NOVEL NEXT Chapter 41: - Knight Gandaruban
Feeling the weight of Anneliese and Rosalina’s heads on both arms, I wake up. Mornings when I wake up to the sleeping faces of these cute girls are the best.
“If only there was no muscle pain…”
Throughout the night, my arms, legs, abs, back, everything hurts from supporting the two heads.
“Good morning… Master…”
Called by Rosalina, but it seems to be sleep talking. Sleeping so blissfully.
“Good morning, Master.”
Anneliese seems to have woken up, and her emerald green eyes, like jewels, stare straight at me. Clear eyes that seem to draw me in.
Rosalina has also woken up. But I can’t get up from the bed. It’s because of muscle pain. The morning of the 19th day of reincarnation begins in a condition where even moving is tough.
Embarrassing, but I go downstairs supported by the two. Mondulk and others have already prepared breakfast.
“Good morning, Master.”
“Good morning.”
I sit down and let out a sigh of relief.
But the problem starts here. I can’t raise my arms.
“Master, let me feed you.”
“Sorry, please.”
Anneliese immediately moves to my side. Sitting beside me, Anneliese cuts and serves the food.
“Master, ahh.”
Anneliese feeds me the fried egg she cut.
“Ahh. Munch, munch… Delicious.”
Zoppa’s cooking is originally delicious, but when Anneliese feeds me like this, it becomes even more delicious, as if a magic spice has been added.
Thanks to Anneliese, I don’t have to endure hunger. I’m really grateful.
“Master, regarding today’s schedule, after breakfast, we would like to conduct interviews for the knight candidates as planned.”
“Understood.”
It seems that a knight candidate recommended by Mondulk will be arriving soon. Come to think of it, I don’t have noble-like clothes. I didn’t dress properly even when meeting the Duke, so it doesn’t matter.
“Also, a tailor has been called. We would appreciate your cooperation after the interview.”
“A tailor?”
What’s that?
“A person who tailors clothes. Since Master is indifferent to clothing, we called one.”
“Oh, I see… understood.”
As soon as I think about clothes, Mondulk, who called the tailor, is an esper?
Back in my room, reading the materials given by Zaigen, Mondulk’s acquaintance arrived.
Entering the reception room, there was a large bear-like beastman. I feel like I’ve seen this person somewhere, where was it?
“I’m Toy.”
“I’m Milis Gandaruban.”
“Milis…”
Definitely looks like a man, but is it a woman? A female bear beastman might be big, but is the face this rugged? It would be rude to mistake the gender. Should I ask for detailed appraisal?
“I’m often mistaken for a woman, but I’m a man.”
While I was lost in thought, I was given a wry smile. Seems like I did something wrong.
“Sorry.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Sitting on the sofa, Milis… Gandaruban is prompted to sit as well. Then I remembered. I met Gandaruban in front of the boss room on the 4th floor of the dungeon.
“Long time no see.”
“I never thought that you would become a noble at that time. I apologize for my rudeness back then.”
No, Gandaruban didn’t do anything rude. The rude one was the wolf beastman in that party.
Gandaruban has short-cut black fur with a bluish tint. He is about 2 meters tall but wide as well. He’s using up two spaces on the sofa. Above his head are cute, rounded ears. Though he looks tough, the ears are cute.
“How’s that wolf beastman doing?”
For now, let’s bring up a common topic.
“That person has returned to the countryside.”
“Hmm, what happened?”
A falling out among comrades? I can understand that feeling. If it were me, I would expel him from the party immediately. Even if he’s the protagonist of an expulsion-type story, I wouldn’t care.
Gandaruban reluctantly opened his mouth.
“We managed to defeat the boss on the 4th floor safely, but I got my arm done in by the labyrinth cow on the 5th floor, and I couldn’t continue exploring.”
It seems that the wolf beastman was a troublemaker as I felt. He fought without coordinating with the party. Of course, Gandaruban warned him many times, but the rebellious wolf beastman didn’t listen.
The labyrinth cow on the 5th floor sometimes appears in pairs, and while Gandaruban took on one, the other five managed to defeat another. The wolf beastman, doing whatever he wanted, charged into the labyrinth cow alone and got his right arm pierced by its sharp horn, resulting in a serious injury with the arm being severed.
Potions can instantly heal to some extent, but they don’t have the effect to heal a severed arm. It’s something like using multiple potions to instantly close the wound and control bleeding.
“While it may seem like he brought it upon himself, telling you this would lower my evaluation, so I apologize.”
