Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 100 - Guild War — Dawn (1)

Chapter 100 — Guild War — Dawn (1)

 

A round sun hung in the sky.

It wasn’t the real sun.

It was an imitation created through Mysteries within the ruins, yet the sunlight gently shining down upon the forest was as bright and pleasant as the genuine article.

Squirm!

The snake tattoo coiled around my prosthetic arm suddenly convulsed before retreating beneath my clothes.

This was a place profoundly detrimental to the Silent One’s mental well-being.

“Lord Lriria, if you experience symptoms such as tightness in your chest or difficulty breathing, please cease observation immediately and get some rest.”

I slowly surveyed my surroundings.

A ceiling that almost perfectly recreated the real blue sky despite clearly marking this place as indoors.

A fresh forest spread across the ground.

And at the center, a towering golden spire connecting heaven and earth.

 

[B-Rank Labyrinth — Battlefield of Sun and Moon]

[A massive sacred relic repository built by the Church of Lumerlan, the God of Light and Sun-Moon, before the divine being split into the Sun Deity Solmiran and the Moon Deity Selbaran.]

 

Lumerlan. The only child of Meterd, the God of Nature and Abundance.

Before splitting into brother and sister, they had been the noble chief deity of the Benevolent God faction.

This sacred ruin housed the final holy relic Lumerlan had left behind.

‘It’s quiet.’

There was no one nearby.

That was due to the Battlefield of Sun and Moon’s characteristic of randomly determining every explorer’s starting position.

『Hear me, nobles of the night.』

At that moment, my superior (for this labyrinth only) began issuing orders.

His young, resonant voice echoed not inside my head, but as though it resonated through every drop of blood within my body.

『Our war against those loathsome ghouls has reached its final stage. Once this day ends, those cursed by moonlight shall sink forever into the swamp of night!』

In the actual history, they continued fighting endlessly afterward….

『Move at once. Advance and seize Lord Lumerlan’s final blessing!』

The Lord himself wasn’t inside the ruins.

Neither was the ghoul leader.

The interior of the ruins was an extremely dangerous place where entering almost certainly meant death, so both sides had sent only their subordinates.

“I understand, my Lord.”

Even so, I answered loyally.

He couldn’t actually hear me, but immersion was important in things like this.

“I shall obtain the sacred relic without fail.”

Murmuring resolutely, I pulled out a map from my Spirit Pouch’s subspace and unfolded it.

A luxury-grade exploration tool provided by the Ash Wolf Guild.

It displayed the positions of explorers carrying the same map.

‘Only two of us are on this side.’

The battlefield was divided into two regions like the yin-yang symbol.

Four wolf-head markers were on the opposite side of the Battlefield of the Moon.

Only one other person and I remained on the Battlefield of the Sun.

[The artificial sunlight has reduced your overall physical abilities by approximately thirty percent!]

The Battlefield of the Sun favored the ghouls.

The Battlefield of the Moon favored the vampires.

Not only rival explorers, but the ghouls themselves were dangerous enemies.

[Advice: The other guilds have allied. At first, they will not attack one another and will target only members of the Ash Wolf Guild. Exercise extreme caution!]

“We’re definitely in the worst position.”

An alliance of other guilds targeting the Ash Wolf Guild, the favorite to win.

The fact that all of our members’ abilities had already been completely exposed.

And on top of that, the existence of the Sixth Apostle, the Conspirator.

Too many obstacles stood between us and victory.

“Which only makes this Guild War all the more rewarding.”

Even this situation wasn’t bad.

Wasn’t the fact that victory had become more difficult itself worthwhile?

‘Let’s move first.’

Standing still would only make me easy prey for the explorers working together.

Cultists were rabbits by nature.

If they didn’t want to become prey, they had to keep constantly moving.

Step. Step.

As I walked between the trees, my footsteps echoed softly.

It was while quietly making my way forward.

[Warning: Ghoul approaching from behind!]

Fwoooosh!

I instantly turned around and unleashed flames at maximum power.

Brilliant crimson fire spread outward, burning through the nearby trees.

A Fifth-Tier [Death · Flame · Transformation] was on an entirely different level just from its appearance.

