Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 188 - You're Such a Good Child

Chapter 188 – You’re Such a Good Child

 

Near the Great Lake of District 5.

I entered the temporary arena where the two-versus-two combat preliminaries were being held.

“Woooooo!”

“What a fight!”

“Hey! Another beer over here!”

The moment I stepped inside, applause and cheers erupted from every direction.

The calm, leisurely atmosphere from before had vanished. The place was practically a riot.

It couldn’t have been more different from the preliminary venue for the Exploration Knowledge event, where the silence had been so complete it was almost like standing in a graveyard.

“People enjoy watching others beat each other senseless, break bones, and spill blood. Remember that well.”

“Yes.”

The blond wolf Beastman… Perrin, my own child, nodded solemnly.

“Do you enjoy it as well, Master?”

“I suppose I do.”

“!”

Perrin’s ears perked up.

“Please wait a moment.”

He immediately began looking around.

“What are you searching for?”

“A suitable sacrifice. One I can personally make bleed and shatter the bones of.”

“Why?”

“Because Master enjoys it.”

“Ah…!”

Before the preliminaries could devolve into a bloodbath, I quickly wrapped both arms around Perrin’s thick arm to stop him.

“Perrin. Beating up random people is something only bad children do.”

“Yes….”

The good monster’s tail immediately drooped.

Feeling sorry for him, I hurriedly comforted him.

“When we eventually find someone it’s acceptable to beat up… I’ll let you pummel them to your heart’s content.”

“So Master doesn’t enjoy beating up just anyone?”

“That’s right.”

“Lesson learned. I won’t make the same mistake again.”

“You’re such a good child.”

“!”

His tail immediately began wagging wildly.

Leading Perrin by the arm, I found an empty seat and sat down.

No sooner had we sat than the well-behaved monster quietly whispered so only I could hear.

“There are many people stealing glances at you, Master. How rude… Aren’t they all suitable targets to beat up?”

“Not at all.”

“I understand….”

Firmly shaking my head, I turned my attention toward the arena.

Inside, an arena formed from massive trees intertwining their branches, explorers were fiercely battling one another.

“They’re below standard.”

After quietly watching for a while, Perrin offered his cold evaluation.

“If this were a real battle… they’d soon be crushed into pulp and become fertilizer for the labyrinth.”

“No speaking badly of others. In situations like this… say something like, ‘It’s a little disappointing.’”

“Yes….”

The slightly disappointing matches continued.

They were exciting enough to thrill the audience, who lived in the dopamine-starved District 5.

But to someone like me… a stimulant- and trial-addict… they were like instant noodles diluted with far too much water.

Bland, yet somehow still unhealthy. The worst possible spectacle.

“Perrin. Don’t grow up to be like me.”

“You mean… I shouldn’t become someone as handsome and wonderful as you?”

“Oh my. What a flatterer!”

Smiling like Astrimia whenever someone praised her beauty, I lightly smacked Perrin’s thick arm.

While happily chatting with the child I’d personally brought into this world, I continued carefully observing every match.

“Oh….”

After watching intently, Perrin slowly nodded.

“It seems the competitors become stronger as the matches progress.”

“In reality… the explorers with higher-quality souls were deliberately placed later in the tournament.”

If there were too great a disparity, the fight wouldn’t even become a proper battle. So competitors were generally matched against those around their own level.

“Even so… there are still occasional matches where one side is obviously much stronger. A soul’s quality is ultimately just a number. Even if two people share the same level… a vast difference in experience or technique inevitably produces one-sided battles.”

Still, the scoring system evaluated Mystery proficiency, artifact usage, movement, and potential. Even losing badly could still result in an excellent score.

Since the Association’s combat-evaluation artifact served as the judge, nothing unfair would occur.

“…It’s becoming more interesting.”

Perrin’s tail swished energetically back and forth.

Feeling like a proud parent, I bought ten skewers of District 5’s famous cultured meat from a food vendor and handed them to him.

Munch.

While the good monster happily devoured the skewers, the combat preliminaries gradually approached their conclusion.

Perhaps because combat was the hardest category in which to earn points, many expedition teams had sent out their strongest members.

Crash!

Huzstis… Mek’s friend, and the dog Beastman who had taught Pendrick meditation.

Boom!

Mirel, the druid who transformed into a gigantic bear, sent both opponents flying with a single strike.

“Oh. Our teammates.”

