Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 93 - D-Class Labyrinth – Cherry Cherry Hill (5)

Chapter 93: D-Class Labyrinth – Cherry Cherry Hill (5)

 

The next day, after getting a good night’s sleep thanks to the exhaustion from battle…

“Please teach the bad kids another lesson today!”

As soon as morning broke, we set off once more together with the paper fairy that had flown over.

It was a simple exploration: follow the guide and defeat the monsters along the way.

“There’s another bad kid over there!”

The paper fairy pointed its tiny hand toward the top of an unusually tall tree.

“Kiiiiii!”

Hanging from one of the branches was a monkey whose entire body was covered in tentacles instead of fur.

Its Soul Rank was Level 4.

It wasn’t an easy opponent for a D-Class labyrinth, but our side had a member whom ordinary monsters simply couldn’t contend with.

Thunk!

While the Blind Crow drew its attention, Rosalia threw a dagger that pierced straight through the monkey monster’s forehead.

The creature’s life ended the moment it crashed into the ground.

“Great! There’s only one bad friend left now!”

The paper fairy spun happily in place before leading us onward again.

The final place it brought us to was a chocolate lake where marshmallow fish occasionally leaped out of the water.

“Please hurry and teach that friend a lesson!”

In the middle of the lake… A banana giraffe leisurely looked around with its long neck sticking out above the surface.

 

[Banana Giraffe Bana Na Nana (Level 4)]

[The boss monster of Cherry Cherry Hill. Since it even has a name, don’t let your guard down!]

 

“A giraffe? Somehow it doesn’t seem very strong this time.”

“It’s still too early to judge.”

The monsters appearing throughout the seven stages of Cherry Cherry Hill’s exploration requirements became stronger with each stage.

That last one, in particular, was a named boss.

A formidable enemy on the same level as Bloodybeak Bloodrive from Bloodbird Banquet Hall.

Considering that the appropriate Soul Rank for clearing a D-Class labyrinth was around Levels 3 to 4, it was by no means an easy monster to defeat.

“At least it’s not that disgusting this time.”

“Just wait a moment.”

I ordered the Blind Crow to lure it over.

Caw!

“Kweiriiigiii!”

With an indescribable shriek, the banana giraffe emerged onto land.

Its body… Was made entirely of human body parts.

Arms. Faces. Shoulders. Thighs. Hearts. Brains. Spines. Leg bones.

Every single one belonged to explorers who had entered this place before.

“…Aaah! Big Sis Rosalia!”

At her little sister’s horrified cry, Rosalia immediately rushed forward and kicked the monster.

The banana giraffe’s uniquely assembled body toppled sideways from the side kick, and its absurdly long neck splashed into the chocolate lake.

Was that the fondue assassination technique?

“Red, want me to help?”

“…Just distract it.”

“Got it.”

Assassins weren’t specialists in frontal combat.

They were classes that truly displayed their full strength only when someone was holding the front line.

As Bartimir drew the banana giraffe’s attention, Rosalia steadily accumulated damage on it with even greater ease.

Watching the battle, Marlin blankly murmured,

“It’s the final battle… but this feels way too peaceful. Even if it’s a named monster, it’s still only Level 4. Lady Rosalia is Level 6.”

Even Bloodybeak Bloodrive had only turned into a desperate battle because I’d personally taken the lead to gain experience.

If Rosalia had truly wanted to, she could have killed it with ease.

While the party’s strongest member demonstrated her prowess, I approached the paper fairy.

There was something I had to do before fulfilling the completion conditions.

“Lady Fairy.”

“Yes, friend! Did you call me?”

“It must have been an unimaginably difficult time for you.”

“What do you mean, friend?”

Before the paper fairy tilted its head in confusion, I bowed deeply.

“I’ve come to offer my condolences. Leader.”

“…”

The paper fairy’s cheerful expression instantly turned ice cold.

It looked as though it might use fairy magic to explode my head at any moment.

Before that could happen, I hurriedly brought the undead forward.

The two outlaw-turned-undead are infused with [Death · Flame · Transformation], flames brimming with vitality.

