Volume 7 Chapter 8 The Knock-off
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Wait, wait, wait! You… don’t you understand the weight of noble privilege?! Even for a B-Rank, such insolence toward a nobleman is unpardonable!”
”Noble privilege? Oh, I’m familiar,” I replied. “Are you trying to threaten me with a Lèse-majesté charge?”
”You… if you’re being this disrespectful while knowing the law, then you must be prepared to die!” Vait shouted. “Nicholas, Daniel! Surround him! Don’t let him slip away!”
”…Understood,” Nicholas said.
”Heheh. Don’t take it personally, kid,” Daniel added.
”Um, guys, maybe this is a bit much…” the Human unit member stammered.
Moritz unleashed a pressure Skill as the two vanguards began to close in. They had clearly drawn their swords and were in a full combat stance. (I see. So that’s how they play it…) Nicholas was a silent Rhinoceros Beastman, while Daniel was a Lamia with the lower body of a serpent; he had the distinct aura of a back-alley thug. Their third companion, a Human, was currently fluttering about, trying to soothe the three of them to no avail. Meanwhile, Vait stood safely behind them, arms crossed with a smug, punchable smirk.
”If you’re going to invoke Lèse-majesté, tell me—is Vait actually a noble?” I asked.
”Like I told you before,” Moritz barked, “Master Vait is of the lineage of the House of Baron Kojimar—”
”So, ‘of the lineage’ means he’s not the Baron, right? How about it, Vait? Give me a straight answer,” I said.
Vait’s expression soured. He didn’t answer. To be precise, he couldn’t.
(I’d done my homework on the nobility system in the library. Since it wasn’t a concept I’d dealt with back in my previous life in Japan, I knew it would be a disaster if I didn’t understand the rules. In this world, a noble is an individual granted a title by the King. The perks of that status only extend to the noble’s spouse and their immediate children. While the children are treated as nobility, their children—the grandchildren—are not. Aside from the heir and a backup, the third child and any others are typically forced to be independent or married off. If you’re as talented as Lady Martina-sama, you might see some movement, but that’s rare.)
Now, let’s look at their phrasing. Moritz claimed Vait was “of the lineage” of a Baron, but he never called him “Baron,” nor did he claim Vait was a husband to one. In short, he was performing a role to make people assume he was a noble without ever technically saying it. It’s the classic “I’m with the city utility company” scam—they don’t say they’re the inspector; they just hope you’re too intimidated to ask for an ID.
Since impersonating a noble is a capital offense under Kingdom Law, Vait couldn’t bring himself to say “I am a noble,” but his ego wouldn’t let him admit “I’m a commoner” either. The result? Stunned silence. Naturally, Moritz knew the score too. That’s why he screamed about “insolence” but never actually invoked the specific legal charge of Lèse-majesté. Vait had introduced himself as Vait Kojimar, and while using a noble surname is usually a foul, the law allows it for two generations of descendants. Vait’s grandparents were likely the ones with the actual title. I’d heard about these “Pseudo-Nobles” lurking around, but I didn’t expect to find one in this unit.
Given how practiced Vait and Moritz were with their phrasing, they’d likely spent their careers bullying people who didn’t know any better. And since their victims usually “consented” to being bullied after being tricked, they hadn’t even triggered any evil-type Titles. Normally, I’d just play the humble commoner and let it slide, but I wasn’t about to bow to a fraud like Vait. Captain Emily had explicitly told me not to let other adventurers walk over me; for the sake of my position, I had to hold the line.
”If you’re going to ‘dispose of me for Lèse-majesté,’ then man up and say the words,” I challenged.
”……”
”Silence is an answer in itself. Fine. Then, from the ‘generous’ me to you: follow the tactical orders during the mission. That’s all,” I said.
”You little—!” Moritz growled.
”Stop it, Moritz,” Vait interrupted. “Daisuke, was it? I’ll let your behavior slide. This time.”
Moritz looked like he was about to pop a vein, but Vait held him back. Even then, Vait’s “magnanimous” tone was so far off the mark it was almost funny. I was the one letting him off the hook. This mission was already looking like a train wreck.
