Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. - Chapter 18

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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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Chapter 18 Dark Cloud Rumble Crackle-Crackle
Meterdu, god of nature and abundance.
A divine being ranking third among the forces of good.
Originally a deity who boasted the formidable authority of a principal god, but his standing has declined somewhat of late.
The cause can be attributed to his characteristically petty temperament, with the Manure Sprout curse—inflicted upon elves who serve evil gods—being the most glaring example.
【Pretty one, I can’t quite see it well—could you tilt it up just a bit more?】
The moment I lifted my shirt all the way up without a word, Sueje let out a hearty laugh and revealed her interest.
【Manure Sprout. That curse the god of nature bestows upon elves who serve dark gods? You’re hoping for a Divine Mystery that can work around the side effects it causes, yes?】
She was spelling out the answer before I’d even explained the situation.
It was far from the first time I’d experienced this.
【Really, Meterdu—you’re just too small-minded, aren’t you? When promoting doctrine, he grandstands about embracing all creation in the bosom of the great natural world, acting like some magnanimous sage. But when it actually matters, he turns stern and dishes out punishment.】
“Your words are entirely just.”
《The Wise One nods in agreement, marveling that even the filthiest of evil gods occasionally speaks truth.》
The evil gods achieved something of a miracle—perfect unity.
Teamwork manifested only when vilifying the gods of good.
【That’s why all the beast-folk abandoned their faith and left. I swear, I’d love to sear his snout with lightning itself!】
Sueje continued her vigorous complaints tinged with malice and resentment, yet she spoke in a hushed, careful whisper.
It was the sole demeanor befitting an evil god—one who had surrendered her pride and accepted reality.
【…Shall we cut the gossip short? If by some chance Meterdu catches wind of this, our already sparse flock might just become targets for heretic purge.】
“You’re right. Given the gap in tier must be in the thousands, it’s best we keep ourselves as inconspicuous as possible.”
【Thousands? By the count of believers, it’d be at least tens of thousands!】
Sueje chuckled at the grim truth before her voice shifted to something more grave as she issued a divine revelation.
【Pretty one, I’ll withdraw before that stubborn god gets wind of us talking. I’ll grant you the Divine Mystery you desired—use it well. You don’t need me to spell out how to apply it, do you?】
“How could I not know, when I’m a cultist of yours?”
【You adorable thing!】
Snap.
Beneath another magnificent bolt of lightning, a small new tattoo blazed into existence on my skin.
《Tier 2 Divine Mystery – Dark Cloud Rumble》
《Enhances other abilities by half the amount of any ability that has declined for various reasons.》
A passive skill that raises other stats by half the amount of a fallen stat.
It was a Divine Mystery that could reverse-engineer the mechanism of Manure Sprout—a curse that kept Strength and Agility perpetually “lowered” to 1—and work around it.
Since it was Tier 2, I could only apply it to one of the two stats, but even accounting for that limitation, it stood as a cornerstone of the immortal cultist build.
【Even if the sky is crystal clear and blue, a dark cloud passing through renders it all meaningless!】
With that cheerful laugh as her parting gift, Sueje’s presence—crackling across her entire form—departed.
“Looks like it’s over.”
Marlin, who had immediately sensed the ritual’s completion, began wiping down the altar, now slightly stained with the Black Sword Guild master’s blood.
“What Divine Mystery did you receive this time?”
“The filthy empress of the sky, Sueje, has granted me a most excellent Divine Mystery.”
I focused with both hands spread open, following the usage method for Dark Cloud Rumble that had just seeped into my mind.
Snap!
The newly inscribed tattoo tingled as lightning crackled across both my palms in distinctly different patterns.
When I brought both palms together, a strange electricity traced through my bloodstream before being absorbed into the tattoo.
‘Did it work?’
I needed to verify.
This was the moment I’d been waiting for.
After clearing my throat quietly, I murmured softly.
“Status window.”
“What?”
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
I’d expected it to appear with a snap, but my right eye, still unaccustomed to this particular task, stuttered for a moment before displaying the text.
《Cultist of Twisted Truth, Kar ???(Level 1)》
– Strength 1 / Constitution 3(rising!) / Agility 1
– Dexterity 2 / Perception 3 / Charm 20
– Knowledge ?? / Wisdom 19 / Faith 15
《Possessed Divine Mysteries – [Eye of Truth Piercing], [Web Holding All Things], [Ghoul’s Mobility], [Barrier Deferring Wounds], and two leftover Divine Mysteries from Sueje》
It was more readable than last time, though there were still aspects I wished to improve.
“Eighty points. Keep improving.”
《:-/》
《If you abandon your faith toward Sueje, I shall endeavor to work harder. Should you refuse, I shall strike.》
I brushed away the unfunny threat with a gesture and checked the stats.
The Manure Sprout had already dragged strength and agility down to rock bottom; the Dark Cloud Rumble further boosted stamina by 1, half of the diminished agility of 2.
The gains were meager still, but there was no cause for impatience.
This Divine Mystery would reveal its true power as I progressed further—it was a slow starter.
‘And I still have the Ghoul’s Mobility.’
Satisfied, I dismissed the status window from view and climbed out of the cellar with the others.
Abel brought fragrant tea from the kitchen and handed it to me.
“Patron, do we simply wait for word from them now?”
“Word? You mean that young master you met at the Library?”
