Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. – Chapter 185 – I Like Humans

Author: Cireng

Chapter 185 – I Like Humans

“…This feels strange.”

The middle of Sunlight Prairie in District 5.

Pendrick, now disguised as the Gray Orc swordsman Dmirik, awkwardly rubbed his shoulder.

“The last time I came here… people kept looking at me with this strange disgust in their eyes while saying things like, ‘Isn’t that a human?’ or ‘That looks like a human.’ But now… I finally get to properly enjoy the atmosphere of the Eastern Continent.”

Even after transforming into the sturdy form of a Gray Orc, he wasn’t speaking any less.

If anything, his mouth had become even freer.

Perhaps being able to leisurely enjoy District 5, whose scenery resembled his homeland, had put him in an unusually cheerful mood.

“Aren’t you talking a little too much?”

While carefully adjusting the angle of her wide-brimmed hat, Marlin lightly nudged Pendrick’s arm with her elbow.

“Gray Orcs are usually serious and don’t talk much.”

“Marlin. That statement lacks harmony.”

I crooked the brim of Marlin’s hat forward.

“Quite a few Orcs pursue sentimental hobbies. As punishment for making such a racially discriminatory remark… walk upside down from here onward.”

“No thanks.”

“Grruk!”

Without waiting for Marlin’s command, the flying squirrel spirit Iquiril climbed onto my shoulder and gently tapped my mouth with its tail.

“Grrruk!”

“My apologies. I shall reflect upon my actions. But could you scold me a little more harshly?”

“…Grruk.”

Iquiril hurried back onto Marlin’s shoulder.

“Anyway… At least we can relax until the tournament begins.”

Our Moonlight Expedition had come to District 5 to participate in the preliminary rounds of the Grand Interracial Unity Festival.

The preliminaries would begin tomorrow. The main tournament would be held the following day.

“A great ordeal awaits us… but for now, let’s enjoy ourselves.”

Bathed in the refreshing breeze, we strolled leisurely.

After walking in an appropriately Eastern Continent-like fashion for some time… we soon reached our destination without getting lost.

[Landmark — Great Lake of District 5]

[An artificial lake created with the assistance of Water Spirits. Although it attempts to faithfully reproduce the clear waters of the Eastern Continent, it is ultimately nothing more than a crude artificial landscape. Should the opportunity arise, it is recommended that you pollute it with the filthy Mysteries of Su’eje.]

District 5 even had a lake.

Fish swam energetically through the cool waters. Birds leisurely flew across the sky.

The peaceful rural scenery, so unlike anything found within the city, naturally soothed my heart.

“Karr.”

Marlin, who had been smiling while admiring the scenery, lightly tugged on my sleeve and pointed farther into the lake.

My gaze naturally followed toward a building standing at the center of the lakeshore.

“What’s that building?”

“That’s the headquarters of the Interracial Association.”

A magnificent structure built in the architectural style of the Eastern Continent.

Its greatest feature was its roof, which resembled the branches of an enormous ancient tree.

To put it bluntly, it looked thoroughly Japanese… an appearance that openly revealed its Wapanese tendencies.

“It’s a slightly modified version of a traditional Eastern Continent house!”

“Stop shaking me!”

Excited, Pendrick vigorously shook Hall of Swords, the scabbard containing Astrimia.

“Isn’t it magnificent?”

It certainly was. One could almost forget the uncomfortable truth… that it was merely the result of creator Kato Roger’s rather distorted affection toward a particular country.

“Karr!”

A short goblin staggered toward us from the lakeshore, waving energetically.

Mek Invincible. The promising young explorer known as the Cunning Sage looked over my companions and me before tilting his head.

“Why are there only four of you?”

“One of our members also belongs to the Sky Flight Corps… so they’re staying at Sky Village.”

Brightfeather had gone to see Sylphren as soon as we arrived in District 5.

For the past several days, he’d kept staring wistfully out the window like a dog suffering from separation anxiety, so I sent him along as quickly as possible.

“You’ll meet our remaining expedition member soon enough.”

“Please choose carefully. If we’re going to stop Father’s expedition… an ordinary explorer won’t stand a chance.”

“Rest assured. They’re anything but ordinary.”

Marlin, who had been exchanging greetings with Mek, narrowed her eyes.

“Whenever Karr says someone is extraordinary… I start feeling nervous.”

“Then should I simply say they’re openly bizarre and eccentric instead?”

“…Actually… don’t tell me anything.”

“You’re such a fickle child.”

As I pressed down on the top of Marlin’s head, Mek chuckled.

“Seeing you all chatting so calmly… even with only one day left until the preliminaries… makes me feel a little better. To be honest… …I’m terrified.”

