Dai Katana Manga Chapter 14

This is the fourteenth chapter of the Goblin Slayer Side Story II: Dai Katana manga.

Full Summary
The party continues to tease Captain about being a softy on the way back to the inn. Despite his hopes of a good night's sleep, Captain is still exhausted the next morning. As he slumps at their regular table, he overheards a nearby party gossiping. One says that an army of The Death has appeared on the frontier, and another suggests that's it for this country. The rest of the party disagrees and says that's it only for a few villages, citing the army just being goblins, wargs, ghouls, and a few mercenaries. Nothing worth dealing with compared to the treasure they can find in the dungeon. As the turn to discuss plans to farm the dungeon, Captain can't help but privately disagree with their motives. His thoughts are interrupted by the realization that Female Bishop has arrived while he was distracted. After he lets her know that he's already there and they establish that the others are sleeping in, Female Bishop explains why she arrived early.

She wants to discuss the map. She's certain they've covered most of the first floor by now, except for one spot that's blank. Captain agrees that it's a suspicious gap; seemingly easy to reach, unlikely to be just rock, and yet they've never overheard any other adventurers discussing it and despite exploring every other corner of the map, they didn't notice it until it was mapped out. He agrees with Female Bishop that it's something that nags at you. However his thoughts on the dangers of curiousity are interruped by the arrival of Knight of Diamonds who explains that's the Dark Zone. The Dark Zone is an area where you can't even see the wireframe outline the dungeon's miasma usually reduces the hallways to. Worse, he's heard that no one who sets foot in the Dark Zone ever comes back. He agrees something must be there, but cautious them against believing they'll be the ones to figure it out.

As Female Bishop agrees it'd likely be difficult for them, Captain changes the subject to congratulating Knight of Diamonds on finding the entrance to the third floor. As Knight of Diamonds puts it down mostly to the dice going in their favor, Captain notes that he's successfully conveying his modesty rather than coming off as taunting. With that the subject turns to why the knight sought them out. He wanted to thank them for last night. It turns out the wounded party they rescued are vassals of his who got careless. As they talk it occurrs to Captain that now that they're experienced, Knight of Diamonds is much less intimidating. Realizing he's actually quite young, possibly even younger than Captain and around the age of Female Bishop. Meanwhile Female Bishop inquires about him calling the adventurers vassals. Knight of Diamonds explains that even the third son of a poor noble family like him has servants, vassals and such to worry about; while Captain estimates his age at fifteen or sixteen and concludes that nobles must have a different idea of poverty considering the knight's armor.

Captain moves the conversation on to asking what business Knight of Diamonds has with them. Knight of Diamonds clarifies that the rescue mission is the reason he sought them out. Both to thank them as a matter of being civil, and offer reimbursement for their expenses and a bit of extra as gratitude. Captain again deflects accepting a reward, saying that his party was "subcontractors" of the girls party who are the ones who really are entitled to the reward and he'll only take it if they turn it down. With a nod from Female Bishop, Knight of Diamonds accepts the suggestion and offers his thanks again and tells them to ask if they ever need anything and he'll help them if he can as he takes his leave.

The rest of the party arrives having caught the tail end of the conversation and is a bit more genuinely annoyed that he turned down a reward again, particularly his cousin who scolds him saying he needs to ask them about that sort of thing. Captain defends himself by claiming he talked it over with Female Bishop, who to his surprise backs him up which mostly defuses the tension. In any case Half-Elf Scout isn't particularly bothered as they still have plenty of loot from the rogues to sell. As Female Bishop sets about identifying the haul, the rest of the party discusses what to do that day. Captain quickly concludes everyone is still fatigued so it's best to rest for the day. Female Wizard decides to take the opportunity to study more magic and convinces Female Bishop to join her. Half-Elf Scout plans to visit a friend, while Myrmidon Monk plans to visit the arena.

As Captain prepares to head out to sell their identified haul and restock, Female Warrior teasingly grabs onto Captain's arm as revenge for him teasing her about the slimes, and invites herself along on his shopping trip saying she needs a new set of armor.