Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 121 - Curses Are Living Beings Too

Chapter 121 — Curses Are Living Beings Too

 

It was noon beneath the warm, gentle sunlight.

I was enjoying a sunbath on the rooftop of Odilon’s mansion.

It was a sort of tribute to Solmiran, though unlike the promise I’d made during [Battlefield of the Sun and Moon], I couldn’t wear anything but my underwear. I had only taken off my shirt.

If a half-elf’s pitiful skin remained under the sun for too long, all sorts of side effects from sunlight, including sunburn, would begin to appear.

“The weather’s really nice, isn’t it?”

Pendrick, reclining on the chair beside me, smiled brightly.

He’d followed me up to the rooftop to sunbathe, and despite me being born a Sun Elf, he looked even happier than I was.

“You seem to be enjoying yourself quite a bit.”

“In the Eastern Continent, faith in Lady Solmiran is woven into everyday life, so humans and elves often enjoy sunbathing. Beastfolk weren’t very fond of it since they’re weak against the heat.”

Wearing only swimsuit-like shorts that reached down to his thighs, Pendrick idly swung his feet while humming to himself.

Seeing that put me in a good mood as well, and I stretched out comfortably.

Crackle, crackle!

Perhaps the Exalted One was pleased by the sight of two half-naked men lying side by side.

The lightning tattoo near my collarbone continuously transmitted all sorts of obscene intentions.

The lightning was so intense that I had to suppress it with [Black Lightning Bloom].

“…It’s kind of noisy.”

Astrimia, who had emerged from her artifact scabbard to bask in the sunlight, let out a small chuckle.

Crackle!

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. Please be satisfied with just my upper body.”

Enjoying the blessings of the sun to my heart’s content, I observed the RotSprout growing on my chest.

It had continued to grow steadily, and now a tiny shoot had finally poked out.

“It’s grown quite a bit.”

Pendrick, who had been stroking Astrimia’s blade, turned toward me.

“Is it really okay to just leave it like that?”

“Even if it grows further, it won’t gain any additional side effects.”

“Just looking at it somehow puts me in a bad mood. Why not pull the sprout out? The curse won’t disappear even if you do, but at least it’d feel satisfying.”

“Good heavens.”

I covered my mouth.

“How could you suggest doing something so cruel to such a tiny little baby? That’s absolutely heartless.”

“…It’s a curse, though?”

“Cancer cells are living things, and curses are living beings too.”

“Since the Rot Sprout is technically a plant, I guess that’s true!”

The positivity monster of a swordsman nodded vigorously.

“…Sigh.”

Astrimia let out the mental sigh she’d long since grown accustomed to.

“Now that we’re talking about it… Why does Meterd hate half-elves so much? Honestly, isn’t it a bit excessive?”

“You’re mistaken.”

I slowly shook my head.

“What Lord Meterd dislikes are elves who worship evil gods. It may be hard to believe, but He actually pities half-elves.”

“…That’s honestly hard to believe. If He pities them, then why curse them?”

“Since the Ever-Green One probably wouldn’t want me to answer that, I’ll simply remain silent.”

A mere intelligent being had no right to recklessly go against the will of a great divine being. So I decided not to make any effort to restore Meterd’s reputation.

“Please grow into a beautiful flower.”

I was gently stroking the tiny leaves of the Rot Sprout when…

Flap! Flap!

Accompanied by vigorous wingbeats, a flying golem shaped like a pigeon birdfolk flew toward me.

[A delivery golem made by the Tower of Voracious Reading. For some reason, they modeled it exactly after a pigeon birdfolk, making the joints between the wings and torso unnecessarily fragile.]

“The Tower of Voracious Reading is always with the citizens of Pletica! Hello! Are you Karr, Cultist of the Twisted Truth?”

“That’s right.”

“Delivery for you!”

The golem held out a long parcel box. On its surface was the emblem of a wine glass filled with gemstones.

It looked like Tobirek, the Gemwine Guild Master, had finished the work I’d commissioned.

“Is this your package, Sir Karr?”

“It is.”

Pendrick accepted the parcel on my behalf since I only had one arm available.

“Then that’ll be five silver for shipping!”

“…Cash on delivery?”

“Yes!”

“Understood.”

I nodded lightly before taking five silver coins out of my subspace and handing them over.

Unexpected expenses like this ones that weren’t part of the original plan were precious little experiences that added a touch of excitement to an otherwise potentially dull daily life.

