Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. – Chapter 172 – C-Rank Labyrinth – Giant Hunting Grounds (2)

Author: Cireng

Chapter 172 – C-Rank Labyrinth – Giant Hunting Grounds (2)

Brightfeather’s trait, [Copycat Parrot], wasn’t perfect.

It couldn’t copy Mysteries that replaced an existing body part, such as [Eyes That Perceive the Truth ], nor could it imitate the same copied Mystery consecutively.

Even so, it was unquestionably an incredible trait. After all, it completely ignored restrictions based on class, level, and hierarchy.

“That was truly remarkable.”

As we flew toward our destination, I created ten illusory thumbs-up with [Illusion]. Brightfeather shrank his shoulders and smiled shyly.

“It wasn’t anything special.”

“Understood. We’ll say it wasn’t anything special.”

“…Ah.”

“You’d rather I said it was amazing, wouldn’t you?”

“I-I guess so…”

[Just as expected, it’s an extraordinary constitution! Though that’s not all there is to it.]

As Truthy had said, Brightfeather’s true value had yet to be revealed.

If all he could do was temporarily imitate enemy Mysteries, he would’ve been overshadowed by someone like Wonderbeak, another Hunter-class explorer from the Interracial Association.

Scanning the ground below, I spoke again.

“Sir Sylphren and Sir Reficul should be keeping the giants occupied, so we won’t be in any immediate danger for a while.”

“Phew…

“I’d like to say that. However, the giants know every rule governing Endless Wilderness, the prison and hunting ground they use. If we don’t finish quickly, things will become dangerous.”

“Eek…”

For some reason, talking with him was enjoyable. No matter how I teased him, his sincere, dramatic reactions made me want to keep talking.

“I assumed you already knew, so I never mentioned it. But I’m actually a hundred-year-old orc.”

“Whaaat?!”

“Just kidding.”

“Y-You scared me…”

“Though I really am a hundred years old.”

“Seriously?!”

“That was a lie.”

“Goodness…”

While soaring through the sky, I fulfilled my religious duties to Lord Lidni by astonishing those around me with my “magician-like” way of speaking.

After flying for some time, I suddenly came to a stop. Brightfeather overshot me before hurriedly stopping as well.

“Wh-Why did we stop?”

“Let’s head down.”

[Weary Fugitive Lilush (Lizardman, 51 years old). His long life on the run has left both body and mind utterly exhausted.]

Truthy had discovered one of the giants’ prey.

We immediately descended, landing on a barren hill where nothing appeared to exist.

“Please help us.”

Looking into empty air, I spoke quietly.

The upper body of an emaciated lizardman slowly emerged from the seemingly empty ground. He had concealed himself using a camouflage-type Mystery.

“…New arrivals.”

“Yes. We entered this ‘hunting ground’ not long ago.”

“That’s unfortunate. You still look young.”

Perhaps because of thirst, his voice sounded faint.

I took out a waterskin and slowly poured water into his mouth. After drinking for a while, a little life finally returned to the face that had looked so close to death.

“Thank you…”

“It’s nothing.”

“As fellow prey and future emergency rations, we should help one another.”

“……”

Lilush silently stared at me. Feeling awkward simply maintaining eye contact, I formed a heart shape with both hands.

“If there’s anything you need from me, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m a half-elf willing to throw away this delicate body of mine for anyone in need.”

“…No need. And put your hands down.”

“Hmph.”

I lowered my head with an exaggerated pout, then immediately looked back at him.

“Come with us. Let’s escape this dreadful place together.”

“No… It’s already too late for me.”

Lilush’s lower body, which had been hidden until now, came into view.

One of his legs was gone.

“The giants ate it a while ago.”

“…Eek.”

Brightfeather inhaled sharply.

“Besides… The life force within the red soil that had been healing me all this time is beginning to feel poisonous. I’ve probably absorbed too much of the Evil God’s energy.”

Lilush calmly pushed himself upright.

“I’m going to die soon.”

It was true. Even if I somehow produced a top-grade vitality potion like an elixir, I couldn’t save him.

An ordinary person, not a believer, had been exposed to the Silent One’s life force for far too long, drastically shortening his lifespan instead.

