Volume 7 Chapter 26 Stalker Tendencies
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”You’re either incredibly patient, or you’ve just lost your mind. Normally, that’s just impossible, right?” I said.
’You are far from “normal,” are you not? To possess such strength at so young an age, and in that singular attire… I suspected you were one of the summoned¹—am I mistaken?’ the spirit asked.
”You caught me. That’s exactly what I am,” I replied.
’Then, given a few years, you should undoubtedly possess the qualifications to bind me to your service.’
The Great Spirit was right. As a Transferee², I get ten times the experience points, so it’s actually doable. It seems she(?) knows about people like me. She probably had a connection with another one in the past.
’Even if you were not one of The Summoned, and even if those qualifications remained out of reach… it would not matter. I shall simply follow you.’
”So you’re just a stalker?”
’Stalker?’
”Forget it. Just talking to myself. Don’t worry about it,” I said.
(She’s being incredibly pushy. Is she more dangerous than I thought, or just pathologically loyal? It’s hard to tell. This is the first time a woman’s ever been this aggressive with me upon meeting. …Actually, I might be making a mistake by even assuming “she” is a woman.)
”I’ve got to ask—the ‘Lady of the Lake’ is a woman, right?” I asked.
’That is merely the name humans have bestowed upon me. This form is a simple mimicry of a common mortal. Spirits have no gender. We do not procreate.’
”I see. That explains the vibe. But how do you keep your species going?”
’The concept of “species” or “offspring” is alien to us. We begin as tiny motes of spirit energy, born in infinite numbers. Over eons, we slowly elevate the rank of our existence.’
(If they don’t have genders, they aren’t affected by my Ordeal³ Skills. Talk about a blind spot. Not that the info is particularly useful right now. A Lesser Spirit can be contracted at Level 1, but they’re basically useless. If the Lady of the Lake started as one of those, she must be unfathomably old. I doubt spirits even have a concept of a lifespan. That’s probably why she thinks being bound to a mortal for a few decades is no big deal.)
”Alright, I get it. Just wait a bit until I meet the requirements,” I said.
’Understood. I shall await your return.’
With those words, the Lady of the Lake dissolved into the water, vanishing like a fading reflection. She was probably thinking years ahead, but at this rate, I’ll hit Level 7 Mastery in two months. I’ll have to time my visit right; if I leave her hanging too long, she seems like the type to just track me down on her own.
I don’t know if she’s dutiful or just stubborn, but if she’s going to lend me her strength, it’ll definitely come in handy. However, a Great Water Spirit is going to stand out way too much if a Human is using her. I’ll have to keep her under seal⁴ most of the time.
(I’m already dreading explaining this to Sylvie. “I helped her out and she just kind of stuck to me” is really the only way to put it.)
”Well, let’s grab Captain Emily and head back for now,” I said.
”…Right,” Cassandra replied.
Cassandra had stayed silent the entire time I was talking to the Great Spirit. Even if she wanted to chime in, the Great Spirit is on a whole different level; a Knight like Cassandra couldn’t contract her anyway.
”You… Daisuke, you’re so natural. You don’t seem intimidated by anyone, no matter who they are,” Cassandra said.
”That’s not true. There are plenty of types I’m bad with or people I’d rather avoid.”
”Really? I haven’t seen a trace of that.”
”I’m serious. For example, I really can’t deal with those hulking, grim-faced old meatheads.”
”Their physique is mostly for show at that level of power, though…”
”I know that, but some phobias are just hard to shake,” I said.
(I’m also not a fan of the fake-innocent Henriette or the overbearingly proud Yuko, but it’s probably bad form to name names. My hang-up with the muscle-bound types is definitely a leftover instinct from my Previous Life.)
”Aren’t you afraid of a Great Spirit?” Cassandra asked.
”Not really. I mean, she just looks like a beautiful woman to me.”
”Haa… you really are something else…”
Looking utterly exasperated, Cassandra hoisted Captain Emily onto her back and started walking. I offered to carry her, but she shot me down, telling me to focus on searching for enemies. A little disappointing, honestly.
(Ah, crap. During the real Boss fight, I accidentally let it slip that my Fire Magic is at Level 7. I might have been stressed from getting thrashed by that dragon, but honestly, I was probably just floating on air because Cassandra’s “reward” was a done deal. Definitely that. Well, she’s sworn an oath to the gods to be treated as my slave, so I doubt she’ll go leaking my secrets. I’ll make sure to remind her later, just in case.)
