Uafr4S30

1THE BLACK KNIGHT’S SLAVE WAS RECRUITED BY THE WHITE ADVENTURER’S GUILD AND WAS PROMOTED TO S-RANK
2
3CHAPTER 1
4BLACK IS LIKE A SLAVE
5
6I’m Jeed.
7No last name.  Just Jeed.
8
9My parents weren’t nobles, nor were they great merchants.  I think.
10Why ‘I think?’ you say?
11That’s because I don’t know much about my parents.
12
13I was brought to this forest around the age of 5 by my parents.  But when they brought me here they were killed and eaten by monsters.
14My parents told me to run so I did.  And now I’ve survived here in this forest for 10 years.
15
16How did I survive?
17I killed monsters, then ate them.
18Of course at first I ate small animals that I could kill myself like goblins that weren’t that complicated to kill.
19
20The taste?
21It wasn’t good.  Around the beginning I broke my stomach.  I puked left and right.
22But now I’ve gotten used to it.
23When I learned the terrain of the forest I knew where the fruits were so I could also eat sweet food too.
24Well I forgot to mention that those fruits were poisonous too.
25
26So now that I’ve left the forest, I’m around 15.  I’ve finally been able to return to humans.
27I remember their fear quite well.
28Anyone who saw a person covered in the skin of monsters and animals would be that scared.
29Children cried loudly, the people that smelled me puked, and in the end the knights were called to catch me.
30
31Why didn’t I explain the situation to them?
32It’s been so long since I’ve spoke with others I’ve forgotten the words.  After all, the last time I spoke was when I was 5.  So that I could survive, I’ve forgotten everything related to talking and writing.
33
34Aa, everything here is words that I’ve heard now.
35I thought it was strange too.  Why people didn’t come to help me in the forest.  Why I didn’t meet anyone in the forest.
36
37Apparently the forest that I lived in was designated as the S-rank “Forbidden Forest.”
38I think I’ve done a pretty good job at living in a place like that if I do say so myself.
39At the same time, I wonder why my parents brought me there and got eaten too.
40That happened long ago though, so I don’t have any interest in finding out.
41So.  This is the real problem.
42Doing as the knights told me, I’ve been obediently staying in a prison, only being given enough food so that I can move around.  Sweet foods are not tolerated.
43
44Why?  Because I’ve been participating in small conflicts in neighbouring countries or at other times helping in dragon subjugations.
45Well compared to the forest this is nothing.
46The problem is that they’ve been making me do it everyday, 7 days a week, without any sleep.
47
48Man, it’s harsh.
49
50Nn?
51Why present tense?
52That’s because well...
53I’m still a member of the knights.
54
55“Jeed!  Why the hell are you slacking around?”
56
57A loud, angry voice reached me.
58It came from the leader of this order of knights, the First Order’s Captain Randy Isura.
59
60He had swept back hair, blonde hair and blue eyes, with a well-built body.
61The stories I’ve heard about him are that he took on a hundred dragons at the same time and won and that when he invaded a strong empire he boldly defeated their army all by himself.  A so-called great person.
62
63“Don’t think that just because you’re my close subordinate you can mess around!  This mission is for the sake of the country.  Cut the slack!”
64
65Randy’s words were always the same.
66His favorite phrase was “for the sake of the country.”
67
68Haa...
69Ignoring the question of how much loyalty he could possibly have, he’s basically forcing us.
70I mean we’ve already been moving for three days without sleep.
71
72The knights around me are walking like bags in their eyes.  It’s as if they’re zombies.
73After all, the faces that I remember from a few days ago have all disappeared.
74I wonder if we brought a medical squad with us.  Or maybe we’ve brought the grim reaper with us.  I would probably find out soon.  In any case, there’s a lot of things I don’t know.
75
76Aa, anyway the only person who’s been working without sleep or rest is just me.
77I mean the only person who could perform without incident in those conditions is probably just me.
78
79Randy has only been joining with us since recently.  The last time I saw him working was around a month ago so it’s rare to see him join us.
80That’s what I felt.
81Up until now he’s been living well, sleeping and eating, so he’s come to work I guess.
82
83That’s why he can stay calm and put in energy as if we weren’t dying.
84
85“Father, they’re showing several days worth of fatigue so marching is...”
86
87A voice of help reached out.
88It was the First Order of Knight’s Vice Captain, Shera Isura.
89She had golden hair reaching down to her hips and blue eyes, and white skin that even reflected the sun on the ground.  If you looked at her, you would immediately understand she’s a beautiful girl.
90She joined the knights a few months ago and just like that rose to the rank of vice captain.
91It seems she’s rather strong, and prides herself on her speed that people have nicknamed “the flash.”
92
93By the way, I’ve never seen her fight.
94Because normally we’re the ones fighting on the frontline.
95“What are you saying?  These guys are going to be the ones fighting.  What are they going to do with that level of spirit!?”
96“That’s...At least us too”
97“I don’t want your unneeded sympathy!  In the case that they fail we’re here for them.  It’s time to move!  Of course, I have to move too.  It’s time.  Me.  Moving.”
98
99Randy said, brimming with confidence.
100Haa...
101I wonder when’s the next time I can sleep.
102
103CHAPTER 2
104SCOUTED BY A LITTLE GIRL THAT CALLED HERSELF GUILDMASTER
105From then one week passed.
106Honestly the first three days felt long but from the fourth day onward we warped so the days flew by.
107
108Because of that when I realized it sleeping became usual.  In fact, that’s what I’m doing right now.   It’s a room that isn’t visited often so moss is growing near the window.  Normally this is a room given to a group of 10 men but it’s for my sole usage.  If I remember correctly, I think it was Shera who pleaded to give me this room.
109
110“You’re making Jeed work too much!  At least give him a place where he can relax alone...”
111
112Something like that.  I’m grateful for it, but since there isn’t enough time to clean the room, I ended up thinking that I’d prefer the rooms that had troops resting in them long ago.
113
114After all, if someone with low resistance came in this room they wouldn’t be able to handle it.  
115The musty smell, the dust that spreads just from walking around, and the moss growing on the window.  I hate it.  But it can’t be helped.  I neither have the time or energy to clean.
116
117*thump*
118A visitor appeared in the room.
119
120Well, it wasn’t a normal visitor.  
121That’s because they didn’t come from the door but instead from the window.
122
123“Who is it?”
124“Hou.  Impressive that you realized someone was in the room even though you’re lying face down.  As expected from someone I respect.”
125“I’m not just lying on my face.  I’m also resting from a weeks worth of nonstop work.”
126“Hm, you were in that much of a harsh environment?”
127
128I heard a consoling voice from a young lady.
129As I thought, she wasn’t a normal visitor.  
130“I don’t recognize her from the knights’ group at all,” I thought when I turned my head to look at her.
131
132Even though it’s bedtime it’s not night.  It’s the middle of the day.
133Because the sun was shining into the room I was somehow able to keep my eyes open.
134
135When I did that I was finally able to see the source of the voice.
136
137It was a small figure sitting on the window.
138She had large, golden eyes like the sun and purple hair down to her knees.
139She was a cute girl.
140
141“Who the hell are you?”
142“I am the guild master Lief.  I’ve come to scout you!”
143“…I see.”
144“Huh?  That’s a weak reaction.”
145
146The guild.
147I’ve heard of it before.   It’s an organization that one of the members of the knights worked for in the past.
148Something about people called adventurers fulfilling various requests.  In the guild you would fulfill those requests and receive money.
149I was interested in the amount you could earn but the next day that guy ran away from the knights or died so I couldn’t ask.
150
151“I don’t really care but joining the knights just like that isn’t a good idea.  Your parents are probably worried about you so you should hurry up and go home.”
152“Mu.  Perhaps you don’t believe me?”
153“Actually it’s more like how am I supposed to believe you?  There’s no way an organization that lets a 5 year old kid become guild master exists.”
154“I’m not 5!  Don’t judge by appearances!”
155
156She was getting angry in a cute way.
157Her flawless skin seemed soft and plump.  Her shining eyes that looked like they’ve never known any evil. No matter where you looked, she was a little girl.
158
159“Okay then, listen to this.  If I ask ‘How old do you think I am?’, everyone other than my friends would say that I’m 10.”
160“If you say that then…I have to accept it…However!  I am not 5!”
161“I see.  Well whatever.  Then you’re a splendid adult.”
162
163I don’t have the time to waste on competing with a child.
164I close my eyes and go back to sleep.
165Time spent on talking is time wasted.  I must sleep now.
166
167“I thought for sure that you were an adult.  In any case, listen to my story.”
168
169Her voice suddenly changed to a serious tone.
170I intended to ignore her completely but the sharp contrast in tone caused me to pay attention anyway.
171
172“I told you earlier that I’m here for you, Jeed.  I came to scout you personally.”
173“...”
174“I’ve been refused several times but this time I intend to make this the last time so I want to see you face to face.  I’m sorry but I believe that this isn’t the place where you can reach your full potential.”
175“...”
176“I have prepared 100 gold coins as a down payment for your contract.  Of course, if you join the guild the preparations are already made for you to be registered as S rank.
177“...”
178“Please, just one response is enough so won’t you listen to me?”
179
180She came down from the window to come closer to me.  The little girl whose voice came closer implored me to listen.
181
182“Firstly, were you talking about when you said you were getting refused?”
183“I’ve contacted the knights about your extraction but I’ve never gotten a refusal from you. Why am I even going to the knights anyway?”
184“Work, leftover scraps, and the grim reaper are the only things that lol idk
185“...I’ve been hearing about it for a while, but the kingdom’s knights really have rotted this far huh?”
186
187This girl is talking about something very interesting.
188I’ve also heard about the things she’s saying about the harsh work environment from another member of the order of knights.  I might be remembering it wrong but it seems about right.  In addition he said the knight’s order was quite vicious. 
189
190“If it’s okay to leave the knight’s order then I want to leave.  But I was captured and am being made to stay in the order as a member.  I don’t know what I should do.”
191
192I unintentionally spit out my complaints.
193That girl can tolerate that...I think.
194
195“Fufun, rest assured.  I will lend a hand to you.  I just want to you accept my terms.”
196“...?”
197
198I cast a question mark above my head to the little girl brimming with confidence.
199
200CHAPTER 3
201GOODBYE, ORDER OF KNIGHTS
202
203And then the front door opened.
204With a forceful *bashiin*.  The door wasn’t locked to begin with so there wasn’t an ounce of privacy to be had.
205
206“Jeed, get over here!”
207
208It wasn’t the member of the order that always came to wake me up, but instead the Order of Knights’ Rande.  I’ve met with him everyday but it was rare for him to show his face at work.
209For him to go out of his way to come and wake me up is especially rare.  Is he going to tell me that we’re going to conquer the entire continent today?
210
211“What might it be?”
212“Just get over here!  Get on it!”
213“...Haaa”
214
215I wonder how long I was able to sleep.
2161 hour...No, judging from the light shining through the window I got around 3 hours I think.
217When I lived in the forest, death was always close so I was afraid of passing the time through sleeping.  That became an important skill.  Well now that I think about it, it was more of a necessity of a skill.
218I wonder what kind of work it is...I want to sleep more...While thinking that I followed behind him without being about to go back to the room to sleep.
219
220“Where are we?”
221“...”
222
223Rande didn’t answer me.
224He seemed to be in quite a bad mood.
225But if I look above me there’s a sign that says lounge.  I wonder what kind of talks people have in this place.  Why am I here?
226
227While thinking that I entered the room.
228There were two sofas facing each other, and in the middle was a short, sitting height, expensive looking black desk.
229And on one side of the sofa was a cute little girl that I’ve seen somewhere...Ah, the self proclaimed guild master Lief that came from some unknown place was here.
230And on the opposite side of Lief was Shera sitting down.
231
232“Sit.”
233
234Rande looked around the area Lief was and said that to me.  Was he telling the the side of the sofa to sit?
235...Oh man, what’s going on?
236Is it okay to sit?  What is this demon that is being ordered to stand and spread his legs as wide as his shoulders all day long saying?
237
238CHAPTER 6
239ACCEPTING A REQUEST
240
241I wonder which request I should take?  I thought that as I looked at the various requests placed on the guild notice board.
242Lief is next to me.
243It seems it’s handicap for competing with me.  The rule of no one can help me.
244
245I was thinking about that more than the requests.
246
247“Do you guys have a lot of free time?”
248“What are you talking about so suddenly?”
249“I was just thinking that if you guys have time to suddenly make me compete and the time to worry about me, then you guys might not have other things to do.”
250“Are you talking about Quena?  She thinks that if she wins then she’ll be able to become S-rank sooner.  あれはあれで指名依頼もあったりして忙しい身ではあるのじゃぞ
251Ho.
252I feel that a designated request is, as expected from the name, when you accept a request that someone designated you for.  Like S rank, normally A rank is something that no ordinary person can achieve.  That’s what I’ve heard.
253That lady is an amazing person too.  I don’t care though.
254
255“I’m talking about you too.  You’re more or less the person that manages the guild right?”
256“Not really more or less.  I do manage the guild.”
257“…I’m not saying that it’s admirable.  What I’m trying to say is that you guys shouldn’t have a lot of spare time.  So puffing up your chest and acting proud isn’t a good think you know?”
258
259Lief puffed out her flat chest and proudly flared her nose.
260
261“I have subordinates to do the work for me, so there isn’t a problem.  Anyway, have you decided which request to take?
262 “Is it really okay to end it at just that...?”
263
264She’s quite an irresponsible guild master.
265Will I really be okay being a part of a place like this?  Well, I’m not talking about joining the guild, but joining the guild means that you have to complete your requests to the very end should I think of something better to do?
266
267Hmm but...
268The receptionists and other guild employees look like they’re overflowing with energy and it looks fun.
269At least compared to the knights it’s admirable and there aren’t any people that look like zombies and are about to die.
270This is probably a good place.
271So then, a request huh?
272There are countless requests on the notice board.  There were requests like collecting herbs and slaying goblins and requests that children can do.   There were also requests that were for higher ranks like “I want someone to crush the orc settlement,” or “Someone to get the fur from Fenrir wolves.” 
273
274But...
275
276“Hmm.  There aren’t any huh.”
277“Hou.  You said it.”
278
279This is a rough estimate but,
280F rank requests are 1 point.
281E rank requests are 3 points.
282D rank requests are 5 points.
283C rank requests are 10 points.
284B rank requests are 30 points.
285A rank requests are 50 points.
286Something like that.
287However, there are no vital S rank requests.
288Moreover, I feel like there aren’t many A rank requests either.
289
290“Are there any other places where requests are posted?
291“This is everything in the headquarters.  Other than that, there are only emergency requests or specially designated requests.”
292“I see...”
293
294That much is obvious I guess.
295From looking at the few A rank requests, they’re on the level of destroying a village.
296That’s not something that people request often.  It’s only natural that there isn’t a single S rank request.
297
298In addition, this is the capital.  The heart of the country.
299Most places are developing, and the knights have their eye on everything
300
301Wait.
