288 - The Labyrinth's Natural Enemy
North Banseime.
Once, the word Banseime referred only to North Banseime. Now, it was the ruins of a devastated city where the removal of mountains of rubble and reconstruction continued.
Waiting for me in North Banseime was Adele-san, with dark circles under her eyes. Accompanied by Maxim-san, she welcomed my arrival in North Banseime—
"...I thought you'd be allocating manpower to the reconstruction, but instead you're diving into a labyrinth. No, it's fine. Lyell-san is always so free. If that leads to a good result in the end, then great! But... please send some manpower over here. Clara, for instance. That stiff Clara. Even Monica-san would do."
—she didn't actually welcome me. Or perhaps she did. However, the daily fatigue had made her sharp with me.
As for Maxim-san, he simply shrugged.
"Sorry. Adele-sama is close to her limit. It would be a help if you could allocate more manpower, if possible."
Hearing this, I looked at Adele-san and Maxim-san.
"...No, I'm fine as long as you can manage with the current personnel. Why don't you take a moderate break?"
When I said that, Adele-san replied.
"I want to rest! But! But... every single day, complaints in the guise of requests come to me. And no matter where I start, there are complaints! Complaints!"
Watching Adele-san, who looked as if she were about to burst into tears, was General Broa, standing beside me. He looked slightly puzzled.
"Well, we also need to organize units and conduct training urgently, and if Lufence is breached, reconstruction will be the least of our worries."
To put it bluntly, there was no leeway to allocate more manpower. Or rather, while Banseime had indeed come under my protection... Adele-san and the others were pushing themselves too hard.
"No, it's fine as long as you get the work done moderately. In reality, it's impossible regardless of how you do it. If you aren't cutting corners, a moderate break is necessary."
From within the jewel, the Third Generation spoke in a gentle voice.
『Ah, that's the thing. Adele-chan is a kind girl. Or rather, she's too serious. Reconstruction is a matter of ten or twenty years, so I wish she'd have more peace of mind. If she keeps pushing herself this hard, she'll collapse.』
Having come to the site, I realized she was trying too hard. Supplies had been prepared, and everything that could be done was being done. We couldn't handle any more requests than this.
In fact, if I devoted everything to the reconstruction of Banseime, I would certainly lose to Banseime. Rather, I was being kind just by leaving Adele-san and the others in place.
"Reconstruction won't end in a few years; it's something to be aimed for over ten or twenty years. Let's work hard in moderation. Without cutting corners. Therefore, Maxim-san... please force Adele-san to rest. Oh, and Maxim-san, you take a vacation with Adele-san as well."
Upon learning that it was okay to rest, Adele-san's shoulders slumped... and she collapsed to her knees.
"H-how... that it's okay to rest..."
No, rather, rest. It would be troublesome if the leader collapsed. It is impossible to solve everything in the short term.
Maxim-san put his arm around Adele-san's shoulder and led her away. I exchanged a look with General Broa. Then, General Broa spoke.
"She's young. Serious and responsible. That girl is the adjutant type. However, she's the typical kind where the subordinates don't grow if she's the top."
She seemed to be the type who couldn't moderately delegate work to those below her. I had been warned about that before. Come to think of it... I had received that warning in a labyrinth. In Alamsars's labyrinth, while awkwardly being given the goal of breaking through to the thirtieth basement floor...
"She'll learn from now on. She's an important civil official. She needs to gain experience and grow."
General Broa laughed.
"It certainly is good to have many capable people. It makes things easier for us."
The Seventh Generation muttered.
『This fellow is the typical commander type. He's the troublesome type who cuts corners if he's assigned to anything else.』
I shifted my gaze from General Broa to the entrance of the Banseime labyrinth. It was the entrance to a cave leading underground. The surroundings had been tidied up and arranged like a gate.
Once, there must have been many guards and passersby, and many stalls around... I could see the remains of such things. Even now, a few stalls had resumed business.
"...Well, shall we go?"
General Broa nodded. I threw the detailed work to General Broa, and General Broa threw it to his subordinates... and thus, the preparations were complete. Now, it was a matter of how many results could be drawn out.
—Lufence Royal Castle.
Novem had assigned guards to Inis. At the same time, he entrusted a message to the Valkyries for South Banseime. With the network the Valkyries possessed, communication was possible without taking much time.
