Volume 2 Chapter 25 Restraint
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After nearly a year as an adventurer, you start to make a few connections. There is the Gale Party and Alberto’s crew, as well as the five members of the “Wyvern Slayers.” I have already surpassed some of those parties, but I likely still cannot match the A-Rank or B-Rank veterans.
A-Rank adventurers are a rare breed. I only know of two here in the capital of Maultasche: “Ursula of the Aegis” and “Rutger of the Flame Sword.” Both appear to be members of long-lived races. I have seen them, but we have never spoken.
It seems having an alias is standard for the A-Rank. There might be others, but since a single quest can net them a massive reward, they probably aren’t very active. As for B-Rank adventurers, there are quite a few, though they still make up less than five percent of the total population. Some have titles, while others do not.
”Yo, Daisuke, I heard you’re already knocking on the door of B-Rank? Damn, that was fast. You got some kind of¹ or what?”
”Good evening, Thomas-san. I’d say I’m about a week away. It’s just the result of honest hard work,” I replied.
A massive man whacked me on the back with a hand like a slab of meat. Standing nearly seven feet tall, Thomas was a gorilla-type beastman in his mid-thirties. Aside from his thick fur, his tail, and his slightly prominent canines, he wasn’t that different from a human. Thomas was a B-Ranker who led a party that—while not necessarily legendary—was certainly unique.
”Hey! Don’t hit Daisuke so hard, you brute. It’s rude,” one of his companions chided.
”Besides, prying into a man’s secrets is a total breach of etiquette,” another added.
”Um, Daisuke-san, I am so sorry…”
”Don’t worry, I’ll give this idiot a proper punishment later. Forgive him?”
”G-gh… please, anything but the punishment…” Thomas pleaded.
Yes, it was a harem party: one man and four women. Moreover, they were all his wives. He seemed to be permanently under their collective thumbs, frequently on the receiving end of slaps or a swift kick to the rear. (Having four wives definitely suggests a high libido. I suppose the men in this world have just as much s*xual drive as the ones back home. Handling four women every night sounds like a nightmare, but he seems to be doing just fine. Maybe he has some kind of ‘Infinite Stamina’ skill.)
Thomas was the kind of guy who would accidentally offend you without a single drop of malice, but since his wives were such good people, I could overlook it.
”You guys seem as close as ever. I’m almost jealous,” I joked.
”Haha, thanks!” Thomas barked.
”We’re sorry again, Daisuke,” his wives said.
”But seriously, B-Rank already? You must be getting marriage proposals left and right!” Thomas shouted.
”I’m not nearly as famous as you, Thomas-san. I doubt anyone’s looking my way.”
”Nonsense! This spear here is my true partner, but you need to find yourself a real one soon!”
”I’ll keep my fingers crossed,” I said.
Thomas stands out because of his harem and his booming voice, but that’s not the only reason he’s famous. It is because of his “partner”—the Wind Spear: Lindwurm. It is a magic spear forged from the materials of an A-Rank monster. If you tried to buy it, you’d be looking at three hundred gold coins, easy.
A magic spear is just the polearm equivalent of a magic sword; channel mana into it, and it triggers a specific effect. Some are even powered by an embedded magic stone. This Lindwurm spear was apparently a dungeon find, and it can replicate the effects of Wind Magic.
Thomas can barely use magic himself, but as a vanguard with high STR, VIT, and AGI, he was already a beast. Once he got his hands on that spear, he covered his weaknesses and his career skyrocketed. He’s well-known for a B-Ranker and will probably get his own alias soon.
(I have no reason to fight him, but purely on stats, I’d likely lose. Thomas and his crew are likely around Level 50, with STR and VIT likely sitting between 3,100 and 3,200. I’m Level 64, but my stats are all locked at 2,530. In a raw physical brawl, I’m outclassed. And since he has that magic spear, I don’t even have the magic advantage. If I went all out, I might manage, but that’s a headache I’d rather avoid.)
Conclusion: He’s the last person I want to pick a fight with right now.
