‘This is making me jealous… How lucky can he get…?’ Changwook thought before asking, “Is that all of it? Anything else?”

“I also received 10,000 Achievement Points (AP).”

“T, ten thousand?! I have only received 13,000 APs so far!”

“Wow, Hyung. You must really be bad at games,” Minhyuk said jokingly. In response, Changwook clenched his fists tightly and shot Minhyuk a dirty look. It was not that he was bad at playing, it was just Minhyuk that was too overpowered. APs were not something that one could easily receive. 

“That amount is already enough to get something really good. Well, to be fair, everyone thought that all of the participants would just scatter around instead of killing the minotaurus but… you killed it…”

“Ahem,” Minhyuk coughed, shaking his head as he continued to search through Athenae’s official website. What he was searching for was, ‘Using achievement points to buy something delicious.’

[Go to the Chef Tower and use your achievement points to buy ingredients.]

[You can purchase ingredients with your APs in the Chef Tower.]

There were plenty of similar articles, but all of them were filled with negative comments.

[Everyone, here’s a cool tip for you to avoid stepping on poop. It’s a stupid idea to buy ingredients from the Chef Tower using your APs.

fgjkadf31: Why is this a cool tip? If you’re not an idiot, then you should know this, right?

Beanie’sDad: My darling Beanie and the maltese, Kancho, next door also knows this.]

“Hmm?” Minhyuk hummed in confusion. He wondered what was wrong and stupid in using APs to buy ingredients. So, he continued to find more information to help him understand.

[Here are some of the reasons why you shouldn’t buy ingredients using your APs in the Chef Tower.

1) The special abilities that come with the ingredients are incredibly low compared to the APs needed to buy them. Furthermore, chefs do not have any other skills except for their buffing ability. Do we really need to buy a single consumable ingredient just for that?

2) Buying a chef’s hat, chef’s knife, or even a chef’s skill with your APs to increase your buffing ability is much better compared to buying ingredients, right?

These are the two main points. I have seen plenty of novice players buy ingredients without knowing anything to try and increase their cooking skills. They have failed miserably. Don’t do that.]

“Oho,” Minhyuk said, rubbing his chin in thought.

“What are you going to buy with your achievement points?”

“Something delicious.”

“...With all 10,000 points?”

“Yes,” Minhyuk answered firmly, recalling the quest he had received from Coachman Baran about meeting with Blacksmith Ron. Minhyuk thought that Blacksmith Ron should be somewhere near the tower, so he decided to finish the quest along the way.

“What delicious thing should I buy with my 10,000 points? Hoho...”

Ten thousand points would be enough for Changwook to get a lot of rewards. However, it was not his, and to think that it would be used in exchange for something delicious… 

Then, Changwook thought, ‘What kind of ingredients can you get with 10,000 points?’. He was kind of curious about what Minhyuk would get with his APs.

The next thing that Minhyuk checked on his phone was his notification window. He had been so caught up in trying to find ways to leave the ceremonial hall the moment they got warped for the awards ceremony, that he was not able to check them properly. Fortunately, players could check the notifications that they received in the game on their phones.

[You have acquired 52 million gold.]

[You have won the tournament.]

[You have gained 50 reputation points.]

[You have gained 5,000 APs.]

[You can now learn Ellie’s Swordsmanship.]

[You can request a small wish from Ellie.]

“Fifty-two million gold? Does the minotaurus really give this much gold?”

“No, I think it’s because it was an event monster this time. Just look at your APs.”

Minhyuk had received a total of 15,000 APs together with the chance to learn Ellie’s Swordsmanship, an epic skill.

“Wow. Ellie’s Swordsmanship. I’m so jealous... I wish I could get an epic skill too...” Changwook grumbled. The strongest skill in Changwook’s arsenal was only a unique skill. The truth is, even if many players wanted to have an epic skill, not many of them could get their hands on one. There was even the reward that Minhyuk could request a small wish from Ellie.

Changwook thought deeply and said, “I got a good idea!” 

“...?”

“Ask for an epic artifact, or a quest that will lead to an epic artifact. Kyaa! Isn't your Hyung smart?”

Minhyuk thought deeply after hearing Changwook’s words. He stood up and said, “S…so there’s this method too!” 

“Yeah, you’re finally listening to your Hyung!” Changwook said, beside himself with joy.

But, Minhyuk turned around on his way into the capsule and said,  “I’m going to ask Ellie for something delicious!”

“....”

“...”

“...”

Changwook, along with the rest of the people monitoring him, stared mutely as he entered the capsule.

***

Ellie was busy reviewing documents and handling official affairs in her office. She was currently reading a report about some of the most prominent foreigners that appeared in the Eivelis Empire. Ellie could not help but frown as she read through the document, and said, “Black Dragon? He seems to be a great man.”

“That’s right. Your Majesty,” Ruth answered her with a bow. Ruth was someone who had served Ellie since the empress was a child. 

“He’s not even at Level 100 yet, but he had bought a merchant’s failing store and made about 1,200% of the original sales. I believe he’s a merchant with great capabilities. It would be good to recruit him if we can.”

“We have already tried to recruit him and offered him a job. But...” Ruth looked downcast as he continued to say, “Black Dragon said ‘I will fight for one person only, the reason why I’m here, and only one person alone.’ and he also said that the reason that he wanted to reach the top was because he wanted to eliminate the obstacles for this person.”

“Ho,” Ellie said, becoming more interested in Black Dragon. She rubbed her chin in thought, knowing full well what Black Dragon was doing. She knew that he was expanding his influence and expanding his power to draw attention away from the person he wanted to protect, becoming the target instead. 

‘Isn’t that very cool?’

“However, I’m still in awe of his talents, so I continued my efforts to recruit him, only to be told something with a straight face.”

