Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 190 - Father-in-Law...

Chapter 190 – Father-in-Law…

 

[Observations of the Starving Wolf].

An E-Rank labyrinth that could be cleared simply by finding the monster known as the Starving Wolf and laying eyes on it.

Since the completion condition was so simple, and its reset period was exceptionally long, it was currently being used as the Goblin Hometown Association’s gathering place.

“…So the Great Chieftain has finally made his decision.”

In the middle of the grassy plains where Observations of the Starving Wolf took place, the goblins of the Speed tribe sat together in front of their chieftain’s tent, quietly sipping beer.

“I’m worried… The Great Chieftain’s becoming more and more extreme….”

“I wish the Chairman would talk him out of it.”

“But that’s not going to happen, is it?”

“It probably won’t. The Chairman isn’t the type to passionately try persuading a stubborn idiot.”

“Shh! The Invincibles might hear you.”

The highest-ranking goblin among them hurriedly pressed a finger to his lips, but he was already too late.

“There they go again.”

“Those Speed idiots who only know how to run their mouths.”

Although the scenery inside Observations of the Starving Wolf was idyllic, the atmosphere among its residents certainly wasn’t.

A goblin from the nearby Invincible tribe spoke coldly.

“You cowards can’t even open your mouths in front of the Great Chieftain! Yet you keep yapping behind his back!”

“As expected. They’re just as stupid as their own chieftain.”

“…What did you just say?!”

Goblins possessed no sense of racial solidarity.

More precisely, members of the same tribe treated one another like family. But toward members of other tribes, they were so exclusive that they often felt closer to entirely different races than to fellow goblins.

“Come here! Let’s settle this with a proper Mud Battle today!”

“Hah! You weaklings are at it again!”

The Valterium Empire had made the grave mistake of grouping every goblin under the single label: Goblin.

Their reasoning?

“They’re all equally ugly anyway, so what’s the difference?”

Naturally, that wasn’t right. 

Not only were goblins divided into hundreds of different tribes, but their cultures were also completely distinct.

If anything, they were a race requiring the most careful classification of all.

“That’s enough! Grab your weapons!”

“Today’s the day we teach them a lesson!”

“Bring it on!”

“Invincible and Speed are fighting again!”

“Oho!”

“Good grief.”

“The idiots are at it again.”

Just as the goblins were about to begin another of their usual violent brawls…

“…Huh?”

For perhaps the first time in a long while, every goblin, who normally fought the instant they made eye contact, found themselves thinking the exact same thing.

Step.

Step.

Soft footsteps crossed the grass.

A goblin dressed in pure white ceremonial robes calmly walked through the territories of every tribe.

“…Who is that?”

“I’ve never seen them before….”

Pink hair neatly tied behind the head. Impeccably clean clothing.

Not only was the goblin beautiful, but even their bearing and mannerisms were also elegant.

“…May I ask what brings you here?”

Inside Invincible territory.

Before the Great Chieftain’s tent. A goblin Knight standing near the entrance cautiously spoke.

He had no idea who this person was, yet somehow felt compelled to use formal speech.

“I’ve come to see the Great Chieftain.”

The mysterious goblin answered gently.

“The Great Chieftain doesn’t receive just anyone….”

“Please… At least deliver the message.”

The soft-spoken goblin brushed a strand of hair behind one ear before bowing politely.

“My name is Serapiena. A priest belonging to the Harmony Church’s secret priesthood… Shield of Judgment.”

“……”

The goblin knight stared blankly at “Serapiena” for a moment, then hurriedly nodded.

“P-Please wait just a moment!”

Speaking in a voice like an adolescent boy, he rushed inside the Great Chieftain’s tent.

Crackle.

Standing perfectly upright while waiting, electricity crackled around the goblin’s collarbone.

Serapiena smiled, placing a hand over it.

“You want me to do things like this later when I’m back in my original appearance too? Very well… Hehehe.”

Crackle…

The goblin’s laughter and black lightning rang out simultaneously.