Obviously, rare loot like magic spears doesn’t just grow on trees. Thomas was undeniably lucky. Even if he wasn’t trying to rub it in, he was being incredibly tone-deaf. But then again, that kind of thick-headedness is common enough that I can’t let it get to me. After I humored him for a bit, Thomas left in high spirits—or rather, he was dragged off to be “punished” by his wives. They really are good people. For the record, I have no interest in other men’s wives. I prefer virgins. That’s just the kind of man Daisuke is.
* * *
I couldn’t exactly show the “JK Party” the loot I found—it was a bit too raw—and while it wasn’t quite a magic spear, I did pull something decent from a chest. It only took a year of dungeon crawling. It was a stash of two hundred gold coins. I’m not desperate for cash, but more is always better. Splitting it among the party members gave us forty gold each.
It’s a nice windfall, but it wouldn’t last long if I spent it all at “Daydream” on a triple-booking with Regina-san, Nora, and Rita. I need to use this for something productive. The others already have their plans: Makoto, the lolicon blacksmith, is saving up for his marriage to the loli-dwarf Milliam-san. Kazuya, the 2D-obsessed summoner, is blowing his on MP potions to grind his skill levels. At least they have goals. As for me, this extra cash made me rethink my strategy for after the party dissolves. Time for some reconnaissance.
”Excuse me, I’d like to ask about ……,” I said to the clerk.
I headed to the Merchant Guild to ask about specific shops. You won’t find this kind of information in a library.
”Yes, if you’re looking for ……, there are shops located in this area of the city,” the clerk replied. The male guild staffer spread out a map and pointed.
”Can you recommend a reputable shop?”
”That depends on your definition of ‘reputable’,” the clerk answered.
”I mean a place where the …… is handled properly, and they aren’t abusing the …….”
”In that case, most shops are fine. These two have a reputation for high prices but top-tier quality. These are mid-range, and these are the budget shops where quality drops off.”
(Hmm. I’ll probably regret a budget purchase. I’ll go with the mid-range. I don’t think I can swing the luxury prices yet.)
”Do I need a letter of recommendation?”
”You’re one of the people summoned with the Hero, right? I can write you one, but honestly, you have more social credit than a commoner. You could probably buy without it.”
Black hair and black eyes are a dead giveaway. You might see one or the other, but both is rare. Thanks to the hard-working predecessors who didn’t screw things up too badly, our reputation is solid. I’m grateful for that. The fee wasn’t free, but I had him write the letter anyway. A random adventurer walking in is one thing; someone with a Merchant Guild recommendation is another.
”I see. Thank you.”
”Of course. Come back anytime,” the clerk said.
I can’t buy anything just yet. I’ll wait until the party breaks up and I’m solo.
* * *
I got the info I needed, but on the way back to the inn, I ran into the last person I wanted to see.
”Oh, if it isn’t Araya-san.”
”Oops, you have to call him Daisuke now.”
”Ah, right, Sakura. Daisuke-san, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
It was Otto and Sakura. They were walking arm-in-arm, looking nauseatingly intimate. A “lovey-dovey couple,” if you want to be nice about it. I guess that’s how it is when you’re in the honeymoon phase.
Honestly, I wanted to ignore them and keep walking, but if I did, he’d spread all sorts of nasty rumors. Our social circles don’t overlap much here, but I didn’t need him whispering poison into the ears of the knights or the nobility. As much as I loathed the idea, I had to play the part.
”It has been a while, Otto-san,” I said.
”Well, you know, I’ve been out traveling as part of the Hero Party. It’s been exhausting carrying everyone’s expectations on my back, but it was worth it. We fought so many powerful foes… I’ve already hit Level 52. It’s been non-stop, but the Hero Party just doesn’t function without me!”
”Otto, you’re so amazing!” Sakura gushed.
”Wow, that’s impressive,” I deadpanned.
