Volume 9 Chapter 23 An Unannounced Visit
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Thanks for the letter. It doesn’t reach the Mind¹. I’m currently pushing forward with my duties without any issues.”
”Haa… Just as I thought. No luck at all,” I said.
It had been about a month since the Designated Request². During that job, I’d spent the night with Cassandra and we’d managed to get closer, but she still turned me down when I asked her to be my girlfriend. She has her own reasons for that, so it can’t be helped.
Regardless of that, Cassandra is the type who has a massive sense of responsibility and tends to shoulder everything herself. Her entire body—starting with her shoulders—was incredibly tense. At this point, her rigidity level was basically “diamond-hard.”
Even in this world, people know that stress or fatigue makes your shoulders stiff. I told her to contact me before it got that bad, but as I feared, I never heard a word from her.
Since it’s the Mind system, I sent a letter after two weeks to check in, but her reply was incredibly curt. After that, I sent letters once a week, and the latest response was the one I just read. Honestly, the wording is almost identical every time. I don’t think a month is fatal, but Mind is tricky because it’s hard for the person themselves to realize how bad it’s getting.
* * *
”And that’s the long and short of why I’ve come to see you, Cassandra,” I said.
”…What on earth do you mean by ‘that’s the long and short of it’?” Cassandra replied.
I visited the Knights’ Order without an appointment and headed for the Captain’s office of Emily’s squad. The Knight at the gate was someone I’d seen during the Designated Request, so when I spoke to him, he gave me a wide grin before I could even state my business.
”You’re here for Vice-Captain Cassandra, right! I’ll show you the way!”
It seems Cassandra is as feared as ever, but I’m curious what he would have done if my purpose had been different. Note: before I even entered the room, he went dashing back to his post. (He was definitely hauling ass…)
When I opened the door, Captain Emily and Cassandra were in the room, looking like they were in the middle of a meeting. For some reason, Mercedes was also there, currently being held by the scruff of her neck by Captain Emily. What did she screw up this time?
”Daisuke-san! You came to rescue me, didn’t you!?” Mercedes said.
”Not a chance. I’ll ask just in case, but what did you do?” I replied.
”I just opened a tiny little hole in the training grounds, and now they’re making me write an incident report!” Mercedes said.
”Sounds fair to me. You really need to reflect on your behavior, Mercedes,” I said.
”How cruel! Look at me! A neat, dignified, beautiful Knight is in a total pinch! Doesn’t that make you want to help!? It does, right!?” Mercedes said.
”No, just go reflect,” I said.
Talking to the resident idiot is always entertaining, but my real business is with Cassandra. I turned to her; she was clearly struggling to hide her confusion.
”Cassandra, I know you haven’t been resting, so we’re going out for a bit of a breather,” I said.
”Well, well. A daytime bedroom raid on Cassandra? Daisuke, you certainly are passionate,” Emily said.
”Captain Emily, a ‘daytime’ bedroom raid is a bit of a contradiction, don’t you think?” I replied.
”Hm? You’re going to do what needs to be done in the end anyway, aren’t you?” Emily said.
”…I’ll plead the fifth on that,” I said.
(It’s like having breakfast after dinner. I get what she’s implying, though. It’s hard to argue back because she’s not entirely wrong.)
”Daisuke, as you can see, I am currently on duty…” Cassandra said.
”Cassandra, you’ve done enough for today. Take the rest of the day off,” Emily said.
”But Captain Emily, we are still in the middle of our briefing. I still have to compile the proposal papers…” Cassandra replied.
Captain Emily was being thoughtful by suggesting the break, but the ever-serious Cassandra refused to budge.
”You work too hard. You haven’t taken a single day off since the Designated Request, have you? It’s always ‘the reports,’ ‘the training,’ ‘the guidance’…” Emily said.
”That may be true, but…” Cassandra said.
”The meeting can wait until tomorrow, and I’ll have Mel handle the proposal, so it’s fine. A ‘friend’ came all this way to see you; the heavens won’t strike you down for letting your hair down once in a while. Besides, if you collapse, Commander Günther will have my head,” Emily said.
Captain Emily emphasized the word “friend” with a mischievous smirk. I doubt Cassandra told her the full story of what happened between us, so she’s probably bluffing, but she’s sharp. I thought I heard a phantom voice wailing, “Why do I have to fill in for Vice-Captain Cassandra!?” (Must be my imagination…)
”So you really haven’t been resting, Cassandra…” I said.
”Ngh… I’ve just been preoccupied with various tasks,” Cassandra replied.
”Didn’t I tell you that resting properly is part of the job?” I said.
”I remember… but I cannot simply rest when there is work right in front of me,” Cassandra said.
”Haa… Managing your subordinates is part of your job too, you know, Captain Emily?” I said.
”I’ve tried telling her, believe me. But Cassandra is a stubborn mule. She won’t listen to a word I say,” Emily said.
”Well, I guess it can’t be helped. I’m borrowing Cassandra for the day,” I said.
”Go ahead. Make sure she actually gets a change of pace,” Emily said.
