Chapter 5
Chapter 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Milf Village of Beginnings
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Slimes are in female form...
It's a pretty common setup, surprisingly.
Given this game's insane settings, getting hit by one means you end up getting your comeuppance from her, right?
There must be a fair number of perverts who'd love that.
What about me, you ask?
Of course I fucking love it.
"Are the slimes in this country strong?"
"Depends on the type... but most of them are pretty weak, yeah?"
Sure enough, slimes were treated like weaklings here too.
"So that female slime must be exceptionally strong? You formed a subjugation team just to take it down?"
"You got it, buddy. Sharp one, aren't ya?"
The muscle-bound guy grinned in satisfaction, then made an "oops" face and waved me onward, as if to say look ahead.
The receptionist lady was giving him a stern look.
"Blan."
"Ah, sorry, sorry. C'mon, buddy, let's finish your registration."
We'd been chatting too long with people waiting behind us.
I turned around in remorse, and the receptionist's expression softened.
"So, what was that rude question you wanted to ask earlier?"
"Asking now might be even ruder. Customer. I'll find the answer through your exploits as an adventurer."
She handed me what looked just like a real-world ID, complete with the title of adventurer.
"Your adventurer registration can double as identification when visiting other cities. Your rank will rise with every achievement you rack up."
"Rank..."
My rank was 8. Was 8 the lowest?
"There are ten ranks total, and Outsiders like you are issued rank 8 or higher from the start."
Starting two steps up from the bottom.
User convenience...? Or maybe I'd unknowingly done enough to rank up already?
Why force us to start at 8, though?
Maybe some future quest involves a rank 9 or 10 adventurer.
One who rebels against the favoritism shown to users, perhaps.
"Higher ranks unlock more quests, and you'll get broader support from guild-affiliated businesses. We buy monster corpses here too, but I'd recommend the specialist shops for that—they handle carcasses better than we do."
About ten minutes later, the explanation wrapped up.
"Thanks for the thorough rundown."
"You're too kind. May the bond between you, adventurer, and our guild reach to the blue star."
"...? Sure."
Blue star?
Seemed like some world-specific farewell. No clue what it meant, so I just nodded vigorously.
Didn't see it in the settings? Well, I skimmed 'em half-asleep, and there sure as hell wasn't any etiquette section.
"Finally done, eh? Let's go, buddy."
Whap!
The muscle guy slapped my back hard.
I'd wondered if it was all show muscle, but nope—this dude ate steel for breakfast, and his strength was no joke.
My back was tingling...
"Follow me, buddy."
"Right."
His strides were so wide, keeping up was a workout.
"Y'know, buddy, for a first-time Outsider, you've got solid posture."
"Huh? Yeah?"
"Most Outsiders just rely on their own powers. You're a rare one~"
Their own powers.
That clicked something into place.
The innkeeper yesterday, the guild staff, and now this muscle guy—they all zeroed in on "Outsider" and bent over backwards to be nice.
Outsiders could pull their weight even as newbies, thanks to something that made it possible.
I'd probably get mine soon too.
My own power. My heart was racing already.
But one thing bugged me.
This was a single-player game... so what were these other "Outsiders" they kept mentioning?
NPCs with user-like skills, called that way like in other games?
"No need to tense up. Sure, some folks expect Outsiders to have some hidden power or at least hold their own... but there are so many of you, you probably won't even get a shot to shine."
"Got it."
Speak for yourself—I'd love a chance to step up.
"Just a decade or two ago, Outsiders had a bad rep, and some prejudices linger... but judging by the Client's temperament, you won't have issues there."
Info nugget.
Outsiders face prejudice.
Nice setup for a future quest.
"Our employer's just keen to travel with an Outsider. Might even get special treatment. And if things get dicey... Outsiders always seem to grow in a pinch, right?"
"Good to know."
Looks like Outsiders were generally powerhouses, as expected.
Growing in crises?
Some kind of system mechanic??
