Volume 2 Chapter 12 Reward
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
There was a specific reason why Ines-san and the rest of the Gale¹ party-a group of mid-tier adventurers-had fallen into that teleportation trap². While Ines-san lacked enemy detection or trap-sensing skills, they usually relied on Juliet, whose sharp sense of smell could normally sniff out danger or sense traps by the shifting wind. Sylvie-san also routinely consulted the spirits for scouting, and they’d never had an issue before.
The trap had apparently triggered the exact moment they opened the treasure chest in that small room. Juliet’s nose hadn’t been able to catch this specific magical scent, and even Sylvie-san’s spirits were only able to tell that “something” was there; they couldn’t distinguish between the loot and a tripwire.
Teleportation traps generally fall into two categories: those that warp everyone on a magic circle to a single destination, and those that split the group up. This time, they’d been hit by the latter. When you’re caught in a warp, you’re either abandoned or given a set of conditions to clear before you can return. It’s hard to say which is worse, but in this case, with so many Orcs to slaughter, the conditions were lethal.
The only saving grace was that this was a type where others could intervene. However, I doubt a standard party could have actually pulled off a rescue. Juliet was facing twenty-one remaining Orcs; even a five-to-six-man party would have struggled. Simply put, if I hadn’t been there, all three of them were destined to become breeding beds³. They all knew it. That’s why, even when I told them not to worry about a reward, they refused to back down.
(I’m not exactly thrilled about taking a massive sum of money from them, though. Juliet’s weapons and armor were trashed, so she’s facing a steep bill for replacements. Ines-san’s gear took a hit too, and I’m sure Sylvie-san burned through her MP Potions. If I’d managed to loot the Orc materials, it might have helped, but I prioritized the regrouping over the loot. That was my mistake.)
”So, regarding the reward… just the thought is enough-“
”No,” Ines said.
”Absolutely not,” said Juliet.
”That won’t do, Daisuke-san,” Sylvie-san replied.
I was shut down instantly. (I’m the one who doesn’t mind, so they really don’t need to be this stubborn…)
It’s our day off during the week following the rescue, and we’re having dinner together to settle the bill. Everyone is sober. (Well, I wouldn’t have minded a drink, but I’m just not in the mood.) My own party members aren’t here since they aren’t involved in the payout.
”I appreciate the sentiment, Daisuke, but this is a matter of professional pride,” said Ines.
”She’s right,” Juliet added. “People would call Gale a pack of shameless freeloaders if word got out we didn’t pay a life-debt.”
”And if people hear you did this for free, Daisuke-san,” Sylvie-san chimed in, “then the next time you save someone, they’ll ask, ‘Why are you charging me? You did it for free for them!’”
”Ugh… okay, I see your point…”
I understood, but I wasn’t happy about it. I would have saved them regardless, but I couldn’t ignore the social optics. There’s always a certain number of creeps who try to claim “we’re best buds” to get out of paying a bill. I needed to find a middle ground-something that benefited me, cost them a manageable amount, and filtered out the randoms.
(Wait… actually, there is something. For someone like me, there’s a perfect reward.)
”I’ve decided on the price. I want you to go on dates with me.”
”Hah? What the hell are you talking about?” Juliet asked.
”Daisuke, don’t mess around,” said Ines. “That doesn’t count as a reward.”
”Daisuke-san… did you think so hard you caught a fever?” Sylvie-san replied.
Their reactions were brutal. (I’m actually going to cry.)
”I’m being serious! You know what my Class is, right?”
”The… Ona… something, right? What about it?” Juliet asked, hesitating.
I wanted to tease her for stumbling over the word, but that would definitely bite me in the ass later, so I stayed on track.
”I have a unique Skill called ‘The Onanist’s Tribulation.’ The effect is that it makes it extremely difficult for the opposite s*x to like me.”
”Now that you mention it, you did say something like that,” Ines said.
”That’s true. I suppose I hadn’t really noticed it lately,” Sylvie-san added.
(Maybe the ‘Ordeal’ effect was keeping them from even caring?)
”Because of this Skill, a normal romantic life is basically impossible for me. I don’t have the status or the connections for an arranged marriage. For me, just getting a girl to go on a date is a monumental task.”
”When you put it that way, I guess so,” Ines said.
”It does sound like quite a struggle,” Sylvie-san added.
”So you’ve got it rough too, huh?” Juliet muttered.
The pity in their eyes was overwhelming. (Now I really want to cry.)
”Exactly. So, having you ‘pay’ me with dates is actually a huge benefit for me.”
”I follow the logic, but that’s hardly a burden on us, is it?” Ines asked.
”She’s right. Compared to dozens of gold coins, that’s basically free,” Juliet said.
