Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 88 - A Safe Labyrinth Where Absolutely Nothing Dangerous Happens

Chapter 88: A Safe Labyrinth Where Absolutely Nothing Dangerous Happens

 

“Greetings, explorers.”

As we approached the entrance to the labyrinth we’d be entering this time, a sheep beastman staff member spoke gently.

“My name is Skip, a labyrinth guide affiliated with the Demi-Human Association. Please listen carefully to what I have to say, and I sincerely wish you all a safe expedition.”

Among Pletica’s Six Milky Way, the Demi-Human Association was the most considerate organization when it came to the safety of explorers.

If an expedition took far longer than expected to clear a labyrinth, they would even dispatch a rescue team.

“The labyrinth you wish to enter, Cherry Cherry Hill, is officially ranked D-class. However, despite its rating, its practical difficulty is generally considered to be equivalent to an E-class labyrinth. That’s because there is something that guides you.”

“A guide?”

“Yes. Once you enter the labyrinth, a Paper Fairy will fly to you from somewhere. The condition for clearing the labyrinth is to follow the Paper Fairy’s guidance and complete all seven tasks.”

As expected of a D-class labyrinth, the conditions weren’t particularly difficult.

The staff member briefly examined each member of our expedition with faintly glowing eyes before continuing.

“Judging from your soul ranks and bearing, you should have little trouble clearing it. However, you mustn’t let your guard down. The natural environment of Cherry Cherry Hill is rather… unusual.”

“In what way? Is it a labyrinth set in a future where the world has become strange?”

Hearing Abel’s clever question, the staff member’s eyes widened slightly before smiling warmly.

“Explorer. This may seem like an abrupt question, but… Have you ever met a Fairy?”

“…No.”

“Not even once. Perhaps because I’ve only ever lived in the slums of District 6.”

“Even I, as an employee of the Demi-Human Association, have scarcely ever met one. They simply don’t interact with other races.”

Very occasionally, explorers encountered Fairies inside labyrinths.

Whenever that happened, it was best to refrain from buying lottery tickets or spending money on anything involving luck.

After all…

You’d already used up all your good fortune.

“They’re so rare that even in Pletica, where every race gathers, they’re difficult to find. They don’t even socialize much with members of their own race. They live only in small ‘communities’ centered around a single leader.”

Fairies were an incredibly closed-off race.

Using Mysteries of Illusion, they created isolated spaces completely separated from the outside world and spent their entire lives within them.

Realizing why the guide had suddenly begun talking about Fairies, Abel’s ears perked up.

“So Cherry Cherry Hill recreates the isolated space of a Fairy community.”

“Exactly.”

The labyrinth guide smiled with satisfaction.

I patted Abel’s head in the guide’s stead.

“Fairies generally possess childlike personalities. So Cherry Cherry Hill is also cute and charming.”

“Then shouldn’t it be fairly safe?”

This time it was Marlin asking.

I’m not saying this just because they’re under my care…

But the siblings’ questions were as sharp as spears.

“It’s quite dangerous.”

“Why?”

“Because of the childlike nature of Fairies that I just mentioned.”

The innocence of children possessed two opposing sides.

Cheerfulness and cruelty.

Fairies happened to embody both to the fullest.

“In short… Cherry Cherry Hill is cute and lively, but dangerous elements are scattered throughout. However, if you simply follow the Paper Fairy’s guidance that I mentioned earlier, your expedition will be comfortable and straightforward. So please don’t worry.”

The sheep beastman employee smiled kindly before handing us a pamphlet containing emergency procedures.

Accepting it, Marlin leaned over and whispered,

“Are all employees of the Demi-Human Association this nice?”

“Of course. They generously extend kindness and goodwill to every race that isn’t human.”

“So they don’t like humans?”

“They hate them. They despise them.”

“…”

Both Marlin, who had asked the question, and Abel, who’d been listening with perked-up ears, simultaneously grimaced before turning toward Lucius, the only “human” present now that Pendrick wasn’t here.

The upright priest smiled warmly as if telling them it wasn’t a problem.

