Volume 7 Chapter 10 Coerced Consent
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
When you’re on the move, there’s not much to do but talk. Mercedes, with her bright personality and relentless chatter, is the perfect distraction.
”…Are you thinking something rude again?”
”Not at all. I was just realizing that because you’re so easy to talk to, you’re actually a pretty ‘convenient woman’ to have around for killing time.”
”Watch your mouth! Regardless of what you actually mean, I demand you rethink your choice of words!”
”Fine, my bad. You’re a ‘talkative woman,’ then.”
”That isn’t any better!”
”You’re just imagining things.”
Teasing her is fun, but if I push it too far, she’ll start sulking. I decide to call it a day and hand her a honey-glaze sweet I’d kept in my pocket to get back on her good side.
”Here. But hey, it sounds like even the Knights’ Order¹ has its share of internal power struggles.”
”…I’ll forgive you, but only for the candy. Right, factions. The rift between the ‘Ability Faction²‘ and the ‘Bloodline Faction³‘ isn’t just a thing in the Order; it’s everywhere.”
Mercedes-the woman who can be bought with a piece of candy. Since we’d been running all day, she was probably just starving. I’d been curious about the friction between ‘Bloodline’ and ‘Ability’ ever since Cassandra mentioned it yesterday. Apparently, it’s a universal headache.
”Adventurers don’t really have to deal with that.”
”I suppose not. It’s not like a monster is going to go easy on a noble just because they have a fancy family tree.”
”True enough.”
Actually, if a monster like that existed, I’d almost want to see it.
”Even among the noble kids in the Order, those who graduated from the Royal Academy are the ‘elite.’ They’re hired as officer candidates meant for command and strategy. They’re called the ‘Academy Faction,’ and since they’re tight with the Bloodline Faction, they usually stay out of the mud-slinging.”
It probably has to do with tuition. Wealthy nobles have a much lower bar for entry. Come to think of it, Randolph-the Guild’s head of request mediation-was an Academy grad. Not that he seemed to have any real pull with the Knights’ Order against them. The Academy Faction and Bloodline Faction are close, but not identical. There are ‘Bloodliners’ too incompetent for the Academy, and ‘Academy-ites’ who are high-ability commoners. Randolph is the latter: a ‘pompous academic loser.’
”Our Grand Captain⁴ is Ability Faction, but he’s open-minded. He doesn’t purge people just because they’re Bloodline. He’s one of those rare figures who climbed the ranks through merit alone-a man of skill, character, and charisma. Even though his family has a knightly history, he’s the second commoner-born Ability Faction Grand Captain in the kingdom’s history.”
”Impressive.”
Günther-san, was an even bigger deal than I realized. Apparently, the first guy was a companion of the founding King. That basically makes Günther-san the first actual commoner to pull it off. No wonder the rank-and-file adore him. If the Ability Faction knights catch wind of how Otto dragged Günther-san’s name through the dirt, they’d execute him. I finally get why Cassandra was so hell-bent on ‘taking care’ of him herself.
”Our unit is led by Captain Emily, so things are pretty chill. But I hear if you’re under a Bloodline Captain, it’s a nightmare. Commoners’ opinions are basically treated as white noise.”
”Is that so?”
”For the record, there are Ability-leaning nobles too, but the towns and villages we’re heading toward are territories owned by Bloodline hardliners. Since the Grand Captain had to call in some favors with the Bloodline Faction to keep his position, we have to pay that debt back.”
”So it’s that bastard Otto’s fault…”
If I see Otto again, I’m definitely punching him. Well, if I hand him over, he’s a dead man anyway…. I guess Bloodliners just don’t see non-nobles as people, and the Academy types are all stuck-up intellectuals. My Previous Life⁵ in Japan had its share of academic elitism too.
As evening fell, we finally reached our destination for the day.
”I was expecting to spend the night under the stars, but I guess not.”
”Don’t be ridiculous. Why would we camp out when there’s a town right here?”
Cassandra is as prickly as ever. She walks over to me without a word. Meanwhile, Mercedes is giving me a pitiful look since Emily saddled her with the grunt work. I’ll give her some more candy later.
”I’ll let the other adventurers know the plan for tomorrow, then we can go grab some food.”
”Fine.”
When I went to talk to the Mirage party, they seemed to be in the middle of a heated argument with the Golden Dragon guys.
”What’s the problem here?”
”Hmph. Daisuke-dono?”
”Daisuke-sama!”
”Oh, it’s you… This doesn’t involve you. Get lost.”
”Actually, since I’m the one in charge of coordinating you lot, it does. If you don’t tell me what’s going on, I’m reporting you for gross misconduct. Isn’t that right, Vice-Captain Cassandra?”
”…Correct. If you refuse Daisuke’s mediation, we’ll terminate the contract.”
”Tch!”
”Okay, so the people actually involved are Moritz and Meta?”
”Yes, I am involved, but Vait over there is the one who started this. He’s demanding Night Attendance⁶.”
”Vait, is this true?”
”You! How dare you ignore me and address Vait-sama directly-“
”Moritz, you’re not the one being asked to put out, so shut up.”
”Why you…!”
”Well, Vait? What’s the deal?”
”…What of it? I’m offering this woman the ‘privilege’ of spending the night with me. I’ll consider hiring you exclusively once we’re back. You’ll make more money than you’ve ever seen.”
”I’ve already told you: I refuse.”
”Why?! This is an incredible opportunity for a commoner!”