That Inis was in Lufence. And he had them tell Launo to come to Lufence as soon as his work was finished.
The busy Novem was about to depart from Lufence Royal Castle to join the engineer units he had left on site.
As he was preparing to depart with his guards, someone called out to him.
"Now then, Novem-dono. You seem busy."
Novem turned toward the person who called out and saw a man walking toward them. Putting on a smile, he spoke.
"Now then, Count Bagdia. What brings you here?"
Count Bagdia. Reibel Bagdia was a lordly noble of Banseime in his early twenties. He had just succeeded to his position, and the invasion of Banseime had been his first major war.
Having been taken prisoner after losing to Lyell, he had promised cooperation and was now in a position to lead units under the likes of Launo and Baldoor.
However—this man looked down on Lyell, who was still young, far too young.
"I was a bit concerned. The Alliance Leader has headed to the labyrinth, making beautiful women work. Is this not a problem given the Alliance Leader's position?"
A gentle tone. And he was saying something correct. Indeed, if one considered Lyell's position, he had no time to be going to labyrinths.
He was doing it because it was necessary, but how those around him viewed it was a separate issue. Novem answered with a smile.
"...Lyell-sama is simply carrying it out because it is necessary for future battles. If you have complaints, why not tell him directly?"
Reibel touched his green bangs with his fingertips.
"As a newcomer, I cannot say such things. However, I thought I would hear the opinions of the women. The nobles of Banseime look down on adventurers. In fact, those who fell to the status of adventurers and still act the same—oh, I mean that many such opinions exist. It is not my own opinion."
The nobles of Banseime inevitably viewed adventurers as inferior. Adventurers who were former nobles were, to them, beings to be spat upon. This way of thinking became stronger the higher one's rank.
"Lyell-dono was cast out of his home, fell to the status of an adventurer, and climbed back up from there. I evaluate that. However... with his current status, is it a good thing to repeat battles like an adventurer?"
While praising Lyell, he was simultaneously criticizing him. Novem said.
"Fighting fair and square. I see, that is important, as befits a knight. Let us consult about it the next time we meet. Though, I hope such important matters are voiced during meetings and the like."
Reibel smiled.
"Yes, I shall be careful. Please forgive me, as I have not yet grasped how things work here."
Saying so, Reibel walked away, leading his entourage of knights. Novem watched that back with an expressionless face—
—Rianne's office.
Looking outside, the castle walls and the castle town where reconstruction was progressing were visible.
The number of people migrating was still small, but the dormitories where soldiers lived were being expanded, and a sense of vitality was emerging.
While watching such a sight, Rianne looked at the figure reflected in the window. In the room was one Valkyrie dressed in a maid's outfit. And in front of the door stood a young man with green hair and blue eyes—Reibel.
Given his position as a count, the clothes he wore were splendid. Without turning around, Rianne spoke.
"...I see, that Novem-san is making unnatural movements. Did you go through the trouble of coming to tell me that?"
Reibel spoke. His attitude was soft, his tone as if he were truly worried. However, Rianne felt a snag at the edge of his words.
"Yes. I do not like these sorts of things, but I thought I should inform you. Rianne-dono is said to be engaged to the Alliance Leader. From our perspective, we believe you are a far more suitable existence for the Alliance Leader than some daughter of the Foxus family."
Rianne lifted the corners of her mouth and turned back slightly.
"Oh, are you allowed to say such things?"
"Positions must be clear. Moreover, I believe Rianne-sama is the one most suitable for the position of consort. Coming from the land of Fanbayle to Lufence to support the Alliance Leader, the sight of it truly makes many of us feel a sense of respect—"
"—Once, the one who betrayed me was the Crown Prince of your country. I dislike roundabout things. State your business."
When interrupted mid-sentence, Reibel cleared his throat and spoke again.
"General Broa is acceptable. Baldoor, the vassal knight, was originally a knight of the Walt family. I have my thoughts, but I accept him. However, the fact that the knights we are picking up to become our colleagues are based on mere meritocracy—what does that mean? There are many who harbor dissatisfaction."
Rianne muttered "I see," then turned her whole body away from Reibel to face her desk and sat in her chair.
