Formal Threats

On the day of the Iushil banquet. As promised, we headed to Iushil Castle to attend the banquet.

At the entrance, many guards were controlling access, and some people showed their invitations to them.

Soon, the guards stood before us, but they let us in without much trouble.

It must have been because of Barkal. His skull helmet had become so famous in Iushil that the notoriety of the “Dungeon God” had also risen as a result.

The banquet hall of Iushil Castle, under dazzling chandeliers, was filled with splendor wholly different from the refreshing morning.

Seeing this spectacle for the first time, Barkal looked around curiously.

“It’s sparkling! My eyes hurt from the brightness!”

Leaving behind the fussing Barkal, I scanned the banquet hall once more.

The walls were covered in subtle gold-tinted wallpaper, there were delicate sculptures, and every table was loaded with luxurious foods, all of which seemed to flaunt the wealth of Iushil’s lord, Edmund Steldian.

How hard you try to bury the business with your father’s exhumation, Edmund.

“It’s stifling!”

While I was looking around, I heard Barkal groan at my side.

Barkal, who usually just threw on some leather armor, was wearing formal attire today as befitted the occasion.

Apparently feeling encumbered, Barkal kept tugging at his clothes.

“Brother, is it truly necessary to wear such clothes?”

“Every occasion calls for attire fitting to the place, brother.”

“You seem quite used to this!”

Looking at me in similar formalwear, Barkal exclaimed in admiration.

“Do you not feel stifled!?”

“You need to get used to at least this much.”

“Ohh, I see!”

Barkal nodded vigorously. Although he nodded in hearty agreement, he still kept adjusting his outfit, apparently dissatisfied with the formalwear.

Of course, we hadn’t bought special formalwear just for today’s banquet.

Neither Barkal nor I were the sort suited to such occasions. We borrowed the outfits through the Adventurers’ Guild since we’d only wear them once and never again.

“Brother, food!”

Barkal, seeming to have relaxed a bit, pointed enthusiastically at the food piled high in splendor.

“This is clearly our share! I shall claim it all!”

“Barkal, we are among the main figures here. We can’t let them see we’re country bumpkins.”

“Hahaha.”

As I replied appropriately to Barkal, Serena, who was accompanying us, let out a chuckle beside us.

“For someone saying that, you don’t seem comfortable either, brother Dmihtan.”

“Hm.”

I let out a short sigh. While Barkal’s reaction was extreme, I wasn’t exactly comfortable here, either.

This was my first time at a banquet like this, after all. If I were used to this, wouldn’t that be the problem?

Compared to Barkal and me, Serena seemed perfectly fine.

“Serena, are you used to this?”

“Yes! I’ve experienced this kind of banquet a few times before!”

Though the memory of her doing a guillotine choke was hard to erase, Serena was indeed a noble.

Smiling, Serena replied, and I examined her appearance.

Wearing the same usual formal uniform, she had draped a cloak over it for the occasion. She exuded dignity at a glance, even an air of holiness.

So much so that some of the men in the banquet hall even turned to look back at her.

You’re all being fooled. She’s anything but a normal woman.

“But Brother Dmihtan.”

I nearly got dizzy from the dazzling sight of the banquet, but Serena’s words helped me regain my senses.

“How are you going to threaten Edmund…?”

Ahem.

Serena cleared her throat, stopping her words. Maybe due to the occasion, she seemed intent on speaking with formality.

“How do you plan to negotiate with Lord Edmund?”

“I’ll handle that. You two enjoy the banquet.”

“Even if we try…”

“Barkal is certainly enjoying himself.”

I pointed toward the tables, and there we saw Barkal munching on the food.

“Kuhahaha! This food is worthy of our honor!”

Barkal was devouring the food with gusto. I always wondered how he managed to eat so well while wearing a skull helmet.

Still, the opening ceremony hasn’t even started—should we really be eating already? Seeing the attendants bringing more drinks, it must be fine.

Yes, eat as much as you want. Your food expenses cost a fortune—let’s offset a little of that here.

“Seems you’re still doing well from all the noise you make.”

I was watching Barkal with satisfaction at the thought of saving on today’s meal expenses.

At that moment, a familiar voice quietly called out, and I turned my head involuntarily.

There stood Camilla of “Dark Shade” and the middle-aged man, Rubelt, who always accompanied her.

Why are they here? Oh, right, we worked on the same request.

Grrr.

A low growl came from behind. It turned out to be Serena casting a wary eye at Camilla.

She clearly still disliked Camilla for driving her out.

“I didn’t expect you to come as well.”

“Why? We completed the request together, didn’t we? There’s no reason not to come.”

