Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 754: The Life Elixir

Joy Co. Ltd. was immediately put on alert when Mandala started to turn into the Evil Incarnate.

“Did you say that Mandala is turning into the Evil Incarnate?! What in the world is going on?!!”

“Athenae is granting him the position of the ‘Evil Incarnate’!!!”

The Story Team’s leader was very shocked to hear that. Athenae could give the position of the ‘Evil Incarnate’ to those that harbored great resentment and anger toward the gods.

From what the Story Team’s leader knew, Mandala was supposed to die while trying to escape the prison. However, he came back to life thanks to Gaerna’s Life Elixir.

“This is a disaster…” The Story Team’s leader mumbled as he rushed to the conference room.

There were plenty of people already seated inside after grasping the severity of the situation.

One of the board members said, “Isn’t the Evil Incarnate one of the hidden Absolute Gods?”

That was right. The Evil Incarnate was the hidden and final Absolute God. The Evil Incarnate was incredibly and terrifyingly strong. In fact, it was still questionable whether he could be killed if all of the Absolute Gods, including the Battle God, joined forces.

One of the Six Monster Gods, Gaerna, could actually be easily subdued as long as the Luvien Empire had stepped forward. But in the case of the Evil Incarnate? There was no way to control and subdue him.

Just when despair had started to stain the faces of everyone present, a shocking notification popped up on the monitor in front of them.

[Mandala has personally given up the position of the Evil Incarnate.]

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

It was so surprising that even President Kang Taehoon did not even think that this was possible. After all, only those that had great resentment and anger toward the gods were qualified to become the Evil Incarnate.

‘Is Mandala not angry with the gods?’

No, that was not the case at all. If that was truly the case, then the power of the Evil Incarnate would not have sprouted in him when Athenae bestowed it upon him. He was obviously furious. However, he still chose to give up on becoming the Evil Incarnate.

[The Greatest God has bestowed the position of ‘God of Alchemy’ to the qualified one!]

[Mandala has become the God of Alchemy!]

“…”

This was also a very shocking and unexpected notification. However, it was much better than Mandala becoming the Evil Incarnate. It was truly a roller coaster of emotions for the employees of Joy Co. Ltd.

[God of Alchemy Mandala pledges his eternal loyalty and allegiance to Minhyuk!]

The surprise did not end there. Mandala, who was walking toward Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, found Minhyuk and approached him. Minhyuk smiled graciously at Mandala, who was looking at him with sad, bitter eyes.

[Welcome, Mandala.]

President Kang Taehoon stood up from his seat after watching the scene. “Everyone, let’s go. It seems like things have already calmed down to some extent.”

Of course, it was not something that they should just let be. After all, Food God Minhyuk had taken in another god as his vassal. However, even if they gathered now and brainstormed about what they should do, they could tell that nothing would change.

After leaving the conference room, President Kang Taehoon went straight to where Supercomputer Athenae was. There was something that he was very curious about.

“Why didn’t Mandala become the Evil Incarnate?”

That was the question that he had no answer to.

‘Why did Mandala go to Minhyuk’s side? Why did he refuse to become the Evil Incarnate?’

President Kang Taehoon was a very busy person. In fact, he sometimes felt like 24 hours was not enough time in a day. He had lamented as such because he could not strictly monitor Minhyuk’s activities.

[Minhyuk could have taken Mandala to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom by force. However, he did not do so and chose to give him his freedom.]

“…!”

Athenae recounted the story to President Kang Taehoon. She told him how Minhyuk gave up on Mandala and his talents, and opted to give him his freedom.

[And Mandala met his daughter Leny in front of his wife’s grave. After that, he went straight to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.]

Kang Taehoon remained silent as he listened to Athenae’s voice.

[Mandala went there because he believed that he would be the happiest there.]

“I see. A player actually caught the heart of someone that could become the Evil Incarnate. Hahahahahaha!”

Kang Taehoon’s cheerful laughter echoed in the room.

***

[Mandala swears his eternal allegiance to you!]

This was the notification that rang in Minhyuk’s ears as he flashed a warm and gracious smile toward Mandala.

[Mandala is the God of Alchemy!]

[Although Mandala is recognized by Athenae to be the God of Alchemy, he still has not fully met the requirements to be fully qualified as one.]

[Once he meets the qualifications, he will be able to gain a new power!]

Mandala, someone that had a talent that even the gods coveted, had become a god. However, it seemed like he was not given the full extent of his powers yet.

‘No, maybe it’s not that he can’t use the entirety of his powers after becoming a god but it’s just that he can’t use his new powers?’

