Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. - Chapter 131
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 131 — You’re Next, Sister
Whoosh!
The Flame Wave Spell was injected into the body of a freshly deceased corpse.
– Uuugh, ahhh….
A lawless thug from the Hyena Guild rose slowly, transformed into an Undead.
His appearance was clean and intact—scarcely different from when he’d been alive.
“Ah, how intriguing….”
Pierre examined the warm, freshly-made Undead Spirit from head to toe, stroking his own chin thoughtfully.
“Remarkable. It is an Undead, yet possesses such an unmarred appearance. How is this possible?”
“There is a secret to it, you see.”
As a professional Socialite, the field to which I had devoted the most time was analyzing the application of the Secret Arts that Leria had granted me.
The Dark Goddess’s Secret Arts might seem weak in performance at first glance, yet with sufficiently deep study, each one possessed effects that were more than usable.
“Sister, next one, please.”
…….
Rosalia drove a dagger straight through the heart of the next lawless thug.
Death came without a scream, without even a groan.
《Now!》
The moment Jinsil gave the signal, I unleashed the Flame Wave Spell upon the corpse.
The red flames flickered weakly across the dead thug’s body for a moment, then seeped inward.
– Ahhhhh….
A new Undead Spirit stirred and rose slowly to its feet.
Like the first one to be turned, its appearance was no different from any ordinary person.
“If you transform them into Undead the moment they die, you create the kind with vitality overflowing—one that retains the appearance they had in life.”
Abel, standing nearby, clutched at my sleeve.
“If we offer an Undead Spirit in such a state as a tribute, it would be nearly the same as presenting a living sacrifice, wouldn’t it?”
“Exactly. And there’s a unique flavor to it that ordinary tributes simply cannot provide. It tastes somewhere between a living person and an Undead—quite distinctive, really.”
This is the know-how of a true professional Socialite.
While the principle differed, the effect was akin to smoking—enhancing the flavor and extending the preservation period.
Crackle.
I was about to turn the last remaining lawless thug into an Undead Spirit when—
《Hardly celebratory: The growth-type Secret Art, [Flame Wave Spell], has reached Tier 4!》
All my diligent use had finally raised the Flame Wave Spell to the next tier.
Hiss!
The serpent tattoo coiled around my prosthetic arm shook its head excitedly.
Leria, whose brilliance shone with ‘Four Believers,’ was deeply pleased.
“Now only one remains.”
Pierre, who had been watching with his arms crossed, glanced at the last lawless thug standing.
The equine-hybrid Sub-Guild Master Brownmane lay sprawled out, his skull swollen and tender from a kick delivered by Rosalia.
“My friend Pierre, if we set aside the nature of a ‘worthless thug’ and evaluate him on his merits alone, what would you say?”
“His skill was not without merit, friend.”
Pierre picked up the whip Brownmane had wielded, his voice dry as he continued.
“His only flaw was a pathetic disposition—preying only upon the weak. Had he possessed the spine to target the strong as well, I would have spared him.”
“In other words, contemptible in character, but capable in ability?”
“Precisely.”
It matched my own assessment.
At high level, one would never encounter Brownmane; but at low level, meeting him meant you were essentially dead—he was the worst sort of enemy.
“Then we may put him to work, wouldn’t you say, Sister?”
Rosalia drove a dagger into Brownmane’s heart and withdrew it, then placed her left hand upon his head and flooded him with flame.
Profusely—enough to exhaust over half his mental reserves.
– …Ahhh.
Slowly, the equine-hybrid Sub-Guild Master rose to his feet.
“Brownmane, are you coming to your senses?”
I asked gently from in front of him, and the lawless thug opened his mouth hesitantly, meeting my gaze.
– What… what happened to me…?
Unlike the previous Undead Spirits, there was intelligence in his voice and manner of speech.
An additional effect granted by the Flame Wave Spell at Tier 4.
The memories and sense of self from life remained intact in the Undead Spirit’s mind.
“Congratulations.”
I met his gaze, my hands resting on his shoulders.
“With periodic assistance from me, you have become a being capable of eternal life.”
– …….
The horse-headed Undead Spirit looked down at his own body and flinched.
