Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 176 - Giant Hunting Grounds – Reverse Hunt

Chapter 176 – Giant Hunting Grounds – Reverse Hunt

 

Hunting Grounds Warden Grangtum was a fairly seasoned warrior. Compared to my lord, however, he was laughably mediocre.

Even so, to an ordinary explorer of the same level, he was an opponent far too formidable to handle.

Which meant… the perfect opening still hadn’t appeared.

“I’ll split you in half and eat you one bite at a time!”

Grangtum’s assault became even more savage and violent. He swung his enormous greatsword around as though it were nothing more than a slender longsword.

As expected of a giant who knew nothing but brute force, he was full of openings.

Even so, I needed to wait a little longer.

If we attacked too hastily, he would become cautious afterward and stop exposing those openings altogether.

“You white-winged thing!”

The greatsword wrapped in a crimson spiral descended toward the fake Celestial’s head.

[Crimson Catastrophe]. Just as its name suggested, the Sixth Tier Blood Warrior Mystery left its target in a horrific state.

“A hidden Mystery!”

Reficul’s eyes lit up. He grasped the Drizzle Trident with both hands.

KRAAAAA!

A strange black aura condensed and wrapped itself around the trident. Centered around the weapon now dyed a deep black, cracks spread across empty space itself.

“…Mom. What Mystery is that?”

“I have no idea.”

I honestly didn’t know. What… was that?

The Nameless Demon King was still a new piece of content filled with mysteries to me.

[It’s been a long time since you’ve encountered knowledge you didn’t possess! This would’ve been the perfect chance for Me to show off, but… I don’t know either.]

I’d expected as much, so I wasn’t disappointed.

CLANG!

Grangtum’s [Crimson Catastrophe] collided with the Drizzle Trident wrapped in that mysterious black aura.

“…Huh?!”

Despite the overwhelming difference in size, the gigantic greatsword merely trembled in place, unable to advance even a little.

A force that ignored physical size. An overwhelming pressure accompanying impossible strength.

“Hah… Hahahahahaha!”

Completely intoxicated by a life-or-death battle against a worthy opponent, the fake Celestial burst into loud laughter as He slowly raised the shaft of His trident upward.

The giant’s two hands, still gripping the greatsword, were gradually forced upward.

“Please get ready.”

Speaking quietly so Grangtum couldn’t hear, I flew behind him.

“Yeees!”

“Let’s do it!”

Brightfeather soared high toward the cavern ceiling.

Bartimir lowered himself into a frontal charging stance.

Each of us prepared the strongest attack we could muster. Including me.

My true cultist finishing move, the Self-Sacrifice Ritual… was off limits because the siblings would undoubtedly become furious.

Still, I’d prepared a combination of Mysteries worthy of being called a secondary finishing move.

Crackle!

I wrapped black lightning around the nine strands of spider silk I’d spun into the sharpest possible form around my right index finger.

Nine violently writhing lightning whips.

In addition, I transformed only my right arm into lightning, creating a flexible form that compensated for the pitiful Strength I’d lost because of Rot Sprout.

“La la laaa♪”

Providing my own cheerful sound effects, I used [Illusion] to dye the spider silk golden.

Preparations were complete.

“This is delightful!”

“You dare!”

Grangtum gritted his teeth, grasping the hilt of his greatsword with both hands as he exerted all his strength.

But his opponent was none other than the Demon King.

Despite the giant straining with all his might, He didn’t budge an inch.

“Though this is beginning to bore Me!”

CLANG!

The trident smashed downward onto the greatsword from above.

“Urgh!”

The greatsword plunged into the stone floor. Grangtum completely lost his balance. Three vital weak points were left completely exposed.

“Now!”

I shouted, striking a stylish pose.

“Nine-Tailed Golden Crow!”

At last, I could finally shout the name of a technique I’d always wanted to use.

As I swung my lightning-transformed right hand…

KRAAAACK!

Using telekinesis to alter their trajectory in midair, the nine lightning whips struck Grangtum’s back simultaneously.

Blood erupted outward. The flesh and muscles across his back split apart.

Thud!

CRACK!

At the exact same moment, Brightfeather’s [Power Shot] pierced the back of Grangtum’s neck with perfect accuracy.

Meanwhile, my demon daughter slammed both fists, wrapped in hardened demonic energy created by [Flow Condensation Syndrome], into the giant’s abdomen.

