Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. - Chapter 52

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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 52: I Wouldn’t Believe It Either
《Taragon, guildmaster of the Ashgray Wolf Guild (grey orc, forty years old). Undeniably a force to be reckoned with.》
Ranked second by the Dungeon Management Bureau among the Twelve Heroes.
The strongest orc among Warrior Class explorers!
Seeing him in person, his presence was no joke.
It felt like facing a colossal mountain compressed into the form of an intelligent being—a solid, immense existence that radiated an almost tangible weight.
‘Now that’s a warrior.’
As an explorer, I wasn’t particularly fond of the Ashgray Wolf Guild for not being considerate enough to beginners, but on a personal level, I’d always found Taragon respectable.
We had more than a few things in common, which made it impossible not to be drawn to this hulking orc.
The reason Emir had been sent as tribute last time—a Berserker orc—was precisely because of the towering figure before my eyes.
“Good to meet you. I’m Taragon.”
The grey orc of overwhelming stature extended a hand larger than most buckler shields.
“A pleasure. I am Kar, leader of the Moon Expedition Party and a Socialite of the Twisted Truth.”
When I extended my slender hand in return, the size disparity was almost comical—like an adult shaking hands with a child.
Even for an orc, could they really get this large?
《This absurdly massive orc must have inherited the blood of an extinct giant. :O》
The creator Mitube had even posted a video explaining Taragon’s bloodline, and my conjecture was roughly similar.
Though the crucial details were off.
“Sit.”
The large orc settled into the sofa across from us.
Even with all three of us lined up side by side, the piece had plenty of room—yet he filled it completely alone.
“First, I have something to give you.”
The secretary quietly handed over an object from his pocket.
Upon inspection, it was an Identification Badge made of bronze, etched with a wolf’s face.
In the center was Pendrick’s name.
“Congratulations on officially becoming a Bronze-rank Explorer.”
Pendrick, successfully graduated from trainee status.
In truth, Bronze-rank badges are issued readily enough once someone proves sufficient competence, yet the Eastern swordsman prodigy gazed down at the badge for quite some time as if moved by the moment.
Finally, Taragon spoke again.
“I heard you came to sell information about a Hidden Piece.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Lay it out.”
An Upper Warrior doesn’t waste time on pleasantries or idle chat.
Satisfied by his refreshing directness, I promptly began revealing the information.
“The Hidden Piece information I’m selling is of two types.”
The method and strategy for entering the Nightmare World, which is the true nature of the City of Indulgence.
An Artificial Heart that lures out and weakens the leader entity of the Bloodtide Banquet Hall, Bloodtide Blurrive.
I made no mention of the Secret Art that Pendrick had learned—Resisting Body.
It can only be obtained on initial entry, so there was no need to mention it.
“That concludes my presentation.”
The secretary, who had transcribed my entire account in shorthand, bowed to me and withdrew a pouch of money from a glove—the most common type of pocket-dimensional tool.
A bundle of gold coins so substantial Merlin would have eyes spinning, had she seen it.
“Well said. Advance payment of eight hundred gold coins.”
Taragon fixed me with a steady gaze as he continued.
“Once I’ve verified the information, the rest of the payment will be disbursed. Any grievances?”
By expression and tone alone, it sounded like ‘dare complain and you’ll regret it’, but in reality, he was being reasonably courteous.
Taragon’s natural temperament was somewhat unsavory, but his alignment was classified as good.
I nodded while stashing the weighty purse of gold coins into my pocket dimension.
“No. It’s a more than satisfactory sum.”
Eight hundred gold just as an advance is well above the standard rate.
Combined with the unexpected issuance of Pendrick’s badge without my asking, it was clear we were being treated with goodwill.
I roughly understood why.
“Is there perhaps something you’d ask of me?”
“There is. Especially of you.”
The Upper Warrior, who never minced words, leaned his upper body slightly toward me.
“Join our guild. I’ll treat you right away as a Gold-rank Explorer.”
Pendrick, taken aback, sucked in a sharp breath, while Rosalia tilted her head slightly and discreetly touched my back.
A silent question: wasn’t this unexpected?
“You’d treat me as Gold-rank?”
“That’s right.”
“Why do you need me?”
“Because I need your knowledge.”
Taragon placed both hands on the table with a weighty, deliberate motion.
“A Guild War will be held in one month. Become an advisor to our guild.”
Pendrick, who had been glancing nervously between me and Rosalia as we hesitated, carefully raised his hand.
“Pardon me, but what exactly is a Guild War? I’ve heard the term, but I don’t understand the details.”
“…Elvira.”
“Yes, sir.”
The secretary stepped forward immediately and spoke on behalf of the guild master.
“Authority over the 3rd District is rotated periodically. Once every year, guilds compete through Dungeon expeditions, and the guild that achieves the most excellent results is granted the honor of overseeing one pillar of Pletica.”
While power occasionally shifted to other groups in the other districts, only the 3rd District underwent these scheduled rotations.
“Do you have any further questions?”
“I understand completely. Thank you.”
The elf smiled faintly and withdrew, while Taragon clenched his fist, then opened it with a frown.
“To be honest, it looks like we’re going to have a hard time winning this one.”
“Even with you here, Guild Master Taragon, one of the Twelve Heroes? I don’t quite understand. Is it because I lack experience?”
At Pendrick’s question, the secretary Elvira exchanged a glance with her superior.
When the Upper Warrior orc nodded, the courteous elf suddenly spoke in a low, whispered voice.
“We have a spy from another guild within our ranks.”
It was an intuitive explanation even a fresh recruit could easily grasp.
