A Misunderstood Mentor

“Let’s get more party members”

That was what Nuruhachi said after the two of us were in a party for a month.

I somehow managed to become an adventurer after failing the guild’s exam thanks to Nuruhachi, the guild’s rank one, forcibly passing me but there wasn’t anyone who would join a party with a dropout like me.

The guild classes went from S rank to E rank but only I was even lower at F rank.

I only found out later that it was because Chairman Barbaroy took the F from fool.
Of course, my rank was the lowest.
I was unable to take even the simplest quest on my own.
Who would want to party with a useless person like me.
I may have become an adventurer, but my goal was just as far.

“It can’t be helped.
I’ll form a party with you”

Saving me once again, I initially thought of Nuruhachi as a goddess.
However I was greatly mistaken.

[Quest rank AAA Subjugating the Salamander Queen]

Just seeing the quest Nuruhachi took was enough to make me feel faint.

“Eh? This is my first quest(Debut)?”
“Yup.
It’s your first after all.
I picked a somewhat easy one”
“You’re joking right?”
“I don’t make jokes”

That was certainly true.
The quests Nuruhachi accepted were all severe legendary class quests, causing me to face death every day.

Not just from the enemies attacks but also collateral damage from Nuruhachi’s magic.

“Hmmm, you’re even weaker than I thought.
I won’t be able to defend you on my own”

Seeing me worn out, Nuruhachi decided to increase our party members.

Since we were going to increase our allies I thought we would head to the Guild Associations Headquarters but the place she brought me was outside of my expectations.

“Nuruhachi, why are we at the Rushia Royal Palace?”

However Nuruhachi didn’t answer and walked briskly towards the gate.
Upon seeing her, the gatekeeper saluted exaggeratedly before opening the gate.

“What’s wrong? Hurry up, Takumi”

Panicking, I followed her.
It seemed that Nuruhachi had some ties to the Rushia Kingdom.

The inside of the castle was dazzling and everything seemed to glow.
As someone who grew up in the countryside, I scurried about following after Nuruhachi.
As I walked down the long, red carpeted corridor, I noticed portraits lined along the wall.

Looking at the inscriptions underneath them, they all bore the name of Rushia.
It seemed these photos were of the past queens.
As we proceeded further down, the portraits grew older and older.
Then, the final one…..

“This is you isn’t it”

Placed there was a picture of Nuruhachi, looking as young as she does now.
The name engraved below was [Founding Queen Nu Rushia Hashtall Chilt].

“You’re the first queen of this country?”
“Not exactly.
I destroyed the previous Rushia Kingdom and took on their name”

She said something outrageous.

The long hallway led to a large atrium with a a staircase in the center.
Beyond it was an ornate double door bearing a silver eagle, to its left and right stood soldiers clad in silver armour.
Nuruhachi walked up the steps and the soldiers opened the door.
At the back of the room was a throne upon which a beautiful woman sat elegantly.
It was the woman in the most recent portrait.
Basically she was the Queen of the Rushia Kingdom.

“It has been a while.
Nu Rushia Hashtall Chilt-sama”

The queen stands up and lowers her head to Nuruhachi.

“Just Nuruhachi is fine.
I don’t like formalities”

“Understood, Nuruhachi-sama.
For what reason have you come today?”

Compared to the dignified queen, Nuruhachi looked like the younger one.
Even though Nuruhachi is thousands of years older.

“I came looking for party members.
I’d like people who are outstanding in defense, recovery, and threat detection”
“Hmm, none of those sound like something you’d need…..
ah, it’s for that person over there”

The queen grinned and spoke in a teasing manner.
Nuruhachi peeked at me before immediately turning back to the queen.

“I’ve known past queens who’ve said worthless things and retired the next day”
“Aah it seems I shouldn’t touch on this much more.
Understood.
I’ll prepare them immediately”

A few minutes later, three men and women appeared.
A knight in black armour, a graceful nun, and a prisoner bound in chains, all three of them had quite strong personalities.

“Knight Captain Rick, Priestess Sasha, Great Thief Bartz.
Each of them specialise in defense, recovery, or detection.
Would you like to test them?

Nuruhachi glanced at each of them before shaking her head.

“No that’s fine.
I have no complaints.
But, is it really fine for me to take them?”
“Of course, if it’s you, I feel safe leaving them in your hands”

I thought Nuruhachi was concerned about taking the Knight Captain or the Great Thief.

“Got it.
I’ll be borrowing these three”

At that time, I had no way of knowing that Sasha was the queen’s daughter.

“That sure brings me back.
At that time, I was put in a convent for various reasons”

Having finished the laundry, Sasha came to help me out with lunch.
Not being able to cook, Reia bitterly watches from afar .

“A convent? why?”

“It’s a secret.
Well that was around when I had escaped from the convent too”

What did she do I wonder.
I’m interested but it feels like something I shouldn’t know so I was unable to ask further.

“That reminds me, what about Rick? Will he come visit?”

I didn’t think about it back when we were in a party because he didn’t act that way at all but, being the Knight Commander of the Rushia Kingdom, he must have been there as an escort for Sasha.

“Rick won’t come.
No, he can’t come.
He’s been missing since the Great Martial Tournament ended”
“Eh!?”

That reminds me, I haven’t seen the hero, End, since the tournament ended either.

“I’ve been asking Rick for a long time to keep an eye out so that no one suspicious approached you or Alice”
“…..And he’s disappeared”

Sasha nods meekly.
Perhaps Rick had grasped the masterminds true identity?
At the very least, it’s clear hes been caught up in something.

“Is there anything I can do?”
“Don’t worry, you just need to stay here and flirt around with me.
If the rumour that I’ve married you spreads, the mastermind with definitely come to confirm with their own eyes”

Is it my imagination or is the way Sasha looked up to me somewhat seductive?
Plus unusual amounts of killing intent is leaking from Reia who is watching from afar.

Pretending to be married to Sasha and spending my days flirting.
To me, this was my greatest SSS Class mission.

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