“That’s unfortunate.”

I quietly murmured, placing a hand over my chest.

To be honest, I didn’t truly find it unfortunate.

My nature was broken. Unless the dying person was someone close to me, I felt no psychological shock.

Even so, I still understood that someone approaching death needed emotional comfort.

“At the very least… I’ll avenge you.”

And I understood even more clearly that, for some people, a promise of vengeance could be more comforting than condolences.

“…Even if it’s just words… thank you.”

Perhaps realizing I wasn’t genuinely grieving, Lilush smiled faintly.

Then, he turned his gaze.

“We’ll definitely avenge you…!”

Though they were complete strangers, and Lilush was nothing more than a ghost recreated by the labyrinth, Brightfeather tearfully held the weakened lizardman’s hand.

“No. Forget about me. Focus on surviving. I’m already beyond saving.”

“No! Let’s survive together…!”

“…I already told you. I can’t.”

“Even sooooo…!”

Large tears dripped onto Lilush’s hand. Drops filled with emotions that could never have been faked.

“…You’re far too kind.”

Though his words sounded gruff, a genuine smile spread across Lilush’s lips.

Brightfeather’s gentle heart had fulfilled the hidden condition: to move the dried-up heart of a lizardman nearing his eternal rest.

‘I never could’ve done this alone.’

This world wasn’t a virtual game where memorizing dialogue options automatically built relationships. To truly connect with someone, you had to exchange genuine emotions.

Something impossible for someone like me, born emotionally broken.

That was why every expedition needed members with different personalities and strengths.

“Parrot. Take this.”

Lilush removed the necklace around his neck with his withered hand and held it out.

It was a crude necklace, fashioned from stone, bearing a torch-shaped ornament.

Simple, yet carefully crafted.

[Tool — Freedom and Resistance]

[Not even worthy of being called a masterpiece. A low-quality accessory… but the determination contained within surpasses all else.]

“Go… Wherever the torch leads.”

Lilush spoke quietly, his life fading by the second.

“I received it from someone who became prey before me. And they received it from someone before them. It’s been passed down like that ever since.”

A crystallization of determination, passed endlessly from one stranger’s hands to another’s.

Because it carried the resolve of so many people, Freedom and Resistance had become far more than an ordinary tool.

“I pray… that the path before you is one of hope.”

“…Thank you!”

Holding Freedom and Resistance tightly, Brightfeather bowed deeply.

I quietly leaned forward, raising a hand.

“Um… Excuse me… Would it be possible for me to receive a few warm words of encouragement too?”

“…You too. Stay strong.”

“Waaah. Thank you. Before I step onto the battlefield where the fiercely struggling await… I’d like a little time to myself.”

“Stop staring at this pathetic sight of mine. Go. Before the giants arrive.”

With those final words, Lilush concealed himself once more using his camouflage Mystery.

I lightly tapped the wing of Brightfeather, who was crying enormous tears as though he’d shared a decade-long friendship with him.

“Let’s go.”

“Waaahhh…”

After gently wiping away his tears with a handkerchief, the parrot Birdfolk, his eyes swollen, finally took flight once again.

“Raise the torch-shaped ornament until its tip overlaps with the sun.”

“L-Like this…?”

Fwoosh!

The moment the image of the sun aligned with the torch’s wick, the torch atop Freedom and Resistance suddenly ignited like a real flame. The newly lit fire immediately projected a straight beam of light.

“We simply follow it. Shall we fly together?”

“…Do we have to fly together?”

“Yes.”

It hadn’t even been intentional teasing, yet I nodded naturally.

“Come. Let’s keep our shoulders aligned while flying.”

“O-Okay…!”

We flew side by side, the obedient Birdfolk following along.

Then…

RUMBLEEEEE!

A thunderous roar suddenly echoed through the air. I immediately covered Brightfeather’s eyes.

“…Whaaat was that?”

The earth itself trembled and twisted. Towering mountains abruptly rose from the ground. Deep chasms split open. Massive walls appeared where none had existed. The vast wilderness underwent violent tectonic upheaval.

The giants had forcibly activated one of Endless Wilderness’s gimmicks, reshaping the terrain to make their hunt more entertaining.

