Chapter 665: The Land of the Forgotten Heroes


    Most of the people of Edea believed in, and served, the Jade Emperor. To them, the Jade Emperor was their father, their king, and their god. It was the case for all five of the currently existing kingdoms in Edea.


    The same had been true for the Kingdom of Eden. However, the king of the Kingdom of Eden rebelled against the Jade Emperor. This was because one of the Jade Emperor’s Knights, or those hailed as the Four Envoys, killed a woman and a child from their kingdom, just for colliding with him on the streets.


    The king of the Kingdom of Eden prayed for days on end to get an apology from the Knight, to no avail. Rumacar, the envoy that killed the woman and the child, began to punish the Kingdom of Eden instead.


    Rumacar felt like he was greater than the king and took advantage of the fact that he was an envoy of the Jade Emperor and used various tactics to deceive the people. He even hypnotized the king and made him kill several of his own officials.


    The king, who had once prayed for the woman and the child from the Kingdom of Eden, was reduced to nothing but a puppet tyrant, while Rumacar dered that he would take on the throne through the ‘orders’ of the Jade Emperor.


    With those words, rebels gathered together and dragged the king of the Kingdom of Eden from his throne. After that, the king of the Kingdom of Eden fled and disappeared.


    <em>Twitch—</em>


    Now, that very same king had awakened. He was a man with an enormous build. And although the king looked like a human, there were huge horns akin to that of a bull growing out of his head. The man also had fierce eyes and a sharp, angr jawline. This man was none other than the Bull Demon King, or Hanwoo.


    “What happened…”


    The Bull Demon King searched through his memories until he recalled the part where the rebels invaded the Kingdom of Eden and how he had fled.


    The Bull Demon King was also very powerful. However, he had been no match against God’s Envoy and the troves of rebels that he gathered. Especially since Rumacar was ridiculously strong. That was why he ran away.


    When he continued to run, he eventually reached the entrance to another world. Before stepping foot into the other world, the Bull Demon King heard the voices of the gods that ruled that world.


    <em>[If you choose to move to the other world, you will have to lose your memories. You will also be forced to live in apletely different manner.]</em>


    <em>[You will only be able to return to your original form once you return to your home world, Edea.]</em>


    Back then, the Bull Demon King had thought that there was no reason for him to remain in this world. After all, his own men and even the people that he cared about had turned their backs and abandoned him. It seemed better for him to live without these memories. As such, he ran away with those thoughts in his head.


    <em>‘So, I came back.’</em>


    Perhaps it was his fate. The Bull Demon King stared at the vast and empty horizon, toward the direction where the Kingdom of Eden should be and thought, <em>‘Even if I die…’</em>


    The Bull Demon King wanted to let them know that Rumacar did not care one bit about the kingdom and that the Jade Emperor just used and made an example out of them.


    <em>‘In the end…’</em>


    He was going to die.


    <em>‘Hanwoo!’</em>


    <em>Twitch—</em>


    Just as he staggered forward with his slightly weak body, his head suddenly throbbed in pain, as a vague and hazy memory shed in his mind. He could not see the face of the man that was calling out brightly to him.


    <em>‘What the hell happened to me in that world?’</em>


    The Bull Demon King, who had been drowning in despair for the longest time, felt the corners of his lips curl up into a smile before promptly disappearing again.


    <em>‘I see…’</em> The Bull Demon King thought.


    <em>‘I received someone’s love in that world although I don’t know who it was.’</em>


    <em>‘Thank you.’</em>


    Now, the Bull Demon King would perform his final duty as a king as he walked towards the Kingdom of Eden.


    ***


    The Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal stared at the chef from another world that sat in front of him, while his hand held the bowl of soy sauce egg rice that he had eaten just a few moments earlier. He was also very satisfied with the soy sauce egg rice.


    “A long time ago,” Sun Wukong began his tale, “my wife and I had gone to that world for a while. Back then, she smiled happily, like an innocent and bright child, after eating the food there.”


    The Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal, Sun Wukong, knew that he could live forever. He was an immortal. On the contrary, Queen Ari, who was a human, would die one day. Sun Wukong was aware of this fact. Perhaps he was actually already preparing for that day toe.


    “When I saw that smile, I said that I would do my best for her until the day she died.”


    Sadness. The sadness of an immortal watching his beloved depart the world of the living. This was what Sun Wukong was feeling. Minhyuk could not even dare to imagine how terrible that pain was.


    “Treat her to a delicious meal. If you please her…”


    Although it was rare, there were times when one could bet everything that they have for the love of their lives.


    “I will make sure to reward you generously.”


    “I understand, Your Majesty,” Minhyuk answered, bowing politely.


    When in Rome, do what the Romans do. Minhyuk might be the king of a nation, but that was not the case here in Edea. On top of that, he was actually looking out for an opportunity.


    From what he could see, the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal had already given up on trying to make Queen Ari see the world, even if for a moment. However, Minhyuk was in possession of the Tears that God had Shed for the Poor and the Pitiful. If he used this item, then he would probably be able to let the queen see for a moment. It might also be his chance to ask Sun Wukong for something bigger.


    Judging that to be the case, Minhyuk tried to make it seem like he had a slip of the tongue.


    “Your, Your Majesty! I think you should hurry up and see this!!!”


    “…What’s the problem?”


    “It’s rted to the Kingdom of Eden!”


    “The Kingdom of Eden? I understand,” Sun Wukong nodded solemnly the moment he heard the words.


    Sun Wukong was actually having an audience with Minhyuk in the office near Queen Ari’s bedroom. So, he walked inside the room, kissed his wife’s forehead and stepped out. However, with every step he took, he could not help but look back. It seemed like he did not want to part with her.


