Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 202 - The Grand Gathering of Interracial Harmony – Total Chaos (3)

Chapter 202 – The Grand Gathering of Interracial Harmony – Total Chaos (3)

 

We were three siblings.

Perhaps the cost of raising three children was simply too much, because one day, our parents abandoned us and disappeared.

Did they not possess even the slightest trace of fatherly or motherly love?

They didn’t even choose the relatively conscientious method of taking us to an amusement park, letting us play to our hearts’ content, and then quietly slipping away.

No.

They simply fled in the middle of the night.

“Where are Mom and Dad?”

Back when Yoonji could barely speak.

The second child quietly whimpered.

Even though she’d realized we’d been abandoned, she didn’t cry.

“I’m bored….”

Disappointment.

She wasn’t sad at all.

She merely grumbled because there was no one left to play with her.

“……”

Truthfully, I wasn’t much different.

I wasn’t sad either.

Something I’d already suspected for days had simply become reality.

Why should I cry over that?

“Let’s eat first.”

We were still young, but we’d already been taking care of our own meals for quite some time.

Our father was addicted to gambling.

Our mother was addicted to alcohol.

Neither of them had any room left in their lives to care for us.

Slurp.

The second child and I ate instant noodles together, as though nothing at all had happened.

“It’s a little spicy…”

“…but it’s good, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

That was probably the moment.

The moment we realized that she and I had both been born as broken halves.

“We’re orphans now.”

And so, we were quietly cast out into the world.

If… If our parents hadn’t run away.

If they’d held our hands and sincerely guided us forward.

If that had happened… Perhaps Yoonji would never have died.

“Somehow… this is kind of fun. Hehe.”

It was a meaningless complaint now.

A completely unproductive one.

 

***

 

“……”

A forgotten memory resurfaced.

A butterfly, its wings shimmering somewhere between dull green and brilliant jade, opened a path of possibility leading into the past.

I wasn’t grateful in the slightest.

“…Captain?”

Pendrick cautiously studied my expression.

“Are you alright?”

My head was spinning.

My stomach churned.

Still, I rubbed just below my solar plexus and spoke as though nothing were wrong.

“Oww… The place Pendrick punched earlier still hurts terribly.”

“…Ah. I’m sorry. Unfortunately… that’s exactly the part I shouldn’t examine too closely. So I don’t think I can help.”

“I’ll just drink a potion.”

Taking a vitality recovery potion Rosalia had stored away from the shadows, I quietly fell into thought.

Honestly… I felt like crap.

‘I was completely played.’

That person. The one inside the place deep within my heart, where countless butterflies endlessly fluttered.

Butterfly Karr… who’d toyed with me to his heart’s content… had said it himself.

That he was an existence from both the past and the future.

‘So that’s what he meant….’

Now that Mind Seizure had been undone, everything Butterfly Karr had said finally made sense.

His true identity still wasn’t clear. But several things had become certain.

My memories from before arriving in this world had never been complete to begin with.

And the one who had locked away everything before conquering the Hideout of the Hidden Ghoul Horde… had been him.

“……”

As though dancing with me while thoroughly mocking me hadn’t been enough, he’d hidden memories that should never have been forgotten… only to casually show them to me later.

Thanks to that, a heavy killing intent, one I hadn’t felt in a long time, began filling my chest.

“Twenty thousand hours. Have you ever honestly thought that it’s simply too much time for one person to bear alone?”

And what had that been supposed to mean?

Thinking about it now, a true hardcore gamer probably wouldn’t find twenty thousand hours all that difficult.

But I wasn’t like that. I’d deliberately tried to live as normally as possible, enjoying many hobbies besides games.

“…Captain. Now that you’ve come to your senses… would you mind solving the situation?”

At Pendrick’s urging, I pushed aside my thoughts and nodded.

“Very well.”

The image of the second child’s smile, trying so hard not to burst into laughter, continued lingering before my eyes.

Looking for something else to focus on, I immediately met Fafnir’s gaze.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

“That was an entertaining spectacle. My eyes haven’t enjoyed themselves that much in quite a while.”

Fafnir applauded.

It wasn’t sarcasm, nor mockery through irony. He genuinely seemed to have enjoyed it.

As the model cultist of District Six, I politely greeted him.

“Greetings, Lord Fafnir. I am Karr, the Golden Crow.”

Then, without giving him a chance to speak, I naturally transitioned straight into an apology.

“Unintentionally… Well, actually, it was intentional, but regardless, I ended up seriously carving up one of your members. My apologies.”

“So the memory adjustments used to counter Chaos Disturbance Field have been undone.”

“Correct.”

“Interesting. Very interesting….”

He nodded repeatedly. A broad smile bloomed across his face.

It was completely unlike the taciturn demeanor he’d maintained until now… though still not quite as expressive as Rosalia, or my past self.

