Chapter 274 - The Kikyo Society's New Structure and System, Launch!
Our Kikyo Society has moved into a new fortress, and to match the expanded scale of our organization, we've restructured our system and roles. While these changes are primarily internal, they bring a fresh start, much like the new building.
I recline in my chair, crossing my legs, and recall the recent leadership meeting. I pull the documents from my desk and review them, organizing the details in my head. These documents summarize the decisions made over multiple leadership meetings.
First, the purple amethyst Kikyo crest badge will be worn on the left chest, with the base color indicating the rank: gold, silver, or bronze. This will clearly denote the seniority of the wearer. The Vocation Insignia will be worn as a patch on the left sleeve. The Skill Insignia will be attached to a ribbon rack on the left chest, with each insigne representing a specific skill.
The Skill Insignia will have a high acquisition difficulty and will require approval from the leadership council. To make these insigne a source of pride, a commemorative medal will also be awarded. Like the Rank Insignia, the Skill Insignia will be divided into three tiers: gold, silver, and bronze. Gold is the most challenging to obtain, while even the bronze tier requires a rigorous review.
Here are the designs for the Skill Insignia. They are simple patterns, and the number of types may increase or decrease based on need and demand.
- Combat Transformation Insignia: A ruby plate with no design. It signifies proficiency in Combat Body Transformation Magic.
- Weapon Combat Insignia: A diagonal line `/`. It denotes excellence in weapon combat, including unarmed combat.
- Magic Combat Insignia: Two diagonal lines `//`. It signifies exceptional magical prowess in offense, defense, and support.
- Magic Item Handling Insignia: A horizontal line `-`. It denotes expertise in handling, maintenance, and knowledge of various magic items.
- Staff Intelligence Insignia: A vertical line `|`. It denotes excellence in strategic planning, information handling, and knowledge.
- Healing Insignia: A cross `十`. It denotes proficiency in healing magic and knowledge.
- Special Ability Insignia: A star `☆`. It denotes exceptional magical or skill-based abilities outside of combat and healing.
- Negotiator Insignia: A downward-pointing triangle `▽`. It denotes the ability to represent the organization in external negotiations.
- Legal Affairs Insignia: A cross `×`. It denotes expertise in domestic and international law and its application.
- Production & Construction Insignia: A double circle `◎`. It denotes excellence in creating materials and construction.
- Literature & Arithmetic Insignia: Two horizontal lines `＝`. It denotes proficiency in complex writing and arithmetic.
- R&D Insignia: A sideways mountain `＞`. It denotes significant research achievements that benefit the organization.
Reflecting on them, it seems like there are quite a few, but it will be easy to adjust as needed.
The new organizational structure is as follows:
President: Me
- Vocation Insignia: Peony
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Weapon Combat Insignia (Gold), Magic Combat Insignia (Gold), Magic Item Handling Insignia (Bronze), Healing Insignia (Gold), Special Ability Insignia (Gold), Negotiator Insignia (Gold), Production & Construction Insignia (Gold), R&D Insignia (Gold)
Vice-Commander: Siegrune
- Vocation Insignia: Peony
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Weapon Combat Insignia (Gold), Magic Combat Insignia (Silver), Staff Intelligence Insignia (Silver), Special Ability Insignia (Gold), Negotiator Insignia (Gold), Legal Affairs Insignia (Bronze), R&D Insignia (Bronze)
Third Seat: Gradena
- Vocation Insignia: Peony
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Weapon Combat Insignia (Gold), Magic Combat Insignia (Bronze), Magic Item Handling Insignia (Bronze), Negotiator Insignia (Silver)
Head of Operations: Frederica
- Vocation Insignia: Peony
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Magic Item Handling Insignia (Gold), Special Ability Insignia (Silver), Negotiator Insignia (Gold), Legal Affairs Insignia (Silver), Literature & Arithmetic Insignia (Gold)
Deputy Head of Operations: April
- Vocation Insignia: Peony
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Special Ability Insignia (Bronze), Negotiator Insignia (Gold), Legal Affairs Insignia (Gold), Literature & Arithmetic Insignia (Gold)
Head of Presidential Security: Valeria
- Vocation Insignia: Peony
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Weapon Combat Insignia (Gold), Magic Combat Insignia (Bronze), Special Ability Insignia (Bronze)
Direct Subordinates to the Headquarters: 2 Assistants, 14 Young Masters, 4 Secretaries (2 to the Head of Operations, 2 to the Deputy Head of Operations)
Secretary-General: Sophie
- Vocation Insignia: Pen and Coin
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Magic Combat Insignia (Gold), Negotiator Insignia (Silver), Legal Affairs Insignia (Bronze), Literature & Arithmetic Insignia (Bronze)
Secretariat Members: 2 Gochou, 3 Assistants, 36 Young Masters
Head of Intelligence Bureau: Josephine
- Vocation Insignia: Bird of Prey
