Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. – Chapter 37 – Healthy and Diligent Tastes

Author: Cireng

Chapter 37 – Healthy and Diligent Tastes

A C-rank dungeon was intended for intermediate explorers.

It was the recommended difficulty for explorers who had already accumulated a fair amount of experience.

If a beginner entered one, they would either be torn apart by monsters within a few hours or spend eternity wandering the dungeon half-dead.

The Royal Dungeon Management Corps considered the appropriate level to be Silver Plate Explorer Level 5 or 6.

Only at that point could one explore it safely.

“So, since we need to enter a C-rank dungeon… Pendrick, what level are you?”

I asked while leisurely sipping another cup of coffee, this one even sweeter after asking for about twenty more spoonfuls of sugar.

“…It’s a little embarrassing to admit.”

Pendrick frowned slightly as he crunched on a biscuit.

“I’m still only Level 1. As I mentioned earlier, I hardly ever had the chance to enter dungeons. Our guild had so many explorer hopefuls like me that I had to wait at least a month before it was finally my turn.”

It wasn’t because the guild master was exploiting anyone.

Pletica was a city where aspiring explorers from every continent gathered.

The so-called “Pletica Dream.”

With thousands of different dungeons waiting to be explored, anyone with enough effort and a bit of luck could realistically turn their life around.

That was why the number of immigrants steadily increased every year.

‘Come to think of it… The player was also supposed to have only recently moved here.’

Because of the city’s circumstances…

Countless explorers like Pendrick couldn’t even obtain the opportunity to enter a dungeon.

“…Are you really sure it’s all right for someone like me to accompany you into one?”

“Of course.”

I answered without hesitation.

Pendrick wasn’t like those ordinary aspiring explorers.

Potential. Traits. Unique Mysteries. The Artifact he possessed.

And although it wasn’t necessary for exploration, even his appearance and personality.

He had everything.

That was why he had earned a certain nickname.

”Developer Kato Roger’s adopted son.”

Still… Even if his overwhelming talent meant he’d grow just fine on his own…

I had no intention of raising him carelessly.

I planned to invest in him properly from the very beginning of his career as a rookie explorer.

“You don’t need to feel anxious.”

There was one undeniable fact that could restore Pendrick’s shattered confidence.

“I’m only Level 2 myself. At the moment, the only member of our expedition truly suited for a C-rank dungeon is Lady Rosalia, who’s Level 5.”

“What? Really?”

Pendrick wasn’t the only one whose mouth fell open.

The more shocked one was his girlfriend.

“From the way you spoke and carried yourself, you didn’t seem afraid of dungeon exploration at all. I assumed you were at least Level 7. Lord Kar… Aren’t you afraid of failure?”

“I don’t welcome failure either.”

Anyone who felt absolutely no tension before an important moment wasn’t optimistic.

They had simply suffered severe brain damage.

It wasn’t that I never considered the possibility of things going wrong.

I merely focused on something of greater value…

Allowing me to boldly ignore the difficult process along the way.

“I love the passionate emotions that can only be experienced while pressing onward until a dungeon’s completion conditions are fulfilled. I love the exhilaration that comes after finally overcoming hardship and danger.”

The ecstasy after suffering.

That burning feeling… Was why I had played Nightmare Dungeon.

And why I loved being an explorer.

Perhaps my heartfelt words had moved her.

Astrimia, who had fallen silent for a while, finally muttered,

“So… In the end, you simply have a twisted hobby of enjoying suffering?”

“No.”

I immediately corrected the misunderstanding.

“I simply welcome the hardships that naturally accompany pursuing my goals. I dislike pain for its own sake.”

“…Either way, you’re not exactly normal.”

Apparently… She still hadn’t understood my sincere feelings in the slightest.

Well…

How could an inanimate object understand the tension and excitement that only existed when one’s life was truly on the line?

“But is City of Pleasure really a C-rank dungeon? Honestly… That’s difficult to believe. I’m sorry to say this… But Lidni is a weak deity.”

“Not as much as Asmi… But even I found that somewhat surprising.”

Indeed.

The Wise One alone wasn’t quite enough to explain every piece of knowledge I possessed.

Fortunately… I had more than one excuse.

“Naturally… I have evidence.”

I casually pointed my thumb toward Rosalia, who had moved all the way beside me to get away from the black-haired lovestruck fool.

“Didn’t I already tell you? She’s the Deep Shadow serving the youngest young master of House Brites.”

“Ah… House Brites!”

Excuse Number Two. Brites.

The family that had risen to become the force governing District Four of Pletica through nothing but information trading.

Simply mentioning their name added overwhelming credibility.

“Then it sounds trustworthy!”

“No, wait! All that’s happened is that the question shifted from whether City of Pleasure is really C-rank… to whether this elf truly belongs to House Brites!”

‘She didn’t fall for it. Suspicious little thing.’

“Your intellect shines just as brightly as your beauty. You’re correct. In truth… I don’t possess any evidence capable of convincing all of you completely.”

“…You don’t?”

“But why would that matter?”

I dipped another biscuit into my coffee before continuing.

“Aren’t you planning to enter the dungeon with me anyway?”

“Well… yes.”

“Then simply assume you’re being deceived. That way, even if I secretly betray you, you’ll be able to respond in time. I’m only a weak cultist. It won’t be difficult to deal with me.”

Pendrick beamed brightly at my flawless logic.

“Oh! You’re right!”

“What’s ‘you’re right’ supposed to mean, you idiot, idiot, idiooooot!”

The Ego Sword flailed wildly inside her lover’s arms.

Only after I’d finished about half of my fresh cup of coffee did she finally calm down with a mental sigh.