The bragging started before the greetings were even finished. I doubted half of it. I mean, the level was probably real, and they probably fought some monsters, but the rest? Pure fantasy. Given his “all-brawn-no-brain” stats, I had serious doubts about his “indispensability.” His issue wasn’t just being a sycophant to superiors and a tyrant to subordinates. His work style was pure self-righteousness.
His instructions were vague—”Just do it!”—and then he’d scream “That’s not it!” when the result didn’t match his unspoken intent. He’d waste hours gossiping with anyone who’d listen, then moan about how “busy” he was.
He’d make a show of his busyness, always showing up late to social gatherings. He’d make clients wait while he finished his own work, then force them to work through the night to catch up. His attitude shifted based on status; he was a doormat for those above him and a god to those below.
The list went on. I still couldn’t fathom how he’d managed to get married. (Maybe it was pity? ‘No one else will take him, so I guess I have to.’ I don’t know if anyone is actually that self-sacrificing.) If a party truly couldn’t function without a guy like that, it would have imploded weeks ago. Maybe in a raw slugfest, his physical stats—attack and defense—were useful. But even for my party, we rarely encounter monsters that can be beaten by mindless brawn alone. He’d be great against a golem, but an elemental would wipe the floor with him.
It all smelled like a lie, but I didn’t have the proof to call him out. And if I did, he’d just throw a tantrum and drag my name through the mud. That’s just who he is. I’d heard him badmouthing others plenty of times.
”And Daisuke-san… you were the ‘Onanist,’ right? It must be tough with such a… subpar Class. Is the adventurer life treating you okay?” Otto asked.
”Otto! You shouldn’t say ‘subpar’!” Sakura chided.
”Ah, right, right. It’s not the Class’s fault. My apologies. So, how is it? I’m sure it’s a struggle compared to us in the Hero Party, but what level are you now?”
God, he was annoying. He really leaned into that “Hero Party” bit. I wondered if he was actually contributing anything.
”Well, unlike the Hero Party, we aren’t all ‘High Classes,’ so we only just managed to get the whole party past Level 43 recently,” I replied.
”Is that so! Man, it sounds like you’re really struggling! Being in the Hero Party is a lot of work, but I’m so glad I made the cut!” Otto exclaimed.
Level 43 was the level of my party members. I’m actually 64, but I use “Disguise” to blend in. I phrased it carefully, so technically, I didn’t lie. Upon hearing my “level,” Otto’s face lit up with a look of pure, condescending pity. Exactly what I expected. He’ll probably try to lord this over me even more in the future, but as long as I avoid him, it doesn’t matter.
”Hey, Otto, isn’t that enough? We should get going,” Sakura said.
”Ah, you’re right, Sakura. Well, good luck out there!”
”Yeah, you too,” I said.
Prompted by Sakura, Otto left in a great mood. Sakura never even looked at me. Not that I wanted her to. By playing nice and stroking his ego, I’d probably spared myself from being the target of his next smear campaign. It was worth the effort of holding back my irritation. Or so I tell myself. They’re leaving tomorrow anyway, so hopefully, that’s the last of them.
[Required experience has been met. Acquired “Acting” Skill.]
(Well, look at that. I picked up a skill by accident. I guess that’s the reward for the ‘smiling through the bullshit’ grind. It might come in handy.)
That aside, my blood was boiling. I think I’ll go see Regina-san tonight and let her wash the stress away.
—
Summary:
Daisuke encounters Thomas and his harem party, gaining insight into magic weapons like the Lindwurm spear. He visits the Merchant Guild to plan a mysterious purchase for when he becomes a solo adventurer. Finally, he endures a frustrating encounter with Otto from the Hero Party, inadvertently unlocking the ‘Acting’ skill due to his forced politeness.
—
Trivia:
- Daisuke’s stats are significantly lower than Level 50 adventurers despite being Level 64.
- A-Rank adventurers are so highly paid they rarely need to work.
- Summoned individuals from the modern world have high credit scores in this society due to previous successes of their predecessors.
- Thomas’s wives physically punish him for his lack of etiquette.
