Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 751: The Life Elixir

The global official number one ranker, Fabian, was visiting South Korea and attracted countless reporters, who had flocked to Incheon International Airport for a scoop.

Click, click, click, click, click, click—

Fabian was someone that did not have much influence in Athenae. He was just famous for being a player with the highest level. The only reason why he was able to attract this much attention was because he reached Level 599 just a few days ago after following the methods that the God of Growth and Development had told him. His goal of Level 600 was just right around the corner, it was just one more level.

Actually, Fabian visited this country on purpose. It was because he wanted to keep Food God Minhyuk in check.

‘Hmph! That Food God is very daring.’ Fabian waved his hands toward the reporters while clicking his tongue and thinking about how stupid and pitiful the Food God would be.

The reason why everyone was so interested in Level 600 was because anyone that reached that point would be able to gain new power. In particular, the first to reach Level 600 would be able to get a special and amazing title!

Everyone was curious, and the reporters were no different. All of them kept on asking questions.

“Why did you come to visit South Korea?”

“For the longest time, I have been very fond of South Korea. So, I plan to stay at a hotel here and try to achieve Level 600.”

Fabian knew that the reporters would be able to sniff and flock to that hotel the moment he reached Level 600.

Then, one of the reporters said, “Word on the grapevine is that you came to our country to keep the Food God in check, is that true?”

“The Food God?” Fabian acted innocently as if it was the first that he heard such a thing. “No, not at all.”

In fact, Fabian was known for his inferiority complex. After all, even though his level was the highest, no one in the world recognized him. However, this time, there was the opportunity to trample and mock the current world’s best, the Food God.

“However, from what I know, the Food God’s level is at Level 597. It will be very difficult to increase by three levels in such a short amount of time. I was only able to raise my level this much because I got lucky.”

This was Fabian’s way of provoking Minhyuk. He was telling them that he was, in the end, still the one in the lead.

“I’m very pleased to have arrived in Korea today. I can spare an hour for questions,” Fabian said generously.

At that moment, one of the reporters’ phone rang.

Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring—!

Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring—!

“Ah, put it on vibrate mode.”

The phone, which had been set on vibrate mode, began to ring once again. It made the reporter frown. Not long after, the reporters had no choice but to take out their phones from their pockets because it did not stop ringing.

“Hello? I’m covering Fabian right now… What?! The first person to achieve Level 600 in the world has appeared?!”

“Is that true?!”

“Who is it?!”

“Heooook?!”

The reporters were all in shock, their eyes growing bigger the moment they heard the name.

“The, the Food God?!”

“Food God Minhyuk?!!”

“Did, did you say that it’s Minhyuk?!”

Everyone turned silent after answering the phone, just like they promised earlier. Their eyes turned to look at Fabian.

Clack—

In the next instant, one of the reporters picked up their camera and began to run. Immediately after, the rest of the reporters picked up their cameras and ran out of the airport.

“We need to go in front of the Food God’s house, quick!”

“Senior, what about Fabian?!”

“What about Fabian?! The Food God has achieved Level 600, that’s no small matter! If we don’t cover it then the repercussions will be huge!!!”

“N, no. I will give you three hours of an interview!!!”

In no time at all, there was no reporter standing in front of Fabian.

Fabian’s manager approached him. “Excuse me, Sir Fabian.”

“…”

“If we continue to stay here in Korea right now, then I think we will be laughed at.”

“…”

“Should I book a flight back home?”

“…”

Fabian returned to his home country barely thirty minutes after entering Korea.

***

Back in America, Fabian received the mockery of the people from all over the world.

[No, Fabian, where’s the V? Hahahahahaha. You always bragged about how you would be the one to get to Level 600 first?]

[It’s because Fabian is the successor of the ‘God of Growth and Development’. In other words, the EXP that he can acquire is three times that of the EXP that the Food God can acquire.]

