Volume 7 Chapter 25 Irregular
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The encounter was entirely outside their expectations. They had conducted a survey just the day before, confirming that the Boss stayed in the center of the lake and that no other particularly powerful individuals were present. Initially, they proceeded as planned, subjugating Elementals¹ equivalent to C-Rank.
While pursuing one of the stronger specimens, they pushed slightly ahead of the other parties. Since the two of them possessed strength equivalent to B-Rank Adventurers, they had more than enough power to handle the situation. They were managing their pace to ensure their MP didn’t run dry when it suddenly appeared.
It was near the shrine dedicated to the Great Water Spirit²—a place where absolutely nothing had been present the day before.
It appeared to be a size larger than the Boss at the lake’s center, with a strength ranging from high B-Rank to A-Rank. This was likely the true master of the area. Emily was a close-quarters scythe-wielder, and Cassandra was a knight specializing in defense. Neither was particularly good with magic attacks.
Since the sorcery-focused members of their unit were only C-Rank, it would be difficult for a party of knights to take this thing down. Consequently, they decided that Emily and Cassandra would draw the individual—the “True Boss,” as it were—while the other unit members fled to act as messengers.
Whether it was a whim or a moment of madness, Cassandra shouted for the knights to call for Daisuke. She felt a faint pang of regret the moment the words left her lips, but the knights had already dashed away.
The True Boss’s attacks were devastating, but fortunately, they weren’t frequent, allowing the two women to thin out the lesser mobs. However, as more minions swarmed the area, the battle ground into a stalemate. Even in such a situation, they remained committed to their duty as the Knights’ Order, guiding the monster in a direction away from the village.
The reason for the occasional woman-like groaning was a mystery, but Cassandra knew that if she got distracted by the unknown, she would die. (We’ll probably find out why once we kill it,) she thought, choosing to ignore the sound.
Immediately after a wave of magical power pulsed from somewhere, the True Boss’s behavior pattern shifted. It abandoned its offense, showing a clear intent to head back toward the lake. They speculated that some kind of signal—likely a request to regroup—had been sent by the Boss at the lake’s center.
”If they link up, we’re in trouble,” Emily said.
”Yeah,” Cassandra replied. “We have to pin this thing down here.”
If the Boss and the True Boss merged, the difficulty of the subjugation would skyrocket. It might be a struggle even for Daisuke and Kazuya. The two women were in agreement; they prepared to take some damage and went all-out to obstruct the True Boss’s movement.
They continued the grueling battle while taking hits, though it likely lasted less than a minute. Then, they felt another wave of magical power. The specifics were unclear, but the situation had definitely changed. After a few seconds of silence, the True Boss took a breath, only to explode into a frantic, berserk assault.
”This is bad…!” Emily cried.
”Kuh…!” Cassandra groaned.
The lake Boss had likely been defeated, but they hadn’t expected a monster to act with such human-like emotion. There was no time to be impressed, however. An opponent they already knew was formidable had shifted entirely to the offensive.
Compared to this, it was clear it had been holding back until now—it had practically been toying with them. If they had a way to strike back, this might have been an opportunity, but the two of them were severely lacking in long-range options. They had their hands full just trying to survive the onslaught.
”If Daisuke gets here, we might have a chance, but will he make it in time?!” Emily shouted.
”As if an Adventurer would show up…!” Cassandra spat.
Daisuke had said he would “definitely” come to save them, but an Adventurer’s “definitely” wasn’t worth trusting. In the meantime, the surrounding minions increased in number, making it impossible to parry every strike.
While they managed to block the True Boss’s heavy attacks, they were being worn down by the lesser enemies. A single hit was nothing, but the accumulation was becoming fatal. Their potions were gone, and death was finally drawing near.
Cassandra had been prepared to die since the day she joined the Knights’ Order, but she still had things to do. She couldn’t give up—but would an Adventurer, would Daisuke, really come? And if he did, would he stay and fight? Could he even win? Doubt clouded her mind for a split second, causing her movements to dull. She failed to receive the True Boss’s attack properly.
”Guuh!” Cassandra grunted.
”Cassandra! Gah—!” Emily cried.
Distracted by Cassandra, Emily was blown away by the True Boss’s strike. She was narrowly alive, but the injury was severe; without immediate treatment, she wouldn’t last long. The True Boss loomed over Cassandra, pressing its attack with even more ferocity.
”Kuh, is this as far as it goes?” Cassandra whispered.
Exposed to the violent assault and feeling the cold breath of death, her thoughts drifted to Daisuke. He was a strange man who claimed to love an “older woman” like her, but his strength was the real deal.
Though he was a hated Adventurer, she had begun to realize that he was different, just as Emily had said. Although she had sent for him partly due to Emily’s orders, she hadn’t expected him to risk his life for her. But if he did come…
”Daisuke, if you come now… if you kill this thing… I’ll give you whatever reward you want!”
