Volume 7 Chapter 35 Return
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Congratulations, Vice-Captain!”
”No, it’s not really something worth celebrating…”
I let my Dark and Wind Magic fade as I stepped outside. Cassandra was currently being showered with praise by Adalgar-kun and several other young Knights. Her face was slightly flushed, likely lending her a gentle air. Even though they feared her, it seemed her subordinates understood that she wasn’t just a hard-ass—she genuinely cared.
”Daisuke-san, don’t tell me… are you and Vice-Captain Cassandra actually lovers!?”
”No, nothing like that. We’re just friends,” I replied.
”Right, that makes sense! There’s no way the Vice-Captain could actually get a boyfriend!”
”Mel…”
”Mercedes-san…”
”You really never learn, do you?”
Everyone looked utterly exasperated by Mercedes’s incredibly rude outburst. She looked relieved to hear we weren’t a couple, but she was definitely misreading the room.
”I see. So that’s what you really think of me, Mercedes,” Cassandra said.
”Eek! Why the scary face? I mean, think about it! If the Vice-Captain could get a man when I can’t, the world would be upside down! It’d be more realistic to expect the dead to start walking!”
”…It seems you have a death wish. Fine. I’ll give you exactly what you’re asking for.”
”Ow! Hey! Vice-Captain!? Ow-ow-ow!! You’re serious!? Captain Emily, stop her!”
”Nope,” Emily replied.
”Daisuke-san, save m—GYAAAHHH!”
Mercedes really is a hopeless case outside of work. Still, she did work her tail off filling in for Cassandra during this expedition. I suppose I should throw her a lifeline.
”Cassandra, leave it at that. I know Mercedes is a total disappointment, but she’s helped me out in her own way,” I said.
”Hmph… If Daisuke-san puts it that way, I’ll let it slide this time.”
”Daisuke-zaaan! Thank youuu!”
Released from the vice grip, Mercedes collapsed into a heap on the ground before crawling over and clinging to me, her face a total mess. A total waste of a pretty girl… though that was nothing new. Since she’d been disciplined pretty thoroughly, I decided to patch her up with some Healing Magic.
”Daisuke-san is the only one who can actually handle the Vice-Captain. Hey, why don’t you just join the Knights’ Order? I think it’d be great!”
”Oho, I like the sound of that,” Captain Emily chimed in. “Don’t you agree, Cassandra?”
”…I would certainly welcome Daisuke-san. If he became a Knight, there would be so much more we could do together. Perhaps my long-cherished wish would finally be fulfilled.”
”Whoa! To hear Cassandra go that far… you two really have gotten close! So, what do you say? If you want the job, you’re hired on the spot. I bet you could make Captain within a few years.”
(Crap, the walls are closing in…!)
The offer was flattering, and seeing Cassandra be so forward actually tugged at my heartstrings. But if I let myself get swept up in the moment now, I’d be in for a world of trouble later.
”I’m honored, truly. But I think the life of an adventurer just suits me better. I can’t become a Knight,” I said.
”Hmm. Well, everyone has their reasons. It’s a shame, but I won’t push it.”
”…I see.”
It stung a bit to see Cassandra look so disappointed, but being a government employee meant losing the right to say no. Especially in this world, where the authority of the royals and nobles is absolute. One wrong move and you’re looking at a treason charge.
”Did the Vice-Captain eat something weird? There’s no way she’s actually this nice!”
”Mercedes, I just saved your life. Shut up,” I said.
”Whaaa!? But I—”
”Here. Put a cookie in it.”
”Ooh! You’re the best, Daisuke-san!”
She might be a total disaster, but she’s been good to me. I handed over some sweets as a reward.
”You’re awfully soft on Mel, Daisuke-san.”
”Well, even a disaster like her has her uses.”
”Calling me a ‘disaster’ is so rude! I’m a refined, dignified, beautiful Knight!”
”Sure, sure. My bad. You want another cookie or not?”
”Hmph. Fine. I forgive you!”
”Good grief… she’s never going to grow up, is she?” Emily sighed.
”She’ll be like this until the day she dies,” Cassandra agreed.