The “Golden Dragon’s Breath” party was a mess even before we set off. Vait was the youngest at twenty, while Moritz was the veteran in his mid-thirties. The other three were in their mid-twenties. Level-wise, everyone except Moritz was around Level 40. Moritz was the outlier at Level 50—roughly equivalent to a B-Rank adventurer. Since Vait’s level was way too high for his experience, it was obvious he’d been “boosted” by Moritz and some hired muscle.
Vait and Moritz were decked out in Radiant Iron gear, while the other three were stuck with standard Demon Iron. Since Demon Iron is the baseline for C-Ranks, the high-tier gear and the power-leveling suggest Vait’s family has a significant amount of money. Was he just playing adventurer for the clout? Or maybe he was trying to pad his resume for the Knights’ Order? A noble connection to the Kojimar house would definitely help his application, though God help the Knights if they actually let a guy with his attitude join their ranks.
Regardless, there was zero chance of me getting in legal trouble for that confrontation. I hadn’t been disrespectful to a noble because there wasn’t a noble in the room. Even if Vait tried to spin a web of lies, the moment an Inquisitor got involved, the truth would come out and he’d be finished. Bottom line: I didn’t need to sweat it. Just to be safe, I’d tell Gale’s trio and the slave girls to keep an eye on Vait’s gang. My house was secure, but I needed to ensure they were safe out in the field too.
(By the way, Vait called his house “prestigious,” but my Mental Memory told a different story. The Kojima family had been Barons since the beginning—they never rose in rank, meaning no head of the house was ever talented enough to earn a promotion, but they weren’t so incompetent that they got stripped of their title either. Vait was the same—not smart enough to out-argue me, but not stupid enough to commit a crime. He was just a loud-mouthed nobody.)
”Everyone’s here! Knights, prepare to move out!” Captain Emily ordered.
”Sir!”
The waiting knights began hoisting the crates from the carts onto their backs.
”We’re carrying it all manually?” I asked.
”Carts and carriages just slow us down,” Captain Emily replied.
That made sense. These were C-Rank adventurers and high-level knights. With proper breaks, they could probably jog all day without breaking a sweat. We could cover a hundred kilometers in a single day like this. Water could be conjured with magic, and the delicate magic tools were being handled by whoever had an Item Box skill.
”My Item Box has plenty of space. Captain Emily, do you want me to carry your gear and the others’?” I offered.
”Oh, really? That would be a huge help. Thanks, kid,” Captain Emily said.
”Mine too, please!” Mercedes chimed in.
”Yeah, yeah. I’ll take Cassandra-san’s too, so hand it over,” I said.
”No, I can—” Cassandra started.
”Just give it here, Cassandra. You’ll be able to react faster in a fight if your hands are empty,” I replied.
”Ah. …Hmph. Don’t expect a thank you,” Cassandra muttered.
”I never do,” I said.
In reality, I could have carried the entire expedition’s supplies without hitting my limit, but I kept my offer modest. Item Box is a skill that attracts unwanted attention, and I didn’t want to be anyone’s primary target.
”I’ll take yours too, Meta-san,” I said.
”Are you sure, Daisuke-sama? ♡” Meta asked.
”One more person won’t hurt. No problem at all,” I said.
(Uhh, right. Looks like everyone’s ready. I’ll go report to Captain Emily.) I couldn’t take everyone’s gear without looking suspicious, but taking Meta’s gear—since we were “close”—seemed justifiable. She was starting to give off that “pink” aura again, so I used the report as an excuse to dodge. I’d have to make it up to her properly once the mission was over.
It had been a while since I’d been outside the capital—not since that escort mission I took to hit D-Rank. Our destination was Eierschecke Village, and I was actually looking forward to it. Eierschecke sits at the foot of the mountains on the western road toward the Sangster Holy State. It’s a classic post town before the mountain pass. Thanks to the pristine mountain water and the local dairy farms, their specialties are booze and cheese. I definitely wanted to stock up on some of that high-end cheese that costs a fortune back in the city.