[Wow. After seeing this, don’t you think that the Food God is really amazing? How did he level up so quickly?]

[I agree that he is really Our Lord, the Food God. But Fabian? I think he’s just a f*cking God, or something, right?]

[Pfft… I think it’s better to call him a moron, no?]

[He has always been very sarcastic during interviews with regards to the Food God.]

[‘I’m going to be the first to reach Level 600! No one else will be able to move faster than me and achieve Level 600.’ That’s what he said. Wasn’t that just aimed at the Food God?]

[Yeah, yeah. He’s just a f*cking god.]

Thanks to all of the interviews that Fabian had made all over the world, Minhyuk’s achievement as the first to reach Level 600 had even more impact and influence.

“Sir Fabian, the people from all over the world are asking you to keep your promise.”

“…”

That was right. Fabian had vowed in one of his interviews that if Minhyuk was the one that achieved Level 600 faster than him, then he would go to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, bow in front of him and ask him to accept him.

Fabian knew. ‘I have to handle things well at times like this.’

That was how Fabian was. He was someone that knew how to play tricks. It just so happened that he did not belong to any guild. So, Fabian planned to go to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom to fulfill his promise and tell this to Minhyuk, “I swear my eternal loyalty and allegiance to you and promise to overcome hardships and adversities with you. I respect you.”

It would definitely make him into a cool ranker that could accept the results of his defeat! He would even promise to help the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom and further advance the kingdom! Only then would the criticisms from the world die down.

“Everyone, please head to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. From today onward, I will be a part of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.”

***

Various BJs and reporters from all over the world had gathered in front of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. Fabian had contacted the BJs and asked them for a favor.

—Please make it so that I will have the image of someone that graciously accepts the results.

Indeed, the public’s opinion was often led around by the words of someone else. Besides, what was the BJs’ specialty? It was talking, right? There were also numerous broadcasting cameras that were preparing to film Fabian, who had been pushed out of his number one position and settled in the number two position. They were excited to see him enter and serve the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.

Fabian was riding a black horse and was heading toward Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. Just as they had promised, the BJs and broadcasting companies began filming.

“Fabian has arrived.”

“Fabian, who was ranked number one in the world up until recently, made a vow not too long ago. He has come to keep it.”

“Fabian, who accepted the results graciously and moved straight to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, is worthy of applause.”

As he rode on the black horse, Fabian thought, ‘It must be directed in a way that I look cool.’

This board was something that he set up himself. So, they had to do it in a way that they could create a movie-like effect. He continued to ride his black horse and went around the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, while showing a bittersweet smile on his face.

“So, this is the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom…”

The guards on the wall immediately asked him, “Who goes there?!”

“Speak, who are you?!”

Fabian, with a gracious smile on his face, said, “I am Fabian. Please tell His Majesty Minhyuk that I, Fabian, have come to pledge my allegiance to him.”

“…?”

The guards looked at him in doubt. Nevertheless, they still hurried to make a report.

Meanwhile, Fabian got off his horse and looked back at the walls. Then, he began to talk like one of those knights in a medieval movie. “This is the kingdom that I must now serve and protect. The Beyond the Heavens Kingdom…”

He was looking at the walls while talking like that, as though he was in some medieval play.

“His Majesty Minhyuk has arrived!!!”

Hearing that loud cry, Fabian walked over from the walls and went to a place where Minhyuk could see him well.

Minhyuk appeared on the walls. His body was covered in dirt and he looked very tired. It seemed that he had just returned from somewhere not too long ago.

Fabian hurriedly kneeled on one knee, a reverent and courteous look on his face. “I am Fabian. I came running here for you, Your Majesty Minhyuk.”

“…”

He banged his hand on his chest and continued, “I want to live for you and your kingdom.”

Fabian’s expression was determined and showed his will.

“Look at Fabian’s eyes. Although he had been pushed down by Minhyuk from his number one ranking, it seems like he has no regrets because it was all fair play.”

