Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. - Chapter 68

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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 68: C-rank Dungeon – Sanctuary of Purification and Rest (1)
I stood in the central hall of the Temple, where refined elegance flowed through every stone.
A solemn space filled entirely with pure, immaculate white.
So grave and reverent that one hesitated even to breathe, let alone speak.
《C-rank Dungeon – Sanctuary of Purification and Rest》
《A healing sanctuary built during the era when the repugnant divine sect carried out terrible massacres in the name of the “Crusade.” An unpleasant place reeking of Artein’s presence throughout. I earnestly request you proceed with haste in clearing this Dungeon!》
“Mom, what era is this?”
Bartimir, who had entered alongside me to observe the Temple, spoke up.
“…Mom?”
Lucius, the Priest who had entered before us, flinched and turned to look at me.
“Ah, I suppose I hadn’t mentioned it. I’m actually the mother of five children—born in spirit, not flesh. I’m eighty-two this year, and as an inferior half-elf, death draws near. Before I go, I wished to create cherished memories to rest peacefully, so I adopted children from the orphanage.”
……
Lucius seemed to have much he wanted to say, but held back, uncertain the words would harmonize with the moment—only his lips moved silently.
“Ah! So that’s your story!”
Thanks to my high Charm stat, Valentin swallowed the hastily improvised backstory whole.
《Earnest Request: The Wise One wishes that His faithful practice their devotion by bewitching those around them—not with trivial jests, but with genuine ※sorcery※!》
The response was gratifying enough to scratch a particular itch, but now wasn’t the time to indulge further—I needed to focus on exploration.
I nudged Bartimir, who stood lost in observation of the Temple.
The demon, pure-hearted but quick-witted, immediately offered an explanation.
“Oh, not literally my mom—just a nickname, or term of endearment. You look after the little details that are easy to overlook, so I thought it suited you.”
“You continue to exceed my expectations with each passing day, Commander.”
Pendrick looked between me and Bartimir in turn, then let out a quiet laugh.
Astrímia had long since released a weary sigh from the depths of her spirit.
I wrapped the Brilliant Faith around my neck like a scarf—an item a Socialite wearing such a thing would be condemned as sacrilege for—and answered the question from moments before.
“This Dungeon’s temporal setting is the era of the Crusade. It’s when the divine sect waged a sacred war, systematically purging and subjugating demons, dark mages, Socialites, and monsters.”
《The Wise One trembles in shock, clenching His eyes shut!》
Shriiiiek!
Groannnnn…!
All three of the evil deities simultaneously cry out in acute PTSD.
It was natural they would whine—all three had seen their divine influence severely diminish during this very era when the Crusade took place.
In particular, Leria had fallen from the chief deity of the evil pantheon to barely clinging to existence as a minor divine rank, so psychological trauma was bound to surface keenly.
“And the spatial setting is the Temple of the ‘Guardian Church,’ the predecessor of the Harmony Church—the Sanctuary of Purification and Rest.”
“As expected of you, Kar. A thorough explanation with no need for my input whatsoever.”
Valentin nodded repeatedly in approval.
“To elaborate, the Sanctuary of Purification and Rest was a healing center that treated patients who arrived from across all three continents. The Saint of that age wished to receive no compensation, so all treatment was provided free of charge.”
A Saint.
A Priest of special rank personally selected by Artein as His representative.
Even then, the Protector of All had chosen only young human women as His delegates.
Yet after the period of upheaval, when the sect rebranded itself as the Harmony Church, He ceased to care for age, race, or gender—so in the present day, it was Holy Ones who walked the world.
“Oh? The Sanctuary of Purification and Rest? Then… does that mean the last Saint of the Guardian Church will appear?”
Pendrick, who insisted on cradling his sword, asked carefully.
“Precisely. The very same Saint Seraphina, renowned for her noble character.”
“Wow!”
The prodigious swordsman’s eyes began to shine brilliantly.
“That’s such an honor! I read fairy tales and biographies about her so many times as a child that the pages fell apart!”
“Indeed? You’re as upright as befits Commander Kar’s colleague.”