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Weapon Combat Insignia (Bronze), Magic Combat Insignia (Bronze), Staff Intelligence Insignia (Gold), Special Ability Insignia (Gold), Negotiator Insignia (Gold), Legal Affairs Insignia (Silver), Literature & Arithmetic Insignia (Gold)
Intelligence Bureau Members: 2 Gochou, 3 Assistants, 28 Young Masters
Head of Intelligence Inspection Bureau: Ortlinde
- Vocation Insignia: Bird of Prey
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Weapon Combat Insignia (Silver), Magic Combat Insignia (Silver), Magic Item Handling Insignia (Silver), Staff Intelligence Insignia (Gold), Special Ability Insignia (Bronze)
Intelligence Inspection Bureau Members: 2 Gochou, 3 Assistants, 20 Young Masters
Head of Security Bureau: Zenobia
- Vocation Insignia: Shield
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Weapon Combat Insignia (Gold), Magic Combat Insignia (Bronze), Staff Intelligence Insignia (Bronze), Negotiator Insignia (Bronze)
Security Bureau Members: 2 Gochou, 3 Assistants, 78 Young Masters
Head of Public Relations Bureau: Margaret
- Vocation Insignia: Paper and Microphone
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Magic Item Handling Insignia (Bronze), Negotiator Insignia (Silver)
Public Relations Bureau Members: 1 Gochou, 1 Assistant, 10 Young Masters
Head of Healing Bureau: Rosabel-san
- Vocation Insignia: Medicine Bottle
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Healing Insignia (Gold), Negotiator Insignia (Gold), R&D Insignia (Gold)
Healing Bureau Members: 1 Gochou, 3 Young Masters
Head of Construction Bureau: Priene
- Vocation Insignia: Castle
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Magic Combat Insignia (Bronze), Production & Construction Insignia (Gold)
Construction Bureau Members: 2 Gochou, 3 Assistants, 32 Young Masters
Head of R&D Bureau: Charlotte
- Vocation Insignia: Apple
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Weapon Combat Insignia (Bronze), Special Ability Insignia (Gold), Negotiator Insignia (Silver), R&D Insignia (Gold)
R&D Bureau Members: 1 Gochou, 2 Assistants, 12 Young Masters
Head of Instruction Bureau: Fulaveneta
- Vocation Insignia: Book and Dagger
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Weapon Combat Insignia (Bronze), Magic Combat Insignia (Bronze), Special Ability Insignia (Gold), Negotiator Insignia (Silver)
Instruction Bureau Members: 2 Gochou, 3 Assistants, 22 Young Masters
Head of Administration Bureau: Caroline
- Vocation Insignia: Female Profile
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Magic Combat Insignia (Bronze), Special Ability Insignia (Gold), Negotiator Insignia (Silver)
Administration Bureau Members: 1 Gochou, 2 Assistants, 15 Young Masters
Head of Combat Support Unit: Shelby
- Vocation Insignia: Armored Vehicle
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Weapon Combat Insignia (Bronze), Magic Combat Insignia (Bronze), Magic Item Handling Insignia (Gold), Negotiator Insignia (Silver), Legal Affairs Insignia (Bronze)
Combat Support Unit Members: 2 Gochou, 3 Assistants, 50 Young Masters
Head of First Combat Unit: Angelina
- Vocation Insignia: Sword and Axe with Unit Number
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Weapon Combat Insignia (Gold), Staff Intelligence Insignia (Bronze)
First Combat Unit Members: 2 Gochou, 3 Assistants, 38 Young Masters (similar structure for the Tenth Combat Unit)
Head of Second Combat Unit: Mary
- Vocation Insignia: Sword and Fist with Unit Number
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Weapon Combat Insignia (Gold), Magic Combat Insignia (Bronze)
Head of Third Combat Unit: Albert
- Vocation Insignia: Sword and Bow with Unit Number
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Weapon Combat Insignia (Gold), Magic Combat Insignia (Gold)
Head of Fourth Combat Unit: Bonnie
- Vocation Insignia: Two Swords and Dagger with Unit Number
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Weapon Combat Insignia (Gold)
Head of Fifth Combat Unit: Paula
- Vocation Insignia: Two Swords and Chain with Unit Number
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Weapon Combat Insignia (Gold)
Head of Sixth Combat Unit: Verone
- Vocation Insignia: Sword and Mace with Unit Number
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Magic Combat Insignia (Gold), Staff Intelligence Insignia (Bronze)
Head of Seventh Combat Unit: Brittany
- Vocation Insignia: Sword and Spear with Unit Number
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Weapon Combat Insignia (Silver), Magic Combat Insignia (Silver)
Head of Eighth Combat Unit: Mia
- Vocation Insignia: Sword and Dagger with Unit Number
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Weapon Combat Insignia (Bronze), Magic Combat Insignia (Silver), Special Ability Insignia (Gold)
Head of Ninth Combat Unit: Liliane
- Vocation Insignia: Sword and Baton with Unit Number
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Magic Combat Insignia (Gold)
Head of Tenth Combat Unit: Ophelia
- Vocation Insignia: Sword and Flame with Unit Number
- Acquired Skill Insignia: Combat Transformation Insignia, Weapon Combat Insignia (Silver), Magic Combat Insignia (Silver)
Advisors: Rosabel-san, Colette-san
- Vocation Insignia: Crown
Each section's members will wear Vocation Insignia that match their leaders. Rosabel-san and Colette-san will have two Vocation Insignia: the Advisor's crown and the Healing Bureau's medicine bottle. They can choose to wear both or combine them into a single design.