“Sir Mek. Will you also be competing with your companions?”

Gray Orc Dmirik asked in his deep voice.

Tilting his head slightly, Mek answered kindly.

“Companions… Not exactly. I barely managed to gather enough participants by hiring four people. I only have one explorer friend I usually explore with.”

He looked a little lonely, so as a professional in empathy, I immediately comforted him.

“Please don’t be too discouraged. I only have three friends myself. One of them… is You, Sir Mek.”

“…Then you still have one more friend than I do. I only have two, including you.”

“That feels strangely depressing. Having fewer friends than Karr… really does sound like something worth worrying about.”

After lightly flicking the forehead of my mischievous ward for slandering her Patron once again, I continued.

“Now then. Let’s go. Our lodging has already been reserved.”

While submitting our tournament application, Bartimir had also arranged accommodations in advance.

Ordinarily, our capable butler Sergius would have handled such matters, but since he was human, he couldn’t freely move around District 5.

“Alright. Follow me. I’ll guide you there.”

We followed Mek across the bridge spanning the lake.

Lightly tapping my thigh, I made a resolution befitting a Cultist of Catastrophic Upheaval.

‘Perhaps it’s about time I started acting completely on impulse.’

***

A cozy room overlooking a beautiful garden. Koi energetically splashed within the pond. The polished wooden floor displayed an elegant, traditional charm. The goblin who had guided us here grinned proudly.

“Well? What do you think of our Interracial Association’s craftsmanship?”

Mek looked around the house with unmistakable pride.

“It’s certainly impressive.”

The interior of the Interracial Association headquarters was divided into numerous distinct districts.

Living quarters. Administrative areas. Market districts. Entertainment districts.

An architectural masterpiece where countless spaces overlapped one another. The work of the Association’s very first president.

“Rest well until tomorrow, Karr.”

“Very well. Then… May I use your lap as a pillow?”

“…My legs are far too bony. They won’t be comfortable.”

“That’s alright. I’ve never been fond of comfortable surroundings.”

“…I mind.”

Ignoring Mek’s stubborn refusals, I ultimately lay my head upon the goblin’s thin lap and stretched out across the wooden floor.

After relaxing comfortably for a while, the expedition members gradually emerged one by one, having finished unpacking in their rooms.

“Phew. It feels so much better after taking the mask off.”

“…Huh?”

Mek’s eyes widened.

Naturally. A clean-cut human who hadn’t been there just moments ago had suddenly appeared.

Removing the Mask of Caprice and returning to his original appearance, Pendrick smiled as always.

“I was that large Orc just now. I’m human… so I needed a disguise.”

“…Should I call Huztis over?”

“Oh! That sounds wonderful!”

Sitting down upon the wooden floor, Pendrick gently lifted my legs and placed them across his own thighs.

“Before that… I’d like to hear your story, Sir Mek. To be honest… I’m a little disappointed.”

“…Why?”

“I thought we’d become close friends after sharing drinks last time. But then I found out… You’ve been quietly carrying all of your burdens alone.”

Pouting playfully, the super-genius swordsman gently patted my legs.

“Please don’t rely solely on Captain. Share the burdens and pressures weighing on your shoulders with us as well. Isn’t a burden always lighter… the more people carry it together?”

“…Thank you. My friend.”

After lowering his head for a moment, Mek took a long breadstick from his pocket and bit into it.

Crunch.

The goblin quietly chewed before finally speaking.

“Some of you may already know… but I’m the only son of Jerix Invincible… the goblin famous as the Invincible Jerix.”

“Everyone heard that, didn’t you? Please show proper respect. Our Goblin Prince has spoken.”

“…Please stop. I’m not some prince. If anything… I’m someone everyone glares at.”

“Why?”

Marlin’s tiger ears perked up.

“But even so… Aren’t you the son of the Goblin Great Chieftain? Shouldn’t you receive special treatment?”

“That would’ve been true… But…”

Mek looked toward Pendrick.

“I associate with humans.”

“…So what?”

Having spent her entire life in District 6’s slums, the Tiger Beastman frowned, unable to understand at all.

Since my ward lacked historical knowledge, her guardian stepped in to explain.

“Ever since the Valterium Empire launched its continental conquest… feelings toward humans have continued worsening right up to the present. After all… Valterium was a human-centered nation.”

Countless people had died during the unification of the Three Continents.

Especially the races that resisted humanity. Many had been driven to the brink of extinction.

Like the Sun Elves… my biological father’s race.

“The Interracial Association was founded to protect the rights and interests of every non-human race. It began here in Pletica… and has since established branches across both the Northern and Eastern Continents.”

