Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 105 - Guild War — Moonlight (2)

Chapter 105 — Guild War — Moonlight (2)

 

Eastern District, Sector 3

In the plaza along the bustling promenade where the festival was in full swing, people had gathered in numbers more than twice the usual size.

Every single one of them was looking up.

> “At last! Karr of the Ash Wolf Guild has obtained Skinfaxi’s Heart!”

On the floating screen overhead, the image of a blond half-elf rolling across the ground was displayed.

It was footage from inside [Battlefield of Sun and Moon], shown through the broadcast devices installed by the Labyrinth Management Corps, the organizers of the Guild War.

Because broadcasting from inside a labyrinth inevitably involved some delay, the scene being shown had actually taken place several dozen minutes earlier.

> “Good children shouldn’t try this at home.”

Karr looked straight into the camera and spoke.

His entire body was scorched, and his lower half had almost completely burned away, yet not a trace of emotion appeared on his face.

Fortunately, automatic censorship prevented the image from traumatizing young children, but it was hardly a pleasant sight.

“…That half-elf isn’t in his right mind. Does he have some Mystery that dulls pain?”

“He’s a cultist. You think he’d have a Mystery that powerful? He’s just insane.”

The explorers, drinking draft beer from nearby stalls, whispered among themselves in disbelief.

Nor were they the only ones.

All around the plaza, people murmured in shock at Karr’s utterly unhinged act of making physical contact with the Divine Beast of the Sun.

“…This is kind of embarrassing.”

Sitting on a bench in the plaza, Marlin quietly lowered the skewer she had been eating and observed everyone’s reactions.

“I thought he’d at least restrain himself from standing out too much, considering the Guild War is being broadcast live throughout all of Sector 3.”

“Me too…”

Astrimia, hanging onto Pendrick’s back, let out a weary sigh of the soul.

Ever since the Guild War had begun, everything Karr had said and done had been anything but ordinary.

Memorizing other people’s personal preferences and hobbies.

Promoting his religion whenever an opportunity arose.

And even recklessly abusing his own body…

“He was already becoming well known as a rising star.”

Abel smiled faintly.

“At this rate, there won’t be anyone who doesn’t know our patron before long.”

Marlin nodded so vigorously that her head nearly flew off.

“And the Moonlight Expedition will become famous too, won’t it?”

Bartimir, standing behind the bench while casually sipping a beverage infused with concepts harmful to demons, spoke indifferently.

Pendrick, standing beside him, grinned brightly.

“Oh? Then I guess we’ll become famous along with him.”

“People can’t start thinking the rest of us are like the captain…!”

“Asmi, don’t worry. Our captain’s mindset and behavior are so unique that nobody’s going to assume there’s another person like him.”

“Right? Sir Karr is uniquely weird!”

“…”

Rosalia, who had been silently sitting there, looked back and forth between Pendrick and Astrimia as they chatted so comfortably, then slowly shook her head.

At almost the exact same moment, Rachel of the Faint Shadow gave a dry laugh.

‘Honestly… they’re all about the same.’

An assassin addicted to addiction.

A swordsman in love with an Ego Sword.

A dark mage who collected curses and diseases.

To be perfectly honest, they were people who ought to be sent to a rehabilitation center before ever setting foot inside a labyrinth.

Still, Rachel wisely kept to herself the thought that every single member shared essentially the same mental disposition as Expedition Leader Karr.

After all, each of them was practically a potential future superior.

> “So what exactly does Explorer Karr intend to do with Skinfaxi’s Heart? As he confidently declared, will the actions of this half-elf cultist truly determine the outcome of the Guild War? Stay tuned and find out!”

After quietly watching the broadcast, Rachel casually rose from the bench and walked away.

‘Lady Rachel, there’s something I’d like you to do.’

Karr had entrusted her with one additional mission the day before the Guild War.

‘While the Guild War is underway, everyone’s attention will be fixed on the broadcast screens.’

‘Which means… the restrictions placed upon ownership-transfer specialists will become dramatically more relaxed, won’t they?’

Moving carefully to avoid drawing attention, Rachel smiled to herself.