”Thank you, Captain Emily,” I said.
”Captain Emily, the work—” Cassandra said.
”Just go!” Emily said.
”Wait a minute, Captain Emily! Are you really making me fill in for Vice-Captain Cassandra!?” Mercedes said.
”I’ve been saying that this whole time, haven’t I? I’ll let you off the hook for your mess earlier if you get this done, so get to it!” Emily said.
”Eeeehhh!?” Mercedes yelled.
Captain Emily waved us off like she was shooing away flies. I stuffed a snack into the noisy idiot’s mouth to shut her up and led Cassandra out of the building.
* * *
”Honestly… you are a very forceful man,” Cassandra said.
”If I weren’t, you’d never take a break,” I replied.
Cassandra looked troubled, but if I left her to her own devices, she’d probably pull a sixty-day shift from hell. Her skills and Ability scores³ mean she won’t literally drop dead, but that doesn’t mean the mental and physical exhaustion doesn’t take its toll.
”First off, let’s get you changed,” I said.
”This is my formal uniform. There should be no issue with it…” Cassandra said.
”No way. You don’t go on a date in a Knight’s uniform,” I said.
Today, Cassandra wasn’t wearing her armor, but she was still in her stiff, military-style clothes. If it were a specific kind of roleplay, that would be one thing, but a date requires proper attire. Besides, she’d never be able to mentally switch off while wearing her work gear.
”A date? I thought this was a ‘breather’?” Cassandra said.
”When a man and a woman go out together, it’s a date,” I replied.
”Even though we are not lovers?” Cassandra asked.
”Friends go on dates too,” I said.
”I see. Hmmm…” Cassandra muttered.
(I could practically see the words “What am I supposed to do on a date?” written across her face. She didn’t look nervous, exactly, just completely bewildered. Still, it’s better than her being stiff with anxiety. The fact that she’s even trying to figure out “what to do” means she’s viewing our relationship in a positive light. I’ll take that as a win.)
”Alright, miss. Could you please pick out a few outfits that would suit her?” I asked the clerk.
”Certainly, sir,” the clerk replied.
”Hey, I told you I don’t need this,” Cassandra said.
”Yes, yes. Just be a good girl and follow along~” I said.
I ushered the reluctant Cassandra into the boutique and had them find some chic, sophisticated dresses. Cassandra, who insists her uniform is “fine,” definitely wouldn’t own anything like this. I thought about just pulling something from my Item Box, but I felt the silent pressure from the shopkeeper—who seemed to be asking, “Wait, you’re going to use my changing room without buying anything?”—and ended up having to make a purchase. (My status as a classic pushover strikes again…!)
When Cassandra finally emerged from the fitting room, she looked utterly displeased, but the clerk’s selection was impeccable. It was a floor-length silhouette that made the most of her height, with one shoulder left bare. The high-heeled mules were a perfect touch. The sudden wave of mature, sophisticated s*x appeal hit me like a physical force.
”Mmm, yes. Excellent. I knew a dress like this would look amazing on you, Cassandra,” I said.
”This garment is difficult to move in,” Cassandra said.
”You’re not going into battle, so it’s fine. For a date, this is a million times better,” I replied.
”If you insist…” Cassandra said.
I had them pick out a few more outfits that she could wear for just walking around town, and then paid an extra fee to have her makeup done. She’s high-level and naturally gifted in the looks department, so with a bit of makeup, she became an absolute knockout. She has a charm that’s totally different from someone like Regina-san, who’s roughly the same age.
”I told you I didn’t need all of this…” Cassandra said.
”You never know when you’ll need to look your best. It won’t go to waste,” I said.
”I suppose that is a possibility… Very well. You have my thanks,” Cassandra said.
”Don’t mention it~” I said.
”Is that not a bit of a casual response? These were quite expensive, were they not?” Cassandra asked.
”It’s no big deal. Don’t let it weigh on you, Cassandra,” I said.
(I didn’t do this to put her in my debt; I just wanted to see her in a dress. She’s such a beauty; it’s a crime that she never puts any effort into her appearance.)
”Shall we go grab some dinner then? Here, take my hand,” I said.
”Right. …You are strangely practiced at this,” Cassandra said.
”Thanks for the compliment. When you’re a Captain in the future, you might have to deal with stuff like this too,” I replied.
”It’s true that Captain Emily attends such functions, though she looks as if she loathes every second of it… I suppose I should treat this as practice,” Cassandra said.
”That’s the spirit. Let’s just go with that for today,” I said.
I escorted Cassandra to the carriage I’d called while she was changing, and we headed for the restaurant.
”A toast,” I said.
”Cheers,” Cassandra replied.
It wasn’t an anniversary or anything special, but as far as I could tell, this was Cassandra’s first actual date. The restaurant was the kind of place that suited her gorgeous new look. (Actually, I’d picked the dress specifically to match the restaurant’s vibe.)
