Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. - Chapter 51

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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 51: Cute Is All That Matters
Excessive drinking invites a hangover.
“Oh, I’m dying.”
I lay sprawled across the bed, groaning miserably.
The pounding headache was bad enough, but my stomach churned so violently I could barely keep my wits about me.
…….
“Ah, thank you.”
Drinking the cold water Rosalia handed me at least quenched my thirst.
“But why are you staring at me like that? Did I do something reckless last night?”
Surely not me—the 6th District’s most upright Socialite—doing something strange while drunk.
I hadn’t blacked out entirely, but my memories from last night felt hazy and fragmented.
As I carefully tried to piece together what had happened, Rosalia raised her thumb and drove it down hard into my thigh.
Thunk!
Pain bloomed across the impact site as though I’d been struck by a stone.
“I’m sorry. I’m not sure what I did, but I’m reflecting on it now, so please forgive me this once.”
“…Alcohol, forbidden.”
Seeing this taciturn elf issue a warning in actual words told me I’d clearly done something serious.
Since I’d never cared much for drinking anyway, I accepted the judgment without complaint.
Thump.
As if delivering a final confirmation strike, Rosalia pressed down harder with her thumb, shook her head slightly, and then settled onto the adjacent bed.
Leaning her back against me as a rest.
Comfortable in that position for a moment, she suddenly extended one arm toward me.
— Coo!
Above her gloved hand, a plump little violet-hued pseudo-slime creature crawled about, burbling contentedly.
A living being crafted from the Tier-3 Secret Art Toxic Follower.
Based on the poison “Grim Future” I’d consumed liberally as a dressing yesterday, combined with every toxin I’d ingested so far, it was a creature of concentrated venom.
“…Maengmaengi.”
The quiet elf had suddenly spoken without preamble or follow-up, but I could tell from her eyes what she meant.
“Is that its name?”
A nod.
Rosalia tilted her head and thrust the freshly named Maengmaengi right before my eyes.
“It’s absolutely lovely and adorable.”
Never mind that it was just a Secret Art that ended there.
But that was enough.
Cuteness was all the justification one needed—what else mattered?
After all, charm possessed destructive and lethal power not far behind a fine blade.
“Try sending your intent to make it move slowly toward me.”
For poisoning enemies, Fresh Companion—which had risen to Tier-6 thanks to rewards from the Nightmare Realm—would be overwhelmingly more practical…
But personal preference was law, so I devoted myself to teaching Maengmaengi its uses thoroughly.
— Coo!
The violet creature bounded over and then crawled up my body, wriggling as it climbed.
“Once you’ve managed to close the distance, you shoot off pieces of its body like bullets to slip them into the enemy’s mouth or make contact with their skin. While they’re distracted by how adorable it is.”
Its cute appearance could lull enemies into carelessness, and its squirming movements made barely a sound, making it perfect for ambush.
In this way, even what seemed like useless refuse eventually found its purpose somewhere.
The Immortal Cultist build too contained numerous Secret Arts that other explorers would never acquire—indeed, would actively avoid.
‘Maybe I should prepare that first?’
I drew a Secret Art Tome from my subspace.
The tome Fragment of the Colossal, obtained from the Nightmare Realm.
“I’m going to read for a bit.”
I had Rosalia sweep Maengmaengi away—it had been crawling over the Airborne Invader and gnawing at my clothes—and began reading in earnest.
Unlike Avatar of Earth, which was so convoluted it took considerable time to finish reading, this tome’s content wasn’t difficult, so I was able to absorb it quickly.
《Congratulations: The Tier-3 Secret Art Fragment of the Colossal has taken root within your body!》
Now that I’d learned it, let me check its performance right away.
I reached out and lightly touched the violet venomous creature that had been squirming beside me with the tip of my finger.
— Coo?
While Maengmaengi tilted its round body cutely in confusion, even from the briefest contact, piercing agony shot through my entire finger.
Stabbing, burning, tearing pain.
