Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 139 - 'We Can't Just Sit There and Take It'

Chapter 139 — ‘We Can’t Just Sit There and Take It’

 

A joint expedition with an exploration party that doesn’t get along with yours is never easy. At critical moments, a lack of cooperation could lead to both parties being wiped out. If your teamwork falls apart, you could easily fail a labyrinth’s gimmicks. And if things reached their absolute worst, the two parties might even end up fighting each other to the death like outlaws.

‘To think it’d be the Nunun Bear Love Guild…’

I ended up exploring alongside the Ires sisters, who harbored unfavorable feelings toward me.

The difficulty and danger of this expedition had suddenly skyrocketed.

“…Karr.”

Marlin tugged on my arm, forcing me to bend down, then whispered into my ear.

“Hold your laughter.”

“…!”

She was right. This wasn’t the time to laugh. I couldn’t let my teammates suffer through an awkward expedition just because I was enjoying myself. Coming to my senses, I straightened back up and faced the Ires sisters.

“Did you have something you wanted to say to us? I’m sure you do.”

“I was just about to. I’m sorry for borrowing your appearances without permission.”

I bowed politely.

“As an apology, I’d like to give each of you half of a Karr Usage Voucher.”

“…What’s that?”

“It grants you the right to enjoy every part of me to your heart’s content. However, since I only have one body, we’ll have to split it. Would you prefer cutting me in half vertically or horizontally?”

“…”

The sisters, who had been glaring at me, exchanged glances. Then the older sister, Veldora, pulled out an ominous-looking scythe.

“Can we just cut you however we like first, then decide afterward?”

“An excellent idea. Please cut me nicely.”

“…”

I quietly stood there waiting. For some reason, however, the sisters’ expressions only became even fiercer.

“Wait… Hold on.”

One person from each expedition stepped forward to mediate. On our side was the social butterfly Pendrick. On theirs was the Grass Elf ranger we’d met during the guild tournament, Rael.

“We’re about to explore a C-rank labyrinth. Wouldn’t it be a problem if we didn’t make peace first?”

“He’s right. I’m not telling you to forgive him, Veldora, Tilda. Just don’t fight.”

Unable to suppress her curiosity despite remaining wary of the Nunun Bear Love Guild, Marlin cautiously asked Rael,

“Did Karr impersonating you two cause some kind of trouble?”

“…Both of them got scolded by the family head. For getting eliminated so pathetically in the guild tournament.”

“…Huh?”

The head of House Ires was one of the five greatest shamans in Pletica. A remarkable explorer with an equally admirable personality. But she was also famous for being strict when it came to raising her children.

The younger sister, Tilda, puffed out her chest and complained,

“We got lectured by Mother all day because of you! Do you know how miserable it is to kneel with your hands raised at our age?”

A rather old-fashioned punishment. Now I finally understood why they were angry at me.

“…Oh dear.”

Marlin frowned and jabbed me in the waist.

“What is it?”

“Just… don’t say anything.”

Then she grabbed me by the body and forcibly bent me into a bow.

She bowed as well.

“I’m sorry. I’ll apologize in his place.”

“…The kid’s more mature than the adult.”

Only then did Tilda truly calm down, stepping back together with her sister.

“Well, honestly… You don’t even need to apologize. We were the ones who lost because we weren’t as good as the Golden Crow. And we got used.”

“Is that so?”

[A moment ago they were furious, but now they’re embarrassed because Marlin, who’s just a child, acted so maturely, so they’re pretending to brush it off.]

Ah, So that was it.

As someone exceptionally poor at reading other people’s feelings, I never would have understood without someone interpreting them for me.

“Anyway. Let’s forget about the past and work well together.”

Veldora stored her terrifying scythe back inside the dimensional space of her ring before smiling at our party.

“Allow me to introduce myself on behalf of the Nunun Bear Love Guild. I’m Veldora Ires. I look forward to working with you.”

I carefully observed Veldora’s refined, noble greeting.

Who knew? I might have to borrow her appearance again someday.

