Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 144 - C-Rank Labyrinth – South Continent Expedition (5)

Chapter 144 — C-Rank Labyrinth – South Continent Expedition (5)

 

The filthy cephalopod reeking of decay had been defeated.

Crackle!

I burned away the slime clinging to my body with black lightning.

No matter that I was a cultist of the Defiled Sky, I couldn’t very well let myself be treated like some half-elf who lived far from the concept of cleanliness.

Clink.

Lord Okail sent His will to me for the first time in a while.

‘A disappointing outcome.’

It seemed He wasn’t particularly satisfied. The plan of impersonating the captain with [Transformation], then seizing the opportunity to confront the Kraken head-on, must have been too straightforward in its objective. Pleasing the Confounding One was truly difficult.

“Please bear with this for now. I’ll soon do something that will surely pique your interest, Lord Okail.”

It should be about time for the urgent letter from District Five to arrive, after all.

“In your next life, I hope you’re reborn as an intelligent being that bathes once a day.”

Stepping carefully onto the dead cephalopod’s slimy head, I straightened my back. Using [Treasures That Cross Space], I stored away [Demon Suppressor], then looked at the deep-blue Soul Stone in my hand.

[Treasure — Kraken Soul Stone]

[If absorbed into one’s soul, the user gains access to the Kraken’s Authority. However, each use of that Authority causes part of the user’s body to rot.]

A Soul Stone was a pseudo-divine relic containing the rank of a divine beast. A treasure capable of granting a portion of heavenly power.

Normally, the only way to obtain one was if a divine beast that would resurrect in the heavens after death gifted it to a mortal it had taken a liking to before departing.

Crackle!

The Exalted One recoiled in disgust, insisting I absolutely must not absorb the stinking power of Nadeu’saf.

Why did they always act like this with family?

“After absorbing this Soul Stone… ‘ll spend an entire day later wearing whatever outfit Lord Su’eje desires and doing whatever he wishes.”

Crackle.

The deal was struck. Before the Exalted One could change His mercurial mind, I quickly pressed the Soul Stone against my forehead.

Kweeeeegh!!

Along with the unpleasant cry of the cephalopod echoing through my mind, the dark-blue Soul Stone quietly dissolved into my body.

[The Kraken’s Authority has seeped into your soul! I think you already smell! :D]

With that, I had become a thoroughly tainted half-elf. At this very moment, the Loathsome Lord of the Abyss, manifested inside the labyrinth, was probably watching me with eager anticipation.

Of course, I was an aloof cultist who reserved my heart solely for the real Evil God, so what That One hoped for would never happen.

 

***

 

— Hey, you!

As I floated on the sea, recovering from the battle’s aftermath, a large sparrow-shaped spirit flew over.

It was the spirit that formed the core of Solmiran’s Hammer’s operation… the Wind Spirit that had been perched atop the highest mast.

— Are you okay!? I saw you get wrapped up by the Kraken’s legs and crushed to pieces!

“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”

I spread both arms. The spirit tilted its head.

— You’re really okay? Why?

“Half-elves are naturally tough. We get beaten up a lot in everyday life.”

— I see!

Instantly convinced, the spirit landed on my shoulder.

— I’ll carry you back!

Flapping its wings with all its might, the spirit flew me back onto the ship. The battle on deck had nearly concluded as well.

“…Nadeu’saf!”

First Mate Whitefeather roared the Deep One’s name as he swung his club with all his strength. A powerful strike wrapped in a crimson aura.

“Watch out!”

Expedition Leader Brinya shoved an expedition member aside… and blocked the attack with his head.

CLANG!

Although his scalp was completely unprotected, the sound of metal striking metal rang out.

“…You stone-headed lunatic!”

“Astrimia!”

While Whitefeather froze in shock, Pendrick swung Astrimia, its blade coated in a starlight aura.

Slash!

The vicious seagull avian’s head dropped cleanly to the deck.

“What a refreshing sword strike!”

Laughing heartily, Brinya picked up Whitefeather’s severed head and shouted,

“Look! Even the strongest among you has ended up like this! Anyone who continues resisting from this point onward… I’ll crush all four of your limbs before throwing you into the sea alive!”

