Volume 5 Chapter 11 Complex
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
My dinner date with Dietlinde-san was set for this evening. Before heading out, I made sure to give Camilla my undivided attention so she’d be in a good mood when she saw me off. She and Liese were likely working hard on cleaning the new place.
When I asked Dietlinde about her preference for a restaurant, she told me she’d prefer somewhere quiet rather than a high-end establishment. She didn’t seem to care what was on the menu. It reminded me of my first date with Clarissa, who had also expressed a distaste for fancy places. While I felt Dietlinde was the kind of woman who deserved the best, I didn’t want to force the issue, so I settled on a more casual bistro. Since it was just for dinner, we agreed to meet at the entrance of the main shopping district.
”Good evening,” she said.
”Good evening, Dietlinde-san,” I replied.
Her private attire was impeccably professional. She wore a solid blouse with a beige jacket draped over her shoulders, paired with a knee-length gray pencil skirt and pumps. While it wasn’t quite as rigid as her Guild uniform, she looked like a corporate sales rep ready for a meeting. It appeared she hadn’t used the cosmetics I gave her yet.
”I’m terribly sorry,” Dietlinde said. “I don’t own the sort of clothes a normal woman wears on a date. Please forgive my appearance.”
”Not at all,” I said. “It suits you, Dietlinde-san. You look beautiful.”
It was the truth; she was a natural beauty even without makeup. She operated on a completely different level of “natural” than anyone I’d known back in Japan. With her curled white hair, spiraling horns, and those subtle beast ears, she radiated an exotic, otherworldly charm.
”…Thank you,” she whispered.
”It’s nothing to thank me for. Shall we?” I asked.
She still seemed so reserved, almost as if she were looking down on herself. It was a waste; she was a knockout, and yet she seemed to feel she didn’t belong here.
At the restaurant, we were served a vibrant spread of orc meat and seasonal vegetables. It wasn’t five-star dining, but it was a respectable spot. Supplies had likely been tight during the Dungeon Upheaval¹, but things seemed to have returned to some semblance of normalcy today.
”A toast to our first date,” I said.
”Cheers,” Dietlinde replied.
She chose a non-alcoholic drink. Apparently, she rarely drank, though she wasn’t a total teetotaler. I wasn’t about to be the guy who pressured a woman into drinking-that’s just basic harassment-and I certainly wasn’t looking to get her wasted just to take her home. I wanted her to enjoy whatever she liked.
”You’re always so kind to me,” she said. “Thank you.”
”Don’t mention it,” I said. “You’re always looking after me at the Guild, Dietlinde-san. Consider this a small way of saying thanks.”
I certainly had the ulterior motive of wanting to get closer to a beautiful woman, but that wasn’t the whole story. She was a professional through and through-diligent, thorough, and flawless. The fact that she was a huge help to me was an objective reality. If it were just about looks, Henriette fit the bill too, but… well, she could stay over there with Thomas.
”I’m just doing my job,” Dietlinde said. “It’s not something that warrants this much gratitude. In fact, after the gift you gave me, I really should have been the one to host you.”
”I was the one who wanted to invite you, so this is more than enough for me,” I replied.
She had accepted the invitation in the heat of the moment, but she still seemed a bit hesitant. It was very typical of her, but I wished she would just relax and enjoy the night.
”Dietlinde-san, let’s keep it simple,” I said. “You’re happy to receive a gift, and I’m happy to be on a date with you. Isn’t that enough?”
”…I understand,” she said. “I appreciate your kindness.”
Her tone was still formal, but I saw her expression soften just a touch.
As we ate, we fell into the kind of idle chatter we never get to have at the office. I’d seen her face more often than Clarissa’s, but her private life had been a total black box. Since she had agreed to the date, I figured she wasn’t married, but I needed to be sure.
”I hope this isn’t too personal, but… are you married, Dietlinde-san?” I asked.
”No, it’s quite alright,” she said. “To answer your question, I am single.”
(Good. If she were married, I’d have to make a tactical retreat. I have the confidence to steal her away-strictly in terms of s*xual technique-but that’s not really my style. Then again, if she had a husband who made her miserable, maybe playing the villain wouldn’t be so bad? But I’ll put that thought aside for now.)
”That’s a relief,” I said. “It means there won’t be any complications while I’m making my move.”
”…I suppose so,” she replied.
She seemed to flush a little, but her primary expression was one of bewilderment. Was I just not her type? If I was being a nuisance here, I was going to be seriously depressed.
