Volume 7 Chapter 3 Knights and Adventurers
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Despite Mercedes’s recommendation, he doesn’t look like a B-Rank to me.”
”I’m humbled by the assessment,” I replied.
”No pride at all, even when mocked? I suppose that’s just like a money-grubbing adventurer.”
”It’s not quite like that, but…”
”Hmph. Fine. Follow me.”
After hearing my response, Vice-Captain Cassandra turned her back and started walking, her face a mask of irritation. My attempt at a friendly, smiling greeting had clearly backfired; she was being abrasive right out of the gate. I might not look the part of a B-Rank, but I definitely don’t have an intimidating bone in my body.
For some reason, she seemed to have a real chip on her shoulder regarding adventurers. Maybe she got ripped off once? Or maybe she crossed paths with some ‘big-talk, no-walk’ idiot? Lately, I’ve been around many “friendly” women like the three from Gale and my slave girls, but Vice-Captain Cassandra clearly has zero affection for me.
Maybe there’s a ‘negative modifier’ because she hates adventurers, but it’s been a long time since I’ve had someone be this salty. Actually, with her, it was more like a ‘chili pepper’ reception-it stung. I was a little discouraged, but there’s no fighting the effects of the “Ordeal”².
As I followed the Vice-Captain, Mercedes whispered to me.
”Man… she’s brutal. I didn’t think the Vice-Captain would actually come to fetch us herself. I figured a big shot like her would be cooped up in an office somewhere.”
”You were the one saying those awful things,” I countered. “You reap what you sow.”
”Wait, did you notice her coming? You could’ve given me a heads-up!”
”I knew someone was there, but I’ve never met Vice-Captain Cassandra. I didn’t know who to warn you about.”
”Ugh… surely you could sense the ‘malicious aura’ coming off her.”
”I’m not that good. Besides, if she hears you, you’re going to get punished again.”
Even Mercedes didn’t have the guts to use words like “spinster” or “ogress” right in front of the woman herself, so she stuck to safer terms like “big shot” and “malicious.” Of course, if Cassandra heard her, the result would be the same.
”Fine. For today, I’ll forgive you if you get me some extra sweets.”
”It wasn’t even my fault… but fine, I can do sweets.”
”Thank you! In that case, I want the pie from earlier, and a tart, and a muffin, and-“
”We’re here.”
I’m not sure why I’m the one who needs to be forgiven when I didn’t do anything wrong, but Mercedes was begging for treats like an excited child. We arrived at our destination just as she was listing her demands without a shred of restraint. The door was labeled ‘Third Unit Captain’s Office.’ I wonder how many units there are? Cassandra knocked and announced herself, and a voice from within called out, “Enter.”
”Excuse me.”
”Yo. Long time no see, Daisuke.”
”It’s been a while, Captain Emily.”
Captain Emily greeted me with her trademark wicked smirk. She looked exactly the same as she did a year ago-that classic “big sister” energy. Her purple, wavy hair was tied back loosely as always. But she wasn’t alone in the office.
”I hope I’m not intruding.”
”Good to see you, Knight Order Commander Günther-san³.”
Günther-san was there, too. They looked like they had been talking on their feet; he was likely just stopping by. Since I had managed to run into the busy Knight Order Commander himself, I figured I should apologize for the Otto situation. And for the rest of the Hero’s party-Sage Osamu, Sword Saint Shouta, and Holy Knight Takumi-while I was at it.
”I’m sorry for all the trouble my idiotic countrymen have caused you.”
”Daisuke-dono… the one summoned alongside the Hero, right? I’m glad to see you’re faring well. I appreciate the sentiment, but their actions aren’t your burden to bear.”
Günther-san gave a strained smile, but his cheeks looked hollowed out-he was clearly haggard. I’d heard he kept his position, but being the man at the center of the storm Otto caused must have been exhausting.
”Even so, it’s a fact that they-especially Otto-caused you a lot of grief. If I find him, I’ll make sure to drag him back to you myself.”
”Please do,” Günther-san replied, his expression hardening.
Otto was a wanted man in Maultasche, a bounty-head in the Adventurer’s Guild with a ‘dead or alive’ warrant. I’d prefer to bring him in alive, but depending on the situation…
”We know he headed toward the Empire, but the trail goes cold there. If we don’t catch him soon, that bounty is just going to keep climbing. It’s already at two hundred gold coins… It’s a massive headache.”
”Uncle, we shouldn’t be relying on adventurers to clean up his mess. This is a task for the knights-specifically, the Ability Faction.”
Cassandra cut in as Günther-san sighed. It was starting to bug me how much she looked down on adventurers, but I doubted she’d give me a straight answer if I asked why. Was the “Ability Faction” a political group within the knights? Sounds like they prioritize merit above all else. I assumed everyone in this room was part of that faction. Still, probably not the kind of thing you discuss in front of an outsider. Unless they were letting me hear it on purpose.
