Volume 10 Chapter 55 Conflicted Hearts
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”E-excuse me…!” Michelle said, her voice trembling.
”Huh?” a voice grunted from the shadows.
The campsite was a sea of adventurers gathered around skillets and iron pots. Michelle, the young maid, slipped past the rowdy groups surrounding the bonfires until she reached the main tent.
”Um, Ada-san… I have something… well, a report,” Michelle said.
Inside the large pavilion, tables had been shoved together to facilitate a meeting. Ada-san¹, the A-rank adventurer, sat there with Raki, Alard, and several other B-rank adventurers. Under the heavy weight of their collective stares, the girl seemed to shrink.
”What is it, Michelle? Stop acting so stiff and just say it,” Ada-san said.
”Well, it’s… I think I found someone suspicious. Or rather…”
”Suspicious?” Ada-san asked, narrowing her eyes.
”I think… he might be in league with the Demon Lord’s Army²,” Michelle whispered.
”What did you say…?” Ada-san muttered.
It had been a stroke of luck. Michelle had spotted an adventurer receiving a letter from a familiar and, curious, decided to investigate. When the man stepped away from his tent, she had slipped inside and found parchment detailing a series of illicit negotiations.
Ada-san and the others didn’t hesitate. They moved to secure the man before he could flee or destroy the evidence. They stormed the tent, pinned him down, and seized his belongings. The evidence was undeniable. The man was guilty.
* * *
”So, here’s our turncoat,” Ada-san said, shoving the prisoner forward.
Klock Livorno frowned, while Suzette maintained a cool, detached expression. The adventurer trio-Ada-san, Raki, and Alard-had arrived at the Brigante Unit³ camp with the middle-aged prisoner in tow. He sat there bound, the fresh welts on his face a grisly testament to his capture.
”The enemy’s standing order is the total extermination of humanity,” Klock said quietly. “Even if you surrender, they’ll kill you. There is no world where you and the Demon Lord’s Army are on the same side.”
Klock sighed, the weight of the war pressing down on him. The moment the man met Klock’s gaze, he looked away, his face twisting with a pathetic sense of guilt.
”The secret talks were being held through coded letters,” Ada-san explained. “The idiot was caught because he was seen letting a familiar come and go from his tent. Sloppy.”
”What kind of sweet talk does it take to get a man to sell out his own kind?” Klock asked.
”Apparently, they promised to make him a Governor⁴ once the occupation was complete,” Alard spat.
Klock buried his face in his hands. “A Governor? You’re an adventurer. You think they’d hand a province to a sell-sword? That’s not just sweet talk; that’s a pipe dream so sweet it’ll rot your teeth.”
He wanted to curse the man’s stupidity. It seemed betrayal always started with the fools. The prisoner said nothing, keeping his head down, likely only capable of worrying about his own execution now. Humans were like that.
”First Barreith, and now this. They’re certainly aggressive with their psychological plays,” Klock said.
”But stopping it before it spread is a major win,” Ada-san replied.
”True. It’s an impressive catch,” Klock admitted. “But if there’s one, there are likely others.”
Ada-san shrugged at Klock’s grim tone.
”If word of this gets out, paranoia will rip the troops apart. Let’s keep this between us for now,” Klock said.
”You sure?” Ada-san asked. “If there are other spies, wouldn’t spreading the word that we caught one act as a deterrent?”
”It might. But it would also make the smart ones hide their tracks better. We’ll watch the situation for a bit before making it public,” Klock replied.
The news would leak eventually, but they needed to buy time. Treason was a weed that grew in the soil of fear and doubt. If the tide of war shifted clearly in the Humans’ favor, the traitors would find their loyalty again. The final battle was close; they just had to hold the line until then.
”By the way, what was the nature of the correspondence?” Klock asked.
”This is it,” Ada-san said, tossing an envelope onto the table.
The man had actually kept the letters. It was incredibly sloppy. Klock opened the envelope and scanned the contents, his eyes hardening.
”You realize that the penalty for treason is death, don’t you?” Klock asked, glaring at the man.
The prisoner’s face went pale, a look of pure terror taking hold. “P-please! Just spare my life…!”
”That depends on your sincerity,” Klock said.
