Chapter 34: Cretias the Kramer Knight
ㅤ”No Cockatrice beak!? You’re lying! You’re just trying to raise the price! The Prince is sick… Shame on you!”
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ㅤI’m Minato.
ㅤRight now, I’m hiding in the shadow of the buy-back station, observing the situation inside.
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ㅤ（Because, they’re noisy）
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ㅤEven after Shizu-san left, the commotion didn’t die down, and the young knight’s yelling echoed throughout the Dungeon Front Plaza.
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ㅤ”As I have explained, the third layer, where the Cockatrice is said to be, has not been conquered yet.”
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ㅤ”What leisurely talk! It’s not that it hasn’t been conquered, it’s the duty of the Kingdom’s people to advance with the resolve to die!”
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ㅤI peek at the buy-back station from the shade of a tree.
ㅤI’m also using a Goblin Smoke Ball to avoid being noticed.
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ㅤIn front of the buy-back station, there are several horses and armored knights.
ㅤOne of them took off his helmet and is shouting inside the buy-back station.
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ㅤ（Yeah, he’s definitely a complainer）
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ㅤHe’s the type you’d find in the Showa era army.
ㅤThe kind who is single-mindedly loyal and thinks anything is possible with enough willpower.
ㅤHe seems to have the unfortunate thought process that the lack of results is due to the adventurers’ lack of spirit.
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ㅤDespite his old-fashioned talk, the complaining knight is quite young.
ㅤProbably in his late twenties. He’s a handsome man with wavy blond hair and blue eyes. If he were silent, some women might even flock to him. Only if he were silent, though.
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ㅤ（He looks like someone I know…）
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ㅤWhile I was trying to remember, the complaining knight continued to yell at Shizu-san.
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ㅤ”Why doesn’t the guild order the adventurers to get it with the resolve to die!”
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ㅤ”The guild has no authority to order adventurers.
ㅤAdventurers act solely of their own free will. That is clearly stated in the Grandmaster Charter.
ㅤThe country has also ratified the charter, hasn’t it?”
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ㅤ”Th-that is…”
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ㅤShizu-san’s logical argument slightly dulled the knight’s sharp tongue.
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ㅤ”B-but, this is a matter of the Prince’s life!”
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ㅤ”Adventurers also have their own lives.”
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ㅤ”Humph, are you saying that the life of a mere adventurer is equal to the life of the Prince!? I don’t care how many adventurers die, just hurry up and get the Cockatrice beak from the third layer!”
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ㅤ”Excuse me, but the Kingdom has no right to give orders to the guild.
ㅤThe guild is striving to obtain the Cockatrice beak on its own initiative.
ㅤIt is only because of our loyalty to the Kingdom and His Majesty.
ㅤAre you doubting the sincerity of the guild, Special Envoy Knight-sama?”
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ㅤ”Don’t speak of sincerity until you show results! I doubt a lofty concept like 『sincerity』 applies to adventurers who are like oxen and horses, who don’t even feel gratitude towards the Royal Family!”
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ㅤApparently, these words finally got to her.
ㅤShizu-san said with quiet anger.
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ㅤ”If we are oxen and horses, then why don’t you dive into the dungeon yourself and retrieve the Cockatrice beak without relying on oxen and horses?
ㅤOr are you saying that even something oxen and horses can do, you, Special Envoy Knight-sama, cannot?”
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ㅤ”Wh━…”
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ㅤThe Special Envoy Knight blushed and stammered.
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ㅤAnother knight nearby noticed the bad turn of events and tugged at the Special Envoy Knight’s sleeve.
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ㅤHowever, the Special Envoy Knight violently shook off his hand and said.
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ㅤ”–Very well! I cannot entrust the Prince’s life to you lowly rats.
ㅤI, Cretias 🔹Abygee🔹 Ziltemea, who enjoys the deep trust of the Prince, will retrieve the Cockatrice beak from the dungeon!
ㅤAnd after that, I will get rid of the useless adventurers who are no better than oxen and horses, and tear up that damned Grandmaster Charter!”
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ㅤ”–Please, do as you wish.”
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ㅤShizu-san said with a cold smile to the Special Envoy Knight, who had been perfectly manipulated.