302
303“Are there S-rank requests on frontier towns?”
304“Good idea.  But, there aren’t any people in frontier towns that would be willing to pay for requests.  There’s only A rank requests there.”
305“There isn’t anyone that naive huh?”
306
307While I was thinking about what to do, a party took one of the rare A-rank requests.
308
309“Ah, the A-rank request”
310“What can you do?  There are people that come to the capital to earn money.  There are only a limited number of requests.”
311“You’re right.  I should get going soon.”
312
313Quena had already accepted a request and left.
314I don’t have any time to mess around.
315
316“By the way, Quena accepted one A-rank request and two B-rank requests.”
317“Huh?  You can do that?”
318“You need special permission to accept multiple requests at the same time.  Quena has already earned her trust.”
319“Can I do that too?”
320“I’ve recognized your true strength but it may be hard because you don’t have any experience fulfilling requests.”
321This is the advantage that Quena was talking about, huh...
322If I think about that I’m at a disadvantage.
323If it’s become like this, then I guess I’ll just accept a request without thinking too hard.
324
325“Haa, even though I haven’t slept 3 hours this week yet...”
326
327While complaining, I grabbed the request worth the most points.
328
329CHAPTER 7
330THE RESULT
331
332Three days had passed from the day Jeed, Lief, and Quena made the arranged.
333It was already getting close to night so there weren’t many people in the guild.
334The people in charge of reception were the energetic new hires and the guild master Lief.
335
336The front door of the guild opened and Quena came inside.
337Right on time for the end of the contest.
338However, Jeed was nowhere to be seen.
339
340Lief, realizing that Quena entered, waved her hand and called out to her.
341
342“O, you’ve come back huh?  It’s been three days.”
343“Indeed.  As expected, it was difficult doing 2 B-rank requests and 1 A-rank request.  I didn’t even have time to return to the guild.”
344“It’s hard to believe you were able to achieve such a feat.”
345“You thought it was impossible?”
346“Honestly, I thought it was impossible for everyone other than A-rank parties.”
347“You aren’t thinking I cheated, are you?”
348“Ha ha ha, If that was the case I would have seen through it long ago, young lady.”
349“You, you’ve said something quite mean.  I’ll just take it that means you trust me.”
350“I believe you.  Still, to report the completion of three requests at once...Satisfying, isn’t it?”
351
352Quena took out large horns and fangs from the linen bag she was holding.  The bag was a magic item and from the outside only looked like it could contain nothing more than one’s imagination.
353
354The horns and fangs she took out would serve the purpose of proof of completion of the requests.
355However, those have already been shown to the person who put up the request, so she also took out the official documents that showed the task completion and handed them to the receptionist.
356
357Reporting task completion, and sale of the monster parts.
358Both would result in acquisition of money.
359The receptionist quickly handed over 33 gold coins and 27 silver coins.
360
361But the thing Quena was concerned about more was something else.
362
363“110 points, right?”
364“Oo, 110 points in three days.”
365
366Lief opened her eyes wide.
367The first requirement to take the test to advance from A-rank to S-rank.  Having 10,000 or more points total.
368It seems like an endless journey to undertake, but Quena operated at a pace where even a beginner F-rank can take the S-rank test in less than a year.
369“You don’t have to earn points through taking requests alone, but you already have enough points to challenge the S-rank.”
370“Of course.  I’ve accumulated the majority of my points through requests.”
371
372Quena was boasting a little.
373Even among the A-ranks, Quena had quite a large amount.  Within the A-ranks, there were people who reached the maximum number of points, but there were only a handful.  Not only that, there were A-ranked people that didn’t promote to S-rank for whatever reason.
374Taking that into account, Quena was able to say that she was one of the most capable people of advancing into S-rank.
375That’s why she wanted to demonstrate her objection to Jeed.
376
377“By the way, where is Jeed?  Today should be the promised day.  Any longer than this and he won’t be able to turn in his requests.”
378“Ah, Of course.  I don’t play favorites.”
379“If that’s the case, maybe he ran away?”
380“Kuku.  Are you sure you just don’t have a bad feeling about this?”
381“A bad feeling?”
382
383Lief grinned mischievously as if she was playing a prank.  Quena lowered her eyebrow as she turned her body and looked around.
384
385Did he defeat a large monster?
386Is he covered in blood?
387Impossible.  The clean-freak guild would normally start cleaning up after him immediately.
388
389Perhaps he’s already in the guild?
390No, I don’t see him.
391
392“Hey, there doesn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary at all.  Maybe because there aren’t any requests he really did run――――――There aren’t any...requests?”
393
394Quena’s face turned pale.
395Sweat dropped from her forehead to her cheek.
396The cheek that bullied Jeed cramped.
397
398The request board that Quena pointed at――――――was empty.
399
400“Wha, what is the meaning of this!?  Did everyone have the urge to take requests suddenly!?”
401“Fufufu, you’ve realized it, huh?  You’ve come back to Earth.  We both know that everyone wouldn’t have the urge to do that.  Well, some parties were inspired a little...”
402“What do you mean inspired!?  I mean this is...!”
403
404The amount of the requests the board decreased by wasn’t not just 1 or 10.
405It was on the level of the hundreds or thousands!
406
407“Are you saying that Jeed did all this?  There aren’t any A-rank requests anymore...B and C-rank too!  There are only D rank requests and below now!  And even then, there are so few...”
408“Ha ha ha.  Thanks to that, most of the adventurers have left the capital.  ‘There isn’t any work!’ they complained.”
409
410Lief, remembering that amusing thought, laughed.
411
412“Then Jeed really did...!?  But how?  Is this even physically possible?”
413“At first he only took one request at a time.  But because he completed 10 requests in about an hour, the receptionists gave him special privilege.  When he got that,  he completed an entire section of the board.”
414“Just what...”
415
416Quena’s hips buckled, perhaps from the fatigue from the past few days, and her legs fell to the ground.
417
418“Honestly speaking, it was beyond even my expectations.  In these three days, I didn’t see him sleep or eat anything.”
419“He completed the requests in that condition!?”
420“Umu.  He’s an unbelievable person.  Ha ha ha ha!”
421“No no, is he even human...If he can do that, then even the divine S-rank...”
422
423The weak Quena dropped the bag she was holding.
424It was that ridiculous.
425
426“So, then where is Jeed?  He can’t be still doing requests?”
427“No no, when he finished the requests he said “With this, Quena can’t take anymore requests! Guhahaha!” and went to an inn.”
428“He was that type of person...”
429“If you don’t sleep for a while you become crazy.  It’s probably something like that.”
430“Thinking that I would take other requests...what a scary way of thinking.  Well, I guess that’s how it is.  As expected from doing requests without sleeping for 3 days straight.”
431“No, actually he can keep it up longer than 3 days.”
432“Eh?”
433“When he was working for the knights, they would make him work for a week with only 3 hours of sleep.”
434“Eh!?  And he even exhausted the guild headquarters of requests!?”
435“That’s what I’ve been saying.  It was beyond my expectations too!”
436
437Lief was lmaoing.
438As a girl, she now had a deep respect for Jeed who was able to do this much.  She wasn’t feeling so surprised now as she was welling up laughing with expectations.
439
440“Ah, ahaha...”
441
442Quena once again, let out a pathetic smile.
443
444CHAPTER 8
445APPOINTMENT
446
447I woke up at the same time the sun began to rise.
448I think I finished all the requests last evening.
449
450When Lief said “With this point difference, it’s physically already physically impossible for Quena to catch up,” I went to an inn and slept.
451As expected, I was quite tired.
452
453I began washing my face and the birds began to chirp.
454It’s always a sight to see.
455
456Rather, it’s a matter of course that I feel refreshed after sleeping.
457I didn’t mean to…I embraced feelings of guilt.
458
459As I went outside, I wondered if it was okay to leave things like this.
460I arrived at Quena’s house.  Lief told me about it.  Close to the guild and in the center of the capital, it’s an extravagant and detached from the other houses.  I rang the bell.
461
462“…Waking up at this hour…are you an idiot?”
463
464Quena, while wearing her pajamas, rubbed her half-open eyes while chastising me.
465
466“Isn’t it already morning?  Even if you were only able to get a tenth of your usual sleep, isn’t it normal to get up at this time anyway?”
467“No no no, what era is that slave-like way of thinking from?  That’s not normal at all.  Rather, for adventurers like us it’s perfectly fine to wake up in the middle of the day.”
468“It’s really okay to do that…?”
469“Actually, how can someone allow barbaric slave way of thinking to pass?”
470
471Quena pointed her surprised face at me.
472For the knights to calmly ignore that sort of thing…impossible.
473
474“Anyway, what business do you have with me?”
475“I thought I would have you show me around town.”
476“…This early?”
477“Yes.”
478“I don’t recall slaves being able to make requests…”
479“I was thinking that it would be unforgivable to ask again.”
480
481In reality, it’s not that Quena wanted to sleep more, some Jeed understood that much.
482There weren’t many people walking around.  From the entrance of Quena’s house, only around 1 or 2 people passed by.
483
484“Even if I show you around, what exactly do you want me to do?  Is it fine just to show you around the capital?”
485“Yeah, that much is fine.  After that, I want you to tell me about the method to quickly completing requests you talked about.”
486“Fuuun, if it’s showing around the capital then that’s not too bad.  And about that method, it seems that you already have the ability to do that naturally.”
487“I do?”
488“Yes.  I heard it from Lief but she said its devouring all the quests in a region.  After that you complete all the herb fetch quests.  Something like that.”
489“Ooh, I see.”
490
491It seems like you need special permission to do it that way but, if you put the herb collecting at the end it’s more convenient to do all the quests.
492It just I was told that herb collecting requests only go up to D-rank.  There aren’t any adventurers above D-rank that do that.
493
494“Well then, come around again in the afternoon.”
495“Why?”
496“That’s because it’s the time where everyone is waking up.  If we do it now, then there will be no point.  Also I’m sleepy. *yawn*”
497
498She stretched her body and yawned.
499The line formed by the thin pajamas clinging to her body was exquisite.
500
501“Okay then, I’ll be counting on you this afternoon.”
502“Hooi. Good night~”
503
504Like that, Quena went back inside.
505I’m jealous at the fact that she can go back to sleep.
506
507It’s hard to sleep because of the habit that I’ve built up over these years.
508
509Even if the sky got dark, there wasn’t any sound, and I was in a soft bed, I definitely would not be able to sleep.
510I’m scared of closing my eyes.
511
512So, I guess I’ll do some work until the afternoon.
513
514“…you’re kidding, right?”
515
516Quena looked at me with scornful eyes.
517Her gaze hurts.
518
519“Sorry.”
520“Ugh…Why is it that this request will take until the evening?  Why do I have to go out of my way to go into this forest and look for you?”
521
522Quena’s voice rung throughout the entire forest.
523Some birds close to us panicked and flew away.
524
525“The guild misunderstood…Why is already so late!  Normally it wouldn’t take so long!”
526“Well, there was still work remaining and I thought that I should finish up everything...”
527“They’re not work, they’re requests! RE, QUESTS!  You can choose to accept them or not!”
528
529Quena pointed at me and scolded me.
530
531“Even if you say that, if I don’t accept the requests then the contract money that Lief gave me won’t have any meaning.”
532“Contract money…you don’t have a contract anymore do you?  That was just money to transfer you to the guild.”
533“Un, when she gave me the S-rank card she told me ‘Please do the requests whenever possible.”
534“Whenever possible!?  Everyone says that!  She didn’t mean to say do every request!”
535
536While holding her head Quena complained.
537Even though he’s not a guild employee, why is he worrying about that, Quena thought.
538
539“Listen.  Because you completed all the A to C-rank requests almost all the adventurers in the capital have left!  If you keep that up, the D to F-rank adventurers won’t have any work!  Please restrain yourself!  Is there even any merit for you to take up requests S-rank?  You don’t need the money, or the achievements.”
540
541I see.
542This woman has her own woman reasons.  It wasn’t a guild employee opinion, but an opinion as an adventurer.
543If I continue like this I will end up eating all the requests. If that happens, she too will have no choice but to leave.  That’s the life of an adventurer.
544Quena owns a house in the capital, so it’s difficult for her to just move to another place.  That’s why she wants me to hold back.
545
546“Sorry about that.  I didn’t consider that at all.”
547“No…you’re quite honest about it.”
548
549Quena calmed down quite a bit and it showed on her face.
550
551“It’s fine.  As promised, I will show you around the capital.”
552“Is it really okay?  It’s already evening you know?”
553“It is.  Even if it’s not the afternoon, the capital is still fun.”
554Quena sounded quite enthusiastic about it.
555First…will it be a welcoming?”
556
557“I see.  Before that, I need to meet with the clients and report to the guild.”
558“…Okay.”
559
560I followed Quena and made enough space for me to drag the large amount of dead goblins behind me.
561It seems that I made her let out a bitter laugh as if I spoiled the mood, but that’s not important.
562
563CHAPTER 9
564ONE DAY
565
566“This here is a first class restaurant.  You have to reserve stuff like a premium dragon steak but someone can sponsor you.  They have a reputation of serving royalty too.”
567“If you need to get your weapons repaired then you should go here.  A skilled blacksmith came from very far away to work here.”
568……………
569…..
570Like that, she taught me about various places.
571However,
572
573“……Even though….meat is delicious…my stomach is rejecting it…!”
574
575I remembered the time when my body would convulse without stopping.
576
577“Sorry!  I overdid it and killed the blacksmith!”
578
579Just with a little movement of the sword I bisected the blacksmith.  I guess it’s lucky to not hit anyone.
580
581“…Haa”
582
583Quena held her and breathed a sigh.  It’s almost as if she has a headache but never says it.
584No, even I have some self-awareness.
585Even though she’s showing me around, it somehow went smoothly.
586
587“Sorry, it doesn’t seem I’m suited for formal stuff.”
588“I had a feeling that it was like that.  But that’s no good.  An S-rank needs to act like an S-rank.  As your rank increases, so too do the client’s rank in society.”
589
590Thinking back on it, the clients for A-rank requests felt like they were wealthy merchants or important-looking nobles.  Perhaps I will have to meet them at restaurants like these.  If that’s the case, then it looks like I have to get used to it.
591However, these restaurants cost 30 silvers per meal and at the super high class blacksmiths one sword costs 30 gold.
592
593“If I get used to it I’ll be scared of myself.”
594“At the very least you should be able to endure it.”
595“Okay…”
596
597With teary eyes, I nodded.
598Ah, I know.  If I remember this is work too. That means I have to do it.
599It’s not a big deal.  Even if it’s ridiculously hard I’ll get used to it.  If I think that high class food is poison then it’ll probably taste delicious.  If I’m careful about a sword that cuts in a strange way then I’ll be okay. 
600
601“Hey, Jeed.”
602“?”
603“If you really don’t want to do it, then isn’t it fine if you don’t do anything?  Everyone has something they’re no good at.  Adventurers have their choice about stuff like that.”