Fabian, who continued to thump his chest, said as he brought down his other knee, “I will stand by your side and promise to protect you forever!”

The people from all over the world discussed the matter enthusiastically.

[He’s trying to keep his promise. Like a true man.]

[This was the man that ranked first in the world before. Even though there’s nothing special about him, he’s still a ranker that could bolster Beyond the Heavens’ forces.]

[Kghhk. With this, Beyond the Heavens Kingdom will become tougher, no?]

[Yes, once Beyond the Heavens Kingdom absorbs Fabian.]

“Fabian.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Who are you?”

“…?”

“???”

[???]

[???]

At that moment, question marks appeared in the heads of the people from all over the world.

“Th, that… I’m Fabian. I don’t know how else I should put it?”

“No, I mean… am I supposed to know who you are?”

Then, at that moment.

[Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.]

[Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.]

[Ah, crazy. Hahahahahahahahahaha. Shit, I drooled. Hahahahahahaha.]

[Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehe.]

[Ah. Hahaha. Fabian looks constipated. Minhyuk doesn’t know who he is.]

[But that’s possible, right? Him not knowing the fact that Fabian is the one that’s ranked first in the official rankings. Haha.]

At that moment, one of the broadcasting stations’ officials raised his voice and explained to Minhyuk who Fabian was.

‘Hoo. Right, you may not know me but I’m Level 599. I’m the guy that’s closest to you in level. Do you understand now? Do you know how big an increase in power the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom would gain if I joined you?’

‘Now, open your arms wide and accept me!’

“I pledge to serve you. I promise that this is not a false allegiance! I promise with all my heart that I will serve and protect you and the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom!!!” Fabian declared, his head bowed down. Since he declared this much, it was a given that Minhyuk would accept him with open arms.

“No, who’s going to take you in? Why are you creating a scene all by yourself when I didn’t even say anything about accepting you?”

“…”

Indeed, Minhyuk had never mentioned anything about accepting him. In all honesty, Minhyuk knew about Fabian. He was the number one ranker in the world and he was chasing Minhyuk’s current level. Of course, he was also aware of Fabian’s past arrogant and impudent words.

Minhyuk was someone that would not accept Fabian just because he could increase the Beyond the Heaven’s Kingdom’s power. Besides, he was someone that had insulted Minhyuk and spoke sarcastically about him.

‘You reap what you sow.’

Everyone that watched the scene were confused.

[Doesn’t the Food God look colder than normal?]

.

[That’s right. He’s usually friendly and polite.]

[Guys, think about it. An unknown player suddenly appears in front of you and declares, ‘Accept me in the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom!’. Do you think a busy person like Minhyuk would feel good about it? And haven’t you heard it before? Fabian had been talking shit about Minhyuk through his interviews.]

[I see, so that’s the case.]

Fabian looked baffled. Was there someone like him that would not like the ranked number one in the world?! However, Fabian could not back down either.

“This Fabian might not be good enough but I promise to lay my life down for the sake of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom…”

“Let’s get things straight here.” Then, Minhyuk said firmly. “I don’t know you. But it seems like you have been doing a lot of interviews and speaking ill of me, no?”

“…”

“I’ve seen quite a lot of your interviews and you have always spoken sarcastically about me and insulted me. To be honest, I feel bad to hear someone I don’t know speak nonsense like that about me.”

“…”

“But now, I have achieved Level 600 faster than you. Because of that, the people are mocking and cursing you. So, to change the public’s unfavorable view of you, you moved here to stay true to your promise. Isn’t it like that?”

“…”

“Aren’t you a f*cking bastard then?” Minhyuk’s expression turned cold.

His charisma and majesty as the King of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom completely overwhelmed Fabian. Amidst the live broadcast of the BJs and broadcasting stations from all over the world that had zoomed in on Minhyuk and Fabian, he spoke coldly, “Get lost, you f*cking bastard.”