Chapter 204 : Chapter 204
Chapter 204. House of the Undead Party
The House of the Undead was one of the best tourist attractions in Marcellent.
The biggest reason was that there was something ‘real’ inside it.
A mansion that was eerie even in broad daylight.
When the people waiting in line entered, the mansion’s doors closed.
Relying on the dim light of magic lamps, people would pass through the entrance and roam around the drawing room, bedroom, and dining room.
And soon, they would feel the presence of some existence other than themselves and feel a chill.
CLATTER.
RATTLE.
Clearly, it was a house with no one inside, but suspicious sounds were heard.
Objects were moving by themselves.
Once people realized that, their steps quickened at the thought that there was something ‘real.’
And they would go down to the basement, face undead monsters suddenly popping out, and scream.......
This simple yet chilling experience gave people a fresh shock.
Above all, once they knew there was something ‘real,’ they kept visiting out of curiosity.
There were already people who had visited several times, and there were people who planned trips to Marcellent solely to visit the House of the Undead.
The Countess was one of them.
She came to Marcellent solely for the reason of wanting to experience the House of the Undead from her distant territory.
And luckily, she won the Dice Shop event and was able to come to the House of the Undead party.
“Oh my, to think I would come here!”
She uttered an exclamation.
The House of the Undead had changed into a party venue, unlike before.
The slightly dim drawing room gave a calm feeling, and decorations resembling ghosts were placed on every table, exuding a unique atmosphere.
On one side, light foods such as canapés and sliced cakes welcomed guests along with simple drinks.
“Indeed. It is different from when we visited during the day.”
Her husband, the Count, nodded in agreement.
Since one companion could attend this party, he also entered the House of the Undead willingly.
Both of them wore splendid masks adorned with white feathers.
They were masks one would likely wear at a masquerade ball.
All participants must wear masks.
This was the first rule of the House of the Undead party.
While the Countess was sipping apricot-colored champagne for a moment, a voice was heard from the entrance.
“The ‘Owner of the Flower Garden’ is entering.”
At those words, the Countess looked back at the Count.
“Owner of the Flower Garden, huh. Would he be a gardener?”
“He might be a person who grows many flowers.”
The second rule of the House of the Undead party.
All participants must call themselves by aliases.
“‘Green Fingers’ is entering together.”
The companion’s alias was also unusual.
Shortly after, two people revealed themselves in the party venue.
The two, who appeared wearing masks even more glittering than the one the Countess wore, came straight into the party venue.
A man with a slender build wearing a blue mask approached the Countess, who had taken a seat first, and asked for a handshake.
“Hello, I am called the Owner of the Flower Garden.”
“Nice to meet you. I am the Countess, and this person is the Count.”
“Oh my. You were noble people.”
Then the Countess laughed aloud.
She seemed not to dislike his words.
“If I ask you to reveal your family name here, it would be rude to both of you, right?”
“Oh my, wouldn't such things be meaningless at this party? Let’s leave it as entertainment for later.”
It seems they don't intend to hide it until the end.
The Owner of the Flower Garden thought while smiling beneath his mask.
Anyway, all the aliases used here were made up as they pleased.
Looking at their attire, speech, and accent, their identities would gradually be revealed.
“The ‘Knight Commander’ is entering.”
“The ‘Vice Commander’ is entering together.”
Once again, voices were heard from the entrance.
People invited to the party were entering one after another.
* * *
“The 8th Prince does not seem to be here.”
Green Fingers whispered to his superior and employer, the Owner of the Flower Garden.
Before they knew it, the people invited to the party had arrived at the House of the Undead and were chatting.
However, the host of this party, the 8th Prince, was nowhere to be seen.
“Originally, the protagonist appears late.”
The Owner of the Flower Garden chuckled and shook his glass.
He leaned against the wall and looked around at the people.
“Can you recognize who is who?”
“That person is the Commander of the Meteor Shower Knights.”
His glass pointed to a person wearing a skull mask.
It was the person who introduced his alias as the Knight Commander.
“Openly calling himself Knight Commander. He sure is remarkably honest.”
No matter how much one hides with a mask, the unique aura a person possesses cannot be hidden.
Especially if it was a figure like the Commander of the Meteor Shower Knights, it was even more so.
Just by standing there, an extraordinary spirit flowed out.
He looked like a swaggering gangster, and also like someone of importance from somewhere.
On the other hand, the person standing next to the Knight Commander was the opposite of him.
Even though his face was covered by a mask, his demeanor was neat, and dignity could be felt.
“Then the person next to the Knight Commander is that very......?”
“It must be the rumored Vice Commander.”
The Meteor Shower Knights, who take charge of all sorts of rough work in the Empire.
Their Commander was a rough mercenary origin, but the Vice Commander was different.
He was the eldest son of an earldom, a real noble who even received a knighthood.
He was also a famous figure called the living conscience of the Meteor Shower Knights, the nanny of the Meteor Shower, and so on.
He could be seen as the most rational and cool-headed figure in the Meteor Shower Knights, who had excellent skills but caused all sorts of trouble.
“As expected of the Chief Editor. You recognize everyone.”
Green Fingers muttered, admiring the keen eye possessed by the Owner of the Flower Garden.
Indeed, who was his superior?
Wasn't he the Chief Editor of ‘Blue Rose,’ the magazine boasting the highest popularity in the Empire?
Chief Editor of Blue Rose.
Roud Frencia.