”Not necessarily. Sure, one date is nothing. But if we do it regularly-say, every week-it becomes a real commitment. You’re giving me your time-time you’d usually use for your own errands or hobbies. It also means you can’t act as a party during those hours. If you spent that time in a dungeon, you’d be earning gold. Essentially, I’m taking your ‘potential earnings.’ I’m buying your time.”
”I don’t totally get the math, but you mean you’re restricting our freedom?” Juliet asked.
”So instead of paying cash, we’re paying in hours?” Ines said.
”Precisely. And since I’m the ‘buyer,’ I’m the one who sets the value. How much a date is worth to me is my business. And obviously, the ‘price’ changes depending on how well I know the person.”
”I suppose that makes sense, as long as the price isn’t insane,” Ines said.
”How many dates are we talking, Daisuke-san?” Sylvie-san asked.
”Well…”
(Crap, I hadn’t crunched the numbers.)
”…Thirty dates each. We can do them one-on-one or as a group. I figure we’ll finish in six months to a year. Honestly, because I like you three, I’m setting the ‘price’ high. Any more would be a burden on my schedule; any less and the value per date gets too astronomical.”
”Hmm, that’s like… three to six silver coins per date? That feels weirdly high… Wait! You aren’t planning on making us do anything lewd, are you!?” Juliet shouted.
”To be honest, the thought crossed my mind,” I said.
”I knew it! We should definitely just pay the money! You pervert!” Juliet yelled.
”Look, calm down and listen,” I said. “I thought about it, but it’s not my style. I’m not the kind of guy who forces a girl into something she hates just because I have leverage. So, I won’t do anything lewd. Just… can you give me the dates? I know it’s a weird request, but I genuinely want to spend time with the three of you.”
I lowered my head and bowed. (Even as a former middle-aged guy, I still want to date beautiful women. If they won’t agree to this, I’m out of ideas. The only other option would be the ‘lewd stuff,’ and I’d really rather not go there.)
”…Raise your head,” Ines said. “Honestly, we’re the ones who can’t pay, so we should be the ones begging you. We wouldn’t even have the right to complain if you demanded… physical favors. This is an incredibly generous offer.”
”She’s right. It means you value our company that much, Daisuke-san,” Sylvie-san said. “We accept those terms. Juliet-san, you’re okay with this, right?”
”…Fine. As long as there’s no pervy stuff,” Juliet muttered.
”Thank you. Ines-san, Sylvie-san, Juliet.”
”We should be thanking you,” Ines said. “Not only did you pull us out of a death trap, you went out of your way to accommodate our situation. Thank you, Daisuke.”
”Thank you, Daisuke-san,” said Sylvie-san.
”…Thanks. And, uh…” Juliet paused.
”Yeah?”
”…I’m sorry I called you a pervert. My bad,” Juliet said.
”Don’t worry about it. In your shoes, I’d have suspected the same thing,” I replied.
”Glad to see you’re back to your senses, Juliet,” Ines said.
”Hmph,” Juliet huffed.
”Hehe, Juliet-san is so transparent,” said Sylvie-san.
Finally, everything smoothed over. I get to date beautiful women, and they get to keep their gold for gear. It’s a win-win.
”Now that the contract is signed, let’s actually enjoy the night!” I said.
”Agreed! To our survival-Cheers!” Ines shouted.
”Cheers!” we all replied.
The four of us clinked our mugs and downed the ale. Being with beautiful women made it taste better than usual. Ines-san and Sylvie-san were smiling again, and the heavy air was gone. Juliet still looked a bit grumpy, her tail and ears still a bit limp from embarrassment, but she’d joined the toast.
”God, at the time, I’d truly prepared myself to die rather than become a breeding bed for Orcs,” Ines sighed.
”Me too. I was just about to run out of MP. I’ve always hated physical combat, but maybe I should learn to swing a sword after all,” Sylvie-san added.
”…If you were sixty seconds later, they would have had their way with me. It was that close,” Juliet muttered.
”I’m just glad I made it,” I said. “My intuition was screaming at me. If I’d been a bit faster, your gear wouldn’t have been wrecked, Juliet. Sorry about that.”
”Stop apologizing,” Juliet said. “Being alive is lucky enough.”
”I know, but I still regret it. If I’d been quicker, I could have saved you before you felt that despair.”
”It’s fine, Daisuke-san,” Sylvie-san said. “Being rescued at all in that situation is a miracle.”
”She’s right,” Ines added. “You dove into that trap alone, knowing the risk. You should be proud of saving us, not mourning a few pieces of leather.”
”…Yeah. What she said,” Juliet added.
”Understood. Then I won’t bring it up again. I’m proud I could help you all,” I replied.
