Chapter 33: D-Rank Labyrinth — Banquet Hall of the Bloodbirds (3)
Chapter 33: D-Rank Labyrinth — Banquet Hall of the Bloodbirds (3)
My exact playtime in Nightmare Dungeon was 20,800 hours.
Out of those, 20,000 hours were devoted entirely to raising cultists. However, from time to time I would try out other classes for a change of pace.
Even the most delicious food becomes a little tiresome if eaten every single day.
In total, I had raised five characters of classes other than cultist.
Among them, Ymir was an orc of the Berserker class.
It’s him.
This was not a coincidence.
The speed of mineralization varied depending on an explorer’s stats, and Ymir’s internal body had not yet mineralized.
That indicated combat strength consistent with the build I had designed.
When I asked the Eye That Perceives Truth to verify it, the Mysteries he possessed also matched roughly.
“…?”
The assassin who had been guarding me tapped the corner of her mouth.
“You’re asking why I’m smiling? Because it’s exciting.”
A new piece of content had appeared.
Perhaps Lidni had brought along my alternate character as well.
Though realistically, it’s more likely another deity….
Considering the current number of believers, the Forerunner of the Twisted Truth might have nothing to do with this. But since no other candidate came to mind for now, I decided to believe it.
After all, faith sometimes requires boldly ignoring the truth.
In any case, a new form of content had appeared in Pletika that I had never encountered before.
Could there be more thrilling news than this?
I stared quietly at the Berserker Ymir I had once raised myself, then spoke.
“Please move this orc outside. I intend to perform a human sacrifice ritual.”
Alternate character or not, work came first.
He was already dead—what was the point of clinging to him?
This was the professional work ethic of a first-rate cultist.
Besides, he was vicious enough that sacrificing him would not leave a bad aftertaste. I had practically raised him myself, so he would not complain even in hell.
《That orc has extremely high value as a sacrifice. Surely the Wise One will be pleased!》
Without a word, Rosalia lifted the dead orc and headed outside.
Following the strong assassin, I touched my right eye.
“You’ll be satisfied today too.”
After leaving the mining site, I found a flat area near the cave.
“Please place him here.”
Rosalia laid the orc down at a scenic spot overlooking the sky and mountains near the cliff’s edge.
Meanwhile, I removed the items needed for the offering ritual from my leather bag.
First came the Crow Idol.
Crackle.
The lofty one protested, asking why the offering was being given to Lidni.
It sounded playful, but there was genuine dissatisfaction mixed in.
“Well, orcs are ugly, aren’t they?”
The type of offerings Sue’je preferred were humans or elves with neat appearances and slightly slender builds.
Rough and savage-looking orcs were the exact opposite of that preference.
Crackle!
“You say that in urgent situations it’s fine to offer them with their faces and bodies covered? No. This is an offering to a great deity—I can’t falsify the place of origin.”
While conversing with the Evil God who clearly had no believers other than me worth paying attention to, I surrounded the orc’s body with stones.
They were stones Abel had picked up in the Nest of the Sneaking Ghoul Pack, and until I found a more efficient method for constructing a temporary altar, they would continue to serve well.
The final item to complete the preparation was candlelight.
After placing candles near the head and feet and lighting them, the preliminary preparation was finished.
Now it was time to prepare the offering.
“Could you cut here?”
Following my instruction, Rosalia struck the orc’s neck with her crimson dagger.
Crack!
The neck snapped instantly, and the head flew away, rolling down the slope.
I quickly retrieved the fierce-looking silver lump and placed it beside the temporary altar as decoration, then fell briefly into thought.
An orc whose exterior had completely transformed into silver.
Even for someone as experienced as me, preparing such a body was a first.
How should I handle it to make the meal more satisfying for Lidni?
…Crispy outside, moist inside?
A flash of inspiration struck me.
To an Evil God, minerals were probably just slightly tougher meat compared to flesh or muscle.
Even served raw, it would likely taste excellent.
Then I’ll preserve the original texture.
The recipe had just come to mind.
A very simple dish that only needed flavor added.
I borrowed Rosalia’s dagger and boldly cut my wrist.
Gush!
Bright red blood poured out and began soaking Ymir’s silver body.
Moving my arm carefully, I coated the orc thoroughly with blood.
Then I turned the heavy body several times so the blood would spread evenly.
“…?”
Rosalia watched the ritual preparation with a questioning look.
“You’re asking why I’m sprinkling blood? Since turning into silver may have ruined the flavor, I’m covering it with my own aroma.”
When ingredients were poor, the solution was always the same—overpower them with strong seasoning or sweetness.
It would also eliminate the dreadful sweat smell typical of a Berserker-class orc.
“Whew….”
Before collapsing from blood loss, I activated Ghoul Mobility.
The curse Fertilizer Sprout, which had been bribed by Dark Clouds Rumble, converted my soaring Agility into Vitality.
The deep wound on my wrist quickly healed.
“Ah… I’m dizzy. Could you hold me for a moment so I can regain my senses?”
Smack.
The cold-blooded elf struck my back with her palm.
“Thank you. Now please step back a little.”
The offering was complete.
The recipe name: Silver Orc with Fresh Blood Dressing.