“Done introducing yourselves? You may enter now.”

Ash Wolf Guild member Rai stood beside the puddle and looked at both parties.

“I’d recommend taking the safe route and clearing the hidden objective… But I assume both groups came here aiming for the normal route. Do as you like.”

The Naiads landed one by one atop each explorer’s head, gently patting them.

“I pray that all of you return safely.”

As he said that, Rai looked directly into my eyes. As if emphasizing that message especially for me.

“You don’t need to worry.”

I stepped toward the puddle first and gave him a thumbs-up.

“I never enter labyrinths that don’t offer worthwhile rewards.”

 

***

 

It was pleasantly cool.

Even though Lady Solmiran’s sun chariot floated high overhead, the weather wasn’t hot.

As I stood there quietly, a salty sea breeze mischievously tousled my hair.

Kreee!

Above us, a flock of monstrous seagulls flew busily through the sky. Each bird was roughly the size of an adult human. Quite the extraordinary sight.

“…Are they really okay to just leave alone?”

Marlin craned her neck upward to stare at the sky, tapping me with her tail.

“They’re actually very gentle. They only eat people every now and then. They’re good children.”

“Then they’re dangerous monsters!”

“But they also hunt other monsters, protecting the area. So we can’t simply exterminate them. If there are fatter monsters around, they won’t bother attacking people.”

“…Even so… I don’t think I could ever live somewhere like this.”

Marlin glanced around with a strained smile before calling out to Pendrick.

“Sir Pendrick. Is the Eastern Continent always this full of monsters?”

We were currently standing at the docks of Elvren, a port city on the Eastern Continent. The starting point of the labyrinth South Continent Expedition.

Apart from a few differences, the scenery closely resembled the real Elvren.

“On the Eastern Continent… We coexist with monsters.”

Pendrick lightly tapped Marlin on the head.

“Nature is our neighbor. Animals are our childhood friends. Spirits are close companions. And intelligent races are comrades with whom we build the future.”

“It sounds like a very harmonious place.”

“It really is. Even if you visit a town for the first time, everyone treats you kindly. People rarely hate or bully one another.”

The genius swordsman proudly born of the Eastern Continent stood tall with a bright smile. His expression overflowed with pride.

“Sis, honestly… Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?”

Tilda spoke to her older sister.

“The atmosphere is definitely gentler than on the other continents. But haven’t half-elves always been hated to a bizarre degree? Especially those Purists who even formed organizations dedicated to hunting down half-elves–”

The sturdy Nunun Bear Love Guild member hurriedly covered Tilda’s mouth.

Rael and Pendrick, both natives of the Eastern Continent, simultaneously fell silent and cautiously watched my reaction.

“…Some elves are seriously weird.”

Marlin’s expression hardened as she grumbled.

“If they hate half-elves that much… Then they should just stop interacting with humans. But they enjoy falling in love with humans while hating the half-elf children born from those relationships? How does that make any sense?”

Beside her, Rosalia gave a small nod.

“Exactly. It’s an irrational belief.”

Logically speaking, it wasn’t something anyone should be able to understand.

“…It’s simply the remnants of blind ideology passed down from the past.”

[??????]

[How in the world do you know that?? You were already mysterious before, but this time I genuinely have no idea…!!]

I wanted to answer, but since the person concerned wouldn’t want me to, I merely responded with a secretive cultist’s smile.

“Now then. Let’s begin the expedition in earnest.”

I turned toward the explorers of the Nunun Bear Love Guild.

Though there were only four of them, every single one was at least Level 6. In terms of raw strength, they far surpassed the Moonlight Expedition.

“Will you work together with us? Or shall we split up?”

“Hmm…”

Their captain, Veldora, considered the question carefully before answering.

“The normal completion condition for this labyrinth is believed to be reaching the center of the Southern Continent. According to the Labyrinth Management Corps’ investigation, a very dangerous enemy awaits there.”

“I imagine that’s true. I’d honestly prefer to complete it using only our guild’s strength. But this isn’t the time for pride.”