I should do business with Tobirek more often.

[At this point, I’m too tired to even comment….]

“Have a wonderful day!”

After the flying golem departed, Pendrick placed the package on his lap.

“Shall we open it?”

“Please.”

“Thank you for entrusting me with the most exciting part.”

Pendrick slowly opened the locked box.

Inside were two items. My prosthetic arm and a pair of handcuffs.

“Would you attach the arm first?”

“Of course. Please hold your arm out.”

The prosthetic, now ever so slightly larger than before, connected to the rounded socket on my left arm.

Click.

Just like before, a prickling pain spread through me as sensation returned to my left arm.

The fit and movement didn’t feel much different from before.

“There’s a letter… and an instruction manual. Shall I read it?”

“If possible, I’d like Lady Astrimia to read it in a suitably magnificent voice.”

“Sure. Pendrick, hold it where I can see.”

After clearing her throat briefly, Astrimia began reading the contents of the note.

“First, let me praise myself. I already finished the job. For some reason, whenever I take one of your commissions, inspiration pours into my mind, and the work wraps itself up in no time.”

Being an Eastern Continent dwarf, Tobirek hadn’t cluttered the letter with unnecessary chatter. Everything after that was simply the manual.

“You can switch between two forms through your will. The first form handles the flames of [Spark of Glory] just like before. The method of use remains unchanged.”

“And the second?”

“The second form also opens the palm. This time it absorbs energy, amplifies it, and sends it back.”

An utterly overpowered effect that faithfully transplanted the abilities of the centaur-type elite golem. Reading the detailed explanation further, the storage capacity, unfortunately, wasn’t that large… but simply gaining the ability to perform rainbow reflection was more than satisfying enough.

Clack!

When I experimentally transmitted my will, elegant patterns emerged across what had previously been a perfectly smooth arm.

“So you really turned me into this!”

Then, from the opening in the palm, came the familiar cheerful voice.

“But it’s so comfortable that I actually like it!”

“I’m glad.”

“Just let me go outside once in a while!”

“I’ll do my best.”

The way it spoke was still rather unfortunate, but it almost felt as though the prosthetic had developed a personality of its own. The most delightful part was imagining it causing unexpected trouble for me now and then.

As I restored the prosthetic to its normal form, Pendrick picked up the other item from the box, the handcuffs.

 

[Masterpiece — Demon Suppressor]

[While worn, it absorbs a fixed amount of demonic energy whenever such energy accumulates within the wearer’s body. The chain has been significantly lengthened and reinforced, so it no longer breaks easily.]

 

“But… what are you planning to use these handcuffs for?”

Pendrick examined the Demon Suppressor from every angle.

I held out both hands.

“Please put them on me first.”

Click.

The short cylindrical cuffs locked around both wrists. The chain connecting them had become more than five times longer than before, leaving plenty of room.

“Now I simply have to get hit by the enemy’s attacks while wearing these.”

“…Is that so?”

Pendrick silently stared at the handcuffs, seemingly unable to continue.

Astrimia finally spoke.

“Doesn’t… that look a little strange?”

“Strange? There have been countless half-elves throughout history who’ve been beaten black and blue while wearing handcuffs. There are plenty of precedents, so there’s nothing strange about it. Don’t you agree?”

“…Yes. I suppose that’s actually completely true!!”

Since the wise Astrimia herself acknowledged it, there was clearly no problem.

[Still, that bearded craftsman’s skill has improved tremendously since before. The Sun God must surely be watching you with the same gloomy gaze as Lriria!]

That wasn’t something worth being surprised or embarrassed about.

Rather, it was something to welcome. After all, it wasn’t every day one got the unsettling feeling that someone might secretly be watching them.

“Pendrick, could you unlock these again? The key was included too.”

“Of course. One moment.”

I stored the handcuffs inside my subspace and stood up.

Sunbathing time was over.

“Lady Solmiran, from now on, I’ll make a habit of basking in the sunlight like this. Isn’t that admirable?”

After properly greeting the Sun Goddess, I draped [Sky Invader] over myself. At the speed of a sloth.

Crackle… Crack!

Lord Sue’je’s will surged explosively before subsiding.

It had been another immensely fulfilling morning in the life of a filthy cultist of the heavens above.

[Please don’t neglect your devotional activities for Lord Lidni either. :I]

“I was actually planning to stop by the library after our next expedition.”

