Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 1189

Chapter 1189

As he listened to Perrin’s story, Minhyuk realized that Herakel’s setting was 80% similar to Hercules’. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Lord Herakel’s wife and three children all died by his hands.”

And the more he listened to Perrin, the more Minhyuk felt his heart ache.

“Of course, everything happened because of Hera. But when Lord Herakel realized that he had killed his wife and children, he immediately tried to take his own life.”

This was a different point from Hercules’ original story. In the original story, Hercules tried to kill himself. However, Theseus, who was also present, restrained him. But in Athenae, Herakel could live and survive because Perrin stopped him from killing himself.

“Lord Herakel was given twelve tasks to atone for his sins. He completed each task one after another. But when he finished the eleventh task, the manipulative and shrewd Hera had said he could never wash away his sins. She turned him into a newborn, one that was lacking, and dropped him on another continent. If he comes back alive from that place, she will then make him support the sky until he turns into stone and dies.”

But Minhyuk could not understand one thing. He said, “If that’s the case, he can choose not to return.”

“Hera made sure that he would have no choice but to return. She told him that she would torment the souls of his wife and daughters in hell for the rest of his life.”

Minhyuk’s expression grew somber. If that were the case, Herakel would return and hold up the sky until he turned into stone and died. At that moment, Herakel’s image flashed in Minhyuk’s head.

–Herakel! Endure Herakel’s club!

A man with a considerable build but a heart like a child.

–Herakel has sold a lot today!

Conir, surprised by his words, raised his thumb in praise.

–Wow! Herakel’s amazing.

–I’m amazing! Wow!

Minhyuk’s heart ached at the thought of the two.

“Is there no way for us to save him?”

“I can only think of one way.”

“What is it?”

“Clearing Hera's Dungeon.”

“Hera's Dungeon?”

“When Hera saw Lord Herakel complete all but the final task, she created this dungeon.”

Hercules was hailed as the greatest hero of Greco-Roman mythology because he completed all twelve tasks. But it was a bit different here.

“According to Hera, the one who can clear this dungeon will become the greatest hero of the continent, the God of Heroes.”

“Are you telling me to become the hero?”

Perrin shook his head. “No. Hera’s words are a lie. She just packaged it like that. She made it look as if that’s the case on the surface. But the truth is that he is living at the end of Hera's Dungeon.”

“He?”

“Hephaestus.”

Minhyuk was also very familiar with this god. He was the son of Hera, the God of Blacksmiths on the Gaia continent. According to the myths, Hera dropped him from the sky at birth because she found him too ugly, which caused him to have a limp.

“Hephaestus is trapped in the depths of Hera's Dungeon. He’s locked up there making artifacts, accessories, and jewelry for the gods. He has, and will always, remain there.”

“No way. Are you saying that Hera locked him up there?” Minhyuk was incredulous.

Perrin nodded. Hephaestus was Hera’s child. But she had trapped Hephaestus where no one could find him.

“He was close with Lord Herakel. Perhaps he’s the only one who knows of a way to save Lord Herakel.”

Minhyuk’s next destination was thus decided.

Then, Perrin said, “From what I heard, anyone who clears Hera's Dungeon will be able to obtain a Golden Apple.”

Minhyuk was also familiar with the golden apple.

“The Golden Apple contains the power to help someone reach the next realm.”

This power could be a skill or an absurd amount of EXP.

“It’s also said to be the most delicious apple in the world.”

Usually, Minhyuk’s mouth would have already started to water at the mention of the words “most delicious.” But his top priority right now was saving Herakel, not the Golden Apple. On top of all that, there was a fascinating fact about this dungeon.

“Hera loves mocking all of the dungeon challengers. Also, she believes that she’s the greatest god.”

Arrogance and jealousy. Those were the words that best described Hera.

“The moment someone enters her dungeon, she will say, ‘I will let you borrow the power of the most outstanding person you know.’ If you, who borrowed that power, clears her dungeon, she will give you one of her accessories. But if you fail, then she will take your life and hand your soul over to Hades and turn you into their slaves forever.”

When he heard the words ‘person that you know,’ several people popped into Minhyuk’s head. But after thinking about it, he believed that there was only one person suited for this the most.

Before leaving, Minhyuk looked at Perrin and asked, “What kind of person was Herakel?”

Perrin smiled faintly as he recalled his memories with Herakel. He said, “I am a member of the Giant race. However, I loathe the Giants. There was a time when I and Herakel were locked in a fierce battle and surrounded by seven giants.”

