Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 166 - A Half-Elf Ready to Be Adored

Chapter 166 – A Half-Elf Ready to Be Adored

 

“He says he’ll become your eclipse.”

In front of Odilon’s estate, I was speaking through a communication device with Elvira of the Ash Wolf Guild.

“If it’s you, Karr, you must have understood what that meant the moment you heard it.”

“Oh dear, you’ve overestimated my abilities.”

“Don’t tell me you have no idea what it means?”

“No.”

Although she couldn’t see me, I deliberately shook my head.

“I actually figured it out about eight days ago. I’m a half-elf who can see the future, you know?”

“Hey now! Don’t tease your elders.”

“My apologies.”

“Anyway, you understand what the Conspirator is trying to say, don’t you?”

“I do. It seems Sir Kyras regained his emotional stability through faith, and now he’s pursuing me quite aggressively.”

I am a half-elf whose heart is open to everyone. …Except for “friends.”

Yoonji had taught me that friends could never become romantic partners.

Still, even if someone wasn’t a friend, if they suddenly closed the distance and openly confessed their feelings, I couldn’t help but instinctively take a few steps backward.

“I’ll need some time to think.”

“Take all the time you need before deciding.”

“Understood.”

After pausing briefly, I spoke again.

“I’ve finished thinking.”

“…Already?”

“Three seconds were enough.”

“…I see.”

“Would you please pass my words on to Sir Kyras?”

The Conspirator. The Half-Moon Elf, Kyras Selune.

“There’s no need for ‘requests’ between believers serving the Lonely Silent Watcher.”

From the moment he began serving Lriria, the Conspirator was no longer my enemy.

Enemies always weakened after becoming allies, which worried me a little… but he was still a Level 8 ninja, so surely he’d be a tremendous help.

“Understood. I’ll deliver your message.”

“One last thing I’d like you to pass along.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve been seriously wondering this for a while now.”

“Which suits me better?”

“‘Cutie,’ or ‘Little Rascal’?”

“…I’m not passing that along.”

“Aww, why not?”

“Until next time.”

With that, Elvira ended the communication, bringing the call to a one-sided conclusion.

As I tucked the Mage Tower communication device back into my subspace, my battle against the Conspirator during the guild war resurfaced in my mind.

The rage of a half-elf who had despaired of the world. The upbringing that had forced him to worship Onishiv… the evil god who could be considered Artein’s Dark Mode.

‘I’ve kept thinking about it…’

In the game, once the Conspirator was captured and imprisoned beneath District 3, that was the end of his story. There was no visitation system. Naturally, I couldn’t even give him an idol of Lord Lriria. But now… he’d personally sent me a message.

“I am fully prepared!”

Just as I was lost in thought, the estate doors swung open, and the “Celestial Reficul” came running outside.

“…Mom.”

Bartimir shuffled out after Him, then whispered into my ear.

“Is that nameless Demon King really joining our expedition? Honestly… He’s terrifying.”

Come to think of it, the Nameless Demon King had joined our expedition… something that had never happened in the game, where His later whereabouts remained completely unknown. There would undoubtedly be many more instances of this kind of new content from now on. 

Will the day eventually come… when everything I know becomes useless?

“Hm? Grand Duke. Positive emotions are rising from your heart. Did something pleasant occur to you?”

“Yes.”

I nodded immediately.

“I imagined myself facing an absolutely hopeless crisis where none of my knowledge or abilities would work at all.”

An unfamiliar situation. An unpredictable development. An unknown enemy.

I loved all of it. They were all more than welcome.

Please.

Please come.

I was always ready to welcome newly added high-difficulty content with open arms.

“A crisis that feels utterly impossible for someone like me to overcome…”

“Ahhh! That’s when an expedition really starts getting exciting!”

Only moments ago, Bartimir had been nervously watching the Nameless Demon King.

Now, his eyes suddenly sparkled.

“Just as expected of my daughter… No, Our Vice Captain.”

“Ahem! Vice Captain, indeed!”

Bartimir puffed out his chest proudly. Watching us, the fake Celestial opened His mouth wide and drew in a deep breath.

“Such close familial affection. Such admirable pride. Delicious… Aaaah!”

Bartimir… the Collector of Calamities.

The Nameless Demon King… the mutant of the Demon Realm.

It was finally time to begin our journey alongside two demons.

“Let’s go. Time to welcome our newest companion.”

 

***

 

District 5 contained a massive ecological park, where the natural scenery of the Eastern Continent had been recreated almost perfectly. It had continued developing ever since Pletica’s founding, to the point where one could scarcely believe such scenery existed inside a city.

“Oho…!”

The Celestial Reficul… the Nameless Demon King… lightly fluttered His white wings while gazing across District 5’s vast grasslands.

“Magnificent! Such fresh air! Such verdant grass!”

Admiration. Joy. Wonder.

The Demon King immersed himself in the positive emotions He was producing, taking one deep breath after another.

“Aaaah!”

Seeing another demon consuming positive emotions, Bartimir shrieked in horror and grabbed my arm. A frightened expression I almost never saw. His beautiful white heterochromatic eyes trembled nonstop.

“Mom! I’m scared!”

“Please calm down. He may be a monster that feeds on positive concepts… But He doesn’t eat people.”

“I’d rather He roasted and ate people!”

The demonkin desperately shook my arm. I ended up swaying left and right like a roly-poly toy, barely managing to regain my balance. Even while Bartimir terrorized me in panic, the Demon King’s meal continued uninterrupted.

“Haa… Haaaa…”

He seemed rather excited. If He were currently in His usual majestic demon appearance, someone might have reported Him, and the Interracial Association’s Hello Society would likely have arrived to arrest Him.

Fortunately, that wasn’t something we needed to worry about right now.

