kscans

Chapter 226 - The Dark Knight and the Hero

Maris took the Nekomanma Deluxe and headed back to the Tamer Guild.

She said she was going to strengthen her dungeon exploring pet right away. Hayato figured her spirits were high from the news about Mist's potential danger and the talk of dinosaurs.

Be that as it may, the search party for Mist currently consisted of only Damian and Maris. He didn't know much about the Necropolis dungeon yet, but it was clear that sending just the two of them was unreasonable.

He decided to visit the room of Gil, the dark knight Lunaria had recommended, and ask for his help.

Though he had originally been captured, he was a guest now. Rather than summoning him to the dining hall, Hayato thought it proper to go to him, so he made his way there.

"Gil-san, I'm Hayato, the leader here. Is it alright if I come in?"

It was practically their first meeting, so he adopted a polite demeanor to avoid making a bad impression.

"Hayato-dono. Of course, I do not mind. This is your base, after all. There is no need for such reservations."

Hayato felt relieved that he seemed to be a reasonable person and opened the door to the room.

Inside stood a knight in jet black armor that towered over two meters tall. His entire body was covered in armor, his face completely hidden. His sheer size was intimidating enough on its own.

As Hayato entered the room, Gil gave a slight bow of his head.

"We have met several times, but this is our first time speaking like this. I am Gil Cleef. My hobby is weight training."

"Um, I'm Hayato. My hobby is coffee... I guess?"

It was a strange self-introduction, but that was the result of Hayato being flustered by the sudden declaration of weight training as a hobby.

Gil said, "Hmm," and stared at Hayato. He then approached and began to touch Hayato's shoulders, back, and legs.

"Uh, hey, what's this?"

This was a situation Esha might enjoy, but Hayato was not pleased. In fact, it was enough to make him wonder if he should send the man back to the Demon Country immediately.

"Hayato-dono, you lack muscle. You should train a little more."

Oh, so that's what this was about, Hayato thought with relief.

In virtual reality, muscles were meaningless. The only thing that mattered in this world was the STR stat. Even someone with a body rippling with muscles couldn't equip anything if their STR was low, while someone with a slender frame could swing any weapon if their STR was high.

There was a feature where you would gain muscle by continuously swinging a weapon, but unless you did something extreme, your physique remained the same as in the real world.

Hayato did think that maybe he should put on a little more muscle in reality, but he decided to put that thought aside for later.

"Um, anyway, you've heard from Lunaria-san, right? I actually have a favor to ask."

"I have heard the story. Something about a member of your clan going missing in a dungeon."

"Yes, that's right. I was hoping to ask for your help in the search."

"Of course, I do not mind. In the first place, Lunaria-sama has told me not to return for a while, so to be frank, I am quite bored. Delving into a dungeon will also serve as strength training, so for me, it is a dream come true."

He seems like a decent person, but he brings everything back to muscle... A true muscle supremacist. Rosalie-san and the others disliked him, maybe this slightly overbearing part of him is why, Hayato mused.

Hayato was a little exasperated, but Gil was one of the Ten Dark Knights. In terms of strength, he could likely expect a great deal. He was glad that this would make the search for Mist a little easier.

But they were still only three people. That probably wasn't enough.

Just as he was wondering who else might be strong enough to help, Gil spoke up.

"I heard you were a production player, Hayato-dono. Is that correct?"

"Oh? Yes, that's right. I don't have any combat skills at all, so I can't fight."

"And yet you are in a position to give orders to Lunaria-sama... Do you possess some incredibly powerful weapon or armor? Is that connected to your strength, Hayato-dono?"

"I can make a lot of things, but I can't equip them because of my STR. So even if I had powerful weapons and armor, it wouldn't have anything to do with my strength. Besides, I'm not ordering Lunaria-san, I'm asking her."

"A request, not an order. Then you also made a request of that Hero, not an order. I was surprised at the time, but if that is the case, it makes a certain amount of sense."

Hayato had made a request, which some called an order, to the Demon Lord and the Hero during the Stampede event. When they were fighting Agres Berion, Hayato had given instructions to both Lunaria and Ivan.