Then he trembled violently, head to toe.
– Ah, ah….
“Is it truly so wonderful?”
Immortality had always been the eternal wish of those who dreaded death and craved endless life—that much was true.
“Sister, there is one favor I must ask of you.”
I turned away from the Undead Spirit, who was writhing with uncontainable joy, and spoke to Rosalia.
“When I die someday, please deliver my corpse to a renowned Dark Mage.”
“……?”
“I harbor a modest wish—to continue exploring the Dungeon for all eternity as an Undead with my intellect wholly preserved.”
“…….”
Rosalia thrust both her clenched fists forward.
The gesture carried such a terrifying implication that I brought Abel forward and positioned him in front of her.
Whoosh, whoosh.
The frightening assassin waved her hand desperately as if to say “get out of the way,” but fortunately, our Abel did not betray his sponsor.
“…Sponsor, don’t you think it’s time we resumed our exploration?”
“The time has come, indeed.”
By now, Team 1 must have grasped some clue to conquering the Tower of Trials.
They might have already finished the conquest and withdrawn from the Dungeon.
“Shall we all move together?”
The end of the conquest was drawing near.
I led my expedition members, the canine-headed outlaw, and the legion of Undead Spirits toward the foul-smelling underground lake that reeked of Corrupted Water.
Shriiiek!
As if waiting, the final enemy appeared in the center of the underground lake.
A fish-man, soaked in water and reeking with a tremendous stench.
It was a Socialite with countless tentacles sprouting from its torso.
《Repugnant Deep-Sea Socialite (Level 5)》
《A devotee who once worshipped Nadeus’Safur, a demon god of considerable power in the distant past. It is manifested exactly as it was in those times—persistent and malicious—so caution is necessary.》
In the present day, it would have been an opponent on par with the Octopus, but at this juncture, it was an enemy not to be underestimated.
Still, when all was said and done, it was merely Level 5.
If we could somehow withstand the onslaught of the tentacles, Rosalia could easily turn it into sashimi.
“Undead Spirits.”
I had brought reliable reinforcements for precisely this moment.
“Engage.”
Upon my command, the Undead outlaws swiftly unleashed a barrage of attacks from a distance with their respective weapons.
“…Come no closer.”
As the concentrated bombardment from the Undead legion rained down, the Socialite thrashed its tentacles wildly.
The body movement preceding the indiscriminate assault pattern.
“Pierre, please protect these precious Undead Spirits. It would be troublesome if they sustained damage—they must be offered as tributes.”
“Understood. My body was feeling sluggish anyway, so this comes at a good time.”
Pierre answered readily and retrieved a Beast Tamer Class Exclusive Cage from the pocket dimension of the gem hanging from his necklace.
Clank.
The cage door opened, and a hulking beast leapt out.
– Roooarrr!
– Woof!
Two-headed dogs, each bearing chill in one mouth and warmth in the other.
Abel’s eyes widened.
“…Frost-Flame Orthos?”
《Frost-Flame Orthos (Level 5)》
《A savage beast with two heads, each possessing its own consciousness. Its troublesome nature—capable of wielding both ice and flame—makes explorers of equivalent rank treat it as mere child’s play.》
An ultra-rare beast that could be adopted as a pup through a Hidden Piece in some D-rank Dungeon.
Pierre, its master, had tended to it with utmost care, fed it well, and played with it generously—its entire coat gleamed with a lustrous sheen.
‘So he kept it after all.’
Just as it had been with Bartimir, Pierre too had grown according to my methods of beast-rearing.
Whoooosh!
In the next instant, the Socialite’s tentacles shot forward in unison.
“Lulu, Liri.”
At Pierre’s final word, Hand Axe in hand, the Frost-Flame Orthos unleashed flame and chill from its mouths.
Half the charging tentacles burst into flame; the other half froze solid—a remarkable sight.
The way it moved, you could roughly gauge how much power it had held back during their last encounter at Cherry Cherry Orchard.
“…How dare you!”
The Socialite bristled with indignation, dipping a single slender tentacle into the lake.
The burned and frozen tentacle instantly restored itself.
“Quite a recovery rate.”
