Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. - Chapter 82
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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 82: Sanctuary of Rest – Fruition
I continued to lie in the Saint’s makeshift office and living quarters.
My serious injuries had long since healed, but the Hidden Clear Condition requiring the Saint to survive for four days or more had not yet been met.
《Time remaining until four days have passed since the monster army’s assault began – approximately 1 hour》
Originally, the Hidden Route of the Sanctuary of Rest was structured so that we somehow scraped by until the fourth day, and then reinforcements from the Royaume Kingdom would arrive, finally initiating our counterattack.
But because of the Dungeon Strengthening that didn’t exist in the game, the progression had become considerably twisted, resulting in this surplus of time.
“Commander, your arm….”
– You really pushed yourself too hard.
Pendrick and Astrímia, seated beside me, let their voices fall with bitterness.
Barthimer, who stood behind, looked ready to cry, and Lucius’s expression was none too pleasant either.
The atmosphere had grown far too heavy, so I decided to demonstrate to everyone that there was no need to worry.
“There’s no need to look at me with such pity.”
Whoosh.
As I exerted my will, the long-sleeved Sky Invader transformed into a short-sleeved formal dress suitable for summer.
“I can make it fit better by cutting it short like this.”
– …Are you doing that on purpose?
“What do you mean?”
– Never mind….
Astrímia released a mental sigh and began speaking carefully.
– Your wards would be absolutely thrilled if they saw Kar’s choice of outfit.
“…There’s nothing I can say to that.”
When Merlin and Abel were mentioned, the reality of what I’d done—something others would find difficult to accept—began to sink in somewhat.
From now on, when I practice Self-Sacrifice, I should ensure it goes unnoticed by offering only my organs and muscles.
As long as they aren’t parts strictly necessary for survival, I could hollow myself out bit by bit without issue, couldn’t I?
“Well, what’s the fuss? We can just get a prosthetic arm. Right?”
Barthimer, the only one maintaining composure, tapped my now-smooth left arm with a measured touch.
– How can you be so calm about it?
“I lost a lot of parts during my time as a Dark Magic test subject. These limbs of mine now? They’re not originally mine—each one was transplanted from various unnamed demons.”
– …I see.
Though faceless, Astrímia fell silent, visibly taken aback.
I sat up and wiggled my toes.
“We’re quite well-matched after all. Our daughter is the best.”
“I told you, don’t call yourself the mother.”
We exchanged glances for a moment, then both nodded in unison.
The unwavering bond of the ‘R’ Family.
It was a pity that the likelihood of ever sharing hearts with Barthimer’s siblings the way we did was extremely slim.
“But Commander, it seems like the day you become a renowned explorer known throughout Plethica isn’t far off?”
Pendrick, the charm monster, naturally steered the conversation forward.
– Isn’t that right!
Astrímia chimed in as if waiting for the moment, raising her voice.
– Though she is a phantom of the Dungeon, your connection with Saint Seraphina, a historical figure of significance, is certainly something worth taking pride in!
“Wouldn’t people start recognizing you everywhere? You’d become quite the celebrity among the Harmony Sect devotees, wouldn’t you?”
I replied evenly.
“I’m quite satisfied with becoming famous.”
– Hehe, so you are an explorer at heart after all. I thought you only loved the exploration itself, but it seems you enjoy fame as well?
“Of course. As my reputation grows, outlaws will target me and attempt pillage.”
“…….”
Pillage within the Dungeon.
A lovely element that raises exploration difficulty.
The late Black Sword Guild Master would have caused such trouble that we couldn’t enjoy exploration if left alive, so I removed him for the sake of my siblings’ safety, but there’s no way to prevent the encroachment of lawless exploration parties.
“Everyone, please be delighted. Your future explorations will become even more grueling not just from the Dungeon’s own rules but from human factors as well. In equal measure, your sense of fulfillment and achievement will soar!”
– That sounds… truly exciting….
“Ha ha….”
The pair of lovers laughed awkwardly.
Why are they laughing?
“Kar.”