“I’m a priest of the Harmony Church, so it’s fine. If an ordinary human like Sir Pendrick had been here, things might have become rather awkward.”

“…Was that why you sent him away for training?”

“Correct. I’d already planned for him to begin training in Martial Mysteries. This simply happened to be the perfect opportunity.”

District 5 was wonderful in many ways.

But it was rather inconvenient for ordinary humans.

Pretending to be a half-elf made things somewhat easier…

Though that trick only worked for people blessed with extraordinary looks, like Pendrick.

In this world, humans who were too beautiful were often assumed to be half-elves.

“Any other questions?”

The sheep beastman employee smiled kindly, even toward a mixed-blood elf.

“None. The Demi-Human Association truly is the best.”

“Thank you, half-elf explorer. You may now enter.”

Just as I, acting as expedition leader, was about to touch the melted chocolate clinging to the grass, the labyrinth entrance…

Rosalia approached and lightly tapped my shoulder.

“…Tail.”

Although her voice was so faint it was barely audible despite standing right beside me…

I immediately understood what she meant.

A suspicious group had followed our expedition.

I wasn’t particularly surprised.

“Thank you for letting me know. I figured it was about time.”

Outlaws.

The greatest plague upon the Labyrinth City.

People who viewed labyrinths as places for robbery and desecrated the sacred act of exploration.

Apparently, an outlaw expedition intended to rob us inside the labyrinth.

It was only natural.

Ever since we’d cleared the hidden route of Sanctuary of Restful Purification, my name had become so famous throughout District 6 that practically everyone knew it.

Keeping my lips moving as little as possible, I whispered,

“Please trust this resourceful half-elf, Karr. There’s no need to worry. In fact… I specifically chose this labyrinth while taking the possibility of an outlaw attack into account.”

“…”

Rosalia stared straight at me.

That familiar look of skepticism she’d become so accustomed to wearing.

“Please don’t let them notice you’ve realized. Act naturally.”

The assassin, who was surprisingly good at listening to others, obediently gave a tiny nod.

“Let’s go.”

Touching the chocolate that served as the entrance, we entered Cherry Cherry Hill.

Whoosh.

The moment we entered, a refreshing breeze carrying the scent of cherries swept over us.

A horrifyingly beautiful hill welcomed explorers with its bright pink sky and rainbow-colored fields.

 

[D-Class Labyrinth – Cherry Cherry Hill]

[A labyrinth filled with scenery as ridiculously childish as its name suggests. The staff member already explained the details, so I’ll skip them. Besides, you already know everything about this place anyway. :)]

 

Pyororong!

Suddenly, accompanied by a cheerful sound effect…

A sheet of pink paper appeared in midair and began folding itself.

Abel spoke cautiously.

“So that’s the Paper Fairy the guide mentioned.”

“That’s right.”

Flap, flap!

Moments later, the folded paper became the shape of a tiny fairy.

After fluttering around us, it exclaimed dramatically,

“Friends! Please help! Bad children have come to Cherry Cherry Hill!”

The condition for clearing Cherry Cherry Hill.

Defeat the “bad friends.”

All seven stages of them.

Before the real exploration began, I encouraged everyone.

“Please remember that this labyrinth is meant more as a vacation than an exploration. As long as we faithfully follow that Paper Fairy’s guidance… Nothing dangerous will happen.”

“What happens if we don’t?”

“We get killed by ferocious snack animals.”

“That sounds fine.”

“…How is that fine?”

Marlin stared at Bartimir in disbelief.

Then…

She somehow nodded in understanding.

“Oh, right. You’re basically just like Karr.”

“Don’t you think you accepted that a little too quickly?”

Patting Marlin on the shoulder as she frowned, I continued,

“Let’s move. I’ll take the lead. Sir Bartimir, please stay at the very rear. Lady Rosalia, remain in the center.”

After forming a rough marching formation, I looked toward the Paper Fairy.

“Oh my goodness! We’ll help you! Where should we go?”

“Please follow me, friends!”

Flap flap.

The little paper creature energetically flew ahead.

We crossed hills carpeted in vividly colored grass.

