Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 221 - Won't You Become One of Our Party Members...?

Chapter 221: Won’t You Become One of Our Party Members…?

 

Somewhere in District Four.

Deep within the labyrinth [Bottom of the Shadows].

“All of last week’s intelligence has been compiled.”

Inside a room overlooking the entirety of the dim underground city, an operative whose entire body was concealed quietly spoke.

“We’ve finished verifying every report as well. Any information with even the slightest possibility of being false has been excluded.”

The owner of the room, Nicholas, the eldest son of House Brites, gazed out over the underground city while sipping his coffee.

He gave an indifferent nod.

It meant: “Continue.”

Crowley, an agent of the Deep Shadow unit who served as House Brites’ dedicated bodyguard secretary, closed his mouth briefly before continuing.

“First. We’ve identified the next labyrinth Miss Flora’s Superior Expedition intends to conquer… [Dark Desert].”

Originally, they had been preparing to explore the [Southern Continent Expedition], hoping to claim the honor of the first conquest.

However, another expedition had beaten them to it.

Namely, the Moonlight Expedition led by Odilon, the youngest son of House Brites.

“So they’re aiming for another first conquest.”

Still looking outside, Nicholas spoke quietly. He had absolutely no intention of holding a conversation.

In fact, if someone actually answered him, there was a good chance he’d explode in anger… So Crowley simply remained silent.

“Continue watching them.”

Nearly thirty minutes passed while Nicholas remained lost in thought by himself. Only then did he issue another order.

“This time, we’ll establish a far more reliable plan.”

His voice hardened.

“I won’t tolerate repeating the same mistake as last time… failing to assassinate one of their members.”

That, too, was merely a declaration directed toward himself.

Nicholas preferred solving everything alone.

If he discussed matters with others, they would only offer pathetic opinions anyway.

“Next report.”

“The Council of Sages at the Tower of Insatiable Reading is once again pushing to raise the prices of exploration equipment. They’re at it again.”

The reports continued for quite some time.

“…And finally.”

By the time Nicholas’s coffee cup was nearly empty, the briefing was almost finished.

The pacing itself had become possible only because Crowley had grown accustomed to his master’s obsessive personality.

“Young Master Odilon’s Moonlight Expedition won the exploration tournament in District Five.”

“…Wait.”

For the first time, Nicholas turned away from the window.

“Wasn’t the invincible Jerix supposed to participate in District Five’s tournament?”

“That’s correct.”

Crowley bowed.

“The Moonlight Expedition’s captain, the Golden Crow Karr, used a clever strategy to eliminate Jerix.”

“……”

Nicholas once again entered his peculiar habit… falling into deep thought in the middle of a conversation.

Crowley’s back was beginning to ache, yet he dared not even shift his posture.

Who knew what kind of furious rebuke would fly his way if he made even the slightest movement Nicholas found displeasing?

“…He’s still bothering me.”

Roughly an hour later.

Nicholas finished the last sip of coffee, set the empty cup down, and tapped the desk.

“Golden Crow Karr.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Bring that man before me. Don’t let him act on his own like an idiot again. This time… Make him follow my plan without the slightest deviation.”

“……”

Crowley was already exhausted.

Suppressing the urge to let out a long sigh, he bowed his head at precisely the angle his master preferred.

“As you command.”

 

***

 

I sat cross-legged on the bed on the second floor of our house, immersed in meditation.

“……”

Profoundly silent darkness.

Warm, comforting flames surrounded the land around me.

It was an unknown space. Yet, at the same time, it felt like the most familiar sanctuary imaginable.

A land of death, isolated from the world, where I alone continued to breathe.

“Waa?”

A clumsy baby’s cry suddenly reached my ears.

Opening my eyes, I found Baby Karr standing before me, waving his tiny hands.

“What’s the matter?”

“Waa. Waa waa.”

“Drop the act and speak normally.”

“Um…”

Baby Karr looked troubled.

“How much longer do I have to stay in this form?”

Apparently, he was beginning to grow tired of life as a baby.

Well, he was a monster created by imitating me. If he spent every day looking exactly the same, eventually everything in the world would become boring.

“Is there a form you’d prefer?”

“A pet dog?”

“No.”

I shook my head.

“Your body melts whenever you go for walks.”

“Ah.”

He blinked.

“Then what about a cat?”

“Grrrrrr!”

Perrin, inside my body, growled.

“He says he doesn’t like cats.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

It truly required serious consideration.

After discussing the matter together for quite some time, we finally reached a conclusion.

“I’ll use this appearance.”

AKarr activated [Transformation] and customized his appearance.

Overall, he still resembled me, but with subtle differences.

The greatest change was that his hair and eyes became a pale blue reminiscent of ice.

“I’ll be known as Ice-Snow Crow AKarr.”

I nodded approvingly.

“Age twenty. Your setting is that you’re too frail to freely go outside.”

