Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. – Chapter 153 – South Continent Expedition

Author: Cireng

Chapter 153 — South Continent Expedition — Land of Frozen Ice (3)

The Nunun Bear Love Guild finally reached the summit on the third day after we began waiting.

“…Finally!”

Tilda raised both of her short swords high into the air.

“The expedition’s over!”

“Not yet.”

“Bartimir!”

“What took you so long?!”

While Bartimir celebrated his reunion with a friend of similar mental age, Veldora and the rest of the guild trudged over.

Veldora walked all the way to me before collapsing onto the snow.

“Gold Crow… thank you. Thanks to the guidebook you gave us, we managed to get here without falling to the mental attacks…”

“Even so, it seems you had quite a rough time.”

Dark circles ringed her eyes, and there was no strength left in her movements. She looked exactly like someone whose mind had completely collapsed before barely managing to recover.

“…Don’t even ask. We just came back from the Realm of Extreme Flames.”

“The Realm of Extreme Flames?”

Pendrick, who had been distributing vitality recovery potions to the Nunun Bear Love Guild members, looked interested.

“Where is that?”

“It’s a neighboring dimension.”

I answered in place of the exhausted Veldora.

“Depending on the era, this world has been called various things: ‘the Middle Realm,’ ‘the Realm of Many Gods,’ and so on. Nowadays, it’s usually called the Middle Realm. Our world is characterized by countless dimensions, including the Demon Realm. Among them, the Realm of Extreme Flames is a dimension where scorching summer lasts all year long. Its primary race is mosquito insects.”

“…That doesn’t sound like a world I’d ever want to visit.”

Stretching backward, Veldora shuddered.

“Of all things, I ended up trapped in a delirium recreating the time my mother threw me into the Realm of Extreme Flames as training when I was little…!”

“You’ve had a difficult time… Well done. Eat this and warm yourself up.”

I offered her the jerky I had prepared in advance.

“…Thank you.”

Veldora weakly accepted it before slumping over. The other guild members had already collapsed onto the snow. There was a Mystery I had learned specifically for moments like these, when fellow explorers were exhausted.

Shhhhh…

A faint drizzle began falling over the Nunun Bear Love Guild. Veldora, who had barely been able to move, widened her eyes.

“…What is this? I suddenly feel a tiny bit of strength returning.”

“I’ve been waiting for that question.”

I proudly extended my left hand, displaying the coiled snake tattoo.

“Behold! This is [Rain · of · Life], a Mystery bestowed by Lriria, the Evil God of Gloomy Twilight and Cyclical Death, the Lonely Watcher of Silence!”

“…Wow. That’s amazing.”

“Don’t be surprised. If you’re struck by this Mystery, your vitality recovers! It works by being absorbed directly into the body, making it faster than ordinary healing Mystery!”

“I see.”

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Veldora gave a dry round of applause.

“Why won’t you be amazed? Karr is disappointed.”

“…But you just told me not to be surprised.”

“When I say I don’t want something, what I really mean is that I want you to enthusiastically do exactly that.”

“I understand now…”

“Karr, stop teasing someone who’s already been through so much.”

Marlin poked my side with two fingers.

“But Lady Veldora, where’s the Expedition Leader? He’s too busy admiring, analyzing, and marveling at every single view…”

Veldora shook her head in exasperation. Beside her, the Woodland Elf Lael and the human monster warrior Barik both frowned.

“At last, the summit!”

Not long afterward, the booming voice of a dwarf echoed across the mountain. Expedition Leader Brinya hurried up the slope on his short legs, accompanied by his Sea Elf bodyguard, Aira.

“You arrived safely.”

“Ah! Expedition Member Karr!”

Brinya looked up at me and thumped his chest.

“So you were actually a Cultist of the Twisted Truth? I heard you used a knowledge-based Mystery to discover that the mountain’s summit contains ruins of immense historical value! Where are they?!”

“Simply walk a few more steps in that direction.”

Driven entirely by curiosity, the dwarf hurried forward.

“…Impossible!!”

The moment the ruins of the Ultimate Frost Battle Emperor Clan came into view, he leapt nearly three times his own height straight into the air.

I quietly bent over and gently murmured,

“You want to study them… don’t you?”

“Of course I do!! More than anything!!”

“I’ve already located the ancient tools and documents worth researching.”

“Oooooh!”

Brinya’s eyes became as wide and bright as full moons.

“Take me there immediately!”

“Certainly. Sir Lucius?”

“Yes.”

Lucius, who had been waiting nearby, approached with his hands clasped together.

“The priest will kindly guide you.”

“Thank you so, so much! To think you’d be this considerate!”

“You must have wanted to investigate them yourself as well, Expedition Member Karr!”

“For ruins this magnificent, shouldn’t the Expedition Leader naturally be the first to examine them?”

“You truly possess a heart as beautiful as your appearance!”

Brinya lowered himself and placed both hands on my shoulders.

“Thank you so much!”

“It was nothing.”

“Ah, Lady Aira. Would you mind remaining here? I’ve already removed all the dangerous elements.”

“How considerate can you possibly be?! Of course! I’ll be off immediately!”

After pounding his chest twice, the dwarf hoisted Lucius up with both hands and sprinted away. Since I’d already pointed out every location essential to fulfilling the expedition conditions, roughly twelve hours should be enough.

Aira silently watched them disappear before turning toward me.

“…What are you plotting this time?”

Before answering, I observed the climbing routes taken by both our expedition and the Nunun Bear Love Guild.

