Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 203 - The Grand Gathering of Interracial Harmony – Total Chaos (4)

Chapter 203 – The Grand Gathering of Interracial Harmony – Total Chaos (4)

 

“…What?”

Marlin, in an Orc’s body, twisted her fierce-looking face into a scowl and glared at the delicate Elf.

She really was terrifying.

It was because Pendrick had made her appearance far too intimidating when adjusting it.

“I-I’m sorry… Please don’t hit me….”

With Evoke Sympathy activated, I lowered my head, looking tearful.

“Karr!”

Smack!

The beautiful Half-Elf slapped me across the back with her palm.

“You’re much easier to watch when you’re joking around than when you’re silent, but this isn’t the time for that!”

“That’s right.”

Craaack!

Something shattered and broke apart somewhere above us.

“…Eek?”

Astrimia suddenly clutched her abdomen and doubled over.

“What’s wrong, Astrimia?”

“I don’t know! My body suddenly… It happened earlier, too!”

“Ah. It seems Pendrick got injured.”

Still making a heart shape with both hands toward the Great Shaman, who hadn’t taken his eyes off me since earlier, I continued.

“A Catastrophic Upheaval Lifeform can recover from injuries by consuming its Master’s vitality.”

That was why Clone formed one pillar of the Immortal Cultist build.

Since I possessed overflowing vitality, my children could abuse their bodies as much as they pleased, and I’d still heal them without issue.

“Oh, that’s really fascinating! But first, could you please deal with the current situatio–Aaah!”

The beautiful Half-Elf let out a scream and rolled across the floor.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“…How can you possibly enjoy such horrifying pain, Sir Karr?!”

“It’s not that I enjoy pain. I simply appreciate trials and hardships whose valuable rewards are guaranteed–”

“Whatever! Just solve this already!”

“For now, activate Ghoul’s Mobility and support Pendrick. The rest of you, keep watch over the stairs in case the mages come down.”

Then I crouched before Neuamshi.

“I doubt this is the case… but just in case. If my request that you die offended you… Then I sincerely apologize.”

“Of course, he’s offended! You suddenly asked him to die! Who wouldn’t be angry?!”

“I was wrong…. Please don’t scold meee….”

“Stop doing weird things while wearing Big Sister’s face!”

The fierce-looking Orc was berating the pitiful Elf in a booming voice, when…

“I’m perfectly fine. So there’s no need to get worked up, little tiger.”

“…Huh?”

The Orc, whose true identity had been instantly seen through, widened her eyes.

“Half-Elf.”

The Great Shaman then smiled warmly at me.

He merely smiled, yet the old Lizardman’s dry scales began falling away one by one.

“Are you asking me… to pour even more power into my unique domain?”

“Exactly. I’m naturally rather shy, so I failed to express what I really wanted. Oh, dear… how embarrassing.”

I shyly covered my face with both hands.

Before Marlin could once again complain about me using her big sister’s body, I hurriedly continued.

“A Shaman’s unique domain becomes more unique…the more vitality is sacrificed to it. So if you offered your life entirely… it would naturally become as powerful as possible.”

“A-As if… He’d actually agree to such an obvious request to die….”

Brightfeather, in a Tiger Beastman’s body, murmured with an expression Marlin would never normally wear.

“No. As I already said… there’s no problem.”

The Lizardman Great Shaman gently stroked the scales upon the back of his weathered hand.

His eyes shone mysteriously.

“If I can save every citizen of my kingdom… then a mere life means nothing.”

“……”

Marlin’s Orc eyes trembled.

Seeing that, Neuamshi chuckled, waving a hand dismissively.

“Don’t look at me like that. The truth is… I can resurrect.”

“…What?”

“Anyone foolish enough to reach Level 10 while possessing only a single life… has no right to complain if they die unfairly.”

Mysteries and artifacts that granted extra lives were extraordinarily rare.

But for someone as powerful as a Level 10, obtaining at least one wasn’t particularly difficult if they searched diligently.

“For reference… Sir Jerix possesses three Mysteries that directly resurrect him, seven more that nullify fatal damage, and one that grants true immortality.”

“…No wonder Karr came up with the stumbling-stone plan.”

Facing Jerix inside Final Stand was an enormous advantage for us.

“To be honest… I’ve been wanting to reincarnate soon anyway.”

Neuamshi slowly straightened his shoulders, then deliberately showed us both arms.

“As you can see… my skin is completely ruined. It won’t heal anymore.”

“…Is that so?”

“What do you think, Lord Neuamshi? Will you do it?”

Holding both of his hands, I activated Evoke Sympathy… a skill that had by now become as natural as breathing.

“Pleaseee….”