    “I will make the best meal for her,” Minhyuk said.


    Hearing this, Sun Wukong patted him on the shoulder and finally stepped out.


    Before everything else, Minhyuk checked the quest notification that rang in his ears.


    <em>[<strong>Hidden Quest</strong>: Queen Ari’s Final Meal.]</em>


    <em><strong>Rank</strong>: SSS</em>


    <em><strong>Requirements</strong>: The One that was Summoned by the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal.</em>


    <em><strong>Rewards</strong>: Will depend on the satisfaction.</em>


    <em><strong>Penalty for Failure</strong>: The Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal’s Wrath.</em>


    <em><strong>Description</strong>: Queen Ari is on her deathbed. And the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal wants to send her off with a very delicious meal. The rewards that you receive will depend on Queen Ari and Sun Wukong’s satisfaction.</em>


    The notifications alone told Minhyuk that he did not need to tell anything to Sun Wukong. After all, the rewards would depend on their satisfaction.


    “Are you going to cook for me?” Queen Ari, who was lying down on her bed, asked. Although her eyes were wide open, they were distant and unfocused.


    “Yes, that’s right. Please don’t worry, I will make the tastiest food for you while making sure to not upset your stomach.”


    The expression on Queen Ari’s face grew bitter. Sheid unmoving before finally opening her mouth and asking, “What was his expression like?”


    Fate had been so cruel to them. It had never allowed her to see the face of her beloved.


    Minhyuk answered her question honestly, “He looks sad. However, I can see that he’s doing his best for his beloved queen until the very end.”


    “…”


    Queen Ari was very grateful for his honesty. Those words made her realize that Sun Wukong truly loved her and that she was loved, even until the moment she left.


    “Your Majesty, the Queen.”


    “Yes? Speak.”


    Minhyuk looked at her and asked softly, “Do you want to see His Majesty and Her Highness, the Royal Princess?”


    “…I want to.”


    Queen Ari’s unfocused eyes were filled with grief.


    <em>‘I want to see.’</em>


    She had heard from her husband about the beautiful flowers that bloomed a dark and bright shade of red, about the rolling waves of the blue sea, and the setting sun that could bring a smile to anyone’s face. She had heard that the sky was so high that she would be able to feel her heart grow full just by looking at it.


    But more than anything, she wanted to see her husband. The husband that she had only heard the voice and felt the warmth of. She truly wanted to see Sun Wukong and her child, the princess.


    “My wish is not that big.”


    That was right. Ari’s wish was not that big.


    “All I want is to watch him sleep and caress his face before falling into my eternal rest.”


    It was not a very difficult feat for others, but it had been impossible for Queen Ari.


    “Tonight…”


    However, Minhyuk took his cooking utensils out of his inventory.


    “You can look at the sky, the sea, the ground, and… the faces of the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal and Her Highness, the Princess.”


    Queen Ari’s unfocused gaze turned toward Minhyuk’s voice.


    “I will give you your vision.”


    ***


    The Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal groaned lightly as he asked, “The Bull Demon King has returned?”


    “That’s right, Your Majesty.”


    The Bull Demon King was the king of the Kingdom of Eden. He was strong, but he was not as strong as Sun Wukong.


    In fact, Sun Wukong had fought against the Bull Demon King in the past. They fought for days on end but no one came out as the victor. However, he had now obtained a much stronger power than before.


    Sun Wukong was actually aware that the Bull Demon King was not truly a tyrant. He was just a poor and pitiful person that had be a thorn in the eyes of the Jade Emperor.


    However, his return was enough to bring the other kingdoms on alert. What would happen if the Bull Demon King angered the Jade Emperor? Besides, Sun Wukong was sure that the other kingdoms were aware that what happened to the Kingdom of Eden was just to set an example for them.


    “The Bull Demon King has helped us a lot before.”


    Sun Wukong and the Bull Demon King might have fought before but it was also through that fight that they were able to be close friends. That was why this was very heartbreaking for him.


    <em>‘I will be forced to witness my dearly beloved friend’s fall.’</em>


    “We will not take any actions.”


    Unfortunately, that was the decision he came to. The Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal had enough power to to fight against the Jade Emperor. However, he was also aware that victory was impossible. Therefore, they could not get involved. This was his judgment as a king. After ending the meeting, Sun Wukong hurried back to his wife’s room.


    Sun Wukong’s head was filled with thoughts as he stared at the stars that littered the skies. He thought about how a star would fall at the end of a great man, about how a star that once shone brightly and beautifully before was now starting to fade into nothingness.


    “…!”


    Then, Sun Wukong began to run. He ran as fast as he could until he felt his breathing turn rough.


    He wanted to see the end of his most beautiful star. He felt sorry that he could not show her the world. All he wanted was to show his face and her daughter to her, but his n failed. That was why Sun Wukong resented himself. He hated how helpless he was. All Sun Wukong wanted was to make eye contact with his beloved wife and see her smile brightly.


    Then, the bedroom door opened. Inside the bedroom was Queen Ari, who sat on her bed, looking at the cooing child in her arms. Then, she raised her head, her eyes staring at Sun Wukong. She smiled the brightest smile that she had smiled in her life and said, “You came?”


    “…”


    “I finally see you and the princess.”


    The Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal copsed to the ground, moved. Queen Ari walked, albeit weakly and slowly, towards him and caressed his rough, long beard.


    “…You’re ugly. You told me you were handsome.”


    “Fu, fufufu. How can I seduce you if I said that? So, do you hate it?”


    “No. I just…” Queen Ari said, her lips trembling as she lowered herself and hugged Sun Wukong, “I just really wanted to see you.”


    The bright and shining stars started to fade, yet the night was very beautiful.