“I love it!”

AKarr immediately made his complexion slightly pale, then collapsed dramatically onto the bed.

“Older brother…”

He weakly reached out.

“Or… Oppa… My head hurts again….”

“…Please don’t call me Oppa while acting sick.”

I grimaced.

“It brings back unpleasant memories.”

“…Ah.”

AKarr immediately apologized.

“That was a genuine mistake. I’m truly sorry.”

Looking up at me with sparkling eyes, he seemed sincerely apologetic.

“It’s alright.”

I smiled.

“You’re cute, so I’ll forgive you.”

After gently patting Ice-Snow Crow’s head, I closed my eyes once more.

It was about time my efforts bore fruit.

Ever since receiving Godfather’s guidance, I’d faithfully practiced a thousand times every single day, imagining that landscape within my heart.

“Yaaawn.”

Ignoring AKarr’s occasional voice, I concentrated.

Then… while quietly cultivating the lonely land of silence I’d imagined countless times before…

“……”

Although I followed exactly the same mental process as always, an entirely different world unfolded before me.

A land where everything had burned away.

Here and there, flames of life and death rose into the air.

… And silence.

An overwhelming stillness that filled my heart with absolute peace.

[Congratulations — The Martial Mystery [Land of Nothingness] has permeated your soul!]

When I slowly opened my eyes, Truthy had already displayed the words it had expected.

“You…”

Ice-Snow Karr’s voice trembled.

“You really mastered it…? As expected of my older brother….”

“Hmm.”

“What’s wrong?”

“This setting isn’t bad…”

I thought aloud.

“…but it’s lacking a bit of chaos.”

My heart had already grown accustomed to increasingly intense stimulation. Something this mild could no longer move it.

Apparently, AKarr realized this as well.

He frowned slightly before speaking.

“If you only eat spicy, salty, and sweet food all the time…”

He nodded wisely.

“Eventually your palate becomes ruined.”

He pointed to himself.

“I, AKarr, shall gladly become your dopamine detox.”

“……”

“P-Please don’t look at me like that….”

AKarr hurriedly pulled the blanket over his face.

He trembled beneath it for a moment, then, apparently feeling hot, popped back out and casually continued.

“Then how about…”

He smiled innocently.

“A younger sibling secretly in love with their own older brother, despite knowing those feelings can never be allowed?”

“Ah.”

I nodded immediately.

“That’s excellent. Approved.”

A dopamine detox truly wasn’t suitable for me.

After thinking it over, I realized that even in my everyday life, simply sitting still already made me feel as though I’d been cut away from the rest of the world.

There was absolutely no reason to deliberately remove stimulation on top of that.

[:/]

[Quit saying useless things and try using the Mystery you just learned….]

“So, Older Brother.”

The sickly younger brother AKarr timidly grasped my wrist.

“What kind of Mystery is [Land of Nothingness]?”

“Like this.”

I immediately drew AKarr into [Land of Nothingness].

The next instant, we found ourselves standing upon a silent land that had been completely burned to ash.

Scorching heat. The dangerous aura of death. Descending upon a perfectly silent world.

It truly was Lord Lriria’s ideal paradise.

Wriggle.

The Quiet One immediately sent a revelation overflowing with excitement.

“It’s wonderful… but it’s a shame there aren’t any undead…!”

As expected of an Evil God who had never learned humility despite His complete downfall, the very first thing He did was point out what was lacking.

It was disappointing, but the devotion of cultists had traditionally always been one-sided.

He still clung to nostalgia for the era when Evil Gods freely exploited the passionate devotion of their believers before discarding them.

There was no helping it.

“…Oh.”

Breaking the complete silence, AKarr exclaimed in admiration.

“It’s fascinating…”

He looked around.

“But what exactly does Land of Nothingness do?”

“Simply put…”

I explained.

“Imagine that a piece of land exists around me at all times while simultaneously not existing in the world.”

“…You said you were going to explain it simply.”

“To be honest, I don’t fully understand the principles myself.”

I shrugged.

“Just think of it as something similar to a subspace that also functions as a defensive measure.”

Wishing to fulfill my duty as a disciple, I took out the feather-shaped [Feather of Unity].

Just as I was about to pour my will into the communication artifact…

“So you’ve mastered it.”

A crow beastman appeared out of nowhere, looking as though he might fall asleep at any moment.

“Godfather?”

I blinked.

“How did you get in here?”

“Uh…”

Blackbeak yawned.

“Users of Land of Nothingness can project themselves into one another’s lands.”

He pointed toward the feather.

“Feather of Unity serves as the medium. So make sure you always keep it inside your world.”

Blackbeak glanced at AKarr, who cheerfully waved at him, then immediately looked away and surveyed my personal world instead.

“Normally…”

He muttered.

“It should take at least a month to master.”

“You’re impressed by your genius disciple’s outstanding talent, aren’t you?”