Rael, the Grass Elf who had been listening with anxious eyes, finally sighed in relief.

“Golden Crow. You discovered the hidden piece in Battlefield of the Sun and Moon, and led your guild to victory through bizarre yet brilliant strategies. Honestly… As an expedition leader, you’re far superior to me.”

“Thank you for the compliment. Would you like me to perform a frenzied dance as thanks?”

“…No.”

“Oh! I want to see it!”

The sturdy explorer immediately covered Tilda’s mouth again.

“You’re an infuriating cultist. But your head contains knowledge beyond anything I could hope to match. So for this expedition to succeed… I think it’d be best to follow your instructions.”

A calm judgment befitting a seasoned Level 6 explorer.

Personally, I would’ve been delighted if they stubbornly refused to cooperate out of pride. That would’ve created more variables.

But for my teammates’ sake, a stable expedition was preferable.

“I look forward to working with you. I’ll do my best to lead this expedition.”

Nunun Bear Love Guild Expedition Party. Temporary allies joined.

“From this point onward, I’ll be issuing all commands. You’re free to object or offer alternative opinions. But once a course of action is decided… I expect everyone to follow it without complaint.”

“If your decisions are reasonable, gladly.”

“They probably won’t be reasonable at all…”

At Bartimir’s muttering, Veldora tilted her head slightly.

“When the expedition ends successfully, we’ll concede most of the rewards. The honor of conquering the dungeon matters more to us.”

“Karr isn’t really interested in rewards either. So you don’t need to give anything up…”

Marlin’s comment left Veldora blinking in confusion once again.

“First, I’ll briefly explain the strategy I’ve devised.”

Turning my gaze toward the sea, I continued.

“In a few days, they’ll begin recruiting members for an expedition to the Southern Continent. I want all of you to apply.”

Step One of conquering South Continent Expedition: Apply for the expedition and get accepted.

“For your information… If you fail to get accepted, the expedition ends before it even begins.”

“…You can actually fail the application?”

“They’ll select people through sparring matches and practical tests involving Mysteries. Display your abilities as much as possible. You must become expedition members. With your skills, it shouldn’t be difficult.”

Marlin worried me a little, but with the powerful Mysteries she possessed, she should manage.

“I’ve written the strategy down here. Please memorize everything.”

I handed the detailed guide to Bartimir and Veldora. After briefly skimming through it, the demon and the human reacted very differently.

“Oh! This sounds fun.”

“…This is top-tier C-rank difficulty.”

“No… It might even be worse.”

Though they expressed it differently, both had reached the same conclusion.

“Oh, and Lady Rosalia… Please stay inside my shadow.”

“…”

Rosalia tilted her head slightly.

“Wondering why? Because I intend to act separately.”

The standard method for joining the expedition was to become one of its members.

However, this labyrinth contained a hidden element accessible only to races subjected to discrimination.

“I’ll explain the rest once we’re aboard the ship. See you later. I have something I need to do beforehand.”

Leaving the docks together with Rosalia, I placed a hand over my chest.

‘Thump.’

‘Thump.’

My heart pounded loudly. The beginning of a truly enjoyable expedition.

 

***

 

Four days later. Elvren Harbor.

“…”

“…”

The Ires sisters stared blankly in one direction. Right in the middle of a group of criminals being forcibly conscripted into the expedition… A beautiful blond half-elf, bound in handcuffs, shackles, and a collar, winked at them.

“…Golden Crow?”

“Why is he over there…?”

Karr was boarding the sailing ship… as a criminal.

As the sisters and the Nunun Bear Love Guild whispered among themselves, the Moonlight Expedition members merely nodded calmly.

“That’s exactly something Mom would do.”

“That’s so like Karr….”

“Just what I’d expect from Captain.”

“As expected, Sir Karr truly is extraordinary.”

Considering everything, this method was actually less bizarre than they had expected.

Marlin gave Karr a small wave before quietly speaking to the others.

“Let’s all do our best.”

South Continent Expedition. The voyage had begun.