Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 489: The King’s Building

First, they spread rumors that Artha Empire sent troops to Yveno Kingdom. Yveno Kingdom sent troops to Artha Empire, while Artha Empire sent troops to Borto Empire. Just like that, they created disturbance among the other kingdoms and empires. With those rumors, the kingdoms and empires would have to spend some time to confirm the truth of the matter, which would give them enough leeway to arrive at the construction site. The other kingdoms and empires had no ‘justification’ to stop the construction and once their troops had arrived at the construction site, they would have no other way to stop them from coming.

[A 180,000 strong group had appeared to help Player Minhyuk.]

[Some of them came to try his dishes, some came to join in and share in getting a new achievement, while the others came just to purely help Player Minhyuk.]

[This is a shocking and amazing sight.]

The commentators from all over the world were very shocked to see 180,000 people gather together to help Minhyuk. With that, the speed of their progress grew rapidly.

“Quick, move the stones!”

“If you work a bit harder, you’ll be able to get watermelon juice!”

“I’m really looking forward to the Spicy Braised Chicken for dinner, you know?”

The surprise did not end there. Minhyuk also prepared dishes for the Five Stars.

[You have eaten Spicy Braised Chicken.]

[During the 72 hours buff duration, all of your stats will increase by 12%, your DEX will increase by 19% and your painting skill’s level will increase by +2.]

Elise was very shocked after eating the dish that Minhyuk had made for her, ‘My DEX will increase by 19% and even my painting skill’s level will increase by +2?’?This was the best buff effect that she had ever experienced in all her life. It was not only her, all of the Stars had received tremendous buff effects.

‘I’m in a better state than when I was in my prime.’

‘Unbelievable…’

‘I will be able to make the best sculpture in my condition right now.’

The Stars were able to create better items, whether it was a painting or a sculpture, than the items that they produced in their prime.

“Gorfido. Let’s take advantage of your ability to create the sea.”

Gorfido, the man that would become the fisherman king, had a skill ‘Sea Creator’. This skill allowed Gorfido to create the sea and the creatures living within it. With this skill, Gorfido created a lake around the building.

Exactly nineteen days later…

[The building in honor of King Valex has reached 100% completion rate!]

[With the involvement of the Absolute Gods, the exact score could not be computed yet.]

[The Absolute Gods will send the kings and emperors from each of the neighboring nations to the building.]

[The Absolute Gods will look at the building through their eyes.]

[The higher the score the Absolute Gods give, the greater the rewards that you will receive.]

Minhyuk received an unexpected notification, ‘The kings and emperors will come here?’

The kingdoms and empires served different gods. Minhyuk did not know much about the Absolute Gods, but it seemed like this case was an exception. From what he could tell, it seemed like the Absolute Gods would pass their orders via the ordinary gods to these rulers.

Minhyuk looked at the finished building in satisfaction, ‘They’ll probably be surprised.’

The smile on Minhyuk’s face was filled with confidence.

***

King Louvre was the one that brought King Valex to his death. He had a severe inferiority complex, so he asked the gossip mongers to create rumors and incite suspicions and doubt between King Valex and the Five Stars. This very same King Louvre was the first to reach the vicinity of the building that commemorated King Valex.

When he arrived there, he saw around 200,000 people near the building. KBTV broadcasting station only broadcasted the first eight days of the construction. No video was released after that. Because of that, the broadcasting stations from Japan, Korea and the rest of the world were very curious about the building.

‘I know that God sent me here but I’m still speechless.’

As mentioned before, King Louvre felt very inferior to King Valex. That was why he would definitely scrutinize and criticize every corner of this building. King Louvre believed that the building would be nothing more than trash and stepped forward with thoughts about how he would ridicule it.

Minhyuk appeared right next to King Louvre the moment he took a step forward. He said, “I will assist you.”

“Alright,” King Louvre agreed as he walked towards the building with his arms crossed behind his back. Using outstanding magic and meticulous arrangement, the building was completely hidden from the outside.