“My condolence gift.”

“…Life force.”

The paper fairy’s eyes widened.

It frantically waved both hands through the air.

Immediately, the adorable scenery of Cherry Cherry Hill split apart.

Beyond it appeared a desolate world.

The forest surrounding the independent dimension where the fairy community lived.

An undead forest where the spirits and animals had all fled, leaving behind nothing but death.

“…Thank you.”

Whispering in a voice barely audible, the fairy led the two undead outside.

As the torn space sealed itself again, a pink Mystery Book and a key fell from the sky.

 

[Tier 1 Universal Mystery Book – Yay Yay, Friends Forever!]

[Creates a mental bridge between those who have learned the same Mystery. Enables simple communication through one’s thoughts.]

 

A Mystery that greatly aided party cooperation and unity.

With this, the bond among our expedition members would deepen tremendously.

“…Karr.”

Marlin tugged lightly at my sleeve.

“Was that Hidden Piece just now?”

“It was. It required sacrificing at least two companions.”

A Hidden Piece is activated only through sacrificing companions.

For someone like me, living as a model cultist… It was an exceptionally troublesome type.

“What would you have done if there hadn’t been those outlaw undead…?”

“In that case, I planned to use the banana giraffe over there as a substitute sacrifice. We wouldn’t have gotten this, though.”

I picked up the key lying beside the Mystery Book.

 

[??? – Key Leading Somewhere]

[Insert it into the proper place, and a door shall open. It appears to unlock a labyrinth.]

 

An item that opened access to a labyrinth impossible to enter at the current point in time.

However…

I had no intention of challenging it now.

‘No matter how thoroughly we prepare, an A-Class labyrinth is still impossible.’

Someday. When we’d continued growing stronger… and finally become Gold Badge Explorers.

That would be the day the Leader Fairy’s lingering regret would finally be resolved.

“Until next time, Leader.”

As I carefully stored the key inside my dimensional storage…

Rosalia cleanly severed the banana giraffe’s long neck.

Shiiing.

Immediately afterward, the exit gate appeared.

It was time to end the leisurely vacation we’d enjoyed for the first time in ages…

And return to our intense everyday lives.

“Everyone. Did you enjoy your vacation?”

D-Class Labyrinth.

Cherry Cherry Hill.

Promising ourselves we’d someday meet the Leader Fairy’s true body rather than merely her paper avatar…

The labyrinth was cleared.

 

***

 

The very first thing I did after returning outside… was a sacred act that only diligent explorers could perform.

“We were attacked by an outlaw expedition.”

Snitching.

“…I see.”

The sheep beastman employee who had been welcoming us as we exited Cherry Cherry Hill hardened his expression and glared at the bound dog beastman.

Pierre, whose arms were tied behind his back, merely stared blankly into empty space despite the murderous gaze directed at him.

The effect of Frozen Heart.

A trait that prevented one from ever losing composure or rational judgment…

At the cost of periodically driving its owner into murderous insanity toward their companions.

‘So that’s why he joined the Hyena Guild.’

If you lived as an outlaw, constantly hunting opportunities to kill your own comrades…

The penalty of Frozen Heart became meaningless.

That was why I’d raised Hunter Pierre as an outlaw.

The Pierre standing before me had probably also started robbing explorers simply so he could freely kill his companions.

“…I’m terribly sorry, Explorer.”

After staring at the dog beastman for quite some time, the sheep beastman employee bowed to me.

“I failed to screen out the outlaws. We’ll provide compensation afterward.”

Tap.

Rosalia nudged my shoulder with her finger before pointing at the employee with her chin.

“So that’s one of the reasons we came to vacation in District 5?”

“One of several reasons.”

There had been a high probability that outlaws would target me, an up-and-coming explorer, by following me into a labyrinth.

That was why I’d deliberately chosen District 5.

I wasn’t normally the type to obsess over squeezing every possible benefit out of a situation.

But if profit practically fell into my lap like this… I’d gladly take it.

Likewise, I tended to enjoy absurd and unfair losses too.

