Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 131 - Big Sis, You're Up Next

Chapter 131 — Big Sis, You’re Up Next

 

Fwoosh!

[Death • Flame • Transformation] was infused into the body of the freshly killed corpse.

“Uuuugh… Aaah…”

The Hyena Guild outlaw slowly rose to his feet as an undead.

He looked neat and completely intact, almost no different from how he had appeared while alive.

“Oh ho…”

Pierre stroked his chin as he looked the freshly made undead up and down.

“How fascinating. It’s an undead, yet it looks so completely normal.”

“That’s because there’s a secret to it.”

The field I had devoted the most time to as a professional cultist was analyzing how to make use of the Mysteries bestowed by Lord Lriria. Among the Evil God’s Mysteries, his appeared especially underwhelming at first glance. Yet, if researched deeply enough, every single one possessed effects that were more than useful.

“Big Sis, you’re up next.”

“…”

Rosalia immediately stabbed the next outlaw through the heart with her dagger. Another death arrived without so much as a scream or groan.

[Now!]

The instant Truthy gave the signal, I immediately unleashed [Death • Flame • Transformation] into the corpse. The crimson flames flickered weakly, as though they were about to burn the dead outlaw’s body, before gradually sinking into it.

“Uuugh…”

Soon afterward, another undead was born and slowly stood up. Like the first undead before him, his appearance was indistinguishable from that of an ordinary living person.

“If you transform them into undead immediately after death like this, you can create vibrant undead that retain exactly the appearance they had while alive.”

Standing beside me, Abel tugged lightly at the hem of my clothes.

“If you offered undead in that condition as sacrifices… they’d practically be the same as living sacrifices, wouldn’t they?”

“Exactly. And on top of that, they acquire a unique flavor that ordinary offerings don’t possess. They taste somewhere between the living and the undead.”

This was the know-how of a professional cultist.

The principle wasn’t exactly the same, but in the sense that it both enhanced a unique flavor and extended preservation time, it was surprisingly similar to smoking meat.

Fwoosh…

Just as I was about to transform the final remaining outlaw into an undead…

[Not exactly congratulations: Growth-type Mystery, [Death • Flame • Transformation], has reached Tier 4!]

I’d used it diligently all this time. At last, [Death • Flame •Transformation] had advanced in rank.

Squirm.

The snake tattoo coiled around my prosthetic arm swayed its head. Lord Lriria, now blessed with a glorious four followers, was positively delighted.

“Only one remains.”

Watching with folded arms, Pierre glanced at the last remaining outlaw.

Brownmane, the horse beastman vice guild master, whose head had swollen terribly after Rosalia’s axe kick, lay limp on the ground.

“My friend Pierre. If we ignore the fact that he’s a trashy outlaw, how would you evaluate this man?”

Picking up Brownmane’s whip, Pierre answered in a dry voice.

“His skills themselves weren’t bad at all, my friend. The only problem was his pathetic nature of targeting only the weak. If he’d possessed enough backbone to challenge the strong as well… I would’ve spared him.”

“So, simply put… he’s despicable, but capable?”

“Exactly.”

It matched my own assessment perfectly. Once you reached higher levels, you never encountered Brownmane again. 

But if you met him at a low level… You might as well consider yourself dead. He was that terrible an opponent.

“Then I suppose it’ll be fine to make use of him. Big Sis?”

The moment Rosalia withdrew her dagger after stabbing Brownmane’s heart… I placed my left hand upon his head and poured flames into him. An enormous amount. Enough to consume over half of my remaining mental energy.

“…Aaah.”

At last, the horse beastman vice guild master slowly rose to his feet.

“Sir Brownmane. Have you come to your senses?”

Standing before him, I asked gently. The outlaw looked into my eyes before speaking haltingly.

“What… happened… to me…”

Unlike the previous undead, there was unmistakable intelligence in both his voice and manner of speaking. An additional effect granted upon [Death • Flame • Transformation] reaching Tier 4. The undead retained the memories and personality they possessed while alive.

“Congratulations.”