I couldn’t help but agree as I watched Mercedes happily stuffing her face with snacks.
* * *
After parting ways with the Knights, I headed into the Royal Capital. First stop: the Guild to file my report. I also needed to check if any mail had arrived.
”Hello, Dietlinde-san. I’m here to report the completion of my assignment.”
”Welcome back, Daisuke-san. Please, come this way so we can discuss the details.”
I offered a greeting to the ever-cool and beautiful Dietlinde-san. Apparently, a simple “Mission accomplished” wasn’t going to cut it this time.
Since the client was the Knights’ Order, she was being extra thorough. Even after a week, Dietlinde-san remained stunning, though she looked a bit drained. I subtly cast my Fatigue Recovery Package (Beta) on her.
”Thank you, as always.”
”Sorry I was away for so long.”
”It isn’t something you need to apologize for, Daisuke-san…”
”I just felt like saying it, so don’t worry about it, Dietlinde-san.”
”…Understood. Now, tell me about the request.”
In the private room, I gave a brief rundown of the events. I mentioned the actual boss, but I kept the Great Spirits and the Dragon out of it. That felt like a one-way ticket to trouble, and it was best to keep my mouth shut.
”…I see. There were some irregularities, but I am glad to see you returned safely. Thank you for handling this.”
”Of course. Has anything happened while I was out?”
”Nothing major. We have received several letters for you; I’ll hand them over at the counter.”
”Thanks. Oh, and I brought some souvenirs. These are for the general staff, and these are specifically for you, Dietlinde-san.”
The gifts were various snacks made with cheese and butter. For her personal gift, I’d put in a little extra effort. It rubbed me the wrong way that Henriette would get some of the general batch, but if I only gave a gift to Dietlinde-san, it might cause friction for her.
I’ll just consider it a “peace tax.” Besides those two, the counter staff also featured the tanned trio and those sparkling pretty boy twins, though I didn’t have much interest in anyone but Dietlinde-san.
”A personal gift for me?”
”Yeah. You’re the one I’m closest with here, after all.”
”…Thank you. Shall we head back out?”
Dietlinde-san is the type to take her job very seriously, so we couldn’t just sit and chat. We headed back to the main counter.
”One moment, please,” she said.
Watching Dietlinde’s back as she walked, she looked so sharp and professional. And yet—
”Oh! Daisuke-san! Long time no see~! ♡”
”O-oh. Hey there.”
Dammit. I let my guard down and Henriette caught me. My Sense Malice was already screaming. I just needed to grab my letters and survive until Dietlinde-san got back.
”I heard it was a direct request from the Knights’ Order! Tell me everything! ♪”
”Haha, it wasn’t a big deal. Everything went smoothly,” I replied.
In reality, it was a circus, but if I was honest, she’d never let me go. I could already see her doing the “Oh, wow!” routine while trying to “accidentally” touch me. The thought alone gave me the creeps.
”Ehh? But the party that checked in earlier said there were tons of Elements and it was super dangerous, and that you were a total hero!”
”Well, maybe there were a few more mobs than usual.”
Kuh. She must have heard it from one of the C-rank parties. News travels fast. I’m glad I didn’t mention the boss.
”Sorry to keep you waiting, Daisuke-san,” Dietlinde said.
”Thanks, Dietlinde-san.”
”And thank you again for the souvenir.”
(Wait! I didn’t tell her to keep that quiet!)
”Oh? So Senior gets the good stuff, does she?”
Henriette’s eyes narrowed, her voice dropping to a register much lower than her usual squeak. It was borderline horror-movie territory. Yep, the high-pitched voice was definitely an act.
”No, no! I brought stuff for everyone! Right, Dietlinde-san?”
”…Yes. He brought a generous amount for all the counter staff,” Dietlinde replied.
”Oh! Well in that case, thank you so much~! ♡”
Crisis averted. Technically, I wasn’t lying. I just had to hope Dietlinde-san wouldn’t mention her private stash. I think she got the message from my frantic eye contact.
”Well, I’ve got things to do, so I’ll be off.”
”Aw, that’s too bad. See you later! ♡”
”Good work today,” Dietlinde said.