My eyes sparkled desperately. I offered my promise.

“If you help us… I’ll do everything I can to ensure His Majesty the King escapes safely. And I’ll eliminate as many of those vile, wicked villains from the Valterium Empire as possible.”

“Hmmm.”

The Lizardman Great Shaman scratched his cheek. Dry scales fell away.

BOOOOM!

Meanwhile, the deafening sounds from above continued.

“Uuuugh….”

Astrimia leaned against the wall, groaning in pain.

Apparently, sharing vitality with her child was extremely painful. I should’ve been the one enduring that.

“Could you please make your decision a little faster? We don’t have much time.”

“I have one question for you, Half-Elf.”

Neuamshi’s cloudy, unfocused eyes pierced straight through me.

“In the future from which you came… what became of our kingdom?”

“……”

Lowering the mask covering my lower face, I smiled.

“So you noticed?”

“I have worshipped Chaos my entire life. I can easily recognize the soul waves of those who exist outside destiny.”

“You’re exactly right. We came from the future… The Meterdegus Kingdom was ultimately destroyed by the Valterium Empire.”

“Lord Neuamshi… You resisted until the very end… Then you were hunted down and killed.”

“I see.”

Even after hearing such a spoiler about the future, he seemed remarkably unmoved.

Then again, to a Shaman who worshipped Chaos, even a tragic future was simply another delightful possibility.

“I don’t know if this will comfort you… But these days… the Valterium Empire itself has split into three separate nations. They constantly argue among themselves over who possesses the true legacy.”

“Well. If they’re humans… that sounds about right.”

“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

“No. That’s enough.”

Smiling faintly, Neuamshi curled the corners of his mouth upward.

“Do you know? Mages of the Prophecy School never reveal the future.”

“Because the moment it’s spoken… the future becomes distorted?”

“Exactly. The instant you spoke of the destiny awaiting the future… I was already forced onto a path… different from true history.”

“That’s wonderful.”

A completely predetermined future was boring.

Uninteresting.

A future that constantly twisted, became tangled, and descended into chaos. A future no one could predict… that alone was worth pursuing.

“Thank you. For opening the path toward an uncertain future… one that was never predetermined.”

Clank.

Right in the middle of our important conversation, the sound of chains echoed from the thigh of the beautiful Half-Elf, who was still rolling around on the floor.

“You… Are you a cultist of Okail?”

Neuamshi suddenly exclaimed happily.

I immediately raised a hand, giving him a playful wink.

“Yes. Even in the future… although the Guide of Catastrophic Upheaval isn’t exactly a major deity… He’s still considerably wealthier than the other Evil Gods.”

“Now that’s wonderful news!”

Neuamshi enthusiastically grabbed my hand, shaking it.

It was the first time in my life I’d ever been welcomed simply because I was a cultist.

Did followers of the Good Gods always feel this warm, fuzzy sensation?

“There’s nothing more to see.”

The Great Shaman slowly stood.

“Half-Elf devoted to Chaos… I shall grant your wish.”

Then Neuamshi took out a ritual tool.

A dull dagger, its blade engraved with countless profound patterns. 

It possessed no killing power. Yet mystically, its potential was overwhelming.

“Soon… Chaos shall overturn both body and soul. Just as Okail prefers.”

Thunk.

The ritual dagger pierced directly into Neuamshi’s heart.

No blood flowed.

The blade sank in effortlessly, as though piercing a cake.

Fwoooooosh.

A violet aura poured from the old Lizardman’s body.

It slowly stained the empty air, before violently spreading… as though intending to engulf every corner of the world.

“Chaos shall trample all order.”

Fueled by the Great Shaman’s life, the alien world that had already blanketed the great city of Floskere began to surge violently.

“Grand Chaos Disturbance Field.”

Suddenly, my consciousness blurred.

Thud.

One by one, my companions collapsed unconscious.

“Ahahahaha!”

Since I knew it was only temporary, I simply relaxed, enjoying the dizzying sensation of my mind being bleached clean as I fell backward.

When I awoke a short while later, distorted black letters floated before my eyes.

[Illusion — Welcome back!]

At last, I had become the Half-Elf cultist once again.

“I’m happy to see you again too.”

Pressing firmly against my throbbing head, I stood up.

“…What happened?”

Marlin frowned as she rose, then jumped in surprise upon seeing me.

“…Karr? Is that really you?”

I nodded, placing my index finger against my lips in a mischievous pose.

“It’s your adorable patron.”

“Ah… Then it really is You….”

The other members gradually woke as well.

They all flinched upon seeing me. Then, after looking at one another, they froze once again.

Marlin was the first to grasp the situation. She narrowed her eyes.

