Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 187 - Hurry Up and Make Me Happy!

Chapter 187 – Hurry Up and Make Me Happy!

 

Perrin. The enormous golden wolf.

The child I’d personally given birth to with my own arm hesitated before letting out a soft whine.

“…Grr?”

A questioning cry. Apparently, he didn’t quite understand my instruction.

“What I mean is… use your ability to dominate me and give me a simple command.”

Perrin had inherited part of Mind Usurper’s effect. He wouldn’t be able to force complete obedience to every order the way the original artifact could, but giving simple commands should still be possible.

“Come now. Make your parent happy.”

“…….”

Perrin paused, then looked me straight in the eyes.

The instant our gazes met… my consciousness became hazy, and chaos unfolded before my eyes.

“……”

Emptiness. An unknown place resembling the gap between space and time.

A boundless chaos where I wanted to think about nothing at all descended upon me.

I wanted to surrender myself to that turbulent current.

Just as I was about to embrace the glory of drifting forever through that bewildering void…

“Grrrrr!”

A resounding howl echoed out, and my vision instantly returned to normal.

Suddenly, an overwhelming impulse surged up from the depths of my heart… one so powerful that resisting it was nearly impossible.

I vigorously patted Perrin’s head, then lay down on the wooden floor. Only after doing so did the chaos within my mind finally settle.

“Oh….”

Pat his head, then lie down.

I’d just received a command involving two separate steps. It wasn’t exactly a simple order.

“…Captain?”

Pendrick looked down at me from directly above, his expression full of concern.

“Are you alright?”

“Of course. In fact… I feel wonderful.”

“…Uh… Why?”

“That feeling of helplessness… having my free will stripped away and being completely dominated. This… is a trial one rarely has the opportunity to experience.”

“I-I see….”

“Would you like to experience it too, Sir Pendrick?”

“Absolutely not!!”

Before the super-genius swordsman could even answer, the beautiful sword hurriedly rejected the suggestion.

Why not? It wasn’t every day one could experience something so unique.

“Perrin.”

“Grr!”

Perrin, who had been lying before me, immediately stood.

“Can’t you give more complicated commands?”

“Grrrr.”

“I see. You worked hard.”

When I gently stroked his fluffy golden forehead, my child quietly rumbled with satisfaction.

“He really looks magnificent.”

Mek, who had recorded the entire process, approached with a grin.

“ Grrr…!”

Perrin lowered his posture, warily watching Mek.

Perhaps because he was a child I’d painfully given birth to with my own arm. Even his fierce growling was endlessly adorable.

“He’s my friend. So don’t do that.”

“Grrr.”

“Sir Mek. He says he’d like to tear off just one of your arms. Would that be alright?”

“…Would it be alright? Unlike you, my arms don’t grow back after they’re torn off.”

Coldly rejecting my child’s heartfelt request, Mek nevertheless curled his lips into a smile.

“But… can you actually understand everything that wolf says?”

“Of course. A parent and child are naturally connected through the heart.”

Still gently stroking Perrin’s head, I gave another instruction.

“Would you become a human?”

Creatures born through Catastrophic Upheaval naturally possessed body-transformation Mysteries. From birth, they were children who embraced chaos and rejected order.

“Grr.”

Perrin nodded. Then his body transformed into that of a human.

A wolf Beastman possessing the same blond hair and golden eyes as I.

However, thanks to having Targon as one of his parents, his body was powerfully muscular… quite unlike mine.

Bzzzt!

Su’eje, whose tastes leaned toward lean physiques, expressed a slight disappointment, though He still seemed satisfied.

Guuuurl!

The Silent One, who adored bodies overflowing with life force, also appeared pleased with Perrin.

Since both Evil Gods had expressed approval, couldn’t this be considered a successful birth?

“Can you speak now?”

“…Thank You for bringing me into this world, Master.”

“Good. What a good child.”

Lightly pulling him into my broad embrace, I found Perrin silently wagging his tail.

