Gourmet Gaming-Chapter 1308

Chapter 1308

The gods of Olympus swore the Olympus Gods’ Oath with their names. Therefore, they would still receive severe punishment if they broke this oath, even if they were one of the Twelve Gods of Olympus.

Due to this, the gods of Olympus had no choice but to accept and approve whatever food Minhyuk brought as long as it met the conditions they put forward. Nevertheless, swearing the Olympus Gods’ Oath did not change their feelings toward Minhyuk. Most of the people of the Gaia Continent did not view him favorably.

There were many reasons. First was the drop in their artifacts' durability. The durability of ordinary tools used by ordinary people was restored to 100% within an hour. That was not the case for artifacts beyond God-rank. For items of this caliber, their durability would only return to 100% after a particular time.

That was not all. The proud and arrogant Twelve Gods of Olympus were also forced to kneel in front of Hephaestus—the same Hephaestus they mocked, ignored, and trampled! The fact alone left them feeling uncomfortable.

So, the Twelve Gods of Olympus sent Denaes, the goddess who oversaw cooking, to evaluate the kimchi that Minhyuk would bring to them. They would then communicate with Denaes and demand the dishes they wanted through her.

Denaes was a beautiful woman with silver hair cascading down her back. However, although she was the Gaia Continent’s Goddess of Cooking, she was cursed. It was even a curse that she had put upon herself.

Simply put, the curse could be described as, ‘I don’t have an appetite.’

Ever since she was young, Denaes had a sensitive and outstanding palette. It was at a level that went far beyond anyone’s imagination. With just a bite, she could taste the temperature of the fire used, the time it was boiled, and how long it was cooked. She could determine everything about the dish with just a single bite.

Of course, she also possessed excellent cooking skills. Her outstanding palate made her fall in love with cooking, and she enjoyed what she did for around seventy years until she lost her appetite.

It was a terrible curse. For a god who governed cooking, losing her appetite was painful. It did not matter what outstanding or delicious dish was presented before her; she could not find it appetizing.

This curse had been with her for seventy years now. And because of this curse, she has been established as a special Named NPC. They would receive something special if someone could help her regain her lost appetite. Unfortunately, nothing of the sort has happened in the past seventy years.

‘I really don’t have any appetite...’

Denaes was in the same situation today. She did not want to eat anything and was not actually that hungry. Nevertheless, she went and met with Pillar of the Gourmands Minhyuk.

“Hello.”

“Yes, hello. I’m the goddess governing cooking in the Gaia Continent. My name is Denaes.”

Denaes did not harbor any animosity toward Minhyuk. As for Hephaestus? She never harassed or tormented him. However, she was guilty of standing on the sidelines and watching everything unfold.

Her job here was to ensure that whatever dish or ingredient Minhyuk brought met all of Zeus’ demands. And she could confirm this simply by reaching out. She immediately checked the glossy kimchi that Minhyuk brought over.

[Hundreds of dishes can be made using this kimchi.]

The fact that this dish could be transformed and turned into hundreds of dishes was quite surprising.

‘He passed this condition.’

Other ingredients should be able to replace cabbage, the kimchi’s main ingredient, to pass the second condition.

[Dozens of different ingredients can be used to replace this dish’s main ingredient.]

‘This is also a pass.’

Denaes felt a bit curious about the dish in front of her. She looked at the dish in contemplation and moved forward to the third and most important condition: taste. It wouldn’t matter how many dishes this kimchi could make; if it was not delicious, then it would all be useless.

“Actually, I don’t really have an appetite...”

A chuckle escaped Denaes’ lips when she thought of her lost appetite. What did it matter to her whether the dish in front of her was delicious when she did not have an appetite for seventy years? Even if she took a bite, she would just sigh and dismiss it with a ‘Hmm. It’s fine.’

At that moment, the man named Minhyuk looked at her and asked softly, “You don’t have an appetite? My problem is that I have too much of an appetite.”

‘Is he making fun of me?!’ Denaes thought, her face growing ugly.

“Ah. My words must have offended you. I’m sorry.”

Denaes was quickly placated.

‘He’s not like the other gods. He’s not arrogant.’

Denaes felt that the man in front of her was pretty interesting. So, she tried grumbling and complaining to him. She said, “I’m very sorry but... I haven’t had an appetite for almost seventy years now.”

