Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 26 - The Same Cool Name Every Time

Chapter 26 – The Same Cool Name Every Time

 

Once upon a time, a rather ominous rumor spread among the players of <Nightmare Dungeon>.

“The developer’s son plays a Mage, so that’s why they’re ridiculously overpowered!”

It sounded convincing enough that even I, someone who always tried to stay rational, briefly believed it.

 

[Honestly, doesn’t this sound believable?]

– Posted by: ForArtein

[Mages have way too many absurdly broken Mysteries. They’re the only class that can solo the early game. They have tons of class branches, and leveling them is easy and comfortable. Compared to Cultists, who are just terrible and saddled with nothing but penalties, it’s seriously ridiculous. I’m telling you, the developer’s son definitely plays a Mage.]

 

However…

After American players conducted an exhaustive investigation, it turned out the developer, Kato Roger, hadn’t even dated anyone despite being over forty, let alone having children.

Instead, he’d spent his entire life obsessing over Japanese subculture like a genuine Wapanese…

Thus, the rumor about the developer’s son was exposed as complete nonsense.

Even so, criticism regarding the Mage class’s absurd power continued for quite some time.

‘…And I was right at the center of it.’

Half of the forum posts complaining about Mages were probably written by me.

How could I not hold a grudge?

The weakest class, Cultists, was left to rot…

Meanwhile, Mages kept getting buff after buff under one excuse or another.

“I’m certain the Mages somehow twisted the world’s laws to favor themselves.”

After inelegantly gulping down my wine, I lightly tapped the table with my fist while venting years of accumulated resentment.

“This isn’t blind slander… It’s a perfectly reasonable suspicion. It explains why magical Mysteries are uniquely numerous and overwhelmingly powerful. People say their only weakness is how difficult it is to raise Mystery proficiency, but that’s something they can overcome with study and research. So in reality, it’s hardly an actual drawback. You could almost say they have nothing but advantages.”

“The Tower of Arcane Pursuit has indeed dominated dungeon exploration for the past decade.”

Odilon replied absentmindedly while sipping his wine.

Neither his expression nor his voice showed even the slightest intention of passionately discussing the outrageous unfairness of Mages or their shameless refusal to ever be satisfied.

“Would you like to continue your pointless slander of Mages?”

“Hm. If you provide me with a proper venue, I’d happily give a full-fledged anti-magic speech. Would you care to stand on stage with me?”

“I would not.”

Bluntly refusing, Odilon inhaled smoke from Comforter before speaking again.

“Regardless… if a Mage truly defeated a boss strengthened to its maximum by themselves, they’re unquestionably someone our expedition must recruit.”

“I agree.”

“Why are you agreeing so readily? I expected you’d start rambling about refusing to let filthy Mages into the expedition.”

“How could you say something so hurtful…”

I slowly shook my head with a nostalgic look before greedily stuffing two more pieces of cheese into my mouth.

“I never allow personal feelings to interfere with dungeon exploration. If Mages are absurdly capable… then doesn’t that simply mean they’re a class every expedition absolutely needs?”

A worshiper of Evil Gods who strictly separated business from personal feelings… and who would gladly cooperate even with detestable Mages if it served the greater objective.

Truly worthy of winning Model Cultist of the Month.

“Good. So you’re not an idiot who can’t grasp something that obvious.”

Odilon slowly raised the hand holding his wineglass.

Rosalia immediately stepped forward and elegantly poured more wine.

Splash.

…Her pose was elegant.

Unfortunately, she tilted the bottle too far and spilled wine all over his clothes.

“…”

“It’s fine.”

As though this happened every day, the young master casually wiped away the wine with his hand.

Then, sounding slightly exhausted, he continued.

“That Mage… We still don’t know their exact class. But if they join our expedition, they’ll be reliable. At the very least, they won’t be an incompetent fool.”

“Unfortunately, even our Evil God admits they don’t know who that person is. May I leave the investigation to you, Young Master?”

“Understood. The Harmony Church should have records of everyone entering the dungeon. It won’t take long. Though if they’re a Mage…they’re almost certainly affiliated with the Tower of Arcane Pursuit anyway.”

There wasn’t much room for disagreement.

Every Mage living in Pletica belonged to the Tower of Arcane Pursuit, which governed District Two.

Otherwise…

They couldn’t even enter dungeons or obtain laboratories for magical research.

It was all thanks to some Archmage who unified every color-coded Magic Tower, red, blue, purple, and countless others, under the pretense of improving the rights of Mages.

“Pendrick, the Warrior. And the Mage who solo-cleared Earth Elf’s Tomb. I’ll focus on recruiting those two for the time being.”

“A wise decision. Those two alone will spare us from worrying about manpower for quite a while.”

“You said Pendrick lives in District Three. When will you meet him?”

“I’d like to go tomorrow if possible… But that’s difficult. Cultists can’t freely enter other districts.”

Permission from the Lance of Order, the order of Holy Knights responsible for supervising Cultists, was required.

Naturally… One couldn’t simply ask.

A legitimate reason had to be provided before they would issue a permit.

“Please wait a few days.”

Creating a justification for entering another district wasn’t particularly difficult.

I didn’t need to run around desperately looking for one.

If I simply waited… An opportunity would present itself on its own.

“…I like that you don’t waste time.”

After saying that, Odilon suddenly leaned back completely into the sofa and slowly inhaled more smoke from Comforter.

