Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 225 - E-Rank Labyrinth — Rotten Crossroads Black Market (2)

Chapter 225: E-Rank Labyrinth — Rotten Crossroads Black Market (2)

 

“…This isn’t easy either.”

An elegant room comparable to the reception room of a respectable noble house.

Seated on a sofa so soft it felt as though his body were melting into it, Lucius let out a sigh.

“Even though Artein has sent a revelation saying She understands… I’m still committing an unmistakable evil. My conscience is extremely troubled.”

Ever since becoming a priest serving in Pletica, this was the greatest emotional burden Lucius had ever experienced.

Human trafficking. An utterly inhumane act, one that would never be tolerated even under the compassionate teachings of the Church of Harmony.

He had laid hands on a crime he had never imagined participating in during his entire life.

Even if it was all for the sake of innocent people, his heart inevitably felt heavy.

“If it troubles you that much, you should have refused.”

The Demon King calmly spoke while munching on the luxurious fruit the staff had served.

“Grand Duke Karr isn’t the sort of devious cultist who would force companions into doing things that make them uncomfortable.”

“…If I had refused…”

Lucius nodded quietly.

“…I’m sure Lord Karr would have chosen another method.”

If he truly wished, Karr could have pushed himself much further, using methods far more horrifying, driving both body and mind to even harsher extremes.

After all, he was a half-elf who obsessively sought suffering.

“But if that had happened…”

Lucius continued,

“…the operation would’ve become far more troublesome and complicated. As things stand, having me a priest play an indispensable role is the most reasonable option in every respect.”

“Reasonable?”

The Demon King tilted his head.

“You speak strangely for someone carrying such a heavy burden in his heart.”

“……”

Chuckling, the Demon King patted Lucius on the back.

“Next time, state your opinion clearly.”

He looked straight at him.

“From where I stand, Lucius… it seems you’re afraid to express your own thoughts. Am I wrong?”

“…You’ve understood me perfectly.”

Lucius served as a labyrinth-managing priest of the Church of Harmony.

A position envied by countless citizens of Pletica. Yet despite that, he had never once become arrogant.

“Your Majesty.”

Lucius slowly continued.

“In the past, I committed a fatal mistake. It caused the people of my village to become undead monsters.”

Slowly stroking the rosary in his hands, he went on.

“I, too… became undead.”

“And yet.”

The Demon King looked him over.

“The you before me is unmistakably human.”

“…I was fortunate.”

Lucius smiled faintly.

“By sheer chance, the Saint happened to be passing through our village. He guided me back to a land touched by sunlight.”

From that day onward, Lucius had always lived like a dead man.

Since his second life had been granted through luck, he wanted to accept it obediently whenever misfortune decided to reclaim it.

“I merely devote myself to serving those who have been neglected… as atonement. That’s why I couldn’t bring myself to refuse Lord Karr’s plan.”

“Even if the method makes you endlessly uncomfortable…”

The Demon King asked,

“…you believe you must endure it?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Thwack!

The Demon King suddenly set down his fruit and smacked Lucius on the shoulder.

“…Your Majesty?”

“Foolish!”

The Demon King frowned.

“How can a priest serving the Divinity of Clear Wisdom be so obtuse? If I were Artein, I’d have flicked you on the forehead!”

“Exactly!”

The Eye That Whispers Falsehoods, currently appearing as an elf dressed in a gown, grinned brightly in agreement.

“…Pardon?”

“Atonement.”

The Demon King crossed his arms.

“It’s an admirable thing. But atonement must never become the driving force of your life. If it does… you’re allowing the mistakes of your past to weigh down your present.”

The most optimistic demon of all stared directly into Lucius’ eyes.

“Lucius… It should be the opposite.”

“…The opposite?”

“Reverse the relationship.”

The Demon King’s voice rang firmly.

“Your life should crush your sins. Your life itself should become the force that drives your atonement.”

“……”

Lucius silently lowered his gaze to the small shield hanging from his rosary… After a long pause, he slowly nodded.

“Thank you.”

The discomfort that had clouded his face was gone, and in its place surged unwavering determination.

“Only now…”

He smiled gently.

“…can I finally look directly at the path I should walk.”

“Excellent.”

The Demon King grinned.

“‘Positive Energy’ is overflowing from you. May I eat it?”

“Of course.”