- Daisuke uses the ‘Disguise’ skill to hide his true level from others
—
Character Insight:
Daisuke demonstrates high emotional intelligence and restraint by humoring Otto to avoid social sabotage, proving that his ‘Acting’ skill is a byproduct of survival in a social hierarchy.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The author uses the ‘Acting’ skill acquisition as a comedic beat to highlight the absurdity of ‘corporate’ social interactions in a fantasy world.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Alberto – Blue‑haired beastman, leader of adventurer party ‘Alphabet’ and former pugilist mentor to the Hero party, instructs the Working Women Party and is a married regular at the local brothel, often treating rookies to meals and entertainment. Friendly and a bit loud.
• Thomas – A B-Rank adventurer and gorilla-type beastman in his mid-thirties. Approximately 2 meters tall with thick fur, a tail, and prominent canines. Leader of a harem party of four wives.
• Milliam – Ralph’s daughter. A Dwarf woman who appears as a young girl (approx. 120cm) but is a legal adult. Referred to as Milliam-san.
• Kazuya – Scrawny, low-key summoner of the Leemans and one of the “Three Idiots,” he’s obsessed with 2D fictional characters, summoning phantom dancers and weak slimes to bring his waifu to life—his freckles vanished after leveling, and he grades his 20+ Summoning Magic in solitude, leaning heavily on his creations. Speaks with a junior-slacker cadence, has a 2-D little brother, and treats summoned entities as emotional anchors, his reincarnated soul fixated on making fantasy real.
• Makoto – Leeman, once a short, chubby Earth‑summoned blacksmith (Lv20+), now slimmer with clear skin, speaks stiff samurai‑style “sogashi”. High STR/VIT makes him a goblin‑tanking vanguard in heavy armor with a hammer. Reincarnated as a Leemans member, he apprentices under mentor Ralph, is called Makoto‑san by Milliam — an open‑lolicon who declares “cuteness is justice”. He admires an elegant elven girl and remains a self‑admitted lolicon with low resistance to real‑life adult women.
• Regina – Late‑twenties Onee‑san with blue‑purple hair, green eyes, marine‑blue dress split to the thigh, thigh‑high socks, and a voluptuous, large‑breasted figure; she runs Daydream (BSS), mentors girls like Nora and Rita, and is a respected senior Beastman and elite courtesan. Known for her “Masterpiece” body and exceptional technique, she’s a target of the protagonist’s revenge and part of Daisuke’s circle hoping she’ll retire to follow him.
• Nora – Petite beast‑girl with long curled grey hair, drooping ears and a tail, known as “Number Two” at Tagtraum and Daydream. She serves Daisuke arm‑in‑arm, playful yet serious, fights and sleeps with the protagonist, lures clients with erotic charm and squeezes them dry, while using cuteness to toy with men’s hearts.
• Rita – Standing 175 cm tall, this wolf‑type Beastman girl boasts dark brown hair, a fluffy tail and pointed ears. Her athletic, sprinter‑like build shows toned abs and massive stamina, while her long tongue and confident grin mark her as the famed “Number One” of Daydream. Popular and friendly, she thrives on competition and challenges.
• Sakura – Reincarnated high‑school girl, Destroyer class; 160 cm slender with twin‑tails, perpetual scowl, thin chest armor and short‑hair yankee look. Former JK Party member, high‑tension with Daisuke, double‑dates Hero Shouta and Holy Knight Takumi, openly disliked by the protagonist. Now Otto’s partner, supportive and affectionate, part of a ‘stupid couple’ dynamic, aiming to climb status by marrying into the Hero Party.
• Otto – Heavy Warrior of the Hero Party, level 52, reincarnated as a creepy, unpopular man in his 50s trapped in a youthful body, clad in bulky armor with a stern visage; narcissistic, status-obsessed, and manipulative, he is fawningly obedient to Shouta and Takumi while tyrannical and arrogant toward Ren and service staff, his demeanor a stark contrast to his inner age and unpopularity.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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