604“Is it..really okay?  You shouldn’t say you don’t want to do it even if you have to die.  The fact that you can’t do it means that you can’t depend on yourself.”
605“…That’s exactly how a slave would think.  You really are someone who lived when slavery was commonplace huh?”
606“Not really…”
607
608Quena backed away from me.
609Ah, this isn’t good.  I could cry.
610
611“You’re a good person, aren’t you?”
612“H, hey!  You’re being gross!  Isn’t this what I’m supposed to do as a guide!”
613“It just that I was imagining you would give me robotic explanations about everything”
614
615While giving that excuse to Quena’s beet red face, I saw food stalls opening up between the crowds of people.  My stomach grumbled from the good scent of food.
616
617“What’s that?”
618“That’s beef bone skewer.”
619“It looks tasty…I want to try eating it…”
620“Huh?  If you want to eat it then eat it.  It’s one copper per skewer.”
621“No, but…Ah”
622
623I see.  I didn’t think of that.
624I’m already an adventurer so I can eat whenever I want.  I even have money.  Remembering that, my legs pointed towards the stall.
625
626“Um…”
627
628I arrived in front of the man running the stall.
629What am I supposed to do in this situation again?
630A few years ago I was given permission to go outside…No, I wanted to eat at the stall but I used all my money at the cafeteria.
631I don’t know…how to order food.
632
633“Haa, it can’t be helped.  5 skewers, please.”
634“Coming right up, that’ll be 5 coppers.”
635
636Quena paid for it and the stall owner handed us a bag with 5 skewers.
637I felt a little moved by that exchange of actions…!
638
639“Here, one gold coin.”
640“Oh, thank you!”
641
642From the linen cloth I took out one gold coin and presented it to Quena.
643However, Quena didn’t take it and pulled back her hand.
644
645“Wha, are you serious?”
646“Huh?  I thought I have to pay you for doing that…”
647“No no, even if that was the case there’s no way it would cost a gold coin!  Do you understand how money works?”
648
649While being angry about something, Quena asked me.
650I understand how money works.  However, I didn’t have many opportunities to use or hold money.
651
652“If you say that then I shouldn’t hand it over so easily…right?”
653“Of course.  I can’t leave you alone, can I?”
654
655She put her hands on her hips and looked shocked.
656I’m ashamed…
657
658“Okay, here.  Three skewers.  I’ll have two.”
659“Thank you.  How much should I pay for this?”
660“If it’s this much it’s fine.  I’ll treat you.”
661“Eh…Showing me around and having you treat me…it feels weird…”
662“That’s exactly why you were being taken advantage of.  You should be more selfish.  Take advantage of people’s kindness more.”
663“I..see…hagu…delicious!!”
664
665I ate the meat skewer that Quena gave me.
666 It had a good texture and the insides melted in my mouth…!  The sauce and the fat remained in my mouth well and the smell was pleasant too…!
667Delicious!!!
668
669“Are you listening to me?  Well, you changed gears fast.”
670
671Quena was surprised again, but more importantly the meat skewer was delicious.  The conversation took a turn.
672
673“I’m not listening at all!  This is too delicious!”
674“Hey.   Get yourself together!  Getting that excited over that…”
675“Mogumogu.  No…I’m okay.”
676“What’s okay?”
677“I saw the clients recently before.  I’ve changed my thinking about various things.”
678“What do you mean?”
679
680“I saw the blacksmith earlier you know and, even though he seemed really strict he said “Ah it’s already late, I should stop.  Even if I continue I won’t make anything good!”  Ah, as expected, I started to think that even if you continue, if it’s bad work then there’s no point.”
681“I see.”
682
683“Even though there weren’t any adventurers anymore the old lady at the inn was still cleaning, when I thought that wasn’t any point to doing that she said “You’re right that there aren’t any people here, but I have the strong urge to make everything clean and tomorrow I’ll have the urge to make ale in the morning.”  I’ve never thought about something like cleaning, but I was able to think about something like that when I talked to her.”
684
685That’s why I also started to see the environment I experienced in the knights in a different light.
686And also the extent of the freedom of work adventurers had.
687If I think about that, then the guild quivers with a low tone.
688
689 
690CHAPTER 10
691THE REASON FOR RINGING
692
693The guild card.
694A rectangular card about the size of one’s fist.  It seems there are multiple colors but mine is black with white text.
695It shows my rank, requests on the notice board, and even has the ability to show the requests you’re doing.
696
697It was explained to me that there are three times when the guild card will ring.  The first is when the guild summons you.  It could be for a violation of the rules or when the guild needs to discuss something.
698The second is when there’s a designated request.  That means in the situation that your name is designated for a request the guild will contact you.
699
700Right now it’s ringing for the third reason.
701Emergency request.
702You can accept or refuse it like any other request as an adventurer would.
703However, if you don’t accept it then you could lose points or drop in rank.
704
705“Large outbreak of monsters in the Holy Republic”
706
707Quena also looked at her own card.  There wasn’t any sound or vibration.  That’s because she changed the settings in the card to do that so that it doesn’t distract her while she’s carrying out a request.
708
709“It’s an S-rank request.  Quite a large amount of reward money, too”
710“The Holy Republic is a neutral power, so it has a considerable amount of money.  In this kind of emergency, the citizens will contribute to the reward money.”
711“I see.  Un, also there’s money for traveling.”
712
713On the guild card the words “Traveling compensation from the Kingdom to the Holy Republic: 10 silvers” were displayed.
714
715“Ah, that money comes from the guild.”
716“Eh, you can receive money from the guild just by traveling?  A step for us is a step for the country…”
717“What are you talking about?  You aren’t thinking about walking, are you?  Isn’t it obvious that we would take a carriage there? From the Kingdom to the Holy Republic is only just one day.  In addition there’s also the return trip so it’s not a small amount of money.”
718“It’s like that, huh?”
719
720It’s nostalgic to have to be moving even though it’s the break of dawn.
721Defeating monsters while being tired and getting used to the darkness…
722Ah, what fun times.
723
724“Hey!  Why are you crying?”
725“…It’s nothing, just remembering something.  Hahaha…”
726
727I let out a dry laugh.
728For the time being I poured mana into the text that said accept request on the guild card.
729
730“Jeed, you’re accepting this?”
731“Yeah.  Should I not be?”
732“You don’t have to accept a request where you have to travel such a long distance.  Point-wise you won’t”
733“No no, I must do the work that is given to me.”
734“Given to you…Well I don’t have any requests that I’m doing right now and I’m uneasy about letting you go by yourself, so I’ll accept it too.”
735
736It seems that Quena accepted the request too.
737If there’s the freedom to refuse, then there’s also the freedom to accept.  That’s how I thought about it.
738To that extent, I felt gratitude from the guild.  Up until now I thought I was going to break.
739Having said that, since I’m so devoted if I become useless then there’s no helping it.  
740Understanding that, I accepted the request.  But to think Quena would follow me and accept it too…
741
742“You don’t have to guide me that much…”
743“This isn’t something that ends with winning or losing!  I just can’t leave you alone!”
744
745She said that while turning away.
746Fumu.  Well, I’m grateful that she thinks that way so it’s good that she accepted it.  Is that how I should think about it?”
747
748“You were so adamant about prioritizing your own personal gain but you’re actually quite nice.”
749“Don’t be so frank about it! Aren’t you embarrassed!?”
750
751She pushed her face out while it turned red.
752
753“Well then, let’s go.  First we need to make preparations for a carriage”
754“Carriage?  Ah, but the distance to the Holy Republic isn’t that far so isn’t it faster to just walk?”
755“…You should stop with that way of thinking.  There isn’t anyone that can keep up that pace other than you.”
756“…?”
757
758Well I do remember being told to march at a pace where the knights could keep up.
759It wasn’t for the sake of being able to communicate easily…I think it was because they couldn’t catch up to me.  But Rande, the Knight’s captain, said “It’s not because we can’t catch up to you!  It’s because we’re making sure that there won’t be any problems that arise from not arriving at the scheduled time…”
760Fumu?
761Well, it’s probably fine.  Since I’m getting money from the guild to travel taking a carriage is fine.
762
763“Ah, speaking of which”
764
765Quena hit her hand as she remembered something.
766
767“The girl that you said was quite strong, the Saint of Starlight Sofia Eiden, is being represented by the Holy Republic as the founder of the state religion.  She should be in the Holy Republic.”
768“Hm, is that so?  Even though she’s the founder of the religion she’s an adventurer?”
769“Yes.  I heard when the guild put out requests to heal lots of people while her family was disputing about an outbreak of monsters, she became S-rank in no time.  Apparently she amassed a large number of points taking one request at a time and became S-rank within about a year.”
770“Hm, that’s impressive.”
771“…Is that sarcasm?  You became one in a day.”
772
773Quena glared at me.
774
775“In my case, I became S-rank through recommendation.  I think it’s amazing that she became S-rank the way she did.”
776“If it’s you, you can do it in a month…You don’t have any self-awareness”
777“Hahaha, that’s impossible.  There wouldn’t be any requests left.”
778“Ah, of course…”
779
780Quena let out the words “Well whatever…” and moved along ahead of me.  Probably because she made the arrangements for a carriage.  
781So that I wouldn’t leave them behind I jogged beside them.
782
783The Holy Republic, huh?
784Speaking of which, a while ago, I went there to go hunting on the Knight’s expedition.  Because they’re an allied country.  But I don’t really remember the details.
785
786Well, if I meet Sofia then I have to thank her.
787Because of her recommendation I became aware of the opportunity to enter the guild and leave the knights.
788
789CHAPTER 11
790RECEPTIONIST
791
792We arrived at a major city in the Holy Republic.
793This city apparently wasn’t that important for the country but from it’s appearance it you could compare it to the size of the Kingdom’s cities.
794
795There was a bronze statue of a goddess in the center plaza.
796It was a beautiful goddess holding a cane.  Even though it was big, there was no intimidating air about it.  It felt more like that goddess would forgive anything.
797
798“All adventurers who have accepted the request, please gather here-!”
799
800The Holy Republic’s knights gathered near the statue.
801It turned out that the gathering place for the adventurers was that statue.  Next to me was Quena.
802
803“…You, you’re still eating?”
804“Nmu.  It’s about as delicious as the skewers in the royal capital.”
805
806Quena glared at me as if to scold me.
807It’s still a little early to gather, so I bought meat skewers from a food stall.  It has different seasoning than the Royal Capital’s huh?  Even though it’s meat, it’s easy to swallow.  It’s a refreshing kind of seasoning.  That’s why it’s unnecessary to go to the meeting place…
808
809“Ah, you want to eat too?”
810“No, I’m fine.  Don’t make that “I don’t want to split up” face.  It looks like the receptionists have started so I’m heading over.”
811“Eh?  It’s not time yet though?”
812“I’m going anyway.  See, look”
813
814Quena looked around.  Like she said, she went towards where she was looking and I did the same.  I was looking at the adventurers but they were looking at me back.
815Without heading towards the receptionists, they looked at me.
816
817“Who are they?”
818“We can go ahead of them.”
819“Why?”
820“It’s simple, we’re a higher rank than them.”
821“Ah”
822
823I understood.
824Adventurers have the freedom to accept requests.  This time there are probably also adventurers that haven’t accepted the emergency request yet.  
825That’s why they were looking at us.
826
827“If we higher ranks accept the request then the chance of succeeding and the degree of safety increases is probably what they’re thinking.  That’s why they’re waiting for us to accept the request.”
828“How clever”
829
830I truly thought that.
831If I was in their place, I would probably do that too.
832Thinking that, Quena opened her eyes a little and spoke.
833
834“You aren’t mad or something right?”
835“No way, why would you think that?”
836“Do they not look like shitty goldfish to you?  I thought that getting irritated was normal.”
837“Hmm, is that so?  Aren’t there regulations in the guild?  There are a lot of people thinking that if they increase their rank then the request reward money will also increase.”
838“Eeh, well that’s true.”
839
840I finished eating the meat skewer and threw it into what seemed to be established trash can in the plaza.   Then the receptionist looked towards us.
841
842“Then it’s fine isn’t it?  After all no one here wants to die.”
843
844It was like that when I was in the knights.
845I would normally go ahead of them.
846I would do dangerous missions while doing that.  Or perhaps if they escaped on a harsh day or invited death, they would live a miserable life.
847Even now, the danger has remained unchanged.
848It’s only natural that I want the possibility of death or injury to decrease.
849
850Being scolded over small things or not accepting a request seems stupid.
851More than anything else, it’s fine if the guild regulates me.
852
853“You’ve really changed.”
854
855Quena also thought the same.
856The adventurers looking at us breathed a sigh of relief and went after us.
857While the receptionist was doing his job,  I asked Quena something unintentionally.
858
859“Anyway, why do you know about me Quena?”
860“Eh?  You’re pretty famous though?  You’re a monster who became an S-rank on a whim, and in just three days you devoured all the request in the capital.  Your face was made known through the use of magic items so you’re quite well known.”
861“Eh, it was like that…”
862
863I got shivers hearing that for the first time.
864I see.  If I remember, sometimes when I would meet adventurers they would avoid me.  That was because they knew my face I suppose.
865They’re thinking that they don’t want to get involved with someone who eats requests…
866
867While thinking that I talked to the receptionist.  He was a bright young man.  I guess he’s part of the knights.
868In the Kingdom young men of this age all looked like they were about to die but in this country everyone seems in high spirits.
869
870“I will be your receptionist.  May I borrow your guild card?”
871“Here.”
872“I have confirmed…it.  S-rank, correct?  Your party name is…you’re solo?”
873“Huh?  Solo?  Party?”
874Words that I don’t know appeared.
875I’m alone?  But Quena is here so are we a party?
876When I thought that Quena was paying attention behind me and she spoke up to help me.
877
878“There are ranks where one can accept requests solo and ranks where one can accept requests as a party.  You’re solo but since you’re S-rank you can accept any request.  This request is affected by this rule too, so you’re solo in this case.”
879“I see.  Then, I’m solo.”
880“Y-yes.  Understood.  We’ve completed the procedure.  Thank you for participating!”
881“A-ah, thanks.”
882
883He requested a handshake.  When I returned the shake, he grabbed with both hands and deeply bowed his head.
884An S-rank has this much power, huh?  I feel like I also hold that much responsibility too.
885Well, I don’t have the power to kill anyone through nervousness or through responsibility.
886
887After that, most of the adventurers finished up with the receptionist.  And this time’s mission…I mean this time’s request begun.
888
889CHAPTER 12
890BEFORE THE MISSION
891
892There were about 100 adventurers gathered in all.
893The adventurers, Quena and I were to be deployed to the north side of the forest to deal with the large outbreak of monsters.  We were about to be briefed on the mission strategy.  However, there were no signs of nervousness from the adventurers.
894
895“As expected from experienced adventurers, I guess,”
896
897I said casually.
898However, Quena immediately responded.
899
900“That’s wrong.  There aren’t many monsters in the northern part of the forest.  That’s why they’re calm about it.”