Honestly, though, I think you don’t really have a reason to come.

Why? You’re rich, after all.

“Actually, that’s what I wanted to say to you.”

“We had a reason to come.”

“A reason to come, huh.”

Camilla sipped her drink and looked at me.

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of becoming a noble’s guard or something like that?”

Judging from her reaction, Serena was right—the banquet really was the adventurer’s final destination.

“If you want that, why not join the ‘Dark Shade’? We’re willing to treat you better than other nobles.”

“You say that, but you’d turn us away again without a word!”

As soon as Camilla made her offer, Serena’s voice jumped in.

“As I told you before, we gave you plenty of notice before letting you go, Serena.”

“The person involved didn’t understand! And what about your apology for leaving me alone to wait for you at the Adventurers’ Guild!?”

Why do they always squabble when they meet? I suppose, as Serena’s companion, I should be on her side, but I understood Camilla’s position too.

I’d never seen a cleric who practiced mixed martial arts, after all.

As their conversation continued, their voices grew louder, drawing others’ attention our way.

Meanwhile, Barkal finished his rampage at the food table and came back.

“Brother! This place is strange! Eat some food and move a bit, and the food reappears!”

That’s because someone refills it for you.

“It must be a witch’s sorcery! But my stomach can digest even sorcery… huh?”

As he chewed and spoke, Barkal’s eyes widened when he noticed “Dark Shade” standing nearby.

“You’re the rat’s companions, aren’t you!”

To Barkal now, “Dark Shade” was nothing more than allies of the rat.

“Don’t tell me the rat is here!”

“No, Regen is off today.”

With no rat around, Barkal clicked his tongue.

“Then I’ll settle for pig instead!”

With a hearty laugh, Barkal lunged at the whole roasted pig on the table.

Ah, that pig.

At that moment, someone climbed onto the podium at the periphery of the hall. None other than Edmund Steldian, the host of the banquet and the reason we came here.

He was probably about to deliver the opening address.

“Honored adventurers of Iushil! And brave heroes!”

As expected, Edmund began his opening speech.

His voice echoed through the hall, and as Barkal, recognizing his face, tried to rush in, Serena quickly dashed over and calmed him down.

“Today is arranged to honor your dedication in protecting the peace of Iushil!”

He really is eloquent. The way he stuttered in front of me was just because of Barkal’s intimidation.

“During this banquet, let us celebrate your efforts and reaffirm the bright future of Iushil! Enjoy yourselves to the fullest!”

As soon as Edmund finished, applause erupted. He descended the podium amid the ovation. I meant to approach him for my purpose.

“Oh, you must be the barbarian of Dungeon God, are you?”

“You advanced faster than the Golden Wind, the platinum-ranked party, right?”

“Pleasure to meet you; I am a count of the Kerval Kingdom…”

Suddenly, people swarmed around Serena.

What’s with these folks? As soon as the speech ended, they all flocked over.

Get out of my way! I need to threaten Edmund.

But so many had gathered, I couldn’t find a way through.

Should I just push through? Where’s Barkal at a time like this? He’d clear a path in a heartbeat.

“Everyone!”

Then Serena’s voice swept through the crowd.

“Isn’t it better to hear stories about Dungeon God from me rather than the barbarian?”

As Serena said this with a gentle smile, those around her started to laugh heartily.

“Well, that’s true too.”

“But I want to talk to the barbarian! He seems especially wise… urk!”

“Wouldn’t it be better if you spoke with me?”

One man.

To the noble who insisted on talking to me, Serena stuck close, feigning a handshake while she subtly twisted his hand.

From another angle, you’d just see it as a handshake. Such remarkable technique.

Thanks to Serena’s help, a gap opened up, and I quickly slipped through the crowd to approach Edmund.

Now, let’s remind myself of why I came here.

When I exhumed Lormond’s tomb before, I wanted to ask him to treat that as a “Silver-rank Request.”

“Oh, you must be Mister Dmihtan.”

Spotting me, Edmund greeted me with a welcoming hand.

“Allow me to introduce you. This is Mister Dmihtan, leader of the famed party ‘Dungeon God’ and a barbarian.”

“Ohh, it’s him?”

“One of the two barbarians, right?”

“That’s right.”

Edmund happened to be talking with the nobles.

Perfect.

I considered how to open negotiations.

How should I say this?

I don’t know. Just be straightforward.

“Edmund.”

“Yes, mister Dmihtan?”

“I’ve come to talk. About exhuming your father, Lormond’s—mmph!”

“H-ha ha! Mister Dmihtan?”

As I began to speak, Edmund suddenly slapped a hand over my mouth.

It seems I was a little too straightforward.

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