Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 83 - Your Generosity Is Far Too Great

Chapter 83: Your Generosity Is Far Too Great

 

My words and actions often fail to be understood by other people.

The opposite also happened quite frequently.

Like right now.

“Thank you so much, Lord Karr!”

Near the wall surrounding the Artea Monastery, about ten days after we had left, if one accounted for the time difference between the outside world and the Sanctuary of Restful Purification.

The moment we emerged from the labyrinth, Valentin threw himself flat onto the ground and began shouting at the top of his lungs.

“A timeline in which Saint Seraphina, the greatest saint in history, survived! If we continue maintaining contact with that timeline, our Order’s doctrines, our methods of creating Mystery, and even the ways we utilize them will make tremendous leaps forward!”

“…I understand, so would you please stand up now?”

His booming voice echoed everywhere, causing the residents of the nearby slums and the Cultist Town to turn toward us and whisper among themselves.

“What’s going on?”

“Oh, it’s Valentin again.”

“What’s he done this time…?”

At first, everyone’s attention was drawn to Valentin, the owner of the thunderous voice.

Then, naturally, their gazes shifted toward me, the person the broad-smiling Holy Knight was showing such reverence to.

“But who’s that blond guy?”

“Isn’t that the cultist Valentin’s been praising nonstop lately?”

“Ah, so that’s that rookie explorer who’s been making a name for himself recently!”

Thanks to my constant expeditions, more and more people had begun recognizing me.

Come to think of it, even the bald expedition captain I met in the Library of Sin had recognized me immediately.

I didn’t mind attracting attention.

But having a giant Holy Knight prostrating himself before me with his forehead pressed against the ground was honestly rather embarrassing.

I glanced at everyone watching before gently placing a hand on Valentin’s shoulder.

“If you’re going to continue singing my praises, could you at least do it while standing? It’s a little uncomfortable when you’re bowing that deeply.”

“…Standing or sitting isn’t the issue here.”

Astrimia muttered quietly from Pendrick’s embrace, still resting inside her scabbard.

Beside her, Lucius, his face turning slightly red, quickly chimed in.

“Brother, please stand first. If too much attention gathers, it could create troublesome situations.”

“…Understood.”

Valentin reluctantly stood, though his eyes continued sparkling.

“There is a wonderful resting pavilion inside Artea Monastery where one can enjoy breathtaking scenery. Just being there refreshes both body and soul. Would you permit me to escort you there?”

[Just sensing Artein’s mark already makes me nauseous. If I actually enter the monastery, I’ll melt out through your eye socket….]

‘Squirm.’

The Evil God’s avatars, already exposed to Artein’s overwhelming presence, were practically panicking.

It seemed I’d have no choice but to refuse Valentin’s invitation.

Besides, the scenery had merely been created through Mystery.

It wasn’t particularly interesting.

Perhaps because I was still half an elf, artificially created natural landscapes simply didn’t appeal to me.

“Let’s part ways here today. I’m far too tired to visit the monastery.”

“Ah, of course! That would indeed be better!”

Valentin accepted my words without the slightest hesitation.

His trust in me had become a little too deep…

At this point, even if I claimed that Lord Lriria would one day conquer the world again, a completely absurd statement with zero possibility of coming true, he’d probably believe it wholeheartedly.

The broad-smiling Holy Knight spoke again.

“What a shame! I truly wish to treat you with the utmost hospitality, Lord Karr! If it were up to me, I’d spread the tale of your heroic deeds in Sanctuary of Restful Purification throughout District Six so every Harmony Church follower could hear it!”

His voice rose again, prompting Lucius to hurriedly stop him.

The residents of the slums and Cultist Town, however, had already lost interest and dispersed.

Valentin was almost as famous for his booming voice and personality, which was surprisingly frivolous for someone of his size, as he was for his strength.

This level of commotion was practically an everyday occurrence.

“White Teeth Mister… Wouldn’t that be difficult in practice?”

Bartimir, casually resting an arm over my shoulder with a bored expression, suddenly asked.

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“I’ve heard there are factions that wouldn’t like hearing a cultist has received the immense favor of the One Who Protects All.”

“…You’re absolutely right.”

The excitement and joy quickly faded from Valentin’s face.

He probably knew full well that the Archbishop governing Pletica’s District Six favored a version of “Harmony” that wasn’t particularly kind toward cultists.

“The senior magi at the Mage Tower talk about it every day. They say the Harmony Church constantly suffers conflicts between its three sects over church doctrine.”

“…I can’t deny that.”

Valentin let his broad shoulders droop and smiled bitterly.

“Even Lady Artein cannot perfectly control every one of her countless believers. Among them are those who interpret the will of the One Who Protects All in… rather extreme ways.”

The three sects were born from differing interpretations of harmony and coexistence.

Valentin and Lucius belonged to the same faction.

Which was why they’d participated in the volunteer work together.

Ignoring the youngest Holy Knight, who had been thoroughly indoctrinated with “Order” and therefore possessed little personal will, I addressed the two Harmony Church members.

“I think it’d be best if what happened inside Sanctuary of Restful Purification were… somewhat toned down before being spread.”

“…I agree. It has too much potential to spark conflict.”

The broad-smiling Holy Knight became visibly dejected.

Seeing such a large man hunch his shoulders so sadly awakened my protective instincts.

I couldn’t help revealing just a tiny spoiler about the future.

“…”

“You’ll have to wait for now. But it won’t stay that way forever. Everything has its proper time, doesn’t it?”

“You mean…?”

Meeting Valentin’s confused gaze, I continued softly.

“I never said we should hide the truth forever. Before long, there will be a legitimate reason to invite my expedition as honored guests.”

“…Did you glimpse the future through one of Lord Lidni’s Mysteries?”

“Of course.”

[You should know that the Wise One’s prophetic Mystery can only foresee unfortunate and erroneous futures…!]

“More precisely… It’s a conclusion drawn by combining knowledge gained through knowledge-based Mystery with my own deductions.”

“I see!”

“When that time comes… Only then should everything that happened during the expedition be revealed.”

Confessions should happen during dramatic moments.

A useful life lesson.

If remembered, it could firmly engrave your existence into the mind of the person you liked.

I knew this well because I still remembered how I felt when, just as I was leaving home for a vacation, I received a heartfelt confession by text from that demon supervisor Choi.

“Until then… Please keep everything a secret.”

“Understood!”

Valentin answered energetically before lowering his gaze toward my missing left arm.

“I can’t simply sit around waiting. Would you permit me to have a prosthetic arm made for you?”

“I would gladly accept that.”

Truthfully…

I’d secretly been hoping someone would offer.

If I’d brought it up myself, wouldn’t I have looked overly sensitive about losing just one arm?

I immediately rummaged through my subspace and pulled out the Ember of Glory.

Pendrick accepted it before handing it to Lucius.

“If possible… I’d like a prosthetic specially designed for flame-type Mystery, based on this artifact’s effects.”

“A prosthetic specialized for flames… Understood.”

Then Lucius fulfilled his duty as a labyrinth administrator priest.

“I’ll personally ensure the information concerning Lady Artein’s hidden arrangements discovered in this labyrinth is properly evaluated. Would it be acceptable if I paid the entire advance at that time as well?”

“Naturally.”

“Thank you. Then until next time.”

“I pray we’ll meet again soon, Lord Karr!”

Valentin and the Harmony Church members returned toward Artea Monastery.

I watched the monastery’s white walls and the buildings beyond them for a moment before turning around.

“We should head home and rest as well.”

After such a long ordeal…

It was finally time to return to the comfort of home.

As we walked toward Odilon’s mansion, I took out the Fragment That Connects as One and poured my will into it to make my report.

Strangely enough… There was no response.

Arriving at the mansion with growing curiosity, we were greeted by a rather shocking truth.

“Captain… I don’t think anyone’s inside.”

…Where did everybody go?

 

***

 

We first headed to Karr’s residence in Cultist Town.

Not long afterward, we arrived at my cozy home.

But Marlin and Abel weren’t there to welcome me either.

“Did everyone go on a picnic together or something?”

Bartimir, sprawled comfortably across the sofa as though it were his own house, muttered absentmindedly.

Approaching the refrigerator, Pendrick retrieved Abel’s signature tea, Flower Garden Within the Lake, and handed it to me.

“Come to think of it… Even those thieves from the Black Sword Guild weren’t at the mansion. Could they all have entered a labyrinth together for the final evaluation?”

“Yes. That’s probably it.”

The final examination to become an intelligence operative under Odilon… the Faint Shadow.

By now, Marlin and the thieves from the Black Sword Guild were probably struggling through some E-Rank labyrinth in District Six.

And Abel was likely preparing meals for them alongside his master, Charlotte.

“Then where’s the Young Master? Hasn’t he returned from District Three yet?”

“Don’t tell me he tripped while walking and ended up hospitalized?”

“Honestly… That’s not impossible.”

“He rarely leaves the mansion because of his countless chronic illnesses. If the air is even slightly polluted, he’ll start coughing up blood immediately.”

“…Good grief!”

Astrimia actually managed to hop slightly despite being a sword.

“Then… going to District Three this time must’ve taken an incredible amount of courage…”

“Courage? I’d say he was prepared to risk his life.”

“Because he keeps leaving all the exploration to you while staying at the mansion, he must’ve felt guilty as the founder of the expedition and wanted to at least settle things personally with the Ash Wolf Guild Master?”

“I doubt it.”

Our sickly young master wasn’t the type to care about appearances.

“He simply went because he desperately wanted to prevent me from getting cheated when signing the temporary guild member contract. If I ended up in trouble, it would affect him too.”

“…Let’s just say it was because of the warm comradeship he’d secretly carried in his heart.”

“I like that version. It’s completely different from the truth. Which is precisely why I like it.”

After chatting a little longer, I went upstairs alone.

Just a short rest.

I also had something to think about.

‘I never expected her to go this far.’

I lifted my shirt and looked at my chest once more.

Two white shields rested there side by side, each glowing with a subtly different shade.

Mystery bestowed by Artein of the past, recreated inside the labyrinth… and Artein of the present.

Not ordinary blessings granted to common believers, either.

These were the highest-tier Mystery, bestowed only upon Saints or Saintesses.

“…Lady Artein. Your generosity is far too great….”