Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. - Chapter 93
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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 93: D-Rank Dungeon – Cherry Cherry Orchard (5)
The next morning, after a deep sleep thanks to the exhaustion from battle.
“Please punish the bad children again today!”
As soon as dawn broke, the Paper Fairy flew to us, and we set out on the journey once more.
Following the guide, our expedition was straightforward—simply dispose of monsters as we encountered them.
“There’s another bad child over there!”
The Paper Fairy pointed with its small hand at a tree that had grown unusually tall.
A piercing shriek echoed from above.
Clinging to the branch was a monkey monster whose entire body was covered in tentacles.
Its Soul Grade was Level 4.
For a D-Rank dungeon, it was no small opponent—but we had a party member who could handle any ordinary monster.
A soft whistling sound cut through the air.
While the Blind Raven drew the creature’s attention, Rosalia hurled her Hidden Blade, piercing straight through the monkey monster’s forehead.
The impact of its fall to the ground stopped its breath.
“Wonderful! Now there’s only one bad friend left!”
The Paper Fairy spun in place with joy, guiding us onward once more.
Our final destination was the Chocolate Lake, where marshmallow fish occasionally leaped from the surface.
“Please punish that one quickly!”
At the center of the lake.
A banana giraffe extended its elongated neck above the water, gazing leisurely at its surroundings.
《Banana Giraffe Bana-na-na-na (Level 4)》
《The alpha specimen of the Cherry Cherry Orchard. With a name of its own, this monster demands caution!》
“A giraffe? This one seems a bit weaker somehow?”
“It is too early to judge so hastily.”
The monsters that appeared in the seven-stage challenges of the Cherry Cherry Orchard grew stronger as we progressed.
Especially this final one—a named alpha specimen.
It was a formidable foe on the same level as the Blood Tide Blurrive that appeared in the Bloodtide Banquet Hall.
Given that D-Rank dungeon conquests were suited to Soul Grades of Level 3 to 4, this monster was far from easy prey.
“Still, it’s not too grotesque, so that’s a relief.”
“Wait a moment.”
I instructed the Blind Raven to lure it out.
A sharp cry pierced the air.
An indescribable screech erupted alongside it.
The body of the banana giraffe that emerged onto land was composed entirely of human body parts.
Arms, faces, shoulders, thighs, hearts, brains, spines, leg bones.
All remnants of explorers who had come before.
“…Ugh! Rosalia!”
At the terrified cry of her younger brother, Rosalia rushed forward and kicked the creature away.
The banana giraffe’s unique body flew backward from the side kick, its long neck splashing into the Chocolate Lake with a loud plop.
Was this the work of the Fondue Assassination Method?
“Bartimir, shall I help?”
“…Just draw its attention.”
“Understood.”
An assassin is not a specialist in head-on combat.
This class reaches its full potential only when there is a frontline fighter to rely on.
As Bartimir drew the banana giraffe’s attention, the accumulated damage to its body mounted steadily and smoothly.
Merlin, watching the battle unfold, murmured absently.
“For the final fight… isn’t it unusually peaceful?”
“Even if it’s a named monster, it’s still Level 4 after all. And you, Rosalia, are Level 6.”
Even with the Blood Tide Blurrive, I had taken the initiative and waged a fierce battle to gain experience—but if Rosalia had truly committed herself, she could have disposed of it swiftly and effortlessly.
While the assassin who reigned as the Moon Expedition Party’s strongest member displayed her prowess, I approached the Paper Fairy.
There was something to do before the conquest condition was fulfilled.
“Paper Fairy.”
“Yes, friend! You called for me?”
“You must have endured no small amount of heartache all this time.”
“What do you mean, friend?”
Before the Paper Fairy, whose head tilted in confusion, I bowed deeply at the waist.
“I have come to offer my condolences. Your leader.”
……
In that instant, the Paper Fairy’s expression, which had been serene throughout, turned cold.
An expression as though she might conjure magic at any moment and shatter my skull.
Before it was too late, I pushed the dead forward.