Meeting his gaze while resting both hands upon his shoulders, I smiled.

“If you continue receiving my assistance regularly from now on… you’ve obtained a body capable of enjoying eternal life.”

“…”

The horse beastman undead looked down at his own body. Then he shuddered violently.

“Ah… Aaah…”

“Are you really that happy?”

Well… Immortality had always been the eternal dream of those who could never accept the limits of their lifespan.

“Big Sis, I have a request.”

Turning away from the undead, twisting his body in joy, I addressed Rosalia.

“If I ever die someday… please take my corpse to a famous dark mage.”

“…?”

“I have the modest wish of continuing to explore labyrinths forever as an intelligent undead.”

“…”

Rosalia raised both clenched fists toward me. The implication behind that gesture was far too terrifying. So I hurriedly dragged Abel over and placed him in front of me.

Wave, wave.

The terrifying assassin repeatedly motioned for him to move aside. Fortunately, our Abel refused to betray his Patron.

“…Patron, shouldn’t we resume exploring soon?”

“I suppose it’s about time.”

By now, Team One had probably discovered the key to conquering the Tower of Trials. Perhaps they’d already finished and exited the labyrinth.

“Shall we all get moving?”

The end of the expedition wasn’t far away. Leading my companions, the dog beastman outlaw, and the undead legion… I stepped toward the foul-smelling underground lake filled with filthy wastewater.

Whoosh!

As if it had been waiting, the final enemy appeared in the center of the underground lake.

A fishman was completely soaked in water and reeking of an overwhelming stench. Its torso was covered in countless cephalopod tentacles.

 

[Disgusting Deep-Sea Cultist (Level 5)]

[A cultist who once worshipped Nadeu’saf, an Evil God that had once been remarkably powerful. Since it has been recreated exactly as it was during its tenacious and vicious prime, caution is advised.]

 

If this were the present day, it would only be about as threatening as an octopus. But back then, it absolutely couldn’t be underestimated.

Even so… It was still only Level 5.

As long as we could somehow withstand the barrage of cephalopod tentacles, Rosalia could easily turn it into sliced boiled seafood.

“Everyone, my undead.”

I had brought reliable reinforcements precisely for this moment.

“Attack.”

The instant I gave the command, the undead outlaws opened fire from a distance using their respective weapons.

“…Come no closer.”

As concentrated fire rained down upon it, the cultist wildly swung its tentacles. The preparatory movement before unleashing its indiscriminate assault pattern.

“Sir. Pierre. Please protect our precious undead. I intend to offer them as sacrifices, so it would be troublesome if they were damaged.”

“Very well. I was feeling rather stiff anyway, so this works out nicely.”

Pierre readily agreed before retrieving a Beast Tamer-exclusive cage from the subspace stored within the gem hanging around his necklace.

Click.

The cage door opened. A massive beast leapt out.

Woof!

Bark!

A two-headed dog, one head breathing freezing air, the other blazing heat.

Abel’s eyes widened.

“…A Frostflame Orthrus?”

 

[Frostflame Orthrus (Level 5)]

[A ferocious magical beast whose two heads possess separate personalities. Because it can wield both ice and fire, it easily turns explorers of the same level into chew toys.]

 

An ultra-rare monster whose puppy could be obtained only through a hidden piece in a certain D-rank labyrinth. Apparently, Pierre had cared for it with utmost devotion. Its fur gleamed beautifully from head to toe.

‘So he really does have it.’

Just like Bartimir, Pierre seemed to have developed exactly according to the build I’d once planned.

Whiiish!

The cultist’s tentacles surged forward all at once.

“Lulu. Lili.”

At Pierre’s quiet command while holding a hand axe, The Frostflame Orthrus unleashed flames and freezing breath from its mouth.

Half the charging tentacles burst into flames. The other half froze solid.

It made me realize roughly how much Pierre had been holding back during our encounter in Cherry Cherry Hill.

“…How dare you!”

The cultist roared furiously before dipping one thin tentacle into the lake. Instantly, Every burned and frozen tentacle regenerated completely.

“What astonishing regenerative abilities.”

