Let start with the conclusion.
I couldn’t escape.
I wanted to use the transfer pendulum to go back quickly, but because there were people around who kept worrying about , I couldn’t use it even if I wanted to.
I even thought about forcing it, but I gave up when I realized that if soone noticed, it would cause trouble later.
“Is this how a sold calf feels?” “What are you talking about, Liberta?” “Oh, nothing, just thinking out loud.”
For so reason, I’m now riding in a carriage with a noble lady.
A famous song about selling calves keeps running through my mind, and I’ve been wondering why this is happening since earlier. The carriage, owned by the ducal family, is waiting at the edge of the forest, about two and a half days’ walk away. It’s incredibly luxurious, and the horses are magnificent.
The group managing it includes a butler, maids, and a squad of guards.
Among such a group, a random child like showed up with the young lady.
It’s inevitable that suspicious eyes would be cast my way.
And then:
“He is my guest. Treat him with respect.”
With those instructions from Lady Esralda, they outwardly complied, but I could tell. I was receiving unfriendly glances from places she couldn’t see.
In this world, nobles are a privileged class. That ans there’s always a gap in common sense between commoners and nobles.
Even those who serve noble families have a noble-like mindset, and so maids serving a ducal family might even see commoners as little more than livestock.
This is based on my experience in the ga, where I tried talking to a noble family’s NPC and got yelled at for daring to speak to them.
I’m getting the sa kind of looks from so people here, so you can imagine.
I thought I’d be riding in a cargo carriage, but instead, I ended up in the sa carriage as the young lady.
So people tried to stop it, and I even said I’d be fine in the cargo carriage, but…
“You are my guest, didn’t I say that?” “Ah, yes.”
This must be the charisma of a noble, overwhelming everyone in the area. I had no choice but to comply.
I might stand a chance in a physical fight, but I have no confidence in winning a debate.
And so, my journey with the young lady continued.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard you ca all the way from the capital.” “Well, I was hoping you’d drop off at a village along the way.”
It’s now confird that the return trip will take just as long as the journey here. I’ve never wanted a smartphone, the pinnacle of modern science, more than I do now.
My original plan was to spend a full week registering hidden spots to the transfer pendulum and return in an instant.
But because I ran into Lady Esralda, that plan got derailed, and now I have to take the long way back.
In other words, I’ll be returning much later than I initially planned. Which ans Nel and the others will be worried.
If this were the modern world, I could just send a quick ssage on my phone… If this world is a ga, they should really update it with a chat function.
“I can’t just leave you behind when we’re heading the sa way.” “But I’m just a commoner.” “You’re also the savior of my life and my sister’s.”
I can’t exactly say, “Sorry, my way back is faster,” so I’m just getting more anxious as ti passes.
We’ve had this exchange several tis now, and she still won’t let get off. At this rate, I might end up being taken all the way to the ducal mansion.
“No, no, I’ve already received my reward.” “You think my sister’s and my lives are worth just one scroll?” “I didn’t say that.”
Her noble pride won’t let leave without accepting her gratitude, and it’s throwing off my plans. I really don’t want to cause trouble with a noble.
But I also don’t want to make Nel and the others worry unnecessarily. I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“Then please accept my kindness. If I let my savior go without proper thanks, it would tarnish the Edelgard family’s na. I’ve said this many tis, haven’t I?” “I’m sorry, but I’m just a commoner.” “How many tis have we had this conversation now?” “Who knows?”
She chuckles, clearly aware that I’m uncomfortable being around nobles and understanding my attitude. I wonder what part of my evasiveness amuses her. She’s changed out of her armor and into proper noble attire, looking every bit the noble lady.
anwhile, I’m dressed like your typical commoner.
Of course, I couldn’t bring my bamboo spear or armor into the carriage. They were confiscated under the guise of maintenance.
It’s understandable, but it’s made it even harder for to leave.
“Still, I think it was a wise decision to bring you along. The secret to defeating the Crawling Dragon is worth its weight in gold.” “It’s pretty dangerous to even try, though.” “But it’s useful information for unexpected encounters.”
Most of our conversation during the carriage ride has been about the battle with the Crawling Dragon. My equipnt was weak, and my level was the lowest possible.
So how did I manage to fight on equal footing with a superior monster and secure victory?
“Learning its patterns, understanding its abilities—with that, even the strongest opponent can be defeated. Truly eye-opening.” “What I did was reckless and foolish. I wouldn’t have tried it without the Magic Edge-enhanced bamboo spear.”
The basic theory for defeating a higher-level opponent at a low level is to outmaneuver them with information and have the minimum required mobility and attack power to deal with them.
Defense is pretty much out of the question. With the level difference, taking even one hit would be fatal, leaving no chance to recover.
It was only because the Crawling Dragon is the weakest of the dragon species that I could manage without relying on ta strategies.
“Magic Edge, the spell that imbues a weapon with a magical blade, right?” “Yes, thanks to that, my attacks dealt both physical and magical damage, ensuring a minimum damage output. Even with critical hits, my attack power is low.”
In conclusion, as long as you neutralize the Crawling Dragon’s debuff actions, it’s not too difficult to handle unless it’s nightti or in a dark area.
