Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 115 - Guild War – Glory (4)

Chapter 115 — Guild War – Glory (4)

 

The guild war wasn’t over yet.

“Let’s finish this.”

Rubbing his shoulder as if slightly tired, Targon picked up the object that had come from the Wyvern. A cube where light and darkness were intertwined.

It was the final Hidden Piece in the enhanced labyrinth version of [Battlefield of the Sun and Moon].

 

[??? – Shining Bridge]

[Break it to dispel the light protecting [Lumerlan’s Orb] and create a ladder leading into the sky.]

 

CRACK!

Without hesitation, Targon crushed the cube with one hand.

Shhhhhhh—!

The shattered fragments scattered through the air, and a brilliant radiance illuminated the world.

A light resembling the sun… one that even vampires could bask in without harm.

It was so dazzling that I instinctively closed my eyes for a moment.

When I opened them again, a bridge arcing toward the heavens had appeared.

Its destination was naturally the very center of the sky… where [Lumerlan’s Orb], no longer hidden by the eclipse-like phenomenon, floated.

“We’re going up.”

With the Conspirator slung over his shoulder, Targon began walking across the bridge of light.

“…Where exactly are you taking me?”

Kyras, hanging limply like a corpse, spoke weakly.

“Either hurry up and crush my skull, or vent your anger a little more before eliminating me.”

“I refuse.”

I grabbed the Conspirator’s head, which had been hanging toward the ground, and lifted it until our eyes met.

“You’re planning to escape the moment you’re eliminated, aren’t you? You may be a complete wreck right now, but once you’re outside, your body will return to normal.”

The labyrinth never favored explorers. The pain remained. Mental exhaustion wasn’t relieved in the slightest.

Still, the body itself recovered completely.

For a ninja of the Conspirator’s caliber, escaping from every other explorer afterward would be easy.

“……”

The half-elf ninja remained silent. It was meaningless resistance.

I’d already confirmed through dozens of trials that if spared, he’d only pretend to repent before fleeing.

“You’re leaving with me.”

THUD!

Targon smacked Kyras across the back.

Even though it was only a light blow, the already broken ninja trembled all over.

“You’re going to watch us win just like this.”

We continued striding forward.

Before long, however, Targon stopped.

“…So you really managed to defeat the enhanced Wyvern.”

From the eastern part of the ruins, the only area that hadn’t been completely devastated, a middle-aged warrior slowly approached.

Fire Turtle Guild Master Ruphrite.

Judging from his appearance, he’d already eliminated Brunelda and Dran.

True to his nickname, “Impregnable,” he looked surprisingly unharmed.

His guild’s Tracker, however, was nowhere to be seen.

“So that’s how it happened.”

From the opposite direction, a Dragonblood explorer wearing glasses flew over using the power of an artifact.

White Jade Hand Guild Master Eradra.

He had probably eliminated Rai, one of our guild members.

However, since he wasn’t a combat specialist, he looked thoroughly exhausted.

“You strengthened the Wyvern to eliminate the other explorers, then exploited its weakness yourselves to kill it. I’ll admit it took guts to come up with and execute such a reckless strategy. But the guild war isn’t over yet.”

Adjusting his glasses, Eradra gestured toward Ruphrite.

“You keep Targon occupied. While you’re doing that, I’ll deal with that sly little half-elf.”

“Hm…”

The middle-aged warrior alternated his gaze between the Dragonblood and us before stroking his chin.

“Indeed, I have enough ability to endure Targon’s relentless assault. I won’t be able to counterattack, but if I focus purely on defense, I can hold him off without issue.”

“I agree.”

A High Warrior never exaggerated his own strength.

Targon nodded without hesitation.

“Then let’s–”

“However.”

Interrupting Eradra, Ruphrite shrugged.

“Why should I?”

“…What?”

“If I keep Targon occupied, aren’t you simply planning to get past the Golden Crow and claim [Lumerlan’s Orb] yourself? Why should I cooperate in something that only benefits you?”

“Sir Ruphrite speaks wisely.”

I immediately chimed in.

If Eradra’s plan succeeded, I’d have to drag my exhausted body into yet another fight.

I welcomed every hardship encountered on the road toward victory… but people who tripped me right before the finish line were another matter entirely.

“Then how about the two of us fight Targon and the Golden Crow together?”

“That sounds more reasonable than before.”

“In that case–”

“No.”

Ruphrite firmly shook his head.

“You already deceived me once when you created that mirror artifact. If I hold them back, you’ll obviously fly off into the sky yourself. Out of everyone here, aren’t you the one with the greatest mobility?”

When people realize victory has slipped out of reach while the competition is still ongoing, they generally react in one of two ways.

First… They simply give up.

Second…

“Why would I help something that only benefits you? I’ll pass.”

They desperately grab onto another contestant’s ankle so they can both lose together.

“If I’m going down, you’re coming with me.”

A beautiful tradition that transcended culture and race.

“Go ahead and do your best alone. I’ll aim for next year’s guild war instead.”

Ruphrite sat down on the spot with a thump.

Only the Dragonblood Guild Master remained standing.

“……”

Eradra glanced toward the open sky.

Then looked back at Targon.

“Go ahead then. Try flying up there as fast as you can.”

The enormous gray orc was already holding a rope in his hand… ready to capture the approaching Dragonblood.

“…Fine. I surrender too.”

In the end, Eradra raised both hands and casually tossed away his flight artifact.

He hesitated only for the briefest moment.

Still, the spirit of exploration that accepted victory and defeat had prevailed.

“…By the way, Targon. Who exactly is that explorer you’re carrying on your shoulder?”

It was finally time to put a proper ending to this guild war.

