Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 213 - I Will Definitely Repay You

Chapter 213: I Will Definitely Repay You

 

Blackbeak, Chairman of the Interracial Association. A crowfolk ranked 7th among the Twelve Heroes.

He was famous for being highly competent and efficient at his work, but he wasn’t an easy person to deal with.

Not because he had a difficult personality… but because outside of work, he suffered from an extreme lack of motivation.

“Karr, there are a few rules you absolutely have to keep in mind if you’re going to talk with the Chairman.”

Before entering the chairman’s office, Mek handed me a book.

Perrin, who was carrying me on his back because my mobility had become impaired, accepted it for me and held it up so I could clearly read the title.

[You Can Do It Too! How to Hold a Conversation with the Chairman]

“You really need to read this. The Chairman finds absolutely everything in the world bothersome, so if you fail to keep him interested, the conversation might end halfway through.”

I flipped through a few pages.

The amount of text was roughly equivalent to a short novel.

 

[48. If the Chairman suddenly stares blankly into space, quietly turn around and leave. From that moment onward, you are no longer the person he is talking to.]

[49. If the Chairman suddenly stops speaking and silently stares at you, immediately hand him a bottle of alcohol. If your reaction is even slightly delayed, any further conversation will become impossible.]

 

Rules that sounded more like urban legends… continued all the way to Rule 217.

The astonishing thing was that none of them were exaggerated in the slightest.

Even back when this world had still been a game, conversations with Blackbeak were considered advanced content.

Most of his dialogue would simply be skipped, forcing players to infer what he’d meant, and it wasn’t unusual for him to suddenly end the conversation on his own and disappear.

“The Chairman has absolutely no enthusiasm for anything outside official duties. So memorize every single rule. Though since I already know all of them, you don’t have to if it feels like too much trouble.”

“No. I’ll memorize them all.”

I rapidly flipped through the entire book before closing it.

“Done.”

“…You already knew all of it, didn’t you?”

“Please don’t peek into my heart without permission. It’s embarrassing.”

I placed both hands against my cheeks and twisted my body shyly.

Mek stared at me before frowning.

“You used to do bizarre things with a blank expression. Now your expressions change appropriately too. That honestly makes you even harder to deal with.”

It was thanks to [Half-Elf Survival Techniques].

Even someone like me, born inherently incomplete, could become someone seemingly rich with emotion through the martial Mystery born from the regrets of my people.

“Anyway, let’s go in. Just enter without knocking.”

“I know. Rule 129: ‘If you knock, the Chairman’s tiny amount of concentration will be disrupted, leaving him incapable of holding a conversation.'”

“You really did know everything! At this point I’m not even surprised anymore!”

Chuckling, Mek slid open the traditional door.

The chairman’s office was filled with glittering displays of valuable objects.

The first thing that caught my eye was the floor, which required us to remove our shoes before entering.

Chairman Blackbeak sat behind a low dining table near the far wall, hidden behind blackout curtains.

“…Ah. You’re here.”

Puff.

With the long pipe in his beak, Blackbeak exhaled smoke.

“Greetings, Chairman.”

He hadn’t invited us in, but I immediately had Perrin carry me inside anyway.

“I heard you performed a self-sacrifice ritual?”

Blackbeak abruptly asked.

If I didn’t answer immediately, the conversation could end forever.

“That’s correct. I offered up the toes on my right foot.”

While I calmly answered, Perrin gently set me down in front of the low table before sitting closely behind me.

After waiting for Mek to sit beside us, I spoke again.

“Sniff… It hurts so much. Would you please blow on it?”

I discreetly extended my bare foot beside the table.

Blinking blankly, Blackbeak stared at my now perfectly smooth right foot.

At the very least, I’d succeeded in capturing his interest.

“Why would you go that far?”

“It was a decision made for Pletica’s future.”

“I don’t even know how to interpret that.”

“Walking has become difficult without my toes, but life is still fairly livable.”

“That’s… too much….”

“Are you listening to me?”

“Good grief… this is driving me crazy.”

Despite standing in the same room and exchanging words, we weren’t communicating properly at all.

Mek chuckled and idly swung his foot.

“Still, your concentration’s holding surprisingly well. Normally by now you’d already have lost motivation and collapsed.”

Honestly… this had to be a medical condition.

