Volume 9 Chapter 17 The Fugitive’s Smooth Sailing
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(It’s been a while since we’ve seen that guy. Otto: a former chubby, middle-aged guy from another world.)
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Late September, Hero Calendar. The Imperial Capital of the Souveraineté Empire.
In a tavern packed with people, a certain party was celebrating a successful dungeon crawl.
”Great work today! Man, Otto, you really are a perfect match for those Golem-type¹ enemies!” Alexei said.
”Hehe, thank you very much. You’re an incredible leader, Alexei. Your command was flawless again today,” Otto replied.
”You bet it was!” Alexei said.
This was the party belonging to the Heavy Warrior Otto, who had been kicked out of the Hero’s Party.
He had managed to land a spot in a B-Rank party that just happened to be looking for new members.
He kept his voice loud to compete with the roar of the surrounding drunkards.
”No, really, you guys are all amazing. Larissa, since you always spot the enemy first, we never have to worry about a surprise attack. And Miloslava, your Wood Magic was perfect for keeping them pinned down. Galina, thank you for the constant heals and buffs. There’s so much I simply can’t do myself, hehe,” Otto said.
”Well, a crawl like that is a walk in the park for me,” Larissa said.
”Hmph. Obviously. I didn’t need you to tell me that,” Miloslava said.
”Well, we can’t exactly have you dying on us, can we?” Galina said.
Otto showered his teammates with flattery, his attitude so servile he was practically groveling to stay in their good graces.
The responses from the women were cold, but he couldn’t afford to stop.
If he pissed them off, he risked being exiled once again.
He hated the way these women treated him, but he sucked it up and played the part of the lowly subordinate.
”Otto’s right. You all moved beautifully out there,” Alexei said.
”I’ll keep clearing the small fry so you can fight safely!” Larissa said.
”I’ll work even harder for you, Alek,” Miloslava said.
”If our man dies, it’s game over for all of us,” Galina said.
”Haha, you girls are too cute!” Alexei said.
”Oh, Alexei…” Miloslava cooed.
”You’re so cool, honey,” Larissa whispered.
”I’m expecting a real reward later, okay?” Galina added.
The moment Alexei spoke a single word, the women’s faces shifted instantly—they were looking at him with the raw, primal heat of animals in season.
It was the total opposite of how they reacted to Otto’s desperate praise.
Otto’s smile twitched, but he didn’t dare breathe a word of complaint.
The party he belonged to was, after all, a harem party centered entirely around their leader, Alexei.
Larissa was their Scout; the bratty Miloslava was a Wood Elementalist; and the foul-mouthed Galina was their Priest.
Interestingly, every single one of them was short.
Otto suspected it was Alexei’s specific type, but asking would only enrage them—Miloslava in particular.
Aside from Larissa, their robes made it hard to tell what their bodies looked like.
Larissa was the only one who showed any skin, but the second Otto looked her way, she gave him a look of such utter loathing that he made sure to keep his eyes on his drink.
The entire party consisted of B-Rank adventurers, and they typically hunted B-Rank monsters.
Currently, they were farming floors where Iron Golems spawned.
While Otto’s magic aptitude was non-existent, he was a Heavy Warrior with monstrous physical defense, making him the perfect tank for this environment.
Otto knew it, too.
Even looking at it objectively, he was the one carrying the weight of the party’s success.
”Man, Alexei, you really are a lady-killer. I wonder if I’ll ever find a charming partner like these ladies one day,” Otto said.
”I’m sure you’ll figure something out, Otto! Right, girls?” Alexei asked.
”Who knows? Is there actually a woman out there with taste that bad?” Miloslava asked.
”We don’t give a damn about anyone but our man,” Galina said.
”Wait, did you even have a name?” Larissa asked.
”W-well, I’m sure you’ll find someone eventually! Come on, Otto, drink up! Cheers!” Alexei said.
”C-Cheers!” Otto replied.