I carefully took out the hand mirror I’d safely stored inside my dimensional inventory.

 

[7th-Tier Artifact – Mind Usurper]

[Issue commands to anyone whose face is reflected in the mirror, forcing absolute obedience. Normally, only one command may be given, but the Dragonblood craftsman Eradra enhanced it, increasing the limit to two.]

 

An artifact with a completely absurd effect.

Even among artifacts, it was one of the exceedingly rare ones that possessed a Tier.

Proof of just how extraordinary it was.

“Explorers and citizens of District Three.”

I respectfully bowed toward the empty air before continuing.

“You’ve all been wondering ever since earlier, haven’t you? Just who this half-elf really is. So let’s ask him directly.”

“……!”

As I slowly raised the mirror, the Conspirator desperately struggled.

Targon clamped the half-elf’s small face in his enormous hand, larger than most bucklers, preventing him from moving.

“…Get that away from me! I said get it away!”

Those were the wrong words.

If he’d begged me to show him the mirror instead, I probably would’ve refused out of sheer contrariness.

“Get it aw–”

The instant his face appeared in the mirror… the Conspirator’s violent struggles ceased.

His eyes became completely unfocused.

“…Hm.”

A sudden heaviness settled inside my head.

It wasn’t like losing Mental Energy. This was something entirely different.

It felt as though my skull had been stuffed full of rocks. My thoughts noticeably slowed.

‘If I overuse this, I’ll become an idiot.’

Though beautiful idiots happened to be Lord Su’eje’s preferred type, that outcome was unlikely.

After all, the artifact shattered after only a few uses.

“Sir Kyras.”

Looking at the ninja who had put everyone through so much, I quietly issued my command.

“Tell everyone who you are… And everything you’ve done until now.”

“…I am Kyras Selune, a ninja formerly belonging to the Eastern Continent ninja organization Muyeong. My race is half-elf. I carry the bloodline of the Half-Moon Elves. After entering Pletica, I disguised myself as different people using the Mystery [Skin of Another], deceiving everyone around me.”

He spilled the truth with remarkable honesty.

“My primary victims were Rigobert, vice guild master of the Ash Wolf Guild, and Laenis, vice guild master of the Fire Turtle Guild. In this guild war, I participated while impersonating Laenis.”

“…Good heavens.”

Fire Turtle Guild Master Ruphrite’s eyes widened.

He had never imagined that his own vice guild master had been replaced.

Even Targon, whose senses surpassed those of most monsters, hadn’t noticed.

“And… I… I…”

Kyras’s face twisted as he continued his straightforward confession.

“The Great… Monster… orders… I… carried… them out…”

“That’s enough.”

I stopped him.

His body had been trained so ruthlessly as a ninja that information concerning the Six Apostles and the Great Monster of the Nightmare Dungeon remained absolutely sealed behind an inhuman force of will.

I’d waited just in case.

As expected, anything related to the Great Monster wasn’t so easily extracted.

“Did everyone hear that? The Laenis who displayed such outstanding performance during this guild war… was an impostor.”

“……”

Ruphrite and Eradra both fell silent.

Five minutes later, after the broadcast delay expired, everyone watching the guild war would likely react the same way.

‘A huge uproar is definitely coming.’

This was an event personally organized and hosted by the Labyrinth Administration.

One participant had been murdered… and someone else had infiltrated in their place.

Even the royal family, who rarely concerned themselves with incidents inside the city, would surely be enraged.

“Sir Kyras.”

I placed a hand on Kyras’s back as he continued staring blankly ahead.

One command remained.

“Listen carefully.”

Leaning close to my fellow half-elf’s ear, I whispered softly.

“The moment you leave the labyrinth… Abandon your faith in Onishiv.”

“……”

The Conspirator slowly lifted his head. Eyes without focus. A head trembling faintly.

“…Ha… ha… hahaha.”

The weak laughter soon blossomed into hysterical convulsions as his body twisted uncontrollably.

“AAAAAH… AAAAAAHHHHH!!”

He writhed violently. He screamed like a madman. He hurled curses at me. None of it mattered. The future had already been decided.

The moment he left the labyrinth, Kyras would turn his back on the deity who had become the sole ray of light in his life filled with adversity.

He scratched his own face with his only remaining hand until blood poured out, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Watching him, I turned to Targon.

“Shall we?”

“Let’s.”

Leaving behind the two guild masters who had accepted defeat, we crossed the bridge toward the sky.

“AAAAAAAHHHH!!”

Accompanied by Kyras’s screams like a work song, we finally reached it.

[Lumerlan’s Orb], shining with noble radiance.

“You take it.”

“Are you sure?”

“You’ve earned that right.”

There was no reason to refuse. I stepped forward and gently grasped Lumerlan’s Orb.

BZZZZT!

The instant I touched the sacred relic, a gateway of light interwoven with darkness appeared.

My body and mind had already reached their limits, so I immediately stepped through.

For a brief moment, my vision swirled violently.

Then…

WAAAAAAAH!!

Thunderous cheers welcomed me.

—The Guild War has concluded!

The circular arena. The overexcited announcer Dilmor. The audience showering us with endless applause and cheers. The roaring ovation vividly stirred my spirit, which had long since grown rusty.

“Thank you.”

I bowed. Then my legs gave out beneath me.

Unable to overcome the accumulated exhaustion from the prolonged battle… or the side effects of Mind Usurper… I finally collapsed face-first.

My forehead struck the ground. Yet I barely felt any pain.

‘Let’s rest for a while…’

The Guild War. The conquest of [Battlefield of the Sun and Moon].

Completed… amid thunderous cheers.