Despite shouting from the bow, the dwarf’s booming voice reached all the way to the stern. One after another, the sailors lost the will to fight, dropped to their knees, and surrendered.

“Need some help?”

I casually approached Bartimir, who was beating a rough-looking sailor senseless.

“Mom!”

The kind-hearted demonkin beamed, hugged me, then spun around once in place.

“…Did I hear that wrong?”

“…I sincerely hope so.”

Tilda and Lael from the Nunun Bear Love Guild let out helpless chuckles, but Bartimir paid them no attention whatsoever.

“I missed you! You beat the Kraken all by yourself?”

“I did. Wasn’t I amazing?”

“You were!”

“If you’re proud of me, please pat my butt.”

“Our Mom is incredible!”

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Bartimir enthusiastically slapped my backside several times.

“…Please! Could both of you be a little more aware of your surroundings? Especially you, Karr!”

Face bright red, Marlin shoved us both toward the railing.

Soon, Pendrick and Lucius approached.

“Captain. You’re safe.”

“Indeed. Have you all been well?”

“We’ve been fine… But what about you, Lord Karr?”

Lucius continued cautiously.

“I honestly never imagined you’d become a slave as a criminal. You must have been treated terribly…”

“I certainly did receive rather… poor treatment. Especially from the bad sailors who secretly visited while the captain wasn’t around.”

“…Did they beat you? You aren’t hurt anywhere, are you?”

Marlin looked at me worriedly.

I simply smiled quietly and placed a hand atop her head.

“…Why aren’t you answering?”

“I don’t wish to leave emotional scars on you.”

“What in the world happened to you?!”

She grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

Just as I responded with a thumbs-up…

“Members of the South Continent Expedition!”

Brinya set down his hammer, climbed up the mast, and shouted.

“With everyone’s help, we’ve safely eliminated the Evil God’s worshippers who plotted against us! You there! Do you think what happened was merely bad luck?”

The expedition member Brinya pointed at shook his head firmly.

“No! I don’t!”

“Exactly! As Talendros, who governs all fortune and wealth, always teaches us… Luck isn’t something you lie around waiting for. It’s something you seize with your own hands!”

The dwarf’s stubby hand punched toward the sky.

“What we just experienced… was misfortune in the form of falling into the Evil God’s followers’ trap. That means we’ve already paid our dues to bad luck! All that’s left now… is to claim the good fortune waiting in return!”

This wasn’t simply positive thinking.

Talendros… the second-highest deity among the Divine Gods, the God of Fortune and Wealth, really did favor those with exactly this kind of healthy mindset.

“Now that we’ve overcome the crisis safely… let’s rest comfortably until we reach the Southern Continent! Excellent work, everyone!”

Climbing back down from the mast, Brinya kicked the surviving second mate and shoved his hammer toward the man’s face.

“You. Focus solely on sailing. If I catch you trying anything funny… You know what’ll happen, right?”

“I-I’ll do my best!”

“Then move! Quit dawdling!”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

The second mate hurried off, driving the surviving sailors back to work and resuming the voyage.

Afterward, Brinya walked over to me, slightly frowning as he looked me up and down.

“Who exactly are you? You’re not one of the expedition members… but you look familiar.”

“One of the criminals you purchased as a slave.”

Using [Treasures That Cross Space], I had put my slave collar back on. Holding out the attached chain, I smiled.

“Please feel free to… use me however you originally intended.”

“…?”

“Wait a moment!”

As Brinya stared blankly, Veldora hurriedly stepped in.

“He’s… our companion!”

“Your companion?”

“Yes! Even before boarding, he found the captain and sailors suspicious. So instead of boarding as an expedition member… he boarded as a slave to secretly investigate them.”

“But… He could’ve investigated just fine as an expedition member.”

“…Wouldn’t the sailors lower their guard around a slave… even if they stayed cautious around us?”

Veldora calmly provided a perfectly logical explanation… one I hadn’t even written in the strategy guide.

Only then did the dwarf nod.

“Thank you, Lady Veldora. You’ve understood my intentions perfectly.”

“…Was that really the reason?”

Even while smoothly covering for me, Beldora narrowed her eyes, as though suspecting otherwise.

Resting a hand on Marlin’s shoulder, I nodded.

“Of course. What other reason could there possibly have been?”

