Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. – Chapter 55 – You Know Me Too Well

Author: Cireng

Chapter 55 – You Know Me Too Well

“…Think whatever you want.”

Odilon, who had practically melted into a slime, slowly shook his head.

“For now, I’ll pass the message on to Sergius that way. If the other side refuses, I’ll make my own decision, so keep that in mind. I doubt it’ll come to that.”

If Bartimir truly was the being that originated from me, there was no way he’d refuse a proposal to settle things through dungeon exploration.

“I’ve said everything I needed to.”

“Ah, I still have something.”

“Go ahead. Preferably quickly.”

Seeing the young master on the verge of completely melting away, I hurriedly spoke.

“The Gray Wolf Guildmaster wants to recruit me into his guild for the upcoming Guild War.”

“Decline.”

The answer came without even a moment’s thought.

“Isn’t that a bit too decisive? Are you perhaps a racist who hates orcs? Or maybe one of those infamous Kingdom of Rumes restorationists?”

“Quit deliberately saying nonsense when you already know the answer.”

“Targon… keep your distance from him whenever possible. He’s not someone you should make into a companion.”

He wasn’t wrong.

Gray Wolf Guildmaster Targhon was an orc who became an incredibly dependable ally once you befriended him… but getting too close to him could become troublesome.

I quietly nodded before looking into Odilon’s eyes.

“Instead of rejecting the idea outright, please think about it. This is an opportunity.”

“What do you mean?”

“You already know.”

As adventurers, one should always possess great ambition.

“I’ll lead the Gray Wolf Guild to victory… and use the opportunity to spread the reputation of the Moon Expedition far and wide.”

***

Pletica.

The city of dungeons, where dreamers from across the continent gathered in pursuit of success and wealth, had begun as nothing more than a temporary encampment for expedition parties preparing to explore dungeons.

Later, under the leadership of a wealthy merchant blessed with extraordinary business talent, it grew into a city.

After countless years of continued development, it eventually became the city-state it is today.

“And that merchant who once governed the city… took advantage of the Baltelium Empire’s decline, withdrew from the City-State Alliance, and crowned himself king.”

Back at our house in Cultist Town for the first time in a while,

I was eating breakfast bread and soup prepared by Abel, while giving the siblings a simple lesson.

Marlin chewed on the soft bread before tilting her head.

“Why are you suddenly teaching us history?”

“You should know at least this much common knowledge. If people started calling you ignorant children who know nothing, it’d break my heart.”

“Considering you’re looking directly at ‘me’ while saying that… you’re sounding awfully natural about it.”

Just as always, Marlin’s response was wonderfully vivid.

This was exactly why I could never quit practicing my faith for Lord Lidni.

[In case you’ve forgotten, another objection: The Wise One wants His believers to prank people with ☆magic☆! Not silly little jokes made with words and actions like ‘you’ do!!]

I casually waved away the black text before continuing the lesson.

“The merchant who became king was none other than the founder of the current Luxerion Dynasty that rules Pletica. You could certainly call him a great historical figure.”

I definitely wasn’t saying that because there was a possibility the commander of the Royal Guard, who possessed wide-area eavesdropping abilities, might be listening.

If I were trying to flatter the royal family, I’d have begun by pretending to remotely lick His Majesty’s feet from afar.

“And in exchange for receiving authority over their respective districts, the district-governing factions, including the Harmony Church, must hand over thirty percent of the wealth, Mystery Tomes, and artifacts they obtain from dungeons.”

“They take that much?”

“It used to be forty percent. They’ve actually reduced it.”

“Patron, has every Milky Way faction ever joined forces to oppose the royal family?”

“That’s a sharp question.”

Holding power was never truly comfortable.

Those who ruled were inevitably challenged by people pursuing two entirely different ideals… freedom and ambition.

“What do you think is the surest way for a ruler to maintain their position?”

The siblings each answered according to their personalities.

“Win people’s hearts with money?”

“Wouldn’t overwhelming strength be the most reliable?”

“You’re both correct.”

The difference in military power was simply too great.

No one even dared consider rebelling against the royal family.

On top of that, the Crown regularly bestowed generous privileges upon the Six Milky Ways.