Gray Orc Dmirik, wielding a single-edged sword instead of Astrimia, and Wood Elf Rosalia were likewise among the strongest competitors.

“You damned Orc! Why are you so fast?!”

Dmirik relentlessly pressured the praying mantis, an Insectfolk martial artist.

An unceasing offensive that never allowed the slightest chance to breathe. The true power of Raging Gale Swordsmanship…  whose greatest strength lay in overwhelming speed… was being fully displayed.

“Urgh…!”

Meanwhile, the swamp troll, the praying mantis Insectfolk’s teammate… merely trembled in place. He had been poisoned by Silsil, Rosalia’s Venomous Follower.

“Kii!”

“……”

Accompanied by the pseudo-slime bouncing atop her shoulder, Rosalia suddenly burst out from the praying mantis warrior’s shadow, launching a kick.

CRAAASH!

A spinning kick landed squarely in his side.

Immediately afterward, Dmirik’s sword struck with the flat of its blade, swift as the wind.

“The match is over!”

Determining that both explorers had lost the ability to continue fighting, the referee ended the match. Immediately, the floating scoreboard changed.

 

> [3rd Place — Dmirik, Rosalia / Moon Expedition (920 Points)]

 

“They’re in third place. That was an excellent fight as well.”

Perrin glanced once toward the applauding audience, then awkwardly began clapping himself.

“Perrin. Stand up and cheer loudly.”

“Yes.”

The well-behaved monster immediately jumped to his feet.

“Woooooo!!”

Thanks to that, Orc Pendrick looked our way. He almost smiled as usual, but remembering Dmirik’s character, he instead nodded solemnly.

Rosalia, on the other hand, looked away the instant she spotted me. 

Completely ignoring the bewildered stares of everyone around us, Perrin quietly sat back down.

“Watching people beat each other up really is entertaining.”

“Perrin. When saying something positive… It’s alright to exaggerate.”

“These are fantastically exciting matches. They’re so thrilling that I want to jump into the arena myself and beat everyone senseless.”

“That’s right.”

After many exciting battles that kept Perrin’s tail wagging nonstop, only the final match remained.

“…They’re here.”

“Finally.”

The first expedition team featured someone no one in Pletica failed to recognize.

“Jerix!!”

“Wooooo!!”

“Jerix!!”

Jerix Invincible. Also known as the Invincible Jerix.

The overwhelmingly powerful hero, ranked third among the Twelve Heroes, slowly walked into the arena.

His teammate was Melsion, the Thirsting Axe. Champion of the underground arena beneath District 5.

His race… was a Tiger Beastman.

 

[:/]

[It’s that guy.]

 

Soon, the second expedition team entered as well.

A werewolf and a Dragonblood.

Both races possessed outstanding physical capabilities, yet they had unfortunately drawn the worst possible opponents.

That was what I thought… until I noticed the words Truthy displayed above the Dragonblood’s head.

 

[Eccentric Fafnir (Dragonblood, 22). A Dragonblood of remarkably few words. Despite being an Alchemist, he possesses overwhelming combat prowess.]

 

‘…So you entered too.’

The fourth child of House Lee. The alternate character I’d created during my 14,000-hour playthrough.

An Alchemist.

My interest immediately skyrocketed. Lightly tapping the arm I was holding, I addressed Perrin.

“Perrin. Watch carefully.”

“You mean that goblin?”

“No… That Dragonblood.”

Naturally, he would lose to Jerix and Melsion. Even so, he was absolutely worth watching.

“From this moment onward… despite the overwhelming difference in power… you’ll witness someone putting up an astonishing fight.”

After all, he was one of House Lee.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

History’s strongest goblin slowly spoke.

“No matter how noble this tournament’s purpose may be… a tournament is still a tournament. I intend to give it my all. So please don’t resent me too much.”

Words spoken as though victory had already been decided.

With the unspoken implication: “I’m about to crush you beyond help.”

“Great Chieftain. I’ll handle this one.”

The Tiger Beastman wielding the axe, Melsion, Jerix’s closest subordinate, rolled his shoulders as he stepped forward.

“It would be far too cruel to make even you fight.”

“……”

Perhaps because they’d been so openly looked down upon, the werewolf explorer’s face twisted with anger.

The Dragonblood, Fafnir, remained expressionless.

Naturally.

“How arrogant.”

The werewolf transformed, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his claws.

 

[Blinking Claw Barkkuk (Werewolf, 34). Infamous for his violent temperament bordering on outright thuggery, though surprisingly, he doesn’t enjoy robbery or murder like a true outlaw. Despite appearances, he is a Level 6 expert.]

