the crops on the field once again. Of course, the notifications kept on ringing in his ears too.

[…run out of stamina!]

[…take a break!]

[…skill: Will.]

[You have gained 1 DEX.]

[You have gained 1 Will.]

Just like that, three days passed by.

Old Man Echeron shook his head and said, “You cannot give him your blessings anymore.”

“…”

“…”

The popes would sometimes give Minhyuk their blessings. However, Echeron had deemed this act as not right. Perhaps the others were also aware of this fact.

“You’re just giving him false hope. Even if you give him your blessings, the results of this ordeal will not change.”

That was true. Minhyuk’s crop yield was only at 30%, even after toiling hard without much rest or sleep for three days straight. The yield was far too low. The problem was that the increase in the yield would grow slower and slower as the end of the week approached. Perhaps he would only be able to reach 50% by the end of this.

Of course, Echeron’s heart ached at the sight too. He thought, ‘Thank you for making me realize the true meaning of the word ‘friend’.’

However, all of them were destined to stay here for all eternity and suffer. As for Minhyuk? He could only leave this place.

With Echeron’s words, the blessings and prayers ended. However, Minhyuk did not stop moving his pickaxe and harvesting the crops.

Thud—!

***

Plenty of the related team members gathered in the Special Players Management Team, all of them saying the same thing as they entered.

“He’s still on it?”

“Yes.”

Yes. All of them were asking if Minhyuk was still at it. Was Minhyuk someone that did not give up? They did not know. However, everyone here knew that he was someone that often defied the odds to turn the situation around.

How many people in the world could do something like this? Yet Minhyuk was doing it and was even giving it his all. However, they felt pity for him.

“Amazing…”

They could not help but burst in admiration. This was the reason why Minhyuk stood above the other players.

However, Lee Minhwa just sighed, ‘He won’t be able to do it, let alone obtain Evangel Temple.’

Minhyuk would not be able to make it within a week. The data that they had was proof of it. But then, she saw Team Leader Park Minggyu’s eyes start to shake after he checked something. So, she asked, “Team Leader, what’s the matter?”

“…Right now, there are many gods that are watching Player Minhyuk, right?”

Lee Minhwa nodded. Of course there would be plenty of them watching him. After all, Minhyuk was someone that had caught the attention and interest of those gods. Those gods always watched with anticipation whenever the man did something reckless and impossible.

“It’s because Player Minhyuk is someone eye-catching. He’s someone that anyone would want to watch,” Lee Minhwa said, wondering why her team leader was so surprised by that fact.

Then, Minggyu asked, “How high is Player Minhyuk’s Will stat now?”

“…?!”

Lee Minhwa was surprised by the sudden question. She immediately went to her computer and checked Minhyuk’s Will stat. She said, “It’s at 4,861…”

“Right.”

At this moment, Lee Minhwa understood why Park Minggyu was so surprised earlier.

“His Will stat is going to reach 5,000 soon.”

“That’s right. And also, right now…” Team Leader Park looked at the monitor displaying Minhyuk’s Will stat. The 5,000 mark of the Will stat was a very special milestone. Then, he continued, “One of the Absolute Gods, the God of Will, is watching him.”

***

Minhyuk no longer received any Pope’s Prayer or Blessings. All of them were just standing there and watching him work. By the end of the fourth day, Minhyuk’s harvest yield only reached 37%. However, he never stopped.

‘You have forsaken your only chance at awakening and even took on the risk of falling into a deep and long sleep, just for me.’

What Minhyuk was doing now could never compare to what Obren had chosen to give up for his sake. Minhyuk could not just give up and run away, just because he thought that it was impossible. He had to persevere.

Thud—

Sweat continued to pour down his body, even as it started to feel heavy and painful again. However, his mind never gave in. Thankfully, his Will kept on increasing which allowed him to persevere and hold on.

[You have gained 1 Will.]

[You have gained 1 DEX.]

Over the course of his stay here, Minhyuk’s Will stat had continuously increased. It was a windfall. After all, the higher the Will, the better. The Will stat was like a support for him. It complemented his mental fortitude and strength, allowing him to continue standing upright and not collapse and faint.

That was when he suddenly thought of something, ‘5,000.’

Perhaps it was a milestone with a special meaning, perhaps it did not have anything to it. Minhyuk did not know. After all, there was no player that had ever reached 5,000 in their Will stat. Minhyuk shelved the thought for now, opting to focus on what he was doing at the moment.

Thud— thud—

Not long after, Minhyuk’s vision began to spin.

Thump—

Minhyuk gasped as he fell down on the ground, his sweat pooling beneath him. His palms were covered in blood and shaking fiercely. By now, it took all he had to even catch his breath.

‘…I want to sleep.’

Thuuuud—

However, the thought of Obren’s voice spurred him on. He grabbed his hoe with his trembling hands and continued to harvest the crops hiding underneath the ground.

Minhyuk’s arms trembled and shook, as he was able to harvest another crop. At that moment, something happened.

[You have gained 1 Will.]

[Congratulations! Your Will stat has reached 5,000!]

[You have acquired the Title: ‘The One that Never Gives Up’!]

[One of the Absolute Gods, the God that has a Will to Never Give Up, is looking at you.]

[One of the Absolute Gods, the God that has a Will to Never Give Up, has bestowed power upon you!]

[The fatigue and exhaustion that has been weighing down on your body and mind has disappeared and cleared up!]

[Something special will happen whenever you trigger the Passive Skill: ‘Will’.]

[The power of the Absolute God has helped you escape the clutches of the Evil God’s Curse!]

[The power of the Absolute God has doubled all of your abilities related to DEX!]

[You will develop exhaustion and fatigue slower than usual. All of your skills and abilities related to DEX will increase by 75%.]

[The God that Never Gives Up has offered you a bet!]

[The God of Will has proposed a bet regarding harvesting crops and chopping firewood.]

“…!”