The girls’ reactions were so brutally honest and cold that even Alexei felt the awkwardness, trying to bury the moment under a toast.
Otto had no choice but to keep the plastic smile plastered on his face, but inwardly, he was seething.
(In my previous life, no one was ever this blunt. People at least had the decency to be vague or give me some fake flattery…)
After being kicked out of the Hero’s Party, Otto had managed to swindle Knight Order Commander Günther of the Maultasche Kingdom, making off with priceless artifacts from the Sealed Vault².
Just as the Kingdom’s intelligence suggested, he had fled straight to the Empire.
Usually, there isn’t much of a background check when leaving the Kingdom, but he had slipped the guards a bribe just to be safe.
He knew that common soldiers—unlike Knights or Inquisitors—didn’t possess particularly high moral standards.
His haste had paid off; at that point, his crimes hadn’t been discovered, and no bounty had been posted.
The Empire wasn’t much stricter, and he cleared his first major hurdle of crossing the border without a hitch.
Once inside the Empire, he pushed himself toward the capital with desperate speed.
He knew he wouldn’t be safe until he met someone with real power—ideally the Empress—and secured a guarantee of protection.
He wasn’t stupid enough to think he was safe just because he’d crossed the border.
Given the hostilities between the Kingdom and the Empire, it was unlikely the Empire would honor a Kingdom arrest warrant, but he expected a subjugation quest to be posted at the Guild eventually.
He’d seen those kinds of “wanted” posters before.
While being a Heavy Warrior meant his INT stat didn’t grow much, the sheer number of level-ups had boosted his raw INT high enough to sharpen his memory significantly.
The forced march had pushed him to his physical limit, but he finally reached the capital and begged the palace guards for an audience.
Unsurprisingly, he wasn’t allowed anywhere near the Empress.
The sovereign of a superpower does not grant audiences on a whim, even to a former member of the Hero’s Party.
But Otto knew this was his last stand.
He threw money around, bribing everyone in sight until he finally secured a promise for a meeting.
Since it was too dangerous to stay at an inn in the city, he even managed to get permission to stay within the castle grounds.
Because he couldn’t visit a Guild to withdraw his savings, his liquid cash was dwindling fast, but he didn’t hesitate.
He knew that if he tried to save pennies now, it would cost him his life.
”Your name is Otto, then? What business do you have with me?” Empress Nadezhda asked.
”H-haha! Yes! I have a certain… rare treasure that I simply must present to Your Majesty, hehe,” Otto said.
Empress Nadezhda looked upon the man with deep suspicion during the audience he had worked so hard to get.
This man was supposed to be a member of the Hero’s Party.
Just that morning, she had received word that Otto had been declared a wanted criminal in the Maultasche Kingdom and a subjugation bounty had been placed on his head.
She didn’t know what he was offering yet, so she couldn’t decide whether to kick him out or keep him.
For now, she decided to ignore the bounty and test him.
”You were a member of the Hero’s Party. Why are you here?” Empress Nadezhda asked.
”…To be honest, we had a falling out over our differing philosophies. The Heroes were far too concerned with the weak, whereas I believed we needed to prioritize rapid leveling to defeat the Demon King. The arguments never stopped. I eventually realized that staying with them would only lead to my death, so I chose to leave,” Otto explained.
Otto had prepared this cover story, knowing he’d be asked why he left.
He tailored it to fit the Empire’s meritocratic culture—if he could convince her his departure was a tactical choice, it might even raise his standing.
Of course, it was a complete and total lie.
Nadezhda hadn’t received a full report from her spies in Maultasche yet, so she couldn’t prove he was lying, but the man reeked of dishonesty.
”That is not the story I have heard,” Empress Nadezhda said.
”…Well, even if it’s the truth, I imagine it would be quite embarrassing for them to admit a member of the party abandoned them of his own volition,” Otto said.