901“There aren’t that many monsters?  Then why are we going there?”
902“Because the number of adventurers is small.”
903“But there’s around 100 of us?”
904“That is true.  But in reality there’s many more that would have gathered.  At least a few times as many as we have here.”
905“Seriously?  Then why?...”
906“…”
907
908My question wasn’t answered clearly and Quena met eyes with me as if to scold me.
909Ah, maybe…
910
911“Maybe it’s…my fault?”
912“Yes.”
913
914Quena’s response came instantly.
915Because I completed too many requests, adventurers in the area decreased.  Those consequences have reached here, too.
916
917“The adventurers around here have went to other places to maintain the balance of work.  That’s why our military force of people from the Holy Republic and the Kingdom only amounts to this much.”
918“…Once again, I’m sorry.”
919“No, it’s my bad that I challenged you without knowing your abilities.”
920
921I felt extremely guilty.  Quena seemed to feel responsible too.
922
923“Moreover, that idiot let it happen because she thought it was entertaining, so the blame isn’t entirely your fault.”
924
925Quena’s blood vessels bulged from her temple.
926She’s talking about Lief I bet.  I felt it too, but that guild master girl only likes to play around.
927However.
928Even if that’s the case, the one that did it was me.
929It’s not like I did it without thinking.
930But still, I felt like I couldn’t trust my own wisdom and opinions.  Probably because of my experience living in a closed environment.
931
932“From now on I’m going to observe and gather more information for the sake of completing requests.”
933“…For the sake of completing requests to the very end huh.  Normally those are things that you do for yourself.  I’m already past the point of surprise.  Honestly, I think it’s impressive.”
934
935Quena let out a bitter laugh.
936Speaking of which, I asked Quena something.
937
938“What are the other areas doing about the outbreak?  Are all the Holy Republic’s Knights dealing with them?
939“No, that’s not right.  According to something I heard, the coincidentally Kuzella Kingdom’s Third Order of Knights is dealing with it.”
940
941The Kuzella Kingdom’s knights.
942The organization to which I originally belonged.  There are three orders in all.  The first order protects the area around the royal capital, the second protects the other areas within the country, and the third protects its borders and the area around them.  
943I’ve been in all of them.  If there was a mission, I would be forced to run around between all of them.
944The coincidentally stationed near us third order was where I was originally stationed.  Moreover, the third order came to help the Holy Republic before, too.
945
946“I see.  The Holy Republic and the Kingdom are allies.  The guild, the Kingdom, and the Republic are protecting their interests by allying with each other huh?”
947“Yes.  That’s right.”
948“Ho…”
949
950I felt like I understood one of the motives behind the Holy Republic’s soldiers.
951The Kingdom probably doesn’t want to incur expenses from hiring adventuers.  They also don’t want to call the alliance for help.  They don’t want to owe anyone, and they don’t want to show weakness either.
952
953Uun.
954I ended up understanding how dangerous the Kingdom’s knights are.
955
956The thing that came to mind was the exhausted faces of my colleagues.
957When I left, naturally, they fell into a bad situation.  That’s what I was thinking.
958
959And there was also Shera.  The lady that suddenly became the vice captain of the first order.  She apparently was an elite at the knight’s school but when she joined the knights, she couldn’t get used to the way the knights operated and didn’t understand their circumstances.  However, she held a deep sense of justice.
960
961While the situation is falling apart, it would be fine if the impatient knights didn’t make any strange decisions…
962
963“You aren’t actually worrying about the knight’s are you?”
964“I am.  Why?”
965“Bullseye, huh.  …Ha, you were making a strangely serious face so I was curious.  You know, the knights are your previous employer so you should completely cut ties with them.  Requests are the same way right?  You complete them and that’s that.”
966“Aah, you’re right but…”
967“And right now we’re about to start a quest.  An emergency one, at that.  Even if I said the guild’s pride is on the line it would be an exaggeration.  If you don’t focus on this, it won’t be good right?”
968“Aa, don’t worry.  I understand that.”
969
970The monster subjugation has not yet begun.  However, I’ve already finished searching for the enemies in the area. 
971By thinly radiating one’s mana like a wave, I can understand the differences between mana and non-living things.  Doing that normally lets me see a map of the number of monsters, their characteristics, and their position.
972
973“…I see.  I guess it’s because I was about to interrupt the conversation.”
974
975Quena shook her neck as if she was giving up.
976
977Well, I played along.
978
979“I’ll help you.  I’m helping you”
980“--! That’s what I’m talking about! It’s fine if you don’t say anything!”
981
982Quena’s face turned bright red again.
983She thrust out her face sharply towards my arms.
984
985After talking about this and that, finally the whistle sounded from the forest and the monster subjugation had begun.
986
987CHAPTER 13
988MESSENGER
989
990“Flame sword!”
991
992Quena brought forth a burning flame that cut horizontally in a line.  The brightly burning, bright red sword bisected a line of several monsters.
993I’ve never seen her strength before.
994However, even if that was a weak attack for her, I felt like I understood the reason Lief was afraid.
995Quena is strong.
996
997“Teeyaa!”
998“Taa!”
999
1000Furthermore, the adventurers in the area where fighting too.
1001Although Quena called them little goldfish shits, they were by no means weak.
1002In fact, they were pushing the front line.
1003Frankly speaking, I wasn’t fighting.
1004From the start I was ready to go all out, but the adventurers had gone ahead of us.
1005
1006“Are you not going to fight?”
1007
1008Quena asked me that while cutting down B-rank monsters.
1009“Actually, we have enough fighting power so I was thinking that if I fought I would just get in the way.”
1010“Fuun.  You’re letting them have the achievements, huh.  This is your way of atonement.”
1011“Atonement…huh.  It’s not quite that.”
1012
1013The number of subjugated monsters and the materials acquired from dead monster bodies will become money.
1014The quest completion reward would be a different reward.
1015That’s probably why they’re working so hard.
1016
1017That’s why I can’t fight.  I can’t leave the few adventurers left from around the royal capital with no money.
1018I feel like it’s my duty.
1019
1020However, I know that I’m overthinking it a little.
1021I understood that originally, the guild should’ve settled the problem of the lack of quests,
1022Therefore I shouldn’t worry about it and I shouldn’t worry about the adventurers being weak.
1023
1024Even so.
1025I would be running away from my feelings of guilt.
1026
1027“It’s the first time I’m feeling this.”
1028
1029I said that without thinking.
1030Since long ago it was very different from the Kingdom’s knights, and quite distant.
1031It’s like I’m walking in someone else’s shoes.
1032
1033And then, we completed the first stage of the monster subjugation.
1034They told us that there weren’t many monsters, but it ended safely anyway. There are no people with heavy injuries.  Even those with some injuries have only light ones.
1035
1036On the battlefield, I came across a fragment of a crystal.
1037It was a faintly light blue crystal…with a bit of mana remaining.
1038This is a magic item.  From the magic channels inside it can be used for various purposes.
1039It could be for a household’s water or for creating fire.  Depending on the item itself you could even use it for teleportation.
1040And this one was…
1041
1042“Huh, on the battlefield there was a usable magic item?”
1043
1044While I was holding the gem Quena suddenly looked over my shoulder and spoke.
1045Depending on the person, that could be scary.  Moreover, I feel like she’s close.  There’s signs that her plump breasts are rubbing on my back.
1046
1047“Yeah, this is a magic item but, it’s my first time…”
1048“I’m a messenger!!  The Holy Republic’s Knights have been annihilated!  All adventurers, we require emergency support!”
1049
1050Interrupting my words, a loud voice reported.
1051He hurried here quite quickly I suppose.  The knight’s messenger’s feet were shaking.
1052Furthermore, the contents of the message were a valuable thing.
1053
1054“Annihilated?  Those knights of neutrality?”
1055
1056The adventurer’s faces turned blue while one of them said that.  It’s unusual for the Holy Republic’s knights to have been defeated.
1057Quena who was just laughing about me being unneeded for this quest was also shocked with her eyes wide open.
1058
1059“What are you guys standing around for?  It’s a quest.  Let’s go.”
1060
1061No matter what happens, I have to complete the quest.
1062Monster subjugation.  That’s it.
1063
1064CHAPTER 14
1065THOSE THAT SQUIRM
1066
1067Annihilation.
1068That word fits well.
1069There was fresh blood spilled everywhere, and the view of felled trees would make one think that they were made of paper.
1070An extensive amount of magic got used too, it seems.  The ground is misshapen and concave.
1071
1072“Just what happened here…?”
1073
1074Quena said as if she was in pain.
1075One of the members of the knights likely.  He’s still young but the armor and helmeted young boy stood in front of us adventurers.
1076
1077“It’s as you see.  We were somehow able to push back the front line but there are still many monsters remaining.  They’re monsters that move towards the smell of blood but…”
1078
1079It was an encampment where one could casually open up the tents but there were many people with serious wounds.
1080And the injured were carried to a place behind the line.
1081The only people left on the battlefield were winded knights.
1082I released waves of magic power and analyzed the monsters…I see.
1083
1084“Compared to the monsters we fought earlier they’re over twice as strong.  There’s also a lot more of them.”
1085“That much!?  But the knight’s main squad is quite strong so being unable to defeat them is…The Kingdom’s Knights are also having a hard time dealing with the monsters…”
1086
1087The young man said that with a pained face.
1088It seems that they’re also not at the level where they can match the monsters, but knowing that means this guy is a commander.
1089Just looking at them it feels like they’ve been driven into a desperate situation.
1090But now I’m here.
1091
1092“I can deal with them if it’s that much.”
1093“Eh?  W-well.  But, the main squad aside, an entire knight’s order got destroyed you know…”
1094“I’m saying that I can deal with the boss so I’ll be fine.  You guys just care to the injured.”
1095“Y-yes…But that amount of people…Ah.  This might sound rude but, can I get the other adventurers to help?”
1096
1097The young man asked timidly.
1098There were that many injured I see.
1099
1100“Well as long as they’re fine with it then it’s all good.”
1101“Right!  That right, it’s just that even though there’s that amount of monsters there’s no way you’d…huh?”
1102
1103The young man returned a face to me as if to ask if I was sane.
1104If you show that face to me then it’s like you’re about to say something painful.  Please stop.
1105“You guys heard him~.  If you don’t want to get hurt badly then help these knights out.”
1106
1107Each adventurer bowed their head to Quena’s command.
1108Well, if it’s come to this then it’s not the situation to be worrying about earning money.
1109It seems they understood that.
1110After the young man guided them, the adventurers went away.
1111
1112“You’re not going, Quena?”
1113“What are you saying.  Will I be a burden?”
1114“If you compare the situation to quests, then it’s about the difficulty of 6 A-ranks, 13 B-ranks, and 42 C-ranks.”
1115“Huh?  Didn’t you say that they their numbers and ability were about double?  Isn’t that already 10 times as hard compared to the subjugation we did?”
1116“That was before.  Just now, the number suddenly multiplied.”
1117“…What is going on?”
1118
1119Quena asked me after finally realizing the situation.
1120I showed the magic item that I picked up earlier to her.
1121
1122“It’s this.”
1123“It’s that magic item from earlier.  What about it?”
1124“This isn’t for attacking.  It’s for luring.”
1125“Luring…?  For luring the monsters!?”
1126
1127Quena’s raised her surprised voice excessively.
1128
1129“Is it that surprising?”
1130“Of course!  That works the same way a “slave collar” does, but it’s a prohibited magic item!”
1131“Eh.  Is that so?”
1132“The real question is why don’t you know about that!”
1133
1134If I say it I’ll probably get scolded for it.
1135I answered seriously anyway.
1136
1137“The Kuzella Kingdom used it.”
1138“The Kingdom…?”
1139“Yeah.  In the case that monster appearances increased, it was used to complete all the monster subjugations at once because it was a pain…This like that same magic item.”
1140“Seriously!?  Then this magic item…”
1141“Apparently the coincidentally close Kingdom’s Knights came to support but, it’s hard to believe that they could arrive here at the same speed as us adventurers did.”
1142
1143There were adventurers everywhere.  There were adventurers that were originally staying in the Holy Republic.  And there were adventurers that came by carriage.
1144On the other hand, the Kingdom’s Knights decided to come here.  By walking.  It’s as if this was planned.
1145
1146“B-but, isn’t too going too far?  What are they planning, anyway?”
1147“Going too far, huh.”
1148“Guoooooo!!”
1149
1150The monster that was attracted here by the scent of blood began to attack us in the middle of our conversation.
1151In front of us was a horned, bear-like monster.  The horns were electrified.  It possessed magic and was physically strong, too.  This is around a B-rank monster I suppose.
1152
1153“Ti, Tial Bear…!  A B-rank came out already!?”
1154
1155Annoying that it interrupted our conversation.
1156With a poke of the forehead I sent its upper half flying.  With this, it probably can’t move anymore.
1157I continued talking to Quena who was shocked.
1158
1159“Well, it would be nice if I could hear what the Kingdom’s Knight’s objective is…From the people hiding inside the horde of monsters”
1160
1161My mana waves already caught a number of people.  And the things that they held in their hand were, as feared, the magic item that created this situation.
1162
1163CHAPTER 15
1164ENTRY
1165
1166The encampment spread out behind the line the knights created.
1167Where I met the young commander before.
1168There are several people and knights in a tent.
1169
1170“Ku, Kuzella Kingdom’s Third Order of Knights caused this outbreak of monsters!?”
1171
1172I pressed a question to the Kuzella knight that I brought out.
1173
1174“Yes.  This magic item is proof.”
1175“This is…?”
1176“It’s for luring monsters.  It seems to be a prohibited item, but as you can see they’re using it like this.”
1177“No way, the Kingdom is using it…But why!?”
1178
1179The young man made a face that said I don’t believe any of it.
1180If I kept explaining like this he probably wouldn’t believe me.  However, in this situation it’s necessary to explain.
1181I glanced at the beat up Kuzella knight.
1182
1183“It seems it’s for an invasion.”
1184
1185The Kuzella knight made a face like he didn’t want to be here and turned away.
1186
1187“Invasion!?  In, invading the Holy Republic!?  B, but didn’t the third order of knights come to help us if it was this dangerous…”
1188
1189As I imagined, he didn’t believe me.
1190Well, of course that’s the case.  It would be hard to believe someone if they came out of nowhere and said something strange.  That’s just an example of the amount of trust people have in the guild.
1191Becoming S-rank that easily aside, it’s hard to trust someone that suddenly ranked up like that.
1192In the first place it’s easier to believe a country than a single person.
1193However, Quena who was next to me helped me out.
1194
1195“That’s indeed what that Kuzella knight said.  When Jeed questioned him he said “The Kingdom intends to invade the Holy Republic.”
1196“…That’s…Quite unbelievable.”
1197
1198He made it quite clear.
1199Well he’s also a commander, his words are more believable than a mere soldier’s.
1200
1201But I can’t just leave it like this.
1202The quest was to subjugate the outbreak of monsters.   In other words, it will become a clean up battle.
