Chapter 57

I let out a triumphant roar the moment I pulled my skill card in the small room in the gap.

“What is it, Senpai? Did you get X-ray vision or something?” Yoshioka asked.

“As if!” I snapped.

While that sounds nice in theory, I feel like being able to see everyone naked would eventually ruin the mystery, and I’m not about that. What I pulled was something much better: I finally got a combat-type skill.

I immediately channeled my mana, and a staff materialized in my hands.

“Whoa!”

Perhaps it’s a side effect of the skill, but holding the staff makes my body feel lighter. If I combine this with “Gecko’s Hand,” I feel like I could open up a whole new style of fighting.

Staff arts have existed in both the East and the West on Earth. In Japan, it’s Bo, but in China, it’s called Gun, and the shapes vary. I’ve seen Shaolin monks fighting with staves in movies. In the West, the British Quarterstaff is famous. Friar Tuck, one of Robin Hood’s companions, was supposed to be a master of the quarterstaff. Even Sherlock Holmes was said to have mastered the quarterstaff along with boxing and fencing. Then there’s the French Bâton français and its derivative, La Canne, which uses a walking stick.

My skill seems to be a blend of the quarterstaff and Japanese Bojutsu.

“Man, I’m jealous of the martial arts skills,” Yoshioka grumbled.

“You have the four elemental magics: Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind. Isn’t that enough?”

“No way! Every boy dreams of being a Magic Swordsman.”

Really? To me, “Magic Swordsman” always sounded like a “Jack of all trades, master of none” deal. In games, those characters are usually mediocre at both swordplay and magic, leaving them underpowered.

Wait. Does that make me a Magic Swordsman? My only magic is Paralysis, and I’m not even a swordsman—I’m a staff user… Let’s not think too deeply about that.

The Company Commander who appeared at the inspection was a mean-looking middle-aged woman named Doris Beckle. She’s apparently a noble without a title. True to her military background, her gaze was sharp, and she had a stocky, muscular build that made her look incredibly strong. She’s reportedly in her mid-forties and still single.

The soldiers secretly call her the “Sow Orc.” That nickname is honestly a bit pitiable.

“This is Lady Clara Ansbach, who will be your superior starting today. Lady Clara, your greetings.”

In terms of military rank, Commander Beckle is higher than Lady Clara, but in terms of social standing, Lady Clara ranks higher because she holds a title. These power dynamics are what make noble society so complicated.

“I am Clara Ansbach, and I have been placed in charge of this platoon. I look forward to working with you.”

Once the introductions to the platoon were finished, our first assignment was announced: Supervising the Sewer Cleaners.

I didn’t realize the Royal Capital Guard handled jobs like this. Specifically, it involves assigning laborers sent from the employment office to various points, supervising their work, and then handling their pay. However, since sewers are frequently used by organized crime and thieves, patrolling the tunnels and checking the locks on key gates is also a vital part of the mission.

“Since today is Lady Clara’s first mission, I’ll have her patrol the sewers with the soldiers,” Beckle commanded.

“Understood!” Lady Clara replied curtly.

Wait. Emma’s face looks terrifying right now.

“Curse that Sow Orc…” she hissed under her breath.

“What’s the matter, Emma?”

She seemed genuinely furious.

“Sir Kota, do you not see? Lady Clara is a noble; she should never have to set foot in a sewer. That woman is simply…”

Ah, so the commander is using her position to bully her. Maybe because Clara-sama is such a beauty? But Clara-sama herself didn’t seem to mind much.

I finished the inspection while trying to soothe the trembling Emma, but her anger only seemed to intensify afterward.

“Lady Clara, you don’t have to obey such an order!”

“It is a command from a superior. I have little choice,” Clara replied.

“But still!”

Is the sewer really that repulsive to her? Personally, I was feeling a bit curious—excited, even.

“If you find it so distasteful, Emma, you may wait for us above ground.”

Come to think of it, Emma is a noble too. I suppose entering a sewer might feel like a deep humiliation to someone of her station. Once Clara-sama put it that way, Emma was left speechless.

Beside me, Hans let out a heavy sigh.

“What’s wrong, Hans?”

“Nothing… It’s just, Lady Emma is in such a foul mood…”

Ah, he’s terrified the fallout is going to hit him. Hans is only fifteen and has a timid-looking face. He’s been Emma’s attendant since they were children, so it sounds like his life has been a never-ending series of hardships.

“If it gets too bad, come talk to me, okay?”

“Yes… but it’s for the sake of the Young Lady.”

It seems Hans occasionally receives “discipline” from Emma, and apparently, it can be quite intense. I’m not a fan of corporal punishment, but given the various social standings at play, it’s a difficult thing to comment on. If it ever crosses a line I can’t ignore, I’ll have to have a word with her.

We divided the 500 laborers gathered in the square into ten groups and sent them off, each accompanied by a squad. Since it was our first time, we went along with Squad Leader Barre’s team.

Squad Leader Barre is a cheerful, middle-aged man and the oldest soldier in the Ansbach Platoon. His rank is Corporal—the same as mine—but he’s deeply trusted by the men and acts as a leader among the squad leaders. I decided to follow the other soldiers’ lead and respectfully call him “Pops.”

“Pops, is there anything we should watch out for once we head down into the sewers?”

Pops twisted his impressive mustache and thought for a moment.

“Well, now… most criminals will scurry away the moment they see soldiers coming. The purification slimes almost never attack humans, either. Though, every now and then a mutation is born that’ll try to pounce on you.”

So there are slimes that can cause harm.

“But for the most part, they’ll run from you, so as long as you don’t go out of your way to chase ‘em, you’ll be fine.”

Then, Pops’ expression turned a bit concerned.

“Say, Kota… what kind of person is our new Platoon Leader?”

I couldn’t exactly answer with: She’s prickly on the outside, but actually quite cute once she opens up.

“I think she’s someone who is strict with both herself and others when it comes to work. But she’s a good lord who truly cares for her people.”

“I see… Truth is, there’s a fair number of vagrants living down in the sewers. Not just adults, but plenty of kids who’ve lost their folks. The Company Commander ordered us to forcibly evict them, but if we kick ‘em out in the dead of winter, those poor souls won’t have anywhere to go…”

They’d almost certainly freeze to death.

“I think Clara-sama will be okay with it. I’ll talk to her as well, but she isn’t the type of person to do something so heartless.”

“Is that so?!” Pops beamed, looking relieved.

Look at that… for a guy with a face full of whiskers, he’s actually pretty cool! I had a feeling I’d be able to work well with this man.

The heavy iron grate creaked open, revealing a flight of stairs leading into the dark. There are dozens of these entrances to the underground sewers in Dresden, and every single one is fitted with a massive lock.

“Pops, if things are locked up this tight, how do people get in there anyway?”

“They slip in through the drainage outlets by the river. Plus, there are plenty of houses with basements that connect right into the system.”

The total length of the sewers apparently reaches about 128km. And that’s just the main lines; the authorities don’t even have a full grasp on how many kilometers the smaller branches add up to.

“I’ve heard that maps of these sewers fetch a high price in the underworld.”

I guess that shows just how vital this infrastructure is for criminals. Before descending, I used “Dog’s Nose” to check for the scent of any dangerous gases, but everything seemed clear. The smell wasn’t as pungent as I’d expected—maybe thanks to those purification slimes.