Shouldn’t he receive treatment immediately? Or perhaps find some easy and wholesome way to correct his nature… as I had.

“First… ah… yes… I suppose I should thank you.”

Blinking lazily, Blackbeak lowered his head.

Then… he suddenly froze.

Without moving at all.

“Chairman.”

“……”

“Chairman?”

In an instant, the chairman’s body had completely stopped functioning.

“I think I’m getting a little hot. Would it be alright if I stripped completely naked here?”

“U-uh….”

Fortunately, he hadn’t actually fallen asleep.

He quickly raised his head.

“How far had I gotten?”

“You were thanking me.”

“Ah… right… yes… Now then, tell me what reward you want.”

“Would you mind expressing your gratitude a little more thoroughly? I rather enjoy that sort of thing.”

“……”

Without thinking, I’d violated Rule 92… ‘Avoid making unnecessary requests, as the Chairman may lose motivation.’

Sleepiness immediately began filling Blackbeak’s eyes.

The conversation was on the verge of ending.

However, thanks to my experience serving multiple Evil Gods simultaneously, I immediately put my hard-earned people-pleasing skills into action.

“I’ll state the reward I desire.”

“…Go ahead.”

“I wish to become public property.”

“…Huh?”

Blackbeak dropped his pipe.

“Ah, that was rather disorganized. Allow me to explain it more clearly.”

Wearing a refreshing smile, I repeated my request.

“In short, as payment for completing your request, I would like to become a public asset of the Interracial Association that every member may use however they please.”

“……”

Blackbeak stared at me before scratching his head.

“Did getting beaten by Lord Jerix knock you insane…?”

“No.”

“Then why are you saying insane things?”

“…Despite appearances, I’m perfectly sane, Chairman.”

Mek lightly rubbed his face.

“Think of it this way. Just as carnivorous beastmen naturally enjoy meat, nonsense naturally pours endlessly out of Karr’s mouth. It’s easier to understand if you see it that way.”

“Good heavens….”

“My dear friend Mek, don’t you think that’s a little harsh? You’ve hurt my feelings.”

Just like adult Marlin had done, I puffed out my cheeks, crossed my arms, and dramatically turned away.

The original hadn’t gone quite this far, but all traditions naturally changed a little over time.

“This isn’t going to be easy….”

Suddenly, a bottle of liquor and a drinking cup appeared in the chairman’s empty hands.

Pour…

A rich aroma of fragrant fruit filled the room.

“Um… first of all… I think I need a more detailed explanation.”

Blackbeak took a sip.

“Public property. Surely you don’t mean the literal definition….”

“I mean precisely the definition you’re thinking of. Half-elves have historically been treated that way many times, so I don’t think it’s an especially unusual request.”

Beside me, Mek listened nervously, letting out dry laughs one after another.

“Are you trying to destroy the Association’s dignity…?”

“Not at all. It’s simply a hobby.”

“Whoa.”

“So, what do you think?”

“I refuse.”

“Understood. Then I’ll reluctantly abandon the idea of becoming public property.”

Immediately afterward, I had Truth retrieve the ring-shaped artifact I’d obtained as the hidden reward from the [Southern Continent Expedition].

I put [Brrr, So Cold] around my neck.

“Then how about a somewhat more moderate request? Would you make me your pet half-elf instead, Chairman?”

“……”

As the chairman refilled his cup, his eyes changed. There was unmistakably greater interest in me now.

Constantly stimulating his curiosity like this… was, in simple terms, the essence of every rule for speaking with Blackbeak.

“…It really does work. That’s such a Karr-like method.”

Muttering quietly, Mek bit into a stalk of celery.

“Man… this is making me dizzy.”

Lightly shaking his wings, the chairman finally met my eyes properly.

“Well then… enough joking around. Tell me what you actually want.”

I’d already jolted the sleepy crowfolk awake twice with extremely spicy requests.

From here on, he probably wouldn’t lose focus easily. Which also meant… I could demand considerably more rewards.

A valuable life tip that absolutely shouldn’t be imitated by people with low Charm.

“First, I’d like a Unity Guild Usage Pass.”

The authority to request help from the chairman’s personal guild whenever I wished.

Since it contained many capable explorers, I could request assistance even for matters unrelated to exploration, making it the perfect way to compensate for our Moonlight Expedition’s shortage of personnel.