“Captain… Is that friend… our sixth member for the exploration tournament?”

“Correct.”

Perrin’s Mystery composition was already perfectly clear in my mind.

His expected combat style was simple: charge straight in.

No matter who ended up inhabiting his body, they’d adapt easily enough.

“Now that we’ve safely found our sixth participant… all that’s left is to pass the preliminaries with an impressive score.”

Looking up at Perrin, who remained tightly pressed against me, I casually asked,

“Perrin. Tell us your aspirations.”

I quietly whispered into his ear, teaching him exactly what to say.

Without complaint, Perrin obediently repeated my words.

“I, Perrin… shall devote myself with a heart of pure white… until Lady Artein’s harmony spreads throughout the world.”

Shwaaaaa!

Shhhh…!

Suddenly, Perrin’s shoulders shone… one pure white, the other gray.

The Arteins of Past and Present had bestowed Their blessings.

“…Lady Artein! Thank You for Your blessed sponsorship!”

I bowed so deeply my head nearly touched the ground.

Beside me, Perrin also immediately bent into a perfect right-angle bow.

Since he was a being directly connected to me, Truthy immediately revealed the blessing’s information.

 

[Blessing — Guardian’s Resolve]

[When near the designated individual under your protection, your physical defenses are greatly increased.]

 

[Blessing — Guardian’s Oath]

[When near the designated individual under your protection, your physical abilities are greatly increased.]

 

Exactly the blessings I’d wanted. As expected, the insight of the One who governed perfect wisdom was extraordinary.

This was precisely why I couldn’t help becoming such a devoted cultist serving the Harmony Church.

“I’ll repay this kindness soon.”

After expressing my gratitude once more, I took Perrin’s hand.

“From now on… let’s explore together.”

Perrin. A Catastrophic Upheaval lifeform.

Born healthy and welcomed into Karr’s embrace.

 

***

 

The Grand Interracial Unity Festival.

The day of the preliminary rounds… the tournament that would determine District 5’s future, had arrived.

There were three preliminary events.

A quiz testing exploration knowledge.

An escape challenge where observation skills were crucial.

And a simple two-versus-two battle.

“Everyone. Please pay attention.”

Starlight Beach, District 5.

The sheep Beastman executive of the Association, Siphero, operated a book-shaped artifact.

Whiiiiing!

Moments later, sheets of white light floated before the gathered explorers.

“If you touch the paper floating before you… You’ll be transported into a mental space. There are fifty questions. If the use of Mysteries or tools is detected… you’ll be immediately disqualified. Please compete fairly.”

Having finished his explanation, Siphero raised one hand high.

“Then… Let the Exploration Knowledge Preliminary begin!”

The explorers immediately touched the floating sheets before them, entering the examination space.

Their physical bodies remained completely defenseless.

However, since the Interracial Association would never do anything suspicious to non-humans, everyone entered the mental realm without concern.

“Now… shall we wait leisurely?”

Siphero settled comfortably into the soft chair prepared for today’s event.

The Stone Mountain Gnome staff member responsible for assisting with the event tilted his head.

“Is it really all right not to supervise more strictly?”

“There’s no need. The moment anyone even attempts to use a Mystery or tool… they’re instantly disqualified.”

After all, the artifact had been crafted by a Level 9 Artisan. Ordinary tricks and cheating methods simply wouldn’t work.

Even those above Level 10 couldn’t secretly use Mysteries or artifacts due to the system’s structure. Much like how, with only the rarest of exceptions, people without mass simply didn’t exist.

“Even the fastest participants should require at least an hour. These aren’t questions solved through knowledge alone. They require complicated calculations… and careful reasoning.”

“I see. So we can relax until then?”

“Exactly!”

Just as Executive Siphero reached for the special snacks he’d prepared for today…

Beep!

A cheerful chime rang from Divided World, the artifact responsible for creating the mental examination space.

It only sounded when someone fulfilled a specific condition designated by its user.

In other words… someone had already answered all fifty questions.

“…Huh?”

“…Ah?”

