Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. – Chapter 106 – Guild War

Author: Cireng

Chapter 106 — Guild War — Moonlight (3)

Every explorer who reached the Inner Sanctum was an elite.

They were the strong who had passed the quality inspection held on the battlefield below.

Anyone whose abilities were even slightly lacking had already been weeded out. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that only renowned explorers remained.

“Everyone, stay on your guard!”

Inside a relatively well-preserved building, Tilda Ires, the Ambusher from the Nunun Bear Love Guild, frantically waved both arms.

“Mordan already said it! Golden Crow Karr can use [Transformation] without leaving even the slightest sense of incongruity! He’s a cultist of Cataclysmic Upheaval, remember!?”

Cultists who worshipped Okail, the chief deity among the Evil Gods, were, quite literally, bringers of chaos.

Even after the Great Holy War, how many incidents of meaningless chaos had occurred across the Three Continents?

Even the Church of Harmony did not extend its spirit of harmony toward cultists of cataclysmic Upheaval who deliberately endangered people or threw them into hardship.

“One of the people in this room could be him! If he really wants to stay hidden, there’s no way to find him!”

“There’s no need to worry.”

An extraordinary middle-aged warrior, Lufrite, the Guild Master of the Fire Turtle Guild, the strongest favorite after the Ash Wolf Guild, smiled gently.

“[Transformation] has the drawback that the user’s identity gradually merges with the person they’re impersonating. If anyone should be anxious, it’s Golden Crow.”

“…Even so, we still have to find him!”

“Just wait a little longer.”

Lufrite glanced toward the window.

A dragonkin wearing glasses was carefully attaching beautifully cut gemstones onto a mirror artifact.

Eradra, Guild Master of the White Jade Hand Guild.

The greatest jeweler in Pletica.

“Do you know what Eradra is making?”

“Of course not. You all kept whispering among yourselves.”

“It’s an artifact capable of temporarily taking control of the mind of whoever is reflected in the mirror and issuing them a single command.”

“…Oh?”

The effect alone was enough to make one’s eyes light up.

“Once it’s completed, finding a hidden cultist will be easy. We’ll simply use it on everyone and order each person to reveal their true identity.”

“Really?”

“Indeed. Because [Transformation], where your identity blends with your disguise, is fundamentally incapable of perfectly transforming even your mind.”

Lufrite’s words carried considerable weight.

He was an explorer with twenty years of experience.

“Then… when asked who they really are, the one who gives a strange answer must be Golden Crow?”

Their original self and the impersonated identity.

Since the two personalities would be mixed together, their answer when asked who they were would surely also contain traits of both people.

“I imagine Golden Crow is desperately wishing he could run outside right now. But he can’t do that anymore.”

There were only two exits from the building.

The main entrance, and a hole smashed through the middle of one wall.

Both were blocked by the large-framed explorers of the Great Warrior Guild.

“We’ve got the exits covered. So relax, you skinny weaklings.”

“Right…”

Heavyclaw, the bear beastman Guild Master of the Great Warrior Guild, whose physique rivaled Targon’s, and Kukus, the Wise Ogre, a martial artist famous for wielding peculiar Mysteries.

“Once we’ve identified Golden Crow, we’ll squeeze every bit of information out of him before confronting the Ash Wolf Guild. Then I intend to seize control of Targon’s mind as well.”

“Wow… that’s incredible.”

The experienced and highly respected Guild Master Lufrite spoke with such confidence that Tilda couldn’t bring herself to question him directly.

So she asked indirectly instead.

“But where did you even get an artifact that amazing?”

“Our Vice Guild Master, Laenis, acquired it.”

An elf with a topaz embedded in his forehead stepped forward and bowed politely.

“I purchased that artifact from the Interracial Association marketplace not long ago. I was fortunate. It was incomplete, but still.”

“But then Eradra, the greatest jeweler in Pletika, managed to finish it?”

“Yes. Ordinarily, it wouldn’t work against someone with a higher Soul Rank than the user. But this is [Battlefield of Sun and Moon]. No matter how powerful Targon is, he won’t be able to resist.”

Lufrite slowly nodded.

“If we control Targon’s mind, eliminating both the other guild members and the Light Wyvern will become simple. We’ll just order him to fight for us. So? What do you think of my plan?”

A strategy that would both crush the Ash Wolf Guild and deal with the Light Wyvern with ease.

“As expected of the Fire Turtle Guild. I could never hope to match something like this.”

Though Tilda widened her eyes in admiration, inside, she was thinking something entirely different.

‘Does this really make sense…?’

The Fire Turtle Guild’s strategy was flawless.

But the entire plan depended upon one absurdly overpowered artifact.

They had supposedly “just happened” to find an artifact capable of influencing even the mind of a monster like Targon in a marketplace?