The frail young master, burdened with no fewer than seven chronic illnesses… grew tired from nothing more than holding a conversation.

“It seems you’ve run out of energy. Shall I take my leave?”

“…One more thing.”

“What can I do for you?”

“You choose the expedition’s name. I have no talent for naming things.”

“Fortunately… I do.”

In the game as well, players name their expeditions themselves.

And every single playthrough…

I used the same magnificent name.

[Moon Expedition.]

Pointing toward the ceiling that concealed the sky behind a chandelier, I proudly raised my eyes upward.

“It’s a name that embodies our determination… to one day conquer the Nightmare Dungeon on the moon.”

Lowering my gaze again, I alternated between looking at Odilon and Rosalia standing behind him.

“What do you think? Quite an ambitious aspiration, wouldn’t you say?”

“…”

The young master and his bodyguard silently exchanged glances before letting out dry chuckles.

Neither of them seemed to dislike it.

“Isn’t the name a bit childish compared to the goal?”

“That’s exactly why it’s perfect. If the name sounded overly grand, everyone would constantly challenge us. But if it’s something this cute… …people will probably just laugh it off.”

“I can’t argue with that. Do as you wish.”

His voice growing weaker by the second, Odilon barely finished speaking before waving me away.

“Let’s end the discussion about expeditions here.”

There were still things I wanted to discuss.

But I obediently stood.

After all… I had just watched someone visibly melt in real time, gradually transforming into something resembling a slime.

I had actually been about to suggest ending the meeting myself.

“Then… I’ll see you later, Young Master.”

“…Very well. Coordinate schedules and share plans through the butler. The overall framework is complete anyway…”

“Understood. Please get some rest.”

I gave a small bow before leaving the room.

“This way, please. I’ll escort you to the guest room where your wards are resting.”

Butler Sergius, who had been waiting outside, immediately led me downstairs.

“Now that you’ve formed an expedition with the young master… We’ll likely be seeing each other often. Mr. Kar, I look forward to working with you.”

“The pleasure is mine. My children as well.”

“If there’s ever anything you desire… Please don’t hesitate to tell us.”

“If it’s within our power, we’ll gladly assist you.”

“As it happens… I do have one request.”

The elderly butler, walking ahead, turned toward me with a gentle smile.

Returning his reassuring smile with one of my own, I said,

“Please take complete responsibility for helping my children build their basic physical training.”

 

***

 

Marlin was experiencing a feeling she’d never known before.

How exactly should she describe the emotion that had completely taken over her heart?

‘…What is this?’

Her lack of education limited her vocabulary.

She couldn’t properly put her feelings into words.

So… She decided to retrace everything that had happened today.

‘The kind maid made us so many delicious dishes!’

Food that tasted as if it had come straight from the heavens where the Benevolent Gods resided.

Normally, she’d have been too embarrassed to say something so dramatic… Yet the praise escaped her lips naturally.

Together with Abel… She ate until her stomach was completely full.

Only then did she discover that the phrase “I’m too full to eat another bite” wasn’t an exaggeration.

It was an actual state that truly existed.

‘After that… I took my very first bath in hot water inside what looked like a bathtub made entirely of gold…’

Then the maid brought her new clothes.

Elegant black garments embroidered with golden thread.

She had her perpetually messy hair cut and neatly styled.

Looking into the mirror… A child she’d never seen before stared back with wide eyes.

Everything felt unfamiliar… And overwhelming.

Did the noble young master who owned this mansion really live surrounded by such luxury every single day?

‘I’m jealous.’

Only after that thought crossed her mind did Marlin realize the truth.

The emotion filling her heart… was envy.

Jealousy.

It was shameful.

To envy someone who had shown her such incredible generosity…

How disgraceful.

Perhaps growing up poor had impoverished her heart as well.

“Kar… I think I’m a bad person…”

Marlin confessed every one of her feelings honestly after Kar entered the guest room.

Normally… He was someone who constantly joked around without pause.

But in moments like these… Surely he’d scold her seriously.

She tightly shut her eyes and waited.

Then… Warm hands gently rested upon her shoulders.

“…Kar?”

For some reason… Her normally unserious patron remained silent for a long time.

Unable to endure the silence, she cautiously opened her eyes.

Their gazes met.

Kar gently poked her forehead with his index finger.

“Come. Abel will stay here.”

He lightly pushed her forward, and before she knew it… She was following him.

Eventually… They arrived beneath the mansion.

“Where are we going?”

A pitch-black corridor without a single magic-stone lamp.

The only things visible were the occasional doors lining either wall.

It felt exactly like the Earth Elf dungeon…

As though a monster might suddenly leap from the darkness at any moment.

“You said you wanted to become a great explorer, didn’t you?”

Stopping before one of the doors, Kar smiled mysteriously.

Looking up at his face, barely visible in the darkness…

Marlin nodded vigorously.

“Good. Then open this door. I’ve prepared a present for you.”

She had no idea what the present was.

But Kar would never ask her to do something dangerous.

Click.

Without hesitation, she opened the door.

The brilliantly lit room beyond came into view.

“…Huh?”

In the middle of the room… Several familiar faces were kneeling with their hands bound.

They were the thieves from the Black Sword Guild.

Someone had apparently beaten them badly.

Blood covered both their faces and bodies.

“Marlin. Prepare yourself.”

Resting both hands upon his ward’s shoulders… Kar smiled brightly.

“Starting today… your special training to become an extraordinary Thief begins.”