As the two of them stared blankly, one explorer emerged from the crowd, still immersed in the examination.

An explorer with radiant blond hair, bright as the sun. A half-elf whose expression was unnervingly emotionless walked steadily toward them before speaking.

“I’ve finished answering the questions.”

Smile.

A brilliant expression suddenly bloomed across the face that moments before had seemed devoid of all emotion.

A warm smile, like sunlight shining across a snowfield buried beneath freezing cold.

“…Please wait a moment.”

Siphero, who had momentarily frozen, quickly regained his composure befitting an Association executive.

“I’ll display the results according to procedure.”

Channeling his will into Divided World, a large white sheet appeared in midair.

At its very top, one neat line of text was written.

 

> [1st Place — Karr / Moonlight Expedition (1,000 Points)]

 

‘…One thousand points?’

A perfect score.

Far exceeding even the exam creators’ mischievous expectation that first place would probably score around eight hundred.

“Thank you for your hard work. Please wait until your teammate finishes.”

“I understand.”

The half-elf quietly met Siphero’s gaze for a moment, then turned and headed toward the waiting area.

Siphero watched him absentmindedly. Only after quite some time did he finally speak.

“How… did he finish already?”

“Exactly! Didn’t you say it’d take at least an hour?”

The labyrinth researchers of the Association had pooled their knowledge to create those questions. Yet someone had solved them all in only a few minutes.

He was undoubtedly the sort of talent even the Dungeon Management Corps would covet.

“Karr… That’s the Golden Crow who’s been making a name for himself recently as that eccentric cultist, isn’t it?”

He’d heard that even the man’s smile was unsettling. But that smile had been dazzlingly beautiful.

Could those rumors merely have been prejudice because he was a cultist?

“Lord Siphero! He didn’t become famous simply because he’s strange!”

The Gnome staff member suddenly waved both hands excitedly.

“The moment he enters a labyrinth… he always discovers Hidden Pieces! He’s one of the most promising young explorers around! Everyone already says he’ll definitely become part of the Successors someday!”

“…Alright. Calm down. He’s an incredible Half-Elf cultist who’s already achieved amazing accomplishments. I’d heard his future looked bright… but seeing him in person… he’s incredibly handsome too. Ah! I mean that in a harmonious sense! Please don’t misunderstand!”

“…Right….”

His appearance truly did draw one’s gaze. Half-Elves were generally beautiful, but even among them, he seemed especially radiant.

Almost unconsciously, Siphero glanced toward the waiting area.

Just then, Golden Crow looked back at him. Half-Elf Karr gently waved with a friendly smile.

“…At that level… he could certainly become one of the Twelve Heroes someday, couldn’t he?”

An abundance of exploration knowledge. Sharp insight capable of solving fifty extremely difficult exploration questions in mere minutes.

He certainly wasn’t the sort of explorer who’d briefly enjoy fame beyond his station, only to fade away like a passing comet.

“It’s entirely possible.”

Siphero could no longer deny that the Gnome staff member’s excitement wasn’t exaggerated.

Had Karr been a priest or a shaman rather than a cultist, he might have reached even greater heights as an explorer.

Unfortunately, his Class had already been decided. Nothing could be done about that.

“If he reaches the main tournament… this should become interesting. He’ll be another tremendous wildcard like during the Guild War.”

“Lord Siphero… The Golden Crow isn’t the only promising participant in this tournament.”

The Gnome staff member leaned closer, lowering his voice as though revealing an incredible secret.

“Our Association’s great hope… Wonderbeak and Great Bear Mirel. Oh, and Mek’s participating too.”

“They certainly sound impressive.”

“And that’s not all! There’ll also be an explorer who’s been setting District 1 ablaze recently!”

Though he was beginning to grow tired of the conversation, Siphero pretended to remain interested.

“Who? What was the name again?”

The Gnome frowned in thought, then suddenly snapped his fingers.

“That’s right! Fafnir! It was Fafnir of the Dragonblood Clan!”