“Sluuuurp!“

The Demon King opened his mouth wide, completely absorbed in devouring it… when suddenly…

“May noble indulgence become a part of your daily life!”

The sofa opposite them rippled, and a being of indeterminate race and gender appeared.

A tailcoat. A mask depicting a rotting scorpion.

Exactly matching the appearance Karr had previously described.

“You must be the administrator.”

At Lucius’ question, the newcomer replied with an impeccably polite aristocratic bow.

“Indeed. I am the administrator of this auction house.”

A peculiar gleam appeared in the administrator’s eyes as he looked at Lucius.

“And… the administrator of the black market as well.”

“A noble individual such as yourself has honored us with a visit. I simply couldn’t remain seated… So I came personally.”

“……”

Drawing upon the composure expected of a priest, Lucius hid every trace of emotion from his face.

‘…I have to do this properly.’

Then, acting as though addressing a subordinate, he gestured toward the Demon King.

“Leave us.”

“Yes.”

Watching the muscular demon immediately leave, Lucius repeated Karr’s assigned role within his mind.

‘Attract the administrator’s attention…’

It was a daunting task for someone who wasn’t particularly eloquent.

Fortunately, the half-elf captain had kindly provided even sample lines, explaining exactly how he should speak.

“Administrator.”

Lucius quietly spoke, resting one arm upon the sofa.

The Eye That Whispers Falsehoods immediately nestled against him as though it had been waiting.

“If you’re attempting to uncover my identity…”

Lucius smiled faintly.

“…you’d be wise to stop. That is… unless you’d like to continue receiving merchandise like the male dog I handed over today on a regular basis.”

“……!”

The ultimate secret to capturing the black market administrator’s attention.

Using appropriately provocative wording, along with promising continued business.

“…Haha.”

The administrator visibly flinched.

Then, smiling broadly, he rested both hands upon his knees.

“Now I find myself increasingly curious about you.”

“……”

At least the beginning seemed to go well.

“Ah.”

The administrator continued.

“The ‘education’ you requested has already begun in earnest.”

“…I see.”

“At first, the merchandise was quite rebellious.”

He chuckled.

“But that didn’t last long. Rest assured… The personality correction performed here is refined enough for us to take pride in it.”

Pretending to remain calm, Lucius slowly nodded.

Inside, however, he smiled.

‘Then today… that pride will be utterly destroyed.’

 

***

 

“Stand up straight.”

Auction House Merchandise Storage.

Today’s auction items, including myself, stood neatly lined up in rows.

Employees responsible for storage and maintenance slowly walked through, carefully inspecting every single product.

“This one’s hairstyle is a little disappointing.”

“Let’s tidy it up.”

“This one has somewhat crude packaging.”

“We’ll adjust it appropriately.”

They treated people like objects… without the slightest hesitation, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

The merchandise, having already undergone complete correction, could no longer feel dissatisfied with such treatment.

They simply accepted, without complaint, that this was exactly how they deserved to be treated.

“……”

Fighting off drowsiness, I blankly stared into space.

Soon, a human employee approached and carefully inspected every part of me.

His gaze contained not the slightest trace of greed. Only enthusiasm for his work.

“This…”

He slightly parted his lips.

“…is truly precious merchandise. It wasn’t artificially raised.”

He murmured in admiration.

“It’s a natural product… yet flawless in every respect.”

“Don’t touch it.”

A gnome employee stopped the human worker just as he instinctively reached toward my face.

“This is the finest product in the entire history of our auction house.”

He declared confidently.

“Its correction process was also carried out with unprecedented care. If even the slightest scratch appears… we may have to compensate the owner at least a thousand gold.”

“…I’ll be careful. Still…”

The human employee tilted his head.

“Is this packaging really the best we can do? It looks rather shabby.”

“I was thinking the same.”

The gnome nodded.

“It should have packaging that’s both luxurious and dignified.”

The human employee tapped his chin thoughtfully.

“After all… this was the next Saint. Its appearance should reflect that.”

“I agree completely.”

The two employees exchanged ideas, then returned carrying a new outfit.

A ceremonial robe. Exquisitely luxurious, yet radiating sacred dignity.

“I’ll replace the packaging.”

The human employee began changing my clothes.

There wasn’t the slightest hint of obscenity in his movements.

He truly handled me exactly as though replacing the packaging of merchandise for sale.

That alone made my heart tighten painfully.