"Some wonder if the Alliance Leader is disregarding us knights. Despite being born into a noble house, the fact that he cannot understand is perhaps why he was cast out—oh, this is merely a rumor."
"Yes, I am aware. ...However, it is troublesome to have rumors spread without permission. Count Bagdia, will you continue to report to me in the future?"
Reibel smiled happily and placed his right hand on his chest.
"Yes, with pleasure."
Rianne also smiled as she looked at Reibel—
—Lufence Royal Castle corridor.
Reibel was walking while talking with his entourage of knights. They moved while having a conversation in low voices that could be interpreted in any number of ways.
"Reibel-dono, so who is your real target?"
When questioned by an older knight, Reibel laughed slightly.
"Real target, you say? To be honest, there is no such thing. Women's problems tend to become muddy. If we break things down from there, the rest will work out however we want."
Another knight laughed. That smile was far from being refreshing.
"I'm counting on you. From our perspective, we want insurance so that we're fine regardless of which way things turn. Even so, to head to a labyrinth at this late stage—"
"—Oops, no more than that."
Reibel silenced the knight and laughed slightly. Then, he looked around and saw that no one was there.
"Sorry."
"No, anyone accumulates dissatisfaction. All the more so if they are under someone in a position they don't deserve. Well, let's make things a bit easier to move while he's away."
Saying so, Reibel walked at the front, laughing slightly—
Banseime's underground labyrinth.
On the fifteenth basement floor, I had taken a position in a large room. In addition to the guard knights, Valkyrie No. 1, whom I had brought along, was on standby in full armament.
In front of General Broa, Valkyrie No. 2 was moving pieces one after another. Seeing this, General Broa nodded while placing a hand on his chin.
"...It's no wonder they lose. The amount and accuracy of information are simply too different from the start."
The trump card I used to crush the Banseime forces that had invaded Banseime—seeing that, General Broa commented on my skill.
"In a sense, it's the strongest."
However, I also had to say.
"That strongest skill cannot be used in the next battle. You must learn the messengers and the finer details until they are ingrained in your body while we still can."
A messenger rushed into the large room.
"Messenger! The second company cannot advance due to an attack by monsters. They are requesting reinforcements!"
At that messenger's report, General Broa looked at me, so I nodded.
Then, General Broa spoke.
"Send the reserve third company as reinforcements. Until then, defend primarily, and once the reinforcements arrive, have them withdraw. Messenger, convey this order to the third company. The path is—"
The messenger received the order, and the messenger who had been in the room headed off to the third company.
No. 2 moved the pieces on the map, showing how the second company was gradually being pushed back. By making it visible to those around me like this, people other than me could formulate strategies.
While watching this, I only had to speak up when there was danger.
"The second company is fragile."
Whether General Broa had known from the start that they were more fragile than the others, he nodded and explained.
"There are many talented individuals, but let's just say they don't mesh well. However, I believe that if they do mesh, they will be excellent as a unit."
If General Broa had organized them with that thought, I shouldn't interfere.
"I'll leave it to you. However, if it really doesn't work, please consider another method. I want to avoid grinding them down as much as possible."
General Broa nodded.
"I'll manage to produce results. Now, the situation is moving again. ...A part of the third company has gotten lost."
The pieces No. 2 moved reproduced the state of a portion of the third company's group becoming separated within the labyrinth.
Within the jewel, the Seventh Generation was slightly exasperated.
『...To not even be able to follow along. Their level of training is too low.』
The Third Generation was laughing loudly.
『A talented group that doesn't mesh. A group that gets lost. There are many problem children. Yes, yes! This is why it's interesting—because things don't go as planned.』
General Broa placed a hand on his forehead.
"...I'll have them brought back."
I watched the movement of the pieces on the map without saying anything in particular. No. 2 was simply reproducing the sight I was seeing, but I was thinking about what to do next.
"If orders cannot be issued immediately, perhaps I should change the instructions I give."
If I could use the skill, I could have sent the third company immediately and had them merge before the second company struggled. However, the messenger brings news after the event has occurred. Moreover, time has passed.
"...After a few days, it would be better not to use the placement of pieces either."
Since the situation where the latest information could always be obtained would disappear, I decided to refrain from it and conduct training from now on. Upon hearing my mutter, No. 2 looked disappointed that her work had vanished.