Seeker 173

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Chapter 173. Dialogue

"Ah? Why are we bullying the young lady?"

After listening to the Black Wolf Knight Order Captain, Tia, explain everything, I decided to ask the vice-leader next. 

It was during our lunch break.

The Vice Captain, whose name seemed to be Jacob, answered my question as he casually took a bite of his sandwich.

"It's not like we're bullying her or anything... Well, it might look that way, I guess. But, you know, it's frustrating. Daichi and the others should understand. A young lady with no real adventurer experience suddenly showed up and became our Captain. Can you blame us?"

"Um, well, I can understand the sentiment."

Thinking back to my part-time job days, I could empathize with how annoying it might be to take orders from someone less skilled than you, especially if they were much younger. 

On top of that, the Vice Captain and the other Black Wolf Knight Order members seemed to be in their late twenties to thirties.

Adding the element of "a much younger woman" into the mix made it emotionally challenging.

"But she does seem a bit pitiful. Can't we find a way to get along with her a little better?"

"Well, it's not that simple. She's not entirely innocent either, you know? She keeps butting in and acting all high and mighty as our leader. Plus, she wanders around on the battlefield and gets in the way. It'd be better if she just listened to us."

"I can see where you're coming from, but isn't she, in a way, your superior?"

"Well, yeah, she is. You get it, right? It's frustrating for us."

"I understand to some extent."

Jacob and the other Black Wolf Knight Order's members aren't exactly "upstanding adults". 

They seem more like oversized children. 

While I can sympathize to some extent, I don't think I'm in a position to criticize others too.

"But is there any way we can get along with her better?"

"Get along? Why do we have to do that?"

"Well, you know, it looks kind of bad when 6 grown men gang up on one young girl and make her feel uncomfortable."

"Ugh."

Jacob seemed at a loss for words. 

He scratched his cheek awkwardly and then let a deep sigh before responding.

"Fine, fine. I get it. We're in the wrong too. But when she acts all high and mighty with that innocent face, it just makes me bristle. And she keeps interfering on the battlefield."

His argument had come full circle, but there was some progress.

"So, is it something like this, then? Tell Tia, the Captain, not to act high and mighty with you, Jacob, and the others, and on the battlefield, ask her to cooperate with you instead of making reckless moves?"

"Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!"

Jacob stood up and shouted enthusiastically, drawing the attention of Tia and the others who were eating a little farther away. 

Jacob noticed and cleared his throat before sitting back down.

"Alright, I'll do that. I'll talk to Tia as well."

"Sorry, and thank you. I understand that you and your group aren't bad people. Otherwise, I wouldn't be having this conversation."

With that, Vice Captain Jacob's interview concluded. 

After we finished lunch and resumed our march, I approached Tia, who was now acting as the "Captain". 

I carefully selected my words and relayed what I had learned from Jacob.

The young girl in armor atop her horse widened her eyes.

"The Vice Captain said something like that?"

"Yeah, it seems Jacob and the others have trouble with you acting high and mighty and with your battlefield actions."

"Hmm... I didn't intend to act high and mighty, but if they perceived it that way. As for my actions on the battlefield. But as things stand now, I'm still inexperienced. Daichi, what should I do?"

"Well, for starters, maybe consider Jacob and the others as 'seniors to learn from' and approach them with a willingness to learn and respect?"

"A willingness to learn and respect... Well, during the incident at the Luxberry Gate, I did ask the Vice Captain to 'teach me' when I realized my inexperience. If I am indeed inexperienced, then I want to learn."

Oh, right, she did say that back then. 

Well, it was probably a stubborn moment on both sides.

"It'll probably be fine this time."

"R-really? Do you believe that?"

"Yeah. But if I'm wrong, I apologize."

"T-that would be troublesome!"

"Hahaha. Well, I don't think things will get worse than they are now."

And so, encouraged by me, Tia walked over to Vice Captain Jacob and had a conversation. 

Since it didn't seem physically appropriate for her to talk down to him from her horse, I recommended she dismount.

After a somewhat awkward conversation, Tia and Jacob said to each other.

"I'm sorry. It seems I was too preoccupied with myself and lost the respect I should have had for you all."

"No, I'm the one who should apologize, Miss. I'm sorry for everything up until now."

The Captain and Vice Captain bowed to each other, and the other group members gathered around Tia, apologizing for their past behavior.

It seemed Jacob had conveyed our conversation to them. 

It looked like a new understanding was forming.

Tia and the surrounding group members were all smiling. 

Kazane-san and Yuzuki watched with satisfaction.

"Good job. That's our Daichi-kun."

"He's a senpai when it comes to being a loner."

"You're one to talk, kouhai."

When I lightly nudged her, Yuzuki stuck her tongue out playfully. 

My shoulder's mini griffon chirped as usual. 

And then...

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Special Mission, Mediating Between the Black Wolf Knight Order Captain and Members Completed!

The entire party gains 2000 experience points!

Current Experience Points:

Musou Daichi... 255,564/267,563 (Next Level: 11,999)

Kodachi Kazane... 271,056/303,707 (Next Level: 32,651)

Yuzuki Hotaru... 278,561/303,707 (Next Level: 25,146)

───────────────────────

I can't help but wonder what these "missions" are all about at this point.

Well, as long as we get experience points, it doesn't matter. 

Now, fast forward a bit on the highway.

At one point, Kazane-san suddenly tightened her expression and glanced into the surrounding woods.

"Daichi-kun."

"Monsters?"

"Yeah. There are a lot of them. 7.. No, 8 in total. They're coming from the depths of the woods on both sides and the front."

Meanwhile, Black Wolf Knight Order's members with [Presence Detection] were signaling to other members, too.

The monsters soon appeared within our line of sight. 

Several Ogres emerged from the depths of the forests on the right and left sides. 

Additionally, there was one peculiar presence in front of us, blocking the road.