Yet the surface appeared untouched.
Such was the efficacy of Fragment of the Colossal.
《Fragment of the Colossal: Abnormal conditions targeting your body no longer pose a threat to your life force!》
Rosalia’s venom, which once preyed upon my flesh with its status ailments, can no longer whittle away my life force.
In its place, the pain from the status ailments themselves persists unabated, and it’s a Secret Art with both gains and losses—doubling the duration and negative effects of mental status ailments.
In truth, the drawbacks outweigh the benefits, so it’s usually dismissed, but if used well, it could exponentially amplify my still-lacking combat strength.
“How fascinating to imagine how you will wield such an inconvenient Secret Art, Fragment of the Colossal. Even one as wise as myself watches with bated breath!”
“Lidnessir, I assure you there will be no disappointments. I am a Socialite who does not settle for petty growth.”
—Squeak!
“Ugh. Maengmaengi, keep your distance. It hurts.”
I was tumbling about the bed to avoid the venomous creature trying to cling to me.
“Uhhh, Commander.”
Pendrick, a swordsman who had changed professions from inn staff to guest, stumbled into the room with a haggard face.
The hangover made it difficult for him to collect himself.
—Please discipline him a little, Kar!
Astrímia, sealed in the artifact scabbard, was snorting indignantly, having listened all night to the reeking, drunken conversation between man and canine-kin.
As an expedition leader, I couldn’t let this pass, so I accepted the request and spoke solemnly.
“Pendrick, from now on, please eat some appetizers alongside your drink. Humans cannot simply guzzle spirits the way beast-kin do—it damages the body.”
—Yes, understood.
“I’ve given you a stern talking-to, Astrímia. From now on, he will enjoy more responsible drinking with proper food.”
Having delivered a clean reprimand, I rose from the bed and prepared for the day’s outing.
Pendrick, still wearing a troubled expression, sat in a chair and asked.
“Where are you going?”
“I have various matters to attend to. Rosalia, shall we go together? Would you care to join us as well, Pendrick?”
“Yes, I’d like that. Shall we have breakfast together first?”
“That sounds good.”
We ordered the Lambs’ Clamor Inn’s signature dish—lamb steak—enjoyed it thoroughly, and then set out on our proper business.
First, we took care of what was absolutely necessary for Pendrick to formally join the expedition.
“Here is the cancellation fee.”
“Very well. Take him.”
We visited the headquarters of the guild Pendrick had belonged to, paid the required sum, and the guildmaster released him to us without hesitation.
He was an orc with a somewhat dim-witted appearance, and true to his looks, he seemed neither particularly sharp nor passionate about running his guild.
Otherwise, he couldn’t have failed to notice that the “prodigy swordsman from the Eastern Continent” whom Hystis had been spreading rumors about all night was a prospective explorer from his own ranks.
“I’m…somewhat disappointed.”
Once we’d walked some distance from the guild building, Pendrick, lost in thought, spoke with a bittersweet expression.
“I didn’t expect them wouldn’t even try to hold me back. Honestly, I was hoping for some dramatic attempt at persuasion.”
“That simply means they’re a guild not worth remarking upon. Forget about it.”
“I’ll have to succeed brilliantly enough to make them regret letting me go so easily.”
“That’s inevitable. Traveling on expeditions with me will ensure it.”
With our business at Pendrick’s former guild concluded, we continued down the street.
“Where are we headed now?”
“After unearthing a Hidden Piece, isn’t there something one must properly do?”
I intended to sell information.
To the faction that governed the 3rd District, not the Harmony Sect.
“We’re going to the Grey Wolf Guild headquarters.”
***
The Grey Wolf Guild.
The strongest exploration guild managing the 3rd District was located in the northernmost reaches of the Challenging Mountain Road.
Pendrick, who as a prospective explorer had rarely ventured this far, stared blankly at the guild building.
“It’s a wolf.”
A remarkably accurate observation.
