The notifications rang nonstop in Food God Minhyuk’s ears. There were also world messages interspersed among them. However, Minhyuk did not have the time to check those messages right now.
One look around and he could tell that most of the Swords of the Gods had received severe injuries. One was limping, and someone was holding onto their arm that was going to fall off. Even Knight Commander Don was left speechless by the disastrous turn of events that led to this. He and the Swords of the Gods would be left crippled, on top of being unable to take Mandala away.
The worst was that Mandala was on his knees and was on the brink of dying. His tears that were dripping down his chin were a testament to how afraid he was of death. Amidst the crippling despair and misery, Mandala felt his senses slowly fade away. When a person was dying, their senses would disappear one after another, with hearing the last to disappear.
For a moment, Mandala thought that he saw his wife, Beinny, appear in front of his own dying figure. He could see her standing under the clear blue sky with the green grass around them, with a beautiful smile on her face that seemed to outshine everything else.
‘Mandala, what should we name this child?’
‘If it’s a girl, then let’s name them Leny. If it’s a boy, then let’s name them Ford.’
All he wanted was for his wife and daughter to live happily for a very long time. But the gods had taken that away from him. Mandala hated the gods even at this moment as he inched closer to death.
[The Lowest God’s voice is echoing in your ears.]
“Mandala.”
Someone seemed to be calling out to him, the gentle and warm voice washing away the fear in Mandala.
[The Lowest God’s name is Food God.]
[The Lowest God is showing you care.]
Mandala hated the gods. They were selfish and petty beings. However, this god was patting his head and giving him warmth.
The Lowest God spoke in a soft voice, “You are free now.”
Pop—
Something flowed down his throat, along with an unknown sound ringing in his ears. Then, his senses, which had started to disappear, came back once again.
That was when Mandala saw the lowest, yet somehow the greatest, god kneeling in front of him with a bitter and soft smile on his face.
“…”
Knight Commander Don and the Swords of the Gods were rendered speechless. This was because they knew the meaning of the words that Minhyuk had said just now.
‘Is he saying that he won’t take him to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom?’
‘Even though he saved Mandala’s life?’
‘No way. That’s definitely not the case.’
However, Minhyuk drove it deeper with his following words.
“On behalf of the gods that persecuted you and locked you up in this place, because they were jealous of your talents, I apologize.”
Minhyuk grabbed Mandala’s hand. He had heard the man mutter to himself, even on the brink of death, about how his wife and daughter were, about how he just wanted to live a normal life.
“I will not ask you to come to our Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. And…” Minhyuk turned his head to look at Don and the Swords of the Gods. “So will they. Mandala. You are now free. Go, go and find the traces of your family. I will definitely help you.”
“…”
Mandala could not say anything.
[Some of the gods that have trapped Mandala are looking at the Lowest God in anger!]
[They may become hostile toward you for tarnishing their reputation!]
Mandala also heard how those self-centered and selfish gods would try to restrict and restrain Minhyuk. However, Minhyuk just looked at the sky above them and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to punish those damn gods that put you in this situation.”
Mandala stared at Minhyuk’s soft and gentle eyes. Then, a soft smile appeared on Minhyuk’s face as he said, “But before that, I have a favor to ask you. Please save them.”
Minhyuk turned around and looked at the Swords of the Gods, whose bodies were ripped apart and broken down by the Great Spirit. Mandala was the one who created the Mandala’s Elixir. Healing them was but an easy thing.
Mandala slowly nodded. “I understand.”
He had been locked up in this prison for a very long time. Because of that, he was able to create many potions. Mandala slowly approached Beloch. Beloch’s bones were broken. One look and one could tell that he was having a hard time moving. Mandala poured the contents of one of his potions and let Beloch drink it. At that moment, Beloch, who was struggling from the throbbing pain brought about by his broken bones, felt his bones move and rebuild themselves.
“…”
At the same time, he felt greed for Mandala. However, Beloch knew his position. Only Minhyuk could ask Mandala to go with him. Because he was the one who saved Mandala.
This time, Mandala approached the Sword, who got both of his legs pierced through by spears and poured potion directly on the gaping flesh.
