Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. – Chapter 171 – C-Rank Labyrinth – Giant Hunting Grounds (1)

Author: Cireng

Chapter 171 — C-Rank Labyrinth – Giant Hunting Grounds (1)

Giants. As their name suggested, they were a race distinguished by their enormous size.

Once upon a time, giants had been infamous as the rulers of the Northern Continent. They possessed innate violence and overwhelming strength.

Aside from orcs, a race born to be warriors, no other race could gain the upper hand against giants in battle.

“Haah… haaah…”

The moment Brightfeather saw the giants, his body began trembling. His trait, [Fear of the Unfamiliar], had activated.

He already felt overwhelming fear and anxiety whenever he encountered new situations, and now terrifying giants had appeared before him. Naturally, he was utterly terrified.

“…Laipe.”

Sylphren hurriedly wrapped Brightfeather in his arms and seated him atop Bingbing, the Sturdy Long-tailed Tit.

I checked the compass I’d received from Butler Sergius, then pointed northeast… the direction farthest from where the giants had appeared.

“For now, let’s fly that way. We need to hurry.”

If we confronted them head-on, we had absolutely no chance of winning. Unless the Demon King had already consumed an enormous amount of positive concepts, we needed to stay alive first. We hurriedly flew away from the giants with the group.

BOOOOM!

Another deafening crash rang out. I glanced behind us.

One of the giants was smashing an entire pile of boulders apart with an enormous club.

“Where’d you hide?!”

It was merely a swing of a club, yet it unleashed destructive power rivaling most Mysteries. At least they weren’t the kind of mythological giants whose heads reached the heavens.

That much was fortunate.

“There! Flying things!”

Suddenly, one of the giants shouted. Apparently, he’d spotted us.

WHOOOOSH!

A tremendous spear came hurtling toward us, slicing through the air. A powerful throw that fully utilized a giant’s natural strength.

“Hm.”

The fake Celestial stopped flying and hovered in place, gently flapping His wings. The charging spear abruptly altered its own course before plunging harmlessly to the ground.

“Throw properly!”

“I did throw it straight!”

“Quit arguing and chase them! The winged ones are getting away!”

The giants immediately began bickering among themselves.

Not wasting the opportunity, we accelerated and fled.

“Now it’s finally getting interesting! It truly becomes worthwhile once a worthy foe appears!”

“Wait! Don’t start absorbing!”

“Suuuuuck.”

“Gyaaaah!”

While the two demons made completely different noises, we continued flying nonstop, putting more distance between ourselves and the giants.

After traveling some distance, we spotted a terrain filled with towering jagged rock formations. That was when we descended.

Sylphren pushed his goggles upward and frowned.

“…Is it really okay to stop here?”

“If we go too far, we’ll end up looping around and meeting the giants from the opposite side.”

We landed and hurried between the towering stone pillars that stood like trees in a forest.

“Haah… ugh…”

Still carried on Sylphren’s back, Brightfeather remained trapped in panic.

His body had stiffened. His eyes were unfocused. His hands trembled uncontrollably.

The abnormal statuses Fear and Anxiety had merged with his [Fear of the Unfamiliar], amplifying it threefold into a full-blown panic attack.

“…Mom. What’s wrong with him?”

Bartimir looked worriedly at Brightfeather, whose face had turned pale.

“It’s a constitution he developed because of experiences in his childhood.”

“…How do we calm him down?”

“I know a solution.”

Reficul, who had likewise been watching Brightfeather, spoke before I could answer.

“Captain Karr. Amuse me with your antics. If I consume enough positive concepts, I can use a Sin Mystery to take that Birdfolk’s illness upon Myself.”

He seemed to be referring to [Sin: Envy], which gained the ability to absorb another person’s abnormal statuses once it reached the Fifth Tier.

“How many more positive concepts do You require?”

“Hm… Approximately twenty servings of either a deep embrace, intense physical ecstasy, or thunderous applause.”

“That would all take far too long.”

If we delayed any further, Brightfeather might lose consciousness and remain unconscious for quite a while. I decided to use the standard treatment instead.

“It’s alright.”

Since we’d only just met, I gently held one of his wings instead of his shoulder.

To relieve [Fear of the Unfamiliar], he first needed to feel psychologically safe. Just like he always did while peacefully flying alongside the members of the Skyflight Squadron.

“…Did you know?”

I quietly began. His mismatched eyes, still trembling, turned toward me.

