Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. - Chapter 164

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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 164 – D-Rank Dungeon – Murder in the Rain (3)
A hidden room in the Abandoned Mansion.
I hung upside down, bound to a tilted Steel Plate.
Thwack.
The silent Masked Slayer in his mask drove a Trident lightly into my abdomen.
“Aaaagh! Aaaaaah!”
I let out a theatrically agonized scream.
A killer obsessed with slaughter naturally loved this sort of reaction.
As I twisted my body to deliver an even more palatable response, blood began seeping from the three puncture wounds.
Drip.
A droplet of blood fell to the floor.
“…….”
The Masked Slayer approached slowly and positioned my inverted head inside a Bucket.
The stench of old blood hung thick—he clearly hadn’t bothered to clean it properly last time.
“So if the blood fills up like this, I’ll suffocate and die, yes?”
I wiggled my bare toes and opened my mouth.
“A genuinely ingenious murder concept. What sort of experiences could you have had in your past?”
“…….”
Dead silence.
Even when Rosalia and I weren’t close, she’d answer through a glance or nod, but this one refuses communication entirely.
Of course, a one-sided conversation could flow perfectly well enough.
“Have you considered channeling your creativity toward something beneficial to the world? In the 1st District or 3rd District, there are so many craftsmen willing to pay handsomely for original ideas.”
“…….”
Crack!
The Masked Slayer struck my thigh with the shaft of the Trident.
“Ah, I see. The Demon King’s observation was spot-on. The power is certainly impressive, but something seems lacking. Care to explain why?”
Of course, no answer came.
With a chill indifference, the Masked Slayer turned away and rinsed the blood from the Trident in a large Aquarium.
“If I may ask, would you mind cleaning the Bucket as well? The smell is rather overwhelming.”
“…….”
Hidden behind the Bucket, I couldn’t see, but I heard the scrape of chair legs dragging across the floor.
Now he planned to savor my slow descent into death at his leisure.
“Shall I teach you a wholesome hobby?”
To think—wasting away a life on murder and depravity, purely for pleasure.
As a respectable Socialite who pursued stimulation and dopamine without causing others inconvenience, I could only find it regrettable.
“Or perhaps I could teach you how to ease your psychological instability and anxiety? Through Faith, naturally. Since you do enjoy murder, why not serve the Silent Watcher in Solitude, Reria?”
A faint twitch.
“…….”
I felt slightly embarrassed at the total absence of response.
Such stubborn silence that I’d rather lock him in a room with Rosalia and leave.
Whoooosh—!
Near the wall, the sound of heavy rain drummed vividly against the silence.
Meanwhile, blood filled the Bucket until it drenched my head crimson.
Before my eyes turned completely red and I became a “blood-soaked raven,” I calculated the remaining time.
‘About fifteen minutes since the stabbing, was it?’
A kind of mini-quest—rescuing a captured ally within a time limit.
To find this hidden place while avoiding the Masked Slayer, one would inevitably fail on a first attempt—a twisted mission designed by the creator’s own perverse sensibilities.
What differed from the game was that I’d become the kidnapped heroine.
“Oh, my prince. When will you come to rescue me?”
Blood continued its slow accumulation in the Bucket.
Soon it would cover my eyes entirely.
As I quietly observed the blood trickling down, a crucial realization suddenly struck me.
“I can’t just stay here like this.”
《Obviously. If you continue like this, you’ll die.》
“No, I mean—nowadays, a kidnapped princess who doesn’t at least attempt escape gets criticized, doesn’t she? The world’s grown rather bleak.”
《Sigh.》
“Masked Slayer, I imagine you’d find it more entertaining if I struggled desperately to escape, wouldn’t you?”
After all, true satisfaction came from hardship when both infllictor and sufferer found joy in it—the thrill of triumph doubled in that instant.
For propriety’s sake, an escape attempt seemed necessary.
First, I sprayed Kraken’s Mucus at the points where the iron restraints binding my arms, legs, and waist made contact with my skin.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle….
Along with the sound of melting came a stench that fouled the air.
But despite the smoke, the restraints refused to give way.
Crackle!
I attempted to transmute my body using Dark Brain Blooming, but the weakened Secret Art produced only black static sparks.