”Seriously?”
”Eh?”
Daisuke replied to what she had intended as a final monologue, leaving Cassandra in a state of pure shock. She hadn’t expected him to actually show up, and the fact that he’d heard her was beyond her imagination.
”Why… how are you here, Daisuke?” Cassandra asked.
”I told you I’d definitely save you, didn’t I? Alright, time to work hard for that prize! Cassandra, please look after Captain Emily.”
”A-Ah… right,” Cassandra stammered.
Protected by the Firewall³ Daisuke deployed, Cassandra finally found a moment of safety. She took a potion and set about treating Emily. The Captain was unconscious, but the treatment was in time.
As she settled within the barrier, Cassandra felt a sense of wonder. Why was he so relaxed in the face of the True Boss? The creature was high B-Rank to A-Rank. For a B-Rank like Daisuke, a victory should be a hair’s breadth away at best; more likely, he would lose.
Yet, a part of her believed he could win. There was no logic to it. Her reason denied it, but her instincts told her he would be fine. She couldn’t decide which to believe, so she decided she would watch him with her own eyes. It might be a long, grueling battle, but she would burn the image into her memory. That was the responsibility she owed for relying on him.
Unaware of Cassandra’s inner conflict, Daisuke stepped toward the True Boss with a wide grin. He was actually humming, a sound that seemed to drive the monster into a state of even greater fury.
* * *
I made it by the skin of my teeth. I arrived just as Captain Emily fell and Cassandra was left to hold the line alone. I heard a very interesting promise—though it seems she didn’t realize I was already there. I definitely heard it, though, so I’m going to be very specific about that “reward.”
”Now then, so you were the real Boss all along.”
Even while I talked to Cassandra, the Boss was slamming heavy attacks against the Firewall. I’d pumped quite a bit of mana into it, so it wasn’t going to break. I could have stood there for quite a while without a problem. However, cleaning up the minions is part of the job, and I didn’t want to play around with this guy all day. Fortunately, Captain Emily was unconscious, so I could afford to get a little serious.
”I’ll finish this in one shot. ‘Fire Pillar’—tenfold! Ah, wait, that wasn’t one shot.”
Using Parallel Casting⁴, I unleashed ten Fire Pillars from my Level 7 Fire Magic skill. The Firewall had already consumed a fair amount of MP, and this was going to take even more, but as long as I took down the Boss, the rest would be easy.
Pillars of roaring flame erupted, surging toward the monster. It tried to intercept with Water Magic, but I broke through its defenses with a saturated attack that exceeded its ability to respond.
As a result, the fight ended so quickly it felt almost unfair to Cassandra and the others who had struggled so hard. It didn’t have the flashiness of Tria’s “nukes,” but Level 7 skills are A-Rank territory for a reason.
A melon-sized Magic Stone and a glowing blue orb were all that remained where the Boss had stood, proving the subjugation was a success.
”Cassandra, you okay?” I asked.
”…Yeah. Captain Emily is still alive too,” Cassandra replied.
She had a complicated look on her face, but they both seemed fine. It was worth sprinting all the way here following my Intuition skill. We couldn’t exactly relax here, so I figured we should regroup with the rest of the knights.
“Mm… have I finally been released? Was it you who defeated that beast?”
”Hm?”
Just as I was about to gather the materials from the Boss, something made of water—likely a spirit—appeared. I hadn’t seen her anywhere until now; I wonder where she was hiding?
”Yeah, that was me,” I said.
“I am the Great Water Spirit. Humans call me the Lady of the Lake.”
”Thanks for the introduction. I’m Daisuke. An Adventurer… though you might not know what that is. I kill monsters for a living.”
“I was imprisoned by the monster you defeated, and my power was being drained. You have my gratitude for saving me.”
It turned out she was the Great Spirit from the rumors. No wonder we hadn’t seen her; the Elemental had been using her as a battery. While Sylvie’s spirits could communicate, they didn’t speak, but it seemed Great Spirits talked normally. She had a calm, intellectual way of speaking that felt very refined.
She looked like a sexy older sister with long hair and a body that shimmered with soft ripples—especially her chest—but since she was made of water, touching her seemed like it would be a challenge. Her “clothes” were part of her form, though, so she wasn’t exactly naked.
”I didn’t exactly plan it, but I’m glad I could help. Don’t worry about it,” I said.
“That will not do. As a reward, I shall enter into a contract of service with you. I promise to be of great use.”
”A contract, huh?” I asked.
She was likely talking about a Spirit Magic contract. But I didn’t have that skill.
”I don’t actually have any Spirit Magic skills, though,” I added.
“I will wait. And since you are my benefactor, you may speak to me casually.”
”Uh, okay. What do you mean by ‘wait’?”