Minhyuk listened carefully as Perrin recalled a story about Herakel.

“My body was in tatters, and Lord Herakel was in danger. Back then, I thought that I would die, and I was terrified of that. Then, Lord Herakel put his hand on my shoulder and said...”

What did Herakel say? What remarkable words did he say that Perrin could still remember today?

With a small smile, Perrin continued, “I’m going to make a break for it, so buy me some time.”

“...?”

“I still can’t forget it to this day. After throwing me to the other giants, Lord Herakel ran away as fast as he could. Back then, I thought, ‘F*cker...’ But then, I realized that I could not die right there and then. I was so disgusted by Lord Herakel that I was able to survive through the ordeal.”

‘Why are you talking about it as if you’re reminiscing about a good memory?’ Minhyuk was dumbfounded.

“When I returned, he hugged me in tears and said...” Perrin said, a small smile still on his face.

‘Right. Herakel is not a bad kid...’

“I was trying to raise you to become stronger.”

“...”

Anyway, Minhyuk headed straight toward Hera’s Dungeon.

***

Atlas initially supported the sky of the Gaia Continent. But the exhausted Atlas could no longer hold on. He left his post, and now it was time for Herakel to support the sky.

Herakel loudly grunted when he stepped up and supported the sky for the first time. The overwhelming weight was enough to make him groan. Even his knees seemed to creak, and he complained about how heavy it was.

“Herakel, the weight of the sky is too much for you to support with your power alone. So, to take on this weight, you have to accept that you will become a stone and remain here to support it forever.”

“My mother raised me to be strong.”

“???”

Hera looked at Herakel in confusion and thought, ‘What nonsense is this bastard spouting? I am the mother, and you are the child; what the hell are you on about? Anyway...’

“Are you not going to tell this mother of yours about what happened to you in the other continent?”

Herakel remained silent.

“What a pity. I wondered how you were treated there, especially since you were clearly lacking in that continent.” Hera smirked. “Perhaps you’re not telling me because you have lived a difficult life there?”

Hera deliberately made it so Herakel would never forget the memories of his life on the other continent. But unbeknownst to her, a smile lurked at the corner of Herakel’s lips. His life on the other continent was wonderful and warm. He believed he did not deserve to live such a life, so he did not want to tell her about it.

Hera was one of Olympus’ Twelve Gods. The Twelve Gods could be considered the equivalent of the Absolute Gods in the other continent.

“Whether it's the gods or the humans, they’re all the same. If someone is weaker, lesser, and lacking than they are, they will discard them and trample on them. I wonder what kind of life you lived there?”

Herakel remained silent as he continued to support the sky.

Then, at that moment, a look of interest flashed on Hera’s face. She said, “It seems like another fool has entered my dungeon.”

Hera slowly waved her hand. At the same time, the situation inside the dungeon appeared on the ground. There, they saw a man walking inside.

Thud, thud, thud–!

Herakel, who had heard the sound of footsteps ringing on the ground, turned to look. What he saw made his pupils shake.

‘Your Majesty... why?’

Why did he come to Hera’s Dungeon? If a foreigner challenged Hera’s Dungeon and failed, they would face huge penalties. Minhyuk heard the notifications about it, but he did not stop. He marched inside Hera’s Dungeon with an imposing aura and a sharp glare.

“A foreigner from another continent. He must be one of the people who came to the Gorodis Kingdom.”

Hera had heard a bit about the story regarding the Gorodis Kingdom and had a rough understanding of the matter.

“He must have heard the rumors about the Golden Apple. His heart is filled with greed, and he must be under the illusion that he will be able to become the God of Heroes and obtain one of my accessories.”

A small smile appeared on Hera’s lips.

“Thousands of Gaia Continent’s powerhouses have challenged this dungeon. But the truth is none of them has ever done or completed the trials related to the eleven tasks you have done.”

That was the truth.

Herakel was not Hera’s child. This fact bolstered her fear of his power.

“I believe this will be very interesting. Another person blinded by his greed will fall and die, unable to complete those tasks.”

“Are you sure?” Herakel said, his words leaving Hera puzzled.

‘Did you come here to eat the Golden Apple?’

Herakel smiled faintly. He loved and cherished this man, who loved to eat. However, he failed to say his goodbyes before he left. That was why he was pleased to be able to see him, even if it was in a situation like this.

‘I hope you eat a lot of delicious things every day.

‘I hope you can live happily every day.