Being treated as an object. Having every basic right as a person stripped away, I no longer possessed even the right to protest such treatment.

—The auction will begin shortly.

An emotionless voice echoed through the air.

“It’s time.”

“Let’s hurry.”

After meticulously making final adjustments to every part of my body, the employees busily scattered.

No one nearby was watching me. Only several surveillance devices remained, monitoring the merchandise.

Simply blinking, I gazed into empty space.

Then, using [Illusion], I covered the surroundings with an ordinary-looking scene.

‘……’

Within the illusion, Zmurtral, who had been inside the Land of Nothingness, emerged into the world.

Despite being undead, his face somehow carried unmistakable emotion.

“Phew.”

I sighed.

“My mind finally feels just a little clearer. Lord Zmurtral… why do you have to be so ridiculously high-ranked and make life difficult for me?”

Having escaped, if only slightly, the mental burden imposed by Land of Nothingness whenever storing people or objects, I retrieved my trump card from the soul-space.

[Capricious Mask].

I placed the disguise artifact, engraved with the Demon King’s Ninth-Tier Mystery, [Sovereign’s Stealth], upon the undead’s face.

Crack…

Zmurtral’s body twisted.

The undead lizardman transformed into a beautiful half-elf.

Crackle!

The undead lizardman’s original clothes became loose, revealing exposed skin.

The Exalted One immediately expressed an indescribable will.

They had endured patiently ever since I became merchandise because of my own request.

For Lord Su’eje, this was truly the utmost limit of Their patience.

“Lord Zmurtral.”

I whispered quietly.

“I’m counting on you.”

While speaking softly, I changed the appearance of the undead’s clothing using [Transformation]’s object appearance alteration effect.

Into the excessively luxurious ceremonial robe I myself was wearing. With the clothing matched, Zmurtral became a perfect substitute, Karr.

“For the Silent One.”

I began the familiar slogan for Lord Lriria.

“…For the Silent One.”

The undead reluctantly repeated it after me.

“Thank you for your help.”

Using [Illusion], I created an illusory path and quietly slipped out of the storage room.

The moment I stepped outside, I transformed my entire body… including my artifact and clothing… into lightning.

The Fifth-Tier Mystery, [Black Lightning Blossom], treated everything I wore as part of my body, allowing it all to naturally become lightning.

Bzzzt!

As black lightning, I traveled directly through the walls.

[↖ Go this way.]

Thanks to Truthy Navigator, I reached my destination without getting lost.

—Ladies and gentlemen. The regular merchandise auction will now begin.

The emotionless voice of the humanoid golem auctioneer echoed through the spacious hall.

This was the heart of the auction house. The place where the auctions themselves took place.

Since every customer was a noble, even the ordinary seating had been crafted with extraordinary care.

Anyone unfamiliar with the truth might mistake this place for an entirely legitimate establishment.

[Your companion is in Heavenly Room Number Two!]

The Heavenly Rooms… VIP suites reserved exclusively for the wealthiest guests… were located near the ceiling.

Entering the room Truthy had indicated, I found Lucius standing by the window, looking down over the auction hall.

“Father.”

“…Lord Karr.”

Lucius turned around and let out a sigh of relief.

“Master!”

Falsethy, who had been pretending to be his lover, waved cheerfully at me before returning to my left eye.

“I was worried sick.”

“You’ve done well.”

“But…”

Lucius asked,

“…if you were going to use a substitute anyway… was there really any need for you to personally become merchandise in the first place?”

“There was.”

I shook my head.

“[Transformation] cannot imitate the mark bestowed by the Protector of All.”

Could the Mystery of an Evil God possibly replicate the sacred blessing granted by the Supreme God of the benevolent faction? Impossible.

“Besides…”

I smiled.

“Even if Lord Zmurtral is now undead… he shouldn’t have to become the victim of such exhausting and humiliating personality correction.”

“…Is that truly the only reason?”

“……”

Using [Transformation], I changed my appearance into the same appearance and clothing the Illusion had been using earlier, then curled my lips upward.

“Yes.”

I admitted.

“There was also a little selfish desire mixed in.”

[A little? :/]

In any case, everything had now been prepared.

All that remained was to wait.

I linked arms with Lucius, leaning affectionately against him as I delivered the line appropriate to my role.

“Shall we relax and enjoy the auction together, darling?”