Sizzle—
As the potion washed over the gaping wound, new flesh regenerated, and it was healed. Everything happened in a blink of an eye, bringing a huge shock to everyone. That was how ridiculously powerful Mandala’s potions were. Of course, those potions were not something that Mandala could make freely.
Then, Mandala moved on. This time, it was Revor. He had lost one eye during the battle with the Great Spirit. It had gone completely blind. He was taken aback to be able to see the world again just after the potion washed over his eyes. With that, Mandala had saved everyone.
Knight Commander Don and the Swords of the Gods looked at Minhyuk and Mandala in gratitude. That was especially the case for Minhyuk. This was because Minhyuk was the one who saved Mandala with a mysterious potion, who in turn saved the rest with his own potions.
In other words, Minhyuk had indirectly become a benefactor to all of them once again.
[You have received Beloch’s favor.]
[Your favor with Beloch has already reached MAX.]
[…Revor’s favor.]
[Your favor with Revor has already…]
Meanwhile, Mandala was wondering to himself. He knew that even with the Mandala’s Elixir, the elixir that he made, he would not be able to save himself. After all, he was already as good as dead earlier.
‘How was he able to save me with a potion?’
“It’s an item I got from the Six Monster Gods. It’s Gaerna’s Life Elixir.”
“…”
Mandala had heard about Gaerna’s Life Elixir. It was a potion that could save even the dead. It was basically a potion with a value that could not be measured. However, the man in front of Mandala had given him the potion so readily.
‘You are free now.’
Mandala’s preconception about the gods had started to change. To be exact, his views about Minhyuk had started to change. In response, Mandala said, “You can have everything here.”
“…?!”
“…!”
“…!”
Knight Commander Don and the Swords of the Gods were all petrified with shock. Those words meant that Minhyuk would receive all of the potions that Mandala had created himself.
[You have become the owner of all of the potions that exist inside the prison.]
[You have acquired the ‘Blue Liquid Salt’ through Mandala’s Treasure Hunting Map.]
[You have acquired 485 Mandala’s Bomb Solution.]
[You have acquired 2 Potions of Destruction.]
[You have acquired 57 Mandala’s Panacea for the Developing One.]
[…Mandala’s…]
[…Mandala’s…]
[…Mandala’s…]
As he listened to the notifications that rang in his ears, Minhyuk realized just how astronomical the value of the items in this prison was. Then, Minhyuk received a whisper.
[Abel: Minhyuk, I found it.]
Minhyuk had immediately asked for Informant Abel’s help the moment he heard Mandala’s words earlier. For Informant Abel, cases where he needed ‘Ordinary Information’ could be easily found within thirty minutes through a hologram.
Minhyuk wrote down the information that he received and handed it over to Mandala. “Go here. What you’re looking for is here.”
Mandala looked at the note for a very long time. He held onto the paper tightly and nodded while biting his trembling lips. Then, he slowly walked out of the prison.
Knight Commander Don and the Swords of the Gods’ jaws dropped open.
‘He’s really just going to let the man go like this?! That excellent and very talented Mandala?!’
Mandala looked back at Minhyuk as he was departing and asked, “What is the name of your kingdom?”
“It’s the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.”
Mandala reflected on the name as he completely walked out and escaped the prison. Seeing him disappear, Knight Commander Don and the Swords of the Gods looked helpless.
“Is it… really alright to send him away like that?”
Minhyuk looked puzzled at Don’s question. So, Don continued, “If you take Mandala to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, you will be able to gain a lot of power.”
“Don. What you said is just proving what Mandala was saying earlier, no? That you’re going to lock him up and force him to make potions?”
“But… Your Majesty, Gaerna’s Life Elixir is a very valuable…”
“I have also received a lot. Besides…” Minhyuk looked at the place that Mandala disappeared from. “What’s good in having someone by your side when you haven’t won their hearts?”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Those words struck the hearts of Don and the Swords of the Gods deeply. They felt like they finally knew why there were many talented people that stayed in the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, and why they were all willing to throw everything away for Minhyuk’s sake.
/p>
As for Minhyuk, there was this indescribable feeling welling up in him, telling him that he would be able to meet Mandala again.