Two undead of outlaw origin, infused generously with Fire Crafting—life force incarnate.
“Condolence money.”
“…Life force.”
The Paper Fairy’s eyes gleamed as she thrashed her hands wildly through the air.
The quaint landscape of Cherry Cherry Orchard fractured, and beyond it lay a desolate world revealed.
The forest surrounding the independent space where the fairy commune dwelt.
Undead Forest—where all spirits and beasts had departed, leaving only death in their wake.
“Thank you….”
The Paper Fairy whispered in a voice barely audible, then led the two corpses outside.
The fractured space sealed itself, and a pink scroll and key fell.
《Tier 1 Common Secret Art—Good-Good Friend-Friend!》
《It builds a bridge between the minds of those who learn the same Secret Art. Simple telepathic communication becomes possible.》
A Secret Art that would greatly aid our expedition’s cooperation and unity.
With this, the bonds between our members would deepen immensely.
“…Kar.”
Merlin, who had been watching from beside me, grasped my sleeve.
“Was that a Hidden Piece just now?”
“Yes. It required the sacrifice of at least two members.”
A Hidden Piece that activates only through the sacrifice of comrades.
For one living as a model Socialite, it was an exceptionally troublesome variety.
“What would you have done if there hadn’t been those undead outlaws…?”
“Then I’d have resorted to the loophole of sacrificing that banana giraffe over there. But then this wouldn’t have dropped.”
I picked up the key that had fallen beside the Secret Art Tome.
《??? – Key to Somewhere》
《When inserted into the right place, a door shall open. It seems intended for opening a Dungeon.》
An object that would unlock some Dungeon currently inaccessible to us at this point in time.
But we would not attempt it now.
‘No matter how thoroughly I prepare, A-Rank is still beyond reach.’
Someday.
When I had grown steadily and finally become a Gold Badge Explorer.
That day would be when the regret harbored by the leader fairy of Cherry Cherry Orchard would be laid to rest.
“Until we meet again, leader.”
As I carefully placed the key into the Shadow Realm’s subspace, Rosalia severed the banana giraffe’s long neck with a clean slice.
Snip.
An exit gate materialized immediately after.
It was time to end the leisurely vacation I’d enjoyed after so long and return to the fierce grind of daily life.
“Everyone, did you enjoy your vacation?”
D-Rank Dungeon.
Cherry Cherry Orchard.
Dungeon conquered, looking forward to the next encounter with the leader fairy’s true form, not merely as Paper.
***
The first thing I did upon leaving was a sacred act that only a diligent, proper explorer could perform.
“We were attacked by an Outlaw expedition.”
Reporting the crime.
“…I see.”
The Sheep-Human Staff member who had greeted us as we emerged from Cherry Cherry Orchard stiffened, glaring at the bound dog-human.
Pierre, his arms bound behind his back, remained expressionless, staring vacantly into space despite the lethal gaze directed at him.
The effect of Frozen Heart.
A trait that preserved sharp judgment and rational thought in any situation, but periodically spawned a mania to kill one’s own comrades.
‘So that’s why he joined the Hyena Guild.’
If one lived as an outlaw where comrades constantly sought each other’s lives, the penalty of Frozen Heart became meaningless.
That’s why I raised “Hunter Pierre” as an outlaw.
Surely the Pierre before me now had begun raiding to freely kill his comrades.
“…My apologies, Explorer.”
After staring at the dog-human for a long while, the Sheep-Human Staff member bowed deeply to me.
“I failed to filter out the outlaws properly. I shall provide compensation afterward.”
Tap.
Rosalia nudged my shoulder and gestured toward the staff member with her chin.
“Is that why you’re taking a vacation in the Dungeon of District 5? It was one of several reasons, admittedly.”
The Outlaws had grown keen on targeting me as a promising prospect, and the likelihood they’d follow me into the Dungeon was high—so I’d deliberately come to District 5 instead.
I’m not the type whose soul settles only when I’ve squeezed every last advantage dry, but when profit aligns this neatly, I take it.
Conversely, I’ve always rather preferred to avoid the sort of unjust, absurd losses that come my way.
