Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Nosy Knight Captains
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“......Who are you?”
I hadn’t sensed anyone approaching, not even the slightest presence. It was to the point where I’d believe she’d been standing there from the very start.
As I shuddered at the realization, the woman flashed a gentle smile.
Her vivid blue hair was tied back into a single ponytail that trailed down past her neck, so long it seemed like it might brush the floor at any moment.
Her bangs hung long, completely covering her right eye, while her side locks cascaded down her cheek to her collarbone. The uncovered left eye was the same striking blue as her hair.
Like Iris, she wore a white sleeveless top for her upper body, but the difference was the enormous breasts—practically rivaling the size of her head—that asserted their presence from below, overwhelming everything around them.
The fabric strained to support that crushing weight, as if screaming in agony.
And that wasn’t all. The hem of the sleeveless top had ridden up, boldly exposing her abdomen and sides. The size seemed just right, but her chest was so massive it had pulled the fabric apart.
Even her dolphin shorts were incredibly short. Compared to her plump thighs extending below them, they looked pitifully inadequate.
White sleeveless top and dolphin shorts in her own hair color. Judging by the outfit, she was likely the captain of the Silver Dawn Knights.
“Hmm. Pretty handsome, huh?”
The blue-haired woman breezily ignored my question and circled around me once, letting out a thoughtful hum. The look in her eyes as she appraised me was intensely serious.
“This is unexpected. Did Iris put some thought into the guy’s looks? Hmm. Worth remembering.”
“No, who—”
“Body’s pretty solid too. Where’d she pick up a fine specimen like this?”
She poked my chest with her index finger, then ran her hands along my arms, letting out a stream of admiring noises. Clearly, she wasn’t listening to a word I said.
“Excuse—”
“What do you think you’re doing to a stranger, Sis?”
“Gahk.”
In the next instant, a red-haired woman who’d appeared out of nowhere from behind grabbed the blue-haired woman by the scruff of her neck and yanked her back. Once again, I hadn’t sensed her approach at all.
The newly arrived redhead was dressed in the same white sleeveless top and dolphin shorts.
Her hair was a fiery red, like flames themselves. Her curled back hair was tied into a round bun at the nape of her neck, resembling a dumpling.
Her side locks hung long, reaching her collarbone, and her bangs nearly covered her entire forehead. Beneath them sat red eyes matching her hair.
Her dolphin shorts were red as well. Though she wore a white sleeveless top up top, unlike the blue-haired woman, hers looked quite loose.
She’d even tucked the hem into her shorts to avoid exposing any skin, and the shorts themselves were long enough to reach midway up her thighs.
But above all, the difference in their chests was night and day. While the blue-haired woman’s were so massive you worried her top might burst, the redhead’s had just the faintest hint of curve.
The blue-haired woman grumbled nonstop even as she was dragged away by the neck, pointing at me the whole time.
“Come on, Erika, aren’t you curious? Iris brought a guy back! Iris, who seemed like she’d never even hold a man’s hand her whole life! And you’re telling me you’re not the least bit interested? Are you even human?”
“That’s none of my business. Or yours. The only thing we need to know is that you’re being rude to him. And besides, you’ve never held a man’s hand either, Sis. Why act like you have experience?”
The redhead called Erika dragged her sister over and positioned her beside her before finally releasing her grip. The blue-haired woman muttered something under her breath as she straightened her clothes.
“I apologize on behalf of my sister’s rudeness. I’m sorry.”
The redhead bowed her head slightly.
“It’s fine since you stopped her. But who might you be?”
“Oh, right. I should’ve introduced myself first. But someone here caused a scene right off the bat, so I forgot.”
There was a subtle edge to her words. The blue-haired woman averted her eyes from the redhead’s icy stare.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Erika, the 4th Knight Captain of the Silver Dawn Knights. And this one... haa, she doesn’t seem like she’ll introduce herself properly, so I’ll do it. Her name’s Lize, my sister. She’s the 3rd Knight Captain.”
Blue-haired Lize, red-haired Erika. Names I’d never heard in the game, just like Iris. I had my suspicions about who they might be as NPCs, but without solid proof, I wasn’t jumping to conclusions.