Wait, did she just call him “Uncle”? Now that she mentioned it, they did look a bit alike… maybe? Günther-san’s hair is blonde, while hers is brown, so it wasn’t obvious.
”I know, I know. I’d love to do exactly that, but with monster activity spiking this season, I can’t spare the manpower. Doing so would just give the ‘Bloodline Faction’ more ammunition to attack us with.”
”I understand that, but the honor of the knights, and your honor… the honor of the Krieger family is at stake…”
”Cassandra, this is an official setting. Call me ‘Commander’.”
”…Yes, sir.”
”Besides, the Knight Order can’t lay a finger on this case anymore. It galls me, but His Majesty has already given his sanction. Still, I appreciate that you’re looking out for the Order, for me, and for our house.”
”…Yes, sir.”
From the sound of it, the ‘Bloodline Faction’ is the rival group to the ‘Ability Faction.’ Probably made up of high-ranking nobles. I’ll have to ask Mercedes about it later. Günther-san gave her a gentle scolding, but Cassandra just looked down, her face tight with frustration.
”Well, I should be going. Sorry for the interruption, Emily.”
”No worries.”
Cassandra clenched her fists, watching in silence as Günther-san left the room.
* * *
”Now then, sorry to keep you waiting. Have a seat and I’ll fill you in.”
”Thank you.”
Following Captain Emily’s lead, I sat on a sofa in a reception set that had seen better days. The furniture was all very “function over form”-rugged and practical. Cassandra sat beside Emily, and Mercedes sat next to me. Was Mercedes really supposed to sit there given her rank? Emily didn’t complain, so maybe she’d just given up on trying to discipline her.
By the way, Mercedes hadn’t called Emily a “spinster,” so I wondered if she was actually married. She’s definitely my type, but I’m not the kind of guy to move on a married woman.
”So, I heard you made it to B-Rank. Congrats. I guess having the blessing of the Green God-sama⁴ really pays off.”
”Thank you.”
”Right, as for the request…”
According to Emily’s explanation, the outline of the request was as follows:
- We are issuing requests to B-Rank and C-Rank adventurers.
- Adventurers will be assigned by party units.
- You will operate divided among the Knight Order’s squads. Each squad gets one B-Rank party and three to five C-Rank parties.
- The Emily Unit’s destination is a location that takes three days one-way. After arrival, investigation and subjugation will take one to four days. Total duration: seven to ten days.
”Any further information will have to wait until you’ve decided to accept the request.”
”I see.”
Since the exact location is a military secret, they couldn’t disclose it yet. Not knowing the destination is a bit of a pain, but if it’s three days away by carriage, I could probably sprint back in half a day. My physical stats have basically become superhuman lately.
”Captain, are we really going to use adventurers for this?”
”Again with this? You know this was a decision from the top.”
As I was weighing the terms, Cassandra snapped at Emily. “Again” meant this wasn’t the first time they’d had this fight. Emily looked completely over it. Cassandra had said the same thing to Günther-san; she really did have a complex about adventurers.
”I’m against it. We knights can handle this ourselves.”
”I hear you, but we don’t have the numbers to cover the whole country’s monster problem, right?”
”Even so, I can’t trust the likes of adventurers-people who care only for their own lives and their gold, ignoring the gravity and urgency of the situation.”
”Our values are different, sure,” Emily replied. “But that also means they’ll get the job done if you pay them the right price.”
”I find it hard to believe that adventurers with no sense of duty or pride in their country are more capable than knights.”
”Ability has nothing to do with pride or duty.”
It was an awkward conversation to jump into, but Emily was right-it was just a clash of values. Most adventurers will run if they’re about to die, and getting paid is how they survive. Unlike knights, they don’t have a pension waiting for them when they get old. Then again, knights are expected to stand their ground even when things get suicidal, and their pay is fixed, so you probably do need a sense of duty to stay in that line of work. Maybe they get a bonus?
”Above all,” Cassandra added, “I don’t even think this guy is actually strong.”
”Sigh… If you’re going that far, why don’t you just test him? You cool with that, Daisuke?”
”Wait, what?”
I’d been treating this like a spectator sport, so it took me a second to process that the spotlight was suddenly on me. I didn’t have any reason to fight her. I looked at Cassandra, and she was staring back with eyes full of irritation and contempt. Man, she really hates me.
”What do you mean by that?” I asked.
”She wants to verify your skill,” Emily explained.
”No, that’s not-“
”Cassandra is the number two in this unit,” Emily continued. “She’s about as strong as a B-Rank adventurer. Current-Daisuke should be a good match for her. Heck, you might even win, right?”
”I mean, technically, sure, but that’s not why I-“
”Don’t you dare mock me! As a proud Royal Knight, I will not be bested by the likes of you!”