“That Outlaw will face strict punishment from our Heterogeneous Race Association.”
The Sheep-Human Staff extended his hand as if asking for Pierre to be handed over.
I was grateful for the goodwill effort to guarantee explorer rights, but that would have been problematic.
I needed to hear what Pierre had to say—for the sake of how I’d conduct myself going forward.
“My apologies, but the Harmony Church will take custody of this Outlaw’s punishment.”
Lucius, who’d received his instructions from me before we’d left the Dungeon, opened his mouth.
“By Exploration Law, Outlaw punishment falls to the administrative body of the relevant district. However, if the affected expedition party includes a Harmony Church priest or holy knight, we may exceptionally handle the matter ourselves.”
“…….”
The staff member narrowed his eyes, staring at Lucius.
A loathsome human—his favor meter plummeted.
A priest of the Harmony Church, spreading the spirit of harmony—his favor meter climbed.
The net result hovered precariously close to zero on the negative side, but the Sheep-Human Staff seemed reluctant to invite unnecessary conflict and soon answered flatly.
“Very well.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. That’s simply how the law works.”
The staff member, visibly displeased, turned sharply on his heel.
“…Understood.”
Lucius smiled wryly and gripped the rope binding Pierre’s body.
“Thank you for your labor, priest.”
Even a Harmony Church priest received such treatment.
District 5 was a place where ordinary humans couldn’t reasonably pursue explorer activities.
That’s why I always came here with genuine pleasure whenever I played a human Socialite character.
As I dwelt on memories of the contempt and hatred I’d endured in the past, Merlin jabbed my ribs.
“Kar, aren’t you going to sell Hidden Piece information?”
“All the Hidden Pieces in Cherry Cherry Orchard are already known. They’re easy to find.”
Naturally, if I triggered a Hidden Piece, I’d face punishment from the Heterogeneous Race Association—since it required sacrificing a party member.
Of course, an Outlaw’s life could be thrown away without consequence.
“Besides the Secret Art Tome and the Key to Somewhere, you could’ve obtained an artifact, but that would’ve required pushing five party members into a pit. Since only the first discoverer can keep it anyway, there was no real point.”
“…You’re sure it was easy?”
“For an Outlaw? Absurdly so.”
This was one of the genuine advantages of being an Outlaw.
Going on expeditions with emergency plunder targets meant I rarely came back empty-handed.
“Sponsor, your vacation is finished—are you returning now?”
Abel tugged at my sleeve and asked the question.
“Or will you wait until Pendrick’s training is complete?”
I placed my hand on Abel’s head.
“Let’s go home. Pendrick will be here awhile yet.”
The Running Qi Circulation Martial Arts Mystery itself wasn’t easy to learn.
For humans—not elves or Beastfolk—even sensing natural mana from the environment was a formidable hurdle.
“I’d prefer to return as well.”
The captured Outlaw prisoner suddenly waggled his head.
“District 5 is a place of peace, but I don’t favor it much. The narrow-minded spirit of Meterd blankets everything here. I serve Talendros instead, who grants proper treatment to anyone with sincere faith.”
“…Sister, couldn’t you make him stop talking?”
Rosalia promptly indulged her kind Siph sibling’s request.
Crack!
A powerful downward heel kick connected with the back of the canine Beastfolk’s skull.
Pierre’s eyes rolled back and he lost consciousness at once.
“I meant to ask if you could muffle his mouth….”
“Sister, we need him conscious to negotiate. Why’d you knock him out?”
“…….”
Rosalia quietly averted her gaze and stuffed the fallen canine Beastfolk into her shadow.
“Ah! Living beings can only be stored in shadows when they’re unconscious or dead—so you deliberately used that righteous heel kick to subdue the Outlaw? That way, carrying him around bound would avoid any misunderstandings.”
Nod.
“As expected of Rosalia! Truly the strongest of the Moon Expedition Party.”
I gave Rosalia, who was nodding confidently, a thumbs up and spoke.
“The vacation is over. Let’s return to our daily lives.”
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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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