Ellie’s interest was completely piqued. From what she read, she could tell that the man was stubborn. So, she wondered what he said.

“‘The being in my right arm is going to go berserk. If you continue to bother me, then I won’t stop my right hand from going crazy.' That was what he said, Your Majesty.”

“...”

“...”

Ellie turned silent for a moment, while Ruth coughed in embarrassment. Then, Ellie said, “He’s quite an unusual foreigner.”

“...Yes, you’re right. Your Majesty. Ah, right, it’s already time for you to eat.”

Ellie shook her head and left the office. When she came to the dining area, she saw the dining table lined up with sumptuous delicacies and enchanting cuisines made by the chefs of the imperial palace! Even ordinary foreigners dreamed of tasting the food on this table at least once in their lives.

However, after only eating a few bites, Ellie sighed and placed her cutlery down, saying, “I have no appetite.”

Ruth felt really sad to see that. Ever since Len left the Imperial Palace, Ellie seemed to have lost her appetite. Even Ruth knew how overwhelmingly superior Len’s dishes were, compared to the dishes that the rest of the imperial palace chefs could do. No matter how hard they tried, they could not find a way to deal with this missing gap.

“Bring that over.”

“Yes!”

However, there was food that could stimulate Ellie’s appetite. It was said to be something that originated from the foreigners’ world. The imperial palace chefs quickly brought the food over. What they placed in front of the empress was a steaming plate of carbonara, together with a dish called ‘spam’.

“Spam. What a strange thing, that it can even bring back someone’s lost appetite.”

Ruth smiled lightly when he heard her words. He watched her pick up her fork to first taste the carbonara, followed by the salty spam. Spam was truly delicious, especially when it was cooked until it was crispy. Since it was salty, Ellie unknowingly ate more carbonara to compensate.

“It’s delicious. It’s really great.”

“I see. It’s great that it’s delicious,” Ruth smiled fondly as he watched Ellie eat. Ellie was someone who had really liked to eat, but ever since Len left, she had lost the spark. Ruth sighed sadly and thought, ‘I haven’t seen her smile ever since that day.’

Ever since Len left, the empress only focused on her duties as an empress. She became tough, cold, detached to the point that people said that she would not bleed even if she was stabbed. Just then, the Phoenix Knight Order’s Leader, Cass, hurriedly walked inside the dining area.

“Sir, didn’t I tell you not to disturb Her Majesty while she’s eating?”

“I know. But Her Majesty also told us to bring the foreigner who won the tournament right away. Isn’t that right?”

Ellie’s fork stopped moving when she heard Cass’ words. She nodded in agreement and asked, “Did he finally come?”

“Yes.”

Ellie’s eyes sparkled in excitement, saying, “Let him enter.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Cass shouted, turning around to get the foreigner quickly.

Ellie was curious about this foreigner. This person was someone that Len had acknowledged, to the point that he even willingly gave the kitchen knife that she had bestowed upon him. This person was also someone that showed outstanding skills and abilities and won the tournament that they held. Not long after, the foreigner came inside and bowed at her. Ellie said, “You’re the foreigner, Minhyuk.”

“That’s right, Your Majesty.”

“Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

“No, no. I’m alright.”

However, the foreigner, Minhyuk, was trembling and twitching.

“You might have heard of this already, but I will say it once more. You will be able to learn swordsmanship from me.”

“Yes, thank you. Your Majesty.”

Ellie looked at him strangely. She thought, ‘He doesn’t sound happy or excited?’. It was truly strange. There were plenty of people that would do anything for a chance to learn her swordsmanship, but the man in front of her sounded indifferent when he heard about her offer. Then, she heard the foreigner say, “Your Majesty. I heard that since I won the tournament, I could ask Your Majesty for a small wish?”

“...That’s right,” Ellie answered, her smile turning dark.

‘They’re all the same. Len.’

It looked like even the foreigner that received the kitchen knife from Len was the same. She had hoped that he was different, special even. After all, he had been acknowledged by Len, the person who loved and cared for her. A pure person that did everything for her even without his sense of taste. He even did his best to increase his DEX just so he could make a dish that would make Ellie happy. 

She thought that this foreigner would be just like that, but it seemed like he was not any different from the others. In the end, the foreigner in front of her also desired something. True, as the empress, there were many things that they could ask for, with just her granting of a small wish.

“What do you want? A place where you could find a special treasure? Or do you want to take a few things from my treasure trove? Or do you want a title? Or hundreds of millions of gold? Tell me, and I’ll give it to you,” Ellie asked. Her interest in him had grown initially after knowing that he went to eat beef, but that interest had now been snuffed. He was just a regular, greedy foreigner. 

‘They’re all like this.’

Hearing her words, the foreigner raised her head and looked at her. His eyes that looked at Ellie were shining brightly, a stark contrast to his sullen and indifferent attitude when he heard that Ellie would teach him swordsmanship. Right now, he looked very excited. He said, “Your Majesty. It’s a difficult request, will it still be okay?”

“Tell me. I’m the empress of the Eivelis Empire, Ellie. I will grant you your wish to the best of my abilities.” 

The man was having a hard time hiding his smile as he said, “Please give me the honor to eat spam!”

At that moment, Ellie was stunned by the request. Even Ruth was left speechless beside her. She could not believe her ears for a moment. So, to make sure, she pointed to the dish on the table and asked again, “Spam...? You mean this?”.

“Yes!” The foreigner nodded fiercely as he answered her. Hearing his confirmation…

Grin━

…Ellie grinned and chuckled. Ruth’s head whipped to the side at the sudden laugh. And that was when he saw her smiling. Her Majesty was smiling! He did not know how long it had been since he last saw her smile. And then…

“Hahahahahahahahaha!” Ellie hugged her belly as she broke out into peals of laughter.