***
Mandala realized that seventy years had passed since he had been locked up. Following what was written on the piece of parchment that Minhyuk handed over to him, he was able to arrive at a quaint village.
The village was so small that it did not take too long for Mandala to find the person that he wanted to find. However, that person was not at home. So, Mandala asked the people and went to where she was.
There, he saw two tombstones. One of the two tombstones had the words ‘Dearly Beloved Mother, Beinny’. Standing in front of the tombstone was a lady with a head filled with white hair. She was standing and looking at the two tombstones silently while holding an old fairy tale book in her hands. The moment Mandala saw her, he knew that she was his daughter, Leny.
“You’re finally here, Father.”
“…”
Mandala was surprised to hear that Leny, who had now become an old lady herself, could recognize him. However, that did not stop him from hugging his daughter and crying his heart out for a very long time.
After talking with his daughter, he found out the reason why she was able to recognize him. Leny handed over the fairy tale book in her arms and said, “Mother wrote this fairy tale book. So that we won’t forget you.”
“…”
Mandala held the fairy tale book and slowly started to read it.
[A long, long time ago, there was a man living in a small village who liked to make potions.]
[One day, that man fell in love with a woman.]
[The man climbed mountains and crossed seas to make a potion for the sick and frail woman.]
[The man created a potion that shocked even the gods.]
[And one day, the man suddenly disappeared.]
[The people said that the gods were jealous of the man and took him away.]
[Time went by, and the woman gave birth to a beautiful daughter.]
[The woman believed that even if the man was not by their side, everything that she had right now was because the man loved her.]
[The daughter grew up listening to the man’s heroic story.]
[And finally, one day, the man that disappeared came back.]
[The cool and handsome father, the beautiful and kind mother, and Leny lived happily ever after.]
It was a fairy tale book that started and ended with a childish tone. However, Mandala knew that the gods had erased everything related to him in the memories of the people. It seemed like before his wife, Beinny, could forget, she made this fairy tale book to remember him by.
Mandala turned to look at the tomb that was right beside Beinny’s own. It was a tomb that was made for him. The words written on the tombstone were the same words written at the end of the fairy tale book.
[We will always remember you, Mandala.]
The notifications rang nonstop in Food God Minhyuk’s ears. There were also world messages interspersed among them. However, Minhyuk did not have the time to check those messages right now.
One look around and he could tell that most of the Swords of the Gods had received severe injuries. One was limping, and someone was holding onto their arm that was going to fall off. Even Knight Commander Don was left speechless by the disastrous turn of events that led to this. He and the Swords of the Gods would be left crippled, on top of being unable to take Mandala away.
The worst was that Mandala was on his knees and was on the brink of dying. His tears that were dripping down his chin were a testament to how afraid he was of death. Amidst the crippling despair and misery, Mandala felt his senses slowly fade away. When a person was dying, their senses would disappear one after another, with hearing the last to disappear.
For a moment, Mandala thought that he saw his wife, Beinny, appear in front of his own dying figure. He could see her standing under the clear blue sky with the green grass around them, with a beautiful smile on her face that seemed to outshine everything else.
‘Mandala, what should we name this child?’
‘If it’s a girl, then let’s name them Leny. If it’s a boy, then let’s name them Ford.’
All he wanted was for his wife and daughter to live happily for a very long time. But the gods had taken that away from him. Mandala hated the gods even at this moment as he inched closer to death.
[The Lowest God’s voice is echoing in your ears.]
“Mandala.”
Someone seemed to be calling out to him, the gentle and warm voice washing away the fear in Mandala.
[The Lowest God’s name is Food God.]
[The Lowest God is showing you care.]
Mandala hated the gods. They were selfish and petty beings. However, this god was patting his head and giving him warmth.
The Lowest God spoke in a soft voice, “You are free now.”
Pop—
Something flowed down his throat, along with an unknown sound ringing in his ears. Then, his senses, which had started to disappear, came back once again.
That was when Mandala saw the lowest, yet somehow the greatest, god kneeling in front of him with a bitter and soft smile on his face.
“…”
Knight Commander Don and the Swords of the Gods were rendered speechless. This was because they knew the meaning of the words that Minhyuk had said just now.
‘Is he saying that he won’t take him to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom?’
‘Even though he saved Mandala’s life?’