1203The third order of knights was controlling the monsters from behind so the elimination of those people have become a part of the quest too.
1204By that I mean capturing them.
1205
1206At this rate the situation will get worse.  The moment I was about to say call the superiors, the flaps of the tent opened.
1207
1208“Where are the injured!?”
1209
1210The person that came inside was a lively, pink-haired beautiful girl.
1211The people that saw her suddenly brightly smiled and spoke at the same time.
1212
1213“Sophia-sama!!”
1214“Sophia Eiden…The Saint of Starlight”
1215
1216Quena experienced something unexpected.  She was in mute amazement.
1217I was just as surprised.
1218This girl seemed to be the person that strongly recommended me to the guild.  The girl that became S-rank and became known as the holy maiden…
1219
1220She was probably in her later teens.
1221Large pupils and lightly colored white skin.  She had smaller curves but the shape was there.  It was a very feminine body.
1222What is this.  There was an aura coming from “The Holy Maiden.”
1223Maybe it’s a result of staring at her too long.  I met eyes with her.
1224
1225“…”
1226“…”
1227
1228The air stiffened.  That’s how that silence felt.
1229Huh.
1230Did I do something?
1231I can’t find an answer.
1232In any case,
1233
1234“Thank you.”
1235
1236I said lowered my head.
1237She might not remember my face, but she recommended me.  Maybe she will remember me.
1238And then, my thoughts were answered.
1239Her face turned a beautiful red.
1240
1241“J-J-Jeed…!!  Sorry but I have to give medical treatment right now!  That right, we have to talk later…!  Right now medical treatment!!”
1242
1243She said quite frantically.
1244But she understood what I wanted to say.
1245
1246“Don’t mind me, first focus on medical treatment.”
1247
1248This girl is a healing specialist.  Then we can put off our conversation so she can heal the injured.
1249
1250“!! Thank you so much!!”
1251
1252I didn’t do anything but I was given a sincere thank you.
1253The young man I was talking to earlier pointed at the knights in the tent in a formal manner.
1254
1255“Show Sophia-sama the tents where the injured are!  Sophia-sama, thank you for going out of your way to help us.  I leave my comrades to you!”
1256“I will do my best!”
1257
1258His smiling face disappeared.  She went to go heal the injured.
1259
1260“That’s Sophia Eiden.  They say she’s the greatest healer on the continent.”
1261“Yeah, I could tell just from being in the same room as her.  She’s amazing.”
1262“So you understood from that huh.  I knew she had an aura, but one like that.”
1263
1264She didn’t seem surprised or confused anymore.  It seems she got used to it.
1265
1266CHAPTER 16
1267THE CAPTAIN OF THE THIRD ORDER
1268
1269The third order had at last completed their mission and returned.
1270The third order’s captain, known as the Crimson Lotus or his real name Valan Zuuti came inside the tent where Quena, me, and Sophia who had finished healing everyone.  
1271His extravagant armour had not a scratch on it.  Upon his oily, bearded face was an irritated expression.
1272Valan had since long before noticed me.
1273
1274“Ahn?  Ohohoho-, what is this? If it isn’t the money loving traitor.  Jeed-kuun?”
1275
1276Valan pressed his ridiculously stupid face towards me.
1277I guess he’s trying to make me upset in his own way.  Honestly, I’m not mad at all.
1278For now I’ll give a light nod and say hello.
1279
1280“Ah, I get it.  It’s unpleasant right?  Hahaha, well that’s normal I suppose.  Meeting with your former superior is difficult isn’t it.  And meeting with him after betraying him...it’s a lot huh?”
1281
1282I don’t have any feelings of regret.  Don’t misunderstand.  And I didn’t betray anyone, I properly obtained permission and left.  
1283Well, if I talked back to him then I’d be ignoring the main problem.  Anyway.
1284
1285“Well leaving me aside, we should be talking about something right?”
1286“Leave you aside? Hahaha, even though you ran away you’re desperate, you traitor!  That carefree attitude is why you got lured away by money isn’t it?”
1287
1288I think I understand.
1289I didn’t have any intention of running away but, he hates me quite a bit.  He’s distorted his speech and conduct in such a way.
1290While thinking about why that’s the case, Quena sighed beside me.
1291
1292“Hey, you understand don’t you?  Your country and knights or whatever are known as an incapable bunch that got an S-rank genius that even didn’t get paid taken away from them.”
1293“Wha, wha, wha...!  Don’t make lightly of the Kuzella Kingdom’s prideful knights!  I’m the third order’s captain you know!  The Crimson Lotus Valan Zuutii!”
1294“I only know about your name.  That’s all.”
1295“Whaaat!  You should at least know that I surpressed the Empire’s military force by myself!  Don’t get full of yourself!”
1296
1297Valan, who was overflowing with emotion, pulled out his silver sword.
1298Quena, who wasn’t interested at all, didn’t even look.
1299What a strange situation.
1300
1301“Kohon, Valan, is it fine?”
1302
1303Sophia slipped in a cough and spoke.
1304Valan looked at her.  It seems her influence reaches that far.
1305Well with that the atmosphere wasn’t strange anymore.
1306However, after that something stranger was asked.
1307The young commander looked at Valan.
1308
1309“Actually, this is about the magic item that a member of the third order said was prohibited, but could you please explain that?”
1310“Wha, what?”
1311
1312Valan was clearly shaking.
1313
1314“This magic item is related to this incident.  It attracts monsters.”
1315“I see.  That deranged knight messed up huh.  Then you won’t mind if I dispose of him.”
1316
1317When the young commander asked that quite clearly, Valan readily disposed of the knight.  In response to that, Sophia made her surprise and anger well known.
1318
1319“That’s, that’s your subordinate you know!?  You would end it just because of a few strange things he said!?”
1320“What else would I do?  Because he did that it can’t be helped.”
1321“That’s...something that the Kingdom’s Knights should take responsibility for!”
1322“I can’t manage every single person...”
1323
1324While looking down on Sophia Valan scratched his ear.  As if he didn’t hear her at all.
1325As if he completely disregarded that knight.
1326While showing his feelings of disgust, the young commander continued.
1327
1328“According to him, you’re the one who ordered the magic item to be used.”
1329“...What?”
1330
1331Valan glared at the young commander with a scowl.
1332It seems he’s made him angry.
1333
1334“Someone like me!  You think that I would allow such a sin to be blamed on me!?  You’re worthless trash...!”
1335
1336Valan exposed his anger while spitting everywhere.
1337Oi oi oi.
1338That’s what the captured knight should be thinking...
1339
1340“This person...this person”
1341
1342Quena whispered a question to me.
1343I lightly nodded.
1344
1345“Your behavior stands out quite a lot.  Just like the other big shots in the knights.”
1346“Well you can figure that out through watching.  It can’t be helped that the captain is like this.” 
1347Quena shrugged.
1348Valan continued to talk in reponse.
1349
1350“Then bring that person here.”
1351
1352Those were the words I was expecting.
1353That person he’s talking about was the captured knight.
1354
1355“...Why?”
1356
1357The young commander asked Valan.
1358While snorting Valan spoke.
1359
1360“We need to see if the knight really said I ordered that to happen.  If he did say that, then there’s also the possibility that you guys are conspiring to frame me.”
1361
1362Valan said sarcastically.
1363It seems that he doesn’t care about other people.  At least when he talks.
1364It’s become quite an unpleasant situation but the young commander somehow dealt with it and nodded his head.
1365
1366“...I see.  Understood.”
1367
1368The young commander ordered the knight to be brought here.
1369And then the prisoner entered.
1370
1371CHAPTER 17
1372THE TRUTH
1373
1374Valan abusively shouted at the knight that got captured.
1375
1376“You’re worthless trash!”
1377“It’s inexcusable that you would dirty my honor with those accusations!”
1378“What is chivalry to you!  What you’ve done is the equivalent to what a thief or an animal would do!”
1379“Do you know what’ll happen to your family!?”
1380
1381He said.
1382The things he said were already halfway to being threats.
1383Jeed knew the knights were like this and didn’t say anything.  But each of the people of the Holy Republic and Quena were dumbfounded.
1384Torturing this man into pieces in front of these people is in itself abnormal.
1385In spite of him being a prisoner of war it’s strange.  In spite of him being a human that once worked for him.
1386A few words of jeers were poured down.
1387Tears flowed from the captured knight.
1388To that knight, Valan continued questioning.
1389
1390“You punk, apparently you said that I was the one who ordered the use of the magic item…Is that true?”
1391
1392Valan scowled.
1393While the captured knight’s body stiffened and as he held down his quivering lips, he tried to spin out some words.
1394
1395“Th-that’s.  True…”
1396However.
1397Valan blocked out his words with a loud voice.
1398
1399“Remember what I said earlier!  I won’t forgive you if you frame me.  Not just you…your family too”
1400“…!”
1401
1402The knight was making a face of shock.  But not just that.  Despair, fear, unease…it was a dark face with all those negative feelings mixed in.
1403It’s over for me.  That’s what the shadow on his face said as he looked down.
1404Facing him was Valan elatedly twirling his moustache as if he was filled with the desire to control.
1405
1406“Yes yes, that’s good.  You were confused and ordered the use of the prohibited magic item.  You guys weren’t ordered to do so by someone else, right?”
1407“…Th…ong…”
1408“An?  What?  I can’t hear you~?”
1409
1410He didn’t resist anymore.
1411Valan had that much room to compel him.  That’s why he half jokingly, provocatively leaned in his ear.
1412But against Valan’s expectations, the prisoner raised his head and spoke with resolve.
1413
1414“I said that’s wrong!  I was ordered by you to use the magic---…!?”
1415
1416However.
1417Before he could finish saying everything his head was separated from his body.
1418
1419“…Eh?”
1420
1421Were his last words before his head rolled onto the ground.
1422What that head saw was the bloodstained sword that Valan pulled out.
1423
1424“Fun!  It would’ve been better if you didn’t say anything.  Being crazy until the very end, what a pitiful person.  Well then, I apologize about that.  If there’s anything else, tell it to the Kingdom.”
1425
1426While spitting, Valan left.
1427Without bothering to pick up his former comrade that he disposed of or even looking in his direction.  Like he was a pebble on the side of the road.
1428
1429A few moments after Valan left.
1430The real scenario unfolded in the tent.
1431
1432“---And that’s what the third order’s captain is like and in relation to that what the Kingdom is like.”
1433
1434I released magic in the tent that I was casting.
1435The illusion of Valan killing him dispersed like a haze.  And then the real body of the prisoner appeared in a different place.
1436
1437“Unbelievable…”
1438
1439The person who didn’t hide their surprise was an authority of the Holy Republic.
1440He was called here by Sophia.  He rushed here hurriedly and was seemed to be the highest level person that could respond to the call.
1441
1442“Well in any case a mere knight wouldn’t be holding a magic item that would lure monsters”
1443
1444Quena nodded in agreement.
1445The knight who was feeling out of place kept his head down and didn’t protest that statement.
1446
1447“This series of events was recorded in this magic item.  I will open an emergency meeting with the higher ups and we will decide how to deal with it.  Jeed, thank you for showing us this.”
1448
1449The man of authority lowered his head.  Sophia and the young commander lowered their heads at the same time too.
1450
1451“It’s nothing, I’m just completing my quest.”
1452
1453Naturally, feelings of guild began to well up so I wanted them to raise their heads.
1454Even though I thought that, the man spoke again.
1455
1456“No, for doing this much we will double your quest completion reward!  For saving our country from a crisis, thank you…!”
1457
1458He deeply bowed his head again.
1459
1460“This is too much.  Please raise your head.  I would be happy if you just said thanks”
1461
1462Those words were what I truly felt.
1463Accepting quests and receiving money.  That was my job as an adventurer.  However, money comes with the words “thank you.”  The receptionist lady said “Thank you for your hard work” to me.”
1464The value of those words pierced my heart.
1465They reminded me of the Valan we just saw.  It’s only natural that I would work.  When I finished my jobs, the only thing that was said to me was “Let’s move on to the next job.”  They really were a useless bunch.
1466
1467When I thought that, Sophia began to tremble.
1468Eh, did I do something.
1469While trying to figure out what I did wrong,
1470
1471“Just how much…how much of a wonderful person are you!!”
1472
1473Sophia, who was looking at me restlessly up until now, grabbed my hand.  What force.
1474However, I quickly overreacted and when I realized it I swiped my hand away.
1475
1476“S-so-sorry!  I just…!  Um, well…It’s that!  It was amazing!  That illusion magic!  I’ve never seen something of that caliber before!”
1477
1478She was quite embarrassed.
1479While making a bright red face, she restlessly looked left and right without looking at me.
1480
1481“Hmm.  I’ve certainly never seen magic on the level of that idiot guild master before.”
1482
1483Quena sent out a lifeboat for her.  She really does have a good sense of the situation.
1484
1485“Ah, that.  That was from an illusion that a monster showed me when I was in the forest.  I just copied the movement of the magic power.”
1486
1487How nostalgic.
1488I couldn’t escape from the same spot no matter how many times I tried.  When I had finally pinpointed a monster that was showing strange mana movement, I remember never getting involved with it again.
1489
1490“ “ “ Eh? “ “ “
1491
1492Everyone at the same time turned their neck and looked at one spot.
1493
1494“A forest…from long ago?  And using a monster’s magic from there…?”
1495“…What kind of circumstances were you raised in?”
1496
1497Huh.  I think I’ve been pulled into something.  I wonder if it’s that uncommon.
1498
1499CHAPTER 18
1500CONSPIRACY
1501
1502Kuzella Kingdom, Knight Headquarters
1503There the first, second, and third captains of each order, their vice captains, and other elite commanders gathered.
1504Each of the captains sat around the round table and those ranked vice captain or below stood directly behind their captain.
1505
1506“As expected, the King is trying to figure out who to blame, third captain Valan Zuuti.”
1507
1508The one scowling was the one with who held the title of captain of the first order and therefore the most influence, Randy Isura.
1509Just before, Randy was felt a mix of surprise and anger at a video of Valan using the magic item.  From a round crystalline magic item, Randy had seen an illusion of Valan killing someone and saying he has no relation to it so he won’t get caught.
1510
1511“Why!  That was certainly that idiot knight that got caught!  There’s no mistake!  This is ridiculous…!”
1512“Stop it, Valan.  It’s unsightly.”
1513“But, Randy…!”
1514
1515Valan looked at the gloomy first captain Randy and without thinking he shut his mouth.
1516
1517“Right now you have three options.  The first is that you pay all the reparations yourself.”
1518“That’s absurd!  Even if I cut wages, living expenses, and movement expenses I won’t be able to pay it!”
1519
1520  Perhaps the only one who understood the abnormality of the words Valan spilled was the first order’s vice captain, Shera.
1521Even though he told him to pay his own way out, the third captain is trying to bring everyone else down with him.  As if he owned the place.  Not only that, he is saying that he’ll use the food and transporation budget to pay it off.