“...?”

Denaes smiled bitterly when she saw the flash of confusion on Minhyuk’s face.

“Nothing tastes good to me. When I take a bite, I will immediately put my spoon down. Fortunately, I’m a god. It was because I was a god that I haven’t starved to death~” Denaes joked.

Alas, Minhyuk sobbed when he saw her smiling like that. Then, he told his story.

“That must be very painful. I know the feeling. You see, I have this disease called eating addiction.”

Denaes was surprised when she heard the description of Minhyuk’s disease.

‘A disease where he has to keep eating?’

The two felt a sense of camaraderie as they sympathized with each other for the suffering brought about by their illnesses. One was a disease that forced someone to keep eating, while the other was a disease that forced someone not to eat anything despite having food in front of them. Both were very terrible diseases.

Minhyuk did not hate Denaes because she was a god of the Gaia Continent. In fact, he did not have to hate her. He even sympathized with her and her situation.

‘The pain of not being able to eat anything even though there are many delicious things in the world...’ Minhyuk thought, a bitter smile flashing on his face.

“Then, shall we try restoring your appetite?” Minhyuk smiled.

Denaes, curious about what he wanted to do, nodded at Minhyuk. However, she did not have much expectation. Many chefs had flown and traveled to the Gaia Continent to try to bring back her appetite. Even she had tried making and eating outstanding dishes to escape this curse, but this situation had lasted for seventy years.

“What are you going to cook?”

“Stewed mackerel with kimchi.”

“Stewed mackerel with kimchi, huh...? That’s unfamiliar to me.”

“It’s the best dish to eat when you don’t have an appetite,” Minhyuk said as he began to cook.

Denaes just looked curiously at the man, who was challenging her curse. While he put the lid on the kimchi stew and let it boil, Minhyuk put on a pair of sanitary gloves and tore some of the well-ripened kimchi into strips. Then, he carefully put the torn kimchi in a bowl of white rice and poured some hot water on it.

“Let’s eat this before the dish I’m making is done. This is my favorite combination when I have no appetite.”

Denaes looked at the bowl with interest. She was very unfamiliar with the dish named kimchi. Yet he was trying to feed her some rice with water and kimchi torn by hand? Even so, Denaes scooped some rice and water and put it in her mouth. She still did not have any appetite.

‘There’s no way that something like this can be delicious,’ Denaes sighed.

Minhyuk looked at Denaes before carefully picking up a spoon. Then, he scooped a mouthful of water and rice and carefully put some of the torn, well-ripened kimchi.

“Try eating it like this,” Minhyuk said as he handed over the spoon to her.

Denaes put it in her mouth and carefully chewed the rice with water and the kimchi.

Crunch!

‘Oh? The sound is music to my ears.’

The more she chewed, the more the tempting sound rang in her ears. The best part? The sweet aftertaste of the water and rice went perfectly well with the spicy kimchi.

‘This... what is this flavor...?’

Even though the kimchi was spicy, it suited Denaes’ taste. This was because the kimchi was made using gochugaru, which brought out the most delicious spiciness in whoever was eating it. Even those who could not eat spicy food would enjoy this.

“Slurp. Ha...”

Denise unknowingly made such a sound. At the same time...

‘It’s delicious...? ‘Huh?’

Denaes was shocked. She muttered, “Why does it taste good...?”

Denaes finally welcomed her appetite, which had been lost for seventy years. The moment she ate another bite, she felt as if heavenly harmony was playing on a loop in her head. She felt ecstatic and began eating the rice with water and kimchi with gusto.

[Denaes’ lost appetite has returned.]

[Your chances of making higher grade dishes have increased by 0.5%.]

[You have gained 3 DEX.]

“...?”

Minhyuk just cooked something and fed her, but he unknowingly received something like this. What surprised him was seeing Denaes empty her third bowl of rice.

“Didn’t you say that you have no appetite...?”

Then, at that moment, the stewed mackerel with kimchi was completed. He placed the dish before Denaes, immediately triggering the Joy of Eating Together. There was no need for any side dishes. Having white rice with stewed mackerel and kimchi was enough.