Truthfully, excavating Hidden Pieces was already enough to satisfy the Wise One’s desire for intellectual amusement, but the greed of evil gods knew no end.

“Pendrick.”

I called out to Pendrick, who had already changed back into his everyday clothes.

“I’m planning to visit the Young Master. Care to come along?”

“Gladly!”

And so we headed down toward Odilon’s room.

“…”

When we entered without knocking, Rosalia emerged from the shadows and blocked our path. She silently gestured toward the extravagant bed.

Even though it was broad daylight, the sleepy Young Master was still sleeping peacefully.

“You’re telling us not to wake him?”

Nod.

“But isn’t it about time he got up?”

“…Chronic illness.”

“Well, he’s frail, so sleeping in is understandable. But forcing you to live under strict rules where you’re not even allowed to freely consume poison while he sleeps in to his heart’s content honestly doesn’t seem very admirable.”

“…”

Rosalia glanced at the Young Master before falling into serious contemplation.

[Odilon hadn’t actually done anything wrong….]

In the end, Rosalia gently shook the Young Master’s body awake.

“…What?”

With his long hair thoroughly disheveled, Odilon spoke with half-lidded eyes. He still seemed unable to fully process the situation.

“Did you sleep well, Young Master?”

“Good morning!”

Odilon looked back and forth between Pendrick and me, then immediately twisted his face into a grimace.

“The two people I hate most have come together….”

“There you go again, Young Master!”

Pendrick sat down on the edge of the bed.

“You always tell me to stop talking or shut up whenever you see me, but I know the truth. Deep down, you think I’m an indispensable member of the Moonlight Expedition Team, don’t you? Right?”

“…”

As Odilon rubbed his face, I sat beside Pendrick and joined in.

“You shy fellow. It’s time to open your heart wide. We’ll come in quietly without making a fuss.”

“Boss, you’re being way too aggressive. You have to approach this sort of thing as gently as possible.”

“Is that so? I don’t really have any talent for this sort of thing.”

“I’ve got plenty, so leave it to me!”

When the two of us gazed at him with sparkling eyes, Odilon finally squeezed his eyes shut.

“…Rosalia.”

Rosalia grabbed Pendrick and me by the waist, lifted us effortlessly into the air, and deposited us onto a nearby sofa.

“So. Why are you here?”

“We’ve brought good news.”

“Let’s hear it.”

Looking into Odilon’s still half-open eyes, I spoke.

“We’re entering a labyrinth tomorrow morning. At that time, my friend will be leading a group of outlaws to ambush us.”

“…”

Odilon stared at me silently. Then, without warning, he let out a quiet snort of laughter.

“You lunatic.”

 

***

 

Whoosh.

Standing by the window, Odilon inhaled deeply from [Comforter] before slowly exhaling.

Only after borrowing the power of the healing artifact was the frail Young Master finally able to speak.

“Cultist Karr.”

“Yes? You called?”

“You’re obsessed with exploration, but you’re not the sort of fool who would recklessly throw your companions into danger for no reason.”

“An accurate assessment.”

If I weren’t confident, I would never place my expedition members in dangerous situations.

Not now, and not even after we became much stronger explorers.

“But not because it’s inefficient. Because it simply isn’t the right thing to do. How did you end up with such an inhuman personality?”

“…I don’t want to hear that from you.”

Lowering the hand that held [Comforter], Odilon met my gaze.

“If this ‘friend’ leading the outlaws is the one you mentioned before the person you allied with to deal with the Silent Alliance, then that’s who you’re talking about, isn’t it?”

“Exactly. He’s a member of one of the Silent Alliance’s guilds, but he despises certain fellow outlaws. So we agreed to eliminate them together.”

Pierre would be happy because he could dispose of the so-called “trash outlaws.” I’d be happy because I’d receive a large number of free sacrifices.

The Copy Alliance was a mutually beneficial partnership.

“…I don’t like it.”

The Young Master gestured to Rosalia, who brought over a bottle of wine and a glass.

“Cultist Karr. Tell me. What possible benefit is there in provoking the Silent Alliance?”

“There are several advantages. But for you, Young Master, I only need to mention one.”

Walking over to the wine-drinking Odilon, I leaned close and whispered,

“You’ll be able to land a solid blow against your older brother and older sister.”

“…”

Odilon stared silently into my eyes for quite some time.

Then, the corner of his mouth slowly curled upward.

“Proceed.”