Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 272: Curse of Baldness

The two of them could tell that he was the Frying Pan Killer.

“Hyuuuuung~” Conir shouted and jumped happily as he dashed to Minhyuk’s side.

‘Aruvel won’t become my vassal just because he accompanied me, right?’

Earlier, just the possibility made Minhyuk feel exhausted, so he decided to disconnect first and take a breath of fresh air by talking with the broadcasting company. He then logged back inside to head to the Demon World Shelter, prepare for his climb to the Demon World’s Tower, and have a conversation with Aruvel. After that, he logged out again to get some rest.

Conir had told him that he would study making ramyeon while he was gone. He felt reassured since the Unicorn’s Mysterious Weapon had a special effect that would allow Conir to enter the vassal’s room when his HP dropped below 10%. Entering the vassal’s room was only possible, thanks to an effect attached to special artifacts.

Hence, Minhyuk logged out with confidence, but he was greeted with a situation the moment he came back.

Minhyuk knew that Conir was a child who would not harm anyone. Conir might be loud and would talk to himself sometimes, but Minhyuk knew better than anyone that he was not the type to cause harm to others.

As soon as he arrived, Minhyuk had already noticed the overturned pot and gas burner. This fact alone had proven that they were the first ones to touch and bully Conir.

“F…Frying Pan Killer… Y…you bastard… C…Calauhel won’t let you off!”

‘Calauhel?’?

When he heard his words, Minhyuk recalled that Calauhel was the one who manipulated Carr and put pressure on him and the other members of Legend Guild during Athenae: Korean War. Since Minhyuk appeared, the two had the illusion that this was a ‘trap’ that Minhyuk had set.

Jing Chao looked around as he prepared the Poison King’s Dagger. Then, he quickly dashed towards the Frying Pan Killer.

Vwoooooong―

The Poison King’s dagger quickly split into a dozen images and moved freely as if they had a mind of their own. It would immediately lower the HP of the target once it struck the body. Then…

Oiink―

…Beanie was summoned. The summoned Beanie was wearing Hepas’ pot like a helmet, while holding the flipper and the lid on both of its paws. It seemed already prepared for the battle since inside the summoning room.

“There’s really no sane bastard in this area…!”

Then, Minhyuk said, “Beans, absolute defense.”

“Oiink!”

[Absolute Defense.]

[No attack will land on Beanie and his master for two seconds.]

With absolute defense, Minhyuk was able to ignore the dozens of daggers that were aimed at him. Taking advantage of that gap, Minhyuk used ‘Like the Wind’ and arrived in front of Jing Chao.

Stab―

“Keoheok!”

Jing Chao’s neck got stabbed. He slowly collapsed as the screen in front of him turned black.

Rochan did not stop to look at his comrade, only focusing on lifting his hammer as high as he could.

Shwaaaaaaaaaak―

[Cursed Hammer]

[As soon as the hammer slams on the ground, your body will explode causing a 500% damage to your surroundings.]

It was literally a self-destructing skill. However, Conir suddenly moved.

“Are you trying to bully my hyung?!”

The tongs that Conir was holding turned into a sword, as he used Wailing Child, the Third Chapter of his swordsmanship. Dozens of powerful black sword lights were fired, one after the other. The intensity of the sword lights was so strong, far surpassing the attacks made by Conir from earlier.

Pipipipipipipipi―

After being hit by the dozens of sword lights, Rochan eventually had to stare at the black screen without being able to slam the hammer into the ground. Before he could lose consciousness in the game, he was able to hear Minhyuk’s voice.

“Tell this to Calauhel.”

The voice was low and filled with a bone-setting coldness.

“I’ll go up there, so he should wait for me.”

In real life, Rochan quickly leaped out of his capsule. Rochan, or Pierre, a Frenchman with shining blonde hair, hurriedly went out to contact someone.

***

Demon World’s Tower, 28th Floor.

Calauhel was walking over countless demon corpses that were piled up almost as high as a mountain, with no expression on his face. Then, a whisper came.

[Rochan: Calauhel, Frying Pan Killer has appeared in the Demon World Shelter.]

“…”

Even the expressionless Calauhel was startled by the message, a crack suddenly appearing in his otherwise stern face.

This was the man who ruined his plans time and time again. Calauhel was also told that three of his guild members had been killed in the skirmish. Then, Calauhel gave them his instructions.

[Calauhel: Inform Blackstone’s two monarchs right now.]