Flump, flump.
The serpent tattoo that had crept up his left hand suddenly contorted in distress, shaking its head wildly.
It whimpered about leaving quickly, perhaps due to the sacred power that the Saint dwelling somewhere in this sanctuary possessed—but unfortunately, I couldn’t leave freely until the clear conditions were met.
“Saint Seraphina devoted herself to the end, never abandoning those patients with grave illnesses who came seeking their last hope from across the Three Continents.”
The stalwart holy knight gazed around the Temple with rekindled fervor.
“That is why we of the Harmony Church honor the Saint’s noble will by regularly dispatching volunteers to this Dungeon. In truth, the volunteer work itself is connected to the clear conditions.”
I listened to Valentin’s words while observing Bartimir’s reaction.
The eyes of the disaster-collecting demon shone like stars, brighter than ever.
“What a truly desirable place… no, what an admirable Saint!”
“What a wholesome heart the demon explorer has!”
What Bartimir found appealing was likely quite different from Valentin’s perspective.
《This Dungeon brims with curses and plagues—places that would suit your seventy-percent-crazy demon friend just fine…》
But there was more to it than that.
In truth, curses and plagues were simply the easiest to control, so that’s where he chose to concentrate—but he wouldn’t actively refuse other forms of negative afflictions either.
‘I should limit it to just a few, carefully chosen ones.’
Moderation in all things.
The wisdom of the ancients never fails.
“Good morning to you.”
At that moment, a priest of the Guardian Church dressed in white vestments approached and bowed deeply, hands pressed together.
“Good morning. I am Elion, a humble healing priest and servant of Artein.”
《Elion, a priest of the Guardian Church—the predecessor of the Harmony Church—(human, fifty-nine years old). One of the fools who follows a foolish saint who heals even patients who aren’t believers of Artein, free of charge. Had he continued to serve in an ordinary temple, he might have risen to the rank of bishop, but instead he has foolishly spurned his blessings and is now suffering in a place like this.》
In short, he was a man of profound piety and virtue.
If asked to choose a single moral instructor for the two wards under my care, I would unhesitatingly point to this priest.
“May Artein bless all of us on our journey. Good morning to you, Elion.”
What priest would spurn someone who displayed such genuine faith?
Elion’s expression softened as he recognized that Valentin’s greeting had been carefully chosen with sincere warmth, and he bowed gently with a serene smile.
“Good morning.”
He even greeted both myself and Bartimir without exception.
A curious sight: a socialite like me—an enemy of the Crusade era—and Bartimir, a dark mage, were met not with hostility but with genuine warmth.
This was due to what gamers call the “Dungeon Law”—a mechanic built into this place itself.
“Dear brothers and sisters, I thank you most sincerely for volunteering your service.”
Upon entering the Sanctuary of Purification and Rest, explorers assume the role of lay followers of Artein, coming to tend the sick who follow the Saint.
Even I, a heretic, and Bartimir, a double heretic, were in this dungeon nothing less than devoted believers of the divine Saint.
《:(》
“Artein will surely engrave your devotion deep upon the celestial ledger. The guardian of all wishes to soothe the wounded souls of all the innocent who suffer, regardless of race, station, age, or class.”
《Hypocrisy! Hypocrisy! Sheer hypocrisy!》
The Eye That Pierces Truth nearly convulsed, but there was nothing false about what he said.
Historically, the Guardian Church never indulged in blind condemnation even during the Crusade, but rather dedicated itself to protecting those unjustly persecuted.
Demons who came to serve Artein after being saved and shown mercy number—historically speaking—well over a hundred thousand, at least.
‘There’s a reason the divine faction’s patron god became what he is.’
Shriek—
Even the exalted one expressed vehement disapproval.
“…brother.”
Elion, sensing that I carried the mark of a multiple heresy, grasped my hand with a look of genuine concern and patted it gently.
Blind Believer was an affliction borne of malice, an artificial condition that first appeared in the age of the Crusade.
By now, in this priest’s mind, I had surely become a pitiable half-elf bearing the sorrows of the world.
Perhaps that was why.