”Wait, am I bothering you?” I asked. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have just assumed and invited you out-“
”No, it isn’t that!” she interrupted. “I’m… happy. I mean, I’m grateful for the invitation.”
When I slumped my shoulders to apologize, she quickly corrected me. Okay, so she doesn’t hate me. Then why the confusion?
”I’m just… bewildered that you would be so kind to someone like me,” she said.
”You say that a lot-‘someone like me.’ Why are you so determined to put yourself down?” I asked.
It was a prying question, but I couldn’t let it go. There had to be a reason.
”…I see,” she said. “I suppose I haven’t told you, Daisuke-san.”
”The way you say that makes it sound like there’s a real reason. Is it something I’m allowed to know?” I asked.
”It’s not something I broadcast, but I don’t mind if it’s you,” she said. “Most of the Guild staff know anyway.”
”Got it. Give me a second to keep this private. Silent Field².” The ambient noise of the restaurant vanished behind a magical barrier. “There. Now no one can overhear.”
”Thank you,” she said. “The truth is… I was an orphan.”
She explained that she had grown up in a temple orphanage for as long as she could remember. Her parents were a mystery. Since Classes are somewhat hereditary, the consensus was that she likely didn’t come from a combat lineage. Dietlinde herself had a clerical Class.
She hadn’t been mistreated, but in a crowded orphanage, it was impossible to have anything resembling a real parental bond. She didn’t say it outright, but I could tell she had been desperately lonely during those years. Because the orphanage taught her the basics-reading, writing, and math-she managed to land a job at the Adventurer’s Guild. Apparently, because adventurers’ children end up as orphans so often, the Guild keeps a certain number of hiring slots open for them. In a society run on nepotism, she said that was a lifesaver.
Because of that, everyone at the Guild knew her background. In Japan, that kind of thing would be kept under wraps, but here, people didn’t seem to care as much. She isn’t openly discriminated against, but since she had zero “backing,” people tended to treat her like she was expendable. I bet her own Department Head looked down on her too.
Dietlinde seemed to accept all of this as just the way things were. My Insight³ skill didn’t ping a single lie-she really believed she was lesser. (Why do I have Insight? To deal with people like Yuko and Henriette. Those two are about as trustworthy as a chocolate teapot.)
”…I see. So that’s how it is. Thank you for sharing that with me,” I said.
”No… I apologize if the mood is ruined,” she said.
Basically, her birth was her complex. This world placed a premium on family trees. Since she had no backing, she saw herself as a low-value marriage partner. She was beautiful, but she wasn’t aggressive, and she was past what this world considered the prime age for marriage. It was a massive waste, but lucky for me.
”I’ve said it before, but the way you work so hard is exactly why I think you’re a fantastic woman,” I said. “I don’t care what the rest of the world thinks-I know what I see.”
”…Thank you… so much,” she whispered.
She gave me a bashful, genuine smile. (Critical hit! Probably.) Jokes aside, she was just like the others-she wasn’t used to being complimented. I hoped that by praising her, I could help her find a little bit of self-worth.
After that, she finally started to relax. We talked about how she spent her time off.
”Oh, right. You mentioned you had things to do on Yellow Day⁴, right?” I asked.
”Yes. I help out at the orphanage,” she said.
She wasn’t obligated to, but she went back to volunteer. Just like the typical tropes, the orphanages in the capital were strapped for cash and short-staffed. She goes back once or twice a week to lend a hand. She probably knew Mizuki then, but I decided not to dig into that today. Dietlinde might look cool and distant, but she had a heart of gold.
”I see… Well then, are you usually free on Purple Days⁵, like today?” I asked.
”Yes, I’m usually free. Why do you ask?” she said.
”We had such a great time talking today, it would be a waste to let it end here. I don’t want to overwhelm your schedule, but could you give me one day a month?” I asked.
Given how she was, I knew she’d never be the one to ask me out. I had to be the one to keep the momentum going.
”…….Thank you,” she said. “Not just for the gift, but for wanting to see me again.”
”Dietlinde-san, like I said: take it easy,” I said. “All you have to say is, ‘I’d love to go to dinner again,’ and I’ll be happy.”
”…You’re right,” she said. “I would love to go to dinner again.”
She looked me straight in the eye as she said it. It was the softest, most captivating smile I’d seen on her yet.
