Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. - Chapter 55

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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 55: You Know Me Far Too Well
“…Think what you like.”
Odillon, nearly liquefied at this point, shook his head slowly.
“Then I’ll give Sergius that impression for now. If he refuses, I’ll make my own decision, so keep that in mind.”
“I doubt it will come to that.”
If Bartimir had originated from me, there was no way he’d refuse a proposal to settle things through exploration.
“I have nothing more to say.”
“Ah, I do have something.”
“Go ahead. Make it quick if you can.”
Since Odillon had reached a state just before complete dissolution, I hurried to speak.
“It seems the Ash Gray Wolf Guild leader wants to recruit me into his guild for the Guild War.”
“Refuse.”
The answer came swift, without a moment’s hesitation.
“Isn’t that rather extreme? Are you perhaps an orc discriminator? Or a subscriber to that notorious Luymes Kingdom restoration theory?”
“Drop the habit of spouting nonsense while pretending to understand. Targon—avoid that one as much as you can. He’s not the sort to use as a colleague.”
It was fair enough.
Targon, the Ash Gray Wolf Guild leader, became a reliable ally once you grew close, but he was an orc you couldn’t afford to get too intimate with.
I nodded quietly and looked into Odillon’s eyes.
“Don’t just dismiss him outright. Think about it. This is an opportunity.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know perfectly well.”
Any explorer worth their salt ought to harbor great ambitions.
“I’ll make the Ash Gray Wolf Guild champions and let everyone know the true strength of the Moon Expedition Party.”
***
Pletika.
It began as a temporary settlement formed for exploration expeditions that had gathered to pursue the grand dreams of wealth and success from across the continent in this Dungeon city.
Then, under the leadership of a merchant of exceptional business acumen, it became a city, and after years of repeated growth, it had become the present city-state.
“That merchant, who had led the city, seized the decline of the Valtereum Empire as an opportunity to withdraw from the city-state alliance and crowned himself king.”
Our home in Sociato Town, which I visited after a long while.
I was starting the morning with bread and soup that Abel had prepared, conducting simple lessons for the siblings.
Merlin, munching on soft bread, tilted her head.
“What’s with the sudden history lesson?”
“You ought to know basic common knowledge like this. How much would it hurt me if people said you two were ignorant and empty-headed wherever you went?”
“Strange how you say that so naturally while looking straight at me despite making such a claim.”
Merlin’s answer was always vivid, as expected.
This was precisely why I could never abandon my faith in Lidni.
《A Plea, Lest You Forget: The Wise One desires that His followers vex those around them with ☆Magic☆, not merely with petty pranks of word and deed as you do!!》
I waved away the black text carelessly and continued the lesson.
“That merchant who ascended to the throne is now the founder of the Luxerion Dynasty that rules present-day Pletika—a remarkable figure who left a great mark upon history.”
It was absolutely not because there was a possibility that a captain of the royal Security Force, with broad eavesdropping capabilities, might be listening.
If it had been mere flattery, I would have started by miming licking the distant king’s feet remotely.
“And the regional administrative forces, including the Harmony Cult, received administrative authority from the crown in exchange for offering a third of the wealth, Secret Art Tomes, and Artifacts drawn from the Dungeon.”
“They extract that much?”
“It was originally a fourth. At least it’s been reduced.”
“Patron, has the Milky Way ever united its full strength to resist the crown?”
“A sharp question.”
The seat of dominion over others is hardly a comfortable place.
Power inevitably faces challenges from those bearing two vastly different values: freedom and ambition.
“What do you think is the surest way a ruler maintains their position?”
The siblings offered different answers befitting their respective personalities.
“Winning hearts by distributing money?”
“Wouldn’t overwhelming power be most certain?”
“Both are correct.”
Resisting the crown would be impossible—the power disparity is simply too vast.
Beyond that, the crown provides regular lavish privileges to the six members of the Milky Way, and those who dutifully pay taxes and remain loyal are never deprived of their right to govern their respective regions, leaving no reason for rebellion whatsoever.
“But why is the administrative power in the Third District rotated periodically?”
“Simple. There was once an explorer who failed to remain loyal to the crown.”
About a hundred years ago.
There was a guild that raised banners against the crown and was suppressed in merely half a day, with all its members executed.