Walking along the lakeshore, we soon ran into the oni⁵ girl from the village tavern. She was heading straight for us. Since there were still wandering elements around, I decided to give her a warning.
”It’s dangerous around here. There are too many monsters,” I said.
”Hmph. Such small fry, no matter their number, are hardly a threat to me,” the girl replied.
”If you say so. But what are you doing out here?”
”Simply drinking at the tavern grew tiresome. I am merely wandering to pass the time between cups. A stroll to kill the boredom, as it were.”
(Most people would call this a suicide mission, and she’s out here “strolling”? Is she seriously drinking 24/7? I definitely saw her at the tavern yesterday, too. She speaks with total confidence—no sign of blustering. She looks younger than Camilla, but she’s clearly a powerhouse. Between the flash of her snaggletooth, the red tint around her eyes, and the curve of her white neck, she’s chillingly sexy.)
”Tell me, lad… you are quite fascinating,” she said.
”Eh? You think so?”
I was momentarily mesmerized by her smile. Did I do something? Aside from a quick chat the other night, we haven’t interacted. Maybe she saw those ten pillars I summoned earlier? It was a strong attack, but not impossible for a high-ranker.
(Wait. Her eyes just flashed with a strange light. Is this a Curse attack? I didn’t do anything to piss her off, so why—?)
”Ho ho ho! Truly, you ‘are’ fascinating!” the girl laughed.
”Uh… care to explain?” I asked.
I was totally lost as she started laughing behind her fan. My Sense Malice wasn’t pinging, so I knew she wasn’t serious. But that just made it weirder. Suddenly, Cassandra—still carrying Captain Emily—dropped to her knees.
”Sorry, Cassandra! You hit your limit?”
”Ngh… no…! This Oni… she’s a master of terrifyingly powerful hexes…!” Cassandra groaned.
(So Cassandra’s getting hit too. I try to stealthily bump up Cassandra’s Curse Resistance, but if I keep it at a level that won’t get me noticed, it barely does anything. If it were a life-or-death situation, I’d max it out and deal with the questions later, but this is a gray area. Is she some kind of “cute” thrill-killer? I really don’t need this right now, but I can’t just stand by. I went through hell to save Cassandra; protecting her is my job now.)
”Look, if you want to be enemies, I’ll give you everything I’ve got. Can you please stop the attack?” I said.
”Forgive me, lad. ‘Twas but a trifling jest. Do not take it to heart,” the girl replied.
She really didn’t mean it. The girl gave a shallow bow, and the pressure of the curse vanished. Thank god. She felt like a nightmare to fight.
”Why the hell would you do that?” I asked.
”You seemed utterly unfazed, yet a normal mortal would have had the strength ripped from their very bones, much like the woman there. I pride myself as the ‘Curse-Killing Oni,’ a foremost authority on hexes… yet you resisted me with such ease. Truly, you make me lose my confidence. Kukuku… Hahahaha!”
”I… I just happen to have some resistance Skills, that’s all,” I said.
(The girl found this hilarious. Curse-specialized Classes are rare; apparently, there are almost none at A-Rank. Her title sounds ominous as hell, but she doesn’t seem to be lying. You get some posers with edgy nicknames sometimes, but hers feels earned. Even with Level 6 resistance, Cassandra didn’t recover. That means this girl’s Curse Skill is definitely Level 7—maybe even Level 8. There’s no way she’s the age she looks. She’s a fake.)
”What’s even more amusing is that despite my curiosity, my heart doesn’t skip a beat! I have never met such a strange creature! This stroll was the right choice indeed!” the girl shouted.
”Yeah, I can agree with that last part,” I replied.
(As always, Ordeal is working hard. You can take a break soon, buddy. Seriously.)
”Kukuku, delightful. Ah, I have been remiss in my manners. I am Tomoe. For now, I am but a traveler with a thirst for fine spirits.”
”I’m Daisuke. An Adventurer. This is Cassandra, and the one on her back is Emily-san,” I said.
”I see. A pleasure, Daisuke. I intend to linger in the village a while longer for the sake of the sake and that ‘smoked cheese,’ but I shall come find you shortly.”
”Uh, sure, I don’t mind, but… I don’t exactly live around here,” I said.
”Pay it no mind. Until we meet again.”
”Right. See ya.”
(I knew she liked her booze, but apparently, she’s a smoked cheese fan too. We might actually get along. She said she’d come find me, so I guess I’ve been scouted. It’s definitely curiosity rather than romance, though. And she clearly has some kind of location-tracking Skill. Since she didn’t mean any harm, I guess I’ll just roll with it.)
