Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 924

Joy Co. Ltd. executives gathered when they learned that Spear God Ben’s advertisement video had been completed. Their reason was simple: They wanted to discuss the final line appearing on the video.

These were the things that Joy Co. Ltd. had heard from their consumers every single time:

–The ad’s budget was ten million won, but it feels like it’s just worth five million won.

–Joy Co. Ltd. might have produced Athenae and cannot be rivaled when it comes to the capsule and the game, but... their ads and commercials are trash.

–God is fair. They did not give everything to Joy Co. Ltd.

Joy Co. Ltd. was a global company that continued to grow by the day. However, every time they released an advertisement or a commercial, they received everyone’s criticism. The culprit? It was none other than President Kang Taehoon, who was going “Fufufu” inside the conference room right now. Just like someone said, God was fair. In other words, God was not biased and did not give everything to Kang Taehoon.

The faint chuckle that escaped President Kang Taehoon’s mouth engulfed everyone inside the conference room with anxiety.

‘What kind of line did he prepare this time again?’

‘The viewers will definitely say that we have ruined the advertisement with this line.’

That was right. Right now, the executives were all busy making eye contact. Even though Kang Taehoon had always listened to his executives’ opinions, he had always ignored them when it came to this. This was because he was extremely proud of his lines.

Even Manager Kim Dae-Il, who often opposed and rebuked him, was entirely on board. He said, “President Kang Taehoon’s line in our last advertisement was truly outstanding. Everyone who saw it got goosebumps all over their bodies. Fufu.”

“...”

“...”

Indeed. Many comments on the community sites said they got goosebumps from the ads they made. The goosebumps were not the good kind, but those that one would get when they were very, very embarrassed.

“That line has been in my head for a month.”

“As expected of the president.”

After all, it was very rare for people to ruin an excellent advertisement with just a single line. But President Kang? He just smiled in satisfaction and delight.

“Of course, I prepared a line for the ads this time, too.” Amidst everyone’s anxiety, Taehoon cleared his throat and continued, “Hopes, dreams, friendship, and love. Come to Athenae, where happiness is aplenty!”

“...”

“...”

“...”

All of the executives were frozen on the spot. No! Why did it sound like he was trying to lure them into an amusement park?! It also felt like a line from a manhwa for children of all ages.

“Kghhk... You’re really amazing, president.”

“Fu- Fufufu.” President Kang Taehoon shrugged his shoulders.

Then, at that moment, their savior appeared.

“This line is the worst line I have ever heard. I’ve worked hard to edit this video, and you’re just going to slap on such an old-fashioned line like that?”

“...”

“...”

The savior was none other than Jackson.

“From what I heard, the influx of customers does not change much even after an advertisement is released in Korea. So, this is the case. Children nowadays would not even like to hear such lines, you know?”

“I don’t understand.”

“I really don’t understand.”

Both President Kang and Manager Kim could not understand why Jackson said so.

Jackson could not stand the work he worked hard to edit being turned to waste. Besides, he did not need to worry about President Kang Taehoon and Manager Kim Dae-Il’s opinions since he was hired externally.

“I understand why the executives have approved this line for the advertisement. However, this ad features Beyond the Heavens’ Minhyuk and Ben. I believe Player Minhyuk’s opinion is the most important in determining which line to use.”

President Kang was embarrassed when he heard Jackson’s words. However, he still believed in the line he had thought of. There was no way that Minhyuk would hate such a shocking and amazing line, right? So, he pulled out his phone and called Minhyuk, putting it on speaker.

[Yes, President?]

Not long after, Taehoon enthusiastically relayed the situation about the line he had thought of.

[...Who in the world picked that nasty line? That line sounds like you want robots to join together and fight.]

“...”

[I think even Beanie can come up with a better line than that.]

“Ahem, ahem. Is- is that so?”

Only then did President Kang and Manager Kim realize the situation. The two could only cough to hide their embarrassment. However, President Kang did not want to give up just yet.

“Then, do you think your lines will have a bigger impact than this line?”

“Of course. I will put the line I have prepared and submitted to the president and the executives previously.”

“It’s too provocative,” President Kang Taehoon said as he glanced at his executives. “Let’s vote then. Those who think that my line should be included in our advertisement video, please raise your hand.”

Only Kim Dae-Il raised his hand. The rest? Well, none of them raised their hands.

“It’s decided, then.” Jackson chuckled.

This time, Joy Co. Ltd. selected a very good advertisement video. Of course, Jackson’s ability to edit videos also played a huge role, so the executives had high expectations.

‘Jackson’s line is truly the best!’

‘A lot of viewers will surely be thrilled by that line.’

To put things into perspective, this was the line that President Kang Taehoon had thought of before:

–Come, let’s all venture into an unknown world filled with love, hope, and dreams!

Just thinking about it could give the executives goosebumps.

***

The same notifications rang in the ears of the players in Athenae worldwide.

[You can now view the advertisement video “Old Man and Young Man.”]

[Would you like to watch it?]

[If you choose to watch the advertisement video, your character will be protected during the entire video!]

Some agreed, while others disregarded it. And for those who decided to watch the advertisement video in Athenae, a line appeared before them.

[I didn't even have a shred of hope left.]

At the same time, an old man's gloomy and dark voice rang in their ears.

[I went around the world and killed many people. But when news of my son’s death reached me? I was left in despair.]

Amidst the darkness, they could see an old man crouching down and holding his head in pain. This old man was the man who they call Spear God Ben now.

