To start with the conclusion: Alice caved, just as I’d hoped. It wasn’t as if I’d done anything special for the two girls myself. I had simply heard from Iris that Alice was surprisingly soft-hearted when it came to looking after people, so I’d advised them to be persistent and plead their case with total sincerity, even if she turned them down a few times.
Then, just as predicted, Alice initially rebuffed them, trying to brush them aside. However, after seeing their persistent sincerity, she seemed to catch on to what was happening. She shot a resentful look my way before finally agreeing to show them the ropes.
The tactic probably worked so easily because Alice didn't actually think poorly of Aoi or Hina, and she was likely being considerate of the fact that I was the one who had brought them along. Knowing Alice, she had probably predicted this outcome the moment I invited the two of them over. That would explain the look of weary resignation she’d been wearing.
"Honestly, Kuro-san... giving me that unnecessary prompt and then running off early because she has a 'meeting' or whatever..."
Muttering complaints under her breath, Alice placed several books and envelopes in front of us. Since it would have been a bit much to keep explaining things in the garden forever, we had relocated to a room inside my house. I didn't particularly want to become an adventurer myself, but I was curious, so I decided to sit in on Alice’s lesson.
"Alright. Then, please open the book with the blue cover—the textbook—to page three. Let's start with the basics."
"Um, the blue book... ah, this one! Wait... huh?"
"I see, the first part is an explanation of things otherworlders often misunderstand... eh?"
"Let’s see, page three... hmm?"
Hina, Aoi, and then I murmured in that order. The three of us tilted our heads almost simultaneously. I mean...
W-h-y d-o y-o-u h-a-v-e a t-e-x-t-b-o-o-k?
It was bizarre. Why did a textbook required for this lesson—which only started because of Kuro’s spur-of-the-moment comment—even exist? Was it a standard item? Did other adventurers also look at textbooks like this to learn the basics?
No, the title was "Adventurer Education for Otherworlders: Basic Edition." That made the target demographic uncomfortably specific.
I suspected that Alice had read the situation and prepared this a long time ago. If anyone could pull that off, it was Alice. In any case, the textbook was written in great detail, and the illustrations made it look easy to follow. It felt like someone could gain a fair amount of knowledge just by reading this alone.
"Now then, let's look at the differences in perception regarding adventurers. Among otherworlders like yourselves, the most common image of an adventurer is that of a member of an independent organization, where even outlaws can earn money as long as they have the skill, and everyone is divided into ranks based on ability—or other such ideas."
Admittedly, thanks to the influence of fiction back home, that was exactly the image I held. However, judging by Alice's tone, the reality was quite different.
"First point: adventurers are not state-run, but the organization is essentially treated as if it were. Imagine them as subcontractors for the Order of Knights, or perhaps a commissioned party. Next, while there is a certain degree of flexibility compared to other professions, it isn't a 'no questions asked' situation. You need National Identification Documents and a Skill Declaration Form—essentially a resume—and there are interviews during the recruitment stage."
"It sounds kind of like a normal company," Aoi remarked.
"Also, while we're at it, there is no rank system like A-rank or S-rank. A system like that wouldn't make sense in a culture without an English alphabet. There is a somewhat similar system, but I’ll explain that later. Also, as you might have guessed, Kaito-san is a walking extraterritoriality, so he cannot become an adventurer. My apologies."
I see. So it was impossible for me to become an adventurer. Well, unlike those two, I had absolutely no combat ability, so I didn't really want to become one in the first place, but it was still interesting to know.
"To explain it in the language of your world, an adventurer is closest to 'dispatch labor.' Requests issued by the country, nobles, or commercial unions are gathered at the Adventurer Guild, and the adventurers, acting as the laborers, accept those requests based on their time and abilities."
That comparison made it very easy to visualize. As I nodded in agreement, Aoi raised her hand.
"Yes, Aoi, what is it?"
"I’m sorry for such a basic question, but why does the country issue requests to adventurers at all?"
"You mean, 'even though they have the Order of Knights'?"
"Yes."
"First of all, I’ll state this clearly: in terms of basic combat ability, knights are superior to adventurers. That's only natural. Knights are professionals, while adventurers are like amateurs who are confident in their strength. The average ability of the Order of Knights is overwhelmingly higher."
Having said that, Alice paused and drew pictures of Lunamaria and Noah on a blackboard.