I could feel the hype building.
"Lucky break for us. The boss was throwing a fit about wanting an Outsider, but who shows up in a backwater village this far from the capital? We were camped at the guild on the off-chance."
Throwing a fit, huh.
An image popped up: some spoiled noble miss. Nah, subjugation team meant she could probably wield a sword—a knight type?
We reached the destination soon after following the muscle guy.
"Wait. Aren't we heading out to subjugate monsters?"
I'd pictured a tent-filled encampment.
"That's tomorrow's schedule. Tonight, we rest here."
Ooh...
I admired the building before us.
A grand mansion, luxurious enough to make yesterday's inn look shabby by comparison.
Employer must be loaded.
Not even family, and he puts hired help up in a place like this.
"C'mon in. Time to meet the boss."
"Yep."
The interior matched the exterior: spotless and upscale.
Plush floors, cozy temperature.
While I gawked like a country bumpkin, we arrived at a room.
Obviously bigger than the others—VIP suite vibes.
"Lady Yuli? May we enter?"
The ever-cheerful muscle guy went dead serious.
This guy getting formal? Was the boss some terrifying figure?
"...Enter."
A low voice—definitely female.
Sharp as a blade, close to what I'd imagined.
What did she look like? Arrogant noble knight?
Meeting her any second, but I let my imagination run wild a bit.
Creeeak.
What I saw was... a silver knight.
Silver armor covering most of her body gleamed under the lights—clearly top-shelf stuff.
The armor was striking, but she herself was no slouch in the personality department.
Ice-cold expression, piercing gaze like midwinter chill. Mole near her eye, brown-tinged blonde hair down to her neck.
...Yeah.
She's got a nasty temper, I bet.
First impression: total bitch, but a beauty with skills to match. Perfect balance.
This was the one throwing fits to travel with an Outsider?
"Huh. Lady Yuli, where's the employer?"
"......"
The ice knight called Yuli ignored the muscle guy, staring me down and frowning like I gave her a headache.
Got it. She's not the boss—more like his secretary.
But why's she glaring at me like that?
Then.
I sensed something off.
......Huh?
Something up there?
I looked up and froze.
A guy sprawled starfish-style on the ceiling. Grinning ear-to-ear, he locked eyes with me and burst into booming laughter.
"Kuhahahahaha!"
"!!"
I reflexively drew my sword, but a chill at my throat made me pivot to block.
Clang!
"Hm."
The ice knight furrowed her brow.
No killing intent, so not trying to decapitate me... but definitely aiming to restrain.
"Hya!"
Thud!
The weirdo landed lightly on the floor with a bizarre shout...
From over 10 meters up...? Like it was nothing?
And why's the ceiling so damn high?
A gust of wind right before landing—some item, probably.
"Kuhahaha! Spotting my stealth and blocking Yulis's ambush! You're no ordinary guy!"
"Uh... hey..."
"Lady Yuli, sheath the sword first, yeah?"
The muscle guy awkwardly intervened, and the ice knight tilted her head like something didn't sit right.
"What are you doing, Yulis?"
Sounded like "How dare you act like a dog in front of me?" but he seemed utterly guileless—no intimidation intended.
Pure curiosity, yet the ice knight sheathed her blade at his words.
"Hmm. Is that so? A spar, then!"
What the hell? Is she brain-damaged?
Her doofus response tanked my wariness instantly.
Then I realized I was still gripping my sword.
Duh—rude to wave a naked blade around the boss. Or anyone.
I twisted the sheath on my back, click, and slid it home. The boss went "Ooh," pursed his lips, then clapped and laughed heartily.
"Uhahahaha! Impressive trick!"
Just sheathing my sword—what's impressive about that?
"So, Blan! Who's this guy?"
"Hehe. The Outsider you wanted, milord."
Whoa... what're those groveling hands?
Textbook sycophancy. "This is survival!" vibes.
I wanna learn that.
"Oho! An Outsider! Perfect! How much do you want?"
