286 - Check and Counter Deeply and Quietly
"First, one thing. No matter how many strong people you gather, if there is no commander who can unite them, they are weak as a group. Conversely, no matter how weak the gathering, if the commander is decent, they will move decently."
While listening to the Third Head's words, I was drafting the plan. In the office, white steam rose from the empty cup I had placed on the desk since morning.
Perhaps because the air in the room hadn't warmed up yet, my sleepiness vanished. The Seventh Head took over from the Third Head's words.
"However, groups are interesting things. A person who is capable as a commander is not necessarily strong. But without strength, the soldiers will not follow the commander. The saying 'under a brave general, there are no weak soldiers' also means that soldiers will waver under an unreliable commander. ...Well, Lariel, you know what I'm trying to say, right?"
Monica had finished preparing my attire and had left the room to prepare breakfast, so I was now alone in the room.
"Track record," I replied.
The Third Head responded happily.
"Exactly. Having a track record is a great power in itself. We will cultivate a commander with a track record recognized by those around them. In my case, I only have experience with small-scale groups. That is why the Seventh Head has tried to center the plan this time."
The Seventh Head's voice sounded a bit pleased. Unlike the other previous heads, he had commanded armies in the tens of thousands, so he likely had confidence.
I waited for the Seventh Head's words, but—
"Hmph, I'll be blunt. ...It is nearly impossible to cultivate an impromptu commander."
—He suddenly denied everything.
"...I don't need those kinds of jokes."
"H-hey! Wait a moment, Lariel! Listen, as the scale grows, there are that many more things to learn! In addition to the rules of the group, those at the top must handle other things... There is no way someone leading dozens of soldiers and someone leading thousands can have the same intuition!"
"Huh? Isn't the basis the same?"
Feeling the room getting warmer, I leaned back into the chair.
"The absolute basics are the same. But there is overwhelmingly not enough time. There is no time to cultivate them. Therefore, we will enter the labyrinth bringing along platoon-leader types who have led a reasonable scale. In the labyrinth, Lariel will be strictly support. You will give orders and send messengers to each platoon to respond. We will execute the Walt family's methods within the labyrinth and, while we're at it, let their bodies memorize them."
Once inside the labyrinth, I would devote myself entirely to support, and the others would be made capable of fighting even without skill support.
I brought my right hand to my mouth.
"If we do that, how much will the win rate increase?"
The Third Head spoke in an airy tone.
"Who knows? But if we don't, we will certainly lose. After all, Lariel is specialized in skills. Maisel-kun is the type to compete with raw power, the exact opposite. Moreover, not letting the opponent use skills... it's a quite disadvantageous situation."
The Seventh Head also feared this.
"There is also the history the Walt family has built up. Their soldiers fight in a way that is ingrained in their bodies. Additionally, an army specialized in Maisel's fighting style... if we don't execute even a makeshift plan, we will certainly be pushed back."
It seemed that if we didn't train in the labyrinth, we wouldn't even be in a position to fight properly.
"...Leaving Baldor behind, shall we have General Broa accompany us?"
Perhaps the two of them had already thought of that, as the Third Head added further conditions.
"It would be good to discuss various things. Also, it's not guaranteed that everyone we take will gain something. In the worst case, ten to twenty percent succeed. For the rest, it may just end up as if they simply entered the labyrinth, and that will have to be acceptable."
The Seventh Head responded to that opinion.
"We just need to give them a clear purpose. We can tell them that those who confirm a certain level of basics and achieve their goals within the labyrinth will be promoted. Regardless of whether they are knights or soldiers, let them compete. If we evaluate them by platoon rather than as individuals, they will become cooperative."
The Third Head reacted to that opinion.
"Competing by platoon rather than as individuals, huh. Yes, that would be best. Let's also prepare people to manage several platoons and have them compete among themselves. Yes, this is getting interesting. With this, we might be able to bring a 'very disadvantageous situation' down to just a 'disadvantageous situation'."
Either way, it seemed that being at a disadvantage wouldn't change.
—While Lariel was busily preparing to head to the labyrinth.
Novem was within the territory of Lufence. In a place where a group for village development and territorial maintenance was camping... she had invited a guest to one of the tents.
Inis of the Gnomes, who should have been in South Banseime, had come to Novem's location while accompanying the transport of supplies.
"I didn't think Inis-san would come to see me. I've requested Launo-san for a separate matter, after all."
Inside the tent, Novem had Inis sit in a chair and was preparing a drink. There were many problems within the Lufence territory, and Novem, who was skilled in magic, was leading a unit to hurry the reconstruction.
Even to move an army, if the highways aren't maintained, the time taken for movement increases. It was also necessary to secure places where they could rest.
Novem was leading the engineer unit for that purpose.
Inis accepted the drink from Novem.
"There was training for the transport unit prepared in South Banseime, so I accompanied them. I wondered who to ask... but in the end, I decided that asking Novem-san was the best."
Novem also sat in a chair and looked at Inis without changing her expression. She was smiling, but Inis was inwardly terrified. Not because she was scared. It was because looking at Novem inevitably made her feel at ease.
(To be liked by the other person for no reason... I don't think she has a skill like that)
The skill Inis possessed, [Information], was a skill that performed future predictions from obtained information. Its accuracy was high, and there had been many times in the past where Launo had relied on Inis's skill.
As a result of using that skill, Inis judged that in order to fulfill her wish—no, in order to make Launo a knight—Novem's assistance was necessary.
Among the many women close to Lariel, Inis chose Novem.
