Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 98 - As If I'd Ever Learn Such a Creepy Mystery

Chapter 98 — As If I’d Ever Learn Such a Creepy Mystery

 

“That’s not an unreasonable request.”

Targon nodded before turning his gaze toward Odilon.

“The clause allowing you to choose items from the guild vault is already included in the contract. The second son of House Brites persuaded Elvira, so I accepted it.”

“…To be precise, I gave up.”

Secretary Elvira let out a dry laugh.

“He repeated the exact same thing over and over for three straight days until I got sick of hearing it, so I simply gave in. You’re much younger than I am, so I decided to cut you some slack, Young Master.”

For the jewel elf, someone who pathologically hated taking losses, to abandon negotiations voluntarily…

I felt proud of our stubborn young master and quietly held out my hand.

“What?”

“A high five.”

“No.”

“Aww, come on.”

I grabbed the young master’s wrist, which was even drier than a cultist’s, and forcibly slapped our palms together.

Watching the scene with curiosity, Elvira held up three fingers.

“If we win the Guild War, you’ll be allowed to choose three items from the guild vault.”

Considering the value of the items stored by the Ash Wolf Guild, three was an exceptionally generous reward.

Delighted, I tried to high-five him again.

The young master frowned and seated Rosalia between us.

Soon afterward, Targon gestured toward Elvira with his chin.

“Now follow Elvira and meet the guild members who’ll be participating in the Guild War. They’ll all sincerely welcome you.”

“The problem is Vice Guild Master Yallen…”

Beside him, Elvira snorted in amusement.

“For some reason, I feel that Lord Karr will somehow manage to trick him into submission.”

“What do you mean by ‘trick’? I am a model cultist who pursues only fair and honorable competition.”

“I’m sure you are.”

Targon gave a small snort before extending a hand as large as my face.

“In any case, until the Guild War ends, I’ll regard you as one of my pack and protect you to the very end.”

Ranked second among the Twelve Heroes.

A declaration of protection from one of Pletica’s strongest warriors was, in itself, an extraordinary privilege.

“It is an honor.”

“I hope you’ll become the key figure behind our Guild War victory.”

“I fully intend to.”

Our handshake looked comically disproportionate, like an adult shaking hands with a small child.

 

***

 

“Please follow me.”

I then followed Elvira toward the training grounds located near the guild headquarters.

“…Cultist Karr. From here on, it’s your turn. Handle things yourself.”

Odilon had reached his physical limit and returned to the inn supported by Rosalia.

The young master became completely exhausted from nothing more than having conversations.

“This is the place.”

Not long afterward, we arrived at the training grounds.

The building was nearly as large as the headquarters themselves.

Unlike the guild hall, its appearance was entirely ordinary, free from the Guild Master’s excessively distinctive tastes.

“Everyone should already be gathered inside. Please, come in.”

Following Elvira inside, I found myself looking around a room where majestic wolf paintings covered the ceiling, the walls, and even the floor.

There were statues of wolves howling scattered everywhere, and… as if that weren’t enough, an enormous wolf’s head had been mounted on the ceiling itself.

“I doubt even actual wolves, werewolves, or wolf beastfolk love wolves this much.”

“…The guild members only managed to persuade him regarding the building’s exterior.”

At the secretary’s bitter smile, the guild members sitting on the tiered benches along the walls collectively lowered their heads or sighed.

“You’ve arrived, Elvira?”

“Good day.”

One guild member, who had been staring at the wolf’s head on the ceiling in utter disgust, slowly trudged toward us.

A human with bronze skin.

Remarkably tall. Powerfully muscular.

The very image of a barbarian from the Northern Continent.

[Battle Maniac Brunelda Nabuld (Human, 29 years old). One of the vice guild masters of the Ash Wolf Guild. Due to the difference in Soul Rank, no further information can be read.]

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Vice Guild Master. I am Karr, Cultist of Twisted Truth, temporarily serving as a guild member.”

After giving a deep bow, Vice Guild Master Brunelda casually waved a hand while approaching me.

Then he silently stared into my eyes.

I stared back in silence as well.

Then I realized I was acting far too arrogantly for a newcomer, so I hurriedly poked my own cheek with my index finger.

“…What are you doing?”

“I thought I’d show you my ultimate cute gesture before the atmosphere became too tense. What do you think?”

“…”

Brunelda and Secretary Elvira blinked blankly for a moment before bursting into hearty laughter.

“Ha. So this is the Crazy Golden Crow.”

“Yes….”

Why had someone suddenly inserted such a creative adjective in front of Golden Crow?

“Wow! It’s so nice to meet you!”

As Brunelda stepped back and rubbed the back of his neck, a dwarf with the appearance of a young child sprang up from his seat behind him.