“…Captain. I feel like He’s looking at you… the way someone would examine a research specimen.”

Pendrick whispered quietly.

Perrin hadn’t learned [Yay Yay, Friends Forever!], so he couldn’t communicate through telepathy.

“Lord Fafnir.”

An excellent plan for escaping this crisis suddenly came to mind.

Lowering my mask, I activated Evoke Sympathy, letting tears gather in my eyes.

“Could you please… let us off just this once…?”

Rub. Rub. Rub.

Like a diligent fly that never neglected its work, I rubbed my hands together desperately while begging.

“…Captain?”

“Pendrick. What are you doing?”

“Beg with me. And Perrin, come over here too.”

Thud.

Perrin landed from the sky, immediately joining me in rubbing her hands together.

“W-Wait. When did Sir Perrin regain his memories?”

“I already told you. Your Mind Seizure has too many flaws. The moment I saw Master recover His original memories… the effect immediately broke.”

Even while explaining, Perrin diligently continued rubbing her tiny Birdfolk hands together.

After watching us for a moment, Pendrick finally joined in.

“…Enough.”

At last, Fafnir raised a hand, bringing our earnest prayers to a halt.

“I’d gladly form an alliance… if you simply handed over your body, Golden Crow.”

“In that case… wouldn’t it be better to negotiate leisurely outside the labyrinth? My peace of mind would at least make my meat a little less tough.”

“I have no interest in meat quality.”

“Oh, come now. If you’re going to eat it anyway… wouldn’t tender meat be better?”

“…Someone overhearing us would think we were discussing ordinary meat.”

Normally, Pendrick’s muttering would’ve earned an easy comeback. But right now, I didn’t have the composure.

“Let’s avenge Yoonji.”

That hateful voice kept echoing inside my head.

“Well… I’d prefer negotiating comfortably outside as well. Too many eyes are watching here.”

The Dragonblood who loved human flesh gazed beyond the darkened forest.

Flap.

Before long, the sound of wings approached.

A Moth Insectfolk wearing sunglasses… a member of the Sky Flight Corps… landed nearby.

“Someone was eliminated, right? Where are th–”

The Insectfolk turned his head, noticed the Werewolf lying nearby in miserable condition, and froze.

Before he could misunderstand, I hurriedly explained.

“This wasn’t because I attacked excessively just to remove the bracelet. Nor was it indiscriminate mutilation intended to seriously injure explorers with opposing beliefs… like someone. It simply relates to one of my embarrassing personal preferences…”

“…Captain. I did miss your jokes… but you’re trying far too hard right now.”

The peerless genius monster covered my mouth with a thick hand.

The Moth Insectfolk carefully examined the Werewolf’s condition, then scratched his head.

“Hmmm… Well… He’s a Werewolf. He’ll recover perfectly anyway. But next time… please don’t leave participants looking like this just to satisfy personal tastes.”

“…I’m sorry….”

Activating Evoke Sympathy, I let my shoulders droop.

The Moth Insectfolk of the Sky Flight Corps smiled gently.

“Alright then! I’ll get going!”

After the staff member carried away the limp Werewolf using a transport tool and flew into the sky…

“Golden Crow Karr. I accept your proposal.”

Fafnir quietly extended a hand.

“That’s a relief.”

“Just make sure you keep your promise.”

As we shook hands, Pendrick suddenly spoke.

“Wait… Lord Fafnir. Aren’t you speaking in your own body right now?”

“So you finally noticed. You fool… No. I suppose that’s about average intelligence for a warrior.”

“…That’s harsh.”

“Just as you tampered with memories… I have my own methods.”

I knew exactly what method he meant.

After all, I was the one who’d created that build.

Still, for the sake of maintaining friendly relations, I decided to keep quiet.

Yoonji… Thanks to you, I’m still managing to blend into society today.

Crunch.

“……”

Suddenly, I whipped my head around.

Someone was approaching. Ten people in total.

“…How troublesome.”

Fafnir also looked in the same direction.

Soon, Valterium Imperial soldiers emerged from between the trees.

“So we finally found you… What pests.”

Two Mind Dominator mage officers and eight elite Beastman Blank Soldiers, their muscles anything but ordinary.

They had undoubtedly tracked us here using traces left behind by the mage we’d killed earlier.

“Stop wasting our time.”

“Surrender, vermin.”

“No…. Forget it. You’ve already killed seven Mage Officers. You’re all to be summarily executed.”

I quietly whispered to Fafnir.

“We only killed one. Have you already killed six more Mind Dominators?”

“They kept becoming a nuisance. So I lured them out one by one and dealt with them. But they just kept coming.”

Their relentless pursuit of anyone who killed their comrades.

Their mental magic is unaffected by the body-swapping mechanics.

The Imperial Mind Dominators were one of the primary reasons Final Stand had earned a B-Rank difficulty.

Hummmmmm—!

One mage raised his wand.

