"Oh, I'm so sorry! I hadn't explained it properly to him yet!"

Guild Master Catherine rushed out from the inner room and quickly whisked Ryu away.

She dragged him into her office and explained Sophie's identity and situation to him. She asked Ryujeen to join their party, also acting as an escort.

Ryu: "If you need to escort someone so important, you should just get Reynard. Isn't he a noble?"

Catherine: "If we get the famous 'Sword Saint' to escort her, it'll be obvious that it's an escort. Her Highness wants to be treated as a normal newcomer adventurer. She has a lot of escorting knights, but she's strictly forbidden from entering the Adventurer's Guild."

Ryu: "Ah, so that's why there were so many knights outside, acting all arrogant."

Catherine: "If Reynard was with you, people would be wondering why the Sword Saint is in a party with an F-rank newcomer adventurer. But you're technically an 'F-rank adventurer', so Her Highness will accept that, right? (laughs) We don't want her to realize it's an escort, so you'll have to act like a fellow newcomer adventurer while helping Her Highness experience adventurer life and make her satisfied. Of course, this is an official request, and the Guild will give you a reward."

Ryu: "This doesn't sound like something I want to do..."

Catherine: "Please! You don't need to act like an escort, just do your usual thing. Anyway, with you around, even if any monsters or enemies come, you'll take care of them alone, right?"

Ryu: "Honestly, I don't like dealing with nobles very much. You mentioned manners before, but there are a lot of nobles and royals who act superior even though they're not. In fact, I'm more suited to stories about making those kinds of people suffer."

Ryu had been a slave to a noble in his childhood, tortured unfairly. There was no way he could have a good impression of nobles. Catherine had no idea about that.

Ryu: "Speaking of 'monsters and enemies', I understand monsters, but are there people trying to kill the princess?"

Catherine: "Well, there's no such information at this time. It's just a possibility, but we have to keep that in mind with royalty."

Ryu: "There's no reason for me to stop people who have grudges against nobles and royals from taking revenge."

Catherine: "It's not just about revenge, there's also political intrigue, succession disputes, all sorts of things!"

Ryu: "Succession disputes among royalty, that's none of my business."

Catherine: "You said you'd do it, right? Please! Even though it's her wish, we can't leave a royal without any escort. Everyone's giving strict orders not to let her get hurt!"

Ryu: "Everyone?"

Catherine: "We've gotten orders from the palace, Guild Headquarters, and even the Lord of this city. If anything happens to a royal while she's in this city, the Lord will get in trouble, so they're worried."

In the end, Ryu, persuaded by Catherine's pleas, agreed to help. He was brought face to face with Princess Sophie again, but…

The princess's party members, or rather, Sophie's escorting maids, dropped a bombshell.

Maid A: "A mere commoner, a fledgling F-rank adventurer, you shouldn't even be allowed to speak to royalty, do you understand?"

Maid B: "Her Highness wishes to be treated normally, so we have no choice but to add you to her entourage. But first, you need to learn your manners. Now, kneel and show your respect as a subject."

Ryu: "Huh?"

Sophie: "Marie, Betty, stop it."

Ryu: "I'm fine if you don't want me in the party. I can do things solo just fine."

Marie: "You'll just die if an F-rank newcomer adventurer goes solo, you idiot."

Betty: "He must be an idiot, a commoner who does such a lowly job as an adventurer."

Ryu: "I heard your princess wanted this lowly profession."

Marie: "We've told Sophie-sama many times to stop this adventuring business…"

Sophie: "You two! Enough!"

Sophie shouted.

Sophie: "We've already talked about this. If you don't like it, leave now! Go wait with the knights outside."

Marie: "We can't leave Sophie-sama unattended."

Sophie: "I said I would allow you to follow if you promised not to oppose my adventurer activities again. If you utter one more word, leave now."

Marie: "I, I apologize. I won't say anything else."

Betty: "Well, Marie was just speaking out of concern for Sophie-sama…"

Sophie: "Betty, you too! If you're coming on this adventurer journey, forget about the idea of being a noble or a commoner. I am just an adventurer. Show respect to other adventurers. If you can't do that, you're not allowed to follow me."

Ryu: "Hmm... I'm sorry, but I'm not going to kneel and serve, whether you're a royal or a noble. You're a princess, but you're just a beginner adventurer, one of my fellow adventurers. If you're okay with that, I'll join your party."