Right before the inner walls that divided the Central District from the rest of Plethica.
There stood a large building of unusual design, shaped like a wolf’s head.
The Grey Wolf Guild headquarters.
The guildmaster had been so stubborn about insisting on the wolf head motif that a considerable sum had gone into the construction costs. This is what you get with those grey orc fools!
The main entrance was set within a mouth formed by large white boulders carved into sharp fangs.
I pushed open the door, which had been dyed red like a tongue, and the interior of the first floor—doubling as a tavern—came into view.
It was a place where not only guild members but ordinary explorers could also gather.
No more smelling alcohol. >:(
Wasn’t that an overly strict decree?
As I pondered this and glanced over, I saw Rosalia’s eyes flash with warning.
“…Forbidden.”
“Yes. Understood.”
I gave a thumbs-up to the assassin, who worried far more than she let on, and headed toward one of the reception desks inside.
[Dungeon Information Sales]
“Welcome.”
The receptionist, wearing a uniform with a grey wolf’s face emblazoned on the shoulder, regarded me with visible disinterest.
“How may I help you?”
“I’ve come to sell information on a Hidden Piece.”
……
The moment I showed my Identification Badge and mentioned the Hidden Piece, the indifferent employee flinched.
“Are you, by chance, the expedition that explored the City of Indulgence?”
They had been expecting us.
An event that triggered when one first achieved a certain level of Exploration Renown in the 3rd District.
“Please, wait a moment.”
I nodded, and the employee disappeared, returning moments later with a deep bow.
“I shall escort you to the top floor, Explorer Kar. Your companions should come as well.”
A far cry from the perfunctory treatment before.
We climbed the stairs to the upper level and were shown into a reception room.
Pendrick, settling into a plush sofa and glancing around the elegant space, allowed himself a slight smile.
“Being in a place like this makes it feel like we’ve become famous explorers.”
– You already ceased being an obscure explorer-in-training long ago. That muscle-bound dog beastkin has been broadcasting your name and deeds all over town!
“There’s nothing wrong with gaining renown that way, don’t you think, Captain?”
“Indeed. An explorer must cultivate fame by any means necessary. When popularity surges, one’s market value rises, and wealthy patrons may offer their backing.”
To make a name through deeds, prove one’s worth, and receive lavish financial and material patronage.
It was the most archetypal path to success for an explorer.
“Moreover, in cases where we’ve explored an uncharted Dungeon like ours, the Galaxy sometimes dispatches its own recruitment officers.”
The Galaxy.
Powers that managed the six districts of Plethica, much like the Harmony Sect or the Grey Wolf Guild.
When one observed the Secret Art dwelling within the body using specialized detection tools, it gleamed like starlight,
and the upper echelon of these district-managing organizations bore the nickname because they sparkled like the night sky itself.
“It’s possible they brought us to this reception room precisely to attempt recruitment.”
“Is that so?”
Pendrick leaned back against the sofa, laughing freely.
“I’m grateful for the brief time together, Captain. I’ll be leaving the expedition to join the Grey Wolf Guild.”
“Do as you please. Just know that when a taciturn assassin with red hair comes calling in the dead of night, it’s because I’ve sent her.”
“Oh no! For old times’ sake, I should probably ask if she’ll visit just once?”
“Hardly. Would you take the ‘Cold-Blooded Elf’ Rosalia lightly—someone who can kill even a former comrade at a moment’s command?”
……
Rosalia, listening to our careless banter, furrowed her brow slightly before striking my knee with her hand like a hammer.
Compared to the beginning, it seemed fair to interpret this as a sharp expression of how much more at ease I had become—a blow laden with companionship and affection.
“My apologies for the wait.”
After we’d spent some time lounging about with nothing to do, a large orc and a small elf entered the reception room.
The elf was a secretary.
And the orc was…
“Pleased to meet you. I am Targon, guildmaster of the Grey Wolf Guild.”
One of the twelve most distinguished explorers in all of Plethica.

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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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