Ch.301[Chapter 301] Clan Wars

Sir Dominic headed straight home and had a conversation with Sir Dominica.

“I think it’s time we seriously consider joining a clan.”

“Why are you saying something so trivial with the seriousness of a marriage proposal?”

Sir Dominica chuckled at Sir Dominic’s unnecessarily serious demeanor.

She was maintaining her musket, meticulously cleaning the barrel and carefully dividing bullets and gunpowder into single-shot portions.

“Looks like you’ve already made up your mind to some extent?”

Sir Dominica said while casually wiping the gunpowder residue on her shirt.

Black handprints resembling ribs appeared on the side of her white T-shirt that read ‘This is cotton material.’

“I bet you half wanted to hear me suggest joining a clan. That’s why you’re asking me like this, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“I knew it.”

Sir Dominica puffed out her formidable chest with a smug expression, as if she had expected this all along.

After all, Sir Dominica was Sir Dominic from a parallel world, so reading his thoughts was an easy task for her.

“So what’s holding you back?”

“…We’ve been doing fine without a clan until now. That’s why I’m having trouble making a decision. It feels like something that would be useful, but not exactly essential.”

“Ah, I get it. Like a can opener.”

Sir Dominica thought about the can opener that was probably stashed away in some corner.

A can opener bought to open canned peaches, but rarely used afterward.

Sir Dominica compared clans to that can opener.

“But you know, it’s convenient to have one, isn’t it?”

“…That’s true.”

Sir Dominic nodded at Sir Dominica’s words.

Even something that seemed useless could prove useful once you had it.

Thinking about it that way, joining a clan seemed like the right choice.

“Well, that settles it. We just need to decide whether to join a clan or not. If we’re joining one, we already know where we’re going.”

“Tanker Union.”

Sir Dominic muttered softly in response to Sir Dominica’s words.

Previously, in a conversation with Senator Muscleman, Sir Dominic had mentioned that if he were to join a clan, it would be the Tanker Union.

“So, Sir Dominica. What do you think?”

Sir Dominic asked for Sir Dominica’s opinion before making his final decision.

It was uncharacteristically cautious of Sir Dominic, but gathering and considering others’ opinions wasn’t unusual.

“Well, if you want to join, I’ll join too. If you think we don’t need it, I’m fine staying as we are. After all, we’re bound together as… no, that sounds weird. We’re connected through tag matches… linked… ah, whatever. We’re that kind of pair, right?”

Sir Dominica cursed her vocabulary as her words sounded strange no matter how she phrased them, but she conveyed her opinion to Sir Dominic.

Though her explanation was lengthy, she was essentially giving Sir Dominic all decision-making power.

“…Very well. I think it’s time to make a decision.”

Sir Dominic fell into thought at Sir Dominica’s words, then finally reached a conclusion about the matter he had been postponing.

…

The next day, Sir Dominic visited the Tanker Union office.

Of course, Sir Dominica was by his side, and unlike his usual casual attire, he was quite well-dressed.

“Welcome! When tanks stand proud, parties thrive! Welcome to the Tanker Union office… Oh, Sir Dominic?”

When Sir Dominic opened the door and entered, Pandemonium was at the entrance greeting visitors with a surprisingly friendly smile that contrasted with her cold appearance.

She seemed quite accustomed to receiving guests this way.

“What brings Sir Dominic here?”

Pandemonium asked while putting away her sword that was dripping with plague.

It was prepared for dealing with occasional troublemakers, but not something to show important guests like Sir Dominic.

“Ah, I get it! You’ve come to join the Tanker Union, haven’t you?”

Pandemonium said with a mischievous grin, clearly joking.

In truth, Pandemonium believed Sir Dominic had no reason to join the Tanker Union.

Someone of Sir Dominic’s caliber would naturally receive better offers from other places.

If it were Pandemonium herself, she would obviously go where she’d get better treatment, unless she was acting out of loyalty.

“Should I give you an application form? Haha! Just kidding—”

“That’s right.”

“—ing… What?”

Pandemonium had jokingly offered membership, thinking she could laugh it off as a joke if rejected.

Perhaps that’s why she stood there blankly for a moment, unable to react to Sir Dominic’s answer.

“We’re here to join. The Tanker Union.”

When Pandemonium remained dazed for quite some time, Sir Dominica sighed impatiently and clarified.

