NOVEL NEXT Chapter 44: - The Duke's Request
The defining feature of the Double Job is the ability to use all the skills from both jobs. Furthermore, the sub-job’s abilities are increased by 50 percent, so it’s not simply a straightforward 1.5 times increase in power. Not quite.
For example, when the main job is Swordsman Lv1 and the sub-job is set to Swordmaster Lv25, the result is an ability level of around Swordsman Lv16. Moreover, considering the skill power corrections, the actual abilities go beyond that. I think this is genuinely amazing.
Now, I’ve decided to think about the optimal combination of jobs.
For high ATK and DEF values, Swordmaster or the Hero of Two-Handed Swords are suitable. Although Swordmaster has a slight edge, the Hero of Two-Handed Swords provides a balanced approach.
As for magic users, there’s only Enchanter, but considering their vulnerability, making it the main job is frightening. For now, it remains the only sub-option.
The most user-friendly is the Assassin. The Assassin’s ability has the highest AGI stat, and, most importantly, with the combination of Stealth and Critical Thrust (Medium), a 100 percent chance of Ultra Critical (4x damage) occurs.
They can sense the presence of others, change their appearance and stats, and disappear. Their escape speed is fast, and in times of need, they seem the most reliable.
Even if the opponent is Vulcan, there’s a possibility of being noticed even when using Stealth, but with the swift activation of Capture from a binding, escaping should be easy. I’m fully prepared to escape!
So, when walking outside, I’ll use Swordmaster as the main and Assassin as the sub. Inside dungeons, I’ll adapt based on the situation.
Now, today is the 59th day since reincarnation. While I was leveling up, including Vulcan and the Knight Order, they patrolled the town day and night. It seems that since the Knight Order started patrolling, the notorious “Beheader Nest” hasn’t shown up.
The Knight Order’s patrols have reduced other crimes, and there are requests from residents to continue this practice.
The reason I know this is that I received a summons from the Duke and went to the castle to hear what he had to say.
“By the way, isn’t there a present this time?”
“I don’t understand what you mean by ‘this time,’ Your Grace.”
It might be late to say this, but I’ll never admit it. Besides, I don’t conveniently have information about criminals. Can’t you think a bit, Your Grace?
“Good grief…”
I don’t understand why you’re exasperated. Please stop; it makes me feel uneasy.
“Do you know that there is a criminal called the ‘Beheader Nest’?”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“I want to catch that Beheader Nest.”
“… What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to assist in the search.”
I expected it midway, but seriously?
“Can I do such a thing?”
“If thou canst not, who can?”
Don’t answer a question with another question.
“Hasn’t the Beheader Nest gone to another town now that the Knight Order patrols are in place?”
I’ve heard that it’s hiding since the Knight Order started patrolling.
“If it never appears again, that’s fine. However, there’s no guarantee of that. How about it? I want you to have a squad from the Knight Order under your command. Will you do it?”
Why is the Duke being so indirect?
Probably, this situation is a crisis for the Duke’s family. If there’s an increase in deaths and the territory becomes unstable, it wouldn’t be good. Capturing criminals is not a bad thing, and this time, I’ll help the Duke. There’s no guarantee that I can catch the Beheader Nest, though.
“I don’t know what I can do, but I’ll do my best.”
The scene shifted to a room in the Knight Order barracks, where I was introduced to the squad designated as my subordinates.
All the members of the Knight Order had more robust bodies than mine. Will this body ever grow? At least, I’d like to be around 170 cm.
Among the Knight Order members, the squad leader was a giant over 2 meters tall, with a face that looked like a deadly weapon. I felt like I had seen him somewhere, but if I encountered the squad leader in the dark, I might mistake him for the Beheader Nest.
“I am Roke Vulcan, captain of the 13th Squad.”
“Huh, Vulcan?”
“My father is much obliged. Baron Footsickle.”
This person… Is he Vulcan’s son!? No wonder he’s big and has a menacing face. The genes are doing a good job.
“We are always indebted to Lord Captain Vulcan.”
I feel intimidated now that I know he’s Vulcan’s son. No, no, can’t let that happen. I can’t be intimidated here. I’ll knock Vulcan out.
“I’m sorry. May I have your words for the members?”
Keep your composure. He might be Vulcan, but he’s a different Vulcan.
“Toi Footsickle. I’ve been ordered by His Grace to search for the Beheader Nest. It may be reluctant to work under a novice like me, but I look forward to working with you.”
No applause or anything. Am I being ignored?
“Now, Lord Baron Footsickle. Allow me to explain the situation thus far.”
Roke smoothly transitioned to explaining the situation. He has a good personality.
“I don’t know what I can do, but I’ll do my best.”
Roke and his subordinates explained the current situation to me.
“Can I see a map?”
“A map…? We don’t have one.”
“Huh?”
What is Roke saying?
“You mean a map?”
“Yes. A map.”
It seems like he understood the word ‘map.’
“There are several reasons why we don’t have a map.”
Let’s hear them out.
