Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 33 - D-Rank Dungeon: Bloodbird's Banquet (3)

Chapter 33 – D-Rank Dungeon: Bloodbird’s Banquet (3)

 

My exact playtime in Nightmare Dungeon was 20,800 hours.

Out of those, 20,000 hours were devoted solely to raising cultists.

Still, now and then, I’d sample other classes as a change of pace.

No matter how delicious a dish is, eating it every single day eventually gets a little tiresome.

Other than the cultists I raised, I had only ever played five other characters.

Among them… Ymir was an Orc of the Berserker class.

‘It’s him.’

This wasn’t a coincidence.

The speed of mineralization differed depending on an explorer’s stats.

Ymir’s internal organs were still intact.

That level of toughness strongly suggested he’d been raised according to the build I had painstakingly put together.

On top of that, after asking The Eye That Perceives Truth to confirm it… Even the Mysteriess he possessed matched fairly well.

“……?”

The assassin standing guard beside me lightly tapped the corner of her mouth.

“You’re asking why I’m smiling? Because this is exciting.”

There was new content.

‘Could it be that Lidni brought over my alt character too?’

‘Though honestly… The odds of another deity being responsible are much higher…’

Considering the current number of followers… The Forerunner of Twisted Truth might have absolutely nothing to do with this.

But since no better explanation came to mind…

I decided to believe it for now.

After all… Faith occasionally involved boldly ignoring reality.

Whatever the case… Pletica now contained brand-new content I knew nothing about.

What better news could there possibly be?

After quietly staring at Ymir, the Berserker I’d personally raised, for a moment… I spoke.

“Please carry this orc outside. I’m planning to perform a human sacrifice ritual.”

Alt character or not… Work came first.

He was already dead.

What meaning was there in clinging to him now?

That was the professional work ethic of a first-rate cultist.

Besides… He was wicked enough that sacrificing him wouldn’t leave a bad taste in my mouth.

And since I’d practically raised him myself… He probably wouldn’t have any complaints even in Hell.

[This orc possesses tremendous value as a sacrifice. Surely even the Wise One will be pleased!]

Without a word… Rosalia effortlessly hoisted the dead orc onto her shoulder and headed outside.

Following behind the strong assassin… I gently rubbed my right eye.

“You’ll be satisfied today too.”

Once outside the mine… I found a flat clearing near the cave.

“Please set him down here.”

Rosalia laid the orc beside a scenic overlook where both the sky and the surrounding mountains could be admired.

Meanwhile… I took the ritual supplies out of my leather bag.

First… The Blind Crow Idol.

Crackle.

The Exalted One protested, asking why I was offering the sacrifice to Lidni.

It sounded playful… But about half of it was genuine.

“Well… Orcs are ugly, aren’t they?”

Sue’je’s preferred offerings were slender humans or elves with attractive appearances.

Large, rugged, savage-looking orcs couldn’t have been further from the deity’s tastes.

Crackle!

“You’re saying that if it’s truly urgent, I could simply cover its face and body before making the offering? No. This sacrifice is for the Exalted One. I can’t exactly lie about where it came from.”

Keeping the lonely Evil God, who probably had no followers worth watching except me, company…

I surrounded the orc’s body with stones.

These were the ones Abel had picked up in the Lurker Ghoul’ Den.

Until I discovered a more efficient method of building a makeshift altar…

I intended to keep making frugal use of them.

The final item… Candles.

I placed one beside the orc’s head… Another near his feet… Lit them both… And the preparations were complete.

Now… It was time to prepare the offering itself.

“Could you cut here for me?”

Following my instructions… Rosalia swung her crimson dagger down onto the orc’s neck.

Crunch!

The neck snapped cleanly in a single strike.

The severed head flew off… Then rolled down the slope.

After quickly retrieving the fierce-looking silver head and placing it beside the temporary altar as decoration… I paused to think.

An orc whose entire exterior had transformed into silver.

