Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. – Chapter 150 – South Continent Expedition

Author: Cireng

Chapter 150 — South Continent Expedition — Land of Delirium (5)

A dim underground chamber. The only source of light came from scattered mana lamps mounted on the walls, casting a gloomy atmosphere.

A young wood elf stood there.

Her trembling hand barely managed to keep hold of the dagger. Her vacant eyes stared blankly at the elf lying limply at her feet.

“Rosalia.”

“…Yes.”

Rosalia weakly raised her head and met the gaze of the person who had called her.

A smile that was always hanging on her lips. A posture and bearing that were forever composed.

“Now you’ve finally become good enough to work for me.”

Flora Brites. The eldest daughter of the Brites family, who governed District 4.

“This is the final step.”

Flora gestured with her chin toward the fallen elf. A wood elf with snow-white hair.

Rosalia’s twin younger sister, Liliana.

“Stab her heart. So she can never get back up.”

“……”

She couldn’t let herself tremble. If she showed fear, she would be punished.

Clench.

Holding the dagger in a reverse grip, Rosalia slowly knelt down and gently laid her other half flat on the ground.

“…Rosa.”

Her younger sister Liliana smiled weakly.

“I’m fine. Just do it. At least you should live…”

“……”

Her hand shook. All she had to do was bring the dagger down. Yet she couldn’t force strength into her arm.

If they noticed, it would be disastrous. If Flora realized she was hesitating, she would make Rosalia kill someone else close to her.

So she had to kill her.

“…Hic…”

But no matter what, she couldn’t move her hand.

The classmates who had trained beside her in the assassin academy. Close friends.

She’d already been forced to kill the old man from her neighborhood.

She didn’t want to kill Liliana too.

“…You still can’t cast aside your attachments? You’re truly incompetent.”

As she lightly tapped Rosalia’s cheek with a finger, Flora seized her wrist.

“Hurry and stab her. If you fail again, next time it’ll be your parents’ turn.”

“……”

“Answer me.”

“…Yes.”

Rosalia barely managed to answer. She tightened her grip.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry…”

Please forgive me. She apologized over and over, and just as she was about to drive the trembling dagger downward…

“You don’t have to apologize.”

Suddenly, the fallen Liliana transformed into someone else. A half-elf with blond hair and golden eyes.

“I like getting stabbed through the heart. The tingling sensation throughout my whole body feels wonderful.”

“…What are you?!”

“Who are you?!”

Flora flinched and shouted. The half-elf poked one cheek with his index finger.

“I’m the adorable Karr.”

Then, still lying down, the half-elf looked at Rosalia and spread both arms.

“……”

At that moment, a memory flashed through Rosalia’s mind.

‘I don’t have any strength left in my body, so could you carry me? Thank you, as always.’

The slightly unhinged cultist who had recklessly thrown himself at the Blood Bird. The half-elf who had acted as though being carried was only natural, yet whom she had never once found annoying.

‘…Karr.’

Only then did Rosalia realize the truth behind this cruel place.

“Rosalia! Hurry and kill this lunatic—!”

“…Quiet.”

Slice.

Flora’s head fell to the floor.

“Big Sister.”

Then, as though he’d been waiting for this moment, Karr spoke.

“Let’s go.”

“…Okay.”

Without even thinking, Rosalia picked Karr up into her arms.

CRAAAAACK!!

The gloomy underground chamber collapsed. The snowy mountain once more filled her vision. The blond half-elf and her companions stood before her.

“Are you alright?”

“Big Sis! You seem to be okay!”

“……”

Rosalia, lying in the snow, grasped Karr’s hand and lightly stood up.

Marlin mischievously asked,

“Don’t you have anything to say? Especially to me?”

“……”

Rosalia swept her gaze across her companions before quietly whispering,

“…Thank you.”

Whooooo…

The blizzard weakened.

***

In the middle of a remote village ravaged by an outbreak that had turned everyone into infectious undead.

A priest missing one ankle was strangling the neck of a young priest who looked exactly like himself.

“Lucius!”

Tears streamed endlessly down his face. His expression was twisted beyond recognition.

“Why didn’t you carry anti-infection equipment as I told you?!”

“Why?!”

Lucius didn’t resist. He had no right to.

Having become an undead and devoured countless villagers, he didn’t even deserve the right to repent.

“Die while you still have a human heart!”