“It’s a Celestial!”

“Wow…”

Unlike demons… who constantly suffered under prejudice and misunderstanding… Celestials, originating from the Heavenly Realm, were a race universally respected.

Because they were believed to be utterly incapable of falling to evil and because they devoted themselves to selfless good deeds, they received admiration wherever they went.

Seeing a Celestial become excited… was itself considered an almost sacred sight.

“Admiring gazes pour in from every direction. This is exactly why I like appearing as a Celestial.”

Smiling gently, the Demon King waved at the people who stared at Him like adoring fans.

Naturally, I waved as well. Then, thanks to all the effort I’d put into my work as an explorer, the reactions I’d earned came flooding in.

“Huh?”

“It’s the Golden Crow!”

“Just like they said… he actually looks normal in person.”

“How could someone like that do all those things…?”

Perhaps because this was District 5, people tended to be relatively friendly toward half-elves… a race deserving of protection.

Even so, everyone remained a noticeable distance away. None of them seemed eager to approach me for a conversation. That distance inevitably left me feeling a little disappointed.

“Why is it… that the harder I work exploring labyrinths and promoting the faith… the more people start treating me like some creepy half-elf? Where else could anyone find such an exemplary cultist as myself…?”

I never forced my religion onto anyone. I never engaged in religious activities that inconvenienced others. I was simply a decent cultist who faithfully obeyed the Harmony Church.

Yet, for some reason, only unsettling rumors kept spreading about me.

“Grand Duke. When you’re upset, try taking deep breaths as I do. Siiiiigh… Haaa!”

“Mom! I want to go home first…!”

“It’s alright. I’m right here beside you, my dear.”

Patting Bartimir’s arm, I began walking again.

Reficul… still focused on feeding… quickly caught up with us.

“Are we heading to the Interracial Association headquarters in Central District 5?”

“Ordinary members rarely visit headquarters during the daytime. They usually operate only within the groups to which they belong.”

Colorful birds busily fluttered overhead. I looked up while continuing.

“Within the Interracial Association exist numerous small communities called Coexistence Societies. They’re similar to expedition teams. Besides exploring labyrinths together, they also enjoy shared hobbies. You could think of them as clubs.”

There were currently no fewer than eighty-seven Coexistence Societies. Each is centered around its own unique interests.

“For example… There are groups devoted to strength training, stargazing, music appreciation, and historical research.”

“Excellent!”

“How boring.”

The two demons walking beside me reacted in completely different ways.

“There are also societies devoted to dismantling and crushing monster body parts… Sampling the different tastes of every race’s blood… Or collecting historical curses.”

“What pitiful fools.”

“Wow!”

Again, their reactions couldn’t have been more different.

How could two demons be such complete opposites?

“Each Coexistence Society spends its days pursuing the activities for which it was formed. Some travel beyond the city. Others simply sit together indoors and talk all day. Some even spend leisurely lives inside safe labyrinths.”

A free life, shared with like-minded companions. That leisurely, pastoral atmosphere unique to the Eastern Continent… that was precisely what the Interracial Association sought to cultivate.

Of course, humans weren’t allowed to join, even if they themselves came from the Eastern Continent.

“The Coexistence Society to which our prospective new companion, Brightfeather, belongs… is called the Sky Flight Corps.”

“A gathering of people who can fly?”

“More precisely… It’s a gathering of people who simply enjoy flying.”

Most members were Birdfolk. There were also some Insectfolk, Dragonbloods, and people possessing flight-capable equipment.

“Please follow me. I’ll guide you to the Sky Flight Corps’ meeting place.”

Soon, we reached the outskirts of District 5.

Tightening the bandages around his wrist, Bartimir frowned.

“Why did we come all the way out here? There aren’t even any buildings.”

“District 5 officially has only a single building.”

Nearby stood an enormous wall, partially covered in vines. Several towering trees of different species grew beside it in neat rows. 

Beneath one tree… whose bark drifted like smoke… a moth Insectfolk wearing sunglasses sat comfortably in the shade, reading a book.

“Greetings.”

“Ah… yes!”

The Insectfolk cautiously regarded me for a moment, then smiled warmly. It was the characteristic smile of an Association member… someone who recognized that the person before them was a half-elf rather than a human.

“What brings you here?”

“We’ve come because we’d like to enter the Sky Flight Corps’ meeting place.”

“Ah, I see.”

The Association member immediately pulled a rather unusually weighty-looking carrot from inside his clothes.

[Entrance to [Sky Village].]

Recognizing it as a labyrinth entrance, Bartimir repeatedly smacked my shoulder.

“We’re diving into a labyrinth without warning? I’m all for it!”

“We’re not here to explore it.”

“…Whaaaaaaat!?”

Bartimir screamed and staggered backward. His eyes lost focus, his hands trembling.

“You’re not Mom! You’re that monster… AKarr or whatever!”

“No. I’m your adorable Karr.”

That didn’t mean I loved every labyrinth. Unless I had a goal like clearing every labyrinth in existence, I generally avoided those that lacked sufficient stimulation.

Sky Village belonged to that category.

“It seems you’re unfamiliar with how our Association manages its labyrinths.”

The moth Association member smiled, lightly shaking the carrot entrance.

“Certain labyrinths have extremely easy clear conditions and very long reset periods. Those labyrinths are used as meeting places for the various Coexistence Societies.”

“…I see. Phew…”

Bartimir let out a relieved sigh.

“Then let’s go in.”

“Before entering… There’s one very important thing you absolutely must remember.”

To recruit Brightfeather… the parrot Birdfolk blessed with talent equal to Pendrick… there was one rule they absolutely had to keep in mind.

“No matter what… Absolutely do not look at his appearance and react with shock, horror, or mocking ridicule.”