After confirming Rosalia had moved away, I placed my hand on the orc’s blood-coated body and recited a brief prayer.
“You know my heart, don’t you? Kar, who always carries the Twisted Truth in his heart, has prepared daily sustenance.”
This time, surely it would please him.
After all, this was a creature raised according to the build I had poured my soul into.
“Lidni.”
—Kraaak!
“Your meal is ready.”
Unlike the time in the Fire Ant Nest, when the owner hesitated because he was sensitive to spicy food, my right eye immediately turned into a blind crow and leapt out to devour the offering.
Crunch, crunch.
I worried slightly whether silver would be chewable, but as a terminal of an Evil God, it handled it just fine.
The table manners were still terrible, but the enthusiastic eating made me feel rather satisfied.
Crackle.
“You’re telling me to clear away the offering if it doesn’t eat quickly? What are you doing during such a sacred human sacrifice ceremony?”
Perhaps annoyed by Sue’je’s subtle interference—
【Ahem….】
The Evil God who owned the offering revealed displeasure.
【Kar, my child.】
“Yes, Forerunner of the Twisted Truth. I am listening.”
I knelt on one knee as Lidni delivered a solemn oracle.
【Today’s offering is most satisfactory! Though not the delicacy I usually prefer, the soul of this orc resembles yours somehow, making the taste very pleasing. Though I cannot quite determine why your souls share a similar shape. Do you perhaps have an orc among your relatives?】
I shook my head calmly.
“I do not know either. I have lost my memories. But what does it matter?”
【Indeed, what does it matter! A traveler on the path toward truth—my traveler—has presented such a delicacy!】
Subtly emphasizing that I was his cultist while provoking the lofty one, the great Evil God made me a secret proposal.
【My child. If you abandon your faith in Sue’je, I will grant you forbidden knowledge capable of shaking the world. Or perhaps sorcery that can crush powerful monsters in a single strike!】
“Th-that….”
【Enough! Stop repeating that nonsense about my followers only numbering in the double digits!】
Apparently the continued verbal bombardment irritated him.
Perhaps a righteous life in pursuit of truth inevitably suffered persecution.
【I do not mean to grant it immediately. I speak of the distant future—when the Twisted Truth once again spreads across the world.】
“So when the Cult of the Twisted Truth regains the glory of its golden age, you will grant vast knowledge and sorcery?”
【Exactly!】
“To be honest, the promise is so vague that it’s not very appealing.”
Crackle!
Right on cue, the Sovereign of the Polluted Sky intervened.
“Oh, Sue’je says that if I abandon the faith of the Twisted Truth, he will grant me the sacred relic Black Abyss Lightning.”
【What?】
“Well, this is troublesome. Such an offer might shake the steadfast faith of Kar….”
【……】
Only after the crow had almost finished devouring the offering did Lidni speak again.
【Th-then in addition to the reward for this offering ritual, I will grant you a free Mystery right now!】
“Really?”
【Indeed!】
I secretly touched the tattoo on my collarbone, expressing gratitude to the assisting deity.
Thank you for your cooperation.
“I’ll accept it first and think about it later. But for now, my heart leans slightly toward Lidni.”
【…My faithful child, you truly exhaust me!】
—Kraa.
After finishing its meal neatly, the crow returned to my eye socket.
Lidni then asked casually.
【So, what do you desire this time?】
I already knew.
It was a reward for my irreplaceable partner.
“I request the advancement of Eye That Perceives Truth.”
The rank of a growth-type Mystery did not automatically increase with its owner’s level.
It required specific methods.
In the case of Eye That Perceives Truth, which Lidni had originally granted me, it had to devour another Mystery of the Twisted Truth.
“I will offer Membrane That Defers Wounds as its meal for the journey.”
【You had already decided? A reasonable choice.】
This was not just flattery toward one of my few believers.
The Mystery used as feed would belong to the Eye That Perceives Truth, meaning I could no longer use it directly.
This is the right decision.
Web That Binds All Things required active use from me, so it was excluded.
But Membrane That Defers Wounds worked even if someone else activated it.
And since the Eye could perceive things beyond the understanding of intelligent beings, it would use the Mystery at a more appropriate timing than I ever could.
【Very well, my child. Your wish shall be granted. As for the additional Mystery for you, I shall choose it personally so that you remember to beware of arrogance and pride. Treasure it well.】
This certainly did not mean he would grant the cheapest possible Mystery because divine power—drawn from the total faith of believers—was precious.
Crack.
With a slight sting, an eye-shaped tattoo appeared on the ring finger of my right hand.
Then a sharp pain flickered in my right eye before disappearing instantly.
《A First-Tier Mystery, Insight That Sees Chaos, has taken root within your body.》
《And I, Eye That Perceives Truth, have become a Second-Tier Mystery. Rejoice in the grace of the Wise One!》
【Continue pursuing truth.】
Having ultimately granted the cheapest Mystery possible, the thrifty deity withdrew from my mind.
Tap.
Rosalia approached quietly and looked up at the blue sky.
“You’re asking if we should go search for the Hidden Piece?”
Nod, nod.
The master of gestures nodded eagerly.
I nodded as well.
“That’s right. Let’s go find it. The Hidden Piece.”