“Although giants are among the sturdiest races, second only to dragons, they’re practically extinct today.”

“U-Um…? Why is that, Mr. Labyrinth Teacher?”

Bartimir obediently raised his hand like a model student. He was asking in place of Brightfeather, whose sanity was rapidly approaching zero.

“Well then… The answer is…”

Using [Illusion], I drew a giant’s face in midair. As stupid-looking as possible. With snot dripping from its nose. Its mouth hanging open in a vacant “Duh…” expression.

“Because they’re unbelievably, incredibly stupid.”

Brightfeather stared blankly at the illusion floating in the air. His Fear and Anxiety subsided slightly.

“Student Barbar. Do you know what utterly idiotic choice the giants made?”

“They joined hands with the Church of Solitary Silence!”

Twitch…!

The snake tattoo vigorously wagged its tail.

“Yes, exactly! Ridiculous, isn’t it? How could anyone trust not today’s weakened cultists, but the Evil God’s church back when it was at the height of its power?”

“They’re stupid! Super stupid!”

Bartimir burst into loud laughter.

“Indeed. A truly foolish and dull race.”

Reficul immediately joined our little play for Brightfeather’s sake.

“They never knew how to properly use the strength they possessed. Why, they were repeatedly defeated by demons who were weaker than themselves! What hopeless idiots!”

…No. He was simply talking about His own experiences.

Still, perhaps because those words came from a Celestial, who could never lie, Brightfeather finally asked,

“So they really are that dumb…?”

The trembling Birdfolk had finally calmed down. His bright eyes stared directly at Reficul.

For the moment, his [Fear of the Unfamiliar] had eased.

“…Impressive.”

Sylphren, who had anxiously watched everything unfold, finally let out a sigh.

“This is exactly why I never wanted to send Laipe into just any expedition. Sometimes he loses all reason from fear the moment he enters a labyrinth.”

Sylphren had raised and supported Brightfeather ever since he was little.

Though they belonged to different races, they were unquestionably family. Just like my tiger Beastfolk siblings and me.

If two people sincerely wished for each other’s happiness, and genuinely grieved when something went wrong, they could become family through the heart alone… blood ties weren’t necessary.

“He fears labyrinths… yet he also dreams of exploring them. He keeps saying he’d rather live peacefully… but every single day, he faithfully reads explorer newsletters. He’s terrible at hiding what he really wants.”

Watching Brightfeather listen to Reficul’s grand tale with sparkling eyes, Sylphren smiled warmly.

“I’d rather send Laipe to an expedition filled with warm-hearted companions than one with a bright future.”

“Then everything has worked out perfectly.”

Meeting Bartimir’s gaze as he rested an arm across my shoulders, I nodded together with him.

“Our expedition has both a promising future and warm camaraderie among its members. Isn’t that right?”

“Yep!”

“…You certainly do seem close.”

“Sir Sylphren. Once this exploration ends, you’ll be able to set all your worries aside.”

There was a reason I’d chosen Giant Hunting Grounds as the labyrinth in which to prove we deserved Brightfeather.

“…And then My fist shattered the giant’s jaw!”

Reficul’s story had somehow evolved into a dramatic performance complete with punches thrown into the air.

“That giant’s final words were the utterly cliché, ‘Impossible!’ Then he died!”

“Wooow…!”

Brightfeather looked completely recovered now. The next time he encountered an unfamiliar situation, he’d probably lose himself to panic again.

But… there wasn’t going to be a next time.

From here onward, I intended to give him an exploration as smooth and comfortable as riding in a luxury limousine.

“Break time is over.”

I quietly struck an adorable pose, drawing everyone’s attention.

“For your information, there won’t be any more breaks. Because there won’t be time to rest.”

I lightly tapped the wing adorned with Brightfeather’s many colorful accessories using my index finger.

“Giants eat other races. Alive. You absolutely must not get caught.”

“……”

Brightfeather’s eyes began shaking again, but thanks to the rather rough yet dependable Celestial standing beside him, he didn’t descend into another panic attack.

“From this point onward, we must first fulfill the escape conditions of Endless Wilderness, which serves as the giants’ hunting grounds. Only after that can we complete the objective of Giant Hunting Grounds and finally return to reality.”

Unlike a small labyrinth such as the Sewer of Trials, this was literally a labyrinth within a labyrinth.