The two monarchs were Blackstone members with special characteristics. The Monarch was a legendary class that could summon more than 20 people per day at any time they wanted. In addition, with the presence of the monarch, the guild members would receive a 5% buff in all five basic stats, as well as a 10% increase in EXP acquisition. In addition, the two monarchs were both leading giant guilds in Blackstone. People might wonder if their guilds were equivalent to Korea’s four great guilds, but no, their guilds were far more than that.

[Calauhel: Also, tell the two monarchs to gather our elites in the Demon World Shelter. Make sure to chase him down and kill him.]

‘That bastard won’t be able to come up here. You think I’m afraid of you breaking my record? No. It’s because you’re just annoying.’

Grin―

Calauhel grinned wickedly as he continued to move forward.

***

Minhyuk once again entered the Demon World Shelter. The inside of the Demon World Shelter looked like it was a very huge dining hall. He could see some players and demons here and there. The demons in the Demon World Shelter were all quite friendly and amiable.

Right now, Sage Aruvel was sitting in front of Minhyuk.

“Hahahahaha!?This is really delicious!”

Aruvel was currently eating the ramyeon that Conir had cooked. Aruvel, with his gigantic horns, was currently slurping the noodles, while Minhyuk watched him with a heartbroken expression.

‘This glutton…!’

Aruvel was truly a foodie. He really loved to eat. That was where the problem lied. Minhyuk’s heart could not help but break when he saw Aruvel eating like that. Then, in order to try and ease the pain, he went ahead and checked Aruvel’s information.

(Aruvel)

Rank: Legend

Type: Pledge of Allegiance (Penalty Applied)

Level: 625 (547)

Attack Power: 6,461 (5,261)

Defensive Power: 4,374 (3,973)

Special Abilities:

?Passive Skill: Sage’s Knowledge

?Active Skill: Sage’s Potion Manufacturing

?Active Skill: Demonic Dragon’s Spear Arts.

Potential: 151

Experience Value: 13% / 100%

Aruvel was an NPC that was on a higher level compared to the current Minhyuk. This resulted in a penalty after he made a pledge of allegiance to Minhyuk. The values enclosed by brackets was his power now. However, even if his level was currently downgraded and his strength was lowered, the numbers were still formidable.

After having his fill, Aruvel handed Minhyuk a table that he had filled in. The table listed the rewards that he would be able to receive on every floor of the tower.

[1st Floor, new record rewards:?You will gain an additional EXP acquisition rate once the first floor is cleared at a record-breaking time. Food Rewards: Italian Pizza and Carbonara Spaghetti.]

[2nd Floor, new record rewards:?Mysterious Scrolls. Food Rewards: Bulgogi Hotpot.]

[6th Floor, new record rewards:?200 reputation points. Food Rewards: Sushi and Udon.]

[8th Floor, new record rewards:?Demonic Races’ Count Nadhl’s Purple Earrings. Food Rewards: Vietnamese Rice Noodle Soup.]

[13th Floor… Omitted.]

[17th Floor… Omitted.]

[23rd Floor… Omitted.]

Minhyuk smiled happily as he checked the reward listed for each floor. He also discovered something special written on the table that was handed to him.

“There are artifact rewards every 10th floor?”

“You’re praiseworthy enough if you’re able to reach the 10th floor. You can think of it as a special reward if you achieved a new record on every 10th floor.”

Minhyuk nodded as he asked another question, “Why isn’t there any information about each floor?”

“I may be called the Demon World’s Sage, but I was not necessarily involved in the creation of the Demon World’s Tower.”

“Then, we won’t be able to get the tower’s information?”

“No. I know of a way,” Aruvel said confidently.

Right now, Minhyuk and Aruvel’s relationship was close enough to call them ‘Trading Partners’. Aruvel would only give Minhyuk information if the latter gave him something delicious. He would not open his mouth if Minhyuk did not give him anything. Because of this, Minhyuk had come close to slitting Aruvel’s throat and he barely caught himself. He believed that suffering from such a small loss would eventually net him a huge return later.

‘Just look at the enormous food rewards hidden all throughout the tower when you achieve new records!’

The listed rewards could already make his mouth water as he imagined those delicious things filling his stomach and teasing his taste buds. The first floor rewards were pizza and carbonara, something that one should definitely eat when in Italy. The second floor had a bulgogi hotpot, a dish that was famous in his own country. The sixth floor had sushi and udon, a dish that was well known in Japan. The rewards listed were the country’s representative food, but they were also globally popular food.