1522He didn’t think in the slightest of using his own money.
1523This is an unthinkable thing.
1524However, that knight’s crazed way of thinking didn’t feel out of place for everyone else.
1525
1526To that Valan, Randy spoke of the second option.
1527
1528“The second option is to die.”
1529“Wha!?  You’re telling me to die!?”
1530“Yes.  If you don’t take responsibility then we should at least present your head to them.  If we do that then the consequences for your actions will be less severe.”
1531“Absurd!  It’s not happening!”
1532
1533Valan looked away as if he did absolutely nothing wrong.
1534Randy knew this would happen too.  He spoke of the third option.
1535
1536“The third option.  All of the third order will wear slave collars so they can be controlled.”
1537“…!?”
1538
1539Slave collar.
1540Valan was shocked at those words.
1541
1542It was a magic item prohibited among the humans like the luring magic item is prohibited.
1543Long ago it was used by people for shady dealings but now it’s seen as too inhumane so an alliance was created and destroyed all the organizations that used the magic item.
1544
1545The method for creating them as well as the collars themselves are gone…or they should be.
1546
1547“No way…you have them?”
1548“Aa.  I found them in the national treasure vault.  The first and second knights have already made it mandatory to wear.”
1549“What…!?  While we were on our expedition to the Holy Republic!?”
1550“You should be excited.  With this there will be no deserters.   There will be no one resisting orders.  And there will be no one fearing death.”
1551
1552Hearing those words, blood dripped from Shera’s fist.
1553Unable to suppress her emotions to what she saw and heard, Shera closed her eyes and desperately ran from the situation.  She understood that there was only one thing she could do to escape from this cruel meeting.
1554The fact that she can’t do anything as she is now is what she understood the most.
1555But still she was trying to find a way out.  While telling herself to endure it she bit her lip.
1556But in opposition to that the third order’s captain Valan Zuuti loosened his mouth.
1557
1558“If you had that the entire time, you should’ve told me sooner!”
1559!?
1560
1561Shera’s sliver of hope was crushed.
1562Her faint expectation that the third captain would stop them.
1563Randy heard Valan’s words and responded similarly.
1564
1565“I see, sorry about that.  To be honest, you could’ve ordered him to kill himself before he said anything unnecessary.”
1566“What a pain.  However, third is the second time that this will end without a hitch.  Hahaha!  You’ve found something good huh.  But if I use the slave collars will my sin really go away?  Why is that?”
1567“…The Holy Republic will fall.  If that happens then the reparations will no longer be a problem right?”
1568“Fuhahahah…!  I see now.  You’re right!  And a large army that doesn’t fear death…Expanding the territory won’t be a problem.”
1569
1570The laughter from everyone except Shera filled the room.
1571If royalty or a civil official saw that scene, what would they think?
1572They had some suspicions already, but they didn’t know they were this rotten.
1573And the leaders of the knights themselves too would understand how crazy they are from objectively looking at it.  But they are unable to even do that and absolutely are unable to stop the situation so their plot would get investigated.
1574そして騎士団上層部自身も、客観的に見ることさえできればいかに狂っているか理解できていたのだろうが、それすらもできずただただ逸脱した状態を止まることなく、謀議を突き詰めていくのだった。
1575
1576
1577CHAPTER 19
1578RESCUE
1579
1580I accepted an emergency quest again.
1581It was quite a fast paced emergency quest but apparently it wasn’t that uncommon.  According to my senpai A-rank adventurer Quena.
1582
1583“Aren’t you going too fast…?
1584
1585Quena said with a slightly fatigued voice.
1586This is how I always ran from the Kingdom to the forest but Quena was by no means out of breath.
1587
1588“It’s an emergency request so we have to hurry.”
1589“But didn’t the knights say they’re going ahead of us?”
1590“Hm, really?”
1591
1592I responded to that new information with a question.
1593
1594“Yes.  I only heard it by accident but around the royal capital there’s a flock of wyverns…That’s a matter only for knights to handle.”
1595“Well I guess you’re right.”
1596
1597The first order of knights protects the area around the capital.
1598Even if I said that they’re for the royal family’s personal use it wouldn’t be an exaggeration.  If a dangerous monster appeared they would quickly go out to subjugate it.
1599I understood that as I was once a part of the knights.
1600So why are we also going around doing quests?
1601
1602“Ugh…Merchants are as selfish as ever.  The first order of knights are out subjugating monsters so they should hold their own luggage and wait a little”
1603“No, they’re making the right choice.  Fruits with a high degree of freshness are important.  I’ve eaten fruits that have fallen from trees and rotted before and they were disgusting.”
1604“…Why did you eat them.”
1605
1606Quena made pale “ugee” face as she said that.  She knew about my experience living in the forest so there was no need to explain it again.
1607She was making fun of me in her own way.
1608
1609“Well, thanks to them we have a quest.  Ever since coming back from the Holy Republic I’ve had free time.”
1610“Jeed, since then you haven’t been doing quests from the quest board.  Speaking of which you haven’t been showing your face at the guild.  Isn’t it fine if you don’t worry too much?”
1611“It’s not that I’m worrying too much.  I looked at the card and quests too and confirmed it.  There just aren’t any good quests to do.”
1612“If it’s that then that’s fine.  Oh, we’re about to arrive.”
1613“Aa.  At this pace it will be another 5 minutes.”
1614
1615I already detected a flock of 17 wyverns fighting with the full force of the 250 knights.
1616There were also magic and people that I knew.
1617
1618“5 minutes huh…Your search magic is as amazing as ever.”
1619
1620It seems my magic waves are called search magic.  Not just that, but  it’s a rather high level magic and normally the limit is casting it 5 meters.  When in an underground dungeon or in a concealed place 2 meters is considered a useful distance.
1621“nn…?”
1622“What’s wrong?”
1623“It’s, kind of strange.  The situation.”
1624“Situation?  Are you talking about the wyverns?”
1625“No, the knights.”
1626“The knights?  Are you saying they’ve been wiped out?”
1627
1628Quena was guessing how many of them were left.
1629But she still had the wrong idea.
1630
1631“There are two things that feel strange.  The first it that I think the vice captain Shera is fighting on the front line.”
1632“That’s…not normal huh.  Rather it’s a serious situation.  I wonder why.  Maybe the knights can’t move and she has to fight?”
1633“No, they can move.  But she’s fighting anyway.  Perhaps her promotion to vice captain has gotten to her head and she has a strong desire to protect us.  That’s why she’s fighting herself.”
1634“I see.  But you said it was strange right?”
1635“Aa.  Her father, the captain, has always ordered her not to fight.”
1636
1637Indeed.  He wouldn’t allow it.  Us knights would be told to protect the backline.
1638Rather, showing herself in this kind of battlefield is rare.
1639
1640“That’s why it’s strange I see.  And the other reason?”
1641“The other is…collars?  A thin magic item around their necks seems to be controlling their bodies…”
1642“Collars…controlling…?  Hey, is that item on the commanders and Shera too?”
1643“No, it doesn’t seem so.”
1644“…It can’t be can’t they’re doing that!”
1645
1646Quena seemed to suspect something from my words.
1647But I can’t hear her words yet.  It’s already been 5 minutes.
1648In other words, we’ve arrived at the battlefield.
1649
1650“…Defeat the enemy flying in at 7 o clock!”
1651“Understood!”
1652
1653She instantly responded to my sudden orders and faithfully pulled out her flame sword, then faced the wyverns that were several times longer than a person.
1654Wyverns were a B-rank monster.  To a higher rank like Quena, she won’t have any trouble fighting one of them.
1655And as for me…
1656
1657“Guooooooeeee!!!”
1658
1659Shera was fighting in front of me.
1660Sending her sword flying, she no longer had a way to protect herself from the wyvern’s attacks.  The knights and soldiers around her were also unable to move.
1661…I learned that from my search magic.
1662
1663“First style…”
1664
1665Is that a monster I saw in the forbidden forest?  There isn’t a physical form, if I recall it’s a monster made of mana.
1666It appeared suddenly and could easily cut steel with sharp mana.
1667That’s the gist of it.
1668The first time I saw it was the first time I saw that magic.
1669It made the movements of pulling out a sword in the air.  Just by pouring in magic power, it would become a sword with killing power.
1670
1671“…Flash”
1672
1673The wyvern was plainly split in two.
1674Its body fell towards Shera and it died.
1675
1676“Are you okay, Shera?’
1677
1678I asked the beautiful, blonde haired, dumbfounded lady that fell on her butt as I glanced to the side.
1679She couldn’t say anything and sat there with her eyes open.  It looks like she doesn’t have any injuries.
1680Anyway, Quena had already defeated two wyverns in another area.
1681The knights were relieved that there were reinforcements so they put their swords in the ground and leaned on them, dropped to the ground, and rested as they pleased.
1682There were still wyverns around, but their faces looked like they were at their limit.
1683Looking at Shera, her well-featured face seemed to be tired too.
1684
1685“What’s the matter, Shera?”
1686
1687I asked her a different question.
1688When I did, tears began to flow from her eyes.
1689Even though we were in the middle of a flock of wyverns, she hugged me.
1690It’s likely that she was scared for her life.
1691But that’s not all.  That’s not the only reason we came this far.
1692Shera spoke a few words,
1693
1694“…It’s…impossible…Save us Jeed!”
1695
1696I was asked to save them.
1697
1698CHAPTER 20
1699ACCEPTING A QUEST
1700
1701It’s been a few moments since Shera asked to be saved.
1702Quena and I have eliminated the wyverns.  Well, most of them.
1703
1704It’s become rest time I guess.  Most of the knights have collapsed.  Shera seems to be at her limit too as she is sitting on the ground too with her hands around her knees.  She’s having trouble keeping her eyes open.
1705
1706During this time, Shera explained what was going on.  What the Kingdom’s knights were doing.  And why the knights had collars around them.
1707Quena opened her mouth.
1708
1709“Heeh, as I thought they’re slave collars huh?”
1710
1711Quena looking for something looked at the knight’s necks.
1712On the base of their necks was hard to see string.
1713“Is it that hard to believe?  Slave collars.”
1714“No, I thought that they were larger than that.”
1715“You’re right.  They’re different from the normal slave collars.  The knights used a trick to make them like that so they wouldn’t get caught.  The captain said that the blueprints were there too so he could easily remake them.”
1716
1717Shera, now rested, explained.
1718Quena was convinced with that.  She clenched a fist with one hand and pounded into her other hand’s palm.
1719
1720“That’s a prohibited magic item for you.  They thought that it would be fine if they just seal their mouths about it since about the only person who would thin it’s strange is Jeed.”
1721
1722Leaving aside that comment.
1723Another suspicious story has come out of nowhere again huh?
1724Saying that they’re going to create turmoil in the Holy Republic, it can only be said that the Kingdom’s knights have lost their mind.
1725
1726“What should I do…”
1727
1728Shera weakly said.  She put her head on her knees and faced down.
1729It was like she was a lost dog.
1730She was thinking about it in her own way.  She can’t go against her father.  But her desire for justice conflicts with that.  That’s why she’s suffering.
1731The result is this.  The knights were made to put on the collars and go out and fight.  And I reduced the number of sacrifices a bit.
1732But the fact that they couldn’t handle the wyvern’s attack is an urgent matter.
1733
1734“Jeed…”
1735
1736Shera raised her now red face and looked at me.
1737I would soon understand why.
1738
1739“Help-“
1740
1741I intended help.
1742But Quena interrupted.
1743
1744“Otto.  Don’t use the words “Help” to adventurers like us.  We only respond to the words “I have a quest.””
1745“…!”
1746
1747At a glance, they seemed to be cold words.
1748But to Shera, if she said that she would be helped.
1749Quena wanted to show her that she’s still hope.
1750
1751“Jeed, an S-rank doesn’t accept requests without thinking like that.”
1752“Ahahaha…I suppose so.  But if someone is troubled don’t you want to help them?”
1753“That’s why you’re too good of a person…”
1754
1755Quena shook her head as she said that.
1756It’s as she said.
1757If perhaps I so easily accepted quests then there won’t be any point to the guild.  Because if you beg me to help then I’ll do it just like that.
1758Then if I do accept there will be floods of people making requests in front of my house.
1759It must be said clearly.  “I have a quest.”
1760I got saved by my senpai.
1761
1762“…I have…a quest…!”
1763
1764Shera said cheerfully.
1765They were words from the bottom of her heart.
1766
1767“Fufun, then first comes the talk about the reward money right?”
1768“Re, reward money.  Well um, first comes the reward money...Because I became a knight I can’t use the house’s money…if I gather some I can only get around 5 gold coins…”
1769“What are you saying?  You don’t have to pay right now you know?”
1770“I don’t have to?”
1771
1772Shera was confused by Quena’s words.
1773She didn’t understand what Quena meant.
1774Quena’s looked at Shera mischievously.  Like she was going to ask her to get on the ground and lick her feet…
1775With that look on her face Shera finally understood.
1776She suddenly covered her body to protect it with her hands.
1777
1778“You’re still a beautiful young woman.  Since the age of slaves is returning then money isn’t enough to cut it.  You could easily cut the price down by about 1000 gold coins…”
1779
1780Quena giggled jokingly.  The age of slaves isn’t coming back.  It’s just that the knights put on the slave collars.
1781Even though that’s obviously not true, Shera is something else.
1782Doe eyes with long eyelashes, pink lips and a beautiful nose.  Each strand of her vibrant golden hair is so fine it would sway even with a gentle breeze.
1783It’s a kind of beauty that wouldn’t go away even if she was a little withered.
1784
1785But I thought those words were too imprudent.
1786
1787“Oi, think of the situation.”
1788“I know.  It’s ironic fighting this country.  Even though the leaders of the country can’t manage it they’re baring their fangs.”
1789
1790Quena was uncharacteristically angry.
1791Maybe she remembered something that tugged on her heartstrings.
1792
1793But Shera blushed to her mention of irony.
1794
1795“Um…I…I…If my body if fine then…!”
1796
1797Shera boldly announced.
1798She pulled back her hands that were hiding her body.
1799Embarassed out of her mind, she closed her eyes, turned her face away, and blushed a deep red.
1800
1801“Wa, wait…I wasn’t serious!  You’re making me embarrassed too…”
1802
1803Quena who was next to me let out a dry laugh as if she was embarrassed too.
1804Then say that from the start.  Is what I thought, but she made the situation so awkward and this is the result.  I can’t say anything.
1805
1806“B-but 5 gold to take on the Kingdom’s knights is…!”
1807“No way that would happen.”
1808“I knew it…”
1809
1810To her absolute refusal Shera dropped her shoulders.
1811
1812“You don’t have to pay right now.  You can promise to pay later.  You’re tactless”
1813“Ah”
1814
1815Shera put her hands together.
1816As if to say she understood.
1817“If that’s the case then what amount would be okay?”
1818“Uuun.  I wonder what I should do?  For antagonizing an entire country’s army then I suppose 1000 gold coins should be enough?”