‘I hope you can be loved by many people every day.’

Suddenly, Herakel’s heart ached and throbbed. Because he had been with him not too long ago, he had smiled and cried and lived the happiest time in the world by his side.

Hera said that he did not have anything. She said that in the world, someone who was lacking would live a poor and pitiful life. But what Herakel received in that world was far too much and far too many. The love that he received was so overwhelming that he felt as if he was not deserving of such love.

The man who entered the dungeon was none other than Minhyuk. With a grim expression, he spoke with his God’s Voice.

[Hera. Are you listening?]

“...How dare you!” Hera shouted, her face growing ugly.

She was one of the greatest gods in the Gaia Continent. How dare this bastard call her by her name?

[I am Herakel’s friend.]

“...?!”

Hera’s eyes snapped open, her head whipping back to look at Herakel, who could not take his eyes off Minhyuk.

[I have heard quite a lot of stories before coming here.]

He took one step after another and went deeper and deeper into the dungeon. Finally, he stopped in his tracks. Then, a series of notifications rang in the man’s ears.

[The trials related to the Eleven Tasks have started in Hera’s Dungeon.]

[You will receive a reward for every trial out of the eleven trials you complete.]

[The trials are duplicates of the Eleven Tasks.]

[If you complete all tasks, you will receive the Title: God of Heroes.]

But Minhyuk ignored them all.

[I heard that you have hurt Herakel deeply.]

Herakel’s pupils shook. He did not come to the dungeon for the Golden Apple.

[You made Herakel use his own hands to kill his own family.]

Hera’s face turned red.

[And after he completed eleven of the tasks, you forced him to hold the sky up.]

“Impudent bastard from another continent! How dare you! Herakel! Who is this trash?!”

[And you told him that if he did not complete all of his tasks, you would make his already dead family suffer even in hell.]

Minhyuk, who was in the dungeon, held his sword tightly. He had no idea that Herakel was currently with Hera.

At this moment, a warmth gushed and enveloped Herakel’s heart when he looked at him. The question that Herakel asked himself countless times popped into his head again.

Aside from him, Minhyuk had countless vassals who loved and cared for him deeply. Perhaps he was just one of the many passers-by in this man’s life. On top of that, because of his ridiculous strength, he often broke many things in the Beyond the Heavens Empire. He could not even adapt well and mix with the competent vassals of the Beyond the Heavens Empire because he was lacking and had an intellectual disability.

Minhyuk’s voice rang out.

[I will make you pay a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand times.]

[I will make it so you will kneel and apologize in front of him.]

[The First Trial has started.]

[The Second Trial has been duplicated.]

[The Third Trial has been duplicated.]

[The Fourth Trial has been duplicated.]

[The Fifth Trial has been duplicated.]

[The Sixth Trial has been duplicated.]

[The Seventh Trial is...]

“...!”

Hera’s already wide-open eyes grew even wider. Meanwhile, Herakel had tears flowing down his face.

[Is this it? Are these the things that you used to make Herakel suffer?]

Standing in front of Minhyuk were the Nemesis’ Immortal Lion, the Nine-headed Hydra, the Artemis’ Deer, the Erymanthius’ Boar, the Stymphalian Lake’s Monstrous Birds, the Cretan Bull, and many more. Every single one was Gaia Continent’s Named Monsters, which were tricky to deal with.

Hera, shocked by Minhyuk’s majestic and overwhelming momentum, returned to her senses. Then, she began to cackle loudly. “Ah... Ahahahahahahaha! Herakel! You’re very obvious! Did you serve that human?! What a moron! He’s quite an idiot, isn’t he?! As expected, you have lived quite a pitiful and rough life in the other continent...”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” the teary Herakel said.

Minhyuk stepped toward the Nemesis’ Immortal Lion, which possessed an immortal body with five-meter-long fangs. This monster, with a level of Level 840, leaped toward Minhyuk. Before it could land, its entire body was quickly torn apart, with its blood spraying all over the place.

“He’s the emperor of an empire.”

Hera’s face slowly twisted and grew ugly.

“He is the Food God. But not only that. He is also the greatest god of the other continent, the Battle God.”

At the same time, around twenty members of the Immortal Knight Order appeared. Herakel tried to say, ‘He is the monarch that I serve and follow.’ but he heard Minhyuk speak first.

[You f*cking b*tch, you dared to touch my younger brother. I will never let you go.]

“...”

Herakel silently stared at Minhyuk for a very long time. Then, he said, “He... is my hyung.”