Leaving the mixture of the sugary-sweet voice and the stiff, professional one behind, I finally exited the Guild.
* * *
As I walked toward the house, I noticed it wasn’t even evening yet. The Gale Trio and the girls were likely still in the dungeon. (Well, that’s fine. I can do the things I can only do when I’m alone.) I had dragon materials I’d practically killed myself for, and a mountain of dairy. I had plenty to do until it was time to go get Meta.
I was just thinking about how rare it was for me to be in this area at this hour when Camilla suddenly came charging out of nowhere. We weren’t even that close to the house yet.
”Master!”
I braced myself as Camilla flew at me like a rocket. It seemed I’d made her feel incredibly lonely. I reached out to pat her head for the first time in a week.
”Welcome back, Master!”
”I’m home, Camilla. Sorry to keep you waiting,” I said.
”No! I’m just so happy you’re back!”
Camilla wasn’t just hugging me—she was clinging with all four limbs, rubbing her head against me with everything she had. Honestly, if I were a level-one civilian, her “hug” probably would have snapped my ribs.
”Sniff… sniff… Master’s smell… hehehe…”
”……”
She buried her face in my chest and started sniffing aggressively. I couldn’t see her face, but I knew she had that totally lewd, melted expression on.
She’s been so lonely she’s turned into a total pervert…)
Then again, Juliet’s nose always twitches when we hug, too. Maybe it’s just a beastman thing? Whatever. I’ll let her act as spoiled as she likes.
”Master, welcome back,” Liese said.
”Welcome home!” Ilse added.
”I’m home, Liese, Ilse.”
Liese and Ilse appeared shortly after Camilla. Liese gave me a composed bow, though her tail was betraying her by wagging like crazy. Ilse squeezed in next to Camilla, so I made sure to pet her too. It was rare for Ilse to be this forward, but Camilla’s energy must have been contagious. I made sure to give Liese a good head pat as well.
”You guys didn’t go to the dungeon?”
”We thought you might be back soon, so we only did a morning run,” Liese replied.
”I see. No trouble?”
”Nope! The enemies were weaker than usual, and we had Daisuke’s ‘thing’ with us!” Ilse said.
By “thing,” she meant the accessories I’d made. Ilse actually has a better handle on the common sense of this world than I do, so she was being careful with her wording.
”Where are Ines and the rest?”
”Waiting at the house,” Liese said.
”Alright. Let’s go home.”
”Yes!”
”Mm-hm! Yes!”
”Yeah!”
And so, I walked the rest of the way with the three energetic girls. Liese led the way, Ilse held my hand, and Camilla remained stuck to me. It finally felt like I was truly home.
—
Summary:
Daisuke returns to the Royal Capital after his expedition with the Knights. He turns down an offer to join the Knights’ Order and visits the Guild to report his success and collect letters. Upon arriving home, he receives a chaotic and heartwarming welcome from his slaves.
—
Trivia:
- Mercedes was Cassandra’s proxy during the expedition.
- Daisuke created specialized ‘accessories’ that enhance his slaves’ safety in dungeons.
- Henriette’s high-pitched voice is a facade for her true, sharper personality.
- Daisuke turned down the Knight position because he fears being bound by the authority of nobles and royalty (Lèse-majesté)
—
Character Insight:
Daisuke shows his protective and practical nature by turning down the security of a Knight’s rank to maintain his freedom. Cassandra shows a rare vulnerable side, hinting at a ‘long-cherished wish’ involving Daisuke.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The author notes that the Black Gyaru Trio was an intended recurring group, though they haven’t seen much screen time yet. The author also expressed minor disappointment regarding the engagement metrics for Chapter 158.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Cassandra – 175 cm tall, short brown hair, muscular frame; stoic Krieger heir, daughter of a Knight‑Class father and Housekeeper mother, once ‘The Ogress’ and Royal Knights VP. B‑Rank defense specialist leading the Third Unit, bound by oath to serve Daisuke as a slave. Cold aura hides trauma from her father, hatred of Otto and traitorous adventurers, and a thawing intimacy with Daisuke.
• Adalgar – He stands tall, his short red hair framing a serious, stoic demeanor; a married Guide Knight who serves under Captain Emily.