Before long…

A cheerful, adorable song echoed from somewhere.

Without realizing it, I found myself swaying my shoulders to the rhythm as we walked.

Then a cat whose body was made entirely of jelly approached gracefully.

“Meow.”

“Come here.”

I like cats.

Their aloofness approached only when they felt like it was charming.

Soon afterward… Another cat approached.

Its body was made entirely of chocolate.

“HISSSSS!”

“Would you kindly go away?”

I hate cats.

Dogs truly were humanity’s eternal companions.

“HISSSSSSS!”

Suddenly, the chocolate cat expanded until it was nearly the size of a rhinoceros and slashed with its claws.

Slash.

Rosalia casually severed one of its forelegs before following up with an upward kick that smashed into its jaw.

The giant chocolate beast’s head exploded from a single strike.

“…That startled me.”

“Marlin. How can a tiger be afraid of a cat?”

After that…

All sorts of adorable creatures welcomed us.

Even the sun itself smiled happily down upon us.

Quietly following behind me, Marlin tapped my back.

“Karr, this labyrinth isn’t very dangerous.”

“That’s right. The staff member told us earlier. The practical difficulty is basically only the E-class.”

At the current level of the Moonlight Expedition Team…

Cherry Cherry Hill wasn’t difficult at all.

Even beginner explorers like Marlin and Abel could safely explore it.

“Friends! Please keep following me!”

Of course…

That only applied as long as we faithfully followed the Paper Fairy’s guidance.

Tap.

Rosalia quietly approached before glancing toward the path we’d come from.

“…They’re here.”

“I understand. Thank you.”

Immediately, I sent my right eye flying out of its socket.

“Caw.”

The blind crow shot into the distance.

A short while later…

A horrified scream echoed from beyond the hill.

“What the hell is that crazy crow?!”

“Karr… What did you do?”

“The outlaws followed us into the labyrinth. So I prepared a small event for them.”

Soon, the blind crow returned.

It gently deposited the now-motionless Paper Fairy into my hand.

Only then did Marlin’s eyes widen.

“Wait… Didn’t they say it’d become incredibly dangerous without this?”

“That’s right. You remembered well.”

Nodding as shouts mixed with profanity continued echoing in the distance, I said,

“Without the Paper Fairy’s guidance… Cherry Cherry Hill’s practical difficulty rises to approximately C-class.”

 

***

 

Up-and-coming explorers were favorite prey for outlaws.

Inexperienced. Easy to rob.

Yet carrying plenty of valuable loot.

If they belonged to one of the Galaxies or a major guild, they’d survive long enough to grow stronger.

But an unaffiliated explorer… Was nothing more than a walking treasure chest.

Even if he’s earned the Harmony Church’s trust, he’s still just a rookie.

Half-elf Karr. A cultist. The weakest class of all.

On top of that, an elf-blooded individual cursed if they worshipped any deity besides Metherd.

Despite carrying such overwhelming disadvantages…

The cultist explorer had recently accumulated remarkable achievements at an astonishing pace.

He’d become famous enough that even the slums knew his name.

“Karr! Remember that name! One day, he will surely become one of the Twelve Heroes!”

Valentin’s voice was already deafeningly loud.

Since he constantly went around loudly proclaiming how brilliant Karr’s future would be…

How could anyone not know?

Even seasoned outlaws found it troublesome that he had ties with the Heretic Crusher.

Nevertheless… Half-elf Karr was prey worth the risk.

He’d uncovered several hidden pieces.

Surely he possessed many valuable treasures.

“You may now enter.”

The temporary outlaw expedition whose members shared nothing except greed…

Entered Cherry Cherry Hill the moment the guide finished speaking.

Marsent.

A demonic outlaw from the slums.

He believed this robbery would end as easily as all the others.

“CAAAAW!”

“…Huh?”

Right up until a crow suddenly appeared…

Snatched away the Paper Fairy that had been fluttering toward them…

And flew off.

“…”

Only the dull and slow-witted were weeded out quickly.

Most outlaws possessed sharp instincts.

And so… Marsent reached his conclusion almost instantly.

“…We’re screwed.”