The Vocation Insignia for the Intelligence Bureau and Intelligence Inspection Bureau are intentionally the same to foster a close working relationship and to avoid the stigma of internal auditing.
My Vocation Insignia design is a peony, a flower I like, but it doesn't have a deeper meaning. The floral language suggests a regal demeanor, but that's not the reason. I decided to use it for members who don't belong to a specific section.
The most challenging part was the Skill Insignia. After much debate, we finally settled on the current state. Charlotte, who is currently training in the Royal Capital, was not present, so we decided without her.
Deciding on the Skill Insignia for leaders and assistants took a lot of discussion. We aimed to set a standard of ability rather than comparing individuals, which took considerable time.
I expect future discussions to be challenging, but I want to approach them positively. Skill Insignia for other members will be reviewed by the leadership council based on recommendations from section leaders and assistants.
Many members are already eligible for Skill Insignia, so the initial review will take some time. It's a bit daunting, but we'll push through together.
A notable change is Gradena's new title. The term "Acting Vice-Commander" could be misunderstood as a temporary position, so at Gradena's request, we changed it to "Third Seat." This clearly denotes her as the third in command, after the President and Vice-Commander. Gradena is well-respected by both veterans and newer members, and we expect her to continue bridging the gap between upper and lower ranks.
Implementing these reforms during the winter was a significant achievement, and I believe it will bring positive results in the future.
Reviewing the new structure, it's clear that we've significantly increased our numbers. We had around 320 regular members last time, but now we have around 830, not counting apprentices. We're far from satisfied, though. Our goal is to expand tenfold, and we're not even close yet.
The Clad Family has expanded their influence and is now a much larger organization. Anaschia Union is a global entity, making them even more formidable.
Our individual combat abilities are extraordinary, but sheer numbers provide a different kind of power. In group combat, the side with more people is generally stronger. We are still considered the weaker side compared to larger organizations, not because of our individual abilities, but because of our numbers.
Effective strategies for the weak don't always work. If we can face our enemies one-on-one, we can win. However, our enemies can avoid us if they can't defeat us, especially if their goal isn't to kill us. With more numbers, they can execute various strategies from multiple directions.
With fewer people, our options are limited. If we have one extremely strong individual, they can't defend multiple places simultaneously. They become fixed in one spot, unable to attack or provide support. This is a losing scenario.
If we have ten members and the enemy has twenty, we might still have a chance. But with a hundred, two hundred, or a thousand, the situation changes. Even if our individual strength is unmatched, we can't protect everything.
Increasing our numbers is crucial. We need more people to expand our operations, not just for combat but for support roles. More people are needed to handle various tasks and support efforts.
Having more people is advantageous, and I believe it's necessary. This applies to business as well. Expanding operations requires more people.
Compared to the Clad Family and Anaschia Union, our numbers are still small. Being in a position to compete with them is already unusual. We need more people to solidify our position in Exembra and expand our reach.
The Kingdom of Brenark is poised to expand significantly, and we aim to secure port rights. We need more people to manage these new areas and maintain our hold in Exembra while looking outward.
To build a strong foundation in Exembra and expand to other regions, we need many more members. Our individual combat prowess alone isn't enough for such tasks.
With the new situation, we've set higher goals. I strongly believe we need to aim for at least a fivefold increase from our current numbers. Only then will we have enough people for any task.
While implementing these organizational changes, the long winter season is coming to an end. As soon as the snow melts, I plan to go to Donditch to settle scores with those who planned the arena terrorist attack. I need to wrap up these tasks quickly to prepare for the busy spring and summer.
This is a purely explanatory chapter. The previous organizational restructuring also required similar measures, especially for the Skill Insignia. Deciding on the types and designs was a challenge, and I might make small adjustments in the future. There were many decisions to make, from the Vocation Insignia designs to the abbreviated symbols. It was interesting but difficult. Additionally, the special characters caused some issues.
To wrap up the story, I plan to update the character list. It's been almost two years since the last update, which is surprising. I'll update it soon and let everyone know when it's done.