Chapter 55
【Princess Knight】 is an excellent Job, ranked at the upper end of the high tier in the Knight-Baron category.
As the name suggests, it’s classified as a 〈Princess Job〉. It’s the same rank as 【Shield Princess】.
Huh? Why is 【Princess Knight】 ranked higher than 【Royal Guard Knight】? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?
You might be wondering that.
But just imagine.
Which do you think would be more in demand: a burly Royal Guard Knight like the ones in light novels, or a beautiful Princess Knight dressed in armor fit for a ball?
That’s what it comes down to.
In 〈Dan-Katsu〉, female-exclusive Jobs tend to be stronger. There are more of them, too.
That was one of the reasons 〈Dan-Katsu〉 was so popular. Most people who played games were men, after all.
“Hey, you! What do you think you’re doing, trying to poach Estelle from me?!”
While Estelle was flustered by my question, her mistress, the princess, angrily confronted me.
I was busy negotiating with Estelle, but reluctantly turned toward the princess.
“W-What’s with that annoyed look? How rude! I-I’m talking to you, so you should at least look a little happier!”
The princess had come at me so confidently, yet the moment she saw my expression, she looked uneasy.
Oops. I guess my feelings showed a little too much.
I’d thought she was just getting in the way of my recruitment pitch, but when I thought about it, the princess had a point. Anyone would have a hard time watching their subordinate or bodyguard get poached right in front of them.
I apologized meekly.
“Sorry. I apologize.”
“I-Is that so? Well, as long as you understand. Anyway, don’t go poaching Estelle without my permission. She’s my bodyguard and a Royal Guard Knight.”
“Oh, I’m not poaching her. I just invited her to join my guild.”
“That’s what poaching means!”
Huh? Somehow, it feels like we’re not on the same page.
I figured it wouldn’t be a problem if the princess and Estelle both joined my guild and we went adventuring together. Was there some issue I was missing?
“Um, Rana-sama. I think Zephyrus-dono is inviting you to join his guild, too.”
“What!? Wait, is that true? I didn’t know!”
...Oh, right. Come to think of it, I hadn’t invited the princess yet.
The princess had initially said something about me joining her guild, and she seemed to still feel that way, so I’d just assumed we’d end up in the same guild.
I was pretty sure I’d turned her down back then, too, so the matter of joining the same guild had just been left unresolved.
But I didn’t want to give her any more ammunition to lord over me.
So I decided to act like I hadn’t noticed.
“What? The princess isn’t joining my guild?”
“Wait. Hold on. Let me get this straight. When did I agree to join your guild? That’s not it! Y-O-U are joining my guild!”
“If you join my guild, I’ll tell you the requirements for 【Holy Maiden】.”
“Huh!?”
The princess gaped at me in stunned silence.
Even Estelle had dropped her cool demeanor and was watching me.
Their expressions clearly said they couldn’t believe what they’d just heard.
It was the same look Sierra had given me.
All right, this was the time to press my advantage.
“Man, we’re lucky to have a 【Holy Maiden】 and a 【Princess Knight】 joining our guild. Let’s go fulfill the Job requirements right away!”
“W-Wait! Is what you just said true? How do you know the requirements for 【Holy Maiden】—and don’t grab my hand! Where are you taking me!?”
“Now, now. Estelle, you come too. It doesn’t cost anything just to hear the requirements, right?”
“I-I’m afraid if that information is genuine, it could be serious enough for the royal family to get involved—Ah!”
I grabbed the arms of the resisting princess and Estelle, who’d started saying something strange, and pulled them along with me, a little forcefully.
Hahaha! Resistance from kids without the benefits of a Job is futile!
I headed straight for my room.
Sierra had left her 〈‘Alchemy LV1’ Bracelet〉 and 〈Alchemy Set〉 in my room, and they were still there.
Sorry, but I’m going to use them without permission. It’s for our guild, too.
Unaware that, to anyone watching, it looked like I was abducting two beautiful girls—both “princesses”—and dragging them into my room by force, I courteously escorted them to my room.