Hayato hadn't thought much of it, but he heard later that the members around him were quite shocked. It was true that Hayato was probably the only one who could give instructions to two of the strongest beings in this world.

However, Hayato didn't feel like he had given instructions or orders. In the first place, those two had given Hayato pledges as punishment for rampaging at his base. They would listen to a certain degree of his requests.

"Well, Lunaria-san and Ivan went on a rampage here before, so... that's it!"

Gil seemed a little surprised by Hayato's loud voice, but he immediately asked in a calm tone, "What is it?"

"No, I just forgot about Ivan. I just thought of asking him to help with this search."

"To forget the Hero, you are quite the formidable one. And you are telling me to form a party with the Hero. Normally, that would be unthinkable, but Lunaria-sama has told me to obey your orders, Hayato-dono, so I am not opposed. Besides, I have been wanting to have a match with the Hero."

"I'm not asking you to fight, I'm asking you to help with the search, you know?"

"Of course. But this is a makeshift party, is it not? We need to know each other's strengths. Don't you think we could trust each other more if we fought a little before going on the exploration?"

Hayato wondered about that logic, thinking it would more likely lead to animosity, but he also thought that perhaps something like that was necessary.

He seemed to recall Esha passionately explaining that men only truly understand each other after a fistfight. It sounded pretty dubious, though.

Be that as it may, Hayato immediately sent a voice chat to Ivan.

There was an immediate response.

"Hayato? It's been a while, but what's up so early in the morning?"

"Sorry to bother you. I have a little favor to ask, if you have a moment."

"I just cleared a dungeon, so I don't mind. But I don't work for free, so keep that in mind when you ask."

"I know, I know. Actually, Mist-san from our clan has gone missing in the Necropolis dungeon, and I'm asking various people to help search for her. I was hoping I could ask you too, Ivan."

"Necropolis, huh. What a troublesome place. Well, fine, I'll hear the details when I get there. But I'm in a hurry to get out of the dungeon, and I'm on the deepest floor, so it'll take time. I'll probably get there in about three days, can you wait that long?"

"Of course. Then I'm counting on you. We'll talk details at the base."

"Yeah, got it. Have some good food ready for me. The food I brought into the dungeon wasn't very good..."

"I'll prepare it at five stars."

"I'm looking forward to it."

The voice chat with Ivan ended.

Ivan is always delving into dungeons... But it's a relief that he's willing to help. It will be three days, but our preparations will take about that long, so there shouldn't be a problem.

"Is the matter settled?"

"Yes, it seems he'll be here in three days."

"Excellent. To think I would have a chance to fight the Hero here. Truly, it is the guidance of muscle."

...That was close. I almost made a comeback. Ignoring him is probably the right move here. This is probably what Rosalie-san and the others hate...

Hayato calmed himself and offered a small retort.

"Um, I'll have you know that the main event is exploring the dungeon, not fighting, okay?"

"Of course I am aware. But my muscles are getting excited at the news of the Hero's arrival... Forgive me, but I shall go outside and train a little."

"Yes, well, that's fine, but... right, if you need anything for the exploration, please let me know. I can also do weapon and armor maintenance."

"I see. So it is acceptable for me to train until my equipment breaks."

"That's not what I said. What are you planning to do... Um, I haven't seen your face because you're still wearing your helmet. Would you mind showing me, if it's not too rude?"

"I see, was that rude of me. The women at the Demon Lord's Castle, particularly the Black Roses, seem to find it unpleasant, so they often tell me not to take it off, and I have left it on."

Gil said this and then removed his helmet.

He was a man in his forties with short-cropped black hair. There wasn't a hint of delicacy about him. Rugged, scary, those expressions suited him well. It was only Hayato's impression, but he seemed like a soldier.

"It seems I appear intimidating to young women and am unpopular, but only Lunaria-sama told me I looked 'strong and cool.' The Ten Dark Knights are all similar, and ever since then, I have served Lunaria-sama."

"I can certainly see Lunaria-san saying that. I find you very dependable as well."

"Is that so. Then I look forward to working with you."

Gil extended his right hand, and Hayato took it with his own, shaking it firmly.