As a brief silence fell, Valentin spoke up with unusually bright, keen eyes.
“Since you’ve uncovered Artein’s arrangements hidden in the Sanctuary of Rest, which holds such deep meaning for us, there is a reward we can provide separate from the information fee.”
Pendrick, who had encountered the Saint through fairy tales and biographies in his childhood, asked with a somewhat excited expression.
“Is that so? What sorts of things specifically?”
“First, beginning today, Kar and the expedition members will receive distinguished treatment as honored guests of the Harmony Sect. After all, you are the expedition party that has realized an alternate timeline in which the Saint Seraphina survives!”
A holy knight in his late forties with a burly frame gazed with sparkling eyes, and there was something unexpectedly endearing about his demeanor.
Barthimer at his side, for some reason, furrowed her brow sharply.
“Come now, don’t single us out like that. The holy knights and priests have been running about just as earnestly, haven’t they?”
Pendrick smiled warmly and thoughtfully acknowledged that the members of the Harmony Sect had made sufficient sacrifice as well.
“Ah, no. We were merely fulfilling our rightful duty.”
The holy knight’s eyes widened suddenly, then he rubbed the back of his neck as if embarrassed.
Ever since earlier, he kept showing endearingly awkward reactions that didn’t match his imposing frame.
Was this some cunning scheme to turn me into a fan?
Chirp!
Sue implored me—begging, really—to remove that unsightly, craggy face from view.
As a Socialite faithful to the word of my divine masters, I obliged by creating a bit of distance.
Soon after, Pendrick ventured a question.
“I’ve been curious about this since before we went to help—what kind of treatment comes with being a guest of the Harmony Sect?”
“A special Identification Badge will be crafted for you very soon. With that alone, you’ll be able to operate as legitimate honorary members of the Harmony Sect going forward.”
“I see.”
Though my body nodded in acknowledgment, my voice—that of a genius swordmaster—carried no trace of the satisfaction that comes from having curiosity satisfied.
Noticing this, Lucius swiftly elaborated.
“There are Dungeons and facilities in Plethica that cannot be entered with merely the status of a common adventurer, are there not? I refer specifically to the 1st District itself, and the research Dungeons of the Magic Tower in the 2nd District.”
Some Dungeon mechanics impose access restrictions based on affiliation or Class.
That was why a status tied to the Harmony Sect’s influence across all of Plethica was necessary.
“As an honorary member of the Harmony Sect, you will be able to freely enter places that were previously forbidden to you.”
Lucius turned his gaze toward me.
“Moreover, since you are a Socialite, you have had to request permission from the Spear of Order each time you left the Socialite residential district, have you not? As an honorary member, such restrictions will no longer apply.”
Until now, I had to obtain approval every time I left Cult Believer Town, an inconvenient necessity. Now I would be free of it.
“Furthermore, if you wish, we can provide you with new lodgings, and you will be free to move about between districts as you please.”
Overwhelming convenience in one’s movements.
Now I could wander freely throughout all of Plethica.
This was why the Socialite needed to clear the Sanctuary of Rest.
“To be honest, I believe that Kar, who led this expedition, deserves far more generous compensation along with honorary membership status!”
Valentin, having quieted down for a moment, grew excited once more and clenched both fists tightly.
“Perhaps we might even present you with a Holy Artifact that has no current owner!”
– A Holy Artifact…!
It was at that moment that Astrímia jolted in surprise, her blade trembling.
《The Saint is approaching from a distance.》
Truth sent me a considerate message.
Originally, I could only confirm information about targets within my field of view, but now the scope had expanded.
A secondary effect of the Self-Sacrifice ritual.
Along with destroying the Mana Core of the Gargantuan Destroyer Golem, the Eye That Pierces Truth had advanced to Rank 3 without consuming another Secret Art.
“As expected of you, Leadni. Such clever handling of matters.”
Through the Socialite’s Self-Sacrifice, abundant Faith was generated and efficiently redistributed for use.
I had made the request, but honestly, the results exceeded my expectations.