 

“You there… “Tiger. Have you perhaps never heard my nickname… Blinking Claw?”

“What an adorable nickname.”

“They call me that because… the moment you blink… I’ve already torn you apart with my claws.”

“Hehehe….”

Watching the arena, Perrin spoke indifferently.

“This match seems rather uneven.”

Melsion was a Level 8 Knight. As champion of District 5’s underground arena, he could almost certainly defeat both the werewolf and Fafnir without Jerix lifting a finger.

“Didn’t you say they tried matching opponents of similar strength?”

“As I said earlier… their evaluation also includes potential.”

“So that means…!”

“Exactly.”

The Association’s combat-analysis artifact had judged Fafnir’s potential… to be equal to, or perhaps even greater than, Jerix himself.

“Enough chatting. Come. I’ll generously allow you the first move.”

“…You’ll regret saying that!”

The werewolf sprinted forward, slashing with his claws.

An attack empowered by a formidable Berserker Mystery.

CRASH!

Before those claws could even reach him, Tiger Beastman knight Melsion intercepted the blow, his axe smashing squarely into the werewolf’s body.

“One down.”

The charging werewolf was knocked unconscious immediately.

“……”

Only then did Fafnir, who had remained motionless until now, finally begin walking.

“I won’t be holding back anymore.”

Only now assuming a proper fighting stance, Melsion closed the distance, swinging his axe.

“……!”

Even Perrin, who had remained rather indifferent until now, opened his eyes wide.

This was no ordinary strike.

Slash!

Fafnir’s torso was cut open. Fresh blood exploded outward in every direction.

“…Hm!”

Melsion, now drenched in blood, slightly frowned.

Sizzle…

Wherever the blood touched, the proud fur and muscles characteristic of the Tiger Beastman began melting, hardening, or stretching into sticky strands, hindering his movements.

“……”

By now, Fafnir’s body had almost completely regenerated.

As he rushed forward, he flicked his fingers. Immediately, a swarm of tiny insects poured from his arm, covering the Tiger Beastman’s entire body.

“This much won’t–”

The instant Melsion blasted away both the blood and insects with invisible energy… Fafnir thrust out his hand. His fist was immediately blocked by the axe.

Slosh!

The hand that struck the axe suddenly liquefied, surging around the weapon and boring holes throughout Melsion’s body.

Melsion instantly counterattacked, his axe slashing across Fafnir’s chest.

Yet from the split wound, a giant crab claw suddenly emerged, biting down upon the Tiger Beastman’s wrist.

A series of astonishingly mysterious techniques.

“What is that Dragonblood?!”

“He’s amazing!”

The audience, who had already lost interest, believing this would become a one-sided battle, were instantly set ablaze once more.

The spectators around me whispered among themselves.

“How did he do that?”

“Blood Warrior?”

“No… It’s too bizarre.”

“Maybe some sort of Shaman Mystery…?”

“I can’t understand the principles at all.”

Perrin’s ears twitched as he listened. Then he carefully tapped my shoulder.

“Even I can’t understand how that Dragonblood manipulates his powers. Do you know, Master?”

“Of course.”

Just like Bartimir and Pierre, he appeared to be following the build I’d originally designed.

Of course, given the characteristics of the Traits he’d chosen, he might eventually develop along paths I’d never anticipated.

But everything currently before my eyes was exactly as I remembered.

“What you’ve seen so far… is merely the beginning. He still hasn’t shown all of his abilities.”

“How do you know so much, Master?”

“I still know very little. At least compared to the Wise One… who knows everything.”

“!”

“You should begin serving the Wise One starting today as well.”

“I understand.”

 

[:)]

 

Soon, Tiger Beastman knight Melsion’s presence became even heavier.

“You’re certainly no ordinary opponent. May I ask your name?”

Despite that respectful, earnest attitude, the Dragonblood’s tightly closed lips remained shut.

“…Very well. Then I’ll truly fight with everything I have.”

Spreading his legs slightly apart, Melsion gripped the handle of his axe with both hands.

Yellow aura gathered along the razor-sharp blade. Aura burning as fiercely as a tiger.

“Our Association will heal your injuries afterward. So I won’t hold back.”

Just as Melsion prepared to burst forward… the silent Fafnir finally spoke.

For the very first time… In a low voice.

“I surrender.”

“…!?”