“We at the Demi-human Association will ensure this outlaw receives strict punishment.”

The employee extended his hand, asking me to hand Pierre over.

I appreciated the goodwill shown toward protecting explorers’ right to safely explore.

However…

That would be rather inconvenient.

For the sake of what came next, I needed to hear what Pierre had to say.

“I’m sorry. But the punishment of this outlaw will be handled by our Harmony Church.”

Lucius spoke exactly as I’d instructed before we left the labyrinth.

“According to Labyrinth Law, punishment of outlaws normally falls under the authority of the organization managing the district. However, if the victimized expedition includes a priest or holy knight of the Harmony Church, our church may exceptionally assume jurisdiction.”

“…”

The employee narrowed his eyes at Lucius.

Disgust because he was a human.

Positive feelings because he was a Harmony Church priest who spread the ideals of harmony.

The total probably came to a slightly negative number, hovering close to zero.

Still, seemingly wishing to avoid unnecessary conflict, the sheep beastman employee finally said flatly,

“Fine. Do as you wish.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. That’s simply what the law says.”

Looking slightly displeased, the employee turned sharply away.

“…Understood.”

Lucius smiled bitterly while grabbing the rope binding Pierre.

“Thank you for your hard work, Priest.”

Even a Harmony Church priest received treatment like this.

District 5 was a rather difficult place for an ordinary human to work as an explorer.

That’s why whenever I played a human cultist character…

I’d always visited this place with great enthusiasm.

As I reflected upon those past memories of discrimination and contempt…

Marlin poked me in the side.

“Karr, aren’t you going to sell the Hidden Piece information?”

“All the Hidden Pieces for Cherry Cherry Hill are already known. They’re easy to discover.”

Since activating them required sacrificing companions…

The Demi-human Species Association naturally punished anyone who did so.

Of course… Sacrificing the lives of outlaws was completely legal.

“Besides the Mystery Book and the key, there was also an Artifact you could obtain. But that one required throwing five companions into a pit. Only the first discoverer could ever receive it anyway, so it wasn’t particularly meaningful.”

“…Was that really supposed to be easy?”

“For outlaws? Extremely easy.”

This was one advantage of living as an outlaw.

Since they always entered labyrinths with emergency robbery targets…

They rarely returned empty-handed.

“Patron. Now that the vacation is over, are we heading home?”

Abel asked as he tugged gently on my sleeve.

“Or will we wait until Lord Pendrick finishes his training?”

I placed a hand atop Abel’s head.

“Let’s go home. Lord Pendrick will need a little longer.”

Martial Mysteries involving breathing techniques such as Qi cultivation were not easy to learn.

For humans, who weren’t elves or beastmen…

Simply sensing the natural mana around them was already a tremendous hurdle.

“I’d also prefer to return.”

The outlaw prisoner suddenly nodded.

“District 5 is a place that calms the heart. But I don’t particularly like it. The narrow-minded Meterd’s influence permeates every corner. I worship Talendros, who gives proper treatment as long as one possesses sincere faith.”

“…Big Sis. Could you make it so he can’t talk anymore?”

Rosalia immediately fulfilled the request of her kind little thief sister.

CRACK!

A devastating axe-kick smashed into the back of the dog beastman outlaw’s head.

Pierre instantly rolled his eyes back and lost consciousness.

“I… actually meant for you to gag him.”

“Big Sis, we’re supposed to negotiate with him. If you knock him unconscious, how are we supposed to do that?”

“…”

Rosalia quietly looked away.

Then stored the unconscious dog beastman inside her shadow.

“Ah! So living creatures can only be stored inside your shadow if they’re unconscious or dead! You purposely punished the outlaw with the Heel Drop of Justice! If we’d dragged him around tied up like that, people might’ve misunderstood.”

Nod.

“As expected of Lady Rosalia! Just what I’d expect from the Moonlight Expedition’s strongest member.”

I gave Rosalia a thumbs-up as she nodded proudly.

“Our vacation is over. Now… Let’s return to our everyday lives.”