As long as they faithfully paid their taxes and remained loyal, their governing rights over each district would never be revoked.

There was no reason whatsoever to rebel.

“Then why does District 3 change governing factions regularly?”

“That’s a simple story.”

“Long ago, there was an expedition that refused to remain loyal.”

About a hundred years ago, one guild rebelled against the royal family.

It was crushed in barely half a day, and every guild member was executed.

Since then, District 3 has held a Guild War every two years, hosted by the royal family, with control of the district as the prize.

“And the next Guild War begins one month from now. Every guild in Pletica will compete for the tremendous honor of proving its loyalty to the Crown.”

“Ooh…”

“Oh, and I’ll be participating too.”

Marlin, who had been diligently finishing her warm soup, blinked blankly.

“Aren’t we an expedition, not a guild?”

“That’s right.”

“So we aren’t eligible, and according to Pletica’s laws, founding our own guild isn’t possible either.”

Each of the Six Milky Ways was permitted to possess only a single guild beneath them.

Furthermore, their members couldn’t join other guilds.

That meant Odilon could only operate an expedition.

Naturally, Rosalia couldn’t participate in the Guild War either.

“Then how are you going to enter?”

“I’ll participate as a member of the Gray Wolf Guild.”

“So you’re abandoning the Moon Expedition…?”

“Of course.”

“And Marlin, you’ll be the first thing I throw away.”

“…”

She immediately started stabbing my side with her fingernails, so I stopped her by stuffing a piece of meat into her mouth.

“The truth is, guilds and expeditions are separate organizations.”

“Normally, it’s perfectly fine to belong to both.”

“Hmm…”

While Marlin sat thinking, her ears twitching, Abel raised his hand.

“Patron, I have a fundamental question.”

“What is it?”

“You said the Guild War starts only one month from now. You’re still only Level 3. Can you really compete against elite adventurers from the other guilds?”

“Oh. You’re right.”

Marlin finally realized the issue as well after hearing her brother.

As I sipped Abel’s fragrant special tea, prepared slightly differently than before, I answered,

“You don’t need to worry about that. In the dungeon used for the Guild War finals… every adventurer’s soul rank becomes equal.”

A special dungeon gimmick.

Everyone who entered explored under completely identical conditions.

Its rewards were so terrible that nowadays it is used only for Guild Wars.

“If everyone starts under equal conditions… wouldn’t that actually benefit me?”

“I suppose it would. But why help the Gray Wolf Guild?”

“Because it’s an opportunity to showcase our expedition’s capabilities.”

An openly self-serving reason.

I simply wanted to increase our reputation.

The Guild War attracted enough attention that even the governing factions of the other districts watched it closely.

There was no reason not to take advantage of it.

There was also another motive… stopping whatever schemes the Six Apostles might be plotting.

“I already told the young master after dinner yesterday. He immediately told me to do as I pleased.”

Naturally, it wouldn’t be easy.

Becoming one of the governing Milky Ways yourself was endgame content, on the same level as discovering every Hidden Piece in every dungeon.

Winning the Guild War was that difficult.

Even with twenty thousand hours of accumulated experience, it wouldn’t be easy at my current level.

‘That’s exactly why it’s worthwhile.’

If the road toward your destination was long and filled with thorns, then all you had to do was learn to enjoy the pain of those thorns piercing your skin.

I’d already experienced enough disasters in my life that I could smile even after being stabbed by something as long as a rapier.

A cavalry lance, though…

I’d probably have to think twice about that.

In any case, before participating in the Guild War, my priority was simple: growth and improvement.

Time wasn’t exactly abundant, but strengthening our forces was more than achievable.

“Come on, you two. If you’re finished eating, let’s get moving.”

“Are we going to the young master’s mansion?”

“Yes. But first, let’s get some exercise to help digest breakfast.”

I took the children outside and went for a light jog around Cultist Town.

Perhaps it was because my Stamina stat had increased.

Compared to the time I explored Hideout of the Hidden Ghoul Pack, when even a little running left me exhausted, my endurance had clearly improved.

I was still slower than the siblings, but turning the humiliation of lagging behind children into motivation for self-improvement wasn’t a bad thing.

“Phew… You two really do have fast, sturdy legs.”