‘How great can this building be that even the gods are interested in it?’?King Louvre thought as he entered. However, his breath was stuck in his throat the moment he stepped foot inside.

‘Heok?!’?Louvre gasped in shock the moment he saw the building. It was because the building was surrounded by glittering white lights and floating in the sky. That was not all, underneath it, as if it was enveloping the building, was…

‘Isn’t, isn’t that a lake?!’

It was not just an ordinary lake. The lake glittered an emerald light that reflected on the building. Everything in front of Louvre brought him in a daze.

‘I’ve, I’ve never seen a building more beautiful than this in my life…’?However, he hid the thoughts in his mind and said, “It’s fine.” as he stepped foot on the stairs leading to the building floating in the skies.

Then, a notification rang in King Louvre’s ears the moment he stepped foot inside.

[You have entered Star Painter’s Elise exhibition commemorating Valex.]

A spectacular sight immediately greeted Louvre, ‘Isn’t, isn’t this the universe?!’

With countless stars glittering in the darkness, the vast universe unfolded in front of him. The stars slowly floated in front of Louvre until it created a figure. Like a book flipping quickly, the scenes engraved in the universe changed. From Valex’s birth, to when he first held his sword, to when he first went to the battlefield, to when he worked hard to benefit his poor citizens, to when he first addressed his people, to when he became king, until he became friends with Louvre.

[Elise’s paintings have brought out the sincerity within you.]

[As an agent of God, you will be sincere and true the moment you enter the building.]

“Va, Valex…”

The scene of Valex smiling brightly as he held Louvre’s hand flashed by right in front of Louvre.

Throb—

Louvre felt his chest ache. Although Valex treated him sincerely as a friend, because of his own inferiority complex, he longed to deprive Valex of his growing and developing kingdom. Because of his greed, he did everything until he took everything away from his friend.

But even after doing all of that, he never felt happy. He blamed himself and wallowed in both regret and hate. However, everything was already done. There was no turning back for him anymore. In front of this painting, King Louvre felt like he was about to collapse from the pain. What was more… Elise’s painting in front of him…

‘Is this truly a painting?!’

…she painted the universe to show Valex’s life. The sight alone made his heart pound in both awe and admiration. As Louvre moved forward, the paintings also changed. The universe slowly disappeared, turning into the things Valex loved and cherished during his lifetime. Valex had always loved birds. And these birds that he loved were now chirping and fluttering their wings in the skies.

‘The sculptures of Star Sculptor Berk…’

The sculptures of the flowers that covered the place were blooming beautifully. Despite the fact that they were sculptures, these flowers still emitted a wonderful scent that wafted into Louvre’s nose. In fact, the sun above him was also a sculpture, yet it was shining brightly upon him. Louvre kept on walking further inside. The building itself was so beautiful that the only proper word to describe it was: otherworldly.

In the end, he reached the place where a large statue of Valex in his prime stood. The statue was wearing a golden robe. This golden robe, which passed through the hands of the Star Tailor, was more beautiful than any other king’s robe in existence. Then, Louvre saw the small hill behind the statue. It seemed like that hill was where Valex was supposed to be resting. And finally, King Louvre, who stood there in a daze…

Thuuuud—

…could no longer support his body. He fell down on his knees and cried out, “Forgive, forgive me… I… I…” while bowing deeply. He kept on bowing to Valex for a long time.

The building that Minhyuk, the Five Stars and 200,000 people made, was beauty in and of itself. It was also something that brought about the sincerity within one’s heart.

***

After King Louvre entered the building, the rulers of three kingdoms and one empire arrived.

“This is ridiculous. King Louvre will never give a good evaluation on that building,” Ephino Empire’s Emperor Broden scoffed in annoyance.

‘Why do I have to come here personally just to see a building?’

The other kings were also of the same mind.

“Let’s just take a quick look and go back.”

“The gods said that they would look at this building through our eyes so we have to scrutinize every nook and cranny. Of course, I’m sure everything in there is lousy. After all, the Five Stars are not the same as before.”