The sinister intentions of a cultist and an Evil God resonated as one….

 

***

 

The interior of Great Chieftain Jerix’s tent was modest.

A single opening in the ceiling allowing sunlight to enter.

One lonely bed.

That was the entirety of the furnishings. He had embraced the aesthetics of emptiness with such enthusiasm that the room practically radiated poverty.

“Come in.”

An elderly goblin sitting formally upon the floor quietly looked toward me… Priest Serapiena.

An old man capable of making one’s hands tremble through his gaze alone.

An overwhelmingly powerful existence, ranking among the strongest even within Level 10.

An explorer burdened with the nickname Jerix the Invincible… a title that somehow grew more childish the older he became.

 

[Goblin Great Chieftain Jerix Invincible (Goblin, 60). Unable to read information due to the overwhelming difference in strength.]

 

“Sit. This is a traditional goblin house, so there aren’t any chairs… My apologies, I wasn’t expecting visitors.”

“It’s perfectly alright. This is quite comfortable.”

I gently sat upon the bed, smiling sweetly.

The same smile as always. Yet its power was entirely different now.

I’d mastered Half-Elf Survival Techniques, which naturally captivated others simply by existing, based on my Charm stat.

“……”

Jerix paused for only an instant, then quietly chuckled.

Even after I openly assaulted his heart with a full-fledged Half-Elf charm offensive, he showed almost no reaction.

As expected of a Level 10.

“If you weren’t a priest… I wouldn’t have let you in. But regardless… welcome.”

Greeting me slowly, Jerix carefully examined me.

That alone made breathing difficult.

My vision swam. Despite being a shaman, he radiated an even greater presence than Targon, who fought like a warrior.

“…Oh my.”

Holding my head, I supported myself against the bed, slightly reclining.

“Ah. My apologies… Force of habit.”

Retracting his overwhelming presence, the Great Chieftain casually asked,

“But… Are you truly a priest? This is my first time hearing of a secret priesthood called Shield of Judgment.”

“Well… If everyone knew about it… it wouldn’t be much of a secret.”

“That is true.”

Accepting the explanation without resistance, Jerix slowly looked me over once again.

“…Kgh.”

Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. An invisible force violently swept across every inch of my body.

Most likely, it was Faint Grand Prophecy… a Mystery capable of vaguely perceiving another person’s fate.

“Ugh….”

To make me feel this level of tension even outside a labyrinth.

Had I not currently been the calm priest Serapiena, I might’ve broken into an inappropriate smile.

“Hmm.”

After silently staring at me for quite some time, Jerix finally spoke.

“You’re… a cultist.”

“……”

Countless paths now lie before me.

A maze of branching roads, with no indication where any of them might lead.

I knew which direction to walk, though I hadn’t yet decided on a destination.

That freedom allowed me to embark upon my journey even more freely than birds soaring through the sky.

Exactly the style of handling things favored by the One of Confusion… where chaos alone served as the guide.

“That’s correct.”

Joining both hands together to appear devout, I answered.

“Our Shield of Judgment consists entirely of cultists. Though our soul-bound Class is Cultist… we’re a priesthood composed of brothers and sisters who deeply revere the One Who Protects All.”

Shhhhh…

Shwaaaaa…

At that moment, both Arteins simultaneously released Their wills.

Brilliant white radiance and gray light burst through [Transformation].

“We’ll lend you our strength, so do your best!”

“Come now. Entertain us with a delightful little performance.”

Their intentions differed slightly. Yet both clearly meant to support me.

Jerix’s eyes widened slightly.

“How… Why are there two separate presences belonging to Artein…?”

“The One Who Protects All loves me so dearly… that He bestows double the blessings upon me.”

“Well. That certainly is an explanation.”

Even so, the Great Chieftain’s expression relaxed ever so slightly.

Rubbing his wrinkled forehead, he continued,

“I’ll accept that you’re affiliated with the Harmony Church. So… Did you come here on official Church business? Or is this your own unofficial mission?”