《Don’t be so taken aback by something so obvious. :)》
“Kar.”
Shortly after, Seraphina pushed open the wooden board serving as a door and entered.
“It is time for you to depart.”
《Time remaining until four days have passed since the monster horde’s attack began—approximately 5 minutes.》
Time had slipped away without my noticing.
With Barthimer’s help, I rose to my feet, and the Saint looked into my eyes before speaking again.
“I am mortified that I cannot offer you special compensation despite your sacrifice of an entire arm. I searched the entire temple, yet no valuable items emerged.”
In truth, I had held no expectations.
I had not cleared the Sanctuary of Rest in pursuit of material reward.
“Instead, I will bestow a blessing upon you.”
The members of the Harmony Sect insisted on refusing, so Seraphina granted the blessing only to the members of the Moon Expedition Party.
Cozy Rest.
A Secret Art that maintained a clear state of mind, infused generously with Holy Power to sustain itself for roughly ten days.
“…What becomes of this Dungeon from now on?”
Finally, after placing her hand on Barthimer’s head to bestow the blessing, Seraphina asked cautiously.
“Does it Reset according to plan?”
Though she spoke of a phenomenon in which she and everyone else would cease to exist, the Saint’s voice did not waver in the slightest.
Even if I nodded firmly and said it would Reset at midnight today, her expression probably wouldn’t change.
But what if I said this instead?
“It will not be reset. It will continue as it is.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
Seraphina’s eyes widened slightly.
Not entirely satisfied, but it was a gratifyingly pleasant reaction.
“Did I not tell you? That I would distort history.”
In actual history, Artein, grief-stricken for months after Seraphina’s death, would eventually rebrand the Protection Church entirely.
The Harmony Sect.
An order dedicated to the harmony of all people.
The spirit of the Harmony Sect, which served the peace and happiness of the innocent, arose from Seraphina’s death.
“Now that the Saint has survived safely, this Dungeon will unfold a history different from the actual one.”
People had given this benign distortion of history a plausible name.
Alternate History.
Usually it was nothing but a “what if” tale, but the Sanctuary of Rest was not.
“Unlike what awaits in the future, the Lord Artein will continue to pursue only protection through force. The Protection Church itself will also retain its name unchanged.”
“…….”
I gazed at the Saint’s eyes, which had begun to tremble with increasing intensity.
“As long as the Saint remains alive, the history of this Dungeon—the Sanctuary of Rest—will continue without end. Such altered history itself is the reward.”
The Hidden Clear Condition reward of the Sanctuary of Rest.
“If I may be so bold, might we request free treatment whenever we visit this Dungeon in the future?”
Rapport with history’s greatest Priest, and continuous free healing.
Free treatment from Seraphina, a 9th Tier Priest, was such an absurdly extravagant benefit that other adventurers would turn green with envy if they knew.
Beyond that, the rapport itself would be an enormously significant factor in relations with the Harmony Sect.
“The standard clear condition of five days of nursing care will remain unchanged, but we of the Moon Expedition Party, having cleared the Hidden Condition, may come and go freely.”
“I see….”
“So, will you heal us without charge, just as you do the other patients?”
“…Of course.”
A radiant smile bloomed across Seraphina’s previously stiffened face.
An emotion with a name so clear that even I, naturally incapable of reading others’ hearts accurately, could perceive it blossoming within her.
“If it is you, Kar, and your companions, then I must treat you, naturally.”
Zing.
Moments later, a gate of white light materialized beside the Saint.
It would be invisible to the Dungeon’s spirits, but the Saint seemed to sense the atmosphere well enough, bowing deeply to us.
“Farewell to you all—the foolish adventurer from the future and your faithful companions. I shall spare you the deeper gratitude you deserve. I must continue to welcome you after all.”
In kind, I offered no farewell either.
We would meet again, and again.
I forced the corners of my mouth upward, an expression sitting uneasily on my face, and stepped through the gate.
The Sanctuary of Rest.
The temple’s history, which had been destined for oblivion, was completely rewritten.
At least within this Dungeon, it was.
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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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