”Hmph. Fine,” Empress Nadezhda replied.
Nadezhda dealt with fawning ministers, corrupt officials, and greedy merchants every single day.
She knew instantly that Otto was lying through his teeth.
However, she decided the reason for his flight didn’t particularly matter and let it slide.
Otto’s face flooded with a momentary sense of relief.
It lasted less than a second, but Nadezhda caught it.
She was now certain he was a fraud.
”So, Otto. What is this ‘treasure’ you wish to present to me?” Empress Nadezhda asked.
”Yes! It is a Magic Item known as the [Mental Slave Manufacturer]³,” Otto said.
Otto pulled the [Mental Slave Manufacturer] from his Item Box and handed it to Nadezhda through a Royal Guard.
He couldn’t think of a way to use it himself, but anything kept in a Sealed Vault had to be worth a fortune.
He decided to keep his other stolen item—the [Wishing Device]⁴—hidden as his ultimate ace in the hole.
”What does it do?” Empress Nadezhda asked.
”Well, you see… while it takes a bit of time to work, I am told it can brainwash absolutely anyone,” Otto said.
”I see… A dangerous toy indeed,” Empress Nadezhda remarked.
Brainwashing was no simple feat.
It required an incredibly high level of mental magic, a school of magic that was strictly forbidden by law.
Most people never even saw a mental mage, and Otto was no exception.
But while the item was useless to a lone adventurer, it was a godsend for a state organization.
They could break enemy spies for intel or turn them into double agents.
It could even be used to manufacture a perfectly loyal army.
By sheer coincidence, this was exactly what Nadezhda had been looking for.
She had a subordinate with an Appraisal Skill⁵ verify its authenticity.
Without letting her joy reach her face, she continued in a dry, flat tone.
”I will not ask where you obtained this. Tell me, what do you want?” Empress Nadezhda asked.
”Actually, I wish to enter your service. Since I am a combat class, I believe I would be a perfect fit for the Knights. I am certain I can be of great use to you,” Otto said.
Deep down, Otto believed he was already qualified to be a Knight Order Commander, but he knew better than to ask for that immediately.
Even in his previous life, he knew that dropping an outsider into a high-ranking job caused nothing but resentment.
If he could just get his foot in the door, his talent would see him promoted to Commander in no time.
The Hero’s Party hadn’t appreciated him, but he knew he had the stats for it.
”That is impossible. The Knights are the shield of this capital and the sword of this castle. I cannot appoint a man of unknown origin to such a critical post,” Empress Nadezhda said.
”Ugh… I see…” Otto muttered.
Nadezhda had no intention of trusting Otto, so she used a standard excuse to shut him down.
Technically, what she said was the law, but it was a law that was ignored almost every day.
It was perfectly normal for talented foreigners to be knighted.
”Then… at the very least, could you grant me a guarantee of safety within your borders?” Otto asked.
”Hmm. That much I can do. The Empire will not detain you, and I shall issue a decree that any foreign subjugation bounties against you are void within our territory. Does that satisfy you?” Empress Nadezhda asked.
”Wait, there’s already a subjugation bounty? S-so soon…!” Otto exclaimed.
Otto paled, realizing for the first time that there was a price on his head.
”Oh? Is that a problem? If you are dissatisfied, we can consider these negotiations failed. You are free to leave the Empire whenever you wish,” Empress Nadezhda said.
”No! My apologies! I was just… a bit shocked! Thank you! Thank you very much!” Otto shouted.
”Very well. Then we are finished. You may go,” Empress Nadezhda said.
Nadezhda had to fight with every fiber of her being not to laugh.
By mentioning the bounty, she had shattered his confidence, and by threatening to end the meeting, she had forced him to accept her terms while handing over the item she wanted.
She had no intention of hiring a man like Otto, but letting him run around as an adventurer was harmless.
Since he’d be killed the moment he left the Empire, he was effectively trapped there anyway.
