Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. - Chapter 26

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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 26: The Same Splendid Name, Every Time
There was once a troubling rumor that circulated among users of the Nightmare Dungeon.
The developer’s son was a Mage player, and his performance was utterly broken!
Even I, who prided myself on living rationally, found myself drawn in for a moment—it was that convincing a rumor.
[Honestly, doesn’t it make sense?]
— Posted by: For the Sake of Artein
[Notably hoarding an absurd number of overpowered Magic techniques.
The only class capable of soloing the early game.
Diverse class builds, straightforward and comfortable to develop.
Compared to Heretics, who are pathetic and burdened with nothing but penalties, it’s genuinely unfair.
And the developer is definitely running a Mage, right?]
But after American players conducted a thorough investigation, it turned out the developer, Kato Roger, hadn’t even been in a relationship, much less had children—he was a genuine “Japanophile” well over forty, obsessed solely with Japanese subculture.
So the rumor about the developer’s son dissolved into mere gossip, yet criticism regarding the Mage’s broken performance persisted for some time.
‘I was at the center of it all, wasn’t I.’
Probably half of every post denouncing Mages came from my keyboard.
How could I not harbor resentment when the weakest class, the Heretic, was simply left to rot while Mages received buff after buff under whatever pretext came to mind?
“It’s clear the Mages have twisted the laws of the world through some method, rigging everything in their favor.”
I drained my wine without grace, drumming my fist lightly on the table to purge the grievances accumulated in my chest.
“This isn’t blind criticism—it’s rational suspicion. That explains why Magic techniques alone possess such variety and power! Yes, there’s the drawback that raising a technique’s proficiency is hardest, but that can be overcome through study and research, so you could say there are essentially no downsides at all!”
“It’s true that the Tamdeok Magic Tower has shown unusual strength in expeditions over the past decade.”
Odillon sipped his wine with studied indifference, offering a reply.
His expression and tone suggested not the slightest inclination to engage in the passionate debate about Mages’ absurd brokenness, their shameless insatiability, and their unreasonable advantages.
“Do you intend to continue this pointless slander against Mages?”
“Well, if you could arrange a proper venue, I’d deliver a thorough anti-Magic speech. Would you perhaps share the stage with me?”
“No.”
Odillon curtly refused and, drawing deeply on his cigarette, spoke again.
“In any case, a Mage who single-handedly defeated an alpha-class specimen boosted to maximum strength is unquestionably a talent we must recruit for our expedition.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
“Why are you agreeing so readily? A moment ago you were saying you wouldn’t let that filthy Mage join the party.”
“How could you say something so hurtful?”
I shook my head with feigned melancholy and greedily stuffed two pieces of cheese into my mouth.
“I never let personal feelings into labyrinth expeditions. Saying a Mage is unreasonably competent is tantamount to saying they’re a class our expedition desperately needs, is it not?”
A worshipper of the demon god who scrupulously separates public from private, and who readily clasps hands with loathsome Mages if it serves the ultimate objective.
Practically deserving of the month’s Model Heretic award.
“Fortunately, you’re not a fool who’d be ignorant of something so obvious.”
Odillon slowly raised his wine glass, and Rosalia promptly poured with practiced elegance.
A soft clink.
Yet for all the grace of the gesture, he’d tilted the bottle too far, spilling wine generously across his clothes.
……
“It’s fine.”
The young lord casually wiped away the wine with his hand as though this were routine, his voice carrying a note of weariness.
“That Mage—we haven’t pinned down his exact class yet, but if he joins our expedition, he’d certainly be a reassuring addition. At least he’s not some pathetic fool.”
“Unfortunately, even the demon god isn’t well-informed about his true identity. Shall we leave the investigation to you, my lord?”
“Understood. Records would have been kept at the Harmonic Church anyway, so we’ll find out soon enough. Though realistically, any Mage would belong to the Tamdeok Magic Tower.”
It was a conclusion that admitted no dispute.
Any Mage dwelling in Pletica without affiliation to the Tamdeok Magic Tower managing District 2 couldn’t enter the labyrinth or secure a laboratory for magical research.
It was the consequence of some grand Archmage unifying all the various color-coded towers—red, blue, purple, and the rest—into a single institution in the name of advancing Mage rights.
“Warrior Pendrick. The Mage who single-handedly conquered the Tomb of the Earth Elf. For now, let’s focus solely on recruiting those two.”
“An excellent notion. Those two alone will suffice to ease our talent shortage for some time.”
“Warrior Pendrick is in District 3, wasn’t it? When do we go to meet him?”
“I’d prefer to go tomorrow if possible, but that won’t be feasible. A Heretic cannot freely cross into other districts.”
We require permission from the Spear of Order, the holy knights’ order that oversees Heretics.
Naturally, it wasn’t automatic; we needed legitimate grounds for them to issue a permit.
“Wait just a few days, if you please.”
Fabricating a pretext for crossing into another district proved no difficulty.
I needn’t go wandering about forced, searching for reasons; given time, opportunity would present itself naturally.
“…Good that you’re not being obstructive.”
With that, Odillon reclined fully against the sofa and slowly drew in the smoke drifting from his cigarette.
The sickly young lord, burdened with no fewer than seven chronic ailments, grew tired from mere conversation alone.
“You seem to lack the energy to continue, my lord. Shall I take my leave?”
