Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. – Chapter 7 – If You’re Going to Grow, At Least Grow Beautifully

Author: Cireng

Chapter 7 — If You’re Going to Grow, At Least Grow Beautifully

Overnight, I had left my homeland behind and found myself living in a strange new world.

As the unmistakable victim of a forced relocation, I had every right to vent my anger.

Even so, I decided against doing something as uncultured as angrily confronting a deity.

To be honest, I didn’t feel anger at all.

Only sympathy.

Just how desperately short of capable people did He have to be to bring an ordinary nobody from another world?

[The Wise One gladly watches over you, seeker who yearns for the Twisted Truth. If there is anything you desire, simply ask!]

“In that case, can you display my overall abilities numerically, as you did with my Mental Power capacity? Use 20 as the maximum achievable through ordinary training, and 30 as the limit of transcendent beings. It’d also be nice if you organized my Mysteries.”

It was a rather complicated request.

Even so, Eyes That Perceive the Truth quickly fulfilled it.

[Soul Rank — Level 1]

[Mysteries Possessed — [☆Eyes That Perceive the Truth☆ (First Tier+)], [Spiderweb That Binds All Things (First Tier)]]

“Why’d you make it so hard to read?”

“What’s with the ugly question marks and stars?”

[>:(]

I missed the clean, organized status window from the game.

Still…

This was better than nothing.

“From now on, whenever I shout ‘Status Window!,’ display this automatically. And if possible, make it cleaner. Leave out the personal commentary too.”

As I calmly looked over the Cultist’s pitiful stats, another line of text appeared below them.

[A long-eared race such as yours was never meant to enjoy the honor of worshipping an evil god. There is little that can be done while that narrow-minded God of Nature glares down upon you.]

[Even so, you chose the path of hardship by serving the Great One. A righteous and admirable decision… but regrettably, there is currently no way to stop the curse bestowed by the God of Nature upon long-ears who abandon Him. Soon, your Strength and Agility shall sink into the abyss….]

[:(]

“Why would I stop it? Leave it alone.”

I immediately pulled open my shirt and examined my chest.

In the center of my somewhat lean upper body…

A tiny seed protruded as though it were sprouting through my solar plexus.

[Seed of the Curse “Fertilizer Sprout,” bestowed by the God of Nature.]

[A cursed plant that grows within long-eared races serving evil gods. Once it germinates, it greatly weakens the host’s physical abilities. Time until germination: 3 days.]

A vicious curse that permanently fixed both Strength and Agility at 1.

If left alone, it functioned as nothing more than a penalty.

However…

By following a certain procedure, it could be manipulated into producing an effect the God of Nature had never intended.

Naturally, that would make Him even angrier.

Though it hardly mattered.

Remaining obedient had never earned forgiveness for worshipping an evil god anyway.

“If you’re going to grow… At least grow beautifully.”

Satisfied, I gently stroked the seed.

Then, unable to fight it any longer, I crawled beneath the blanket and closed my eyes.

It was finally time to visit Dreamland.

[Special Advice: Sleep soundly and you’ll wake up refreshed, with both your fatigue and your mood restored!]

Compared to the comfortable bedding I’d enjoyed as a modern person, the pillow and mattress were hard and uncomfortable.

Even so… Sleep overtook me almost immediately.

It was a deep, restful sleep.

***

A warm afternoon.

It was nearly noon before I finally opened my eyes.

Perhaps because I now possessed a different body, the razor-sharp biological clock that had always woken me at seven in the morning no longer functioned.

“You really sleep for a long time.”

After changing into clean clothes and stepping into the hallway, I found the siblings waiting for me.

Well…

More accurately, only Marlin was standing.

Abel was asleep on her back.

[Abel (Tiger Beastkin, age 12), the boy you helped. He twisted his ankle while fleeing from the ghouls in the Labyrinth, yet never showed it until now. I rather like his grit.]

“Abel. You’re hurt. You should’ve said something.”

“That’s just how he is.”

Marlin shot her awkwardly, averting her younger brother with an exasperated look.

“Before this, he got caught trying to steal an orc’s money pouch. He was beaten so badly that one of his ribs broke. But he hid it from me until the very end. He said he didn’t want me to worry.”

It was a touching story that highlighted the siblings’ affection for one another.

Unfortunately…

The fact that it had started with attempted pickpocketing took a few points away from the emotional impact.

“You waited instead of leaving first.”

“We had to say goodbye before parting.”

“Let’s get going. The longer we stay, the higher the bill.”

“…Okay.”

I left the tavern together with Marlin.

Since the tavern stood in the middle of the marketplace, the streets overflowed with shoppers.

“Which way are you two headed?”

“In District Six… Where else would kids like us live?”

“Answering a question with another question is impolite.”

“…The eastern slums.”

“Come on. I’ll walk you there.”

I started walking first.

After hesitating briefly, Marlin slowly followed behind me.

Her sluggish footsteps revealed her feelings so clearly that even someone completely lacking social awareness could’ve guessed them.

“You don’t want to go home?”

“…No.”

“Why?”

I already knew the answer.

Marlin and Abel.

The tiger beastkin siblings were children I’d lose out on by not getting close to.

That was why I already knew exactly how to recruit them.

As well as every advantage that came with earning their trust.

Still…

A person’s worries weren’t officially shared until they voiced them themselves.

After letting out a deep sigh, Marlin hesitated for a long time before speaking.

“…We’re actually members of the Thieves’ Guild.”

“I know.”

“…You aren’t surprised.”

“You two little kids belong to the Thieves’ Guild? My goodness! What a shock!”

“…That’s not what I meant.”

“You’re a difficult child.”

“Anyway… When we were even younger than we are now… The guildmaster of the Black Sword Guild took notice of us and taught us how to steal. I know it’s wrong. But what choice did I have? We’re orphans. Without parents, what other way did we have to survive besides crime?”

As I looked at Abel’s swollen left ankle, her quiet voice continued.

“Thankfully, I happened to have some talent for stealing. So somehow we managed not to starve. But… A few weeks ago… The guildmaster started calling only me over. And he began making… private requests.”

Out of consideration, I deliberately chose not to pry into the true meaning hidden behind those vague words.

Instead, I merely recalled one fact.

Among players, the Black Sword Guildmaster wasn’t known by his actual name.

Everyone simply called him… That Disgusting Thief.

“When I refused… He got furious. He said that since I’d become old enough, I had to pay all the guild dues I’d been exempt from as a child. All within one week.”

“How much?”

“About a thousand gold.”

Since Nightmare Dungeon was an American game, one silver was worth exactly one dollar.

One hundred silver made one gold.

Converted into Korean won, the amount those young siblings owed came to roughly one hundred million won.

An impossible sum for children barely in their early teens.

And after entering the Labyrinth, they hadn’t earned even a single silver…

“So… What do I do now? Do you happen to know something?”

The situation looked hopeless.

But the solution was surprisingly simple.

“Evil gods generally prefer offerings filled with malice. They have a richer flavor.”

Perhaps it was time to proceed with my usual plan… capturing a fresh, all-natural sacrifice.

An offering like the Black Sword Guildmaster didn’t come along often.

Even the notoriously picky evil gods would probably be pleased.

“Hold on.”

I grabbed Marlin’s shoulder as she walked with her head lowered and gently turned her to the side.

“…What is it?”

“Is there any reason you absolutely have to hurry back to the slums?”

“Not really. Honestly… I’d rather go back as late as possible. If I return, I’ll have to see the guildmaster….”

“Then come with me.”

The place I led the siblings to was the southern part of District Six of Pletika, managed by the Harmony Church.

The closer we came to our destination, the fewer people there were.