The whole thing felt wrong.

Apparently, Lael, the Forest Elf Ranger, felt the same.

The two quietly exchanged glances.

‘If things go south, we run.’

‘Agreed!’

Both Laenis and Lufrite were suspicious.

And there was someone else who seemed suspicious as well.

Tilda casually walked over to Lael as though starting a conversation, then secretly threw a hidden dagger.

Whoosh.

Kukus, the Wise Ogre martial artist of the Great Warrior Guild, lightly caught the flying dagger aimed at him.

“…What’s the meaning of this?”

Heavyclaw, the bear beastman Guild Master, rose with a frown, clearly displeased that one of his guildmates had been attacked.

Tilda smiled confidently.

“So none of you noticed? That one’s fake. A clumsy Wise Ogre would never catch a hidden dagger that effortlessly.”

Had she shown off too much?

Well, what was she supposed to do if she was simply smarter than everyone else?

“…”

Eradra, wearing an expressionless face, looked at Tilda before speaking.

“Kukus possesses several Mysteries that increase agility.”

“…Huh?”

“You’re the suspicious one.”

Eradra tapped the bracelet around his wrist.

Shwaaaak!

The bracelet floated into the air, stretching into a long ribbon as it shot toward Tilda.

“Eek!?”

Tilda hurriedly tried to flee, but was quickly bound by the bracelet artifact.

“Stay like that until your suspicions are cleared. As things stand, Miss Tilda is currently the most likely impersonation target of [Transformation], since you tried to provoke infighting.”

“…Me?”

“Then who else would it be?”

Heavyclaw clicked his tongue as he looked at Tilda with obvious displeasure.

“So the Nunun Bear Love Guild isn’t all that impressive after all. Then again, your Guild Master was eliminated first. I suppose that’s only natural.”

“…”

Tilda made a solemn vow in her heart.

‘I’m definitely stabbing you in the back later…!’

As she glared daggers at the bear beastman, a human explorer who looked remarkably similar to her approached and crouched beside her head.

“Tilda. I believe you’re not the cultist Karr.”

“Big sis…!”

Tilda Ires’s older sister. Beldora Ires, the leading candidate to become the next Guild Master of the Snow-Bear-Lovers Guild, slowly shook her head.

“So please stop embarrassing yourself and just sit quietly.”

“…Okay.”

“I’ll find Golden Crow Karr myself.”

“Okay!”

Nod, nod.

Tilda nodded with all her might.

She really had such a dependable older sister.

***

The Inner Sanctum of Lumeran’s ruins was once a village where the priests guarding the Sacred Relic had lived.

As time passed, every one of those priests died.

Yet one lonely existence remained behind, wandering endlessly through the ruins.

KWAAAAAAH!!

The Light Wyvern unleashed a beam of light.

A brilliant ray erupted with dazzling brilliance.

“Don’t let it hit you!”

“Tear him apart!”

The ghouls had apparently learned something.

They now nimbly dodged while gradually carving small wounds across the wyvern’s body. Though, at best, they were little more than scratches.

“Without using Mysteries, Slaughter Ghouls cannot defeat the Light Wyvern through brute force alone.”

In other words, the ghouls alone were incapable of obtaining Lumeran’s Orb.

Perhaps for that very reason, in actual history, neither the vampires nor the ghouls ever managed to claim that Great Sacred Relic.

KROOOAAAH!

Karr, currently disguised as someone else, listened to the wyvern’s savage roar before turning his attention back inside.

“It’s finished.”

Eradra, Guild Master of the White Jade Hand Guild, held up a hand mirror.

An exquisite artifact, its frame densely embedded with beautiful gemstones.

[Mind Usurper].

An artifact capable of temporarily seizing the mind of whoever was reflected in the mirror and issuing one command.

It couldn’t give complicated instructions, and each use inflicted severe mental strain upon its wielder.

Even so, its power was outrageously broken.

“Well done.”

Smiling with his usual gentle expression, Guild Master Lufrite stepped forward and extended his hand.

“Hand it over.”

“…”

But Eradra merely stared silently at the outstretched hand.

He made no move to pass over the artifact.

Perhaps realizing what the other man intended, Laenis of the Fire Turtle Guild hardened his expression.

“Lord Eradra. Ownership of that artifact belongs to our guild.”

“Naturally. I know that.”

Though he verbally agreed, the dragonkin jeweler stubbornly refused to move.

As a result, even Lufrite’s pleasant expression gradually turned cold.

“Stop dragging this out. Tell us plainly what it is you want.”

“This artifact would’ve never been completed without my craftsmanship.”

“…I’ll acknowledge that.”

“So, isn’t it only fair for me to ask for proper compensation for my work?”