Tomoe hummed to herself and headed back toward the village in high spirits. It wasn’t even noon yet.
”Cassandra, you okay?” I asked.
”…Yeah,” Cassandra replied.
I checked her status, but she seemed fine now. Captain Emily was still out cold.
”‘Curse-Killing Oni Tomoe’… I feel like I’ve heard that name before…” Cassandra mused.
”If you’ve heard of her, she must be a big deal.”
(Cassandra mostly knows knights, so Tomoe might be a veteran. If she were a criminal, Cassandra would have known. I doubt she’d bother remembering a common Adventurer’s nickname.)
”The Great Spirit and that Oni… they distracted me. I haven’t properly thanked you for the rescue,” Cassandra said. “I’ll need to talk to Captain Emily, but I’ll make sure you get an extra reward for taking out more monsters than we agreed on.”
”I told you I was going to save you, and I meant it. As long as you keep the details of the fight and the stuff with the Great Spirit and Tomoe a secret… I’m not looking for anything more than the ‘reward’ we talked about this morning,” I said.
”…I understand.”
(Perfect. I’ve got her word. Now, all that’s left is taking out the trash.)
On the way back to the knight party, Cassandra was even more quiet than usual.
”If Daisuke had been there… back then… my father might have…” she whispered.
”Did you say something?”
”…It’s nothing.”
(Something poked at Cassandra’s trauma. Still, I can tell her opinion of me is shifting. Setting the ‘reward’ aside, I wonder if her affection level went up? I sure hope so.)
—
Summary:
Daisuke encounters two legendary beings by the lake: the genderless Lady of the Lake and the alcoholic ‘Curse-Killing Oni’ Tomoe. Both express a deep, non-romantic interest in his unique presence and power as a Transferee. Meanwhile, Cassandra’s respect for Daisuke grows as she grapples with her past trauma and her mysterious ‘slave’ status.
—
Trivia:
- Daisuke has a 10x XP multiplier.
- The ‘Ordeal’ skill prevents romantic arousal/heart-throbbing even with high-level beauties.
- Spirits start as ‘tiny motes’ and evolve over thousands of years.
- Cassandra is currently carrying Captain Emily on her back.
- Tomoe can track Daisuke’s location via a ‘Mind’ skill.
- Daisuke has a phobia of muscular men from his previous life
—
Character Insight:
Daisuke is becoming more careless with his secrets due to the excitement of his promised ‘reward’ from Cassandra. Cassandra is beginning to view Daisuke as a hero figure similar to what her father needed.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The author notes that this chapter ends the ‘Requested Quest’ arc but hints at further development between Daisuke and Cassandra.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Lady of the Lake – A Great Water Spirit who lacks gender and reproduces by elevating its existence over eons. She seeks to follow Daisuke.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Henriette – A dog‑like beastman receptionist and Guild Clerk, about 160 cm tall with long grey‑white hair, favored by the department head who lets her off‑load tasks. Frequently pursued by Thomas’s unwanted advances.
• Yuko – 17‑year‑old high‑schooler, reincarnated from a 40‑year‑old Earth civil servant and former tech‑track professional, wears a half‑up hairstyle, thin chest armor, stands 160 cm with a standard build. Polite but low‑motivation, poor etiquette. Apprentice to Lady Xaveria, acquaintance of Daisuke, battling entitlement and stress.
• Camilla – 14-year-old fox-beastkin, ~140 cm, thin and fluffy-tailed—tail thumps when excited, stands rigid when nervous, ears twitch—wears simple accessories, slave ear marked, deeply attached to Daisuke as a father figure, suffers severe separation anxiety, cries when apart, craves his scent and head-pats, seeks approval, socially anxious yet easily pleased, helps with household chores, favored by Rin, rescued from a duel with Gerta, fears abandonment above all.
• Rin – Tall, large-breasted B-rank adventurer with long shaggy hair and thick chest armor, exuding a cool-beauty façade; quiet, blunt, and intuitively brilliant at drawing, she’s deeply fond of Camilla—playing with her, shielding her fiercely, and feeling indebted to a rescued beast-man child. She dominates Daisuke’s group, belongs to “Yamato Nadeshiko,” wields ice magic for first aid, and is profoundly sensitive to slave mistreatment. Weekly, she visits Camilla and subtly expresses interest in Daisuke through an indirect kiss via chopstick exchange.
• Tomoe – An Oni known as the ‘Curse-Killing Oni.’ A master of hexes who looks young (loli) but is extremely old and powerful. Has red eyes, white skin, long black hair, and wear Yukata. Holding a fan.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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