Let me 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 me, 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 someone noticed, it would cause trouble ter.
“Is this how a sold calf feels?” “What are you talking about, Liberta?” “Oh, nothing, just thinking out loud.”
For some reason, I’m now riding in a carriage with a noble dy.
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 me showed up with the young dy.
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 Esmeralda, they outwardly complied, but I could tell. I was receiving unfriendly gnces from pces she couldn’t see.
In this world, nobles are a privileged css. That means there’s always a gap in common sense between commoners and nobles.
Even those who serve noble families have a noble-like mindset, and some maids serving a ducal family might even see commoners as little more than livestock.
This is based on my experience in the game, where I tried talking to a noble family’s NPC and got yelled at for daring to speak to them.
I’m getting the same kind of looks from some people here, so you can imagine.
I thought I’d be riding in a cargo carriage, but instead, I ended up in the same carriage as the young dy.
Some 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 dy continued.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard you came all the way from the capital.” “Well, I was hoping you’d drop me off at a vilge along the way.”
It’s now confirmed 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 pn was to spend a full week registering hidden spots to the transfer pendulum and return in an instant.
But because I ran into Lady Esmeralda, that pn got derailed, and now I have to take the long way back.
In other words, I’ll be returning much ter than I initially pnned. Which means Nel and the others will be worried.
If this were the modern world, I could just send a quick message on my phone… If this world is a game, they should really update it with a chat function.
“I can’t just leave you behind when we’re heading the same 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 time passes.
We’ve had this exchange several times now, and she still won’t let me 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 me leave without accepting her gratitude, and it’s throwing off my pns. 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 pce.
“Then please accept my kindness. If I let my savior go without proper thanks, it would tarnish the Edelgard family’s name. I’ve said this many times, haven’t I?” “I’m sorry, but I’m just a commoner.” “How many times 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 dy.
Meanwhile, 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 me 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 equipment 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 meta strategies.
“Magic Edge, the spell that imbues a weapon with a magical bde, 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 nighttime or in a dark area.
Just stay alert for Shadow Edge, find the right moment 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 Css 6 monster at Css 1, Level 1, using almost no equipment. It took them 36 hours, but the strategies they used were a treasure trove of information for FBO pyers.
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 time 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 employment, like a game of cat and mouse.
“I’m afraid the noble lifestyle doesn’t suit me.” “You keep saying that.” “Besides, I doubt someone like me, 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 comes with more restrictions and less freedom.
Some pyers in the game actively took on noble-reted 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 Esmeralda’s offer.
“By the time I join, maybe there’ll be some commoner seniors to guide me.” “Oh? Liberta, are you pnning to enroll in the academy?” “That’s the pn—oops.”
Just as I was about to steer the conversation toward learning more about the academy, the carriage came to a sudden stop.
It felt like an emergency brake.
There’s some commotion outside.
Lady Esmeralda, who had been calmly chatting with me, now has a sharp expression.
“Hah! It seems the adventurers ahead are on alert. I’ve sent Getz to gather more information.” “In a pce 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 me.”
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 troublesome 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 Esmeralda’s face darkens as she considers this.
“What kind of monster?” “It’s a Dulhan.” “That’s the worst. Of all the undead types, it’s one of the most troublesome.” “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 pnned to go there eventually, but I never expected such a monster to come this close to the capital.
It’s rare for undead monsters from the封锁区域 to become strays. They’re usually dealt with by the fortress soldiers before that happens.
This must be the result of a series of coincidences.
“My dy, 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 Dulhan 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 Esmeralda’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 named character, of which there are only a handful.
As Lady Esmeralda said, with that much firepower, they should be able to handle the Dulhan without much trouble.
Ideally, they’ll find it during the day.
Nighttime 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 me serving your family.
It’s not a “what a shame” situation for me.
I don’t feel any regret about it.
“Really, what’s your issue?” “A workpce full of hostility isn’t exactly appealing.” “I could make you my direct subordinate.” “That would just make me more enemies, so I’ll pass.”
Specifically, your father would likely become an enemy. Honestly, having experienced the fallout of accidentally antagonizing a ducal family in the game, I don’t want to take that risk.
Especially during the time I was raising my affinity with Iris Edelgard. After Lady Esmeralda’s death, her father’s doting on Iris, the second daughter, became even more intense.
If some 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 Esmeralda were to take my side, it would only pour fuel on the fire.
So, I’ll spend the rest of the journey desperately avoiding fgs and steering clear of that future.