If Maultasche ever asked for his return, she had no reason to say yes—unless they offered her something even better than the brainwashing tool, in which case she’d hand Otto over in a heartbeat.
Just by existing within her borders, he had become a useful chip.
”Gwahaha! You really know how to put it away!” Alexei shouted.
”Hey, are you still drinking?” Larissa asked.
”Drinking is fine and all, but… shouldn’t we get down to business soon?” Galina whispered.
”Tomorrow’s a day off, so we have all night to play!” Miloslava said.
”You said it! Sorry Otto, we’re heading out,” Alexei said.
”Please, don’t worry about me,” Otto replied.
”Alright then! See ya!” Alexei said.
Otto had settled into his new life as an adventurer in the Empire.
He wasn’t a celebrity like he was in the Hero’s Party, but he also didn’t have the suffocating pressure of being watched or a schedule that was managed down to the second.
He spent his days fighting Golems—the perfect match for his build.
If they ever moved to a floor without Golems, he’d just jump ship and find another party.
He’d even heard rumors of a Golem Dungeon that consisted entirely of his favorite enemies; maybe he’d check that out once things cooled down.
He hated being the lowest-ranked guy in the party, but other than that, life was good.
In the Empire, strength was everything, so no one blinked an eye if he acted like an arrogant prick to anyone who wasn’t his teammate.
He had a warm bed and good food.
He wasn’t having luck with the ladies yet, but if he got desperate, he could always just buy some time at a brothel.
Otto felt deeply that he was glad he came to the Empire.
Life was going perfectly.
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Summary:
Otto flees the Maultasche Kingdom after a heist and secures an audience with Empress Nadezhda of the Souveraineté Empire. He trades a brainwashing artifact for political asylum while hiding a powerful secondary item. Now integrated into a new B-Rank party, he believes he has found a comfortable niche despite his low status among his peers
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Trivia:
- Otto’s INT stat growth is poor but elevated by excessive level-ups
- The Empress uses a form of social engineering to dominate the negotiation
- The female party members exhibit a ‘mesu no kao’ reaction to Alexe
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Character Insight:
Otto demonstrates high levels of paranoia and strategic bribery, while Empress Nadezhda displays manipulative leadership by exploiting Otto’s ignorance of his own bounty.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Otto – A 170 cm, stout, chubby‑built man in his late‑40s with a buzz cut and bulky armor, once a 52‑level tank and doctorate‑holding pillar of the Hero’s Party, now a wanted criminal exiled for stealing from a Sealed Vault. He serves only Shouta and Takumi, tyrannizes Ren and staff, feigns mentorship, and hoards stolen artifacts from the Maultasche Kingdom while adventuring in the Souveraineté Empire.
• Alexei – A B-Rank party leader and adventurer in the Souveraineté Empire. He leads a harem party consisting of several women and currently operates on dungeon floors featuring Golem-type enemies.
• Larissa – A woman who serves as the Scout for Alexei’s party. She wears clothing with a higher degree of exposure compared to her teammates and possesses the ability to detect enemies before they notice the party.
• Galina – A short-statured Priest in Alexei’s party who provides healing and support. She uses rough language and wears robes that obscure her physical figure.
• Günther – Commander of the Maultasche Kingdom’s Knight Order, rose from commoner status to lead with stern authority, wearing polished silver armor emblazoned with the royal crest, a scar across his left cheek, and blonde hair worn weary from recent Hero-party scandals. A Krieger by blood, he is Cassandra’s uncle, mentors the Hero’s Party, wields healing magic, and alone can open the Sealed Vault—loyally serving King and Martina, trusted yet burdened by duty.
• Nadezhda – Nadezhda, 41‑year‑old Empress of the Souveraineté Empire, is slender with sharp eyes and overwhelming charisma. A shrewd, calculating ruler, she commands intelligence agents and values national interest above personal trust, wielding high administrative and negotiation skill.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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