“Gu… Uaaagh…!”

Having all three vital points struck simultaneously, Grangtum staggered, his eyes rolling back.

Unfortunately, that alone wasn’t enough to bring him down. A giant’s toughness surpassed imagination. Even so, we had unquestionably inflicted serious damage.

“A combined assault by three explorers! Magnificent! Suuuuck!”

Even in the middle of battle, Reficul took the opportunity to consume. Then He spread His wings wide. His body trembled slightly.

“…This exhilaration feels as though I’m about to burst. Since this power will disappear like sand slipping through My fingers anyway… I might as well enjoy it to My heart’s content.”

Thanks to the battle with Grangtum, along with everything else we’d experienced during this expedition, Reficul had already devoured an enormous quantity of positive concepts.

Each time a demon consumed enough, their Strength, Vitality, and Agility each increased by one.

Normally, those bonuses only faded after a long period of starvation. But because of the sealing ritual’s lingering effects, my lord’s enhancements lasted less than a single day.

Which meant He would weaken again once this expedition ended.

But at this very moment, He had become a warrior equal to or even greater than Grangtum.

“Be awestruck, giant! You have been granted the honor… of witnessing a fragment of My true power!”

Once again, black aura coiled around the blades of the Drizzle Trident.

Darkness deeper than the night sky. A suffocating blackness. The sort of darkness that felt capable of sending one into eternal sleep merely by looking at it.

I didn’t know its name. But one thing was obvious.

[It originally seems to be a Mystery of at least the Tenth Tier!]

Whatever Mystery manipulated that black aura… Grangtum could never withstand it.

“D-Don’t come any closer!”

Blood suddenly gushed from Grangtum’s wounds, forming a crimson barrier around him.

A Fifth Tier defensive Mystery of the Blood Warrior class. An ordinary attack would never pierce it.

“Hah… Hahahahaha!”

Naturally, an attack launched by the Demon King was anything but ordinary.

KRAAAASH!

The trident’s three blades shattered the blood-red barrier. Then continued upward, piercing through Grangtum’s mouth.

A fatal strike… A direct path from the mouth to the brain.

“GRAAAAAAH!”

Darkness burst simultaneously from every opening in Grangtum’s face.

“…Did we get him?”

Watching nearby, Sylphren uttered the forbidden phrase.

Fortunately, the miraculous injustice in which a mortally wounded enemy suddenly revived merely because someone had said “Did we get him?” did not occur.

“Ugh…”

Grangtum vomited mouthful after mouthful of blood, before collapsing backward.

Shiiing!

A giant-sized exit gate materialized in the center of the cavern.

“…We did it!”

Brightfeather vigorously flapped his wings, throwing both hands high into the air.

“Golden Golden Sparkly Sparkly Karr Karr! We really cleared it, right?!”

“Are you still calling me that? But yes.”

“We did it!”

Landing on the ground, Brightfeather enthusiastically waved both hands.

Bartimir grinned, then repeatedly patted their new companion on the back.

“Good job, Colorful!”

“Colorful…?”

“That’s your nickname. What do you think?”

“…A companion gave me a nickname!”

Brightfeather, who had looked utterly exhausted from our consecutive explorations, suddenly beamed.

“It’s something I’ve always envied while reading exploration newsletters every single day…!”

“You like it that much?”

“Yes! Thank you!”

They already seemed to have grown fairly close.

Watching the heartwarming scene in silence, unable to help feeling pleased as their captain, I finally turned my head.

The Fire Elf, his goggles resting atop his forehead, walked over while lightly applauding.

“Excellent work.”

“Fweet!”

Bingbing trotted over cheerfully, chirping happily.

“As for the expedition… I’m completely satisfied.”

Smiling warmly, Sylphren gave me a thumbs-up.

“I think I can trust Laipe to you. You’re certainly… unusual. But your ability as an explorer is exceptional. And unlike many expedition leaders, you don’t recklessly throw your companions away.”

“Fweee!”

“Bingbing agrees too.”

“You’ve both made excellent judgments. Captains as trustworthy as I am are quite rare.”

“…I’m sure you’re rare in many different ways.”

Sylphren absentmindedly stroked Bingbing’s head, then pointed toward the gate with his thumb.

“Shall we head back and have some tea at the Association headquarters?”