1819“Eh…Then maybe I really should pay with my body…”
1820
1821Shera pointed her watery eyes towards me.
1822If you show that small animal like face to me then…
1823
1824“5 gold coins is enough.  So request my service.  Say “Please stop the rampaging knights”
1825“Bu, but…”
1826“I don’t feel bad at all for leaving the knights.”
1827“…Eh?’
1828“But I will be fighting commander classes and their colleagues that abandoned you.  I was thinking I was sorry that I was leaving you and my friends behind.”
1829“…That’s…”
1830“This is a good opportunity.  This is a quest that I would gladly accept for 5 gold.”
1831“Je, Jeed…”
1832
1833Tears flowed from Shera.
1834
1835“You’re weird person, Jeed.  No matter how much money was offered I would instantly reject this kind of quest.”
1836
1837Quena said something unnecessary.
1838You didn’t have to call me a weirdo.
1839However, as if she didn’t hear Quena said, Shera wiped her tears and spoke in a nasally voice.
1840
1841“Thank you…thank you…!  For this deed I will…I will definitely repay you…!”
1842
1843I was relieved.
1844Those tears meant she can face her knights.  Even though those tears didn’t flow for herself.
1845Her kind sense of justice is strong.
1846The other members of the knights are like that too.  Not thinking of deserting or revolting, they’re idiots.
1847But they obediently obeyed to protect their country, family, and friends.
1848For that purpose they became knights and soldiers.
1849
1850For these idiots that don’t even know why they’re getting beat up there’s no way I can forgive the leaders of the knights.
1851That’s why I will absolutely…complete this quest.
1852
1853CHAPTER 21
1854THE DAY I ACCEPTED THE QUEST
1855
1856It’s been a few says since I formally accepted Shera’s quest.  But due to the nature of the quest it needs to be kept confidential, so I directly talked to the guild master Lief about it.
1857Right now I’m in a room in the guild’s main headquarter’s top floor.  Here I’m speaking to Lief about the quest I took a few days ago and preparations for it.
1858
1859“So…Why did Quena accept it too?  Are you making a party too?”
1860
1861Lief said, sitting in a sofa across from me.  I’m sitting on a sofa too but Quena is standing behind me with her arms crossed.
1862Quena was flustered and shook her head.
1863“That’s not it!  I just can’t leave Jeed alone!”
1864“What are you in love with him or something?”
1865“Th-there’s no way that would be it!  It’s, it’s that.  I haven’t finished my duty to show him around…Okay!?”
1866“Even if you say ‘Okay,’ I feel like there’s something wrong about your personal feelings about fulfilling your duty”
1867“Why!  There’s no reason for me to fall in love!”
1868“People need a good reason?  Well I’m not really forcing you to become a mother.  I don’t really care.”
1869まぁ、しいていうなら母性をくすぐられたのではないか。知らんが
1870“Don’t say such irresponsible things!”
1871
1872At Lief’s bullying Quena reached maximum anger.
1873She pulled out a sword that was completely engulfed in flames.
1874
1875“Wait wait wait, you can do whatever you want so just let me finish speaking”
1876“Anything!?  Why am I allowed to do whatever I want!”
1877“Oi, Lief.  Apologize.”
1878“Ahaha, My bad.  Forgive me.”
1879
1880While let out an awkward dry laugh and apologized to Quena.
1881At this rate, if Quena goes wild, then the guild will be in danger.  Why she was provoking her this much was obvious.  It’s probably just her personality.
1882
1883“-jeez…”
1884
1885While she still was popping her blood vessels she put away her sword.
1886
1887“So, what do you think about my quest?”
1888
1889I asked again.
1890About the quest.
1891I don’t have the right to accept it myself.
1892I accept quests from the guild.
1893There are two parts to the quest.
1894
1895“Oou.  I’ve already confirmed the slave collar that the Kingdom made.  Here, this is it.”
1896
1897Lief put the magic item that was part of the quest on the sitting height table between us.
1898It was a collar so thin and faint that no one would see it unless someone said something about it.
1899But the round shape of it is well preserved, and when I tried pick it up it was unexpectedly solid.
1900There isn’t any mana inside the collar.  But I understood that it had a mechanism that would suck out mana if you put it on.
1901
1902“This is a prohibited magic item.  It’s illegal to use it.”
1903“Aa.  I know.”
1904
1905While saying that I put on the collar.
1906There was a hole in it and so that’s where I put my head through.
1907When I put my neck inside it, it automatically shrunk and I could feel mana faintly being absorbed.
1908
1909“Wha-what are you doing?”
1910
1911Quena asked in a panic.
1912Ah.  We talked about using it for the quest but we didn’t tell Quena directly yet.
1913
1914“We’re trying to figure out how to dispel the collar’s magic.”
1915
1916While saying that I held the collar.
1917I looked at the flow of mana.
1918Fumufumu, that’s how they made it, huh?  I thought about bringing the blueprints too but as I thought rather than looking at a complicated diagram this is much easier.
1919Before long I found the place to break the connection.
1920There I overloaded it with mana in an instant.
1921It broke with a loud snap and the collar fell off.
1922
1923“Okay, it’s done.”
1924“Oooh.  You did it!”
1925
1926Lief was pleased and clapped.
1927On the other hand, Quena’s cheek twitched.
1928
1929“It was once before a infamous magic item…Even though it could even capture strong magic demons…”
1930
1931Was there really a time like that?
1932I don’t know when that time ended, but I was always in the forest so I don’t know about that era and I didn’t attempt to understand.
1933Quena who was at a lack of words gathered herself again and listened to me
1934
1935“But if it’s this much then when I try to save Shera and the others it’ll be fine.  Any number of people can be saved.”
1936“No no, I was thinking that no matter how thin it is if it breaks then they’ll be found out.”
1937“Fuun.  I don’t think that the knights will be found out like that.”
1938
1939I think so too.
1940But I want to be sure.
1941Because I want to complete this quest without fail.
1942
1943“There’s still one more part to the quest, but several people are gathering.  They’re be gathering until the planned date.”
1944“Aa.  You’re a great help.”
1945“nn?  What do you mean people are gathering?”
1946
1947Quena inquired again.
1948
1949“For the quest.  Capable adventurers from various places.”
1950“Capable? …You didn’t call them though?”
1951
1952While gripping my shoulders, she made a big smile.  Her eyes weren’t though.
1953
1954“Stop it, jealousy is unsightly.”
1955“I, I’m not jealous!”
1956“Wait, Lief.  Things will get complicated so don’t say anything else.”
1957
1958I stopped Lief again.
1959Then I explained why Quena wasn’t called.
1960
1961“You weren’t called because we’re fighting the Kingdom.  If you’re unlucky, someone might see you and you’ll be forced to move residences.  I don’t want you to get involved.”
1962“…nn.  I-I don’t need you to worry!”
1963“Is that so?  Sorry about that.  Do you want to do the quest?”
1964“Hahaha.  She’s hiding her embarrassment in her own way, Jeed.”
1965“You…!  Don’t say any unnecessary things!  More importantly you said that you called capable adventurer’s right?  I know what kind of people you’re calling, but just how much money are you spending?”
1966“Around 210 gold.”
1967
1968Lief quickly answered in my place.
1969To that Quena was shocked.
1970
1971“Wha-!  The completion reward was 5 gold wasn’t it!?  Why this much…!”
1972“Well, it’s so we complete the quest.  We’ll do something about the down payment and the quest completion reward.”
1973“That’s not it.  I’m saying it’s not worth it!  Aren’t you misunderstanding?  People accept quests to make money you know!?”
1974
1975Quena spoke loudly and moved her face close to me.
1976I got embarrassed that a beautiful girl got carelessly close to me.
1977
1978“Aa, I understand that.  But I said it earlier.  I’m sorry but I’m worried about Shera and my friends.”
1979
1980Included in that was a feeling of apologizing.
1981And then.
1982
1983“I’m using money but I feel like this is worth doing.  Any amount of money I spent is fine.  That’s why I don’t have any regrets.”
1984“No.  It’s not about regrets…You’ve really changed, haven’t you…”
1985“Hahahah!  Jeed really is a weirdo!”
1986
1987While Quena was surprised and while Lief was laughing, I received a bashing.
1988Well I expected that.
1989
1990“I not thinking that I will try to complete quests from now on.  Well, I’ll definitely complete them anyway.  This time it’s a request that I want to complete to the best of my ability.”
1991俺だって今後ここまでして依頼を達成しようとは思っていない。どの依頼だって絶対に達成するけどさ。――今回はそれ以上に百以上の力を使ってでも達成したい依頼なんだ」
1992I announced with a firm will to the girls.
1993
1994CHAPTER 22
1995STRATEGY
1996
1997Another several days passed after officially accepting Shera’s request.
1998I heard from Shera about where the Kingdom’s knights plan to go.  And when Shera communicated it to me the knights moved. (そしてシーラが伝えてきたとおりに騎士団は動いていた。)
1999Most of the knights have gathered in one place, everyone wearing slave collars, and are on standby in camps around the Kingdom.
2000I saw the knights making camp with binoculars from far away.
2001
2002“They plan to go to war.”
2003
2004Quena said to me and passed me the binoculars after finishing spying on them.
2005
2006“Aa.  According to Shera they ignored the royal family and civil officials and decided to go to war themselves.  It’s essentially a coup d’état.”
2007“Those guys that swore an oath to protect the country probably don’t feel bad about it at all.”
2008“Well they did put the collars on them.  When the leaders of the knights decided to revolt they couldn’t protest.” (まぁ奴隷の首輪を装着させられてるんだ。騎士団の上の数名が反旗を翻した時点で抵抗する勢力はなくなったも同じさ)
2009
2010The first, second, and third order’s members are all wearing collars.
2011So that they’re rid of fear and control of their life.
2012
2013“But is it really fine?  Our opponent is an entire country…And pretty much the entire force of Kuzella Kingdom, one of the world’s great powers.”
2014“I know.  But there’s also former allies there.  That’s why I called them.  So that they wouldn’t be hurt.”
2015
2016Behind Quena and I several dozens of adventurers were gathered.
2017They were the capable adventurers that Lief requested.
2018(しかも彼らは全員、あまり王国とは仲のよろしくない国を主軸として活動している面々だ。S
2019
2020“They’re acting unrelated to the guild but they heard from the guild master that fame and fortune will come to them.   They’ll work for us with no problems.” (ま、ギルドとは関係のない活動って体らしいが帝国支部のギルマスからはしっかり話と金は通ってるからよ、仕事はしっかりさせてもらうぜ)
2021
2022The one who said that was a man with thick body hair.  He had black hair and brown eyes that was common to the continent.
2023His name was Didji.
2024He seems to be active in within the Weila Empire.
2025I heard that even though he was an A-rank he’s earned a lot of points.
2026
2027“Yes, he’s trustworthy.”
2028“He doesn’t want to make an S-rank like you into an enemy.  Here, I brought him.”
2029Ｓランクのあんたに言われちゃ敵わんがな。っと、そうだ。ほれ連れてきたぞ
2030
2031While saying that Didji brought out a knight he was holding in front of me.
2032He was roughly tied up with a mouth gag and rope.
2033His limbs were bloody.
2034However, he wasn’t wounded when Didji captured him.  Neither was he injured from the rope being too tight.
2035The knight who had no light in his eyes was resisting.
2036As a result, he caused himself to bleed from his arms and legs.
2037
2038“Even though I heard the story it’s cruel isn’t it.  As soon as they saw us they attacked.”
2039“They were ordered to by the slave collar.  They aren’t attacking because they want to.”
2040“I see.  Is it because the Kingdom is in that much trouble?”
2041“No, it seems that word of this thing hasn’t reached civil officials or diplomats.  I heard their relationship with the military is too bad.”
2042“What is that,  the royal family won’t meddle with them?”
2043“It’s not that they won’t involve themselves, it’s just that the one that holds real power if the first order’s captain.  That’s why as I said earlier it’s a coup d’état.”
2044
2045While explaining the things I heard from Shera and Lief I put my hand on the knight’s collar.
2046It’s the same model as the one I wore.
2047But that’s not all I did.  I want to try something too.
2048
2049It’s easy to pour mana into something if your hand is touching it.  But when you’re not touching it, it gets harder.  
2050If one is touching the object, then the mana used is restricted.
2051But we have a great number of enemies and going around breaking each collar by touching them will take a lot of time.
2052The collar I had before broke.  It was only one collar.  In actual combat I wanted to try something else.
2053
2054The magic circuits are the same.
2055No problems passing magic through either.
2056
2057Un.
2058
2059The collar made a snapping sound and fell off.
2060Okay, I did it.
2061
2062“That’s pretty cool.  It’s not like the original slave collar but it really is one I guess.  But if you can do a feat like that then are we even needed?”
2063“No no, I don’t think I can fight an army on a large scale yet.”
2064“Haa, I see.  That’s why we’re buying time.”
2065“Yes.  That’s the gist of the mission.  Well first of all I have to take down the one who gave the orders.”
2066
2067While having that conversation the light in the man’s eyes was cloudy but he looked around his surroundings.  And when he looked at me he began to speak.
2068But we couldn’t understand him because he was gagged.
2069
2070“I understand.  I’ll remove it.”
2071
2072I removed the gag and rope.
2073Without escaping or resisting he stood on his feet but he was wobbly.
2074
2075“You’re…”
2076“I’m here to stop the knights.  You’re probably very tired.  Please rest a little.”
2077“…?  Y-yes.  Thank…you…”
2078
2079While saying that he fell asleep in an instant.
2080How dare they make them work this hard and think that they should go to war.  Exhausting them aside, don’t they know this will bite them in the back someday?
2081Well that’s why we’re here anyway.
2082よくもここまで疲労している戦力で戦争を仕掛けようと思ったものだ。無理やり動かしているとはいえ、いずれガタが来ることも分からないのか。
2083“Well then, let’s go.  Please incapacitate the knights without injury whenever possible.”
2084“Who are you telling that to?  Leave it to me!”
2085“Ou.  There won’t be any problem with these kind of guys even if we play around.”
2086
2087I’ve resolved myself.  Let’s begin.
2088
2089CHAPTER 23
2090SAVING THE KNIGHTS
2091
2092I cast search magic.
2093In the great number of tents I located a commander class knight.
2094
2095“First I will suppress the commander from making any more commands.  You guys won’t be incapacitating the knights near me, but the reinforcements away from me.”
2096If they get close to me then I’ll just break their collar.
2097The longer range mana is cast, the harder it is to control.
2098That’s where the adventurers come in.  The reinforcements coming from the sound of battle will be incapacitated by the adventurers.
2099If they do that, then I’ll be able to efficiently suppress the commander.
2100
2101“’’Understood!’’”
2102
2103Quena, Didji, and the other adventurers nodded.
2104Everything is ready.
2105
2106“Commencing mission.”
2107
2108At my signal everyone moved.
2109
2110As planned, I headed towards the commander.  
2111The other adventurers looked like they were doing well to stop the knights in their tracks.
2112The knights coming to attack me had their collars broken.