”I-I’ll do anything! Whatever you need-“
”Then start from the beginning. Give me an accurate account of every exchange you had,” Klock commanded.
The man had been broken by Ada-san’s rough handling. He was a coward at heart, which meant he wouldn’t stay silent for the sake of the enemy. Klock made the traitor testify, tracing the timeline back to their stay in Dayrid.
He hadn’t been in the barracks, but in a rented inn, when a letter was suddenly delivered. It specified a meeting place and offered a simple, tempting deal: help the demons, and receive a position of power and gold as a representative of the humans once the war was over.
’Will you really protect me? Will I truly be Governor?’
’Exactly. We will issue an official decree to secure your reward in advance.’
’Can I get the General’s word on that?’
’The promise is absolute. The necessary gold is already prepared.’
’What do I need to do?’
The evidence was damning. But Klock noticed something. The man had kept these letters as insurance-proof to make sure the demons kept their promise later. He never realized they would have just killed him once his usefulness was gone.
”Pathetic,” Ada-san sighed. “Bowing and scraping to the very monsters we’re at war with.”
Klock remained silent, his hand on his chin as he thought.
”What is it?” Ada-san asked.
”I’m wondering who he was talking to. This kind of intelligence work is usually handled by the brass. But the person in these letters doesn’t sound like a high-ranking executive of the Demon Lord’s Army,” Klock said.
In war, an internal traitor could do more damage than a thousand soldiers. An army wouldn’t leave that kind of work to a nobody.
”Why do you think they aren’t an executive?” Ada-san asked.
”The tone. The writer is too eager to persuade him. They’re leaning into it too hard, like they’re desperate to make the deal happen,” Klock explained.
Alard scowled, his usual irritation bubbling over. “So what? They wanted a mole. Isn’t that how it works?”
”No, Alard,” Klock said. “An executive-someone with real power-wouldn’t negotiate from a position of weakness. They’d frame it as an ultimatum. They control the conversation to make sure the subordinate doesn’t get greedy. But this… this sounds like an exchange between equals. Two people on the same level.”
”So…?” Ada-san trailed off.
”If I were the enemy, I wouldn’t beg. I’d offer a single chance to follow the Demon Lord’s Army and give an order. If you follow it, you live. That’s how you push someone who’s already dissatisfied. This person was targeting nobodies with no status, which means they were desperate for anyone. You don’t get that cautious unless you’re fishing for a win,” Klock said.
Clumsy persuasion was a waste of time. A deal is about leverage, not begging.
”So you’re saying some amateur is running this? Who cares?” Alard said, looking bored.
Alard’s rebellious streak was as sharp as ever. Ada-san had grown cautious, and Raki had been quiet since seeing Klock’s inner circle, but Alard remained prickly.
”It means we can use them,” Klock said. “This isn’t just bad technique. Being this ‘forward-leaning’ means they need this betrayal to happen for a reason.”
Ada-san and Alard exchanged a look. Suzette, who had been watching in silence, finally looked at Klock.
”You mean the Demon Lord’s Army is getting desperate?” Suzette asked.
”No, they have the advantage. It’s the individual on the other end of the line who’s desperate. They have their own reasons for needing this win,” Klock said.
”Sir Klock… could it be…?” Suzette started.
The adventurers turned their gaze toward the maid. As a former spy, Suzette understood the subtext immediately.
”We’re going to keep the conversation going,” Klock said. “If this is someone hunting for an achievement, we can bait them. Ada-san, I’m going to need your help.”
”Huh? What kind of help?” Ada-san asked.
”I want you to ‘betray’ us. If they give an order, we’ll use it to set a trap. If this works, things are about to get very interesting,” Klock said.
The suggestion of betrayal left Ada-san stunned. She never thought she’d hear her commander tell her to turn traitor.
* * *
”What do you think, Raki?” Alard asked.
”About what?”
”About that damn bastard,” Alard growled.
The three had left the Brigante camp and returned to their own fires. Alard was fuming. “We’ve spent years building our reputation, hunting monsters for the Count. And now? Now the Count shoves us under that guy just to keep us in line?”
”Are you still on about that?” Ada-san snapped.
”What, Ada-san? You actually respect him now?” Alard barked.