Pierre swung his hand axe through the air, wearing a broad grin.

“I’ll hold the line. Finish it quickly.”

“Understood. Mr. Brownmane?”

The undead Brownmane slowly turned his head toward me.

“…What.”

“Assist Sir Pierre. Help him block the tentacles.”

“Understood…”

“Honorifics.”

“Understood, sir…”

Slash!

Rosalia severed a tentacle flying toward me. After briefly expressing my gratitude through a little full-body display of affection, I sent her instructions via telepathy.

— Big Sis, once I give the signal, rush in immediately and cut off its head.

Back then, The Disgusting Deep-Sea Cultist could resurrect endlessly so long as contaminated water remained nearby. Each resurrection consumed mental energy, so eventually it would go completely insane. A limited form of immortality.

In any case, in a place overflowing with filthy water like this, it was extremely difficult to kill.

A careful strategy was necessary.

Whoosh!

The cultist’s tentacles continued surging without pause.

Slash.

Whip!

Pierre’s hand axe and Brownmane’s whip never stopped moving as they protected the undead.

‘Just a little longer.’

Now wasn’t the time yet.

Bark!

Bark bark!

The Frostflame Orthrus, Lulu and Lili, cheerfully continued spewing fire and ice.

To block such an overwhelming number of tentacles so effortlessly… Their combat prowess made me genuinely look forward to facing them as enemies someday.

“…You wretches.”

Grinding its teeth, The cultist tore one thick tentacle from its own body.

At the same time, it plunged an extremely thin tentacle sprouting from its forehead into the lake.

— Now!

Rosalia instantly launched herself forward.

Crunch!

She sprinted toward it by stepping atop the thick tentacle, charging straight toward us, moving almost like an acrobat.

“…!”

The cultist’s eyes widened. It hurriedly tried to withdraw the tentacle… too late.

It had already allowed the crimson assassin into striking range.

“If you’ll spare me–”

Slash.

Rosalia cut off its head before it could finish speaking.

Caw!

Immediately afterward, the blind crow swooped down, snatching the severed head before it could fall into the lake.

“So it can’t regenerate if that happens?”

“Correct. It’s its only weakness.”

The flaw of the Disgusting Deep-Sea Cultist. If its head and body remained separated, its limitless regeneration ceased to function.

“…But isn’t having your head cut off the weakness of every intelligent creature?”

“That’s true. But for an immortal, it’s a fatal flaw. Even long-lived elves die young if they suffer fatal physical injuries, don’t they?”

The blind crow returned, placing the cultist’s severed head into my hands. Its headless body slowly sank beneath the lake’s surface.

Buzz.

With the twentieth and final enemy defeated, the exit gate appeared.

Bubble, bubble.

Along the lakeshore, a shabby chest emerged amidst rising bubbles.

Opening it immediately, I found three badges shaped like upside-down, rotten four-leaf clovers.

 

[Masterpiece — Corrupted Trial Emblem]

[While worn, it increases the training speed of all forms of training by 10%. Crumbles away after a period of time.]

 

They were inferior to the rewards obtained from the Tower of Trials. And they expired after a certain time.

However… unlike the normal Trial Emblem, these stacked. Wearing all three increased training speed by 30%.

“I’m normally a modest expedition leader… but this time I’ll greedily monopolize the rewards.”

I wasn’t far from reaching Level 5, so I decided to keep all of them.

“I don’t mind. I barely did anything during this expedition anyway.”

“…Do as you wish.”

After receiving Abel’s and Rosalia’s permission, I stored all three Corrupted Trial Emblems inside my subspace. With the rewards safely collected, it was finally time to return.

“Shall we go?”

C-Rank Hidden Labyrinth. Trial Sewers.

Successfully conquered without incident.

“Sir Brownmane. From this point onward… you have quite a great many stories you’ll need to tell me.”

Resting a hand upon the shoulder of the absentmindedly standing Brownmane, I whispered quietly into his ear.

“If you don’t cooperate obediently… you’ll spend eternity buried underground with your mind perfectly intact.”