Since then, the Third District has held a Guild War every two years, with the crown presiding and the administrative authority itself at stake.
“And the next Guild War is set for a month from now. Every guild in Pletika will scramble for the opportunity to pledge their loyalty to the crown and earn a truly remarkable honor.”
“Oh….”
“By the way, I intend to participate as well.”
At my words, Merlin—who had been methodically draining his warm soup—blinked blankly, his eyes going vacant.
“But we’re not a guild. We’re an expedition party, aren’t we?”
“That’s right. Which means we don’t have the qualifications to enter. Even if we tried to establish a guild, Pletika’s regulations wouldn’t allow it.”
The Milky Way, which managed six districts, could only maintain a single guild under its banner.
Moreover, members couldn’t join any other guild, which meant Odillon could only operate the expedition party.
Naturally, Rosalia couldn’t participate in the Guild War either.
“So what do you intend to do?”
“I’ll enter as a member of the Ash Gray Wolf Guild.”
“You’re abandoning the Moon Expedition Party…?”
“Of course I am. And I’m throwing you out first, Merlin.”
“…….”
She raised her fingernails to jab at my waist repeatedly, so I stopped her by popping a piece of meat into her mouth.
“Actually, guilds and expedition parties are separate concepts, so normally it’s fine to belong to both.”
“Hmm….”
As Merlin pondered, her ears perked up, and Abel raised his hand.
“Patron, I have a fundamental question.”
“What is it?”
“Didn’t you say the Guild War takes place a month from now? And you’re currently still at Level 3—how could you stand against the elite expeditions of other guilds?”
“Huh? That’s true.”
At her brother’s words, even Merlin seemed seized by doubt.
I sipped Abel’s fragrant special blend of tea—slightly modified in its preparation—as I spoke.
“Don’t worry about that. In the Dungeon where the Guild War finals are held, all adventurers’ spiritual ranks are equalized.”
A special Dungeon with a unique mechanic where all entrants explored under identical conditions.
The rewards were so poor that it was now used exclusively for Guild Wars.
“If everyone’s on equal footing, wouldn’t that be advantageous for me?”
“That’s possible. But why help the Ash Gray Wolf Guild in the first place?”
“It’s a chance to showcase our expedition’s capabilities.”
An entry driven by naked self-interest, aimed at building renown.
The Guild War commanded enough attention that even the ruling powers of other districts would be watching—there was no reason not to seize the opportunity.
There was also the matter of thwarting the sinister schemes of the Six Apostles.
“After our dinner yesterday, I mentioned it to Odillon, and he immediately told me to do as I pleased.”
It would certainly not be easy.
Becoming the Milky Way—directly managing a district—was endgame content of the Nightmare Dungeon, on par with excavating all Hidden Pieces from every Dungeon.
Which meant winning the Guild War would be arduous and difficult.
Even with the experience of wasting twenty thousand hours, it wouldn’t be simple in my current state.
‘But that’s what makes it worthwhile.’
If the path to one’s destination is long and strewn with thorns, one learns to savor the pain of thorns piercing the skin.
Having weathered various incidents and crises, I could grin even if pierced by a slender rapier, much less thorns.
Now, if it escalated to a cavalry lance, I’d have to give that some thought.
In any case, before stepping into the Guild War, what demanded my focus was growth and development.
Time wasn’t abundantly generous, but there was sufficient opportunity to bolster my strength.
“Everyone, finish up. Let’s get moving.”
“Are we heading to Odillon’s manor, sir?”
“Yes. But first, let’s do some light morning exercise on the way to help with digestion.”
I led the children out and took them on a leisurely jog around Sociato Town.
Perhaps because my Stamina stat had increased.
Compared to the Hidden Ghoul Pack’s Lair, where I’d grown exhausted after only a little running, my cardiovascular endurance had definitely improved.
I still fell behind the siblings in running speed, but I could transform that shame of falling behind children into a stepping stone for progress—which wasn’t so bad.
“Huff… you two really do have quick, sturdy legs.”
“It’s because Kar is slow and weak!”
“Thank you for clarifying the relationship so precisely.”
I ruffled Merlin’s smug hair and simply washed up at home.
The rented home provided by the Harmony Cult had no proper shower or bath, so there was no way to wash up refreshingly.