Ines-san and Sylvie-san’s smiles were truly radiant. Yeah, the dating rights were the right move. But Juliet was still looking a bit stiff. Time to bring her back to life with a little banter.
”Actually, there was one perk to the rescue.”
”Oh? And what’s that?” Ines asked.
”Well, Juliet’s top was so shredded it couldn’t quite hide her… magnificent chest.”
”Ch-Chest!?” Juliet stammered.
”Oh my! That’s right, it was,” Sylvie-san teased.
”You!! Forget that right now!” Juliet yelled.
”I don’t know, it was a pretty great view. Much appreciated,” I teased.
”I KNEW IT! YOU ARE A PERVERT!” Juliet shouted.
”Wait, didn’t you just apologize for calling me that?” I asked.
”That was for the other thing! This is definitely perverted!” Juliet shouted.
”Is it? It was an unavoidable accident, right?”
”Then hurry up and wipe it from your memory!”
”No can do. Forgetting something that beautiful would be a crime,” I said.
”Compliments won’t save you!” Juliet barked.
”Hehe, Juliet’s got her spark back,” Ines said.
”Ufufu, she certainly does,” Sylvie-san replied.
”Ines! Sylvie! Say something to him!” Juliet cried out.
Juliet barked, her tail fur bristling. (There she is. Demure Juliet is cute, but she isn’t Juliet without the fire.)
”Don’t you dare smirk at me! For. Get. It. Now!” Juliet yelled.
”Gah-! Stop choking me!” I cried.
Okay, maybe she got a little too much energy back. Afterward, the alcohol did the rest. Ines-san got flush-faced and dazed, Juliet became a clingy drunk, and Sylvie-san just laughed the whole night. Being able to save them and sit here laughing over drinks… it was the best. To the smiles of the Gale party-Cheers.
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Summary:
Daisuke meets with the Gale party (Ines, Juliet, and Sylvie) to discuss the reward for rescuing them from a deadly Orc-filled teleportation trap. After the women refuse to accept a free rescue due to professional ethics, Daisuke proposes a unique ‘payment’: thirty dates with each of them. He explains this helps bypass his skill’s negative social effects, and the group eventually accepts, leading to a celebratory dinner.
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Trivia:
- Juliet is a beast-kin with ears and a tail that react to her mood.
- Teleportation traps that split parties are considered much more dangerous than group warps.
- Daisuke’s skill ‘The Onanist’s Tribulation’ makes him inherently unlikable to women, making ‘dating’ a valuable resource for him.
- Ines is the party leader/vanguard, Sylvie is the spirit-user/mage, and Juliet is the scout.
- The term ‘Seedbed’ implies a dark fate involving monster reproduction
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Character Insight:
Daisuke shows a mix of tactical altruism and self-interest; he genuinely wants to help but uses the situation to secure social contact he otherwise couldn’t get. Juliet shows a vulnerable side regarding her trauma before reverting to her abrasive, energetic persona.
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Behind the Scenes:
The author notes that this chapter captures the specific essence they wanted for the story, even if it deviates from the more ‘hardcore’ expectations of the Nocturne (adult) publishing label.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Juliet – Beast‑kin adventurer, 150 cm tall, blue bob hair, cat ears and tail, large chest, light armor, dual‑wielder with Idaten skill wielding a two‑handed sword. Member of Gale and Raging Wind parties, excellent sense of smell for scouting; gear often shatters after an Orc fight. Prickly tsundere who avoids lewd talk, sensitive palate (nekojita), short‑tempered Twin Winds instructor who insults the protagonist and snaps at Daisuke’s teasing about her age and rank.
• Sylvie – Elf, 140 cm tall, petite and loli-like with long wavy blonde hair, wearing frilly robes, she is a spirit-magic specialist and member of the Gale Party, serving as Daisuke’s instructor and the group’s highest-leveled adventurer. Though youthful in appearance, she radiates a terrifying aura when her age is questioned, exuding refined maturity. She excels in spirit magic for scouting and trap detection, relying on MP potions in combat, but struggles physically due to her slender build. The most tolerant of the trio regarding adult topics, she balances innocence with seasoned wisdom, despite lower MP endurance than her level suggests.
• Ines – 170 cm tall, long green hair, voluptuous build; wears heavy armor but prefers feminine, college‑girl style. D‑Rank, Level 21+ magic swordsman who fuses wind magic with swift swordplay, accelerates with gusts. Cool‑headed yet shy, pouting when teased; dignified leader of Twin Winds and Leemans mentor, safety‑first and light‑drinker. Member of Raging Wind and Gale (烈風), feels a professional debt to Daisuke, and though a skilled knight, remains innocent and naive.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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