[Ambitious Yallen (Western Continent Dwarf, 39 years old). Likewise, one of the vice guild masters of the Ash Wolf Guild. No additional information can be read.]

“I heard you uncovered the Hidden Piece inside the [Purification Sanctuary of Repose] and became an honored guest of the Harmony Church?”

There was a certain underlying intent hidden behind his bright smile and cheerful hopping, but I answered without showing any reaction.

“It simply happened that way.”

“Wow! Am I actually talking with one of the future Twelve Heroes right now? I really can’t wait to see what kind of performance you’ll give during the Guild War!”

[Actual meaning: I don’t know what you’ll become in the future, but right now you’re nothing more than an inexperienced rookie, so I doubt you’ll accomplish anything remarkable in the Guild War.]

Truthy wasn’t displaying those words out of malice this time.

Unlike the straightforward dwarves of the Eastern Continent,

Western Continent dwarves, whose race had endured generations of exploitation as slaves to humanity, had developed a culture of hiding their true feelings.

Most of them spoke like this.

“What I expect from you isn’t anything special, Lord Karr. I simply want to see you do your best!”

What he really meant was: “Even if you try your hardest, there’s a high chance you’ll accomplish nothing.”

It was such an indirect way of speaking that the meaning practically took a detour around the entire continent.

“For your information, every guild member participating in this Guild War, including Brunelda and me, has at least eight years of expedition experience.”

He was probably saying, “Why are you acting so boldly when you’ve barely been an explorer at all?”

[What an infuriating little brat. I want to punch him.]

Personally, I wasn’t bothered at all.

After surviving Assistant Manager Choi, the Evil Spirit’s “ordinary conversations,” which disguised mockery and verbal abuse, everything this dwarf said simply sounded adorable.

Besides, he was cute too.

How could anyone dislike him?

“You identified the fake Rigobert’s true identity when no one else could. So everyone already acknowledges your abilities as a cultist serving Lidni, the Evil God of Knowledge. Isn’t that right, everyone?”

The two ordinary guild members, a pair consisting of an elf and a sheep beastman, hurriedly nodded.

“But you’ve never challenged a B-rank or higher labyrinth before. So I’m a little worried about whether you’ll be able to adapt to the Guild War!”

The ordinary elf guild member and the sheep beastman awkwardly smiled after making eye contact with me.

Although we’d only just met, we perfectly understood one another through that single exchange of looks.

“Brunelda! What do you think?”

“Hm.”

Brunelda slowly looked me up and down before speaking.

A Northern Continent barbarian only ever said one sort of thing.

“We’ll know after crossing blades.”

“…Pardon?”

As Yallen froze, Brunelda slowly drew an ancient-looking sword.

The creator’s favorite weapon.

A Japanese sword.

In this world, where no such island nation existed, it was simply called a katana.

[Artifact — Nightfall]

[Allows the use of the Mysteries [Scattering Night] and [Gathering Night].]

It wasn’t quite on Astrimia’s level, but it was still an extremely valuable Artifact.

The fact that it granted two Mysteries outright without any conditions made its performance absurdly powerful.

“I won’t move from this spot. I won’t use Mysteries either.”

Lightly raising Nightfall, Brunelda pointed its tip toward me.

“If you can make either one of my feet move even the slightest distance from where they’re standing… You win.”

“If you defeat me, no one will object to your participation in the Guild War ever again.”

At first glance, the challenge might have seemed easy.

But considering the enormous difference in our levels, it was virtually impossible.

It was comparable to asking a human to lift and carry an elephant.

“Brunelda? You trained hard today too. Aren’t you tired?”

“Yallen. I said I’ll do it.”

“…”

Driving the Western Continent dwarf back with an icy voice,

Brunelda looked back at me.

“What will you do?”

“Of course I’ll accept. When else would I ever get the chance to face the famous Rhino of the Northern Continent, Lord Brunelda? It’s truly an honor.”

“At least your attitude is commendable.”

Standing opposite Brunelda, I widened the distance between us.

Once we were sufficiently far apart, the sturdy barbarian from the Northern Continent shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Come!”

Standing still while glaring at one another and waiting for an opening… that was the behavior of amateurs.

I immediately extended my left hand.

Fwoooosh!

[Death · Flame · Transformation] shot violently toward him.

Brunelda casually swung Nightfall and split the flames apart.

[A human cut through fire…? He’s not quite on Targon’s level, but he’s still an incredible monster!]

Indeed.

Brunelda was a second-tier swordsman, ranked only beneath first-tier Pendrick.

Of course, that referred to his ultimate potential.

If they fought right now, our super-genius swordsman wouldn’t be able to scratch even the skin of that Northern Continent barbarian, no matter what miracle occurred.