There were also rumors of a dragon living beyond the nearby lake. It was apparently a “rational” dragon that didn’t go on a rampage without reason. Every now and then, some suicidal adventurer would try to challenge it, only to come back thoroughly crushed. Rare herbs tend to grow where dragons roost—valuable stuff you can’t just find anywhere. I was hoping to do a little foraging if the chance arose.
”Dragon” was a popular choice for party names, like Vait’s “Golden Dragon’s Breath.” They were symbols of both terror and ultimate power. The actual Golden Dragon—the Dragon Emperor—was a real thing, though. They say its breath can level entire mountain ranges. Comparing that to Vait’s little squad… the irony was thick enough to choke on. As we marched, I kept my Detection active, but since there wasn’t much to do, I struck up a conversation with Mercedes.
”It’s surprisingly quiet around here,” I noted.
”Of course it is! The Knights’ Order runs regular patrols to keep the peace. They put a lot of funding into the security around the capital,” Mercedes explained.
”That makes sense,” I said.
Unless something went horribly wrong, we weren’t going to see many monsters or bandits this close to the city. Ilse and her crew must have just had terrible timing when they got caught. If the Knights had found them first, they’d likely have been executed on the spot.
”Wait… I’ve got Goblins,” I said.
”Really?!” Mercedes perked up instantly.
”Yeah. In the woods… two o’clock, a small group,” I said.
”I’m on it! HAH!” Mercedes shouted.
”Wait! …And she’s gone,” I sighed.
Just as the plains started to give way to the forest, I’d caught their scent. Monsters spawn naturally, so no matter how many patrols the Knights run, you can never fully wipe them out. And Mercedes hated Goblins. Back when I was training her, she’d practically vaporized them instead of just killing them. Well, it was just a few Goblins; she could handle it. Sure enough, she was back in seconds, looking satisfied.
”Phew. That cleared my head,” Mercedes said.
”It’s fine to jump in, but at least tell Captain Emily before you charge off next time,” I said.
”It’s fine! She knows how I am!” Mercedes replied.
(She knows, huh…) Was that really the standard? I glanced at Captain Emily, who just gave me a knowing smirk. She didn’t seem bothered. Either she trusted Mercedes’ strength, or she’d simply given up on trying to stop her when Goblins were involved. If the commanding officer was cool with it, I guess I didn’t need to stress.
—
Summary:
Daisuke exposes Vait as a ‘Pseudo-Noble’ who uses his family name to bully others without holding a real title. The party begins their journey to Eierschecke Village, traveling on foot for speed. Along the way, Mercedes impulsively hunts a group of Goblins, highlighting her extreme hatred for them.
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Trivia:
- Noble titles in this world only extend to the spouse and direct children; grandchildren are commoners.
- Impersonating a noble is a capital offense under Kingdom Law.
- Golden Dragon’s Breath members use Demon Iron gear, which is standard for C-Rank, while Vait has Radiant Iron.
- Eierschecke Village is famous for clean water, booze, and high-end cheese.
- A rational dragon lives near the destination, and rare herbs grow in its vicinity.
- Daisuke uses ‘Mental Memory’ to recall details about noble families
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Character Insight:
Daisuke demonstrates his intelligence and refusal to be intimidated by social status. Vait is revealed as a ‘booster’ who relies on others for his level and gear. Mercedes’ obsession with killing Goblins is reaffirmed as a character-defining trait.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The author notes that exposition-heavy chapters are usually unpopular but celebrates reaching a point milestone.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Nicholas – A taciturn Rhinoceros Beastman; vanguard for Vait’s party.
• Daniel – A Lamia with a snake’s lower body; vanguard for Vait’s party.
• 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’.
• 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.
• Martina – Martina-sama, daughter of nobleman Fritz Gilman, is a striking beauty with sharp sanpaku eyes, a slender‑curvaceous figure and a C‑cup chest. As a high‑ranking Gilman heir and instructor for summoned beings, she commands with seductive poise in high‑slit cheongsam dresses, holds top noble status and is a leading Prime Minister candidate. She rivals the Home Secretary, who secured Yuko’s apprenticeship.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Ilse – Seventeen‑year‑old tiger‑type beastman archer with pointed ears, 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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