“…How dare you!”

An undead that looked surprisingly intact burst through the wall of flames.

 

[Slaughter Ghoul (Level 5)]

[An elite soldier acting under the Ghoul Grand Commander’s orders. Moves at a speed incomparable to Stealth Ghouls. Exercise caution.]

 

Unlike the ugly Lurker Ghouls, this one possessed a neat appearance.

At a glance, it looked almost human.

“Die, vampire!”

The Slaughter Ghoul sprinted along the tree trunk in a flashy performance before suddenly slashing with its claws.

A monster boasting an absurd 18 Agility.

An ambush impossible to evade.

Thrust!

Then I’ll just take the hit.

Its long, razor-sharp claws pierced straight through my heart.

“Kuhuhu! Couldn’t even react, could you?!”

Laughing triumphantly, the ghoul slashed across my face with its other hand.

It stung quite a bit.

Still… It was a little disappointing.

Compared to the agony of being “read” by that giant grimoire, this was trivial.

“…!”

Perhaps it sensed something from the fact that I merely stood there expressionlessly.

The ghoul hurriedly tried to widen the distance.

Before it could get too far, I fired black lightning from my right hand.

Crackle!

Within the Battlefield of Sun and Moon, all Growth-Type Mysteries were fixed at Fifth Tier.

Lightning several times stronger than usual pierced through the Slaughter Ghoul’s chest, burning its entire body simultaneously.

The majesty of Fifth-Tier [Black Lightning Blossom].

Its entire body blackened in an instant, and the ghoul collapsed backward helplessly.

Of course, its regeneration was so outstanding that this alone wouldn’t kill it.

“…Is that all? Of course not.”

I answered indifferently, walked over, and slashed open its pale abdomen with [Full Moon Executioner].

“GRAAAAAAH!”

The instant its stomach split open, the Slaughter Ghoul screamed horribly.

The ghoul’s weakness. Stab its abdomen with a crescent-bladed weapon, and it dies.

“O-One more…!”

Twisting its body grotesquely, the ghoul grabbed hold of my trouser leg.

“I’d rather not.”

I firmly refused, pulling my leg away.

If I stabbed it twice, the symbolism of the “moon” would weaken, moving it farther from death.

“…What an empty end.”

The monster muttered its final words bitterly.

Its body dissolved into thin air, leaving behind only a small, brightly colored gemstone.

 

[??? — Primordial Fragment]

[Collect six to open the tower leading to the depths of the ruins. One fragment is obtained each time another explorer or a ghoul is defeated.]

 

‘One, for now.’

The Guild War’s first objective.

Quickly gather Primordial Fragments and reach the depths.

Once the tower’s gate opened, it remained open for ten seconds.

That meant a single person collecting all six fragments was enough for every guildmate to enter together.

Tap tap tap.

After picking up the fragment, I resumed walking.

Then I heard footsteps approaching from around a bend ahead.

Transforming my right hand into black lightning, I waited.

Soon, a small dwarf came running around the corner.

“Sir Karr!”

“So it was you, Sir Yallen.”

“There you are!”

Hop! Hop!

Yallen skipped over lightly before stopping.

“First, shall we go through an identity verification process? Your Soul Rank is low, Lord Karr, so you’re such an easy target.”

“…”

“Instead of just staring at me, could you prove your identity? If you keep staying silent, I can’t just stand here either.”

Without a word, I rolled up my sleeve and showed him the blue paint wrapped around my wrist.

The Schemer-class Mystery: [Bound Colors].

It allowed the user to track the real-time location of paint they’d previously applied somewhere.

“Ah! So you’re really Lord Karr!”

Yallen openly relaxed before trotting over.

“What a relief you’re nearby. You’ve got the shortest exploration career among all the participants. I was worried you’d get eliminated right away.”

“That’s true.”

“…Huh?”

The dwarf, who had been approaching leisurely, froze.

“Uh… c-could you lower the black lightning in your right hand…?”

Crackle!

“Gghhhh!”

Yallen convulsed violently from the electric shock before collapsing face-first.

But when he hit the ground, he’d somehow become a small human instead.