Whoooooosh…

The blizzard that had previously ceased was gradually beginning again. Ominous snowfall and icy winds distorted the air like a mirage.

I gently patted Marlin’s head as she stared in the same direction with a tense expression.

“If you hear anything unusual, tell me.”

“Yes…!”

“…Gold Crow?”

Veldora, who had quietly been listening, raised her hand.

“Won’t everything be over once the Expedition Leader finishes investigating the ruins? You’re talking as if there’s still something left.”

“That’s because there is.”

Still stroking Marlin’s head, I continued quietly.

“Soon… everyone will have to join forces.”

***

Whooooooosh!

The blizzard raged violently. The cold that had briefly retreated returned the instant it had the chance, dancing gleefully through the air.

“…It’s freezing!”

“I’m not cold!”

“Actually, neither am I!”

Standing side by side, Bartimir and Tilda joked with each other.

Aside from those two, everyone else crossed their arms or stretched their legs, trying to drive away the tension hanging in the air.

It was time.

“…I hear them.”

Marlin, standing close beside me, whispered softly. After rubbing her shoulder, I addressed everyone.

“They’re coming now. Our final enemy.”

WHOOOOOOOSH!

The wind howled hard enough to threaten to blow us away.

Veldora, whose frame was small, actually staggered before barely regaining her footing.

Crunch. Crunch.

Footsteps echoed through the snow.

Crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch.

Countless footsteps sounded all at once. Even though the violent blizzard obscured our vision, it was obvious that an enormous number of enemies were approaching from beyond it.

[They’ve now come dangerously close!]

I nodded and extended my left hand. At the same time, Barik, the Nunun Bear Love Guild’s monster warrior, transformed the upper half of his body into a shaggy beast and opened his mouth wide.

Fwoooooosh!

My [Death · Flame · Transformation] and Barik’s blue flames surged forward together. The enemies, still hidden from view, were engulfed in fire. Yet they continued walking forward without feeling pain, without uttering even the faintest groan.

—The blizzard does not endure.

Then emotionless voices began echoing from every direction.

—The blizzard desires no intruders.

—But you ignored it.

—You even enjoyed it.

—Humiliation. Rage. Vengeance.

—The blizzard takes revenge.

The exact same voice I’d heard while trapped in delirium.

“So after driving me away… did you ultimately miss me enough to come back?”

Unable to hide my delight, I smiled openly.

Fwoosh!

Flames continued pouring from my left hand. Beside me, Barik likewise unleashed wave after wave of blue fire.

—Half-Elf. The blizzard will endure no longer.

Breaking through the blazing inferno, countless Snow Replicas gradually emerged one after another.

“…Huh?”

Marlin’s tail stiffened beside me.

“Ah…”

“Haha…”

“Well, this is certainly a sight.”

The other companions and explorers each expressed their astonishment in their own ways. To join them, I dramatically shook my shoulders.

“My goodness! What astonishing beauty! Whom exactly do you resemble?”

The Snow Replicas… all bore the appearance of Half-Elf Cultist Karr

Even by rough estimation, there were well over several hundred Snow Karrs.

[Snow Replica That Imitates You (Level 4)]

[There are thousands of snowy versions of you! Without question, this is the strangest army in the world! The Wise One delights in this eye-opening spectacle.]

Bzzzt…

For reasons different from Lord Lidni’s, the Exalted One was also immensely pleased. An inverse harem composed entirely of Karrs was certainly something they would appreciate.

—From this point onward… You shall experience the helplessness and bewilderment the blizzard felt.

The moment a trace of anger mixed into the emotionless voice, it faded away.

“Hahahahaha!”

The Snow Karr, burning the brightest, suddenly burst into laughter, just like Lord Sue’je.

“Hahaha!”

“Hahahaha! Hahahahaha!”

All the other Karrs laughed together as well. An impromptu grand festival of roaring laughter.

“…What is that?”

Even I, the original they were imitating, couldn’t help but be bewildered.

“They don’t resemble me at all.”

“They’re exactly like you, Karr…!”

Marlin’s eyes widened.

“Is this truly all you’ve got?”

The Snow Karr, leading the army, tilted his head slightly.

“To be honest, I’m rather disappointed. I expected you’d melt me with scorching heat like the sun.”

“They’re exactly like Karr!”

“Still, rest assured. I have absolutely no intention of harming any of you. Except for you, Marlin. I’ll turn you into a snowman and roll you around.”

“They’re exactly the same!!”

I gently closed Marlin’s hanging jaw before stepping forward.

The leader Snow Karr met my gaze. Its recreation quality was remarkably high.

“So the dungeon has been enhanced.”

The strengthened version of [South Continent Expedition]. Snow Replicas possess exactly the same specifications as the original.

“In any case… It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

After I greeted him, the leader Snow Karr feigned surprise.

“My goodness! Greetings. Aren’t you the pitiful stimulation addict who, after losing your younger sibling, found games alone insufficient and now relentlessly abuses your own body?”

A devastatingly accurate truth bomb. My heart tingled for a moment.

Which meant… I was delighted.

Perhaps sensing my feelings, Snow Karr casually asked,

“Would you like me to continue?”

“Regrettably, now is the time for us to quarrel and fight.”

“I suppose it can’t be helped.”

“Then perhaps we should both activate [Sin: Lust] on each other first and determine which of us is superior?”

“Oh?”

Without either of us making the first move, our eyes met simultaneously.

[Ugh… something about Lust has activated…]

“Lord Snow Karr.”

“Original Lord Karr.”