Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 43 - C-Rank Dungeon: Nightmare World (1)

Chapter 43 – C-Rank Dungeon: Nightmare World (1)

 

Priests are a class that serves the righteous gods.

More precisely, after the Great Holy War threw the balance between good and evil into ruin, the priests of the evil gods were demoted to nothing more than “cultists.”

But not in Nightmare World.

This place existed in a future where every righteous god had perished.

Only faith in the evil gods remained.

At last, the cultists had reclaimed their rightful title of Priest.

“How utterly foolish.”

The low voice of a demon priest echoed through the darkness.

“You could have preserved your feeble breath by wallowing in pleasure before retreating to the World of Destiny. Why, then, have you committed such a misguided sin and sought to sink into Solitary Silence?”

This was clearly supposed to be a serious situation…

“What in the world is he saying?”

“Pfft.”

Beside me, Pendrick and Astrimia quietly laughed.

It wasn’t easy to stay immersed.

Apparently, even the evil gods found it difficult to stay focused.

[Sorry for interrupting, but the Wise One can’t stop laughing. Honestly, I think it’s hilarious too. XD]

Crackle! Crackle-crackle!

The evil gods were chuckling away without a care.

Why couldn’t they act with a little more dignity?

Their own cultist was approaching this exploration with utmost seriousness.

“No silence shall be granted to fireflies tumbling toward their doom.”

Flaming spheres ignited simultaneously in the priests’ hands.

“Burn.”

Just before the fireballs flew toward us…

Slash.

The priest who’d been rambling this whole time was decapitated.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

More demon heads separated from their bodies one after another.

Only after six of them had already fallen did the remaining priests frantically look around and unleash flames in every direction.

It was futile.

“……”

Rosalia.

The elven assassin who could merge with shadows darted freely through the enemy ranks, continuously swinging her daggers.

“You… will regret this…”

After severing even the head of the last demon priest who left behind such a stale, uninteresting dying curse…

Rosalia emerged from my shadow behind me and lightly tapped my back.

“Excellent work. Let’s go.”

The enemies had only been defeated so easily because Rosalia caught them completely off guard.

Things wouldn’t continue going this smoothly.

We sprinted onward.

The enormous eye gradually drew nearer.

Because everyone wore the Night Sky Veil, the eye couldn’t perceive us.

But after a day had passed, even that disguise would no longer fool it.

We had to put as much distance between us and it as possible while we still could.

‘…I’m out of breath.’

My Vitality had reached 6.

But I still couldn’t keep sprinting endlessly without rest.

Pendrick had apparently reached his limit as well.

His breathing had become ragged.

Fortunately, we reached the giant’s shoulder before collapsing from exhaustion.

“Something’s glowing over there.”

Astrimia’s blade pointed toward the center of the shoulder, broad as a hill.

A rectangular gate shimmering with murky green light.

 

[Spatial Transfer Gate]

[A transfer gate believed to have been created by a dark mage for spatial movement. It appears to be primarily used whenever someone needs to approach the Dead King and whisper instructions into his ear.]

 

“We’ll use that to reach the ground.”

“…Won’t enemies be waiting on the other side?”

“It’s fine.”

As we approached the gate, I spoke to Astrimia.

“The moment we cross over, emit the brightest light you can.”

“Understood.”

The three of us stood side by side before the gate.

Then, with our eyes closed, we stepped through together.

An overwhelming dizziness swept through my head.

It truly demonstrated just how sophisticated and convenient the exit gates of ordinary dungeons were by comparison.

Shhhhhhh—!

The moment brilliant starlight shone through my closed eyelids…

We immediately dashed to the right.

“Guh!”

“Solitary Silence!”

“…They’re here.”

Ignoring every shout echoing from every direction… We simply ran.

Stopping meant death.

Rosalia was an assassin.

Against numerous enemies in direct combat, she stood no chance.

As I ran, I looked upward.

The giant eye that had seemed so close before was now much farther away overhead.

‘Just a little farther.’

The Dead King’s location lay roughly halfway between the center of the entire region and its northern edge.

Using that eye as our landmark…

We had to estimate our own position.