On the surface, it seemed like an ordinary question. In reality, it was bait.

A means of analyzing what kind of person I was, so he could determine the optimal response.

Although he appeared to be a raging extremist, Jerix was surprisingly rational.

Keeping that firmly in mind, I answered.

“This visit is entirely personal. It has nothing to do with the Harmony Church.”

I looked directly into Jerix’s eyes.

“However… if I were to die mysteriously and all contact were lost… the Harmony Church might dispatch another brother or sister on official business. And if that happened… wouldn’t it greatly interfere with Your plans, Sir Jerix?”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Me?”

Maintaining eye contact, I casually gave him a wink.

A secret technique from Half-Elf Survival Techniques… honed through frequent use.

“As you can clearly see… I’m simply not the sort of goblin suited for something as terrifying as threats.”

“……”

“I merely explained… what kinds of problems might arise if I died.”

“…Quite bold, or have you perhaps lost the ability to feel fear?”

Rustle.

Far faster than the blink of an eye, my small green body had become completely wrapped in countless rotten earthworms.

The stench of decay vibrated through the air. The putrid smell assaulted my nose. The worms tightened around my body.

“Answer me once more. Are you threatening me?”

“……”

Wrapped in countless worms, I quietly met the elderly goblin’s gaze before gently stroking my now slimmer wrist.

“I told you… I’m not.”

Honestly, I didn’t understand why he kept asking the same question.

Surely… he wasn’t actually trying to intimidate me using these adorable little worms?

These precious little creatures, whose slightly rotten bodies filled the air with such wonderfully pungent odors?

“You don’t seem to understand… So allow me to explain more clearly.”

I placed a hand over the two Artein marks engraved upon my chest.

“I have no affinity whatsoever… for frightening acts such as threatening people. But if you were to harm me… the One Who Protects All would undoubtedly be heartbroken. And after that heartbreak… who exactly would bear the uncontrollable wrath born from Her sorrow?”

In Jerix’s eyes, I undoubtedly appeared to be a beloved member of the Harmony Church, deeply cherished by the One Who Protects All.

A Charm stat of twenty-four. Half-Elf Survival Techniques. Dark Clouds Rumble.

Every deceptive tactic I employed now received tremendous bonuses.

On top of that, the two Arteins had chosen the perfect moment to assist me.

No matter how extraordinary Jerix was, he wouldn’t be able to deepen his suspicions toward me.

“Hah….”

The Goblin Great Chieftain let out a quiet sigh, pressing a hand against his forehead.

“A mere poke would probably knock you over… yet you carry yourself with such confidence… that dealing with you becomes surprisingly difficult.”

“If you don’t believe me… You’re welcome to test it. Though I wouldn’t recommend it, even I have no idea what might happen.”

It wasn’t a lie. Nor was it bravado.

The two exalted subscribers would certainly be heartbroken if I died.

I simply had no way of estimating how furious they might become.

“My temper’s beginning to flare.”

Contrary to his words, Jerix’s expression remained perfectly calm.

“Very well. I’ll hear why you’ve come… Speak.”

“Yes, I’ll humbly do so.”

Slowly brushing my finger across the bed, I quietly stared into Jerix’s face.

Then, the cheerful smile vanished from my own.

“Do you know… why I came here alone… despite receiving no mission whatsoever from the Harmony Church?”

No matter what I said, I could never shatter Jerix’s unwavering conviction.

But… What if all I wanted was to slightly alter the flow?

“Great Chieftain… No, Father.”

Meeting Jerix’s eyes, I quietly spoke.

“I’m in love with Sir Mek.”

“……”

For the first time, Jerix’s posture… which until now had remained utterly unwavering, as though refusing all compromise… faltered.

But that alone wasn’t enough. Immediately afterward, I gently placed a hand over my lower abdomen.

Receiving my intention, Perrin inside my body allowed just a faint trace of his presence to leak out.

In a quiet whisper, I spoke wistfully.

“I’m… carrying his child.”