Just stay alert for Shadow Edge, find the right mont to slip under its jaw, and then focus all your attacks on the weak spot—the reverse scale.
There’s a challenge video by an FBO content creator where they defeat a Class 6 monster at Class 1, Level 1, using almost no equipnt. It took them 36 hours, but the strategies they used were a treasure trove of information for FBO players.
I used that as a reference to defeat the Crawling Dragon.
And now, I’ve been using those strategies as conversation fodder to pass the ti on the way back.
“I’d love to hear more, if possible.” “Unfortunately, this is how I make a living, so after sharing what I did about the Crawling Dragon, I can’t just give away more. If I can’t make a profit, I won’t have a tomorrow.” “Then why not serve the Edelgard family?”
And so, the conversation inevitably circles back to the offer of employnt, like a ga of cat and mouse.
“I’m afraid the noble lifestyle doesn’t suit .” “You keep saying that.” “Besides, I doubt soone like , a commoner, would be accepted even if I were invited.”
I have my own goals, so I’ll have to decline that offer. While getting involved with nobles can lead to lucrative opportunities, it also cos with more restrictions and less freedom.
So players in the ga actively took on noble-related quests and even gained territories, but…
“...In the current kingdom, that’s how it is. Even in my family, there are no exceptions. The king has opened the academy to commoners, but so far, I haven’t heard of any applicants.”
Since I have no desire to enter noble society, I politely decline Lady Esralda’s offer.
“By the ti I join, maybe there’ll be so commoner seniors to guide .” “Oh? Liberta, are you planning to enroll in the academy?” “That’s the plan—oops.”
Just as I was about to steer the conversation toward learning more about the academy, the carriage ca to a sudden stop.
It felt like an ergency brake.
There’s so commotion outside.
Lady Esralda, who had been calmly chatting with , now has a sharp expression.
“Hah! It seems the adventurers ahead are on alert. I’ve sent Getz to gather more information.” “In a place like this?”
The one guarding the outside is Eugen, one of the knights who fought the Crawling Dragon with us.
“Reporting in!”
Getz, who went to check the situation, has returned.
“It seems a stray monster appeared recently. They’re part of the tracking team.” “A stray monster?”
Hearing that, I thought, “You’ve got to be kidding .”
Stray monsters.
These are monsters that, under normal circumstances, shouldn’t leave their designated spawn areas. But when they do, they move into other monster spawn areas.
The troubleso thing about strays is that they grow stronger by defeating other monsters and leveling up, becoming dangerous threats in areas where they shouldn’t exist.
Lady Esralda’s face darkens as she considers this.
“What kind of monster?” “It’s a Dullahan.” “That’s the worst. Of all the undead types, it’s one of the most troubleso.” “Yes, so the adventurer’s guild has dispatched three high-ranking parties to deal with it.” “What ranks?” “One B-rank party as the main force, supported by two C-rank parties.” “With that much firepower, there shouldn’t be a problem. I haven’t heard of any fortresses falling, and if one had, the adventurers wouldn’t be so leisurely tracking it.”
The stray monster is one that normally inhabits only the dangerous western region of the southern continent.
That area is infested with undead, and entering it requires a permit from the fortress that manages the封锁区域.
I had planned to go there eventually, but I never expected such a monster to co this close to the capital.
It’s rare for undead monsters from the封锁区域 to beco strays. They’re usually dealt with by the fortress soldiers before that happens.
This must be the result of a series of coincidences.
“My lady, what should we do?” “As I said earlier, the adventurers have the situation under control. We’ll continue on our way.” “Understood!”
I’d love to take down that Dullahan and get the rare scroll it drops, but at my current level, it would be even more dangerous than fighting the Crawling Dragon. So I’ll keep my mouth shut.
At Lady Esralda’s command, the carriage starts moving again.
I catch a glimpse of the adventurers—they look serious, deep in discussion.
B-rank adventurers are pretty much the top of the mob hierarchy in this world. Anything above that is a nad character, of which there are only a handful.
As Lady Esralda said, with that much firepower, they should be able to handle the Dullahan without much trouble.
Ideally, they’ll find it during the day.
Nightti would make things more complicated.
“Now, back to our earlier conversation. About serving my family…” “No, we were talking about the academy. You’re going back too far.”
As we continue talking, the carriage moves forward. Please don’t subtly steer the conversation back to serving your family.
It’s not a “what a sha” situation for .
I don’t feel any regret about it.
“Really, what’s your issue?” “A workplace full of hostility isn’t exactly appealing.” “I could make you my direct subordinate.” “That would just make more enemies, so I’ll pass.”
Specifically, your father would likely beco an enemy. Honestly, having experienced the fallout of accidentally antagonizing a ducal family in the ga, I don’t want to take that risk.
Especially during the ti I was raising my affinity with Iris Edelgard. After Lady Esralda’s death, her father’s doting on Iris, the second daughter, beca even more intense.
If so random commoner boy—even if just a child—showed up with his beloved daughter, it would spell disaster.
“If that happens, I’ll handle it.” “Please don’t. It’ll be a disaster waiting to happen.”
If Lady Esralda were to take my side, it would only pour fuel on the fire.
So, I’ll spend the rest of the journey desperately avoiding flags and steering clear of that future.
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