“First, we need to collect our rewards.”

Sylphren slapped his forehead.

“Ah! Right! I don’t go exploring often, so it completely slipped my mind.”

“We’ll collect the hidden rewards. Then I’ll quickly fulfill my duties as a cultist before we leave.”

Calling over Bartimir, who had been smiling while pressing down on Brightfeather’s head, I spoke.

“My daughter. Please thoroughly search that giant’s pockets. The hidden rewards should be inside.”

“Got it!”

Watching Bartimir diligently search Grangtum’s enormous body, I fell into deep thought.

Grangtum. That magnificent giant physique, overflowing with vitality and rarely seen in the modern world. To whom should I offer such a precious body?

“Mom!”

Bartimir suddenly leaped into the air, then scampered back toward me. Cradled in his arms were three hidden rewards.

A giant-sized Mystery Tome, Grangtum’s ring, and a huge straw doll.

“There was more. But these were the only things that looked useful.”

“Well done.”

“That much is only natural for the vice-captain!”

Bartimir proudly laid the rewards out on the ground.

Before beginning the offering ritual, I decided to distribute the rewards first.

“Sir Sylphren. Would you mind if I handled the distribution?”

“Go ahead. You led this expedition entirely. I merely watched.”

“Very well. I’ll take the Mystery Tome.”

 

[Fifth Tier Mystery Tome — Floating Observer]

[Allows the user to deploy an invisible eyeball in midair that shares its vision with them.]

 

The Mystery Grangtum had used while managing the hunting grounds.

It suited Marlin, our thief responsible for utility skills. Combined with [Heaven Ear], perhaps she’d become a reconnaissance specialist capable of observing vast distances with both sight and hearing.

“And Sir Bartimir… You may have the straw doll.”

“What does it do?”

“It’s essentially a cursed doll. Choose an enemy. Then stab it with any sharp object. One of the six curses sealed inside will be inflicted at random.”

A cursed tool crafted by a powerful giant shaman.

“Oh…”

Bartimir’s eyes sparkled.

“Can I use it on myself too?”

“Of course.”

“Mom’s the best!”

Bartimir suddenly lifted me high into the air, then enthusiastically shook me around. 

Being nothing more than a lightweight paper-thin cultist, I could do nothing except helplessly wave my limbs.

“Such wonderfully positive emotions are overflowing from you two… Suuuuuck!”

My lord had no need for any separate reward. The positive feelings between us alone were enough.

Since Sylphren had declined, the final item naturally belonged to Brightfeather.

 

[Artifact — Multi-Body Captor]

[Allows the wearer to launch disc-shaped projectiles that bind an enemy’s body.]

 

Grangtum’s ring. For anyone smaller than a giant, it was roughly the size of a bracelet.

For Brightfeather, however, its secondary effect was far more important than its primary function.

“Sir Brightfeather. This is the reward I mentioned when we first entered the labyrinth.”

“So this was the reward…!”

I slipped Multi-Body Captor onto my thin wrist, then infused it with my will.

Sparkle! Sparkle!

The bracelet-like ring immediately began shining in dazzling colors. It had been crafted using a gemstone known as Rainbowsio, which naturally split under specific conditions. Both the ring itself and its projectiles could freely display countless colors.

“Wow…”

Completely entranced, Brightfeather accepted Multi-Body Captor.

Now that the rewards had been distributed, it was time to prepare the offering ritual.

“Today’s offering… is the giant Grangtum.”

Crackle…!

Su’eje immediately reacted with utter disgust, firmly refusing.

Well, even judged by modern standards of harmonious beauty, giants were still ugly.

[The Wise One is pretending otherwise, but secretly waiting for your answer!]

Wriggle…!

Meanwhile, the other two Evil Gods subtly expressed their desire to receive the offering. But splitting one person into two separate offerings was out of the question. I had to choose one.

For a cultist possessing [True Believer], this was an inevitable moment.

“…I’ve decided.”

At this moment, my heart was drawn toward only one Evil God.

“I shall present You with a truly memorable feast… Okail.”

Let’s offer it to the Chaotic One.

[The Wise One is absolutely furious! >:(]

Wriggle…

The two Evil Gods reacted rather menacingly, but I had no choice.

‘At long last… I’ll finally obtain it.’

The Mystery that formed one of the central pillars of the Immortal Cultist build was right before my eyes.