Chapter 7.2 – Lowly Slave Knight Order

The staff member, still wide-eyed, pointed to a small table inside the guild.
When Gaikaku looked over, he saw several broad-shouldered women huddled together.
Surrounding them were men who, to put it politely, weren’t exactly in fighting shape.
They all stared at Gaikaku with expressions that said they’d just seen something unbelievable.
“…Pardon me, but those women are the mercenaries?”
“Yeah. They’re called the Amazoness Mercenary Corps.”
“The famed tribe of female warriors from myth, right? For a group bearing that name, they sure look…shrivelled. And why are they surrounded by men?”
“…Those guys are debt collectors, you see.”
Why everyone in the guild was staring so hard became clear when the staff member began to explain in order.
“Well… on the battlefield, female mercenaries are targets of sexual harassment. They get treated like ‘fighting prostitutes.’”
“…I suppose that kind of thing happens.”
“So those who hated it banded together to form an all-women mercenary corps—the Amazoness.”
“That sounds admirable…?”
“They go around saying, ‘Even if it’s a paying client, we’ll deal with any harassment!’ Then their ranks swelled for no good reason, and now they can’t keep up with the work…”
The Amazoness Mercenary Corps—made up of high-minded women soldiers.
No wonder they became famous, but scoring actual jobs was another story.
If they’d had one standout powerhouse among them, it’d be different—but it didn’t look that way.
“So they’re knee-deep in debt just to eat?”
“…How much debt are we talking?”
“About this much.” (he held out a ledger)
“…Less than I expected.”
“No, no… they were already told no more loans.”
A moneylender’s business only works once the money comes back.
So they lend more to those likely to repay, but barely anything to those who won’t.
It’s just business sense.
“And today’s the last day. If they can’t pay back today, they’d all be made slaves—sent off to back-breaking work up some mountain.”
“Classic startup failure…”
“Well, their skills are solid. It’s just their business sense that’s… lacking.”
Gaikaku finally understood.
Those women—and their comrades—were about to become slaves the moment the guild closed.
Surrounded by debt collectors and clutching at straws… they’d been waiting for a client willing to hire as many mercenaries as possible and pay up front.
This Gaikaku was their last hope.
“How many in the Amazoness?”
“One hundred.”
“…That’s generous, but way more than we need.”
“I even told them to start small and expand later.”
“Fine. We’ve got to prepare in a hurry—let’s hire them on the spot.”
Gaikaku reached into his pocket for a bag heavy with coins—
“W-wait just a moment!”
For some reason, a woman who looked like the Amazoness leader called a halt.
Everyone froze.
“I believe the guildmaster already explained this, but…”
(So he’s the guildmaster…)
“We are the noble Amazoness Mercenary Corps! Even if we’re dead broke, our pride—and our bodies—remain unsullied!”
“Corpsleader! This is no time for speeches!”
“We’re on the brink of slavery here! Not just us, but our subordinates too!”
“As corpsleader, you should be ready to sacrifice even your own chastity for them! You useless woman”
“…Ah, right. Actually, if you pay off your debts immediately, that’d be better for me.”
“It’s too much trouble to turn you into slaves and then sell you off…”
“Listen, just let that guy hire you already. It’s for everyone’s sake.”
“You really have no business sense.”
Berated by nearly everyone, she slumped in defeat.
Gaikaku watched in disbelief, then spoke to confirm.
“I, Gaikaku Hikume, will employ you—one hundred human women of the Amazoness Mercenary Corps. Consider yourselves hired.”
“…Understood.”
“With the money I have, I can pay off your debts. That’s fine, but…”
He asked the basic question.
“You’ll use my payment entirely to repay your debts, yes? In that case, how will you eat afterward?”
“Um…”
“You didn’t think that far…”
The corpsleader glanced nervously at the surrounding debt collectors.
“Um… once we’ve paid it off, can we borrow again?”
“No way.”
“…What do we do?”
This time she looked to the guildmaster.
“Um, guildmaster… could we negotiate a higher wage? Like… double?”
“You expect that to fly? You think they’ll pay double?”
“…No good, then.”