"Of course, there are some exceptions. Top-class adventurers known as Epithet Holders, like Lunamaria-san or her mother Noah-san, are among the few who are stronger than most knights. However, as a whole, the Order of Knights possesses higher capabilities. So, are knights superior to adventurers in every way? No, that’s not the case."
Alice continued her explanation while drawing a group of armored knights and a group of lightly equipped adventurers.
"First, while knights are professionals, they are specialized. Combat personnel are strong in their field, but they tend to be weak in other areas. In contrast, for adventurers, there is a saying: 'The better the adventurer, the more versatile they are.' Those who can do various things alone—a jack-of-all-trades—are highly valued. This is because adventurers often act alone or in small groups."
"I see."
"Above all, the areas where adventurers beat the knights are 'responsiveness' and 'cost.' The Order of Knights is a powerful force, but because they move in unit-sized groups, it is expensive. There are long chains of approval required to move them, which takes effort."
Alice then gave a detailed explanation, mixing in drawings to illustrate her points.
"In short, if you move the Order of Knights for every little thing, it costs way too much. For example, if footprints thought to be from a monster are discovered near a village, you can't just leave it alone, but dispatching a whole unit just to investigate would be a waste of manpower. Conversely, even if damage has already occurred and immediate action is required, it takes time to mobilize a knight unit to a distant location."
"That's where the adventurers come in?" I asked.
"Yes. Adventurers, who move alone or in small groups, are incredibly mobile. They can take a request and depart immediately. That responsiveness is a strength the knights don't have. And moving in small numbers keeps the cost low. I don't mean that an adventurer’s pay is low, mind you. I mean that compared to the cost of moving dozens of knights and adjusting security shifts, it's much cheaper. That makes them highly valued by the state and the landed nobility."
It made sense. For nobles, hiring an adventurer would often be cheaper than mobilizing their own private soldiers.
"Of course, for large-scale events or when powerful monsters appear, the Order of Knights will move. Even then, there are times when the knights and adventurers cooperate, such as having highly responsive adventurers scout in advance. However, joint missions are only offered to adventurers with a proven track record, so you two won't encounter them right away. And that concludes the answer to Aoi's question and the basic overview. Next, shall we cover how to become an adventurer and what actual activities look like? Please turn to page thirteen of the textbook, and prepare the small booklet titled 'Adventurer Regulations'."
It really did feel like a school lesson. And clearly, Alice had been far too well-prepared. She’d definitely read the situation from the very start.
Bonus: Character Profile (Mentioned but not yet appeared)
Floral Princess Camellia
One of the Seven Princesses serving the World King and the strongest subordinate in her faction. She wears plain clothes and has very few distinguishing features; at a glance, she looks like a simple village girl. She is so unassuming that she can walk through a city without Recognition Inhibition Magic and go entirely unnoticed.
Her personality is quiet and she is easily pressured. Her hobby is general housework, and in her spare time, she cleans and does laundry at her workplace. Because of this, Ein mistakenly believes she is a maid. Camellia has been unable to deny it, to the point where she is now widely recognized in the maid world as the Super Maid of Balance—one of only four Super Maids in existence—rather than by her own name. To the maid world, she is considered a perfect maid.
In combat, as befits a member of the Spirit Race, she possesses extremely robust defensive capabilities. While her iron-clad defense is legendary, what truly makes her the strongest is her offensive power. Her primary method of attack is a single right straight punch, which has become her trademark.
Though it is a straightforward blow without any tricks, the force is extraordinary. Without countermeasure magic formulas in place, a single punch is powerful enough to shatter the earth of the Demon Realm. Even with countermeasures, the impact unleashed from her incredible footwork makes the world tremble. She is highly praised by the battle maniacs of the Five War Generals. Because her strike is likened to the wrath of the earth itself, she is known by the Epithet "Strong Fist of the Earth."
Serious-senpai: "Wait... only a right straight?"
???: "Yes. Basically, her style is to block the opponent's attack with her incredible defensive ability and then deliver a fatal counter-fist."
Serious-senpai: "Her personality is so reserved, yet her combat style is so aggressive... Also, I was curious. You said 'basically' only a right straight. Does that mean...?"
???: "She has almost never used it in the past, but Camellia is actually left-handed."
Serious-senpai: "So on top of the right straight, there's still a Phantom Left...?"