“Precisely what the words mean.”
”Can’t I just bring someone else? I know a Water Spirit user—her skill level isn’t quite there yet, but—”
“No. I desire a contract with you.”
”Wait, seriously?”
For a normal human, Spirit Magic aptitude is usually low. Unless you’re in a specific Spirit Mage class, reaching Level 7 is almost impossible. You’d run out of lifespan first.
—
Summary:
Emily and Cassandra encounter an ‘Irregular’ True Boss at the lake shrine. Facing defeat, Cassandra offers Daisuke any reward if he saves them. Daisuke arrives, incinerates the boss with Level 7 Fire Magic, and rescues the Great Water Spirit, who then demands a contract with him.
—
Trivia:
- Daisuke uses ‘Intuition’ skill to find them.
- The Great Water Spirit was used as a battery by the Elemental.
- Daisuke has Level 7 Fire Magic, which is A-Rank equivalent.
- The Great Water Spirit can manifest clothing as part of her body.
- Chapter 125 is explicitly mentioned as a ‘missing number’ in the author’s count
—
Character Insight:
Cassandra shows a moment of profound vulnerability and instinctive trust in Daisuke despite her hatred for adventurers. Daisuke proves his loyalty by arriving ‘by the skin of his teeth’ and prioritizing their safety with a massive Firewall.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The author celebrates the 150th chapter milestone while breaking the fourth wall regarding the numbering error.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Great Water Spirit – Also known as the Lady of the Lake. An intellectual entity made of water who was imprisoned by an Elemental. Has long hair and a body that shimmered with soft ripples—especially her chest—but was made of water.
• Cassandra – Standing 175 cm tall with short brown hair and a muscular, sturdy frame, she is a stoic, dignified knight of the Krieger family—daughter of a Knight Class father and Housekeeper Class mother—bearing deep trauma from his legacy and a hatred for Otto and traitorous adventurers. Once dubbed ‘The Ogress’ and former Royal Knights Vice-Captain, she now leads the Third Unit as a neutral Guild witness to Daisuke, bound by a sacred oath to serve him as a slave, her cold exterior masking fractured loyalty and unresolved shame over her age. A B-Rank equivalent defense specialist of the Knights’ Order, she is highly skilled yet recently overwhelmed, her unyielding aura and rigid discipline concealing a soul scarred by duty, betrayal, and divine obligation.
• Emily – Thirty‑year‑old Captain of the Knights’ Order, B‑Rank Adventurer‑equivalent, sports wavy purple wolf‑cut hair tied back, a powerful aura and wicked, older‑sister‑like smile. Married, leads the Third Unit, chaperones a high‑school girl party, teases Daisuke with disciplined charm. Recently recovered from battle, unconscious and being carried by Cassandra, wielding a close‑quarters scythe.
• Daisuke – Mid-40s Japanese transferee and B-Rank adventurer, blessed by the Green God with a youthful face, tenfold experience gain, and the Ordeal skill—widely regarded as the world’s strongest yet avoids the spotlight. Wields a one-handed sword and buckler, masters Earth/Wind magic, regeneration, stealth, speed, transformation, Item Box, healing, and “Massage,” plus unique fire magic and uncanny intuition. Manages slaves Ilse, Liese, and Camilla; mentors Rin and Cassandra; dates Ines; pursues Regina and Dietlinde; leads lake investigations and Royal Knight missions. Expert chef, harem leader, and the knight-saver who promised to protect them—all while quietly dominating the adventuring world.
• Kazuya – A scrawny, lazy-talking transferee youth who assists in subjugations with informal yet polite speech, once a Leeman summoner obsessed with 2D girls over real women—his freckles vanished, he spends days grading 20+ summoning spells alone, treating each summon as an emotional anchor, but fixates solely on Toria, his idealized past-life fantasy character, whom he’s spent a year summoning to live with forever, refusing to depart until she’s his.
• Tria – Kazuya summons a female swordsman modeled after the King of Knights; she wears sleek silver armor with blue trim, moves on water as if it were solid, and wields Excalibur with flawless precision. Her presence commands respect among allies and rivals alike.
• Lady of the Lake – A Great Water Spirit who lacks gender and reproduces by elevating its existence over eons. She seeks to follow Daisuke.
• Sylvie – Elf, 140 cm, petite loli‑like with pointed ears, long wavy blonde hair and a fairy‑like smile. Usually in a white blouse and embroidered yellow skirt (forest‑scented); for dates she wears a gothic‑lolita dress with lace‑up boots. Top‑ranked Gale adventurer, Daisuke’s spirit‑magic teacher, scout and trap‑expert who drinks MP potions. Motherly, observant, mediator of the household, and older‑sister figure to girls like Camilla. Playful, assertive about her crush on Daisuke, ears twitch with mood, cheerful, recently left her village.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply