Kang Taehoon, Joy Co. Ltd.’s president, rushed straight to the Special Players Management Team when he saw the blinking red light on his monitor. When he arrived there, there were already several people inside. Just like what happened with President Kang Taehoon’s screen, the important executives also had blinking red lights appear on their monitors.

All of them shared a single concern, that the representatives of America, China, and Russia were given the opportunity to challenge the God Artifact Quest, but none of them had succeeded. And now, Player Minhyuk from their own country had received the Fourth God Artifact Quest.

Originally, the Fourth God Artifact Quest should not have appeared at this point in time. According to the original script, after losing Queen Iris, Brod should have gone on a journey to challenge the realm of the Absolute Supreme NPCs. The scene where Brod handed his sword to someone else should not have appeared in this scenario.

Of course, it was also because saving Queen Iris was an impossible feat. In fact, it was safe to say that there was no such thing as saving her.

“There’s no way that is possible.”

However, someone thought differently. Team Leader Park Minggyu turned to look at Kang Taehoon and said, “It was originally impossible. But if it’s Player Minhyuk, then there’s a way.”

“What?” Kang Taehoon asked in disbelief. Even the Production Team’s team leader, Lee Suk-Hoon, looked at Team Leader Park in confusion.

“What are you talking about?”

“Player Minhyuk had received this power when he was still a novice. I can’t believe that such a variable would play a big part here.”

“…Hmm? The power that he gained when he was still a novice? What are you talking about?”

Everyone believed that there was no way to save Iris right now. But Team Leader Park was telling them that a power that Player Minhyuk acquired when he was still a novice would be a viable method? Park Minggyu posted the skill information on the screen.

(Material Restoration)

Special Benefit

Effects: It can restore all materials and ingredients that have been spoiled, inedible, or damaged such as bruised fruit, meat that was left out at room temperature, or even spoiled milk.

“…No, no way!”

That was right. It was the Material Restoration skill. This was a ‘Special Benefit’ that Minhyuk had obtained from the Bandaging skill after his DEX had reached a high level.

Kang Taehoon was also aware that Mercenary King Brod had retrieved steak from God’s World lying around in the room. However, the following notification rang for Player Minhyuk:

[If Player Minhyuk accepts Brod’s quests and fails, the Kingdom Building Quest will be terminated and he will receive the death penalty.]

Minhyuk had to make his choice now. He could either choose the safe path where he would only need to save Queen Iris and let her live for a short while, or choose the dangerous path where he would need to challenge the first God-rank artifact.

“Please…”

Kang Taehoon desperately looked at the monitor. Did he want him to fail? Would the balance break? No, the balance being broken by the appearance of a God Artifact was not something that anyone could just easily achieve. Only those that have received recognition, awakened the Pinnacle, and won the God Artifact could do so.

The three previous challengers were also prominent figures in their own countries. The challenger from America was one of the Summit Five, and was also the country’s representative. But even so, the fact remained that he failed. However, there was a small part of Taehoon that wished that Minhyuk would succeed. If that happened then…

‘Player Minhyuk… You will definitely bring all the hype and craze in Athenae: World War.’

And Minhyuk, who was being shown on the monitor, looked like he was very conflicted.

***

A complete failure in the Kingdom Building Quest and a death penalty. For Minhyuk, who had finally reached a considerably high level, a death penalty was something that he could not ignore. If that happened, then everything that they had done here in Rocard Kingdom would all amount to nothing.

Seeing his indecision, Brod smiled bitterly and said, “I’m sorry.”

Brod found himself acting like a spoiled and selfish child. After, it did not matter who it was, anyone in his position would do the same thing. However, he knew that foreigners were different from them and would have to face a lot more risks. Brod believed that the boy in front of him would not take those risks to save her. So, even if she could survive for a short while, Brod felt like he should already be happy with that.

Just then, Minhyuk said, “Please stand up, Sir Brod.”

“…”

Brod felt the solemnity and dignity in the boy’s voice. He knew that he had already made his decision. In fact, with Minhyuk’s high CHA stat and the attitude that he had learned from his father, Minhyuk’s dignity and aura could rival that of a country’s king.

Brod slowly rose to his feet as he looked at the man in front of him. The eyes of the man in front of him were sparkling and bright, his expression filled with a sense of determination. Then, the man said, “I will do my very best to save Queen Iris.”

“…!”

The request was brought about by Brod’s own selfishness. For a moment, he wondered if Minhyuk accepted him. But perhaps…

“Do you want this sword?”

“Of course,” Minhyuk grinned widely as he answered. However, Brod knew that it was not the only reason why he chose to help him.

“Besides, if I save her, I will be able to see a beautiful picture of you and Queen Iris standing together. I think that would be a very nice thing to see.”

Brod felt his heart thump at this foreigner’s reckless challenge. He thought, ‘This foreigner is different from the others. He doesn’t think less of this world, and is willing to take risks for me and Iris.’

Brod’s favorable impression of Minhyuk shot through the roof.

As for the reason why Minhyuk accepted the quest… First, it was because of Brod and Iris. Even if he failed, he was sure that he would not harbor any regrets. After all, he would definitely do his best. Besides, even if he did not get the rewards, he would still be able to make a favorable impression on Brod.

Minhyuk was by no means a reckless person. He had most definitely calculated his chances of success. The truth was there were no hints available in the quest and in this place. So, Minhyuk tried to use his ‘Ingredient Tracking’ skill before accepting the quest. Alas, the system notification that returned to him was like this:

[You can’t use any skill before accepting or rejecting the quest.]

In other words, the system wanted him to bear the risk of the God Rank Artifact quest. That was when Minhyuk made the decision that it was alright to fail.

“But, how…?”

Brod admired Minhyuk’s bravery and courage to take the risk. Still, after he accepted it, Brod could not help but worry about the boy.

‘How in the world will he do it?’

Only then did Minhyuk use his Ingredient Tracking skill.

‘This is all that I can do right now.’

Minhyuk had to try and use it, even if there was only a small chance of bringing in results. His current Ingredient Tracking skill had a ten kilometer radius of effect. And the setting that he used was ‘can overcome any brainwashing’. Then, the tracking started.

[Searching for the ingredients in a 10-km radius.]

[Successfully searched for the ingredients.]

[Athenae’s Beef Tenderloin is an ingredient known to overcome any curse.]

[Suggested Menu: Filet Mignon.] 

But then, another set of notifications rang for him.

[Ingredients that came from God’s World, especially the beef tenderloin, will spoil and get rotten the moment it leaves the realm of God’s World.]

[You will not be able to make a Filet Mignon. The current ingredient is spoiled and cannot be eaten. It will cause a stomachache, abnormal status, and plenty of other abnormalities.]

“…?!”

Minhyuk looked at the notifications in doubt before looking at the direction where the Ingredient Tracking Skill was pointing at. The arrow was pointing behind Brod at a luxurious box with intricate designs.

“No way…!”

Minhyuk rushed to open the box. What greeted him was a foul stench.

“Urk!” Minhyuk groaned as he hurriedly pinched his nose.

Brod smiled bitterly and said, “That’s already spoiled. It seems like any ingredients that came from God’s World will spoil and turn rotten the moment they are brought down to the human realm.”

Brod had also been grasping at straws previously. He wondered, ‘Is there really no way?’ as he looked at Iris bitterly.

But at that moment…

“There’s a way.”

…a bright smile bloomed on Minhyuk’s face.

“Material Restoration.”

Then, a bright light stretched out of Minhyuk’s fingertips and covered the black, rotten tenderloin. When the light disappeared, Brod saw that the black color that covered the ingredient had disappeared. It even looked fresh, as if the meat was just freshly procured from the cow.

“H… how…?!”

