Ryu: "…I warned you, didn't I? You shouldn't have made such a reckless promise in the first place. You thought you were going to win, didn't you?"

Ryu addressed Marie.

Ryu: "In other words, you were a coward from the start."

Marie: "…What? …I don't recall doing anything cowardly..."

Ryu: "Hmph, you challenged me to a duel because you thought your abilities were absolutely superior to a commoner?"

Marie: "That's..."

Ryu: "So it wasn't a fair fight from the start. You made me accept your terms without listening to me, without giving me any choice. Isn't that just plain cowardly, plain tyranny?"

Marie: "…"

Ryu: "It was good for you that I happened to be stronger. But if it were a normal commoner, they would have lost, just like you planned. And they would have become your slave. But when you lose, you say you can't keep your word? What's more cowardly than that?"

Marie: "I never said that, I will... keep my word. I'll quit being a noble…"

Catherine: "Ryujeen, stop picking on her, I'm in trouble too, you know, since I suggested this spar."

Alice: "Marie has a high level of pride as a noble. To be stripped of her noble status is like death."

Ryu: "It's not like you die if you quit being a noble, alright? I'm living normally as a commoner. I don't think there's anything wrong with that?"

Reynard butted in.

Reynard: "How do you even quit being a noble? Do you know, Ryujeen?"

Ryu: "…No, I don't..."

Betty: "There's no such procedure. Nobility is blood. Even if you run away and hide your identity, living as a commoner, it doesn't erase your noble blood."

Alice: "…You might be able to become a commoner if you report it to the king and he approves it."

Betty (Don't say anything unnecessary!)

Betty glared at Alice.

But Alice remained unfazed.

Alice: "Besides, titles are only held by the head of the family. The other members, they are just family members of the nobility, or have noble blood, but they don't have a clear position or title."

Ryu: "Even if you're not a noble anymore, Sophie could keep you as her maid, right?"

Betty: "That's not possible. It's fine while she's adventuring, but when she returns to the palace, a commoner cannot serve the princess."

Ryu: "That's a ridiculous rule."

Catherine: "Ryujeen, if you keep criticizing the royal and noble system like that, you might get into trouble…."

Catherine looked troubled, and Ryu sighed.

Ryu: "It's true that I can't forgive her for acting arrogantly with her power, but… well, as Catherine said, it's just talk, you know? Marie got hurt, (her wrist was broken), but it's her own fault. No one else was specifically hurt, right?"

Ryu: "…So, let's do this. I'm not ready to forgive her for what she said. But if you really need to, you don't have to quit being a noble."

Sophie's eyes lit up as she looked at Ryu.

Ryu: "But there are conditions."

Betty: "Conditions?"

Catherine: "No, no, making the princess a slave, that's impossible, right?"

Ryu: "Don't interrupt."

Ryu glared at Catherine.

He couldn't help but think that this woman was the reason for all the problems. He decided to have a serious talk with Catherine later.

Ryu: "Of course, I'm not thinking about making the princess my slave. The first condition is to confirm the procedure for quitting being a noble when you return to the capital."

Ryu: "My demand is still the same: to keep your promise and quit being a noble. I just want you to take responsibility for your words. It's simple, if Marie agrees, then it's settled. To encourage you to consider it, I want you to investigate the procedures specifically."

Ryu: "By the way, why don't you look into the process of returning to nobility while you're at it? From what Alice said, it seems that only the head of the family actually has a clear title as a noble… And there are examples of commoners being ennobled, right? Then, if you quit once, you can probably return to nobility."

Betty: "Nobility is not something you can easily quit or return to."

Ryu: "Well, I'd be in trouble if you could return that easily."

Ryu: "But, if there are circumstances that make it impossible to quit being a noble… I'm a commoner, so I don't understand what it's like to be in a difficult situation as a noble or royal. But nobles and royals have their own situations that I don't know about. If you can't quit being a noble, that's fine. But I'll be expecting a suitable compensation..."

Betty: "Compensation… You want money!"

Ryu: "I don't need money, I'm not short of money."

Marie: "So, what kind of compensation…? What are you thinking?"

Ryu: "Figure it out yourself. That maid said quitting being a noble is like dying, so naturally, the compensation must be equal to that."

Marie looked startled.

Ryu: "No princess taking responsibility for you. This is entirely your responsibility. The details are up to you.

Oh, by the way, you can break your promise if you want. That's what nobility…"

Ryu glanced at Sophie.

Ryu: "…and royalty allow, right?"

Sophie: "A matter of honor, you mean?"

Ryu: "That's right. You can choose a simple compensation, you can even break the promise, it's up to you. If you're willing to risk bringing shame upon the nobility and royalty…"

Ryu: "It's just that I, personally, will be despising the nobility and royalty. It won't bother anyone else.

It's up to you. Quit being a noble or consider your compensation, or maybe… Think it over carefully.

My question of honour. What's your answer?"

Sophie: "Understood. I'll consider an appropriate compensation, for the honor of the royal family."

Ryu: "No, it's Marie who should be thinking about that. And, you know, you haven't lost the option to quit."

Sophie: "I don't want to let her quit. And I feel responsible, so I want to think about it with her. Is that okay?"

Ryu: "…You're a kind princess."

He thought she was a little too kind, but he couldn't help but like Sophie.

Ryu: "But why are your subordinates so harsh?"

Sophie: "It might be because I spoiled them too much, I'm sorry..."

He made the princess apologize again.

Marie: "No, it's not because of Sophie-sama's education, it's just that I'm foolish… This atonement, even if I quit being a noble, I will… someday…"

— — — — — — — — — —

Catherine: "W-Well, that's settled! That's all, Sophie-sama, you understand Ryujeen's abilities now, right?"

Sophie: "Yes, he's amazing. But how come he's still F-rank? Are all adventurers this strong?"

Ryu: "The Guild Master wouldn't let me rank up." (laughs)

Sophie: "Oh?"

Catherine: "No, that was during the previous Guild Master's time! There were some circumstances... Anyway, Ryujeen, are you ready to rank up?"

Ryu: "Not interested." ( -∀-)

Catherine ( ．．．orz )

— — — — — — — — — —

To be continued

The princess will fight a goblin!

Don't miss the next episode!