Even though his throat was being crushed, he couldn’t suffocate. Because he had already become undead. His cursed body had surpassed the limits of intelligent life in the most grotesque way imaginable.

“Just die already!”

He could simply use holy power. That would kill him immediately. Yet the blue-haired priest did no such thing. He only tightened his grip around his neck.

Drip.

Tears fell upon his face. Though he spoke cruel words, the blue-haired priest couldn’t harden his heart.

‘Lady Artein…’

His chest hurt. Because he had no choice but to watch someone precious grieve.

It was agonizing. Because the root cause of everything was his own laziness in failing to bring the necessary supplies.

‘I am not worthy of ascending to Your side. Please… turn Your gaze away from a sinner like me.’

“Would you mind stopping for a moment?”

At that moment, someone who had quietly approached spoke in an easygoing tone. The blue-haired priest frowned slightly.

“Who are you? You seem to be an outsider.”

“Well… I came to be strangled in his place.”

“…Excuse me?”

The blond outsider casually flopped down beside Lucius.

“I don’t die very easily. So please strangle me without worrying.”

“…I’m supposed to strangle you? Why?”

“Because it’s the only way for both the strangler and the one being strangled to avoid being sad.”

“It’s not like I’m doing this because I enjoy it… No, who even are you to suddenly interfere?!”

“I’m a professional in matters involving physical and emotional exhaustion.”

Watching the blond outsider’s utterly absurd behavior, a memory slowly floated into Lucius’s mind like a dream.

‘I don’t think I’ve lived such a pitiful life that I deserve sympathetic looks.’

The words of a half-elf who had endured a life more pitiful than anyone else’s, yet utterly lacked objective self-awareness. His indifference had only made him seem even more heartbreaking.

“…Lady Artein.”

Shhhhhh…

Holy power flowed outward from Lucius’s body, filling every corner.

“I will continue atoning. I will not foolishly surrender to despair. I will cleanse my sins. For the sake of those who have been abandoned… like Lord Karr.”

The radiance spread in every direction, engulfing the entire village.

Bathed in brilliant light, the blond outsider Karr extended his hand while lying down.

“Let’s leave this dark past behind.”

“…We should.”

Lucius grasped the half-elf’s slender hand.

CRAAAAACK!!

Space shattered. The snowy mountain appeared before him once more.

“Father.”

Karr’s face entered Lucius’s vision as he lay in the snow.

“It’s time to wake up.”

“…I certainly slept well.”

Supported by Pendrick, Lucius proudly rose to his feet.

Hummmmm!

The instant he stood, he restored his companions’ minds. The role he had failed to perform until now was because he’d foolishly been overwhelmed by hallucinations.

“Thank you for waiting for me, Lord Karr.”

Whoooo…

The blizzard weakened even further.

***

Inside a foul-smelling black magic laboratory.

“…Grrrrgh!”

Bound to an operating table, Bartimir screamed.

His body writhed violently.

“The undead command-brain transplant has failed.”

The black mage flicked the blood from his small knife and pointed toward the demon’s forehead. A massive incision had already split it open, blood pouring without end.

“Assistant. Heal him. We’ll begin the next experiment immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Mmphhh!”

“By the way, Demon-227 is far too energetic. How about removing his vocal cords while we’re at it?”

“Not a bad idea.”

The black mage infused the small knife with demonic energy.

“You don’t have anyone worth talking to anyway, do you? Then you do not need a voice.”

“Exactly! Even the other test subjects quietly avoid him.”

“Even if he weren’t a test subject, he’d probably spend his whole life alone.”

Bartimir clenched both fists. He was furious. Yet he couldn’t think of anything to refute them.

Because it was true. He really was alone.

‘I’m alone in this world.’

No one would ever become close to a demon black mage whose entire upper body, including his face, was covered in horrifying scars.

‘I’m lonely.’

But I have to endure it. Because this feeling would remain with me for the rest of my life.

“We’ll remove his vocal cords. Then transplant the psychic organ of a monster alpha into him.”

“Oho! Brilliant!”

“…Hm?”

The black mage frowned. Bartimir’s eyes were wide open.

Through the blood flowing down his forehead, his fierce, unyielding gaze remained unchanged.

“Come to think of it, Demon-227’s parents were just as violent. Especially his mother.”

The black mage tossed aside the knife and picked up his staff.

“She made such a fuss about how such a healthy child deserved a higher price…”

“Well, it was only natural. You were offering far too little.”

“…?”