Even with all my experience…

This was the first time I’d ever had to prepare something like this.

How should I season it… To make Lidni even slightly more satisfied?

‘…Crispy on the outside. Juicy on the inside?’

It felt like a light bulb went off.

To an Evil God… Minerals were probably just meat that happened to be a little harder than flesh.

Even served raw… It would likely taste incredible.

‘Then preserve the original texture.’

A recipe instantly came to mind.

An incredibly simple one.

All it needed… Was extra flavor.

I borrowed Rosalia’s dagger… And boldly sliced across my wrist.

Gush!

Bright red blood poured out… Drenching Ymir’s silver body.

Carefully moving my arm… I coated the orc in crimson.

Then I repeatedly turned the heavy body over… Ensuring the blood spreads evenly everywhere.

“……?”

Rosalia, who had been silently watching the preparations… Shot me a questioning glance.

“You’re wondering why I’m pouring blood on him? Since he turned into silver… His flavor might have deteriorated. So I’m masking it with my own scent.”

Inferior ingredients were originally meant to be buried beneath powerful spices and seasonings.

As a bonus… It also eliminated the awful body odor typical of Berserker-class orcs.

“Whew…”

Before collapsing from blood loss… I activated Ghoul’s Mobility.

The curse Fertilizing Sprout, which had accepted Rolling Thundercloud’s bribe… Contrary to that great deity’s intentions… Converted my increased Agility into Stamina.

The deep cut made by the dagger rapidly healed.

“Ahh… I’m feeling dizzy. Could you hold me for a moment so I can recover?”

Smack!

The cold-blooded elf slapped me across the back.

“Thank you. Now please step back a little.”

The offering… Was complete.

Its recipe: Silver Orc Tossed in Fresh Blood.

After confirming Rosalia had moved away… I placed my hand upon the orc’s newly crimson body… And quietly recited the prayer.

“You know my heart. I, Kar, who always carries Twisted Truth within me… Have prepared today’s daily meal.”

Surely… Lidni would like this one.

After all… I’d personally raised him.

“Lidni.”

Cawww!

“Your meal is ready.”

Unlike back in the Fire Ant Nest, when the owner hesitated because they couldn’t handle spicy food…

This time… My right eye immediately transformed into a blind crow and flew out.

It promptly began tearing into the offering.

Crunch. Crunch.

I’d worried whether silver might be too difficult to chew… But perhaps because it was merely the Evil God’s avatar… It ate without any trouble.

Its table manners remained atrocious…

Yet somehow… Watching it eat so heartily wasn’t unpleasant.

Crackle.

“You’re telling me you’ll clear away the offering if it doesn’t hurry up and eat? Please don’t do this during such a sacred human sacrifice.”

Perhaps Lidni disliked Sue’je’s subtle interference.

【Ahem…】

The Evil God to whom the offering belonged displayed obvious displeasure.

【Kar, my child.】

“Yes. O Forerunner of Twisted Truth. I’m listening.”

I knelt on one knee.

Lidni solemnly delivered an oracle.

 

【Today’s offering pleases me greatly.】

【It was not quite the delicacy I usually prefer…】

【Yet this orc’s soul resembles yours in some inexplicable way. That made it exceptionally delicious.】

【Though I cannot understand why the two of you possess such similar souls.】

【Do you perhaps have orcish relatives?】

 

Without batting an eye… I shook my head.

“I don’t know either. I’ve lost my memories. But what does that matter?”

 

【Indeed! Why should it matter?】

【A traveler walking the path toward Truth… ‘my’ traveler… has brought me such exquisite cuisine!】

 

After subtly emphasizing that I belonged to him in order to compete with the Exalted One… The great Evil God quietly made me an offer.

 

【My child.】

【Abandon your faith in Sue’je, and I shall bestow forbidden knowledge capable of shaking the world.】

【Or perhaps… I could grant you sorcery powerful enough to slay mighty monsters in a single blow.】

 

“Well…”

 

【Enough!】

【Cease repeating that slander about my followers numbering only in the double digits!】

 

Apparently… The constant verbal bombardment had finally gotten under his skin.