‘No way. That’s definitely not the case.’
However, Minhyuk drove it deeper with his following words.
“On behalf of the gods that persecuted you and locked you up in this place, because they were jealous of your talents, I apologize.”
Minhyuk grabbed Mandala’s hand. He had heard the man mutter to himself, even on the brink of death, about how his wife and daughter were, about how he just wanted to live a normal life.
“I will not ask you to come to our Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. And…” Minhyuk turned his head to look at Don and the Swords of the Gods. “So will they. Mandala. You are now free. Go, go and find the traces of your family. I will definitely help you.”
“…”
Mandala could not say anything.
[Some of the gods that have trapped Mandala are looking at the Lowest God in anger!]
[They may become hostile toward you for tarnishing their reputation!]
Mandala also heard how those self-centered and selfish gods would try to restrict and restrain Minhyuk. However, Minhyuk just looked at the sky above them and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to punish those damn gods that put you in this situation.”
Mandala stared at Minhyuk’s soft and gentle eyes. Then, a soft smile appeared on Minhyuk’s face as he said, “But before that, I have a favor to ask you. Please save them.”
Minhyuk turned around and looked at the Swords of the Gods, whose bodies were ripped apart and broken down by the Great Spirit. Mandala was the one who created the Mandala’s Elixir. Healing them was but an easy thing.
Mandala slowly nodded. “I understand.”
He had been locked up in this prison for a very long time. Because of that, he was able to create many potions. Mandala slowly approached Beloch. Beloch’s bones were broken. One look and one could tell that he was having a hard time moving. Mandala poured the contents of one of his potions and let Beloch drink it. At that moment, Beloch, who was struggling from the throbbing pain brought about by his broken bones, felt his bones move and rebuild themselves.
“…”
At the same time, he felt greed for Mandala. However, Beloch knew his position. Only Minhyuk could ask Mandala to go with him. Because he was the one who saved Mandala.
This time, Mandala approached the Sword, who got both of his legs pierced through by spears and poured potion directly on the gaping flesh.
Sizzle—
As the potion washed over the gaping wound, new flesh regenerated, and it was healed. Everything happened in a blink of an eye, bringing a huge shock to everyone. That was how ridiculously powerful Mandala’s potions were. Of course, those potions were not something that Mandala could make freely.
Then, Mandala moved on. This time, it was Revor. He had lost one eye during the battle with the Great Spirit. It had gone completely blind. He was taken aback to be able to see the world again just after the potion washed over his eyes. With that, Mandala had saved everyone.
Knight Commander Don and the Swords of the Gods looked at Minhyuk and Mandala in gratitude. That was especially the case for Minhyuk. This was because Minhyuk was the one who saved Mandala with a mysterious potion, who in turn saved the rest with his own potions.
In other words, Minhyuk had indirectly become a benefactor to all of them once again.
[You have received Beloch’s favor.]
[Your favor with Beloch has already reached MAX.]
[…Revor’s favor.]
[Your favor with Revor has already…]
Meanwhile, Mandala was wondering to himself. He knew that even with the Mandala’s Elixir, the elixir that he made, he would not be able to save himself. After all, he was already as good as dead earlier.
‘How was he able to save me with a potion?’
“It’s an item I got from the Six Monster Gods. It’s Gaerna’s Life Elixir.”
“…”
Mandala had heard about Gaerna’s Life Elixir. It was a potion that could save even the dead. It was basically a potion with a value that could not be measured. However, the man in front of Mandala had given him the potion so readily.
‘You are free now.’
Mandala’s preconception about the gods had started to change. To be exact, his views about Minhyuk had started to change. In response, Mandala said, “You can have everything here.”
“…?!”
“…!”
“…!”
Knight Commander Don and the Swords of the Gods were all petrified with shock. Those words meant that Minhyuk would receive all of the potions that Mandala had created himself.
[You have become the owner of all of the potions that exist inside the prison.]
[You have acquired the ‘Blue Liquid Salt’ through Mandala’s Treasure Hunting Map.]
[You have acquired 485 Mandala’s Bomb Solution.]
[You have acquired 2 Potions of Destruction.]
[You have acquired 57 Mandala’s Panacea for the Developing One.]