Then what about this?
Snap.
Just as I was about to shove a sphere of black lightning I’d conjured near my face into my mouth—
“…….”
The Masked Slayer moved the water and swept the black lightning sphere away.
“My, to notice that. How impressive of you.”
True enough—a serial killer with sluggish wits wouldn’t last long in this business.
Fleeing from the strong, pouncing on the vulnerable, the cowardice it all demanded required sharp instincts.
As I nodded my head contentedly while lying on my back, the Masked Slayer stuffed a foul-smelling sock into my mouth.
“…….”
The escape attempt via Sin: Gluttony had failed.
I’d tried various other approaches, but none of them worked.
No way out of this situation whatsoever.
Helplessness and dread crashed over me.
“…Hehehehe, heh.”
Laughter leaked from my throat.
My heart, which had grown dull moments before, now drummed steadily in my chest.
I twisted my body for no reason, driving home the fact that I would die if this continued.
Demon King, are you enjoying your meal?
I’m giving life a thorough beating.
《For the sake of your mental health, I do hope you’ll undertake a gentler Dungeon expedition after this grueling one ends….》
It was uncomfortable, certainly, but no less sound advice.
Going forward, I’d need to visit Dungeons that didn’t suit my taste regularly—a dopamine detox, of sorts—and savor some peaceful expeditions.
Just this once more with the thrills, and then I’m done.
“Go!”
Illusion, who had received my will, sprung into action.
Soon I felt the Masked Slayer swinging the Trident.
“Ahahaha! That’s not how you use a trident!”
“…….”
Crash!
Clang!
Furniture shattered and the aquarium broke.
The Trident was tearing through the room indiscriminately.
“Where are you even attacking? I’m an Illusion!”
While Illusion kept the Masked Slayer occupied, I sparked black lightning at the corner of my mouth and burned away the sock crammed in my jaws.
“I’m out!”
Illusion retreated into my left eye.
I licked the blood trickling from my mouth and spoke.
“You really can’t use a trident.”
“…….”
Thrust.
The Masked Slayer drove the Trident silently into my chest.
For a moment, dizzying pain flooded through me.
Blood trickled steadily from six holes torn in my torso and abdomen.
But the bleeding stopped not long after.
《By the effect of Life Reversal Cycle, your Health has increased by 3!》
Despite my Secret Art being drastically weakened, Life Reversal Cycle granted me 3 Health points—enough to heal all my wounds completely.
“…….”
After a brief pause, the Masked Slayer resumed thrusting with the Trident.
First the shoulder.
Then the thigh, flank, forearm, and calf—each punctured repeatedly in succession.
These were clearly attacks driven by emotion.
《All your wounds have healed!》
Of course, every hole vanished.
The Secret Art of the Silent One is indeed formidable.
Squelch, squelch, squelch!
Even though I’d witnessed every wound seal shut cleanly, he kept stabbing with the Trident.
“Perhaps you’re angry, sir?”
“…….”
“Ah, you definitely are angry.”
“…….”
“It’s rather amusing, actually.”
Blood had gotten into my nostrils and I coughed for a moment before continuing.
“I never expected the great Warrior of the Sword Sea to lose his temper over a helpless ordinary human.”
The moment I spoke so casually.
The relentless pain suddenly ceased.
I tilted my head up slightly and found the Trident—which had been about to pierce my groin—frozen mid-thrust.
“…….”
The Masked Slayer, having set down the bucket, looked down at me.
The Mask’s special function kept his eyes hidden, but the clenching of his teeth was enough to betray his emotion.
“Should I guess what you’re thinking? ‘Good heavens! This exquisite Half-Elf—how could she possibly have seen through my identity?’ Am I right?”
“…….”
The Masked Slayer lowered the spear-point toward my face.
A clear opening, now that the bucket was gone.
“My apologies, Spoiler-Seer.”
Whoosh!
I extended my tongue in a long arc, wrapping it around the Masked Slayer’s body.
Then, channeling the excess Demonic Energy accumulated from overusing Life Reversal Cycle, I expelled it through my tongue.
Whiiiiiii—!
The synergy between the Bewildered Tongue and Wicked Freezing Wind, which Akar had spoiled in advance.
“……!”