“What’s this?”

“All we need to do is get the information from the tower’s creator.”

“The tower’s creator?”

“Yes. The tower creator. In fact, there’s a tower creator in this place too.”

“Ooh?”

Minhyuk nodded. He knew that he had gained Aruvel, a high-leveled hidden NPC, for a really cheap price. If anyone knew about this, they would be shocked that he was able to recruit Aruvel, the Demon World’s Sage, with just a bit of food and some ramyeon. What was even more broken was that he could get the tower’s information from the creator himself through Aruvel.

“He’s the demon drinking booze over there.”

According to the information that he had heard from Aruvel, demons were divided into two categories. They were the ‘Fighter Race’, who loved to fight and participate in wars, and the ‘Peaceful Race’, who loved peace and prosperity and loathed the idea of fighting. Aruvel had also explained that the demons that invaded the human world were demons from the fighter race. The peaceful race only wanted to live their daily lives in peace. Just like the demon that was gulping booze over there.

“He knows all of the tower’s design.”

“Oho.”

Aruvel’s words meant that they would be able to receive the remaining information about the tower from this demon.

“But, how do we get the information from him?”

“It’s simple. The tower creators are very prideful beings. In fact, no one had crossed the tower’s 40th floor for decades now. So, if you look down on the tower that he has created, then he will initiate a bet with you, because he likes to bet.”

Minhyuk sighed. He said, “I’m not good at that stuff.”

He had never done something like that because he had always been kind and polite to others.

“You mean being cocky?”

“Yes.”

“But aren’t you going to do it? So you can eat what you want?”

“Sigh.?That’s true.”

Minhyuk really sucked at these kinds of things.

Conir was busy making ramyeon, Aruvel was busy eating several bowls of ramyeon and Beanie was also busy eating ramyeon with rice. All of them were concentrating on their own matters. Minhyuk was forced to stand up alone and sit in front of the man that Aruvel pointed at earlier.

“Ha~?That’s really the Demon World’s Tower?”

He turned to look at the window. It offered a view of the Demon World’s Tower that was standing tall from a distance.

“There are not that many floors. It seems like I’ll be able to finish climbing it in a day.”

The demon smirked at Minhyuk as he continued to drink his booze.

“That’s what they all say. But the Demon World’s Tower is not as easy as you think.”

“Really? Eyy.?I don’t think so. But, it doesn’t look that good from the outside? Ah. I’ll just try and do it! I think I’ll be able to get to the top!”

“I’m rendered speechless by your arrogance.”

“Eyy. I think I can make something better with my feet. No, maybe I can break through that place easily with just my feet?”

Roven, the demon who was one of the creators of the tower, suddenly felt agitated.

“Your feet will easily break it? Humans are really conceited!”

“It’s not conceit, it’s real though? I can break through the first floor within 10 minutes. Do you think I’m lying? Ohohoho. I’m not lying!”

“Th…this… Crazy human…?”

“Blahblahblah!?I’ll break it with two of my fingers!”

“You won’t!”

“Ole~!”

Minhyuk grinned at him mischievously as if he was an uncle that was going to do something bad. Then, he said, “I will~”

“You won’t!”

“I will do it~”

“You won’t!”

“I will! Hahahahaha!?I’m the strongest!”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Meanwhile, Aruvel, Conir and Beanie who were all watching Minhyuk while eating their ramyeon, thought at the same time…

‘H…he’s doing good though? Even I want to make a bet with him. He looks so hateful right now!’?

‘As expected of my master. Oink!’?

‘W….wooooow… Hy…hyung is so cool…!’?

Not long after, Demon Roven said, “Then, boy, make a bet with me!”

Minhyuk could not help but tilt his head when he heard his words.

‘I think I’m really bad at doing something like this, but why did he fall for it so easily?’

Minhyuk did not think that he did well. However, his performance was unexpectedly good!

Then, a quest window floated in front of him.

[Quest: A Bet with Roven, one of the Demon World’s Tower’s Creator.]

Rank: A

Requirements: Roven had offered a bet.

Rewards: Partial information about the Demon World’s Tower.

Penalty for Failure: Banned from entering the Demon World’s Tower.

Description: Roven, one of the Demon World Tower’s creators, takes great pride in the Demon World Tower that he and his colleagues had created. If you win a bet against him, you will be able to get some information about the Demon World’s Tower’s attack patterns.