Perhaps it would be better to think that way. Minhyuk hurriedly checked Mandala’s information.

(Mandala)

Rank: God of Alchemy

Type: Vassal

Level: 664

Attack: 121

Defense

Special Abilities:

?Passive Skill: Talent in Alchemy that Surpasses the Gods

?Guidance of a Teacher

?Potion and Parchment Reproduction

?God’s Potion Creation Arts(Sealed)

?God’s Destruction Creation Arts (Sealed)

?Unconditional production of God-grade potions (Sealed)

Potential: 167

Experience Value: 25%/100%

“…”

Minhyuk was awestruck. Just like what the notification had said, the power that Mandala had gained after becoming a god had been sealed.

However, the passive skill ‘Talent in Alchemy that Surpasses the Gods’ had an effect that could make any potion that Mandala created 80% better than ordinary potions produced and manufactured by others.

In other words, if an ordinary alchemist player created a potion that could increase one’s HP by 100, Mandala’s potion would be at least 1.5x better. They would also be in the same grade!

Alchemists had a limited amount of potions that they could produce in a day. This limitation was so they could prevent players from making and selling potions in Athenae. Of course, it was not really a huge restriction. High ranking alchemists could produce at least 300 bottles of potions in a day.

Then, what about Mandala?

‘He can produce ten thousand?’

A person that could create ten thousand bottles of potion in a day was insane to think about. Then, there was the Guidance of a Teacher.

‘The rate at which the students that will learn alchemy under him will grow 50% faster than normal…’

Of course, the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom already had plenty of alchemists under their command. Alchemy was a very important field in a nation and that was especially the case for soldiers. After all, the soldiers’ death rate would be drastically reduced while their hunting efficiency would increase if they received an effective potion.

Then, there was the Potion and Parchment Reproduction. It was a skill that could allow Mandala to replicate a potion or a parchment for a set number, depending on their grade. Mandala could replicate normal potions 100 times, magic potions 50 times, rare potions 30 times, epic potions ten times, legendary potions two times, and god potions one time. The skill could only be used once every six months. Even though the cooldown was long, it was still an overpowered skill.

The pure white robe that adorned Mandala’s body, a gift from Athenae, carried the symbol of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. After being tidied up, Mandala, with his hair gently falling down his shoulders, looked handsome compared to his earlier scruffy appearance. This was the new God of Alchemy.

Minhyuk looked around and saw how everyone witnessed the birth of the God of Alchemy.

[The Beyond the Heavens Kingdom is one step closer to establishing an empire.]

[I can only say that I’m speechless. Speechless after witnessing the crazy steps that the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom had taken forward right now.]

[We can expect a huge influx of alchemists, both players and NPCs, in the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. They’re probably hoping that they will be able to learn some special alchemy skills from the God of Alchemy.]

That was right. With the God of Alchemy in their ranks, there would be plenty of players and NPC alchemists that would flock to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.

Amidst everyone’s stare, Mandala and Minhyuk walked inside the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.

***

Minhyuk told Mandala to go and rest. However, Mandala said, “I have rested for far too long inside the prison. Your Majesty, please allow me to meet with your alchemists instead.”

Mandala had died and was subsequently resurrected and freed by Minhyuk. Somewhere along the way, he became the God of Alchemy. He wanted to do something.

Minhyuk nodded along and led him toward the kingdom’s alchemy facility. When they entered, they were greeted by the busy scene of alchemists producing and manufacturing potions.

There were around three hundred alchemists under the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom’s banner. Most of them had been hired and were paid to create potions between normal grade and magic grade. Only by doing so would they be able to distribute them to the soldiers.

Minhyuk picked up one of the potion bottles and inspected it.

(Beyond the Heavens Kingdom’s Alchemists’ Advanced Potion)

Rank: Rare

Requirements: Level 300 or higher.

Special Abilities:

?HP and MP will recover by 25%.

?Vitality will increase by 20%.

Description: This is a high grade potion produced by the alchemists of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.

With a potion like this, they would be able to receive a platinum from the high-leveled players. After all, most potions that granted recovery in percentages would often have enormous value. However, even though they were in the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, they could only produce around thirty of this type of potion every day.

Mandala also checked the details of the potion. Then, he dabbed a finger and tasted the potion, and the look of having tasted something awful flashed on his face.

“As expected.”

“What’s the matter, Mandala? Is there something wrong?”

“Can I tweak this potion?”

Minhyuk nodded readily. After gaining his approval, Mandala moved to the place where advanced potions were being made.