The kings mocked openly, their faces covered with ridiculing sneers. How dare they challenge the gods! The broadcasting stations from all over the world reported this scene.

[It seems like the kings and emperors of the Japanese Server are quite unhappy.]

[That’s only natural. After all, they\'re busy enough as it is but they still have to personally come here just to look at a building. And it’s not even a temple that honor their own gods.]

[They will definitely not give a good score.]

Of course, the commentators could proudly and confidently utter these words because they did not know the true face of the building. Because of that, the general viewers also thought negatively of the situation.

[Weren’t the Five Stars and King Valex the ones in the wrong? But they still expect these kings to give them a good score?]

[That’s a huge contradiction.]

[But I’m still dying to see what’s inside…]

Just when their worried voices started to echo in the area…

Step, step, step, step—

The kings and emperors waited with mockery clear on their faces.

‘Come, tell us quickly that it’s trash.’

‘How dare they build a building that honors a mere human…’

‘Even I, an emperor, only thought of having a tomb to honor me, but never a building.’

Just when these thoughts flashed in their heads, King Louvre appeared and said, “This building…” Everyone gulped nervously as they focused their eyes on Louvre, who turned to look back at the building with a bittersweet smile on his face, “…is the greatest, noblest and most beautiful piece of architecture that I have ever seen in my life.”

At the same time…

[One of the Absolute Gods that looked at the building through King Louvre’s eyes is now giving their score.]

[The Absolute God has thoroughly enjoyed looking at the building.]

[The Absolute God has given 100 points, the highest score possible.]

[The Absolute God has given a present for King Valex.]

Then, at that moment, a huge shooting star fell from the otherwise clear skies. The shooting star fell down and settled on top of the building, as it emitted a bright and shining light.

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

Everyone was so shocked to hear that a hundred points had been given. With that, the kings and emperors all rushed inside the building. When they came out an hour later, some were bawling while some were smiling happily. Then, another set of notifications rang in the ears of everyone present.

[One of the Absolute Gods that looked at the building through Emperor Broden’s eyes is now giving their score.]

[The Absolute God shed heartfelt tears while looking through the building.]

[The Absolute God has given 100 points, the highest score possible.]

[The Absolute God has given a present for King Valex.]

Then, another shooting star fell down from the skies.

[One of the Absolute Gods that looked at the building through King Alex’s eyes is now giving their score.]

[One of the Absolute Gods that looked at the building through King Lephos’ eyes is now giving their score.]

One after another, four shooting stairs streaked through the skies and settled on top of the building. Then, once more…

[The Absolute Gods have been truly delighted and will now bestow their gift.]

The brightest, most brilliant, and most beautiful gift began to fall from the sky. This time, it was not a star, but a small sun. It fell down in the middle of the stars as a dark space surrounded them. The suns and the stars seemed to reflect the figures of the Five Stars and King Valex, who used to laugh and have a good time together in the past.

Then, the notifications rang not long after!

[You have seen the Five Stars and the Sun!]

[As the first person to witness the birth of the grandest and noblest building in existence, all of your stats will permanently increase by +1.]

[Your EXP Acquisition Rate will increase by 30% for two weeks.]

The notifications that rang were very shocking. Before the shock could die down, Queen Aria, who had always been watching on the sidelines, suddenly made her appearance and declared, “Five Stars, heed my words!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The Five Stars hurriedly showed their courtesy at the queen. All of them had small smiles fluttering on their lips. They were sure that Aria would definitely acknowledge their hard work and give them credit after they built this building. Perhaps, they might even live together once again just like they did in the past.

But then, Aria said, “For creating a building in honor of King Valex without my permission, I am now expelling you from Eto Kingdom.”

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

Everyone was shocked. That was when they saw Aria looking at Minhyuk. Minhyuk, who was also looking at her, could see that Aria’s body was shaking lightly.

‘Don’t tell me…?’?Minhyuk already had an inkling of the reason behind her actions. Besides, her eyes were clearly telling him: Please take good care of the Five Stars.