It wasn’t neglect—an incident had occurred some time ago when an inconsiderate Socialite had tried to abduct a pauper, dismember and clean the body, then sell it; after that, the facilities had vanished.
“Come on, let’s go bathe at Odillon’s manor.”
“You make it sound like we’re going to a public bathhouse.”
“Oh right, it’s not a communal facility. I got confused because it’s so convenient.”
“…….”
I came to the Brithes Family Manor with the children.
True to a wealthy information broker’s estate, the facilities and furnishings were exceptionally luxurious—a luxury that let me wash up properly for the first time in ages.
I didn’t need to change my clothes.
The Sky Invader, bearing the exalted filth of a most distinguished personage, could not be soiled by mere sweat or waste.
“Good morning, Kar.”
After finishing my bath, I was making short work of the complimentary meal Charlotte had laid out in the dining hall when Sergius approached me with a formal bow.
“Good morning to you. What brings you here?”
“First, if you would be so kind as to accept this.”
Sergius extended a flat, semicircular object wrapped in fine linen.
Artifact – Connecting Fragments.
Two pieces form a pair. They allow communication even across great distances.
An expensive communication artifact.
One was usually carried by Odillon, while the other was owned by Rosalia—not by me, the Expedition leader—owing to Odillon’s extreme distrust of humanity.
“Has the young master finally come to trust me, then?”
“It would seem he has developed a feeling somewhat akin to trust, though I confess it remains slightly incomplete.”
“Ah, what a pity.”
Odillon still regarded me not as a comrade, but as a fellow contractor for the Expedition.
Considering his uniquely brutal nature, even this level of rapport could fairly be called the maximum affection cap.
Even if “maximum” amounted to less than half of what others might receive.
“And just moments ago, I had a conversation with the mage we mean to recruit.”
“Oh, is that so?”
I bit into the apple Charlotte had brought for dessert, asking with barely contained excitement.
“What did he make of my proposal?”
“The moment he heard it, he accepted at once—quite confidently, I might add.”
As expected. He did not refuse.
He lived up to being a Dark Mage I had cultivated myself.
“In fact, he wishes to test himself against you as soon as today.”
The audacity of the youngest of the Le house.
My hypothesis that he might not be a sub-character I had created seemed now entirely defensible.
“Understood. I shall depart at once.”
“Anticipating as much, I have already arranged the appointment.”
“My thanks. Did he mention which Dungeon he wished to explore?”
“He asked that you decide, sir. Along with a taunt—that if you felt afraid, you were welcome to choose a Dungeon favorable to you. What shall you do?”
My answer was already determined.
“The D-rank Dungeon, the Library of Sin. Located in the Sixth Ward.”
“…There, you say.”
Sergius stroked his chin, his brow furrowing.
As he sank into thought, Merlin—still scraping his bowl clean—tilted his head.
“Sergius, why the expression? Is it a dangerous Dungeon?”
“Not precisely. Rather, it is a Dungeon unfavorable to Kar.”
“What do you mean?”
“Demon-type Beings sustain themselves on negative emotion, and the more they consume, the stronger their physical abilities become. By that logic, the Library of Sin can be said to be the primary battlefield of such creatures.”
Merlin’s eyes widened, and he looked at me with bewilderment.
“Kar. Are you thinking of stepping down as Expedition leader?”
“There’s no chance of that.”
“Ah, I see. Since unfavorable conditions make it more fun, you chose it that way, right?”
I gave Merlin’s head a gentle pat.
“You know me far too well now.”
It was a perfectly accurate answer.
Though there were other reasons besides.
“Sergius, might I also determine the format of the match?”
Sergius, who had been smiling wryly at my audacious choice of such an unfavorable arena, nodded his head.
“There should be no objection.”
Then, all at once, the elderly butler broke into a quiet laugh, his eyes upon my face.
“Curious, it is. Though a complete stranger, he bears a character and disposition remarkably similar to yours.”
“To what degree?”
“Upon meeting him directly, you shall see for yourself. For a moment, I mistook him for a blood relative of yours—a Demon-type one, no less.”
One might indeed describe our relationship in such terms.
“Then I shall convey your words to him exactly as you have spoken them.”
“I’m asking for your help.”
After Sergius left the dining hall, I patted the siblings on their backs.
“You two, get ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“What do you think?”
My heart was already racing.
“To make an ascent with me.”

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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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