Elion spoke in a voice noticeably softened.
“The journey here has been arduous, and you must all be weary, but you will need to begin attending to the patients immediately.”
Elion led us to a cramped room that served as both the priests’ quarters and a waiting area for volunteers.
We were meant to change our clothes, but the space was so narrow our breath mingled.
“I do apologize.”
The middle-aged priest smiled sheepishly, fingering the All-Seeing Owl Face Pendant that symbolized Artein.
“The number of patients we’ve taken in continues to grow without pause, and the shortage of space grows more acute each day.”
Even the living quarters of priests and paladins had become insufficient, and they now dwelt in tents pitched outside the sanctuary itself.
“In fact, even the Saint’s own chamber has been converted into a ward. This room was originally a storage closet.”
“Will we be expected to sleep outside as well?”
“No, that is not the case. Though I cannot offer you comfortable beds…”
Elion, embarrassed, could no longer meet our eyes.
Bartimir glanced sideways at the middle-aged priest, who had turned away his head.
“Really… the conditions are quite harsh. Everyone’s working so hard.”
Rarely did one hear him speak with such consideration for the listener’s feelings.
It was evidence that his lack was in education, not in manners.
“Have you all finished changing?”
We had changed into light vestments that allowed for easy movement, and we wore masks covering our noses and mouths to prevent contagion.
Everything was a spotless white, befitting the slogan of the Guardian Church in this era: “The Pure White Artein.”
“…excuse me, sister?”
Elion called out to Bartimir carefully.
“Forgive me, but would you remove those bandages? The patients might find them… unsettling.”
“These wrappings are because of my condition.”
“Oh! Allow me to heal you at once.”
“No, no, no!”
Bartimir shook his head vehemently, back and forth.
“I won’t! Don’t touch it! It’s my condition!”
“……?”
It was an unprecedented refusal of treatment—the kind of case that would merit inclusion in the Harmony Church’s medical archives, if only for its sheer strangeness.
Even Elion, who had devoted his entire life to the priesthood in service to Artein, blinked his eyes blankly, seeing for the first time someone who would refuse free healing.
Before the middle-aged priest could entertain any misunderstanding, I stepped forward quickly.
“Brother. This child carries a deep wound in her heart—she was abused by a corrupt mage solely because she is a demon. I humbly ask that you care for her with the same broad and warm compassion that Artein himself would show.”
“Ah… I see there is such a story behind this.”
The priest, his eyes glistening with sympathy as he gazed upon the sorrowful demon, soon retrieved the Pure White Veil and placed it gently over Bartimir’s head.
It was clearly thin and translucent cloth, yet the moment it touched her body, it became completely opaque, entirely concealing her face.
《Masterwork – Preparation for Reception》
《A useless object with nothing but the function of hiding one’s face. It does have the effect of making Artein’s voice slightly clearer, but for a demon dark mage, that might as well not exist at all….》
“It is a gift. Please accept it.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“Not at all. May Artein soothe your heart….”
The priest, having placed a hand on Bartimir’s shoulder and blessed her future happiness, moved with renewed purpose, leading us into a spacious ward.
“This is the Third Critical Care Healing Ward.”
Pendrick, who had been turning his head this way and that, opened his eyes wide.
“…It’s bigger than I expected!”
And indeed it was.
The Third Critical Care Healing Ward was a vast space that could rightfully be described as sprawling.
The sight of countless beds laid out in a great hall—spacious enough to host an athletics festival in which every guild in Pletika participated—was truly magnificent.
“Now I shall explain the work that you, brother and sister, must undertake.”
C-rank Dungeons and above boast a difficulty incomparable to those of lower grades.
Consider how long and arduous the process of conquering the Nightmare World had proven.
The Sanctuary of Purification and Rest, being C-rank itself, is extraordinarily treacherous to clear.
Yet its trial comes not through combat, but through physical exhaustion of another kind.
“For the next five days, you must nurse the patients here who require care, without respite.”
The clearing condition of the Sanctuary of Purification and Rest.
Five days of continuous care for roughly a thousand critically ill patients.

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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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