2113I earnestly repeated that action and after a while finally arrived at the commander’s tent.
2114
2115There were the voices of people arguing from within the tent.  But I was already prepared for that.
2116From the search magic I used earlier I saw Shera quarelling from within the tent.  She was arguing with the first captain of the knights.
2117If I don’t butt in the argument may come to an end.
2118While thinking that I looked through a crack in the tent.  I don’t have a hobby of spying on people.  But more importantly I was thinking that if my friend can resolve the situation then she should.
2119
2120“…that’s why you should rethink this!”
2121
2122Shera was speaking with Randy.
2123Randy had been listening with an annoyed face.  It was like he was looking at an object.
2124I’ve never known what the face of someone looking at family looks like.
2125But Randy’s gaze was not one as if he was looking at his daughter.
2126Don’t get your personal business involved, is what he was saying to her.  But there wasn’t an ounce of “for the people” in his eyes.  Instead they were filled with killing intent.
2127
2128“Release the slave collars?  Don’t invade the Holy Republic?  Apologize to the royal family and civil officials?  Shera…when did you become so incompetent?”
2129
2130Incompetent.
2131He really went that far huh.  Shera isn’t even 20 years old yet.  It’s not that she’s too young.  But it doesn’t seem like he’s saying that she’s fully grown up yet either.
2132Why can he say something like that so easily?  Even if it was a job you wouldn’t say that…
2133
2134I saw failed adventurers.
2135But they first and foremost worried about their injuries.  The guild has prepared a place for adventurers to get healed for free.
2136After that was reconfirming their rank and hearing about why they failed.
2137You should never scold them.  “It’s a relief that you came back alive.  Please work harder in the future.”  Those are the warm words passed around.  But the more experienced adventurers would say “What the hell are you failing for!?  Let’s go out and train!!”  and they would take you along.
2138
2139But even in those cliched words there was love.
2140There was no love at all in Randy’s words.
2141
2142“I thought I was the proud father of a girl that graduated at the top of the knight’s academy, but it turns out I can’t use you in real battle at all.  The situation has changed in a flash!  If you don’t adapt time after time then you’ll be worthless!”
2143“Even if you use a prohibited magic item!?”
2144“Exactly.”
2145“Even if you unnecessarily hurt people!?”
2146“It’s not unnecessarily.  It’s a necessary evil.”
2147“That means it’s unnecessary!  Why are you attacking the Holy Republic!”
2148“Because they’re moving in a way threatening to the Kingdom.”
2149“We’re in an alliance!  It’s unbelievable that you would make hostile movements when you said that the knights are just moving around the border…You just want to expand your own territory don’t you!?”
2150
2151Uwaa.
2152She’s really going all out.
2153If what she said is true then the knights and soldiers will just become expenses.  For the sake of their own wealth.
2154
2155“…Shera.  Your complaints are intolerable.”
2156“Wha-!?”
2157
2158Randy and Valan and the other each pulled out their swords and pointed them at Shera.  There wasn’t any dissatisfaction in their faces.  It wasn’t a threat.
2159They completely intend to dispose of Shera.
2160
2161It’s fine if you leave.  I’ll come and save you.  That’s what I thought.  Originally.
2162But…Shera didn’t unsheathe her sword.
2163She still wanted to convince them.  Those inhuman monsters.
2164
2165“Why…!  Pointing your sword at a young girl isn’t a laughing matter!  Father!”
2166“Laughing…?  Aa, I was thinking that’s why you can hold on to the idea of people and things being different.”
2167(笑み……？　ああ、それならおまえがしっかり『人と物の区別』ができると思っていたからだよ)
2168“…!”
2169
2170Shera’s face turned to despair.
2171As if everything she had since up until now was an illusion.  Her legs quivered.
2172She knelt on the ground as she couldn’t muster any strength.
2173They even crushed her resolve to hold her sword…
2174
2175“…That’s enough.”
2176
2177I came in from in front of Shera.
2178Since I was behind I couldn’t ask Shera but I understood that she was surprised from how her body twitched.  She was scared from the bottom of her heart.
2179
2180I knew the sharp sound of teeth clattering.
2181Why did I hide until she became like this.  Maybe I just didn’t know.  Before my eyes, the girl I was trying to protect had swords pointed all around her.  These guys have since long ago rotted this far.
2182
2183“Jee---”
2184
2185Valan spoke my name.  A natural response.  I met with him at the Holy Republic earlier so his memory is still fresh.
2186
2187How unpleasant.  That’s what I thought.
2188
2189“…Don’t talk anymore.  It can’t be helped that your zombie like scent is wafting in the air.”
2190
2191I punched Valan in the head.  I don’t need magic.  I sent him flying with enough force to tear the tent.
2192The others stood still in fear of my sudden appearance.
2193
2194“Wha-, what”
2195“I told you not to talk.”
2196
2197I kicked the incorrigible commander that opened his mouth to the ground.  The ground was cracked and split.
2198But he’s still breathing so there’s no problem.
2199I glanced at them again.  Everyone was shutting their mouth at hard as they could.  Just in case a voice was let out.
2200
2201“Aa, that’s better.  Don’t ever open your mouths for the rest of your lives.”
2202
2203No one tried to say a thing.
2204Seeing what happened to the other two, their instincts told them to not open their mouths.  While turning ple, they pointed their swords to the ground and lost their will to fight.
2205One person left.
2206
2207“Jeeeed!!”
2208
2209Randy shouted with the power to shake the ground.
2210
2211“…I told you to shut up.”
2212
2213I picked up the sword from the commander that I kicked down earlier and put it in his mouth.
2214さきほど地面に叩きつけた指揮官の剣を拾い、柄の部分をランデの口元に放り込む。
2215The sound of the handle and sword grinding together made a sharp ringing sound.  Like that the sword fell into the ground.  There were globs of blood spilling from his mouth.
2216Even has he coughed he scowled at me because I was kicked him so he fell over and rolled on the ground.
2217
2218“You punk, do you even understand why I’m here?”
2219“Hell, no…”
2220“I told you not to talk!”
2221“Guga!”
2222
2223I closed his mouth with my foot.
2224That’s going too far.  With faces thinking that I looked at the commanders.  They all quickly averted their eyes.
2225
2226“Do you know why you guys didn’t realize I was here even after coming this far?”
2227
2228Everyone tilted their heads without saying anything to my new question.
2229
2230“If you see this do you understand?”
2231
2232While saying that I took out the collar from my pocket.
2233It was the collar that I borrowed from the member of the knights.
2234
2235“If I take this off then there won’t be anyone to report to you.  Because they won’t think of attacking me.”
2236
2237I dropped the collar on the ground and stepped on it.
2238
2239“””!!??”””
2240
2241The commanders faces turned ghastly pale.
2242But there was no commotion.  Because I sealed their mouths.
2243It’s like they were mimes.  But no one was laughing.
2244“I’m not going to deliver punishment to you.  Because the quest I accepted was to save the knights.  That’s why I’m breaking the collars with search magic and mana manipulation.”
2245
2246About half of the member’s collar have broken by now.
2247
2248“They’re exhausted so they just fall to the ground.  But it seems that there’s some people that aren’t as tired…”
2249
2250According to the search magic, there isn’t any more than a few hundred mobilizing.
2251And I finally one of them arrived.
2252
2253“My allies…and my friends from my village that swore to protect the country…return them!!”
2254
2255He was all beat up.  He had external wounds too but there wasn’t a single part of him that had mana still.  Perhaps he has necrosis.
2256But the first words he said were about his friends.
2257The next knight came in and held a broken necklace.
2258
2259“I..I couldn’t even see my mother’s death…!  Why…!  My family that wanted to protect this country too…!”
2260
2261And so on.
2262Each of them held regret.
2263They continued to gather.
2264All of them pulled out their swords with all their might.
2265
2266From here on is punishment for the commanders.
2267It’s time for them to know of the sins they’ve piled up.
2268
2269“Can you stand, Shera?”
2270
2271I stretched out my hard to Shera who couldn’t move.
2272Her eyes were becoming red.  She was even more tired than when she fought the wyverns.
2273Randy and the others abused her this much huh.
2274
2275“Jee…Je…I…I didn’t know…I thought that…they were working for the sake of the country…”
2276
2277Not even having the strength to take my hand she looked down and said that.
2278Aa, I understand.
2279I wanted to understand her despair no matter how grave it was.  But it was impossible for me to see the true extent of it.
2280But I know how much of a bad influence being in this place was.  Any more than this and Shera might have become like them.
2281
2282“…Let’s go, Shera.”
2283“…Jeed…”
2284
2285She looked at me and cried.
2286Shera took my hand.  She could put strength in her hand but she couldn’t stand.
2287I lightly pulled her up.
2288I supported Shera who seemed like she was going to fall over at any time.
2289
2290“Wa, wait…Jeera…help me…!”
2291
2292While shivering Randy asked for help from the knights coming to attack them one by one.
2293Shera looked at him with hollow eyes, and turned away.
2294
2295Shera knew that she didn’t want to have anything to do with him anymore.
2296Rather,
2297
2298“He said not to talk anymore.  Anymore than that and you’ll get on his nerves.  …But you shouldn’t be afraid of the weak knights.  You three captains are heroes, aren’t you?”
2299
2300“…Ah…AaaaaAa….AAAAAAAAAA!”
2301
2302She said.  You’ll get on his nerves she said.
2303Randy’s shouting began.  The knights all slashed at him at the same time.  While supporting Shera out of the tent the shouts turned into shrieks.
2304
2305…With the search magic I found out the commanders mana had disappeared.  Valan, who I sent flying a while ago…
2306
2307But right now Shera didn’t know that.
2308She probably guessed it though.
2309
2310Right now I just have to make sure I complete the mission.
2311
2312Chapter 24
2313Conclusion
2314
2315If I was a smarter person, I probably wouldn’t have chosen this method of saving them.
2316If I was a more virtuous person, I probably would’ve thought about a way to save everyone.
2317If it was a better story, then these knights probably wouldn’t have been born in the first place.
2318
2319But, I’m me.
2320I was born and when I was 5 I saw my parents die.  It was a reckless them for them to go inside a forest that even strong people would avoid.  When I finally left the forest I had been taken advantage of.
2321I couldn’t even learn common sense or words from the members of the knights.  I learned sword skills and magic all myself.  If I look at a textbook there would be completely different skills than what I learned in there.
2322
2323Because I’m not normal I ended up like this.
2324
2325The guild master’s room.  Confidentially discussing the quest completion.
2326
2327“It seems that this is a turning point for the Kingdom.”
2328
2329While eating sweets, Lief spoke.
2330It’s as she said.
2331
2332The Kingdom’s knights called for their own downfall.  This was my way of saving them.
2333Commander class and above knights died from their rebellion, or rather they received the death penalty from the sin of causing a coup d’etat.
233490 percent of the members of the knights withdrew and returned home, became adventurers, became mercenaries, got jobs, and headed off in directions that had nothing to do with the knights.
2335It seems that the remaining 10 percent is trying to distance themselves from that tragedy and are running around rebuilding the knights.
2336
2337However, they’ve become weak.
2338As a matter of course, 30 percent of the country’s territory was lost.  Well, rather, it’s a good thing to say that they lost 30 percent.
2339Because the knights rotted this much the king and public officials received harsh criticism and are being replaced by a new generation.  Most of their money is being thrown around to adventurers and mercenaries to protect their land from invasion.
2340
2341“This too is because someone decided to go all out in their destruction.”
2342“I can’t restrain myself yet…”
2343
2344Quena said that to me and was excessively disheartened.
2345I wanted for it end peacefully too…I wanted the commanders to reflect on what they did too…
2346If only I was smarter…
2347
2348“Jeed.”
2349
2350Shera was here too.
2351She too left the knights.
2352I understood why.  She doesn’t want to have bad memories of the knights.  Otherwise she herself would break too. 原因は分かっている。騎士団には悪い思い出しかない。残っていてはシーラ自身が壊れると思ったのだろう
2353
2354Those irresponsible knights would probably tell her it’s irresponsible.
2355But she was fulfilling her duty in her own way.  As a result I crushed the knights.  I changed the things she normally saw into something cruel.
2356
2357In other words, I’m the one at fault.
2358If there’s anyone to blame, blame me.  But I intend to carry out my requests.
2359
2360“Shera…It’s fine if you bla-“
2361“It can’t be helped.  You can just rub my breasts.”
2362
2363Monyu~
2364
2365“…Huh?  What are you doing Shera!  That’s my hand.  My hand is on your breasts!”
2366“Yeah.  Because I belong to you.”
2367“N-n-n-no way!  I’m saying that I don’t really care...”
2368
2369Since she stopped being a knight, there wasn’t anything she swore loyalty to.
2370It was that kind of opportunity.
2371Quena announced the payment for the completion of the quest to the adventurers and the guarantee of holding the collars for the guild.  It was my entire fortune. クエナが俺の手配した冒険者やら奴隷の首輪の確保をギルドに大金――俺の全財産――を払って依頼したと告げてしまったのは。
2372After that, Shera said “I’ve found…the person to swear loyalty to…!  I’ve sworn loyalty once before but I couldn’t see it though…I’m no good but this time I will protect my oath for sure…So make me your knight!”
2373
2374“You don’t want me…as your knight…?  You don’t want a knight…that couldn’t protect their oath…?”
2375
2376Shera looked up at me with teary eyes.
2377…Ku!  It’s no good…!
2378If this beautiful girl (with big boobs) stares at me then my heart will jump out of my chest…!
2379
2380Wait.  I can feel something on my hand…it’s…Shera’s heart…She’s nervous as hell too!!!  Don’t get used to this, me!!
2381
2382But!  But!
2383Shit, calm down! Stop concentrating on the sensation in my hand!
2384Okay, for the time being I’ll feel her breast and think…
2385
2386~Bo
2387
2388There’s a really hot sword on my neck…
2389
2390“Que, Quena…?”
2391“Let go of her.  It’s filthy…”
2392“Huh?  Were you that kind of character?”
2393“No!  Jeed will be sad.  This is something I have to take responsibility for too…Money won’t be enough so…I’ll give my entire life to you!”
2394“Shera!?  You’re making it more complicated so stop!  Each time you say something Quena’s sword gets hotter!  Ow!”
2395“Ooi.  If you youngsters are gonna flirt do it in your own house.”
2396
2397While bumping me with her elbow Lief looked at me.  But her words had the opposite effect.  She stared at me with a mischievous smile.
2398
2399“You’re having fun aren’t you!  Please stop!”
2400
2401Father.
2402Mother.
2403This is the result of you guys leaving me in the forest.
2404I thought I was going to die in the forest but survived.  I thought I was going to die in the knights and survived.  And now…I think I’m going to die in the guild.
2405
2406“I told you to let go of her!!! JEEEEEEEEEED!!!!!!”
2407
2408“No!!  Jeed wants to feel my breasts!!!”
2409
2410“Kuhahahahaha!  Do it at your own house!! Kupupupu!”