“No. You’re just slow and weak, Karr!”

“Thank you for stating the facts so accurately.”

After ruffling Marlin’s hair while she proudly puffed out her chest, we returned home only long enough to wash our faces.

The rental houses provided by the Harmony Church didn’t even have proper showers or bathtubs, making it impossible to clean oneself comfortably.

It wasn’t because they were mistreating us.

Long ago, an utterly insane cultist had kidnapped a poor civilian, chopped up the body, washed it, and attempted to deliver it as “bathwater.”

Ever since that incident, those facilities had disappeared.

“Come on, kids. Let’s head to the young master’s mansion and take a bath.”

“You make it sound like we’re just going to the public bathhouse.”

“Ah, Right… It’s not actually a public facility. I guess I’ve just gotten too used to how convenient it is.”

“…”

Together with the children, I headed to House Brites’ villa.

As expected from the mansion of a wealthy information broker family, its facilities and equipment were luxurious.

For the first time in quite a while, I was able to thoroughly clean myself.

There was no need to change clothes.

The Sky Invader, imbued with the Exalted One’s sublime filth, couldn’t be soiled by mere sweat or grime.

“Good morning, Sir Karr.”

After finishing my bath, I also happily enjoyed the free meal prepared by the maid Charlotte in the dining hall.

As I was eating, the butler Sergius approached and bowed politely.

“Good morning, Butler.”

“What brings you here?”

“First… please accept this.”

Wrapped in a fine handkerchief, Sergius presented me with a flat, semicircular object.

[Artifact — Connected Fragments]

[A paired communication artifact. Even when separated by great distances, the two holders can communicate with each other.]

An expensive communication artifact.

Normally, Odilon carried one half, while Rosalia carried the other… not me, because of Odilon’s extreme distrust of people.

“So… Has the young master finally come to trust me?”

“It seems your relationship has reached something resembling trust. But not quite. You’re still just a little short.”

“What a pity.”

To Odilon, I was still not a ‘companion’, but merely his business partner in the expedition.

Considering his uniquely terrible personality, that was practically the highest affection level imaginable.

Though admittedly, his maximum affection still amounted to less than a quarter of what most people considered normal.

“And just moments ago, I spoke with the mage you’re planning to recruit.”

“Oh?”

While eating the apple Charlotte had served for dessert, I asked eagerly, “What did he think of my proposal?”

“He accepted immediately. Very confidently.”

As expected.

He hadn’t refused.

Just what I’d expect from a dark mage I personally raised.

“In fact… he wants to settle things today.”

The youngest of the ‘Le-‘ siblings, living up to his reputation.

At this point, I could safely discard the hypothesis that he might not actually be my former secondary character.

“Understood. Then let’s leave immediately.”

“I anticipated you’d say that. So I’ve already arranged the meeting.”

“Thank you.”

“Did he mention which dungeon he wanted to compete in?”

“He said you could choose. He also added that if you were scared, you were free to pick a dungeon favorable to yourself. What will you do?”

My answer had already been decided.

“The D-Rank dungeon… Library of Sin. It’s located in District 6.”

“…That one?”

Sergius frowned while stroking his chin.

As he stood there thinking,

Marlin, still scraping every last bite from her plate, tilted her head.

“Butler, what’s wrong? Is it a dangerous dungeon?”

“Not particularly. The issue is that it’s an unfavorable environment for Sir Karr.”

“Huh?”

“Demons feed upon negative emotions. The more they consume, the stronger their physical abilities become. Taking that into account… the Library of Sin is essentially a demon’s ideal battlefield.”

Marlin’s eyes widened as she stared at me in confusion.

“Karr… Do you secretly want to quit being expedition leader?”

“As if.”

“Ah, I get it. You picked it because it’d be more fun if you’re at a disadvantage, right?”

Silently, I patted the back of Marlin’s head.

“You really do know me too well now.”

She’d answered perfectly.

Though admittedly… that wasn’t the ‘only’ reason.

“Butler. May I decide the rules for the match as well?”

Sergius, who had only been smiling wryly at my bold decision to deliberately choose an unfavorable dungeon, nodded.

“That shouldn’t be a problem.”

Then, the elderly butler suddenly chuckled before looking at me.