”I didn’t say that,” Ada-san said, sitting down heavily. “But he’s not a man you can underestimate. He’s more dangerous than you think.”
”In what world?” Alard asked.
Ada-san glanced at Michelle, who was tidying up the tent, and gestured for her to leave. Once the girl was gone, Ada-san leaned in.
”Think about that night. Those women he has with him… they aren’t just for show. That girl with the chest, the Fishkin, the Forestkin-they’re all high-level threats. Even his maid is no amateur. Today, she was watching us without a single opening. She’s a professional killer, Alard. She specializes in fighting people.”
”So his harem is dangerous. That doesn’t mean he is,” Alard argued.
”Strong women don’t follow weak men, Alard. At least not women like that. There’s a reason they’re all gathered around him. He’s exactly who they say he is-the Hero’s companion,” Ada-san said.
Raki nodded. “I spoke to the Brigante guys. The Hero was actually here a few days ago. Silver hair, blue eyes, moving like a ghost. If she was really here, then Klock’s story is true. He’s a Brave Knight⁵.”
”A Brave Knight?” Alard scoffed. “That’s just a myth. They say a single Brave Knight is worth an entire kingdom’s army. It’s just rumors and tall tales.”
”It’s not,” Ada-san said, her voice dropping as her expression hardened. “The strength of a Brave Knight is the real thing. It’s not just the Hero; every member of that group is a monster in human skin. They aren’t the only S-rank party in the world for show. I’ve seen it… I know it from personal experience.”
At that, even Alard fell silent, like a child who had been scolded. He slumped back into his chair and let out a long, weary sigh.
”Fine,” Alard muttered. “We’ll do it his way for now. Let’s see what this Brave Knight can actually do.”
”Good,” Ada-san said. “Because whether we like it or not, we’re in this now.”
—
Summary:
A traitor is discovered within the adventurer ranks after Michelle finds damning correspondence with the enemy. Klock Livorno analyzes the letters and suspects the demon contact is an over-eager individual rather than a high-ranking executive. He devises a plan to use Ada-san as a double agent to bait the enemy into a trap.
—
Trivia:
- Michelle’s role as a sharp-eyed observer despite being ‘just a maid’.
- The specific mention of ‘Barreith’ as a recurring point of concern for Klock.
- Klock’s tactical deduction based on the psychological tone of the letters.
- Ada-san’s previous encounter with ‘Brave Knights’ that left her deeply intimidated.
- The composition of Klock’s group (Fishkin, Forestkin, Maid) as a indicator of high-tier strength
—
Character Insight:
Ada-san shows a surprising level of pragmatic respect for Klock, driven by her assessment of the power gathered around him. Alard’s insecurity stems from his perceived loss of status under Klock’s command. Klock demonstrates the analytical mind of a true ‘Brave Knight’ by looking past the act of betrayal to find a tactical opening.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Brave Knight’ rank is the peak of the adventurer hierarchy (S-rank), and their reputation for being ‘one-man armies’ is a well-established trope in this world.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Michelle – The leader of the combatants, described as a woman with a no-nonsense attitude and a sharp tongue. She’s a survivor alongside Sir Klock, always choosing him as her final dance.
• Ada – Female. Ada the Wild Wind. An A-rank adventurer. Her appearance is striking, with black hair mixed with fiery red, multiple earrings, and an axe spear as tall as she is. She is incredibly strong and fast, with a Unique Skill called the ‘Blessing of the Wind’ that enhances her speed and agility. Ada is ruthless in combat but shows a surprising willingness to negotiate. She is highly respected in adventurer circles and feared by criminals. Her relationship with Klock is adversarial, as he stole from her and escaped using trickery.
• Alard – a male squad leader under Ada, openly hostile toward Klock, dismissive of outsiders, and quick to undermine Klock’s authority, yet a capable fighter in battle.
• Raki – a male burly warrior and squad leader under Ada, voicing concerns about the risks of engaging the Demon Lord’s Army, loyal to Ada’s group.
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
• Dayrid – The city the Demonkin army is planning to attack next, intending to strangle Dayrid from land and sea. This confirms the Demonkin’s immediate military objective for Klock.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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