• Daisuke – Mid-40s Japanese B-Rank adventurer with a youthful face due to the Green God’s blessing, he hides his overwhelming strength while mastering Earth/Wind magic, regeneration, stealth, speed, transformation, Item Box, healing, and unique fire magic—plus the rare Ordeal and Foresight skills. Wields a one-handed sword and buckler, excels as a chef, and quietly dominates the adventuring world. Coordinates teams, mentors Rin and Cassandra—whom he’s romantically pursuing with deep empathy for her trauma—while dating Ines, pursuing Regina and Dietlinde, and managing slaves Ilse, Liese, and Camilla. Leads lake investigations and Royal Knight missions, travels toward the Royal Capital, and is revered as the knight-saver who vowed to protect them all.
• Mercedes – Mercedes (Mel), a brown-haired noblewoman and Home Secretary of Maultasche, is a highly-leveled knight known as the “Disappointing Beauty,” wearing a white frilled gown and traveling as Daisuke’s companion—feeding him intel while snacking enthusiastically. She fears Vice-Captain Cassandra, despises goblins, sees dungeons as divine trials, loves sweets, and seeks a Reincarnator boyfriend; her regal poise clashes with chaotic charm, often breaking walls in exuberance, and she is the devoted mother of Patrizia.
• 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 segmented great scythe.
• Dietlinde – Slender sheep‑beastwoman with fluffy white curls, tiny spiraling horns and subtle ears works as a receptionist at the Maultasche Royal Capital Guild. Composed yet weary, she hides self‑disparagement, an orphan who survived the Dungeon Upheaval, her low heels echoing the halls. Once cold toward Daisuke, she now shows quiet concern, drawn to his recovery magic, small gifts and calming scents, nurturing secret affection and dreams of cosmetics.
• 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.
• Meta – Mature, divorced priestess with long blonde hair and a curvy, well‑endowed figure, she glows with a pink aura of gratitude toward Daisuke, her lover and fellow adventurer. Ally of the Mirage party, she fights beside him but is now held hostage by Moritz, yet acts cute and devoted to Daisuke‑sama, planning to move into his house when she returns to the Capital.
• 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.
• Juliet – 150 cm cat‑kin beastwoman of the Gale Party, blue bob hair, expressive ears, fluffy tail that puffs when teased, large chest; wears hot pants, crop‑top and short jacket. Prickly tsundere, sensitive hearing, blunt, teases Daisuke yet deeply attached, consenting to shared life and romance after her first intimacy. Traumatized, averse to lewd talk, criticizes his “broken” combat style, relies on him in battle. Twin Winds instructor, scout, dual‑wields a two‑handed sword, Idaten skill, nekojita palate, easily lonely, finds solace only in Daisuke.
• Liese – Standing 170 cm, she has grey‑blue hair, thick horns and grey scales on neck and limbs. A Grey Dragonewt spearman, daughter of a Red Dragonewt father and Blue Dragonewt mother, she serves Daisuke as his disciplined, loyal vanguard and first slave. Polite, hardworking, she guides the other girls, her tail thumping to betray emotions.
• Ilse – Seventeen‑year‑old tiger‑type beastman archer with pointed ears, a thick tail and petite frame. Once a merchant‑guild worker turned bandit, rescued on an escort mission and now Daisuke’s companion. Blunt, headstrong, diligent; bow‑skilled, scavenger talent, high Fortitude. Informal with Daisuke, craves his attention, teases him, asks for the ‘aahn’ feeding, uses magic and flashes a wry smile at his overwhelming strength. Energetic slave girl, bold and perverted about rewards.
• Ines – 170 cm tall, swordsman (Level 21+, D‑Rank) and Gale Party leader, with long emerald‑green hair, blue eyes and a statuesque, erotic silhouette in college‑style heavy armor. She has a goddess‑like smile, is shy, naive and easily embarrassed, yet logical and deeply affectionate toward Daisuke—her first lover and shield‑vanguard—worries she’s a nuisance, boldly asks to bathe with him, and shows warmth and devotion through her armor‑clad grace.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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