It was only natural for Brod to feel shocked at the miraculous sight. Meanwhile, the meat’s information appeared in Minhyuk’s head.

(Athenae’s Beef Tenderloin)

Ingredient Grade: God

Special Abilities:

• Helps you recover from brainwashing and any other abnormal condition.

• Can allow you to overcome your limits and help you grow a step further.

• You have to choose the steak’s doneness from rare, medium rare, medium, medium well-done, well-done. Grilling this beef will be much more difficult than grilling regular steaks.

Description: This is a special beef tenderloin that can only be obtained in God’s World, a place that humans can’t enter yet. The cow that grew with Athenae’s holy power has become a sacred being itself.

If Minhyuk succeeded in cooking this ingredient, the one that would eat the dish would be able to rise above their limits and overcome their brainwashing, and other abnormal conditions. And since it was a God-grade ingredient, the one that would succeed in cooking this ingredient would receive a considerable amount of rewards.

‘God’s Ingredient.’

Minhyuk shuddered at the thought. Then, he began his preparations for cooking. According to the ingredient information, grilling this tenderloin would be much more difficult than grilling ordinary steaks. If he failed, then he would lose everything. But if he succeeded then…

‘I will be able to get Rocard Kingdom, its queen, Brod, and a God-rank sword.’

***

Global community sites.

With Athenae: World War just around the corner, countless opinions were brewing all over the world.

[America is sure to win Athenae: World War, right? After all, they are the strongest candidates in the world.]

[There’s no denying that. But our very own China is not a pushover either. After all, Mei Wei will be competing. Mei Wei’s excellent buff abilities and stunning attacking skills will be able to catch two birds in one stone. She will definitely be able to play a huge role during the team matches.]

[The fact that China is the strongest favorite for the championship will not change.]

[What about Japan?]

[Japan has Kentaro, one of the Summit Five-level players. I think they’ll be able to win at least one gold medal. But I think their performance will be a bit disappointing for a country that’s a favorite to win the championship.]

[Then, how about Korea…?]

[The truth is, everyone expects Korea to be very active this time. After all, they have Food God Minhyuk with them.]

[If he shows the same power that he displayed when they hunted Vormon, then we can expect him to do a very good job. He might even be able to win at least one or two gold medals.]

[But Athenae: World War is not an individual competition. In the end, their overall ranking will be determined by the total number of medals that they will win.]

[From what I heard, Korea’s Mage Ali’s level has fallen and he was last seen working hard in the novice hunting grounds. They don’t have any other players aside from the Food God.]

[And no matter how strong a player the Food God is, it doesn’t make sense for him to win a gold medal in every category that he will participate in.]

Sadly, this was the truth. It was nigh impossible for an individual to win gold medals for all of the categories that they would participate in.

[Unless they have variables in hand, Korea won’t be able to win this competition. And I don’t think they have any huge variables on hand.]

[If we’re talking about variables, I wonder what variable is huge enough to catapult Korea into winning.]

In the middle of their heated discussions, shocking notifications rang for all of them at the same time.

[A player that has created something that transcends the Human Realm has been born for the second time in Athenae.]

[This message resonates loudly throughout the entire continent.]

[…!]

[…!]

[…!]

The global community sites started another bout of heated discussions.

[Who is it? Is it America’s Alexander? Or maybe it’s France’s Jean-Paul?]

[Wow. I don’t know who it is, but they’re amazing for sure. Someone that has reached the God-rank has appeared for the second time, that’s really amazing.]

[They’re either from America or Russia. There’s no way that someone from Korea will ever reach that level.]

[Nope. They’ll probably reach that level once Athenae has reached the end of its service. Maybe around 50 years from now? Fufufufufu.]

However, what they did not know was that the two instances announced to the world about someone reaching the God-rank, were all achieved by a Korean. That was right, it was Minhyuk, who after cooking all by himself, was now full and satiated.

Kggghhhhk~