“Granted.”

Tap.

The chairman lightly tapped the table with his cup.

A refined feather-shaped object appeared before me.

 

[Masterpiece — Feather of Unity]

[A tool that allows direct communication with Blackbeak, Chairman of the Interracial Association. Despite being a feather, it’s sturdier than most shields.]

 

“Speak through that, and whatever you request, I’ll grant.”

“Even if I ask you to capture me and raise me as your pet half-elf?”

“No.”

“What a shame.”

“Your next request?”

“I’d like one Mystic Tome, one Artifact, and one miscellaneous tool from the Association’s vault.”

“Granted.”

“Thank you for such a straightforward transaction.”

Beside me, Mek took a huge bite of celery and shrugged.

“Shouldn’t you at least think about it before agreeing? At this rate you’ll even let him receive the right to learn one of your martial Mysteries.”

“Ah, may I have that as well?”

“Granted.”

“……”

Suddenly, a sheet of paper materialized in midair and fluttered down into my hands.

“Um… that’s the list of martial Mysteries I possess. Any further requests?”

“Please make me public property.”

“Something besides that.”

“Tch.”

“Nothing else?”

“One final thing.”

This… was the most important reward of all.

I solemnly clasped my hands together while looking Blackbeak in the eye.

“Please convert to Lidnii’s faith.”

The animal symbolizing wisdom… was the blind crow.

And Blackbeak… was a crowfolk.

What stronger connection could there possibly be?

“If you join the Cult of Twisted Truth today, you’ll receive one free Mystery.”

[Don’t make cheap campaign promises on your own! >:(]

Unlike before, Blackbeak actually thought about it for a moment before lifting his cup.

“Very well.”

“Really?”

Mek looked at him suspiciously.

“Can you really be bothered praying before an idol?”

“Umm… I only need to have faith, don’t I?”

“…I was asking because even something that simple seems beyond your motivation.”

“It’s fine.”

The chairman absentmindedly brushed at his hair, then suddenly narrowed his eyes sharply.

“Because what you really need is simply the fact that ‘even the Chairman of the Interracial Association believes in an Evil God.’ There could hardly be a better reward for modern cultists. Most people still believe Evil Gods are only worshipped by those who’ve been driven to absolute despair. Am I correct?”

I nodded and gave him a double thumbs-up.

“You’ve understood my intentions perfectly.”

Blackbeak enjoyed an excellent reputation among ordinary citizens. Ever since becoming chairman, living conditions in District Five had dramatically improved, and countless everyday inconveniences had been eliminated.

So if such a respected chairman believed in an Evil God… Most citizens wouldn’t react with suspicion.

Instead, they’d likely think, “Perhaps Evil Gods aren’t as bad as people say.”

“…Will things really work out that easily?”

Rubbing his chin, Mek frowned.

“It might simply ruin the Chairman’s reputation instead.”

“I know.”

“And you’re still going to grant Karr’s request?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I promised to reward him with whatever he wanted.”

“…Ah. Right.”

“Thank you very much.”

I immediately prostrated myself.

Perrin, still sitting behind me, instantly bowed alongside me.

“If Lidnii one day becomes a wealthy deity overflowing with believers, I will absolutely repay you with an incredible 10th-Tier Sorcery Mystery.”

[Reasonable Skepticism — That’ll probably take… around 50,000 years….]

“Ahem… well then, let’s move on.”

After refilling his cup with fruit wine yet again, Blackbeak, his face slightly red from drinking, continued.

“Next comes your tournament prize. You were supposed to receive ownership of a low-grade labyrinth. Tell me the name of the labyrinth you want.”

“Chairman, shouldn’t you show me the list first?”

“Ah.”

“Actually, there’s no need.”

I’d already picked one out long ago.

“I want [The Rotten Crossroads Black Market].”

“…That one?”

Raising an eyebrow, Mek waved his hands frantically.

“Forget it. That place is horrible. It’s nothing but slave trading… which is banned under Imperial law… organ trafficking, performances where people are brutally mutilated, and illegal arenas where killing your opponent is allowed….”

Our eyes met. I blinked innocently.

Mek immediately burst into laughter.

“Good grief… those are all things you like, aren’t they?”

“They are.”

I was already excited.

“[The Rotten Crossroads Black Market] is my dream amusement park.”