“…Fine. Then I’ll assume you’ll betray us at the crucial moment.”

“Yes. I’m an utterly rotten cultist, after all. That should make it very easy to imagine.”

“Somehow… That makes me even more anxious…”

Having successfully persuaded Astrimia…

I returned to the topic at hand.

“As things stand… Only Level 5 Rosalia is qualified to tackle the C-rank dungeon needed to lift the curse.”

Normally… A party with this composition entering a C-rank dungeon would either be wiped out or leave Rosalia as the sole survivor.

But as always… There were exceptions.

“Although the correct classification of City of Pleasure is indeed C-rank… The actual difficulty feels closer to a D-rank dungeon.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because it’s the type of dungeon whose danger decreases dramatically if you’re thoroughly prepared. It doesn’t even deserve comparison with upper-tier C-rank dungeons.”

Even so… It would still be rather difficult for a Level 2 explorer.

But somehow… We’d manage.

After all… I’d already cleared it thousands of times while completing my Immortal Cultist build.

“There’s a special piece of equipment I intend to obtain inside. If everything goes according to plan… We’ll clear it safely.”

“…And if things don’t go according to plan?”

At Pendrick’s sharp question…

I observed a brief moment of silence.

Did I really need to answer that aloud?

“Ah. So it’s the kind of strategy where we risk dying. That’s actually kind of exciting.”

‘As expected of Pendrick.’

A swordsman whose mind had absolutely no room for negative thoughts.

Satisfied… I nodded, finished the rest of my coffee in one gulp, and stood up.

“Then let’s get moving. We have a great many supplies to buy.”

It was time for a delightful expedition shopping trip.

***

We arrived at an explorer supply store on Lively Promenade.

Compared to the shops in the Cultist Town of District Six…

The prices were considerably higher.

But the average quality was also much better.

“Lady Rosalia.”

I called out to the elf who had been browsing the section labeled ‘Flowers and Mushrooms for Alchemy.’

“I’m planning to invest heavily to ensure a safe expedition. So please lend me some money. After all, didn’t the young master give you spending money specifically for situations like this?”

“…”

The red-haired assassin slowly pulled a money pouch from her shadow and handed it over.

While firmly shaking her head at me.

“You’re telling me not to spend too much? Understood. I’m a half-elf renowned for thrift and sensible spending.”

Without the slightest hesitation… I took 300 gold from the pouch.

Watching me in stunned silence…

Rosalia’s body trembled slightly. Her brows knitted tightly together.

“So… You’re asking why, when you tried to spend money, I kept stopping you… Yet this blond mongrel is freely stuffing handfuls of gold into his pockets?”

How should I explain it so this financially clueless elf could understand?

After pondering it…

I suddenly realized there was no need for a complicated explanation.

“…Sis.”

It was time to use my trump card.

The one guaranteed to work.

“Isn’t there something you’ve wanted to try? A kind you’ve never tasted before… But you’ve been forcibly holding yourself back because the young master and the butler forbade it?”

“…!”

Rosalia stared at me with wider eyes than I’d ever seen before.

“When you’re with me… You don’t have to suppress that impulse.”

Perhaps this was how the Demon Race had tempted other races during the height of their glory.

I stepped close to the frozen elf… And whispered into her ear.

“As the expedition leader… I’m permitting you. Buy whatever you want. I’ll make sure the young master and the butler never find out.”

“…”

Then I turned toward the couple who had been blankly watching us.

“Pendrick. Lady Astrimia. Please keep this a secret as well.”

“I don’t know what it is, but I’ll keep my mouth shut!”

“I don’t have a mouth to begin with!”

After securing their promise of absolute confidentiality…

The taciturn assassin looked at me with noticeably warmer eyes than before.

Tap tap.

Rosalia lightly patted my arm…

Then solemnly walked toward the section filled with everything she desired.

[Various Poisons and Toxic Substances]

Shelves lined with bottles of poison designed for coating weapons or feeding to monsters.

The red-haired elf immediately began carefully inspecting each poison one by one.

To outsiders… Every one of her actions looked terrifying.

But having gotten to know her a little… I understood.

“You’re very excited.”

“Really? She looks the same as usual.”

“If you look closely… The tips of her ears are trembling ever so slightly.”

Watching the assassin’s delighted back…

Pendrick chuckled.

“You’re right. So she likes collecting poisons?”

“Close. But not quite.”

She did collect poisons.

Inside her own body.

“She enjoys ‘consuming’ poison.”

Rosalia… Was addicted to intoxication.

“…Does she possess some kind of poison immunity, Mysteries?”

Even Astrimia, an Ego Sword over a thousand years old… Sounded bewildered by such an unusual hobby.

“Her innate Mysteries, Fresh Companion… The Crimson Death Rose absorbs the poison. During that process, the toxins torment her body for several minutes. I believe that’s the part she enjoys.”

Since the consumed poison could later be used in battle…

It wasn’t entirely for pleasure.

There was practical value as well… Though her personal motivation was entirely based on preference.

“Then it’s still dangerous.”

“Of course. If it were perfectly safe… It wouldn’t be enjoyable. For example… Back in my hometown, whenever I ate poisonous fish… I deliberately imagined that perhaps not all of the poison had been removed.”

“…Why?”

“Because then… I get to experience the joy of surviving without dying… even though I merely ate an ordinary meal.”

“……”

Astrimia suddenly fell silent.

Then she whispered only to Pendrick.

“…Neither of them is sane…”

“In Pletica… You have to respect people’s personal tastes, Asmi.”

Honestly… From my perspective…

A human dating an Ego Sword seemed much stranger.

A shield would’ve been understandable.

But a sword?

Wasn’t that far too sharp?