To the smiling Novem, Inis said.
"Um... it's about Launo-san. Launo-san is a former knight... she was a knight of Cartaphus. But she was in charge of unpleasant work, and in the end, she was kicked out of Cartaphus..."
Inis thought about things she should say more, but when she stood before Novem, the words suddenly stopped coming. No, she felt a resistance to lying.
"I see. For an information broker, her demeanor had a certain core to it. So that's how it is. And... what is it that Inis-san seeks from me?"
When Inis looked at Novem, she found herself unable to look away.
"U-um... please make Launo-san a knight! Launo-san says she doesn't care with her words, but she still has regrets and occasionally complains... That's why, I want you to put in a word for her with Lariel-san... Lariel-sama!"
Novem took a single sip of her drink and, while still smiling, said to Inis.
"Do you understand what that means? Let's say I listen to Inis-san's request and put in a word for her with Lariel-sama. If word gets out that anything can be granted by speaking to me, it will attract troublesome people. There are other women around Lariel-sama, after all. The possibility arises that people will start gathering, wary of my actions."
...In other words, Novem did not want to disrupt the current balance. Inis understood that too. That was precisely why she relied on Novem.
"Just by meeting like this, rumors will spread."
"I expect so. However, I will not put in a word. If Lariel-sama judges it necessary, he will simply do so."
To the expressionless Novem, Inis said—
"I have a skill. A special skill, one that does not develop. I have no power to fight. But my skill is very troublesome."
Novem's smile vanished, and she became expressionless. While breaking into a cold sweat, Inis spoke to Novem.
"Information. A skill similar to future prediction. The way to use it is—"
Just by Inis saying the name of the skill, Novem made an immediate decision.
"Very well. If you use that skill for Lariel-sama, I will take responsibility for the matter regarding Launo-san."
Her attitude was as if she already knew about Inis's skill. Then, Novem stood up, approached Inis, and brought her face close to her ear.
"As long as you use that skill for Lariel-sama, I will protect you. However, even if others request the use of that skill, you are to believe that the power of decision lies with me. In exchange for that, I promise Launo-san a suitable position."
Inis felt as if she had been grabbed by a powerful, invisible hand. Her body stopped moving entirely. She felt terror, but even so, she desperately tried to nod several times.
Novem looked at Inis and stepped away. Because of that, Inis breathed heavily as if she had been released.
"...You must never tell others about that skill. It would be troublesome if it were misused, and you could become a target for enemy assassins. Inis-san, you will come with me to the royal castle of Lufence. Also."
Inis looked at Novem's face. She looked a bit worried.
"...Stop doing things like this. Launo-san is excellent. Even if you stayed silent, Lariel-sama would have moved to bring her in."
Inis said to Novem.
"But she specializes in work that doesn't appear on the surface, right? I'm not saying that's bad. Launo-san also thinks it's fine if she can utilize her skills. However, for someone like Launo-san, her position... and, not having a backer is..."
Novem seemed to understand what Inis wanted to say and said nothing more—
—Having arrived at the royal castle of Lufence, Novem was heading toward Lariel's room, bringing Inis along.
She chose a route with as few people as possible, but since they were heading to Lariel, there were naturally guards. In addition to the Valkyries, there were knights and soldiers. And there were many civil officials moving busily within the royal castle.
Furthermore, she encountered a troublesome opponent.
The one who met Novem and Inis was Rianne.
"Oh, this is rare. You are Inis-san of the Gnomes, correct? I thought you were in South Banseime?"
Rianne knew about Inis, and naturally, she seemed to have investigated Inis's connection to Launo.
Rianne was likely also gathering information on the people around Lariel.
"...Since she requested a meeting with Lariel-sama, I guided her to the royal castle."
When Novem said only that, Rianne seemed to understand. She looked a bit disappointed.
"I see. In that case, Launo-san is also under Novem-san's... that's a pity. She was an excellent person. If I weren't so busy, I could have met her directly."
She had likely been thinking of bringing her in. Inis didn't know what to say—she looked troubled with such an expression.
Seeing this, Rianne chuckled.
"If there is anything, please rely on me as well, Inis-san."
Saying so, Rianne walked away from Novem and the others. Even while knowing that Launo had come under Novem's umbrella, she had essentially said she would accept her if anything happened.
Novem watched Rianne's retreating back.
(Truly excellent. However, keeping Inis-san close seems like it would lead to troublesome things)
Rianne was aiming for the position of the first wife. While many were not aiming for it, Rianne and Ludmilla were blatantly aiming for it. Miranda had taken a step back, but even so, if an opening appeared, she would likely take action to aim for the position of first wife.
She hadn't thought that far, but Glacia and Eliza were the same. Because the number of people had increased, balancing them had become extremely difficult. If she started hoarding talent clumsily, it would lead to dragging Lariel down.
At the very limit, everyone was wary of that. Rianne also saw that Novem was bringing Inis, but she didn't involve herself any further.
(...Princess Rolfis. It was a help that her marriage was prevented. Since she wasn't in the royal castle, I was worried about what would happen)
It was unlikely that Lariel would be swayed by emotion. However, considering the connections between countries, it was entirely possible he would compromise.
(No, the previous heads within the Orb...)
As she thought that far, Inis spoke to Novem. Before she knew it, Rianne's figure had disappeared.
"Um, Novem-san?"
"...Pardon me. Now, let us go to Lariel-sama."
Novem started walking, and then thought—
(I cannot let Lariel-sama be bothered by such things. Now, what should I do...)