Marie: "You, what's with your attitude…"

Marie started to speak, but Sophie glared at her, silencing her.

Sophie: "Of course, I'd appreciate it."

The princess extended her hand, and Ryu took it. But seeing that, Marie became furious again.

Marie: "You! Don't touch Sophie-sama so casually!"

Marie drew her sword and pointed it at Ryu.

Sophie: "Stop it, Marie! I just told you not to interfere."

Marie: "I won't say anything more about Sophie-sama's adventuring activities. Nor will I object to your joining the party. But! That doesn't mean I'll accept a lowly creature touching Sophie-sama so casually!"

Sophie: "It's just that I offered my hand and he accepted."

Betty: "No, Sophie-sama is still an unmarried lady. She must be careful not to touch men casually."

Marie: "Hey, you! I'm a 'Knight' class. I could easily chop you up, you commoner. If you touch Sophie-sama again, I'll turn you into sword rust right there! Remember that."

Ryu shrugged and said,

Ryu: "I don't want to touch her either, alright? Even now, I just took her hand because it would have been rude to refuse."

Marie: "You! To accept Sophie-sama's hand with reluctance! How rude!"

Ryu: "Is it okay to touch her or not? You guys are so troublesome. Why are you so arrogant?"

Marie: "You insolent wretch. We are all nobles, even though we're maids. Normally, a commoner wouldn't even be allowed to speak to us!"

Sophie: "Stop it, Marie. You're going to be adventurers with me, right? Then you're not allowed to flaunt your status. Treat each other as equals, as adventurers."

Marie: "But!"

Sophie: "If you can't do that, you're out of the party. Go back to the mansion and wait."

Marie: "Grrrrrr…"

Marie reluctantly backed down, but then Ryu dropped another bombshell.

Ryu: "You keep going on about commoners and nobles, but why are nobles better than commoners?"

Marie: "…W-What, that's obvious. Nobles are better than commoners, that's the way it is."

Ryu: "So, why is that the way it is? Who decided that? What's the difference between a noble and a commoner?"

Marie: "They have different blood. Nobles, descendants of a noble race, have noble blood, while commoners have only lowly blood."

Ryu: "Oh. So what? Is it that commoners and nobles have different bodily structures and materials? Like a beast and a human, different creatures?"

Marie: "…That's right! The structure may be the same, but nobles and commoners are different in quality!"

Sophie: "Stop it, Marie! You always say that nobles and royals are nothing without the people, right?! Nobles and commoners are the same humans! I've never heard of them being different creatures."

Ryu: "Some people are ennobled from commoners, so wouldn't it be a problem if a different creature became a noble?"

Marie: "Even if they're the same humans, they have different abilities! Those with superior abilities become nobles, and they lead the incompetent and foolish commoners!"

Ryu: "So, if a commoner has superior abilities, can they become a noble?"

Marie: "A commoner is a commoner, they can't compete with a noble. Anyway, you, you couldn't even react when I pointed my sword at you! You'd be a burden in the party, even if you joined us."

She was referring to when she pointed her sword at him earlier. In fact, Ryu wasn't unable to react. He had anticipated the sword being pointed at him with his precognitive ability. But at the same time, he had seen with his Divine Eye that she had no intention of actually attacking, so he decided he didn't need to move. It was actually amazing that he could stand there, unfazed, even though he knew she was pointing a sword at him.

Catherine: "This is perfect. How about we have a training session to introduce ourselves and check our compatibility, and maybe show each other our sword skills?"

Catherine thought that if Ryu showed his strength, Marie and the others might be convinced and show him some respect.

Sophie: "There's no need for that. Marie, don't flaunt your noble abilities and bully the commoners. Ryujeen, I'm sorry, don't mind her…"

Ryu: "…If nobles have superior abilities than commoners, what happens if a commoner defeats a noble?"

Marie: "A noble can't lose to a commoner! Alright, I challenge you to a duel!"

Sophie: "Marie! Stop it…"

Ryu: "I don't mind, I'll spar with you."

Catherine: "Um, a spar, not a duel, right?"

— — — — — — — — — —

To be continued

Ryujeen shows his power to the noble maid (Marie)!

Don't miss the next episode!