“……”

Rosalia quietly appeared beside me, staring directly into my eyes.

“…Very well. I admit… There may have been just a tiny bit of personal desire involved. Is that satisfactory?”

“……”

Only then did the picky assassin withdraw her interrogating gaze.

“…Regardless. You’re another comrade who dreams of setting foot upon the Southern Continent. I don’t entirely understand…But I suppose that isn’t what truly matters!”

Stroking his grass-like beard,cBrinya laughed heartily and thumped his chest.

“You defeated that hideous monster entirely on your own!cI gladly welcome you as an expedition member!”

“Well… you could always leave me as a slave.”

“…What? Hahaha! You’re quite amusing!”

Apparently, he thought I was joking. It had been my sincere opinion.

“I look forward to your future exploits!”

Patting my leg, the dwarf ran over to the sailors operating the ship and immediately began yelling at them again.

The sailors no longer dared think of rebelling.

Their two strongest forces… Captain Kiate and First Mate Whitefeather… were both dead.

“Excellent work, everyone.”

The Abyssal Cult’s scheme had been stopped.

Now, there was only one thing left to do aboard the ship.

Wait.

[Time remaining until arrival at the Southern Continent: Approximately three days.]

The exploration of the [South Continent Expedition] had only just reached halftime.

 

***

 

Inside the expedition members’ quarters. I lay comfortably in a hammock.

Continuously. For three whole days, except during meals.

“Comfortable?”

Marlin poked my head repeatedly with a fingernail-less index finger.

“Yes. Quite comfortable. I’d like to fossilize like this and become a rock.”

The balance between stimulation and tranquility was more important than anything else. If one pursued only pleasure and dopamine, the brain would eventually break down. One had to maintain a balanced lifestyle.

“But… Could you please take off that slave collar already?”

“Why? It’s such a stylish accessory.”

“…Father. What am I even supposed to say in situations like this?”

Lucius merely shook his head with a gentle smile.

Sighing, Marlin poked my side repeatedly.

“Since we can’t fulfill the hidden condition anymore… I guess we’ll have to focus on exploring the Southern Continent.”

The hidden completion condition for [South Continent Expedition]: Defeat only Captain Kiate and the fallen divine beast Kraken, without causing any harm to the other sailors.

Without prior knowledge, it wasn’t an easy condition to discover.

Furthermore, Kiate hid himself extremely well, and the Kraken fled into the sea once its health dropped below half, making it difficult to eliminate only those two.

“For now… be happy halfway.”

I leisurely rocked back and forth in the hammock.

“For most expedition parties… they can’t even kill the Kraken before getting wiped out. So far… every one of us has survived. If we simply do our best during the remaining half… We’ll clear the dungeon.”

While absentmindedly playing with the chain attached to my collar, I suddenly sat upright.

“The time has come.”

[Time remaining until arrival at the Southern Continent: Around 30 minutes!]

“Shall we all take a little stroll on deck?”

“……”

As I idly toyed with the chain, Marlin silently glared at me before turning toward Lucius.

“…Is there perhaps a Mystery that fixes someone’s mind?”

“There are no Mysteries capable of correcting a person’s personality without side effects. There is a method of forcibly implanting Order… but it’s far too extreme for me to recommend.”

“…No way…

“Father. Would you consider becoming my master?”

“…I’ll simply hold onto your chain so you won’t become bored.”

Together, we headed up onto the deck.

Everything around us was blanketed in thick, mystical fog.

—Blow! Blow harder!

The sparrow-shaped spirit whipped up fierce winds, driving the fog away. Only after quite some time did the beautiful ocean scenery finally reveal itself.

“…Wow!”

Standing at the scenic spot I had designated, Marlin’s tail shot straight upward.

Far beyond the blue sea, near the horizon, lay a dazzlingly beautiful landmass.

“Is that the Southern Continent? It’s gorgeous! Is it all ice?”

“No. Not all of it.”

“Then what are the other parts made of…?”

“……”

Was there really any need to tell her right now? 

Patting the back of Marlin’s head as her ears twitched excitedly, I said,

“Once we enter the Southern Continent… keep [Heaven Ear] active at all times.”

The latter half of [South Continent Expedition]. 

Its true difficulty: Rank B.

“Otherwise… you’ll be buried in snow before you know it.”