The air immediately filled with invisible sickles.

Tap.

The other struck the ground with his staff.

The surroundings instantly became engulfed in flames.

They weren’t real fire.

Rather, a Mystery that inflicted mental agony upon contact.

“Attack.”

“……!”

The Beastman Blank Soldiers charged.

“Grrraaah!”

“Kurororo!”

The Wise Ogre, Swamp Troll, Red Orc, and Bear Beastman of the Fafnir Expedition met them head-on.

“Golden Crow. You’re searching for the Hidden Piece as well, aren’t you?”

Opening and closing his hand, Fafnir spoke calmly.

“You find the Hidden Piece. Your expedition wins the tournament… then shares the prize with us.”

“…Are you after that?”

“…Don’t tell me you were after it too.”

“Very well. We’ll gladly share it.”

This hadn’t been part of the original plan. I simply decided on the spot.

Hadn’t we agreed to handle everything improvisationally during this tournament anyway?

“We’ll own it jointly.”

“If you’d like… I’d even grant you the right to do whatever you please with Karr’s body.”

“I like that. Just don’t regret it later.”

“Oh my.”

Fafnir casually nodded, then joined his companions in battling the mages.

Tap.

Taking advantage of the darkness, I moved from place to place, slashing every Blank Soldier once.

They wouldn’t be moving freely anymore.

“Let’s withdraw.”

While the Fafnir Expedition occupied them, we hurried back into the house where our companions waited.

“Karr….”

Perhaps she’d witnessed my disgrace firsthand.

Marlin, currently in an Orc body, looked at me worriedly. 

Feeling awkward, I quickly spoke.

“So… your memories returned too?”

“…Yes. Just now.”

Apparently, once Mind Seizure ended for both Perrin and me, Marlin and Brightfeather had also reverted to normal through a chain reaction.

Perhaps altering everyone’s memories together meant they’d all recover together as well.

I’d have to remember that the next time I brainwash someone.

“Sir Karr…!”

After Perrin flew inside, the Half-Elf captain grabbed my arm, looking as though she were about to cry.

Then she pointed toward the corner of the room.

“He’s down there!”

Following her slender finger, I saw a square hatch set into the floor.

At its center, an incredibly intricate magic circle had been inscribed.

“That magic formation only serves to constantly scramble location data and coordinates! Lord Neuamshi must’ve carved it.”

“Yes! But the hatch is locked! It won’t budge!”

Pendrick grabbed the handle, shaking it with all his might.

Rattle! Rattle!

“No chance of forcing it open!”

“Stand aside. This calls for a professional.”

I beckoned toward the Tiger Beastman, whose shoulders had slumped.

“Marlin. Come over to your big sister.”

“…Don’t say that while using my body.”

The Gray Orc hurried over, frowning.

Lightly patting her sturdy arm, I pointed toward the hatch.

“Who better than a former burglar?”

“…There’s not even a lock. How?”

“This is exactly why we have artifacts.”

I gestured toward Iquiril, resting upon Tiger Beastman Brightfeather’s shoulder.

“Iquiril. Don’t you agree?”

“Kururuk!”

The spirit squirrel proudly raised its head.

“Sir Brightfeather. First… freeze that hatch using Gléléré of Frost.”

“Yes….”

Crack.

The hatch froze solid.

“Now… borrow Iquiril’s Mystery… that allows passage through the ice of Frozen Comrade.”

“Oh… So that’s how…!”

Brightfeather stumbled at first.

But soon, his body slipped directly beneath the frozen hatch.

Click.

From the inside, he immediately unlocked and threw it open. After all, locks were usually simple to open from within.

“I did it…!”

Just as the Tiger Beastman girl happily clenched both fists…

CRAAASH!

The hatch exploded apart. A Mind Dominator and a Beastman Blank Soldier stepped through.

“Vermin. You call this hiding?”

“…I’ll buy us time!”

Pendrick transformed into a giant wolf, swinging a massive forepaw.

“Let’s go!”

We hurried down the stairs.

Before long, we reached a cramped underground chamber. A basement, its walls entwined with the roots of the great tree.

“……”

An elderly Lizardman sat cross-legged at the center of the room, eyes still closed.

The Great Shaman Neuamshi. The one responsible for spreading the unique domain, Chaos Disturbance Field, across the entirety of Floskere.

“…Guests… who need not be driven away.”

Opening his eyes, Neuamshi regarded us heavily.

Had we possessed more time, I would’ve begun with an icebreaker joke, then showered him with playful whining and charm until we’d become friendly.

But my mind wasn’t in any condition for that today. So I went straight to the point.

“Lord Neuamshi.”

Quickly lowering myself to meet his eye level, I spoke.

I could already roughly guess how to trigger the Hidden Labyrinth Enhancement… the new content Butterfly Karr had mentioned.

“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble… would you mind dying right now?”