”No, look, I’m just saying that if you’re B-Rank level, then objectively we’re peers-“
”Still you talk! Fine! Then it’s a duel!”
”Are you kidding me…”
I tried to back out, but I only succeeded in bruising her ego further. Now I was being dragged into a duel. This woman’s fuse is way too short!
—
Summary:
Daisuke meets with the Knight Order leadership to discuss a high-level subjugation request. Tensions flare due to Vice-Captain Cassandra’s prejudice against adventurers and political strife within the Order. The meeting ends with Daisuke being forced into a duel to prove his worth.
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Trivia:
- The bounty on Otto is 200 gold coins.
- The Knight Order is split into the Ability Faction and the Bloodline Faction.
- Cassandra is Commander Günther’s niece.
- Daisuke has been summoned for a year.
- The ‘Ordeal’ effect specifically hinders his first impressions with others
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Character Insight:
Cassandra is driven by a strong sense of family honor and meritocratic pride, making her volatile. Daisuke shows significant growth in physical capability, realizing his speed is now superhuman.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The contrast between the ‘Ability Faction’ (merit-based) and ‘Bloodline Faction’ (nobility-based) is a common trope used to highlight corruption or internal instability in fantasy settings.
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TL Notes:
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Mercedes – Brown semi-long hair, white frilled one-piece dress, Mercedes—also known as Mel—is a gluttonous, airheaded yet perceptive Knight Order subordinate and companion to Daisuke, who affectionately calls her “Mercedes-san.” Energetic and talkative, she’s easily teased, bribed with sweets, and prone to accidentally breaking walls or equipment. Though a high-ranking noble and Home Secretary of Maultasche, mother of Patrizia, and skilled in combat, destruction magic, and shield teaching, she’s terrified of Vice-Captain Cassandra and stressed since the Hero Party incident. She despises goblins/orcs, feeds Daisuke intel, seeks a Reincarnator boyfriend (often rejected), and views dungeons as divine trials—yet her informality around knights and sweet tooth make her endearingly unorthodox.
• Cassandra – Vice‑Captain of the Royal Knights, mid‑20s, short brown hair, scowling beauty, 175 cm tall, muscular, sturdy. Called ‘The Ogress’ for strictness and Iron Claw. Hardworking warrior with high defense and healing magic, but poor scouting; Ability Faction member, niece of Günther. Recently enslaved after a duel, wields a short spear and Radiant‑Iron shield, leads the Third Unit, and despises adventurers.
• Daisuke – Mid-40s Japanese reincarnated adventurer, physically youthful but mentally middle-aged from a corporate past, blessed by the Green God and bearing the unique Class ‘Onanist’. B-Rank (Lv69), wielding a one-handed sword and buckler, with high Fortitude, Lust Control, Item Box, and mastery of Earth/Wind magic, stealth, high-speed combat, transformation, and cleaning magic. Manages slaves Ilse, Liese, Camilla; mentors Rin and Cassandra; dates Ines; pursues Regina and Dietlinde. Owns a Royal Capital house, runs a growing harem, cooks expertly, and coordinates missions for the Royal Knight Order—his lecherous inner monologue contrasting sharply with his disciplined exterior.
• Emily – Captain of the Knights’ Order, a 30‑year‑old with a striking purple wolf‑cut hairstyle and powerful aura, wears his hair wavy and tied back. Boisterous, sharp‑witted, battle‑crazed and teasing, he sports a wicked smile and an “older sister” aura. Married, he leads the Third Unit, chaperones a high‑school girl party, and is often late because the Knight Commander overloads him with work.
• Aya – Standing 165 cm tall, slender with long hair and a flat chest, she wears simple, armor‑free attire — clean, prudent, serious. An apprentice alchemist and former pharmacist, she serves the Working Women Party and the Leemans Party, handling store‑location data. A Yamato Nadeshiko transferee, she appears in the protagonist’s delusions as his lover.
• 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.
• 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.
• Shouta – 17‑year‑old silver‑haired, sharp‑eyed former Student Council President and kendo captain, now Sword Saint Hero of Slash and Lightning wielding Beacon of Hope. He leads the Hero Party, travels with handlers, is coldly pragmatic and shuns caretakers. Also the Hero who expelled Otto and allegedly gave him secret orders.
• Takumi – Teenage Holy Knight in modest armor, summoned as Level‑1, once a delinquent from the ‘go‑home club.’ Arrogant, over‑familiar, hedonistic and hot‑headed, he serves as the party’s tank. Beaten by Martina, betrayed by his girlfriend Sakura, and now part of the Hero Party.
• Osamu – An 18‑year‑old reincarnated graduate now serving as a Sage of the Hero Party. He sports thick hair and a modern, salary‑man look, once led Araya’s team and died in a wreck, now wielding high‑level Fire, Wind, Water and Earth magic. Harsh and reputation‑obsessed, he’s an acquaintance of Otto from their prior world.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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