Adjusting his glasses, Eradra continued.

“As payment… I’d like to use this mirror on you first, Lufrite. To be honest, you’re the one I find most suspicious.”

“…How dare you.”

The Fire Turtle Guild’s shaman immediately moved as though to charge at the dragonkin.

Had Lufrite not raised a hand to stop him, he might already have grabbed Eradra by the hair.

Despite the furious stares directed at him, Eradra calmly ran a finger along the back of the mirror.

“I don’t understand why you’re reacting so strongly. We’ll have to use it on everyone eventually anyway, won’t we? Sounds like you’ve got something to hide.”

The green orc bard of the White Jade Hand Guild sneered openly.

“Watch your mouth.”

“…”

The Fire Turtle Guild’s human tracker

and werewolf shaman stepped behind their Guild Master.

Four Fire Turtle explorers had reached the Inner Sanctum.

The second-highest number after the Ash Wolf Guild.

Despite being outnumbered, Eradra remained perfectly calm.

“I honestly don’t understand why you’re getting so angry. You really seem desperate to avoid going first.”

“Eradra. That’s enough. Don’t stir up unnecessary conflict.”

“Isn’t refusing my perfectly reasonable request the greater source of conflict?”

“…”

For a long while, the two Guild Masters simply stared into each other’s eyes, engaged in a silent battle of wills.

Two veterans of the same generation.

An almost suffocating silence.

“I’ve had enough of this!”

Watching with obvious boredom, Heavyclaw, the bear beastman Guild Master of the Great Warrior Guild, strode toward them.

“How long are you two just going to glare at each other!? If you’re going to fight, then settle it with Mysteries and your fists!”

“…That was the problem?”

Still tied up, Tilda muttered in disbelief.

“Lufrite. Eradra. I’ll settle this right now.”

The enormous bear beastman raised three thick fingers.

“There are two choices.”

“That’s three choices.”

Lael of the Nunun Bear Love Guild quickly covered Tilda’s mouth before she could continue talking in such an already tense situation.

“Either get along and expose this crow fellow one by one, or both of you get the stuffing beaten out of you by me. Choose.”

“…”

A declaration that seemed to say he could effortlessly crush either of them whenever he wished.

The atmosphere between the Guild Masters grew even colder.

The tension became explosive.

As explorers quietly reached for their respective weapons, the jewel elf Laenis let out a sigh.

“Guild Master. I think we should step back here.”

“…Laenis.”

The Fire Turtle Guild’s tracker spoke his name as though asking whether he’d lost his mind, but Laenis had already made up his own.

“If we start fighting each other here, then the Ash Wolf Guild will inevitably win. This is the time for everyone to unite. So please… Let’s stop this.”

His words were sincere.

Combined with the sorrow naturally evoked by his delicate appearance, they became even more persuasive.

At last, the Guild Masters, who had been staring each other down, spoke awkwardly.

“…You’re right, Laenis.”

“Your guild’s vice guild master seems more competent than your guild master. Besides, we can’t afford to waste our strength before facing Targon! I need every one of you in perfect condition so I can fight Targon fair and square!”

The frozen atmosphere thawed like spring.

Only because the Ash Wolf Guild existed as a common enemy.

“Then… I’ll use it on you first, Lufrite.”

“Very well. I don’t like it, but I suppose it can’t be helped.”

Just as the hand mirror slowly approached Guild Master Lufrite’s face…

“Um… I suddenly got curious about something.”

Beldora of the Nunun Bear Love Guild Guild suddenly spoke.

“What exactly is the innate racial trait of dragonkin again? I have this strange feeling it’s somehow related to what’s happening right now.”

“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Forest Elf Lael lowered his head with a sigh.

Beldora and Tilda.

The Ires sisters suffered from an incurable congenital condition… an inability to read the room.

“Oh! I know this one, Sis!”

Taking advantage of the moment her mouth was no longer covered, Tilda eagerly spoke up.

“They keep it a closely guarded secret, so hardly anyone knows… But once dragonkin reach adulthood, they’re able to learn a martial Mystery that amplifies the power of other people’s Mysteries and artifacts!”

Tilda truly had no sense whatsoever.

She had absolutely no idea what kind of consequences her words would bring.

“Oh… Wait. Then could it be… that mirror artifact too?”

[Mind Usurper] allowed one absolute command to be given to whoever was reflected within the mirror.

But… what if a dragonkin’s power amplified it?

Perhaps… it would no longer be limited to just one command.

“…”

Receiving everyone’s looks of suspicion, confusion, and anger without the slightest concern, Eradra finally smirked.

“So you figured it out.”

“…”

Just as silence descended upon the room, Karr, still disguised, quietly nodded to himself.

‘It’s begun.’