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Summary:
Daisuke goes on a casual dinner date with the Guild staff member Dietlinde. During the meal, he probes into her background, leading to the revelation of her past as an orphan. The chapter focuses on breaking down Dietlinde’s emotional walls and establishing a recurring monthly date to build her self-confidence.
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Trivia:
- Dietlinde’s ‘orphan complex’ explains her rigid, professional demeanor as a survival mechanism against being seen as expendable.
- Daisuke uses ‘Silent Field’ and ‘Insight,’ showcasing his caution and willingness to use magic for personal social management.
- The mention of ‘Yellow’ and ‘Purple’ days hints at a color-based week system common in specific isekai world-building.
- Dietlinde’s volunteering at the orphanage suggests she will be the link for Daisuke to interact with the capital’s lower social strata
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Character Insight:
The dynamic shifts from a strictly professional relationship to a budding romance. Dietlinde’s admission that she is happy to be invited-despite her bewilderment-indicates she is beginning to trust Daisuke’s genuine interest.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The Adventurer’s Guild functions as a social safety net, providing employment quotas for orphans of adventurers. This reveals a world with high mortality rates for combatants but a structured bureaucratic response.
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TL Notes:
The term ‘Sexual Technique’ was used as a loanword in the raw to emphasize the protagonist’s specific, almost game-like confidence in his abilities, consistent with the story’s overall theme.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Dietlinde – Dietlinde, a slender sheep-beastwoman with long, fluffy white curls, tiny spiraling horns, and subtle beast ears, serves as the weary yet composed receptionist at the Maultasche Royal Capital Adventurer’s Guild. A former orphan with no social backing, she battles deep self-disparagement despite her quiet elegance and clerical competence. Her low-heel clicks echo through the halls as she endures the Dungeon Upheaval’s strain, masking exhaustion with professional grace. Only with Daisuke does her reserved expression soften—his quiet care, recovery magic, and thoughtful gifts offer her rare solace, deepening her unspoken affection. She soothes herself with calming scents and longs for unattainable cosmetics, her fragile beauty hidden beneath duty’s weight.
• Camilla – 14‑year‑old fox‑type beastkin, ~140 cm, thin, fluffy tail, twitching ears, wearing accessories. Formerly Gerta’s slave, rescued after a wolf attack and dungeon upheaval, revived and now a porter‑illusionist (Illusion & Fire, high INT/MND). Deeply attached to Daisuke, calls him “Master,” seeks his scent, fears abandonment, and clings to his affection. Delicate, socially anxious, easily pleased, she cleans their new home and follows him everywhere.
• Liese – Dragonewt girl, 170 cm, grey-blue hair, thick horns, grey scales on neck and limbs, thin chest, tail that thumps when excited. Slave and loyal vanguard of Daisuke, former Grünewald guild trainee (Level 15), spear-user, disciplined, strict etiquette, discriminated by Imperials. Greets him formally, cleans house with Camilla, tail reflects her emotions.
• Clarissa – Early‑20s librarian with soft, graceful features, blonde shoulder‑length hair, sparkling eyes and warm natural charm; she radiates a gentle older‑sister aura, curvy figure and large breasts, and offers a slightly pressuring smile when discussing makeup. A glamorous merchant’s daughter, long‑haired and rose‑scented, knows geography well, casually helps Daisuke, survived many failed engagements, and is now his associate after their recent date.
• 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.
• Thomas – A B‑Rank adventurer and gorilla‑type beastman in his mid‑30s, about 2 m tall with thick fur, a tail and sharp canines. He leads a harem of four wives, is a rough “muscle‑brain” who often shirks duties to flirt with guild staff.
• Daisuke – Mid‑40s Japanese reincarnated adventurer, B‑Rank, high AGI/DEX, wearing a ten‑year‑old watch and Radiant Iron gear. Level 68 transferee blessed by the Green God, uses Earth and Wind magic, Insight skill and Silent Field. Lives in a Beunemünde rental house, manages slaves, owns Ilse, mentors Liese, Camilla, Rin, dates Ines, pursues Regina at Daydream, and seeks Dietlinde.
• 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.
• Mizuki – 165 cm tall, standard‑built girl with long hair, wearing modest chest armor and speaking politely; reincarnated as a Saint‑class high‑school student and JK Party member, highly formal and pious, despising vanity. She bravely confronts slave abuse, earns respect by defending the vulnerable, and often joins the protagonist’s circle at the temple, aligning with Nanami’s party. Her location is known to the protagonist.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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