He’s even protecting my right to engage in my own “private artistic activities”…!

‘I’ll carry out this mission flawlessly…!’

Compared to the Black Sword Guild Master, Karr was an incomparably better boss.

 

***

 

Targon radiated an overwhelming aura.

Merely facing him made one’s heart sink.

His murderous gaze was so terrifying that Jinshiri instinctively displayed a warning message before my eyes.

Every hair on my body stood on end.

‘…As expected of Targon.’

Targon’s fury.

Experiencing it firsthand far exceeded anything I’d imagined.

It sent a stronger chill through my spine than watching the bloodiest slasher films, where muscles and bones were carved apart amid oceans of gore.

No wonder I couldn’t help admiring him.

Even if our Ymir had survived and grown into adulthood, he probably never would have become a berserker capable of exuding such an overwhelming presence.

Crackle.

Lord Su’eje was frantically warning me not to fall for that ugly brute.

I’m not falling for him. It’s admiration.

“Our objectives are twofold.”

Targon held up two thick fingers.

“Victory in the Guild War and the execution of the spy. We must not fail at either.”

“Exactly.”

Rai, who had been contentedly watching the Naiades hop around on everyone’s heads, finally spoke.

“The problem is that there’s very little we ourselves can do. Whether it’s fighting the guild alliance or subjugating the wyvern, the numerical disadvantage makes either option difficult.”

Rai turned his gaze toward me.

“On the other hand, the guild alliance will definitely ignore the wyvern and come after us first. Karr, do you know why?”

Why is he asking me all of a sudden?

If I don’t know the answer, is this pureblood elf trying to subtly embarrass a mixed-blood?

“Because we’re easier to deal with than the boss monster. Especially now that all of our internal information has been leaked.”

Indeed, despite Yallen’s great reputation as a Schemer, he had been helpless against the coordinated attacks of the other explorers.

“Of course, if no one fulfills the dungeon’s completion condition, we could still aim for victory by simply being the last guild with surviving members…”

After looking around at my guildmates, I shook my head.

“But that kind of ‘dishonorable victory’ would only bring disgrace. Even the royal family would reduce their support. So it’s not an option our guild can realistically choose. In other words… we effectively have no options.”

“…”

Silence fell over the guild members.

No doubt the same thought had begun circulating through everyone’s minds.

We might actually fail to win this Guild War.

“Karr.”

Targon, who had remained silent with his arms crossed, suddenly turned toward me.

“Do you have a way to break this deadlock?”

“…”

I met the orc’s steadfast gaze, then nodded.

“Of course.”

The guild alliance cornering Ash Wolf Guild, according to the Conspirator’s plan… it was a situation I had already experienced countless times.

However, even the Ash Wolf Guild would struggle to overcome a numerical disadvantage while everyone’s Soul Rank had been reduced to Level 5.

Which meant… we needed reinforcements.

“Sir Dran.”

The monk blinked in surprise when I quietly called his name.

“Yes? I have something I’d like to ask.”

I already knew the answer.

Still, I wanted to make sure everything proceeded perfectly.

“Can you locate every ghoul hiding within the Inner Sanctum?”

“Yes.”

“If I use the Mystery bestowed by the One Who Wages Relentless Struggle, I can.”

“Then everything can proceed exactly as planned.”

I stood, drawing everyone’s attention, and spoke once more.

“The Conspirator. The title given to the spy who leaked all of our internal information. He is someone who quietly advances toward his objective through elaborate schemes, taking his time.”

From a broad perspective, he orchestrated everything, drawing the overall picture.

It took time, but his victims only realized what had happened after everything was already over.

“Did he perhaps hold a grudge against us? Otherwise none of his actions make sense.”

“I don’t think he bears us any personal resentment.”

The Six Apostles did not move according to personal feelings.

“He simply desires authority over Sector 3.”

The Conspirator had infiltrated the Ash Wolf Guild by impersonating Vice Guild Master Rigobert for nearly five years.

All for one goal: winning the Guild War.

Patient. Methodical. Always pursuing the safest path.

I had no intention of calling that foolish.