Minhyuk started salivating as he watched the steam rise from within the pot when he removed the lid. The charm of the stewed mackerel with kimchi lay in the well-ripened kimchi. When he put a spoonful of the savory soup and kimchi, the kimchi disappeared with just a few chews. It was as if it melted right off in his mouth. An indescribably delicious spiciness immediately followed it.

Then, Minhyuk scooped a mouthful of rice and put some of the shredded kimchi on top of it.

‘Ah. I have to put a thick slice of mackerel here.’

Just like that, he ate the entire mouthful. The rice's sweetness complemented the kimchi's spiciness, which melted in one’s mouth. It was immediately followed by the slightly bland and light flavor of the mackerel, which perfectly complemented the aftertaste of the rice and the kimchi.

The smile on Minhyuk’s face would widen with every chew. The rice topped with kimchi was already impressive enough. And with the addition of the spotted mackerel? It was perfect.

And that was not the end yet. He scooped a spoonful of rice and soaked it with the soup. What if he added some mackerel and kimchi to it?

“Wow...”

The flavor was truly out of this world. Then, something strange happened.

‘Why do I always gobble up a lot of rice when eating stewed mackerel with kimchi?’

Just like that, Minhyuk ate five bowls. Then, he caught sight of Denaes.

“Miss...”

‘Munch, munch?’

“I thought you said that you don’t have an appetite?”

‘Munch...’

“You’re already on your fifth bowl...”

Denaes looked up at Minhyuk blankly, a spoonful of rice and the well-cooked stewed mackerel with kimchi in hand.

[Your favor with Denaes has increased.]

[Your favor with Denaes has increased.]

[Your chances of making higher grade dishes have increased by 0.5%.]

[You have gained 3 DEX.]

His stats increased again. Minhyuk stared at Denaes, who looked like she was afraid someone would snatch the food from her, and thought of a plan.

“...Miss Denaes, I’m glad you’re enjoying the meal.”

“...?” Denaes looked at the teary Minhyuk with confusion.

“Not being able to eat anything, even though there’s food in front of us, is very hard. I know that pain all too well.”

Denaes had been made aware earlier of the fact that Minhyuk was also suffering from a very terrible disease, one where he had to eat nonstop.

“I’m pleased to see Miss Denaes take a step forward in overcoming your disease,” Minhyuk said, dropping a single tear on his cheeks.

Denaes couldn’t believe her ears as she continued to cram another spoonful of rice in her mouth,

‘He’s the only person who has ever tried to understand me...’

When the gods heard that Denaes had lost her appetite, they mocked her and even called her names.

–I call bullshit!

–Aren’t you eating dishes that are hard to come by even for the gods? So, why?

–You can’t eat because you don’t have an appetite? What kind of nonsense is that?

However, this young man named Minhyuk was only with her for a few short seconds, and he sympathized with her and even treated her sincerely.

“Miss Denaes, I will cook many dishes for you,” Minhyuk said, a bright smile blooming as he wiped away his tears.

Denaes’s heart trembled as she watched Minhyuk begin to cook again. This time, he was braising pork with kimchi.

[Your chances of making higher grade dishes have increased by 0.5%.]

[You have gained 3 DEX.]

Kimchi jjigae with saury.

[Your chances of making higher grade dishes have increased by 0.5%.]

[You have gained 3 DEX.]

Kimchi fried rice.

[Your chances of making higher grade dishes...]

Kimchi jjageuri.

[Your chances of making higher grade dishes...]

Kimchi ramyeon.

[Your chances of making higher grade dishes...]

With every dish Minhyuk made, his chances of making higher-grade dishes increased, as did his DEX! The more he cooked, the higher Denaes’ favor toward him and the deeper she felt for him.

Gods did not have any restrictions on their satiety. Hence, Denaes had been devouring every dish Minhyuk presented to her.

[Your chances of making higher grade dishes...]

[You have reached the limit of what you can obtain by stimulating and bringing back Denaes’ lost appetite.]

Minhyuk increased his chances of making higher-grade dishes by 9% and acquired more than eighty DEX during the process. He smiled to himself when he saw Denaes look up at him with her starry eyes.

A few hours later...

“This is your reward.”

[Denaes has gifted you 149 God-grade ingredients.]

Minhyuk got two birds with one stone!