Just as ancient sailors once navigated by the constellations.

“We need to angle slightly to the right.”

If we continued straight…

We would eventually reach a suitable hiding place.

It wouldn’t be perfectly safe.

But throughout this three-day expedition…

It was the only place where we could rest, even briefly.

Grrrr…

As my lungs reached their limit… A low growl emerged from beyond the darkness.

Our position had been discovered.

Then…

Pairs of crimson eyes appeared all around us.

Long, slit-shaped eyes.

There had to be over forty pairs.

 

[Demonic Watchdog (Level 1 + Level 2)]

[A beast of the demon realm raised by dark mages. The greater their numbers, the more rapidly their threat level rises.]

 

“……”

Rosalia immediately prepared to transform into a shadow using Shadow Race and attack the watchdog pack.

I raised an arm to stop her.

“No. They aren’t alone.”

Among the countless crimson eyes…

There were enemies whose presence I would’ve never noticed if Eye That Sees Through Truth hadn’t displayed them.

 

[Demon Dark Mage (Level 5)]

[A dark mage addicted to the power of the demon realm. A formidable opponent. Exercise caution.]

 

“There are two dark mages controlling the dogs. Prevent them from assisting the watchdogs. Wait for an opportunity… Then assassinate them. Be careful and be especially wary of their curses.”

“…Be careful.”

Rosalia actually voiced concern for me aloud.

Then she melted into the shadows and disappeared.

Meanwhile, the watchdogs continued closing the distance.

Now it was the genius swordsman and the Ego Sword’s turn.

“Pendrick. Astrimia. I’m counting on you.”

“…Can I really do this?”

Still nothing more than an aspiring explorer…

Pendrick asked cautiously.

His voice was thick with tension.

So I answered firmly.

“You can.”

If he couldn’t…

I never would’ve brought him somewhere this dangerous.

“…Understood.”

Pendrick slowly stepped forward.

The watchdogs immediately charged even faster.

“Asmi. Let’s go.”

“Yeah!”

Wrapped in the Night Sky Veil made for summoned creatures…

Astrimia shone with gentle starlight.

A single star appeared upon her blade.

The first star. Dubhe.

Whoooosh!

Starry aura enveloped the sword.

Grr!

Bark!

Watchdogs rushed us from every direction.

Pendrick remained motionless for a brief moment…

Then boldly swung Astrimia horizontally.

Powerful Slash.

A First-Tier Mystery that delivered an overwhelmingly powerful cut.

Slash!

Astrimia severed the neck of one charging watchdog…

Then immediately beheaded two more.

Level 1 Swordsman Pendrick still lacked experience.

His stance remained crude.

His swordsmanship was slow.

Yet every single strike landed squarely across an enemy’s torso.

The aura, which ignores over thirty percent of an enemy’s defenses…

Compensated for his imperfect technique.

Crunch!

Eventually…

One watchdog succeeded in biting Pendrick’s shoulder.

It wasn’t much cause for concern.

Krrrrk!

Pendrick’s skin turned gray and hardened.

Resisting Body.

A Mystery capable of temporarily altering the body in response to the type of injury received.

The watchdogs’ claws and fangs could no longer inflict meaningful damage upon him.

“Look at me!”

Since Pendrick was fighting so actively…

I couldn’t very well stand around doing nothing as party leader.

Whenever Pendrick came close to danger…

I incinerated attacking watchdogs with the Artifact Ember of Glory.

Meanwhile…

Eyes That Perceive the Truth was transformed into a raven and repeatedly pecked out the watchdogs’ eyes whenever opportunities appeared.

Had I come alone…

I’d have been surrounded and turned into a chew toy for half-elves long ago.

But now… I had dependable front-line companions.

“Asmi!”

Pendrick once again swung his sword horizontally.

It was the same Powerful Slash he’d been using all this time.

But…

Its power was no longer merely First-Tier.

Even Level 2 watchdogs whose soul rank exceeded Pendrick’s were effortlessly sliced in half.

‘…Of course. It should be that strong.’

Pendrick’s second Trait:

Master of the Sword.