Crackle—

Mandala lit the flames and said, “From what I can tell, this potion seems to be made using some Phoenix Claws, Undine’s Tears and Arrancar’s Tail as ingredients. Am I correct?”

The alchemist stationed on the table looked at Mandala with wide eyes as he answered, “Y, yes. That’s, that’s correct.”

“These ingredients definitely have good effects. However, Arrancar’s Tail and Undine’s Tears would often reduce the potion’s special effects to create a synergistic effect. If you drop a mandragora leaf here, then…”

Shwaaaaaaaaaaa—

The moment the small leaf entered the potion battle…

[The Beyond the Heavens Kingdom’s Advanced Potion has been changed!]

Minhyuk hurriedly approached them to check the details of the potion.

(Beyond the Heavens Kingdom’s Alchemists’ Advanced Potion)

Rank: Rare

Requirements: Level 300 or higher.

Special Abilities:

?HP and MP will recover by 34%.

?Vitality will increase by 29%.

Description: This is a high grade potion produced by the alchemists of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. God of Alchemy Mandala has made some changes to the potion.

“…!”

“…Heoooook!”

“Keheoook!”

“Im, Impossible…!”

Mandala just did a little tweaking, but the HP and MP recovery had increased by 9%. Even the vitality increase was boosted sharply. However, the most important takeaway here was the fact that none of the rare grade potions could be considered as outstanding as the potion that Mandala had tweaked. Both Minhyuk and the alchemists were very shocked with this.

‘I really obtained a great talent!’

Mandala simply dropped a leaf but the effects of the potion changed drastically. What more would happen if Mandala led and taught the alchemists of the kingdom?

[Alchemists from the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom dream of having Mandala as their teacher.]

[If Mandala becomes their teacher the Guidance of a Teacher will allow them to grow at an explosive rate.]

Then, Mandala asked, “Your Majesty, can I stay here and help them?”

Minhyuk, of course, nodded willingly. Then, he started smacking his lips as he recalled something.

The truth was, Minhyuk had a dream. He had asked the alchemists to create many things so far. But each and every one of his requests had failed. It was very hard to keep the effects of the potions while making them the way that he wanted.

“Since we’re at it, can you make a potion like this?!”

“…?” Mandala looked puzzled when he was met with Minhyuk’s eyes that were filled with great anticipation.

‘What in the world…?’

When he heard Minhyuk’s request, he could barely believe his ears. However, he could see the deep longing in Minhyuk’s eyes. So, Mandala sighed to himself and resigned himself to the task with a brief nod.

“I’ll try to make one.”

Mandala started to manufacture a potion right in front of Minhyuk. In less than an hour, he was able to create a top-grade potion.

(Mandala’s Top Grade Potion)

Grade: Epic

Requirements: Level 300 or higher.

Special Abilities:

?HP and MP will recover by 54%.

?Vitality will increase by 37%.

.

?Tastes like Pocari Sweet.

Description: An amazing potion created by God of Alchemy Mandala.

“…”

Minhyuk was thrilled! His body started to tremble as his breathing turned ragged. Slowly, ever so slowly, he took a sip of the potion that Mandala had made. The moment the potion entered his mouth, a sweet and refreshing flavor spread in his mouth. It was the flavor of the masterpiece of sports and ion drinks, Pocari Sweet!

“Sob. Finally…”

Minhyuk had hoped and longed for a delicious potion that he could drink easily! Generally, potions tasted bitter, with some tasting like a bad mixture of several drinks. It was as if all healthy things had to taste bitter. This had been Minhyuk’s greatest woe, a problem that no other alchemist had ever managed to solve, which was the creation of a delicious potion!

“Then, does this mean that I can drink Powerdade-flavored potion, Coca-cora-flavored potion, Hanta-flavored potions now?” Minhyuk wondered aloud, his body trembling in excitement as he clasped Mandala’s hands.

“…”

Cold sweat started to drip down Mandala’s back.

‘What’s wrong with this king? I haven’t seen anyone act like this before? Have I made the wrong choice?!’

Minhyuk, overcome with emotion, said with a tear dripping down his cheek, “Mandala! I have chosen your position!”

“…”

A slight expectation bloomed in Mandala’s chest. He was a legendary alchemist. Someone with a talent in alchemy that even the gods were jealous of. He even became the God of Alchemy. What would his position be?

“Beverage Manufacturing Plant Director!”

“???”

“Mandala! You will be the Beverage Manufacturing Plant Director!!!”

Mandala, a talented individual that the gods coveted, had become the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom’s Beverage Manufacturing Plant Director.