The Healing Solaris Cleric-Chapter 246: Banquet of the Gods (2)

“Hey, Hisashiburi! Long time no see!”

“Have you been well yourself?”

[You have witnessed Hisashiburi, the god of reunions.]

[Special title acquired: Witness of Reunion.]

Why is that the god’s name... No, that’s not the issue right now.

By now, Kai had already obtained over seventy special titles. That meant there were over seventy gods attending the banquet.

The food, there’s not enough food!

For now, the gods were happily chatting and laughing, reunited after a long time. However, Kai could already spot a few gods sniffing the air and glancing around in search of the food.

It’ll be too late if I go to the mortal realm to prepare now...

Naturally, the food he had brought today was of the highest quality. Some of it had even been prepared by chefs from Michelin three-star restaurants.

But there’s no way to acquire such dishes right now.

This was a banquet for gods, beings who would bestow blessings when pleased but curses when angered.

To prepare enough food for everyone right now...

There was only one way.

Kai quickly opened a message window and began typing furiously on the virtual keyboard.

[Kai: Minerva.]

[Kai: Minerva.]

[Kai: Minerva.]

After calling her exactly three times, a reply came back.

[Minerva: What is it? Why are you in such a rush?]

Her bewildered tone was felt even through the text.

[Kai: Sorry, but I need you to run an errand for me.]

[Minerva: Sigh... You really know how to work me hard. But...]

The Pray guild was affiliated with the Holy Blood Order, giving them direct access to their knowledge and expertise. Naturally, their growth rate was bound to be fast. Having received so much, it was only fair for them to give back.

[Minerva: Fine. What do you need me to do?]

[Kai: Please prepare the dishes I’m about to list. Make one hundred servings of each. I’ll pay you later.]

[Minerva: That much? Are you feeding an entire relief camp?]

[Kai: Well... you could think of it that way.]

Kai thought that gods, who had never tasted truly delicious food in their existence, could be considered no different from those in need of aid.

[Kai: Please work as quickly as possible.]

[Minerva: Don’t worry.]

Minerva responded with confidence, determined to showcase the efficiency of the Pray guild, one of the world’s Nine guilds.

***

“Whew,” Kai let out a sigh of relief

Minerva’s confidence had not been a bluff. Within exactly twenty-five minutes, she had prepared exactly one hundred servings of every dish he had requested.

Guilds can accomplish things that individuals simply cannot.

The guild had deployed its members across the continent, lining them up at restaurants to buy food. It was a simple strategy but one that Kai could never have pulled off on his own.

Thanks to that, I’ve managed to catch my breath, but...

Having set up the newly arrived food, Kai still wore a worried expression.

Ugh. Due to time constraints, the food this time isn’t exactly high-end.

He hadn’t been able to secure dishes prepared by world-renowned chefs. Instead, he had brought what was often called fast food—things like burgers and pizza.

I hope they’ll like it.

However, his worry didn’t last long. The gods, who had been joyfully chatting at their reunions, began to take their seats at the banquet table one by one.

“I’ve talked so much catching up with old faces that my throat is dry.”

“Haha, I think I’m starting to feel a bit hungry.”

“Tsk tsk. Even if your divine status has weakened, shouldn’t a god be able to control their appetite?”

“But hasn’t there been a delicious smell going around? I think I’m hungry too.”

“Ahem... Certainly...”

The gods’ gazes naturally turned toward one spot. The long table with all kinds of food.

The meal is about to begin.

But before that, there was one thing Kai needed to do first.

Kai stood beside the seat of honor and whispered cautiously into Helik's ear, “Helik.”

At this, Helik nodded and stood up, stepping onto her chair. From there, she naturally overlooked all the gods.

“Ahem. I would like to thank everyone for attending my banquet today. We have prepared delicious food and drinks, so please enjoy a delightful time that will satisfy your taste buds, eyes, and ears. Oh, and the most recommended dish is, of course, cake.”

“Cake?”

“What kind of food is that?”

“Well, I suppose we’ll know once we try it.”

Kai then guided the gods, showing them how to serve themselves. “You take a plate from here, then proceed to the right, taking whichever dishes you’d like to add to your plate.”

“Oooh, an intriguing method.”

“Indeed, this way, everything stays clean and organized.”

“Now that I look, there are names and descriptions written next to each dish.”

“Ham... burger? I’ve never seen such food before; it looks interesting. I’ll try this one.”

The gods lined up in an orderly manner and filled their plates with food.

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Those who returned to their seats didn’t immediately begin eating but instead waited for everyone else to be seated. Once all the gods were seated, Helik looked at her plate holding four slices of cake and recited a meal prayer.

“Dear me, thank you for providing us with nourishment today. May the day come when I can eat cake today, tomorrow, and the days after. I pray in the name of Helik, the solarian god.”

It was truly a prayer unlike any other! However, since the prayer was directed at herself, there was no real point in challenging it, even if one wanted to. And so, the meal began.

“Hm? This is...!”

The first to take a bite of food was the god who had been persuaded by Horn to try the yangnyeom chicken.

“How is it? Isn’t it so good that you wouldn’t even notice if someone here dropped dead?” Horn grinned knowingly, as if fully understanding the god’s feelings.

However, the god eating the yangnyeom chicken seemed too absorbed to even hear him, quickly moving their hands and mouth.

Munch, munch.

“Wow, wooow! It feels like the chicken is flapping its wings and flying around in my mouth!”

“Haha. But that’s not all. Try it with this beer.”

Horn slid a glass of Best Westvleteren 12 toward him.