Pierre, a brilliant smile playing at his lips, swung his hand axe through the air in deliberate arcs.
“While I hold the line, dispose of it quickly.”
“Understood. Brownmane?”
The Undead Spirit Brownmane turned his head slowly at my call.
– …Why.
“Shield the tentacles alongside Pierre, who once served under you.”
– Understood….
“Formal speech.”
– Understood….
Slash!
Rosalia cut down a tentacle that had been hurtling toward me.
I responded with gratitude, rolling my entire body in a brief gesture of affection before sending instructions through Telepathy.
– Sister, when I give the signal, rush in and sever its neck.
This vile Socialite of the deep sea could revive itself as long as there was corrupted water nearby.
Each resurrection consumed its mental fortitude, and eventually it would descend into complete madness—a limited, conditional immortality.
In any case, in a place so saturated with Corrupted Water, it would be nearly impossible to kill it without a carefully orchestrated strategy.
Whoosh!
The Socialite’s tentacles came without pause, surging forward relentlessly.
Slash.
Crack!
Pierre’s hand axe and Brownmane’s whip moved without ceasing, protecting the Undead Spirits.
‘Just a little longer.’
It wasn’t time yet.
– Yelp!
– Yelp-yelp!
Frost-Flame Orthos, Lulu and Liri unleashed fire and ice from their jaws with excited abandon.
To deflect such countless tentacles so effortlessly.
I found myself anticipating what it would be like to face them as enemies in times to come—a martial power not to be underestimated.
“…These creatures.”
The Socialite, its assault relentless, gnashed its teeth and tore a thick tentacle from its own body.
At the same moment.
It plunged an extremely fine tentacle that had sprouted from its forehead into the lake.
– Now!
Rosalia hurled herself forward without hesitation.
Boom!
She ran, vaulting acrobatically over the thick tentacle as it surged toward her.
“……!”
The Socialite’s eyes widened in alarm as it frantically retracted its tentacle, but the response came too late.
The crimson assassin had already closed the distance beyond recovery.
“If you let me live….”
Schwick.
Rosalia severed its neck without bothering to hear the rest of what the Socialite had to say.
– Caw!
Immediately after, the blind raven flew to snatch the head before it could sink into the lake.
“So it can’t regenerate like this?”
“That’s correct. It is the sole weakness.”
The vile Socialite of the deep sea’s fatal flaw.
When the head and body were separated, its boundless regenerative power could not manifest.
“…But isn’t a severed head the universal weakness of all sentient beings?”
“That’s true enough, but for the undying, it becomes catastrophic. Even an immortal elf would lose centuries of life from a mortal wound, would they not?”
The blind raven returned and handed me the Socialite’s head.
The severed body sank slowly beneath the surface.
Ding.
As I defeated the twentieth and final enemy, an exit gate materialized.
Glub-glub.
A shabby box rose from the lake’s surface, trailing bubbles.
When I opened it at once, there were three wilted four-leaf clover badges inside, all upside-down.
《Rare Item – Corrupted Trial’s Badge》
《When equipped, training speed increases by approximately one-tenth. Fades and disappears over time.》
It was a degraded version of the rewards from the Tower of Trials, and temporary at that.
But unlike the Trial’s Badge, these stacked with each other.
If I equipped all three, my training speed would surge by a full thirty percent.
“I may be a frugal expedition leader, but for once I’ll indulge in the selfish pleasure of monopolizing the rewards.”
There wasn’t much left before reaching Level 5, so I decided to keep them all for myself.
“I have no objections. I hardly contributed to this expedition anyway.”
“…As you wish.”
With Abel and Rosalia’s consent, I deposited all three Corrupted Trial’s Badges into my pocket dimension.
Having claimed a solid reward, it was time to head back.
“Shall we depart?”
A C-Tier Hidden Dungeon.
Trial’s Underground Waterway.
Cleared without incident.
“Brownmane. From this point forward, there’s a great deal you’ll need to tell us.”
I placed a hand on Brownmane’s shoulder as he stood vacant-eyed, speaking in a low whisper.
“If you don’t cooperate, you’ll spend eternity buried underground with your sanity perfectly intact. Think carefully.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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