The black mage gathering demonic energy into his staff and Bartimir twisting desperately on the table, both widened their eyes simultaneously.

The large assistant… had become a slender blond half-elf.

“Allow me to speak as her mother. My daughter’s worth cannot be measured even in gold coins.”

“…Who are you? How did you get in here?”

“Is that really the important issue right now?”

The blond half-elf continued firmly.

“And my daughter wasn’t ostracized. He was the one ostracizing the other test subjects by himself.”

“…Whoever you are… I’ll melt that noisy mouth of yours first.”

Hummm.

Demonic energy gathered at the tip of the staff.

“Ah. If possible, please start melting me from my toes upward. That way I’ll be able to fully savor the sensation of my life slowly slipping away.”

“……”

Even faced with the black mage’s murderous aura, he just kept talking.

Watching the strange blond half-elf in stunned silence, a warm voice suddenly echoed through Bartimir’s mind.

‘Call me whatever you like. “Captain” or “mongrel” is fine. If appearances don’t matter to you, “Mom” is also acceptable.’

…He remembered.

“Hah!”

SNAP!

Bartimir tore apart the black magic restraints binding him through sheer strength. He quickly removed the gag from his mouth, then hurled it, blowing apart the black mage’s left shoulder.

“Urgh… how…?”

“I’ve wanted to do this for so long. At least I get to do it inside a hallucination.”

Without hesitation, Bartimir threw a punch.

Rock Shattering Art. A martial Mystic specialized in crushing enemies.

BOOOOOOM!!

Dense demonic energy exploded everywhere, blowing the laboratory to pieces.

Feeling utterly refreshed, Bartimir turned around with a smile.

Karr stood there, wearing his characteristic smile that reached only his mouth, his hand extended.

“Let’s go home. My daughter.”

“Yeah!”

CRAAAAACK.

The space instantly shattered, and Bartimir returned to the snowy mountain. His eyes met those of his companions, looking down at him.

“Sir Bartimir. Are you alright?”

“Mom!”

The demon immediately sprang to his feet and charged straight at Karr. The frail half-elf couldn’t withstand the impact and toppled backward.

“Bartimir! What are you doing?!”

“Oops. Being surrounded by negative concepts has made me way too energetic.”

“Even so, this is…!”

“Marlin, I’m alright. I think I only broke a few bones. But even that’s a meaningful experience in its own…”

“Oh. So you’re actually fine.”

“He certainly looks fine.”

“Uh… Captain. Blood’s coming out of your mouth.”

This conversation. These voices that delighted the ears. Talking with companions. The kind of people he’d once believed had nothing to do with Test Subject Demon-227… were now together with him.

“I’m not alone anymore!!”

Bartimir shouted toward the heavens.

Whoooo…

The blizzard had weakened until it was little more than a gentle breeze.

***

“Sir Bartimir.”

Pinned beneath him, I smiled like a proper cultist.

It was time to finish the climb.

“Give the mountain one good punch. With every negative emotion you’ve accumulated until now.”

“Okay!”

Bartimir immediately sprang to his feet, twisted his waist, and unleashed a full-powered punch.

A single blow carrying every last ounce of overflowing demonic energy.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!

Snow erupted skyward, as though it would pierce the heavens.

A gigantic white explosion, like one of the dwarven-made bombs had detonated.

“Wow! The blizzard stopped!”

At last, the relentless snowfall that had pursued us until now ceased. The razor-sharp freezing winds no longer blew. The sky wasn’t exactly clear, but the snowy mountain had become peaceful.

“We’ve done it.”

Looking around at my companions who had worked so hard, I continued.

“The mountain can no longer torment us. We’ve completely escaped the delirium.”

Our reality had not collapsed in the end.

“It must have been incredibly difficult. But because you’ve overcome it safely, your past is no longer a source of pain.”

Once you’ve conquered a trial, you should throw it away. Why suffer through a hardship that has already lost all meaning?

“With today’s experience, the Moonlight Exploration Team has become resistant to attacks that exploit memories.”

Escaping the mountain’s delirium granted a degree of immunity against Mystery that weaponized memories. A fitting reward for all our hardship.

This alone would make our future expeditions considerably easier.

Of course, we still hadn’t obtained the true reward of the South Continent Expedition.

“Let’s continue. We still have a small task to take care of while we wait for the Nunun Bear Love Guild to safely bring the expedition leader here.”

“What is it?”