“Beer? Does the beer also taste good?”

“Just take a sip.”

“If you say so...”

Gulp, gulp.

The refreshing, revolutionary taste of the beer washed down their throat. The god, looking as though he might faint, was left utterly speechless.

“O-oh my...!”

“Hehe. Surprising, isn’t it? That’s what they call chimaek. Chimaek.”

Horn’s shoulders rose with pride, emphasizing his experienced status.

The other gods were no exception.

“I’ve learned something great from Horn. This thing called chimaek is absolutely amazing. Why don’t you give it a try?”

“I’m gonna try this dish instead,” Gauss replied.

On the plate of Gauss, the god of strength, was a hamburger: two buns with a meat patty, special sauce, tomatoes, lettuce, and various vegetables.

“Ooh, a dish containing bread, vegetables, and meat, all in one? What was it called again?”

“They call it a hamburger.”

“From the description, it sounds like a complete meal! I wonder how it tastes.”

“I know right. I’m curious too, so I’ll try it now.”

Gauss took a bite of the hamburger. One bite, then two. With each chew, a series of emotions crossed his face—first surprise, then joy, and finally pure ecstasy.

Finishing the hamburger in no time, he abruptly stood up.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“To get more hamburgers.”

“Is it that good? It doesn’t look all that impressive.”

At those words, Gauss accused in rage, “What? How dare you insult the hamburger? Apologize immediately.”

“Haha. In the end, all foods are equal under the greatness of chimaek. Chimaek is the most perfect combination of food and drink in this world.”

“Argh...”

Unable to find a rebuttal, Gauss pressed his lips together in frustration, wearing an annoyed expression. The other’s words were true. While the hamburger was, by his standards, a perfect food in itself, it lacked a soulmate like chicken had with beer.

But at that moment, a sweet voice suddenly came from below. “Even straw sandals have their matches. Surely, there must be a drink that pairs with a hamburger.”

When the two gods looked down, they saw Helik, now standing in a pure white dress, holding out a paper cup.

“Gauss, god of strength, I offer this drink to you, a pitiable soul.”

“What is this...?”

“It is the eternal partner of hamburgers and the soulmate of potato chips as well.” Helik’s words sparkled with enthusiasm as she continued, “Its name is Cola.”

“C-Cola!”

Perhaps it was the brilliant echo of the name in his mind, but Gauss instinctively reached out with reverence and accepted the paper cup with both hands. When he sipped the black liquid, he felt a bold, fizzy explosion of flavor in his mouth, and tears streamed down his face.

“Oh, it was worth not losing my divine status and remaining alive...”

It was food that made even a god feel grateful for life!

As Gauss wept tears of emotion, Helik offered him another plate.

“Here, after your meal, you must have cake for dessert. After eating, tell my envoy this: gods must eat at least one slice of cake a day to survive.”

Gauss remained silent at that remark.

***

The reactions are good.

Watching the gods feast, Kai struggled to suppress the grin creeping onto his face. It was nothing short of a massive success. The gods weren’t just crazy over the food Kai prepared; they were completely captivated.

Though it’s funny how their tastes have split them into groups...

Kai’s expression grew surprised and amused.

There was the Chimaek Faction led by Horn, the Fast Food Faction led by Gauss, and finally, the Snack Faction led by Helik. The gods were divided into three groups, each fiercely claiming their chosen food was the best.

Well, debates aren’t a bad thing.

Kai shrugged and approached Helik. “Helik, it seems the gods have finished their meal. Could you take care of the cleanup?”

“Sure! Leave it to me.”

Clap!

With a single clap of her hands, the food scraps and remnants of the meal vanished without a trace. In return, Kai patted Helik on the head.

“Hehe, that feels nice,” Helik said.

“Thank you. Now let’s move on to the next stage of the banquet.”

“Huh? There’s more?”

“Of course. Do you think a banquet would end with just a meal?”

Kai waved his hand as if the idea was absurd.

Who knows when another opportunity like this will come?

It was only logical to seize the moment and make the most of it.

Thus, Kai began pulling out stacks of paper from his inventory.

“Hehehe.”

***

“Do you know what this is?”

“No idea. I was told to hold onto one, but I don’t know its purpose.”

“Hmm. I just had a fantastic meal, and I’d like to rest for a bit.”

“If it’s not interesting, I’ll head back to savor the aftertaste of the food.”

The gods, each holding a piece of paper in their hands, soon began murmuring in bored voices.

What impatient beings...

Growing anxious, Kai hurriedly wheeled a cart to the center of the gods’ seating area.

“Huh? What’s that?”

“A container whose contents can’t be seen.”

“Hmm...”

What Kai had brought was a massive, opaque container.

“Ahem.” He scanned the gods around him and finally said, “Now, for the next stage of the banquet, I’ve prepared something called Bingo.”

“Bingo?”

“What’s that?”

“Is it some kind of game popular among humans?”

“Yes, and here’s how it works...”

When Kai explained the simple rules, the gods showed expressions of genuine interest.

“Alright, sounds fun. And you say there are prizes for first through third place?”

“Yes, I’ll provide your desired food free of charge for an entire month.”

As soon as Kai finished speaking, the gods’ attitudes toward the game shifted dramatically.

Watching them, Kai said with a satisfied expression, “But to participate in this game, there’s an entry fee.”

“Whatever the cost, I’ll pay it!”

“But we don’t have the currency humans use...”

“Oh no, how could I possibly ask such revered gods for human money?” Kai slyly grinned.

After all, there was one thing they all had in common. Holy power.