“Yes. You agreed to collaborate with him on a Dungeon raid. A very powerful Assassin will be joining us.”
Marlin, who had been picking at leftover meat from yesterday evening, widened her eyes in surprise.
“An Assassin? Kar, isn’t that the same Thief class as me?”
“All that teaching finally paid off, I see.”
“You’re not… planning to leave me behind and form an expedition with that Assassin instead?”
“How did you guess?”
I sipped my tea and answered matter-of-factly. Her pupils, which had been darting wildly just moments before, quickly settled back to normal.
“So I was wrong.”
“Actually, you were right.”
“Of course you were.”
“How dare you speak so sarcastically to your patron.”
“If you want respect, then explain things properly.”
“I don’t particularly want it, so you can keep quiet.”
…….
I let her skeptical glare linger on me for a while, then finally took pity and laid out the essentials.
“Put simply: Thieves are utility workers, while Assassins are the crucial class that severs an enemy’s lifeline at pivotal moments and seizes victory in battle.”
“Why do you explain only my class so dismissively?”
“And the secretary to the young master I met with Abel yesterday is an elf who possesses what could be called the finest talent as an Assassin.”
The Assassin Rosalia stands out as unquestionably Tier 1 among Thief-class companions.
High latent potential, excellent base Stats, rapid growth for minimal investment—impressive cost-effectiveness in every measure.
A capable Assassin without a single weak point.
However, she had one fatal drawback: her taciturn nature made genuine friendship practically impossible, which meant it was difficult to trust and rely on her as a true companion.
“Then at least I surpass her in cooperation and teamwork!”
I ruffled Marlin’s hair affectionately for her boasting over such a trivial thing.
“Since she obeys her master’s orders without question, once you build a solid relationship of trust with Odilon, you’ll be able to deepen your bond with him as a dedicated explorer.”
“Getting close to him seems… quite difficult.”
Abel’s brow furrowed, as if recalling the arrogant performance Odilon had displayed at their last meeting.
“It won’t be easy. He views human relationships as either ‘bonds destined to break’ or ‘temporary alliances.'”
A young master severely lacking in interpersonal skills.
But fortunately, I possessed the know-how for building affection—hard-won through countless repeated attempts.
‘Just once should do it.’
A single Dungeon exploration would be enough to shatter Odilon’s extreme distrust of humanity.
***
The morning air still carried its bitter chill.
…….
Waking earlier than usual despite myself, I lay on my back in what could only be described as an eye-staring contest.
My opponent: an elf with brilliant crimson eyes.
Rosalia, the Assassin, had infiltrated my second-floor bedroom through the window before the sun had fully risen, and now stood by the sill, silently fixing her gaze upon me.
“What brings you here?”
I hadn’t expected an answer, and as predicted, none came.
“At least close the window, would you? It’s cold.”
Rosalia obediently did as instructed, then resumed her silent vigil over me.
What on earth was she thinking?
Being such an extremely taciturn elf by nature, I couldn’t quite grasp her temperament.
Likely, the other established members hadn’t fared much better in understanding her.
“Did the young master send you?”
A nod.
Rosalia answered with only a small movement of her head.
I felt an odd sense of gratitude at the gesture.
So she would respond, at least with a nod.
“Could I sleep a bit longer? I’m still tired.”
…….
“Understood. Let’s head down to the first floor for now. The children are sleeping.”
The taciturn elf followed me obediently, passing the bed where a young brother and sister lay curled together in sleep, and descended to the lower level.
It was precisely this trait—the Swift Judgment skill that reflected her character of accepting any instruction she deemed reasonable—that set her apart most distinctly from Rosalia and the other assassins.
I hadn’t marked her as a dungeon expedition partner without cause.
However capable a person might be, if they were stubborn and refused to truly listen to others’ counsel, they would inevitably lead an entire expedition to annihilation.
“Please, have some of this.”
Abel handed her the tea she’d brewed, and Rosalia stared blankly for a moment before lowering her mask slightly and taking a sip.
“How is it?”
……
Her eyes narrowed just the slightest degree.
One could reasonably interpret that as a sign of approval.
“I’m glad. Most earth-born elves seem to enjoy this sort of thing, don’t you think?”
Rosalia didn’t respond, but instead rummaged through her robe and placed something on the table.
It was a flat, semicircular object crafted from smooth blue metal.
《Artifact – Fragment Binding as One》
《A pair of artifacts. They allow communication across great distances.》
With above-average learning capacity, I refrained from asking the predictable question—something like “How do I use this?”—that would go unanswered anyway.
After waiting a moment, my eternal partner provided the explanation instead.
《Project your will, and you shall connect with the other.》
There he is—our right eye, as always.
The explanation was somewhat vague, and I fumbled about for a bit, but it proved helpful enough that I managed to activate the artifact’s effect without incident.
– Kar, Cultist of Twisted Truth. I’ve found a dungeon suitable for mutual assessment of whether we have value in cooperating.
True to his character as a young master with a ruined nature, he dispensed with pleasantries and moved straight to the point.
– The Tomb of the Earth Elves. I’m thinking of this place—what do you say?
It was the dungeon I’d anticipated all along.
There was no need to hesitate over how to answer.
“Fortunately, your opinion aligns perfectly with mine.”
It was time to enter the sleeping dungeon—a hidden piece that would prove invaluable in the long run.

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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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