Then, at that moment, the scene in front of them changed. They saw the dazzling blue sea as the old man tried to board his ship while a young man stood before him. The young man smiled brightly at the old man and enthusiastically greeted him, “Hello!”

[That was the first time I met him.]

The young man had a wide and bright smile, and the old man stood still in front of him. A faint smile appeared as the old man looked at the young man.

[It’s fun staying by his side.]

[Thanks to him, I was able to find the will to live once again.]

[I am not afraid of anything as long as I stay by his side.]

[I made a vow to myself.]

The scene changed again, showing an episode from a long time ago. It was the episode in the Continental Cloud. Black Dragon Vormon appeared and moved to kill the young man.

[I will protect him.]

[I will risk everything and put everything on the line to protect him.]

Shwaaaaaaaaaaaa–!

The old man slashes Black Dragon Vormon’s neck. As he landed, he stabbed his spear on the ground and stretched his hand toward the young man.

“Please don’t give up, my King.”

Then, the old man slowly turned into ashes that disappeared with the wind, changing the scene. In this scene, they saw the old man facing a woman. The name Spear God Aerdes was floating above this woman’s head.

Aerdes asked the old man, “Once your soul falls into hell, you will be forced to walk into a mountain of knives and feel the everlasting pain of being stabbed by their blades. You will also feel the pain of being cooked in a hot pot, the pain of being stuck in a cold block of ice, the pain of your tongue being pulled out, the pain of vipers wrapping around your body and biting you with their poisonous fangs, the pain of your bones being cut with a jagged saw, the pain of facing the biting wind with your bare body, the pain of being stuck in the dark and feeling despair and solitude with nothing on your body. You will remain in this void and continue to do so for thousands of years. You will even lose your shot at reincarnation. Will that be alright?”

[He was worried about me when I chose to become the Spear God after knowing that it would be hard and painful and that I also face the risk of my soul being destroyed.]

[But I have already made my decision. I have already decided to protect him.]

“I have never learned how to back down,” the old man replied, a small smile on his face.

The scene changed once again. White snow fell upon the bleeding and dying old man while tears streamed down his face.

[I did not retreat. I endured the pain as I died over and over again.]

[And one day, just when I was standing on the brink of death, I suddenly realized what I thought of him.]

[Although I was in pain, I felt glad that it was me who was hurt and not him. I felt glad that I was doing this for him.]

Ben smiled, the tears dripping down his cheeks as he looked up at the snow falling from the skies above him.

[He is my light.]

Thousands of screenshots appeared in front of everyone watching. One picture showed the first meeting between the old man and the young man, during which they ate some flower crab ramyeon on a small boat.

[Sometimes, he is my companion.]

There was a picture of the old man peering under a cat's tail to harvest some coffee that he would use to make a cup for the young man.

[Sometimes, he is my lord.]

There was a picture of the two of them standing atop the walls as they looked at the millions of troops gathered before the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

[And sometimes...]

Various screenshots of the young man smiling brightly as the old man passed by him flashed in front of everyone.

There was a picture of the young man smiling widely as the old man handed over the coffee he had brewed and extracted. A picture of the young man showing an embarrassed smile when the old man caught him stealing some of his food. A picture of the young man waving excitedly on the walls as he called out to the old man. A scene of the two of them walking together on days when the night was cool and refreshing. There was also a picture showing the old man watching over the young man worriedly when he was hurt and sick.

Finally, the old man spoke once again.

[He is my son.]

The screenshots disappeared as darkness stained everything in front of the viewers. In this darkness, the sound of weapons clashing resonated.

“Everyone! Do not back down!” The young man shouted.

He had now become an emperor and was watching over the enemy troops pouring out of the huge castle gates. On one side of the wall, the name Luvien Empire was floating. There were only 200,000 troops left under the young man's command. Even the young man was bloodied and bruised.

In that short moment, all the viewers saw the battlefield through the eyes of the young man. They watched as their comrades died while fighting frantically against the enemies. Then, the young man’s view, the same view that the viewers saw, suddenly grew erratic as he fell off his horse.

“Haa... Haa...”

The young man’s ragged breathing echoed in everyone’s ears. The viewers watched as everything turned into slow motion.

[I will always protect him.]

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

A roar resounded as 300,000 cavalry charged forward. And leading them was none other than the old man. The old man rode atop a black horse, his glare piercing the enemies sharply through the gaps of his loose hair.

[I will always come to save him.]

The appearance of the old man and his cavalry swept away the soldiers of the Luvien Empire. Spear God Ben slowly stood on top of his horse and leaped forward.

Vwooooooooooong–

The power of God wrapped around Ben’s spear, seemingly able to wreck everything. It flew from his spear and shot toward the gigantic walls before them.

[I will always fight alongside him.]

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep–

Everything turned white just before the force the old man sent collided with the walls. All of the viewers watching the advertisement were left curious. What would they see next? The scene slowly changed once again. It was the scene they saw at the start of the advertisement. It showed them the old man and the young man meeting at sea, where the young man enthusiastically greeted the old man. Then, the scene that was cut off at the beginning resumed.

“Boy, who are you?”

Everyone felt that the magnificent and booming voice that decorated the video's climax was about to recite his final line.

[On that day...]

“My name is Minhyuk. What’s your name, grandpa?”

The old man smiled as he replied, “Ben.”

[...a legend has begun.]