Eventually… The streets became completely deserted.

Every so often, we passed someone.

Each time, Abel quietly whispered to his sister.

“…Where’s he taking us?”

His suspicion was understandable.

Every passerby either wore a hooded robe that gave off a sinister atmosphere…

Was wrapped head to toe in bandages… Or had a face completely covered in tattoos.

How could anyone not become suspicious?

“We’re almost there.”

By about the tenth time Abel nervously asked the question, we entered a familiar street.

The houses lining both sides of the road…

The roads themselves…

Everything had been painted white.

Standing at the boundary where the city’s colors shifted from gray to white…

Two Holy Knights of the Harmony Church greeted us with stern expressions.

[District Six – Cultist Quarantine Zone]

The Cultist district was established by the Harmony Church.

Every worshipper of an evil god in Pletika was required to live here.

“…Ah.”

Marlin flinched at the sight of the Holy Knights.

“I-Isn’t this the Cultist internment camp?”

“Internment camp? You can’t leave without permission. But it isn’t meant for imprisonment.”

“That’s still being locked up!”

“There’s an important distinction. No one is ever forcibly confined. Granted… If you leave without permission and get caught wandering around, you’re executed. So it’s generally recommended not to sneak out. But whether you live here or not is entirely your own choice.”

“…”

Showing my identification tag to the Holy Knights, I led the siblings inside.

Marlin quickly looked around the neighborhood before widening her eyes.

“…It’s surprisingly normal. It doesn’t look much different from the rest of the city.”

“What? Were you expecting tentacles growing out of the streets, buildings made of flesh, and purple air?”

“…Honestly? Yeah. I was.”

“That only happens occasionally. Normally, it’s this clean.”

“…”

Leading the now-silent siblings onward, I headed toward the building I’d seen more often than any other during the game.

A modest two-story house.

Its appearance was identical to every other home nearby.

The only distinguishing feature was the nameplate beside the door.

It proudly displayed my name.

Kar.

[The residence assigned to you by the Harmony Church. Isn’t it laughably hypocritical how they pretend to be generous despite meticulously recording every bit of it as debt instead of providing it for free?]

“This is my house.”

I casually gestured toward it.

“Technically, it belongs to the Harmony Church, not me. I’m just calling it mine. There aren’t any rules against having housemates. So feel free to stay here from now on.”

“…Kar. Can I ask one question?”

“Go ahead.”

“Why did you bring us here? There wasn’t any reason you had to. We only met yesterday inside the Labyrinth.”

Different expressions appeared on the siblings’ remarkably similar faces.

Marlin looked bewildered.

Abel looked curious.

Apparently, kindness from an evil Cultist was difficult for them to process.

“Don’t get emotional. It’s not free.”

Nothing in this world is free.

If someone ever offered material support for nothing… They were one of two things.

A scammer.

Or a saint.

I was neither.

So naturally, I intended to demand appropriate compensation.

“Marlin. Abel. You two have talent as explorers.”

I’d learned that through countless experiences.

These children possessed abilities far too valuable to waste on surviving as burglars and pickpockets in the slums.

With proper support, both Marlin and Abel had the potential to become Tier One companions.

“I intend to become your sponsor. And once again… It isn’t free. For now, all you have to do is accept the support. You can repay me slowly later.”

“…”

Both siblings stared at me blankly with their mouths hanging slightly open.

I understood exactly how they felt.

They should’ve been happy.

Instead, their thoughts were probably in complete disarray.

After all…

Not a single adult they’d met in the slums had ever treated them as fellow human beings.

“If that still feels burdensome… Then let’s do this.”

“Abel. In exchange for food and a place to sleep, you’ll handle the household chores for a while. Cleaning, washing dishes, it’d be nice if you could cook too.”

“…Household chores?”

“And Marlin. I have something for you as well.”

There was work even more important than housekeeping.

“For the time being… You’ll be my assistant.”