[…Mandala’s…]
[…Mandala’s…]
[…Mandala’s…]
As he listened to the notifications that rang in his ears, Minhyuk realized just how astronomical the value of the items in this prison was. Then, Minhyuk received a whisper.
[Abel: Minhyuk, I found it.]
Minhyuk had immediately asked for Informant Abel’s help the moment he heard Mandala’s words earlier. For Informant Abel, cases where he needed ‘Ordinary Information’ could be easily found within thirty minutes through a hologram.
Minhyuk wrote down the information that he received and handed it over to Mandala. “Go here. What you’re looking for is here.”
Mandala looked at the note for a very long time. He held onto the paper tightly and nodded while biting his trembling lips. Then, he slowly walked out of the prison.
Knight Commander Don and the Swords of the Gods’ jaws dropped open.
‘He’s really just going to let the man go like this?! That excellent and very talented Mandala?!’
Mandala looked back at Minhyuk as he was departing and asked, “What is the name of your kingdom?”
“It’s the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.”
Mandala reflected on the name as he completely walked out and escaped the prison. Seeing him disappear, Knight Commander Don and the Swords of the Gods looked helpless.
“Is it… really alright to send him away like that?”
Minhyuk looked puzzled at Don’s question. So, Don continued, “If you take Mandala to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, you will be able to gain a lot of power.”
“Don. What you said is just proving what Mandala was saying earlier, no? That you’re going to lock him up and force him to make potions?”
“But… Your Majesty, Gaerna’s Life Elixir is a very valuable…”
“I have also received a lot. Besides…” Minhyuk looked at the place that Mandala disappeared from. “What’s good in having someone by your side when you haven’t won their hearts?”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Those words struck the hearts of Don and the Swords of the Gods deeply. They felt like they finally knew why there were many talented people that stayed in the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, and why they were all willing to throw everything away for Minhyuk’s sake.
/p>
As for Minhyuk, there was this indescribable feeling welling up in him, telling him that he would be able to meet Mandala again.
***
Mandala realized that seventy years had passed since he had been locked up. Following what was written on the piece of parchment that Minhyuk handed over to him, he was able to arrive at a quaint village.
The village was so small that it did not take too long for Mandala to find the person that he wanted to find. However, that person was not at home. So, Mandala asked the people and went to where she was.
There, he saw two tombstones. One of the two tombstones had the words ‘Dearly Beloved Mother, Beinny’. Standing in front of the tombstone was a lady with a head filled with white hair. She was standing and looking at the two tombstones silently while holding an old fairy tale book in her hands. The moment Mandala saw her, he knew that she was his daughter, Leny.
“You’re finally here, Father.”
“…”
Mandala was surprised to hear that Leny, who had now become an old lady herself, could recognize him. However, that did not stop him from hugging his daughter and crying his heart out for a very long time.
After talking with his daughter, he found out the reason why she was able to recognize him. Leny handed over the fairy tale book in her arms and said, “Mother wrote this fairy tale book. So that we won’t forget you.”
“…”
Mandala held the fairy tale book and slowly started to read it.
[A long, long time ago, there was a man living in a small village who liked to make potions.]
[One day, that man fell in love with a woman.]
[The man climbed mountains and crossed seas to make a potion for the sick and frail woman.]
[The man created a potion that shocked even the gods.]
[And one day, the man suddenly disappeared.]
[The people said that the gods were jealous of the man and took him away.]
[Time went by, and the woman gave birth to a beautiful daughter.]
[The woman believed that even if the man was not by their side, everything that she had right now was because the man loved her.]
[The daughter grew up listening to the man’s heroic story.]
[And finally, one day, the man that disappeared came back.]
[The cool and handsome father, the beautiful and kind mother, and Leny lived happily ever after.]
It was a fairy tale book that started and ended with a childish tone. However, Mandala knew that the gods had erased everything related to him in the memories of the people. It seemed like before his wife, Beinny, could forget, she made this fairy tale book to remember him by.
Mandala turned to look at the tomb that was right beside Beinny’s own. It was a tomb that was made for him. The words written on the tombstone were the same words written at the end of the fairy tale book.
[We will always remember you, Mandala.]