“All information about our guild’s strategies and our explorers’ Secret Arts has been leaked and exposed to every explorer in the 3rd District. We’ve even deployed an artifact that detects lies, but we haven’t been able to apprehend the culprit. It appears they possess a special Secret Art.”
“That’s why I want to bring you along. You uncovered a Hidden Piece in the City of Indulgence. You show real promise. We’ll make up for your low Level and lack of field experience. What do you say?”
I held Taragon’s gaze for a moment, then answered.
“I appreciate the offer, but this isn’t a decision I can make alone. I need to consult with my co-founder before giving you an answer.”
“…I see.”
“However, I can offer you a small gift before then.”
I have a gift that would make even this taciturn warrior break into a broad smile.
“The spy is Rigobbert, one of the deputy guild masters of the Ashgray Wolf Guild and commander of the Sentinel Expedition Team.”
A swift revelation of the answer—a gift for an orc who becomes a steadfast ally once you befriend him.
“…I can’t let that pass without comment.”
Taragon’s expression hardened, and he leaned his upper body slightly forward.
At that simple gesture alone, I felt as though a colossal mountain were pressing down on my entire frame.
“Rigobbert has been with me since the day I started my life as an explorer—he’s like family. And you’re telling me he betrayed me?”
Taragon’s gaze grew increasingly murderous, the pressure suffocating.
“And I was stupid enough not to notice any of it? That’s an insult I simply cannot overlook.”
……
To experience firsthand the lethal killing intent of one of the Twelve Heroes—the most powerful Berserker in Pletica!
My spirit welcomed it, but my body found it difficult to endure.
Rosalia placed a gentle hand on my back as my breathing quickened.
I caught her eye briefly, grateful, then turned my gaze directly back to Taragon and spoke.
“I understand. Your anger is justified. It’s natural that you’re furious.”
“And yet you made that statement anyway?”
“Ridni granted me a revelation. My business partner, the young master of the Brithes Family, has also obtained such information.”
I triggered two credibility cheat codes simultaneously, but the stubborn orc didn’t budge an inch.
“Anyone can rattle off plausible words. What matters is the truth.”
“Treat it as an experiment and conduct a discreet investigation. You’ll discover clues you never noticed before flooding in.”
“It doesn’t sound like an experiment. It sounds like I’m being deceived.”
The burly gray orc shifted in his seat as if ready to stand at any moment.
Secretary Elvira seemed inclined to seriously consider my words, but she clearly had no intention of shortening her lifespan by offering counsel to her thoroughly enraged superior.
“Socialite Kar. Are you trying to slander Rigobbert, my most trusted ally, for some malicious purpose?”
“I am not.”
“Of course you’d say that. What fool would confess to their own deception?”
Mere wordplay wouldn’t persuade the Upper Warrior before me.
What I needed now was the single secret that could pierce the heart encased in armor and muscle harder than stone.
I knew a word as powerful as a Secret Art—one that could shake Taragon’s convictions.
“If it’s not the truth, I’ll enter the 4th District’s Dungeon with you.”
……
The orc caught the hidden meaning in my words immediately, his brow furrowing slightly.
Meanwhile, Secretary Elvira’s eyes widened noticeably before she quickly composed herself under her superior’s gaze.
“…Well, you’re quite the audacious one, aren’t you.”
Taragon stared at the table in silence for several minutes before finally lifting his head.
“Fine. I’ll look into it. But if you’re lying, you’ll have to answer for those words.”
The meeting ended there.
“We’ll conduct our own investigation in the meantime. We’ll be waiting for you to visit us again.”
I left the Ashgray Wolf Guild headquarters building, escorted out by his secretary Elvira.
Since it felt wasteful to simply return, I headed toward the Eastern District, brimming with diversions, and Astrímia—who had remained silent the whole time—asked me a question.
– Kar, but why would the spy reveal all that information to other rival guilds? Wouldn’t it be better for the Guild War if only their own guild knew about it?
A sharp observation befitting an Ego Sword—keener than her own lover.
“Keep this between yourselves for now. The reason the spy leaked the information is that it wasn’t sent by ‘another guild.'”
The spy: Vice-Guild Master Rigobbert.
He belonged to someone far higher up the chain.
“The Nightmare Dungeon.”
I looked up at the sky, where the night’s denizens were invisible in the morning light.
“Rigobbert is operating under orders from a great demon dwelling in the highest depths of the Nightmare Dungeon.”
The supreme entity governing the final Dungeon can exert influence beyond its walls.
– …What?
Astrímia’s sword spirit flickered for a moment.
– I know you possess knowledge that’s almost miraculous, but that’s hard to believe. Be honest—does that even make sense? The Nightmare Dungeon has only been cleared up to the 4th floor out of 50 total.
“Yes, that’s true.”
– And I only just learned that a ‘great demon’ even exists on the highest floor…. Oh! Wait—is this one of those jokes you make without smiling, and I’m just being too dense to take it right?
I walked in silence for a moment before speaking.
“I was a bit taken aback by how seriously you responded. The way you said it, it’s obviously a joke, isn’t it?”
– …Ugh! I don’t even have a face, but I can feel myself blushing!
“Astrímia, I’m embarrassed for both of us.”
– Pendrick! You were startled for a second too, admit it!
I listened to the couple’s bickering and let out a dry laugh.
Just a joke.
For now, that’s all it needs to be.
The fact that this brilliant Ego Sword is reacting so negatively means that at this point, there are very few people who would believe my words without doubt.
《But what in the world…》
Yet the black text displayed before my eyes was proving that I had spoken nothing but the truth.
《How exactly do you know of the Corrupted Divine Entity—the supreme ruler of the Nightmare Dungeon? The wise one cannot hide their bewilderment!》

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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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