“So it was the shamanic Mystery [Chameleon Camouflage]. You almost fooled me. It was clever. You were demanding identity verification despite being the fake yourself.”

“…When did you figure it out?”

“Your Western Continent dwarf manner of speaking was a little clumsy. You should’ve sounded even more innocent and cheerful.”

“I didn’t know that!”

The fallen shaman explorer suddenly vanished.

Then instantly reappeared directly before me.

One hand holding a translucent weapon thrust toward my chest.

Just as my chest was about to be pierced…

Thunk.

A youthful-looking dwarf suddenly appeared from nowhere, driving a dagger into the shaman’s neck.

“…Urgh, it’s Yallen!”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to leave the match.”

With smooth movements, Yallen drove two more small daggers into the shaman’s forehead and heart.

The instant he landed back on the ground, the shaman collapsed.

Having been stabbed in three vital points almost instantaneously, the explorer soon evaporated into thin air, leaving behind only a Primordial Fragment.

He’d been ejected from the labyrinth.

“Lord Karr, are you alright?”

Looking up at me, Yallen wore a worried expression.

“My heart nearly stopped. I was afraid my prediction had come true. But I’m relieved you’re safe.”

[Translation: I figured someone as weak as you would collapse before we even regroup. Looks like you almost did. Good thing I got here in time to save you.]

That subtle sarcasm.

That understated mockery.

The original really was in a class of its own.

“That’s a little disappointing. I wanted my heart pierced clean through.”

“…Let’s get moving. There are only the two of us from our guild on the Battlefield of the Sun. We’re at a disadvantage.”

As Yallen hurried to take the lead, I quickly placed a hand on his shoulder and stopped him.

“What is it?”

“I’m sorry, but I’d like to operate separately from you. I have something I need to do alone.”

The dwarf vice guild master looked me up and down before tilting his head.

“I’ve already devised the most defensive strategy possible, just like you suggested, so I don’t mind… but what exactly are you planning? If we put our heads together, we could develop an even better strategy.”

“Like this.”

I immediately activated [Transformation].

Everything except my left prosthetic arm, which wasn’t affected by the Mystery, changed instantly.

Having transformed into the shaman explorer I’d killed earlier, I cupped both hands beneath my chin.

“What do you think, Vice Guild Master?”

“…”

Yallen stared at me for quite a while before shaking his head.

“Is that… the Cataclysmic Upheaval Mystery [Transformation]?”

Apparently, Okail’s reputation was still infamous enough to be recognized immediately… like a kindergarten bully who constantly caused trouble.

It was the first time since becoming a cultist that anyone had recognized one of my Mysteries on sight.

“It still looks like you’ve changed your appearance through some sort of illusion Mystery.”

“That’s only because you witnessed the transformation itself, Vice Guild Master.”

The combination of [Dark Clouds Rumble] and [Transformation] reached maximum effectiveness only when the opponent hadn’t actually witnessed the change in appearance.

Even Arsène Lupin, that legendary giant of the thieving profession, wouldn’t be able to display his godlike disguises properly if everyone watched him the entire time.

“Since you’re a Schemer, I’m sure you know what I’m planning. Wish me luck!”

“…Lord Karr. You haven’t already completely replaced your own personality, have you?”

“Lord Karr? What are you talking about? I am Beldora Ires, the distinguished heir of House Ires. A Level 6 shaman.”

Holding the edges of my clothes with both hands, I performed a slight curtsy.

“My specialty is heavy weight training. My hobby is hunting monsters. And the Mystery I use most frequently is [Chameleon Camouflage]. Thanks to my accomplishments during previous expeditions, I’m considered one of the strongest candidates to become the next Guild Master of the Nunun Bear Love Guild.”

I knew the profile, usual speech patterns, and primary combat methods of every explorer participating in this Guild War.

After all, only explorers with at least some reputation were allowed to compete.

“…That sounds like you’re already entering dangerous territory.”

“It’s fine. This might be a good opportunity to create a second personality. I’ve always wanted to experience that.”

“Uh…”

Yallen searched for words for a moment.

Then, he smiled brightly.

“Lord Karr… You’re a really strange person.”