It’s a story that seems to lack leadership.
He’s here for an interview to join me, and he’s talking about negative things. That will definitely lower Gandaruban’s evaluation.
“I don’t intend to hide such things and join you, sir.”
Honest. I don’t dislike that.
What was supposed to be a casual chat turned into a heavy conversation. Let’s get to the main topic.
“I heard that you served as a knight for a noble before. I’m not asking about the details of that house, but I’d like to know what you were doing in that house.”
What kind of work he was doing is important. The person I’m looking for is someone who can command soldiers and run on the battlefield. Other than that, guarding the house.
Of course, I don’t want to go to the battlefield. I just want to enjoy my life exploring the dungeon.
“In my previous position, I served as the leader of a unit.”
He did what I was looking for. But that alone is not enough.
“How many members in the unit?”
“About 50 to 60 people.”
Oh, he had quite a few subordinates. It seems like he had a decent position.
According to the standards of the duke’s house, one knight is accompanied by five soldiers, forming a squad. Two to three squads make up a platoon, and two to three platoons make up a company. Judging by the duke’s standards, Gandaruban would be like a company commander.
“What about your job?”
“I am a Strong Arm Knight. I am currently at level 22.”
My detailed appraisal also shows Gandaruban as a Strong Arm Knight Lv22. No mistake.
With a bear beastman plus being a Strong Arm Knight, his STR and VIT values are excellent.
“If you join me, what will happen to your party?”
“I have a favor to ask of Sir Toy regarding that matter.”
“Tell me.”
“They wish for me to hire certain members of my party as soldiers. The one mentioned earlier has returned to the countryside, so if I leave, the options are either to explore with the remaining four members, recruit new members, or disband and go our separate ways. However, I wish to have those I am familiar with under my command and train them.”
This is not a bad deal for me. If I were to hire soldiers, I would have to choose between having Zaigen introduce them or poaching adventurers. It’s rare for someone like Gandaruban’s acquaintance to conveniently appear.
If I were to get soldiers introduced by Zaigen, I would be afraid they might monitor me and leak information. No, with the magic contract document, would it be okay? But having strings attached is dangerous. If Zaigen, who seems untrustworthy, finds any gaps in the magic contract, he might take advantage of them.
Recruiting adventurers would be tough from now on. Moreover, good adventurers are likely to be looked down upon by the Duke’s house and other noble houses. It’s rare for someone to want to serve a new noble like me.
“If I hire Gandaruban, the other four will come along. However, I don’t know the personalities of the other four. I can’t give a simple answer.”
“That is a valid point. If you are okay with it, they are waiting in front of the mansion. Please take your time to assess them.”
Quite prepared, weren’t they? Did they think I would definitely hire Gandaruban? They seem quite confident.
I went outside with Gandaruban.
“Even without Toy-sama coming, I called them.”
I turn to Gandaruban, who says such a thing.
“Gandaruban, wait here.”
“…Understood.”
I make Gandaruban wait in front of the entrance. It’s not something to brag about, but the mansion is quite large, so there is a considerable distance from the entrance to the gate.
I deviate from the route to the gate and jump onto the wall. It’s a stone wall about 2.5 meters high and 50 centimeters wide, so it’s safe to jump on it.
More than the strength of the wall, I’m the problem. If it weren’t for muscle pain, I could have easily jumped up, but it was a bit precarious.
Gandaruban’s party members were waiting along the wall. The north wind is blowing, and it’s cold, but they are lined up along the wall, not moving at all.
That wolf beastman wasn’t likable, but these four seemed good to me.
If someone is looking to be hired, they need to have a certain level of seriousness. These four, standing up straight, waiting so that they can see me anytime, give a favorable impression. People who make this kind of effort may or may not be trustworthy, but they are likely to work diligently.
I jump down from the wall and join Gandaruban.
“I will hire you and the four. Bring the four of them.”
“Is that acceptable?”
“Isn’t that why you came?”
“However, the record cards have not been confirmed…”
Come to think of it, criminal records and such are checked with record cards. Since detailed appraisal provides more information than record cards, I had completely forgotten about it.
“I am saying it’s okay. Bring the four before I change my mind.”
“Hai!”
Gandaruban salutes crisply and quickly leaves through the gate.
The four consist of two men and two women. The male dog beastman, a level 11 swordsman named Bars, the male lizardman, a level 12 swordsman named Jojoku, the female cat beastman, a level 11 spearman named Lin, and the female fox beastman, a level 10 spearman named Solidia.