“…Everyone looks different. It’s probably the effect of the Grand Chaos Disturbance Field.”

Still smiling, I gently laid the Great Shaman’s body flat upon the floor.

“If Chaos Disturbance Field scrambled people’s minds… then Grand Chaos Disturbance Field seems to apply Chaos individually.”

“What does that mean?”

“Body and mind switched places.”

“…How?”

“Like this.”

I reached upward, patting Marlin’s shoulder.

Unlike before, her body had become noticeably larger and more muscular.

Only then did the adult Tiger Beastman look down at herself, letting out a hollow laugh.

“…What?”

“To put it simply… your mind became your body… and your body became your mind.”

Marlin’s comparatively mature mentality, despite her young age, had transformed into a powerful, well-built body.

Conversely, her still-young body had likely become as emotionally fragile as one would expect of a child.

“Additionally… your soul rank and Mystery tiers have probably been adjusted to match those changes.”

It truly was upheaval. A unique domain perfectly befitting Chaos, which overturned established order.

“I don’t really understand….”

“Truthfully… I don’t really understand either. I was just rambling.”

Just as Butterfly Karr had said, Grand Chaos Disturbance Field was entirely new content, even to me.

“……”

Seeing Marlin quietly raise her sharpened nails, I hurriedly stepped backward.

She’d become far too intimidating.

“If everything were perfectly clear… would that really be Chaos? Anyway… there’s only one thing everyone needs to remember.”

“What is it?”

“There’s a very high chance… that mental fortitude has now become physical toughness.”

Taking Marlin’s hand, I dragged one of her nails across the back of my own hand, drawing blood.

Unlike before, it didn’t heal immediately. The bleeding continued.

[Unlike before, your current ‘Vitality’ has been adjusted to 5!]

“…Ugh. Much easier to understand after seeing it firsthand, isn’t it?”

“W-Why did you have to hurt yourself?! Doesn’t it hurt?!”

“Hm.”

Quickly hiding my injured hand behind my back, I patted the horrified Marlin’s arm with the other.

“You’re completely childlike now… appropriate for your age. You’re surprisingly fun to watch, even if your appearance is dependable.”

“…Stop teasing me. I hate you, Karr.”

“Ghk.”

Marlin’s complaint, coming from that sturdy adult body, nearly stopped my heart.

Later, I’d have to recreate this with Illusion and admire it again.

“Has everyone recovered?”

Patting the back of the pouting Marlin, I looked over the rest of the party.

“I-I don’t think I changed very much…?”

Brightfeather, whose body and mind were both gentle to begin with, had barely changed.

“Awooo!”

Perrin, however, had become an adorably tiny wolf.

As I picked up the little golden wolf, Marlin tilted her head.

“Huh? Shouldn’t Perrin’s body still be on the surface?”

“Looks like Grand Chaos Disturbance Field rearranged everyone’s locations according to their minds.”

One couldn’t expect logic from a Shaman’s unique domain devoted to Chaos.

“…Sir Karr?”

Turning toward Astrimia’s beautiful voice, I found someone I’d never seen before.

An Elf, with beautiful turquoise hair and dazzling pupils shaped like stars.

“Lady Astrimia?”

“Yes! How do I look?”

“What more is there to say? You’re naturally, perfectly beautiful. For a moment… I nearly found myself staring without realizing it.”

“Oh my… Sir Karr!”

She giggled, holding both cheeks in delight.

Suddenly, I became extremely curious about how her beloved would react.

Poke.

Someone jabbed me in the side.

Turning around, I found a tiny Wood Elf girl standing there.

“Ah, so it’s Big Sister.”

“……”

Exactly what I’d expected. After all, she’d always been the most vulnerable to mental attacks.

Finally, I raised both fists to my cheeks, checking how my own appearance had changed.

“So? What do all of you think?”

“……”

“…Hmm.”

“U-Uh….”

Apparently, my appearance was too confusing to describe in a single word.

Clank!

‘Excellent.’

Okail had sent His approval, confirming my suspicions.

“Falsethy. Appear in my current form.”

Whoosh.

An illusory copy materialized before me. Its entire body was covered in rust.

Blood continuously poured from countless holes piercing it from head to toe.

“Ta-da! Master! What do you think?”

“Looks amazing.”

I’d always wanted, just once, to possess an appearance terrifying enough to leave others speechless.

At last, that dream had come true.

Deeply satisfied, I spoke.

“Shall we get going? As the rolling stone… that will block Sir Jerix’s path.”

Destiny had been overturned.

 

***

 

Cough.

The Whisperer, Zmurtal, staggered, coughing up blood.

“The butterflies… the swarm of butterflies….”