Maybe it was because I told her to relax, or maybe it was just the effect of the gourmet food and fine wine, but the conversation never lagged. However, being the serious woman she is, Cassandra mostly talked about her work with the Knights’ Order. Most guys would probably find it incredibly boring—like the guy at a mixer who won’t stop talking about his office job—but I just thought, “Man, even when she’s serious, she’s cute.” Compared to her old “prickly” attitude, this was practically sugar-sweet.
”So, has that junior who’s been hitting on you had anything to say lately?” I asked.
”Ah, him… He was babbling some nonsense like, ‘I was supposed to be the one to take Vice-Captain Cassandra’s first time!’ so I gave him a merciless thrashing in training,” Cassandra said.
”Hahaha! Well, at least you’re popular,” I said.
”I find no joy in being pursued by someone in whom I have absolutely no interest,” Cassandra replied.
”Fair enough,” I said.
I couldn’t argue with her grim expression. I’d had a few similar experiences in my previous life. It’s hard to turn down someone who’s being genuinely nice without making things awkward. Not that Cassandra seems to care about that. Poor Junior-kun. If Cassandra calls it “merciless,” he probably wished he were dead by the end of it.
”Well, now that our stomachs are full, shall we move on to the next stop?” I asked.
”Hm? The meal is finished. Are we not heading back?” Cassandra asked.
”Not a chance. It’s night now—the time for adults. And for adult time, you need the right kind of atmosphere. Besides, I still need to do something about that rock-hard body of hers,” I said.
—
Summary:
Daisuke arrives unannounced at the Knights’ Order to check on a stiff-shouldered Cassandra. He successfully liberates her from duty with Captain Emily’s blessing, forcing a reluctant Mercedes to cover her shifts. They transition to a high-end boutique where Cassandra undergoes a visual transformation that highlights a looming romantic tension
—
Trivia:
- Daisuke mentions writing letters weekly, showing a persistent side to his character despite the rejection
- Mercedes is literally being handled physically by Emily, emphasizing her role as comic relief/idiot character
- Daisuke identifies himself as a ‘classic pushover’ in the face of the shop clerk’s sales pressur
—
Character Insight:
Cassandra shows a slight softening by accepting Daisuke’s company as ‘practice,’ indicating a bridge between her rigid duty and her potential interest in him.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Cassandra – 175 cm tall, short brown hair, muscular build with toned abs; dignified, beautiful Knight‑Vice‑Captain in stiff formal armor. B‑Rank equivalent, fatigued from a month of duty, bound to serve Daisuke as a slave. Cold aura hides trauma and hatred of Otto and traitorous adventurers, yet a thawing intimacy. Niece of Gunther, wields a one‑handed spear and shield in counter‑focused style.
• Emily – Thirty‑year‑old Captain of the Knights’ Order, wavy purple wolf‑cut hair tied back, powerful aura, wicked older‑sister‑like smile. Married, she leads the Third Unit, chaperones a high‑school girl party, teases Daisuke with disciplined charm, and after battle was found unconscious, carried by Cassandra while wielding a segmented great scythe. Playful yet rough‑caring with subordinates.
• Mercedes – Mercedes (Mel), a brown-haired noblewoman and Home Secretary of Maultasche, is a highly-leveled knight known as the “Disappointing Beauty” in a white frilled gown—beautiful yet prone to accidental damage during training, earning her the label of an “idiot child.” Energetic and desperate, she has a massive sweet tooth, worries obsessively about her weight, fears Vice-Captain Cassandra, despises goblins, and views dungeons as divine trials. She travels with Daisuke as his intel-snacking companion, seeks a Reincarnator boyfriend, and is the devoted mother of Patrizia, once Cassandra’s proxy.
• Daisuke – A young Japanese reincarnate and B-Rank adventurer, he leads the Gale Party with high DEX, alchemy, and healing magic, while also possessing rare skills like ‘Insight’ and expert-level massage, sexual development, and soothing physical contact—headpats and lap pillows—that he uses to care for his many partners, including Gerta, Elisa, Regina, and Cassandra. Lean and youthful in appearance, he maintains a casual, modern demeanor, clinically affectionate yet deeply sincere, balancing his lecherous inner thoughts with protective mentorship and pragmatic leadership. An Item Box holder and self-described social pushover, he manages a complex household with clinical care, exceptional cooking, and unwavering concern for his partners’ well-being, navigating a dangerous world through physical and emotional nurturing.
• Günther – Commander of the Knights’ Order, a former commoner now in polished silver armor bearing the royal crest, scarred left cheek and weary blonde hair. A Krieger by blood, Cassandra’s uncle, he mentors the Hero’s Party, wields healing magic, opens the Sealed Vault, and loyally serves King and Martina—trusted yet burdened, and would scold Emily if Cassandra collapsed.
• Regina – Late‑twenties high‑class courtesan with long plum‑purple hair, green eyes, voluptuous top‑tier figure and large breasts, wearing a marine‑blue thigh‑split dress and thigh‑high socks. Senior Beastman mentor to Nora and Rita, runs Daydream (BSS) with maternal grace. Lover of Suzuki Daisuke, shares advanced sexual techniques, hides aging insecurities and past secrets.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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