Even if their debts were wiped out, they’d still need to live tomorrow.
That meant zero real pay for a life-threatening job.
Even a miracle wouldn’t brighten the Amazoness’s future.
“Um… Gaikaku Hikume-sama. While we’re employed, will you provide for our food, lodging, and clothing?”
“In that case, I’d have to cut your wages. Is that okay?”
“…Then we can’t repay our debts.”
(Seriously, this lot has no business sense…)
Gaikaku despaired at their inability to do simple math, then realized he’d better focus on himself.
“…Alright, here’s the deal. You’ll work as mercenaries, but legally you’re my slaves. Until you’ve worked enough to buy back your freedom, you stay under my employ. If you agree, I’ll pay off all your debts now and cover your food, lodging, and clothing.”
“…Can we count on a full three meals a day?”
“You’re putting your lives on the line, so I guarantee that.”
Hearing Gaikaku’s concession, the guildmaster let out a relieved sigh and slapped his hands.
“That’s a fair deal… we’ll draw up a contract—sign it properly.”
“R-right…”
“You all better be grateful. You’re entrusting your lives to this man—no funny business. Now, corpsleader, you owe him a bow.”
The guildmaster, though he wanted to avoid turning mercenaries into slaves, grabbed her by the hair, slammed her head on the table, and bowed alongside her.
(Maybe I rushed into this…)
Remembering whose hands she’d fallen into, Gaikaku felt a twinge of regret.

※ When Gaikaku returned to the base—escorted by a host of armed female mercenaries—the Goblins, Beastkin, and Ogres looked puzzled. The Elves and Dark Elves, however, braced themselves for what was coming.
“Everyone, gather round.”
The human mercenaries and the Amazonesses, already having heard the news en route, stiffened.
Under normal circumstances they wouldn’t believe it, but the circumstantial evidence was overwhelming: the count’s staged spectacle, Tistria’s meeting with the count… put it all together, and it wasn’t impossible.
Besides, they’d run out of anyone else to lend them money—they had no reason to expect betrayal.
“Because that fat idiot messed up, our existence was exposed to the Knight Order. But the Supreme Knight Commander Tistria offered me a job… she intends to elevate all of us into a Knight Order!”
Gaikaku began his proclamation, speaking strongly to dispel his own doubts and rally his troops.
“I’m in on this! From now on, we’ll serve as a Knight Order… on missions!”
Those who had faced true knights knew the strength required. They trembled at the prospect of doing the same work.
Yet on their faces shone hope—if this man was motivated, there had to be a chance.
“Unprecedented challenges, impossible demands, fearsome enemies will stand before us. We will be held to the same standards of achievement as any other Knight Order!”
Gaikaku acknowledged the difficulty without reservation.
“But it’s not impossible! Even if you’re not elites, I am here! Genius Illegal Mage Gaikaku Hikume will devote all his wisdom to arm you with tactics and weaponry!”
No matter how vulnerable they were, everyone recognized this man’s brilliance.
Unknown to all but Tistria, she too had said the same.
“I promise… if you follow me, a path to survival and victory will open for you!”
In his promise there was no artifice—it rang true.
“From this moment… I hereby establish this corps under the command of Genius Mage Gaikaku Hikume…”
He declared the founding of a Knight Order.
“The Lowly Slave Knight Order is born!”
A dreadful name, but the truth nonetheless.
“Wooooh! Master, you’re so cool!”
The Goblins cheered and applauded, likely without fully grasping what it meant.
“…Boss, let’s not call it that.”
“Sir, pick another name…”
“Chieftain… please value our tribe’s name more…”
“Milord, you don’t have to be that honest!”
“Hey everyone! We Amazoness mercenaries aren’t lowly slaves, right?!”
“No, you are. At least you’re lowly slaves.”
The other races all deflated.
Even as knights, wielding potent weapons, undertaking dangerous missions, inspiring envy and awe… they remained slaves, their hidden talents still dormant.
“Uooooh! We’ll do this—let’s goooo!”
The fate of this “Lowly Slave Knight Order (temporary)” rested entirely in this one man’s hands.