”…Setting aside the fact that you’re a commoner too, it’s because I’m not interested in someone as selfish as you. Besides… I’m already Daisuke-sama’s lover, you see. ♡”
”Wait, what?!”
Before I can blink, Meta slides over and hooks her arm through mine. Her soft breasts press against my arm. The others look like they’ve seen a ghost. Vait stands there with his jaw hanging open.
”…So that’s how it is. There’s a brothel in this town. If you’re that desperate, go there.”
”…A duel.”
”Come again?”
”I challenge you to a duel!”
”Give me a break…”
—
Summary:
While traveling, Daisuke learns about the deep-seated political divide between the merit-based Ability Faction and the elitist Bloodline Faction within the kingdom. Upon arriving at a town, a conflict erupts when the adventurer Vait tries to coerce Meta into s*xual ‘Night Attendance.’ Meta deflects the situation by publicly claiming to be Daisuke’s lover, leading an enraged Vait to challenge Daisuke to a duel.
—
Trivia:
- The ‘Academy Faction’ is a subset of the Bloodline Faction consisting of elite graduates.
- Grand Captain Günther is a rare commoner-born success story, making him a symbol for the Ability Faction.
- The protagonist’s past life involved a decent university education in Japan, influencing his view on academic elitism.
- The ‘Night Attendance’ term carries a formal, almost feudal connotation of s*xual service.
- Otto’s actions have politically compromised the Grand Captain, forcing him to owe the Bloodline Faction
—
Character Insight:
Meta shows quick-thinking agency by using Daisuke as a shield against s*xual harassment, while Vait reveals a fragile ego that equates wealth/status with s*xual entitlement.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The author uses the ‘Academy Faction’ to critique real-world Japanese ‘Gakureki Shakai’ (academic pedigree society).
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Mercedes – Mercedes—also called Mel—is a brown‑haired, white frilled‑dressed noble, Home Secretary of Maultasche, and mother of Patrizia. She is Daisuke’s talkative, gluttonous Knight Order ally, loves sweets, fears Vice‑Captain Cassandra, despises goblins, feeds him intel, seeks a Reincarnator boyfriend, views dungeons as divine trials, and often breaks walls.
• Cassandra – Ogress with a sharp, intimidating aura, short brown hair, 175 cm tall, muscular and sturdy. Former instructor, Vice‑Captain of the Royal Knights, niece of Günther. Once called ‘The Ogress’ for strictness and Iron Claw. Lost a duel to Daisuke, became his slave and neutral Guild witness, now leads the Third Unit and despises adventurers.
• Günther – Commander of the Maultasche Kingdom’s Knight Order, he wears polished silver armor bearing the royal crest, a stern gaze and a scar across his left cheek. Blonde, a Krieger by blood, he appears exhausted after recent Hero‑party scandals. Trusting yet authoritative, he can open the Sealed Vault, mentors the Hero’s Party, and serves loyally under Martina and the King, wielding healing magic.
• Otto – Heavy Warrior, once the 52‑level tank of the Hero Party and a doctor‑degree holder, now a creepy 50‑year‑old mind trapped in a youthful body. He dons bulky armor and a stern face, is narcissistic, status‑obsessed and manipulative, obedient to Shouta and Takumi but tyrannical toward Ren and staff, pretends to mentor yet is a nuisance. Expelled from the Hero’s Party, he is delusional, sociopathic, and cares only for his own advancement.
• Emily – Thirty‑year‑old Captain of the Knights’ Order, expedition leader and Ability Faction member, wears a striking purple wolf‑cut hair, wavy and tied back, with a powerful aura. Boisterous, sharp‑witted, battle‑crazed and teasing, he sports a wicked smile and an “older‑sister” vibe. Married, he leads the Third Unit, chaperones a high‑school girl party, and is often late because the Knight Commander overloads him.
• Daisuke – Mid‑40s Japanese reincarnated adventurer, youthful look but mental age ~40, blessed by the Green God as Class ‘Onanist’, B‑Rank (Lv69). Wields one‑handed sword & buckler, high Fortitude, Lust Control, Item Box, Earth/Wind magic, stealth, speed, transformation, cleaning. Manages slaves Ilse, Liese, Camilla; mentors Rin & Cassandra; dates Ines; pursues Regina & Dietlinde; runs a harem, cooks expertly, coordinates Royal Knight missions. Traveler from a ‘Previous Life’ in Japan, B‑Rank adventurer and Transferee, appointed coordinator for joint quest, previously reached D‑Rank, possesses extreme strength and an Item Box skill.
• Moritz – A Level 50 adventurer and attendant to Vait; mid-thirties. Deer Beastman known as ‘Shining Horn’. A B-Rank Magic Swordsman and veteran adventurer. Deer-type Beastman and sycophantic follower of Veit. Vaito’s sycophantic follower.
• Meta – Mature, divorced priestess with long blonde hair and a curvy, well‑endowed figure. Once thought herself frigid, she now radiates a pink aura of gratitude toward Daisuke, her lover and fellow adventurer. Ally of the Mirage party, she fights beside him, cherishing his trust.
• Vait – A ‘Pseudo-Noble’ related to the House of Baron Kojimar; leader of Golden Dragon’s Breath. Member of the Kojima family; C-Rank adventurer with an entitlement complex. Leader of the Breath of the Golden Dragon party; non-noble but acts entitled. Self-proclaimed noble and leader of ‘Golden Dragon’s Breath’.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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