“Mmm…”

Marlin’s eyes had already begun glazing over, so I boldly skipped straight to the conclusion.

“At first… the Interracial Association pursued moderate coexistence. But over time… more and more members began blindly hating humans.”

Though the depth of each individual’s hatred varied, every member shared the same distrust and wariness toward humanity.

“Association members like my friend Sir Mek… those rare few who associate with humans… are treated as heretics.”

To put it bluntly, Mek was being ostracized.

The fact that his father was both the Goblin Great Chieftain and one of the Twelve Heroes did little to protect him.

After all, Jerix himself belonged to the hardliners who absolutely refused all contact with humanity.

“The Association is currently divided into two factions.”

Mek drew a line across the floor, writing on either side.

[Chairman’s Faction (Moderates) / Jerix’s Faction (Hardliners)]

“To put it simply… The Chairman believes completely banning contact with humans is going too far. You already know Father’s position. Though… he has mellowed somewhat with age.”

“…That’s what you call mellowed?”

“He wants to completely sever contact with humanity. Back then… he actually insisted we should exterminate every human across the entire continent.”

“……”

Jerix, the Goblin Great Chieftain, has extremist beliefs.

Mek, his son, who nevertheless enjoyed associating with humans.

“I like humans.”

After quietly gazing up at the artificial sky created through Mysteries, Mek suddenly spoke.

“I’ve experienced plenty of subtle discrimination from humans too. I’m an ugly goblin. Sometimes… it makes me so angry that I just want to explode. But… I still like humans. They’re a race overflowing with possibilities.”

High intelligence. Talent capable of mastering every Class.

Humans were the race of creativity… constantly carving out new possibilities.

“Every individual human is completely different. That’s what makes getting to know them so enjoyable. You build bonds. Sometimes you’re betrayed. And sometimes… even complete strangers share genuine kindness.”

Crunch. Crunch.

The biscuit clenched between the goblin’s teeth faithfully fulfilled its duty.

“A world without humans? Even if perfect peace somehow arrived… I could never live in such a boring place.”

Mek shook his head as though the mere thought horrified him.

“…If things continue according to Father’s plans… countless humans will eventually die.”

The massacre of human civilians led by Goblin Great Chieftain Jerix. An unavoidable fixed event during the middle portion of the story.

Nor did the tragedy end there. From that point onward, Pletica became a city where endless conflicts and disputes were simply part of everyday life.

Once things reached that stage, conquering Nightmare Dungeon became practically impossible.

“…Karr. Can you really stop Father? That overwhelmingly powerful Father?”

I immediately sat upright.

“Sir Mek. There is no such thing… as a dull plan that can never be overturned.”

Jerix’s policy of severing all contact with humanity.

Simply counting the number of times I’d stopped it, it had already happened roughly thousands of times.

“I’ll solve this problem. With my own insignificant body… and my insignificant mind.”

“……”

Mek’s face… which Su’eje wasn’t particularly fond of, trembled.

“…We only met by chance. We’ve only become somewhat close. So… why would you go this far for me?”

We weren’t even friends who’d shared our deepest feelings. No one would blame me if I simply refused.

To be honest, unless someone was one of my companions, I didn’t particularly care how many strangers died.

If I calmly evaluated every condition, refusing would undoubtedly be the rational choice.

“There isn’t any grand reason.”

Even so, I would still extend my hand.

“I simply… want to help you, Sir Mek.”

At least for me, that alone was sufficient reason.

I truly was such an emotional cultist.

Shhhhh…

Warmth flowed simultaneously from the marks of both Arteins, accompanied by unmistakable emotions.

Satisfaction. Pride.

Both of them seemed genuinely pleased by my decision.

Warm approval proving I’d made the right choice. Had all the Evil Gods instead expressed equal satisfaction, even a model cultist like myself would’ve had no choice but to reconsider.

“Naturally… You must be anxious. But… please use even that anxiety as nourishment for excitement and anticipation while you wait.”

Using [Illusion], I wrote words across the empty air.

[Operation Stumbling Stone]

“What does that mean?”

“Exactly what it says. We… must become the stone that causes Sir Jerix to stumble.”

Facing him head-on offered little chance of victory.

Therefore, rather than confronting him directly, we had to become an annoying obstacle… one that would make him trip the moment he stepped on it.

Rising from the wooden floor, I retrieved an item Elvira had sent yesterday through one of the Magic Tower’s delivery golems.

An elegant wooden box decorated with the image of a gray-furred wolf.

Click.

Opening the lid revealed thick strands of fur, alongside a flask filled with blood.

Targon’s fur. And Targon’s blood.