He was the publisher of Blue Rose, exposing the other side of famous figures or the hidden truths of nobles, and the one who decided what articles to publish in the paper every week.
He merely shrugged his shoulders at Green Fingers’ flattering words.
“Isn't it because they aren't thinking of hiding it?”
Roud could guess the purpose of the Meteor Shower Knight Commander.
There was a high probability that the Knight Commander also had the same purpose as him.
The reason Roud came to Marcellent was to meet the 8th Prince.
He became interested in the news that the 8th Prince was gathering followers.
Although he volunteered as a follower candidate, he had no intention of actually becoming a follower.
He intended to just get enough information and pull out.
It didn't matter whether the 8th Prince was really a saint of the Supreme Deity Order, a Prince with an unfortunate past, or the top student of the Academy.
The smell of a scoop came from the 8th Prince.
Then he got lucky and was even invited to the House of the Undead party.
He looked around the party venue with an interested gaze.
‘Quite formidable figures have gathered.’
The Commander and Vice Commander of the Meteor Shower Knights, and even the 2nd Vice Minister of Administration working in the Imperial Capital were seen.
‘Why is that stiff 2nd Vice Minister, whom even a knife wouldn't penetrate, at this party......?’
Roud’s eyebrows twitched.
‘Furthermore, even Dwarves?’
* * *
Balban Lusheron was the Guild Master of the Iron Anvil Guild.
He came to Marcellent dreaming of becoming a follower of the 8th Prince.
The Iron Anvil Guild was a blacksmith guild formed by Dwarves.
Dwarves never came out of the underground world for their entire lives unless it was a special situation.
However, Balban and his friends bravely came out to the outside world.
Because the skills they possessed were undoubtedly the best in the Empire.
But the Empire was cold to the Dwarves who didn't know the ways of the world.
‘20 Gold? What are you talking about. Do you know how much the distribution cost is in the middle? I can only give 10 Gold.’
‘Daggers like this are everywhere. 10 Silver for one.’
Dirty merchants.......
Balban ground his teeth recalling the faces of the merchants who slashed the prices of their masterpieces.
On top of that, how much money did they lose to the broker while trying to get a shop?
The money and fees they paid because they were told they had to register a guild to officially operate in the Empire. Plus the money swindled under the pretext of introducing reliable business partners.
When they came to their senses, what was left for Balban and his friends was a shabby shop and empty pockets.
They had barely held on without receiving fair compensation compared to the skills they possessed.
At that time, news of the 8th Prince’s territory reached Balban’s ears.
It was surprising news that Lizardmen were officially hired and working in the 8th Prince’s territory.
Perhaps the 8th Prince would treat us properly.
‘If we Dwarves can also make connections with the Imperial family of the Empire......!’
A fire ignited in Balban’s heart.
Right now, thanks to their efforts to receive fair prices, they were somehow continuing guild activities, but the process was never easy.
He felt that Dwarves needed a place to stand.
At least, he hoped to obtain fair compensation.
To do that, Balban intended to become the first Dwarf to jump into the Empire’s political scene.
Luckily, he even got invited to the House of the Undead party.
Now it was his turn to aim for an opportunity to talk with the 8th Prince.
“Ahem, is that?”
A certain lady’s brooch caught his eye.
Kranvel, the Dwarf who attended the party with Balban, also seemed to have seen the same thing, as his eyes sparkled.
“Did you see it too? The craftsmanship of that brooch...... it is not the skill of an ordinary artisan, is it?”
“Hmm, she must be a lady of a precious family.”
Balban nodded and thought.
‘Anyway, when can we meet the 8th Prince?’
As soon as he thought that, a voice was heard from the entrance.
“‘Rabbit Mask’ is entering.”
A blond boy wearing an ordinary-shaped rabbit mask entered the party venue.
Golden eyes were glimpsed beyond the mask.
‘8th Prince!’
It was the moment when the gazes of the people in the party venue gathered in one place.
Rabbit Mask scratched the back of his neck as if embarrassed.
“It seems I arrived last. I am a bit late because I was organizing the shop.”
At his words, Balban recalled the appearance of the 8th Prince he saw at the Dice Shop.
The 8th Prince really worked hard.
He was sincere about business to the extent that one wouldn't know he was a royal if not for his golden eyes.
Thanks to that, Balban also bought several event products.
The temptation of buy one get one free was hard to resist.
It was a 1+1 unheard of in the Dwarf world.
“Oops, I should introduce myself. I am Rabbit Mask. And I am also the host of this party. First, thank you for attending the party today.”
Rabbit Mask greeted the people with a polite attitude.
And he added a brief introduction about the House of the Undead.
“I will speak briefly about the House of the Undead. As you all know, an existence invisible to you lives in this house.”
RATTLE.
As soon as Radel finished speaking, a frame attached to the wall moved.
“Oh my!”
“Unbelievable!”
People were surprised yet delighted.
They thought this was also part of the event.
Of course, it was the House Elf who moved the frame.
The House Elf was moving objects as Radel had told him beforehand.
CREAK.
CLATTER.
While people were intrigued, Radel briefly talked about the Dungeon that was in the House of the Undead and the anecdote of clearing the Dungeon alone.
And saying it thankfully even became a sacred site of the Supreme Deity Order, he raised his champagne glass.
“I attribute this glory to the Supreme Deity.”
People also raised their glasses together.
It was then.
“KYAAAK!”
Someone’s ear-splitting scream was heard.