 Perhaps those who sincerely pursued Truth were simply destined to be persecuted.

 

【I do not mean immediately.】

【I speak of the distant future.】

【The day Twisted Truth once again spreads throughout the world.】

 

“So… When the Church of Twisted Truth regains the glory of its golden age… You’ll grant me immense knowledge and powerful sorcery?”

 

【Exactly!】

 

“To be perfectly honest… The promise is far too vague. It doesn’t really tempt me.”

Crackle!

As though waiting for precisely this moment… The Lord of the Filthy Skies interrupted.

“Oh? Lord Sue’je says that if I abandon the faith of Twisted Truth… he’ll grant me the divine relic Black Abyss Lightning.”

 

【What?!】

 

“Oh, dear… That’s quite troublesome. Such an offer might shake even Kar’s steadfast faith…”

 

【……】

 

Only after his avatar had nearly finished devouring the offering… Did Lidni finally speak again.

 

【Then… In addition to today’s reward… I’ll grant you a free Mysteries immediately!】

 

“Really?”

 

【Of course!】

 

Secretly stroking the tattoo near my collarbone…

I silently expressed my heartfelt gratitude to the deity acting as my accomplice.

‘Thank you for your cooperation. I’ll accept it first…”

“Then think about the rest. For now… My heart has leaned slightly more toward Lidni.”

 

【…My loyal child.】

【You truly know how to exhaust me.】

 

Caw.

After neatly finishing its meal… The crow returned to my eye socket.

Lidni casually asked:

 

【So then…】

【What do you desire this time?】

 

I’d already decided.

The reward wasn’t for me.

It was for my irreplaceable partner.

“I wish for The Eye That Perceives Truth to advance in rank.”

The ranks of growth-type Mysteriess did not automatically increase alongside their owner’s level.

They required special methods to evolve.

For The Eye That Perceives Truth, Lidni’s basic Mysteries… The method was consuming other Mysteriess of Twisted Truth.

“I’ll offer Veil That Defers Wounds as nourishment for its journey.”

 

【You’ve already made your decision?】

【A sensible choice.】

 

That wasn’t just empty praise to flatter one of his few remaining followers.

Once consumed… The sacrificed Mysteries would belong to The Eye That Perceives Truth.

I would no longer be able to use it myself.

‘This is the correct choice.’

Web That Binds All Things required active use.

So that one was excluded. On the other hand… It didn’t matter who activated Veil That Defers Wounds.

Besides… The Eye could perceive things beyond the senses of ordinary intelligent beings.

It would undoubtedly choose better timing than I ever could.

 

【Very well, my child.】

【Your wish shall be granted.】

【As for your additional Mysteries…】

【I shall personally choose one, so that you never grow arrogant or conceited. Treasure it well.】

 

There was absolutely no implication whatsoever that he merely wished to conserve precious divine power by giving me the cheapest Mysteries available.

Crack.

A slight sting spread through my body.

A tattoo shaped as an eyeball appeared on the ring finger of my right hand.

Immediately afterward… A sharp pain pierced my right eye… Then vanished in an instant.

 

[A First-Rank Mysteries, 『Insight That Sees Chaos』, has taken root within your body.]

[And I 『The Eye That Perceives Truth』have become a Second-Rank Mystery. Rejoice in the Wise One’s grace!]

 

【Continue pursuing Truth.】

 

Having ultimately bestowed the cheapest possible Mysteries after all… The thrifty deity withdrew from my mind.

Tap.

Rosalia quietly approached.

Then looked up toward the blue sky.

“You’re asking if we’re going to search for the Hidden Piece now?

Nod. Nod.

The master of body language enthusiastically nodded.

I nodded back.

“That’s right. Let’s go find it. The Hidden Piece.”