Straight to business. Dude's got fire.
How much, huh.
"...I'll leave that to your judgment, milord."
If I had proven skills, I'd demand top coin... but right now, I was basically a student.
Let him decide.
"Fine. Start at 5 silver a day. Show me more fun stuff, and I'll bump it up! Done!"
"Huh? Yeah?"
5 silver...?
Like 500,000 won in modern terms...?
"Hehehehe."
Suddenly I was rubbing my hands just like the muscle guy.
Ah, so this is what time teaches you!
"Milord Gold. I'll discuss the rules, schedule, and details with these two."
"Yep! Go ahead!"
The boss kicked off into the air. What the—? Another gust, and he floated up light as a feather.
Item for sure. I want one.
Staring in awe, I felt a sharp glare.
The ice knight was boring holes into me.
"Alright, let's head out."
The muscle guy draped an arm over my shoulder and led me off. I followed meekly.
This Yuli woman seemed to handle actual operations for the hires—no need to piss her off.
Once outside the room, the ice knight followed.
"Is that your perk, Outsider?"
Perk...? Skill?
Out of nowhere. I shook my head.
"Not that? No swordsmanship or reflex boost?"
"If that were a skill, I'd be way better than this."
Me signaling I was weak... but her face twisted further. Why? Why?
"...Hmph."
She snorted in disdain. Yeah, I ain't thrilled with you either.
"Hiding your aces is standard... but commit to the subjugation."
She jerked her chin like "get lost," and damn, she was annoying... but 500k flashed in my mind, and I smiled again.
I bowed vaguely, and once more the muscle guy grabbed me, steering the opposite way. Whoa, rough dude!
...Self-aware cringe.
I felt eyes on my back the whole way.
Pretty sure I'm on her shitlist...
One floor down, the muscle guy finally spoke.
"Don't mind Lady Yuli. No need to go all-in on fights, buddy. If you wanna scrap, keep it minimal. Safety first."
"Understood."
He was basically my mentor now, so I showed respect. He liked that—slapped my shoulder again.
"Anyway, buddy, you're solid. Basic swordplay looks practiced. What's the hidden power?"
"Uh... don't really have one."
"Hmm... fair, can't just spill it. Cautious for an Outsider— I like that."
What? He was dead sure I was hiding something.
Maybe levels unlock special abilities...?
"Anyway... happy with it?"
He made an OK sign with his fingers. I nodded like crazy.
"Boss must be crazy rich, huh?"
"Yep—current duke and heir to the Hart Clan, one of the top ten houses for wealth. For nobility, he's not a bad guy..."
Duke's high up.
Emphasizing Hart Clan meant big deal. Top ten houses... rang a bell as key lore.
Hart reminded me of that bitch goddess, but same name's probably coincidence.
"But he threw such a fit for an Outsider, yet barely glanced my way?"
"He's quirky—the thrill of traveling with one matters more than the power. I can't even guess his thinking."
Fair enough. No pressure, then.
"Watch out for one thing: girl in the subjugation team. Trying to hide it, but she's highborn—reeks of it."
"Highborn?"
"Probably on Gold's level. That haughty vibe? Maybe higher. Would introduce you, but she won't leave her room..."
The grumbling muscle guy stressed it again.
"Pretty girl hanging with a handsome stud—you'll spot her easy. Name's El... something."
Handsome guy already? Social butterfly confirmed. Interest lost.
This subjugation—who knows how it'll go, but pocket change and some action? Sounds good.
Heart pounding already!
And several days later... the result.
"......"
"Ahahaha. C'mon, say something~"
I'd been caught. By who? A female slime.
The subjugation team... collapsed.
We lost to the monster.
And I was in real-time peril.
Because the naked blue-skinned beauty before me said this:
"I'm about to stuff your thing in here and go to town... Whaddya think?"
She spread her crotch wide—this psycho slime bitch. What do I even say?
......Fuck.
How'd it come to this?