I smiled brightly.

“You feel so proud you want to pat my head.”

“You’re abnormal.”

“…Hmph.”

I puffed out my cheeks.

“Karr is sulking.”

“Then sulk.”

Blackbeak lazily flapped his wings once before letting out another yawn.

“Now then.”

He looked around.

“What are you planning to fill this place with?”

I’d already established firm convictions and a clear objective. So I answered without the slightest hesitation.

“Undead.”

“Hmm.”

“Not ordinary undead.”

I smiled.

“I’ll fill it with undead who possess an abnormally deep faith in Lord Lriria.”

Even the lone conspirator who had returned to the underground prison in District Three had already slightly improved Lord Lriria’s previously pitiful state of worship.

His once incredibly faint revelations had become just a little clearer.

But… what if I could mass-produce undead whose faith bordered on fanaticism?

Wriggle!

The Quiet One radiated immense anticipation.

“My current goal…”

I smiled.

“…is to make Lord Lriria great once again. What do you think?”

“Uh…”

Blackbeak rubbed his wrist.

“Well…”

He slowly blinked.

“Do your best.”

“Please encourage your disciple’s dream a little more sincerely.”

I pouted.

“For example, patting my butt….”

“I’m leaving.”

The heartless Godfather disappeared immediately.

I expressed my disappointment by sticking out my lower lip, then returned with AKarr to the real world.

“Please watch the house while I’m gone.”

“Where are you going?”

AKarr frowned.

“You already came home late yesterday after spending all that time with the Demon King….”

“I’m going to meet someone…”

I smiled.

“…whose mere presence requires risking my life.”

On the way out, I stored the undead Zmurtral, who had been staying in the basement, inside [Land of Nothingness].

This should allow him to serve as a living good-luck totem.

“Welcome.”

Upon arriving at Odilon’s mansion, the butler Sergius greeted me.

“Good to see you, Butler.”

I smiled.

“Is Lady Michelle awake?”

“…Yes.”

The elderly butler let out a small sigh.

“Fortunately, the person you invited, Lord Karr, managed to calm Lady Michelle’s body and mind.”

“So she hasn’t gone on a rampage yet. I’m glad it worked.”

“I’ll guide you to her room.”

The top floor of the mansion.

Beyond the hallway extending from Odilon’s room, we arrived at Michelle’s chamber.

The moment I entered, a rich fragrance washed over me.

“Lord Karr!”

The white-haired elf druid Miruel hurried over from the corner of the room and immediately buried his nose near my neck.

Sniff. Sniff.

After enthusiastically smelling me for a while, he finally spoke politely.

“Phew!”

He sighed in relief.

“Only now do I finally feel calm again, thanks to your scent, Lord Karr.”

“Lord Miruel.”

I looked at him.

“Has it been difficult?”

“Yes….”

Miruel glanced toward the bed.

On the enormous bed… large enough for three orcs to lie on… the Madam was bound hand and foot with a total of eight layers of magically reinforced chains.

She wore an expression of utter fury.

“…You!”

Michelle violently twisted her body, glaring at me.

“You’re that cultist from yesterday!”

She roared.

“Get over here right now!”

Clank! Clank! Clank!

Like a ferocious beast in chains, she struggled violently.

The murderous aura pouring from her was enough to make a weak-hearted person faint merely by standing nearby.

“It’s useless.”

The butler calmly added yet another chain, this one securing her head.

“She absolutely won’t be able to move… Ever since waking up, she hasn’t stopped throwing a tantrum.”

Miruel rubbed his face with his palm.

“I scattered an excessive amount of calming fragrance…”

He sighed.

“Yet she continued spewing such vulgar language. Today I learned that someone can still sound filthy and obscene even without using profanity.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

I smiled.

“Would you like to smell my armpit?”

“…Thank you!”

After properly rewarding the exhausted elf, I approached Michelle.

“Madam.”

“Die, you bastard!”

I activated [Transformation], taking on the same appearance I’d used when we’d shared such passionate emotions in the dining room.

“Big Sissss.”

“…Gaaah!”

Michelle twisted even more violently than before.

Not because of hostility… but because of excitement.

“Why is my heart racing?!”

She shouted.

“It’s pissing me off!”

“Big Sis.”

I sat down on the bed, gently leaning my upper body toward her.

“Could you…”

I smiled softly.

“…become a member of our Moonlight Expedition?”

“Get lost before I kick you!”

“If you agree to become one of my companions…”

I lay down beside her on the bed and whispered into her ear.

“You can play with my body however you want…”

My voice softened.

“…for an entire day.”

[Half-Elf Survival Technique]. Ultimate Secret Technique… Dreamlike Declaration.

“……”

Michelle’s entire body froze for a moment.

Then, to everyone’s astonishment, she spoke in an incredibly calm voice.

“When do I start exploring with you?”

Michelle Brites.

Joined the Moonlight Expedition.