Despite Sir Dominic’s confirmation and Sir Dominica’s reaffirmation, Pandemonium was so shocked that her thoughts froze, and she stammered as she sought further confirmation.

“S-so… you’re saying you want to join our Tanker Union? When there are so many large guilds out there?”

“That’s right.”

“That’s what we’re saying.”

Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica confirmed almost simultaneously.

“…Why?”

Pandemonium’s mind began racing as quickly as it had stopped.

And all her thoughts produced just one question.

Why?

Why had Sir Dominic chosen the Tanker Union over all those major clans?

Why were Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica coming directly to the Tanker Union office to join? When we should be the ones approaching them?

Why did Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica treat this situation as if it were natural?

“Why?”

As Pandemonium blankly repeated “why” with glazed eyes, Sir Dominic looked at her curiously and spoke.

“Do you remember when we met before? At the café when you suggested I join the Tanker Union.”

“…Ah!”

Pandemonium finally felt her mind clearing.

‘If I were to join a clan… my first choice would be the Tanker Union. I promise you as a knight.’

That’s what Sir Dominic had said when declining Pandemonium’s invitation to join.

In truth, Pandemonium had thought this was just lip service.

Like saying “Let’s have a meal sometime” or “Let’s have a drink later” – just a customary phrase that she had forgotten about.

But Sir Dominic was truly a knight.

He had made a promise as a knight, and he had come to the Tanker Union to keep that promise.

“…My goodness. I had forgotten.”

Pandemonium covered her mouth in surprise, as if she couldn’t believe it.

Sir Dominic’s actions had exceeded her expectations to that extent.

“So.”

Sir Dominic addressed Pandemonium, who was still lost in amazement.

“When do I get the application form?”

“Ah, I’ll give it to you right away.”

Pandemonium opened a drawer and took out a Tanker Union application form.

Normally, the Tanker Union joining procedure required recommendations from at least three Tanker Union executives, but Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica were people who didn’t need such formalities.

Their fame and achievements in Gacha Land were countless, so they should be thanking them profusely for wanting to join.

Moreover, Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica already had the firm support of three Tanker Union executives.

The head of the Tanker Union, Senator Muscleman, Pandemonium, and Pandemonium’s nanny L-003.

Before even handing the application form to Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica, Pandemonium pricked her fingertip with a dagger and pressed her fingerprint in the executive recommendation section.

She was so excited that she forgot where her seal was, and besides, this was much faster than looking for it.

“Here you go. Just write your name and sign where I’ve marked with highlighter.”

“Understood.”

“This feels like applying for a bank card…”

With those words, Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica quietly began filling in their names and signatures on the application form.

As Pandemonium watched them, she was sending messages to someone on her phone hidden under the desk.

…

“Sir Dominic is joining our Tanker Union?”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

At the same time Sir Dominic was filling out the application form, chaos had erupted in the Tanker Union office’s waiting room.

It was all because of a message Pandemonium had posted in the Tanker Union group chat.

13:11(27)[Big news! Sir Dominic joining Tanker Union! :Cutest Pandemonium]

[Breath Victim : ?](27)13:12

[Gambas Watched : ?](27)13:12

[Georgia Rathart : ?](27)13:12

The first people to see the news immediately checked their calendars.

They were checking if today was April Fool’s Day.

Of course, this was no April Fool’s joke, and people thought Pandemonium might be hallucinating due to exhaustion from clan wars.

Given that Tanker Union members had been dealing with the recent clan wars without rest, it wouldn’t be strange if Pandemonium had lost her mind.

[Georgia Rathart : Are you okay? Want to take a break?](22)13:15

[Mecha Nirvana : This guyww Now even hearing thingsww](22)13:15

13:16(22)[No, it’s real! Wait, I’ll prove it. : Cutest Pandemonium]

The atmosphere reversed when Pandemonium posted a single photo.

In her photo were indeed Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica.

To prevent accusations of manipulation, Pandemonium had also peeked her head into the corner of the frame.

[Georgia Rathart : ? Is this real?](28)13:22

[Breath Victim : Is this for real?](28)13:22

[Mecha Nirvana : Why is this happening?](28)13:23

Undeniable evidence had appeared.

The Tanker Union members finally realized that Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica were really joining the Tanker Union.

And once they realized this fact, they acted as if their minds were linked as one.

In the waiting room of the Tanker Union office, cheers erupted from numerous people… no, from beings that were practically no different from beasts.