All Secret Arts were weakened by the gimmick, but since I wore the Brrr Cold—a ring-shaped Artifact from the Extreme Frost Dynasty—ice-attribute Secret Arts gained potency.
The Masked Slayer’s head began to freeze over slightly.
Not enough to kill him—just enough to cause considerable pain.
Crunch!
The Trident severed my elongated tongue.
“…….”
The Masked Slayer struck his Mask with his palm, shattering the ice, then gripped the spear-shaft with both hands.
Water droplets coalescing at the spear’s tip.
Before the Trident could pierce me, I hurled the bucket using telekinesis from Hands that Grasp the World.
Thud!
The bucket flew toward the Mask and struck it.
Fragrant Half-Elf blood spilled forth.
The enigmatic patterns drawn upon the Mask were obscured.
“……!”
The Masked Slayer, who had been about to impale me, convulsed.
A tremor emanated from the Mask itself.
His entire body writhed and twisted.
“Huuugh!”
With a harsh breath, the Masked Slayer wiped the blood from his Mask.
Rough, spasmodic movements.
He seemed to need assistance, so I began pulling at the Mask with telekinesis.
“Huh, huuugh…!”
With one hand desperately clutching the Mask, the Masked Slayer swung the Trident with his other hand.
The spear-blade raked across my body like a claw, and my telekinesis shattered.
Ugh!
Then he drove the Trident into my body and his hand trembled.
“Now I see—you’ve been venting the rage seething in your chest through murder. That’s a rather unhealthy coping mechanism, I’m afraid. When you rely on stimulating acts to relieve stress, eventually you’ll require ever more intense stimulation to feel satisfied.”
The Half-Elf psychologist offered wisdom drawn from experience.
“Let’s gradually reduce the stimulation, shall we? Hunt Magical Beasts instead of people, or perhaps try killing enemies in a virtual Illusion world sold at any Magic Tower….”
While I was earnestly dispensing unlicensed psychological advice, the Masked Slayer pressed harder on the spear-shaft.
Was he abandoning his creative method of using my own blood to kill me?
I could only watch in regret as his inventiveness crumbled in real time against the walls of reality.
“…heh.”line>
As I suppressed the laughter spilling out, the Trident pierced not only my body but the Steel Plate binding me as well.

The blade was embedded too deep—even Life Reversal Cycle couldn’t heal such a wound.
I was going to die soon.
Crash!
That is, unless the prince came to save me.
“Princess Kar! I have come to your rescue!”
Growl—!
Five lion magical beasts, having demolished the hidden chamber’s entrance, lunged at the Masked Slayer.
The startled assassin drew his Trident and spun it with blinding speed.
Summoned magical beasts were subject to the Dungeon’s mechanics too, so the weakened Demon King’s lions were obliterated in a single strike.
Crack!
But because the beasts had bought him time, the Demon King’s fist connected cleanly with the Masked Slayer’s Mask.
Second round beginning.
“This will be somewhat different from before. Thanks to you, I’ve had quite the positive experience!”
Bang, bang, bang!
Successive flurries of punches.
The sound echoed as if striking stone, blow after blow.
Just as the Masked Slayer, driven back against the wall, moved to brandish his Trident, a fist wrapped thick with Magical Energy struck his solar plexus.
Boom!
The wall shattered, and the Masked Slayer tumbled outside into the steady rain.
“Are you well?”
The Demon King effortlessly tore away the Steel Plate restraints that bound me and lifted me into his arms.
From this close distance, I saw a beaming smile infinitely brighter than when we’d entered the Dungeon.
“To think I must traverse this place in a weakened body, rescuing kidnapped allies! So this is why you love the Dungeon so much?”
“Yes.”
A space where you can experience things impossible in everyday life.
This is why I cannot help but love the Dungeon.
“The expedition is not yet complete.”
“True.”
Still cradling me, the Demon King leapt out into the downpour.
…….
In the torrential rain, the Masked Slayer was slowly rising to his feet.
There was no need to mention that the Masked Slayer grew stronger in places with water.
“Hehehehe!”
The Demon King, intoxicated by exhilaration, was also growing stronger in real time.
I nodded my head with quiet satisfaction.
Dungeon, may you endure forever.

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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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