But there was one fatal weakness.

“Everyone. If you want to paint a picture, you have to keep holding your painting tools. Unless you’re a Painter-class explorer, of course. But the Conspirator is a ninja. So that doesn’t apply.”

No matter how beautifully you painted every other part, if you botched the finishing touches, it would never become a masterpiece.

The finishing flourish of painting in the dragon’s eyes belonged only to true painters.

“…Ah.”

Yallen smiled mischievously.

“So you’re planning to throw everything into complete chaos so nothing goes according to the spy’s plans?”

“Exactly. What we need to do from here on is very simple.”

It truly wasn’t difficult.

“We’re going to make an absolute mess of everything.”

 

***

 

“I’ve got a good feeling about this.”

On the roof of one of the few buildings still standing, Brunelda spoke while guarding Dran, who sat nearby with his eyes closed.

“If everything goes the way Karr suggested, we’ll achieve both victory and revenge.”

“We won’t know until we try.”

Rai answered calmly.

“It’s still too early to be certain.”

Brunelda didn’t even bother replying. That was nothing unusual.

The cool-headed nature of the Sea-Origin Elf was fundamentally incompatible with the fiery temperament of a Northern Continent savage.

“I agree with Sir Brunelda.”

Sitting on the edge of the rooftop with her legs swinging,

Yallen turned toward the silent Targon.

“Guild Master. Did you know Sir Karr was a cultist of the Cataclysmic Upheaval?”

“No.”

The gray orc, whose detection Mystery was spread across the surroundings, shook his head.

“I knew from the lingering traces of several deities that he possessed the Constitution [True Believer], but I didn’t know exactly which Evil Gods he worshipped. To be honest, I still don’t completely trust him.”

Playing with the Naiades floating around her, Rai frowned.

“Followers of Okail always pursue chaotic futures. Golden Crow might value creating chaos more than helping our guild win. He even said himself that we should make a complete mess of things.”

—A complete mess! A complete mess!

The Naiades happily echoed while waving both arms.

“And honestly, disguising yourself as an ally has been around for so long that the tactic barely works anymore. It’s become far too predictable.”

Appearance-altering deception had been a staple strategy ever since the earliest Guild Wars.

Back then, its impact had been enormous.

But now, with the overall level of participants having risen dramatically, it was considered little more than a cheap trick.

Yallen shifted her posture.

“But Sir Karr’s Mystery is [Transformation], isn’t it? It’s a Mystery that even changes one’s sense of self. So it’ll be much harder for other explorers to notice.”

There was a reason why cultists of Cataclysmic Upheaval continued to be regarded as dangerous Evil God worshippers even today.

“And doesn’t the spy who killed Sir Rigobert also use an extremely advanced transformation-type Mystery?”

“…That’s true.”

“In that case, Sir Karr may deliberately be using the same strategy to counter him.”

Now that Mordun had already exposed the existence of [Transformation], an atmosphere of distrust would inevitably spread among the allied guilds hunting the Ash Wolf Guild.

“That means the spy’s own actions and words will be heavily restricted from now on.”

Targon, who had quietly listened until now, let out a faint chuckle.

“If he planned even that far ahead… then he’s quite impressive. No wonder he’s considered one of the most promising explorers.”

“Though personally…”

Yallen sighed.

“I really wouldn’t want someone who casually abuses a Mystery with side effects as severe as [Transformation] staying too close to me…”

Rai couldn’t help laughing softly.

To think someone had made a Western Continent dwarf whose culture forbade speaking so directly, openly revealing such honest feelings.

Karr truly was an extraordinary cultist in every sense.

“I’ve located every ghoul.”

Dran, who had been sensing every presence throughout the Inner Sanctum, slowly rose to his feet.

The time had come.

“Good work.”

Targon stood up.

He was merely standing.

Yet to the guild members, it felt as though an entire mountain had risen toward the heavens.

“You all heard what we’re doing from here, didn’t you?”

Following Karr’s instructions, the guild members were about to do something no guild had ever attempted in a Guild War before.

“Let’s turn this place into utter chaos. So that the spy drowns in overwhelming confusion.”