“One more thing, though.”
“What can I do for you?”
“You should choose the exploration party’s name. I have no talent for naming things.”
“Fortunately, I do have a gift for it.”
Even in the game, players could name their exploration parties, and I’d always used the same magnificent name.
“The Moon Exploration Party.”
I gestured toward the sky hidden behind the swaying chandelier-lit ceiling, lifting my gaze with confidence.
“It’s a name that carries the resolve to one day conquer the Nightmare Dungeon on that very moon.”
I lowered my head again and looked between Odillon and Rosalia standing behind him.
“What do you think? Rather ambitious, wouldn’t you say?”
“…….”
The young master and his attendant exchanged a wordless glance before letting out a stifled laugh.
Neither of them seemed particularly opposed to it.
“Isn’t the name a bit childish for such a grand objective?”
“That’s precisely what makes it work. If it were too grandiose, we’d attract criticism from all corners, but something this charming will simply make people smile and move on.”
“Fair point. Do as you wish.”
Odillon finished speaking in a voice that gradually grew quieter, then waved a hand at me.
“Let’s end our discussion of the expedition here.”
Though I had more to say, I chose to acquiesce readily enough.
After all, I’d been watching in real time as a person gradually lost their shape and transformed into something resembling slime, so this had been what I wanted to suggest first anyway.
“Then, I shall take my leave for now.”
“Yes… coordinate the schedule and share plans with the butler. The broad framework is already set, so….”
“Very well. Please rest now.”
I bowed lightly and stepped outside.
“Please come with me. I’ll show you to the guest room where the wards are resting.”
Sergius, the butler who had been waiting near the door, led me down to the floor below.
“Since you’ve formed an exploration party with the young master, you’ll be visiting often from now on. Kar, I’m grateful for your partnership.”
“I’m grateful as well. And for my children too.”
“If there’s anything you wish for, please tell us without hesitation. We will help with whatever we can manage.”
“There is indeed a request I have.”
The elderly butler, who was leading the way, turned to look at me with a small smile.
I returned his smile and spoke, lifting the corners of my mouth.
“Please help with the basic training of my children entirely.”
***
Marlin was engulfed in a feeling she had never experienced before.
What on earth could she call this emotion that now completely consumed her heart?
‘What is this…?’
Her lack of education had left her unable to express herself with words or sentences, and though this was her own feeling, she couldn’t articulate it clearly.
So to reason it through, she carefully retraced the events of today step by step.
‘That kind maid sister made such delicious food!’
The celestial taste that even the immortals would savor.
She and Abel had eaten until their bellies were utterly full—compliments that would normally have seemed unseemly falling naturally from their lips.
It was only then that she understood “I’m so full I can’t eat another bite” wasn’t exaggerated speech but an actual physical state that truly existed.
‘And then I bathed in hot water for the first time in what looked like a golden bath….’
After that, she’d been dressed in elegant new clothes with black fabric embroidered with gold thread, her hair—which had always been tangled and unkempt—was cut and arranged beautifully, and in the mirror she saw someone she’d never known looking back with wide, startled eyes.
Everything was strange, and at the same time, bewildering.
Did this nobleman, the master of this manor, really live in such luxury every day?
‘I’m envious.’
Only after thinking this carelessly did Marlin realize the truth.
Now she saw it clearly—the emotion filling her heart was nothing but petty things like ‘jealousy’ and ‘resentment’.
It was shameful.
How could she begrudge the person who’d given her such generosity?
Living in poverty had impoverished her spirit as well, it seemed.
“Kar, I think… I might be a bad person.”
Marlin laid bare all her honest feelings to Kar when he came to the guest room.
Though he was someone who normally never stopped joking around, he would scold her sharply at moments like this.
So she waited with her eyes tightly shut, when suddenly she felt warm hands gently massaging her shoulders.
“…Kar?”
Her patron, whose nature was far from solemn, said nothing for a long time.
Cautiously opening her eyes, she saw Kar poke her forehead with his index finger exactly as their eyes met.
“Let’s go. Abel is waiting here.”
She pushed at my back, and I found myself walking along before I could fully register what was happening.
We arrived at the basement of the mansion.
“Where are we going, exactly?”
A pitch-dark corridor without a single Magic Stone Lantern.
The darkness was so complete that the only things visible were the sparse doors lining both walls.
It felt just like the Tomb of the Earth Elf—as if some monster might burst from the shadows at any moment and catch me off guard.
“You said you wanted to excel as an explorer, didn’t you?”
Kar stopped before one of the doors and spoke with a peculiar smile.
I looked up at his face, obscured by shadow, and nodded firmly.
“Good. Then open this door and go inside. I’ve prepared a gift for you.”
I was curious what the gift could be, but Kar wouldn’t ask me to do anything dangerous.
Click.
Without hesitation, I opened the door and stepped through—and the interior blazed into view, illuminated by brilliant Magic Stone Lanterns.
“…Huh?”
In the center of the room.
Familiar faces were bound and kneeling.
They were thieves from the Black Sword Guild—the same guild I’d belonged to. Their faces and bodies were covered in blood, as if they’d been beaten by someone.
“Steel yourself, Marlin.”
Kar placed his hands on his ward’s shoulders, a grin spreading across his face.
“Starting today, you’re going to undergo intensive training to become an extraordinary thief.”

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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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