Their personalities, looks, and actions were all different. The only reliable evidence would be spells, weapons, or dialogue—and I’d never heard lines like these in the game.
An NPC who comes right up to you upon entering the knights’ order, gropes the player character, and critiques them? Without mods, they’d probably have been guys originally.
If they existed like that, you’d kill them first thing.
“So, what brings you here?”
“I heard Iris was back, so I went out to greet her, and there she was with a guy on the back of her mount. Had to follow secretly to see what was up. And you were chatting so casually with her. How could I just watch from afar? This is too juicy to pass up. You agree, right, Erika?”
“If you put it that way, it sounds like I stood by and watched. I just got here. And no, I don’t agree. Why should I get lumped in with you?”
Lize grinned cheekily, undeterred by her sister’s withering glare, and approached me again. Erika let out a deep sigh.
“Sis. Please have some dignity. What kind of behavior is this on a first meeting?”
“What’s wrong with it? I’m just stating facts. And admit it, Erika—you’re curious too. About the guy Iris brought back.”
‘Based on looks alone, you’d think their personalities were swapped....’
At first glance, Lize had the calm, aloof impression of a haughty cat. Erika, on the other hand, looked lively and energetic, like a playful puppy.
With their hair and eye colors so starkly opposed, it amplified the contrast. Cool tones usually give a serene vibe, warm tones an energetic one.
But it was the opposite. Lize, with her haughty cat-like face and blue hair, was the lively one. Erika, with her puppy-like, affectionate face and red hair, was the calm one.
A perfect example of why you shouldn’t judge by appearances.
“What’re you doing here, Lize?”
“Oh, you’re here? Iris?”
Iris strode out of the stable at just the right moment. Lize waved in greeting.
‘......Is this the knights’ casual uniform?’
Iris, Lize, and Erika were all in white sleeveless tops that clung tightly to their bodies up top, paired with dolphin shorts matching their hair colors below. It was an outfit that left nowhere safe to look.
“As you can see. You brought a guy back—how could I stay away? Just giving him a once-over.”
“I’m not sure what you’re implying, but cut the assumptions. He’s a recruit.”
“Huh? A recruit? For real?”
Lize’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit as she looked at me.
“To be precise, he’s a provisional member since he hasn’t taken the entry exam yet. Which is why we’re heading to the training grounds now for the exam.”
The word “recruit” made Lize’s eyes sparkle. Erika’s expression shifted to mild surprise as well. It was the exact look veterans give newbies.
‘Still not used to this.’
I was always the one giving those looks, not receiving them.
“Iris, can I handle the recruit’s entry exam? Now I’m even more curious about this guy.”
“Do as you like. Just control your strength properly.”
“Got it, got it. Think I can’t handle that much as a knight captain?”
“I mean it even more seriously. He’s afflicted with the Witch’s Curse.”
At those words, Lize and Erika’s gazes shifted again. Shock and pity mingled in their eyes. Well, if you only knew the backstory, that reaction made sense.
The “Witch’s Curse” was a short backstory you got if you chose the Forsaken origin.
It explained being cursed by a witch, regressing your level and all stats to 1. It gave plausibility to starting at level 1 with all stats at 1.
Dragging someone no stronger than a commoner—or weaker—into the knights as a provisional member was bound to shock them.
For reference, you actually meet that “witch” in the mid-to-late game. You can ignore her, spare her after beating her, or kill her after winning.
You could meet her with other origins too, but to interact like that, you had to pick Forsaken. Otherwise, it’s just one line of dialogue and done.
The curse must’ve had quite the reputation—when Iris asked my name and I said the curse made me forget it, she accepted it instantly.
“Uh...... really? Is it okay to recruit someone like that?”
“Even if it’s rude to say in front of him, he won’t last long in the knights in that state, will he?”
Lize and Erika voiced their concerns and doubts. Natural reactions, natural questions.
NPCs besides the player character didn’t have the concept of gaining EXP to level up stats. To increase strength by 1, you had to train honestly.
And even that had clear limits. Player characters needed exponentially more EXP per stat point as levels rose.
But Iris just smirked and dismissed their worries with one line.
“Put those concerns aside. You’ll see when you watch.”