Effectively, we had to complete two separate explorations. Fortunately, the objective of Giant Hunting Grounds itself wasn’t particularly difficult, so it shouldn’t take very long.

BOOOOOM!

Just then, a violent explosion echoed through the air. The ground beneath our feet shook from the tremendous impact.

“We need to move.”

There wasn’t a second to waste.

“From this point onward, we’ll split into three teams.”

If the giants truly decided to pursue us, we could never outrun them.

So instead, we’d exploit the one thing they lacked: brains.

No elaborate strategy was necessary. Intelligence sufficient to outwit a ten-year-old child would be enough.

“Sir Sylphren. Sir Reficul. Please draw the giants’ attention and keep them confused. Attack them occasionally, then flee. There are eight of them in total.”

“We’ll do it.”

“That won’t be difficult.”

Team One: Sylphren and the Nameless Demon King. Mission: Diversion.

“Sir Bartimir. Go to the locations I’ll indicate and gather the materials needed to clear the labyrinth. There are four locations.”

“This’ll be fun!”

Team Two: Bartimir. Mission: Collect preparation materials.

“Finally… Sir Brightfeather. You’ll accompany me. We’re going to retrieve the hidden piece.”

“O-Okay…!”

Team Three: Karr and Brightfeather. Mission: Hidden Piece Retrieval.

“Where are you hiding?!”

The giants’ voices and presence drew closer.

ROOOAR!

GRRRR!

At the same time, the savage howls of beasts echoed through the wilderness. The hunting dogs the giants employed for their hunts… Though they were rather larger than ordinary dogs.

“Move immediately.”

Sylphren and the Demon King immediately took to the skies.

“I’m off too!”

Bartimir likewise headed toward the location I’d indicated. Soon, only Brightfeather and I remained.

Still clutching the bow I’d given him, Brightfeather stood there curled into himself.

I beckoned to him.

“Let’s go.”

“O-Okay… y-yes…!”

Checking our direction with the compass, we took flight.

“There they are again!”

“Heh! They’re not getting away!”

Two giant hunters noisily charged straight toward us, driving a hunting dog nearly ten times my size ahead of them.

The distance closed in an instant.

“Where do you think you’re going?!”

“Fweeeet!”

Sylphren swooped in atop Bingbing, its curved blade slicing across the backs of both giants.

“Ow! That stings!”

“What an annoying little bird!”

The simple-minded giants immediately shifted their attention to Sylphren.

ROOOF!

The enormous hunting dog, far smarter than its masters, continued relentlessly pursuing us.

A chase perfectly suited to its role… wearing down prey before the kill.

Whoooosh!

Its vicious eyes glowed a brilliant crimson.

[Eternal Pursuit].

A Mystery that allowed its user to continuously track a marked target’s location, while also increasing the damage dealt against that target.

“……”

Brightfeather glanced behind us. His shoulders began trembling again. His arms and legs shook as well.

Yet… he didn’t fall into panic. Because [Fear of the Unfamiliar] only triggered overwhelming terror toward things experienced for the first time.

“We’re turning this way slightly.”

I continued leading our flight while scanning the ground below. When we’d put a considerable distance between ourselves and the giants, I quietly instructed him,

“Please shoot the hunting dog between the eyes. That’s its weak point.”

There was no need to ask whether he could do it.

“I-I-I’ll… try!”

He was still frightened, but he hadn’t lost himself.

He trembled, yet he didn’t bury his face or try to escape reality.

“Hoo…”

He held his breath briefly. Then, drawing upon the surprisingly high Strength hidden beneath his appearance, he pulled back the massive bowstring with all his might.

Creak…

His mismatched eyes fixed upon the target. They slowly turned crimson.

[Eternal Pursuit].

The very Mystery the giant hunting dog had just used. Humans could only obtain that Mystery through the Tracker class. Yet Brightfeather, whose class was Butcher, used it effortlessly.

[:O?]

[The Wise One’s eyes are shining!]

[Copycat Parrot]. Brightfeather’s other trait.

A trait that allowed him to imitate another person’s Mystery… without any conditions whatsoever.

Whoosh!

A beautifully decorated arrow flew forth, its colorful fletching tracing an elegant arc through the air.

“I-I did it…”

Without even looking to see the result, Brightfeather hurriedly turned away.

I kept watching behind us.

Thud.

Just as I’d instructed, the arrow struck precisely between the hunting dog’s eyes.

GRAAAAAAAH!