Its effect: while holding a sword, every swordsmanship Mystery he used increased by two Tiers.

“Come at me, all of you!”

As their numbers rapidly dwindled…

The watchdogs finally began to hesitate.

The genius swordsman seized the opportunity immediately.

Charging forward…

He carved straight through them.

A mere Level 1.

An explorer without even a Bronze Badge…

Was utterly overwhelming for the monsters.

Bzzz.

Apparently moved by the sight…

Sue’je suddenly sent me thoughts filled with genuine interest.

‘Pretty one… I finally understand why you insisted on recruiting this handsome fellow.’

I nodded.

“I told you. Pendrick will one day become the foremost among the Twelve Heroes.”

In the game…

Pendrick was both the strongest character… and the greatest companion.

That remained true now as well.

“How dare you…!!”

The dark mage stubbornly resisted while summoning green demonic mist…

Until his head suddenly flew sideways.

“……”

Rosalia sheathed her dagger after eliminating the final enemy…

Then rose silently from my shadow once more.

The battle was over.

As party leader… I patted both explorers on the shoulder.

“Well done.”

“…That was exhausting.”

Pendrick had nearly depleted all of his Stamina, the warrior class’s Mystery resource.

His voice lacked strength.

Rosalia, meanwhile…

Simply remained as silent as ever.

“If it were up to me, I’d suggest we rest for a while. But we can’t, the enemies who noticed our battle will already be heading this way.”

Astrimia’s starlight had already been extinguished.

But the priests and dark mages who’d seen us would undoubtedly be rushing here.

We had to move again immediately.

As we hurried toward our temporary hideout…

I quietly asked Pendrick,

“Has your soul rank increased?”

“Oh… Yes! I think it has!”

The genius swordsman had reached Level 2.

He’d entered dungeons a few times before meeting me.

This battle had simply provided the remaining experience he needed.

Pendrick wasn’t the only one celebrating.

“I leveled up as well.”

As of today… I was a Level 3 Cultist.

The Corrupted Meterd Statue.

The hunt for Bloodyriv, the Bloodbird.

I’d defeated only elite monsters.

There had even been a sacrificial offering.

It was only natural that I finally leveled.

 

[Thanks to your accomplishments, your Vitality has increased by 2, and your Faith has increased by 1.]

 

My most important stat had increased by two whole points.

My Vitality was now 8.

Activating Ghoul’s Mobility pushed it to 14.

At that level…

Ordinary attacks could no longer kill me instantly.

“There you are!”

Just as the party’s pace finally began slowing… Murky green spikes shot toward us from afar.

Fifth-Tier Dark Magic.

Hell Needles.

This wasn’t something the others could afford to take.

So I rushed forward and took every single hit myself.

CRRRUNCH!

Spikes pierced my entire body.

Not only did they inflict physical damage…

They also corroded the mind.

A truly dangerous dark spell.

 

[Do you now admit that I am the greatest support partner?]

 

Eyes That Perceive the Truth smugly cast Veil That Defers Wounds on my behalf.

As a result…

My life force declined only very slowly.

CRACK!

Hell Needles continued raining toward me.

But now… I was a Level 3 Cultist.

As my soul rank rose…

The power and efficiency of all my Mysteries increased as well.

Enduring them had become noticeably easier.

Using Ghoul’s Mobility, whose duration had increased to roughly two minutes…

I forcefully recovered both body and mind while blocking every other dark spell with my own flesh.

‘Offensive dark magic is manageable… The curses are the real problem.’

Weakening Curse, Curse of Lethargy, Curse of Agony, Combined together…

They nearly caused my legs to buckle.

Still… I held firm.

“What kind of lunatic is this?!”

Hidden by the darkness…

The dark mage shouted in disbelief… Revealing his own location.

Rosalia was not the sort of assassin to waste an opportunity like that.

“Ghk…“

The moment I heard the dark mage collapse…

I took out a Vitality Recovery Potion, drank it, and resumed walking.

“There’s no time to celebrate killing one of them. Let’s move.”

Inside this dungeon…

One small mistake meant death.

Which was exactly why… It was so wonderful.

I was alive. And I intended to stay that way.