“Wh-What in the world is happening…”

“That was my stomach. I haven’t eaten anything for an entire month.”

“Please eat something immediately…!”

…He actually believed that? At this point, I was beginning to worry more than find it amusing.

If even I felt that way, how concerned must Sylphren be?

In any case, the perfectly timed lie prevented another flare-up of Fear of the Unfamiliar.

Just to be safe, I kept his eyes covered a little longer before slowly removing my hand.

“…Huh?”

Seeing the drastically transformed landscape, Brightfeather’s eyes widened.

“Why did everything change?”

“This labyrinth has always been one where the terrain occasionally changes without warning.”

“Labyrinths really are amazing…!”

“That’s one of their greatest charms.”

Although the landscape had changed, the torch’s guiding light still pointed in the same direction.

BOOM!

Whenever enormous boulders or walls blocked our path, Brightfeather simply shattered them with [Power Shot].

“Aha! Magnificent! Sir Brightfeather, you’re amazing.”

“Thank you!”

Surprisingly, he wasn’t embarrassed by praise. Just as he enjoyed adorning himself with countless colorful accessories, he also enjoyed emotional adornment.

Shiiing!

The flame emitted by Freedom and Resistance burned even brighter. The beam of light stretched directly toward the center of a large pile of rocks.

“It’s there.”

Landing atop the rocks, I examined the place where the light ended.

It appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary stone. Its color and texture, however, were subtly different from the surrounding rocks.

“Originally, there was only this one. The terrain shift must’ve created all the others.”

Studying the stone alongside me, Brightfeather displayed the keen observational skills befitting a Hunter.

Perhaps because it involved something he loved, his voice carried unusual confidence despite his usual shyness.

“O-Or… maybe not…”

A moment later, he shrank back again. If he acted all the time confidently, he’d probably earn greater recognition as an explorer.

But as a member of the Moon Expedition, I actually preferred this timid side. Pendrick alone provided more than enough confidence for our team.

“What you just said… hit the very heart of it.”

“Really…?”

“Place the torch ornament against the stone touched by the light.”

As I spoke, I gently held one of his colorful wings.

“I’ll try…!”

Brightfeather picked up the stone and pressed it against the torch of Freedom and Resistance.

BOOOOOOM!

Brilliant light burst forth. The stone suddenly expanded. Moments later, an old treasure chest appeared before us.

“…What’s this?”

Inside the chest lay numerous items.

A crimson hook imbued with a strange aura, A tarnished silver ring, A blue hat with a hole in it, A rusted dagger, the tip of a wooden staff, and A slightly damaged trap.

Outwardly, they were nothing but an assortment of unrelated tools. But the hearts of those who had left them behind were one.

“These belonged to the previous owners of Freedom and Resistance. Though they themselves couldn’t escape… they left behind these items, believing they’d one day help someone else.”

“……”

Brightfeather silently stared into the chest. His eyes welled up once more.

“…I know everything happening here is only a recreation of the past. But it still makes me sad…Is something wrong with me?”

“Not at all.”

The more experience explorers gained, the less they regarded labyrinth ghosts as people. But… I didn’t want to become like that.

Simply because I didn’t want to.

Without any logical justification, I intended to treat these ghosts as fellow intelligent beings… just like myself.

“Even if you’re the abnormal one and every other explorer is normal… that’s perfectly fine. If treating beings who think and speak exactly like us as nothing more than ‘convenient living exploration tools’ is considered normal… then I’d rather be abnormal.”

“…You’re right.”

Brightfeather carefully clasped the torch ornament with both hands.

“…I’ll inherit all of your determination. So… please rest in peace.”

The moment the kind-hearted Birdfolk quietly mourned those who had died as prey to the giants…

Fwoooooosh…

Every item inside the treasure chest suddenly began glowing. The crude stone necklace resonated with them.

“…Huh?”

“Congratulations.”

One by one, the glowing items were absorbed into the torch-shaped ornament.

Watching Freedom and Resistance shine even more brilliantly, I spoke.

“You’ve fulfilled the final requirement.”

The decisive condition for obtaining the hidden piece of Giant Hunting Grounds: The resolve to inherit the determination of its previous owners.