“That sort of Mystery alone will never make me move. Will you continue?”

The question was dripping with disappointment.

It was a trap.

If I backed down and gave up the spar here, this Northern Continent barbarian would become profoundly disappointed and fail me outright.

I shook my head and raised my left hand.

“From this point onward… I’ll face you seriously.”

 

***

 

Sliiide.

A figure emerged from Karr’s left eye.

“Heehee!”

The second Karr.

An illusion directly controlled by [Eye That Whispers Falsehoods].

“What should I do, Master Karr?”

“Create confusion. Draw as much attention as possible.”

“Okaaaay!”

The fake Karr cheerfully raised his hand before suddenly opening his mouth wide.

Fwuaaaak!

Its tongue stretched out and shot toward Brunelda.

[Bewildering Tongue].

A Mystery that greatly lengthens one’s tongue at the cost of slightly dulling the sense of taste.

Naturally, Nightfall flashed through the air at nearly invisible speed.

But [Eye That Whispers Falsehoods] possessed no physical body.

“Haha! It was just an illusion!”

“…Such cheap tricks won’t work on me.”

Karr naturally knew that much.

Which was why he had already prepared the next step.

Fwoosh!

Violent flames surged forward.

Every single one was cut apart by Brunelda’s swordsmanship.

Yet I paid it no mind and continued launching more.

Until the surrounding area became a sea of fire.

When the flames had grown high enough to nearly reach the ceiling, Karr opened his mouth wide and swallowed the fire before him in one gulp.

“…Ghk …Haa.”

His throat burned.

His stomach grew scorching hot.

“Ahaha!”

“Ahahahaha!”

“Aha!”

Countless voices echoed over one another.

The [Eye That Whispers Falsehoods] darted everywhere, laughing.

“Ahahahahaha!”

Karr laughed along joyfully before diving directly into the flames.

“Is that truly all you’ve got?!”

Even now, the advancing inferno still couldn’t reach the Northern Continent barbarian.

Miraculous swordsmanship that severed flames.

Yet the fire continued advancing.

And every so often, the fake Karr’s thick tongue lashed out.

“…Everyone, move to the corners!”

The entire training ground had become scorching hot.

Even while Yallen and the guild members retreated, the confrontation between swordsman and flames continued.

Fwoooosh!

The blazing [Death · Flame · Transformation].

Whoooom!

Nightfall, splitting apart every approaching flame.

At this rate, the battle looked as though it could continue forever.

Yet Brunelda still hadn’t revealed his full strength.

‘At this rate… he’ll simply exhaust himself and collapse.’

Honestly, the fact that Karr stood his ground proudly without shrinking back despite facing someone vastly stronger than himself was admirable enough.

Brunelda wanted to praise him.

Though if he smacked him too hard on the back, the boy might break, so perhaps a gentle pat would be better.

Even so, personal feelings and objective evaluation were separate matters.

“If you can’t finish this soon… I’ll finish it for you!”

Roaring, Brunelda gripped his sword with both hands for the first time.

Swordsmanship that didn’t even qualify as a Mystery.

Yet a single strike capable of cleaving apart almost any opponent.

Just as the Level 8 swordsman prepared his finishing blow…

“Brunelda.”

Suddenly. A massive gray orc calmly walked out from within the flames.

Targon. Guild Master of the Ash Wolf Guild.

“Shall we have a match?”

“…”

The great warrior whom Brunelda admired more than anyone, challenging him to a spar every single day.

“Why is the Guild Master here…?”

Logically, it made no sense.

It had to be some cultist’s trick.

His mind understood that.

His heart did not.

“Why are you hesitating? I came because I wanted to fight you. Is that not allowed?”

“…You’re too much the Guild Master!”

“Of course I am. Because I am.”

Brunelda simply couldn’t swing his sword.

Or rather, he had been manipulated into that state.

[Dark Cloud Rumble].

A filthy Mystery of the Upper Sky that altered one’s appearance into whatever form the opponent subconsciously focused on most.

“Come. Let’s see you swing your sword, Brunelda.”

If the user’s Charm stat was low, [Dark Cloud Rumble] had only minor effects.

But when possessed by a half-elf, even high-level explorers could be deceived for a brief moment.

At that instant, Brunelda had been completely captivated by Targon’s overwhelmingly majestic appearance.

“Heave-ho.”

As a result, his reaction was delayed by just the slightest fraction.

“…Kh!”

The instant Targon grabbed his leg, Brunelda immediately escaped.

But one of his feet had shifted ever so slightly away from its original position.

“You moved.”

Karr already returned to his original appearance, declared in an expressionless face that somehow felt chilling.

“My victory.”