“First, the map is carefully stored in the safe, and people like us below don’t get to see it. Second, the cityscape changes every ten years, so there’s no need to make one. Third, even if we draw a map, we can’t draw it accurately. Fourth, to prevent the map from falling into the hands of enemies.”
I can only understand the fourth one.
The first reason is easy to solve. Whoever, the Duke or Zaigen, has the authority to take it out of the safe should do so.
The second reason is common sense. If you don’t want the cityscape to change, regulate new construction by urban planning. The Duke should be able to do that. There’s no need to argue about it.
The third reason is ridiculous. Just train mapmakers. Even if they’re not artisans, people with a good sense of distance and good drawing skills can be assigned to draw maps.
I never thought that the map situation in this different world would be so bad.
“If that’s the case, does it mean there are no maps for not just Kelniffy but also the surrounding areas?”
“We have simple maps of the surrounding areas.”
“May I see them?”
“Yes.”
Roke sent one of his subordinates to get the map. The subordinate quickly returned and unfolded a parchment about the size of A2 (twice the size of A3).
“…”
No words. This looks like a child’s drawing. If this is called a map, almost anything could be considered a map. I remembered a travel show I saw on TV. It was a show where they searched for Japanese people in remote places even in foreign countries, and the maps drawn by the locals were quite crude. The map in front of me is worse than those.
“This represents the directional and positional relationships of streets, towns, and villages.”
“Is the map of Kelniffy in the safe similar to this?”
“As I mentioned earlier, we never see it, so I don’t know.”
I see.
Now, what to do? The Job “Explorer” has the skill “Mapping,” so I can draw a map by walking around. However, if I can’t draw the map itself, things will get complicated.
I requested an audience with Zaigen.
“You want to see the map?”
“Yes. I heard that there’s only one map of Kelniffy stored in the safe, and I’d like to see it.”
Zaigen furrows his brows. Does he need to look so troubled? I understand it’s a strategic asset, but is it that precious to store it in the safe?
“Is this related to the Beheader Nest?”
“I want to confirm that.”
“…Very well. I’ll show you the map.”
Do I not need the Duke’s permission?
He opened the safe in Zaigen’s office. So, this is the map?
“This is the map of Kelniffy.”
As expected, it’s quite rough. I can’t believe they’re storing such a map so carefully.
“Excuse me.”
I gaze at the map spread out on the desk. It contains notable buildings like street names and the Exploration Guild, so I can understand it somewhat.
“Captain Roke. Where is the first crime scene?”
“Oh, yes. It’s at 45 Arms Street.”
I mark 45 Arms Street. I’m using the items on Zaigen’s desk without permission (laughs).
“And the second one?”
“It’s at 128 Ear Street.”
I mark it as well.
I put markers on all the crime scenes this way.
“This is…”
Ignoring whatever Zaigen was about to say, I stare at the map markers. The markers are concentrated in an area with a diameter of one kilometer. This indicates that there’s a high likelihood of the next crime occurring within this range. However, there’s a good chance that the patrolling of the Knight Order may change the crime scene locations.
“From what I see here, the crime scenes are clustered in this vicinity. This suggests that the Beheader Nest either lives around here, the targeted prostitutes are concentrated around here, or the culprit has local knowledge.”
“This area doesn’t have an unusually high number of prostitutes…”
The possibility of residing nearby or having local knowledge has increased.
“You seem to know it well.”
“I do. Before joining the Knight Order, I belonged to the Security Squad and was in charge of the area around there.”
Oh, so Vulcan’s son also had an apprentice period.
I’ve heard this before, but many members of the Knight Order seem to have originally been in the Security Squad. Many work diligently in the Security Squad, and the outstanding ones are scouted into the Knight Order.
“I never thought a map could be used like this…”
Well, if it’s a strategic asset, it could be used for defense planning. Maps aren’t something to hoard as treasures; they should be used effectively. Although Zaigen seems intelligent, he’s a bit absent-minded.
“Captain Roke. What routes do the Security Squad and the Knight Order patrol, and what attire do they wear during that time?”
“The routes are left to the individuals, so we don’t have designated patrol areas.”
Organized investigation is not being conducted.
“As for attire, they wear the armor and swords provided by the Duke’s house.”
While it might be effective in intimidating criminals and reducing crime rates, it’s not suitable for searching for criminals. If you see soldiers dressed like that, you’d normally run away.
“I think this area is suspicious. Tonight, not in plain clothes but dressed like an explorer, let’s patrol. It would be better to look somewhat dirty if possible.”
“That means if it’s clear that it’s the Knight Order, they won’t come out.”
I know that. If that’s the case, do it from the beginning.
“That’s correct. It would be ideal if the Knight Order continued patrolling all the time, but that would be difficult for them. So, we need to create a situation where the Beheader Nest is more likely to come out. Please arrange for the patrols of other Knight Orders to exclude this area.”
“Understood.”
Having asked Roke for other tasks, I returned home once and changed into the attire
of an explorer in the evening, gathering near the Security Squad station close to the scene.