289 - Rashness
Beim Underground Labyrinth.
Having advanced to the twentieth underground floor, we spent our days fighting monsters while securing supply routes between the surface and the twentieth floor.
Using a large room as our headquarters, I waited for messengers from the surrounding units and issued instructions.
General Broa let out a sigh as he sat.
"Maintaining a cohesive group in an environment where enemies attack from all directions is quite a task. Moreover, the units sending supplies to the surface have it hard. They have to collect monster materials and magic stones and carry them to the surface while bringing supply goods back here. I suppose adventurers used to do all this."
The scale was simply larger, making things busier, but basically, a single party handled everything. It was certainly difficult, but likely a different kind of difficulty than what General Broa was imagining.
"It is only because our scale is too large; normally, a much smaller group would handle everything. Well, that depends on the party."
General Broa looked around.
"One begins to lose their sense of time. Furthermore, I have the wounded and those who have grown stronger resting in separate rooms... it really is a struggle. This would surely make adventurers suffer. They are practically specialists in fighting effectively in narrow spaces, aren't they? Had I known, I would have been more cautious."
That put me in a bit of a spot, but it was true that the battlefield was far too different from that of a soldier. Just then, a messenger rushed into the headquarters.
"Messenger! The second company has discovered the floor boss! The path is shaped like this—"
General Broa and I checked the note the messenger brought. When I handed it to Valkyrie Unit One, she began marking it on the map.
I looked at the map.
"With this, the map of the twentieth underground floor is almost complete."
General Broa, with his hand on his chin, gazed at the map.
"...Even if we manage to complete it, the paths change after a certain period. After a while, this map will become useless. What a waste."
I turned to Unit One.
"I will go. We could probably defeat it if we surrounded it as a group, but that would be pushing them too far. Let them rest a bit, and then we will aim for the twenty-first underground floor."
It was essentially a case of me taking the kill of the boss, but the knights and soldiers, who were not adventurers, did not feel like they were being robbed. If anything, they likely felt their workload had decreased.
As I took the katana in my left hand, Unit One, wearing blue armor, nodded, her golden twin-tails swaying slightly. Her appearance resembled Monica's, and the biggest difference was that her chest was small—or rather, non-existent.
Damian had called it wonderful.
"I shall accompany you."
General Broa stood up from his chair.
"If possible, I would prefer the Alliance Leader to take guards with him."
I attached the scabbard to the fitting at my waist.
"It is not necessary. Besides, on this floor, I can still manage alone."
Those around me seemed exasperated, but since I had defeated floor bosses—the bosses—several times, they did not speak up.
General Broa sat back in his chair and covered his face with his hand.
"Well, that may be so. But we have our pride as well, and I feel as though I am being told I am unreliable."
I thought for a moment, but for now, it was better not to have people around.
"...I will do so from next time. Let us go."
Taking Unit One and leaving the room, I touched the Orb. The Third Head spoke while observing the surrounding knights and soldiers.
"Well, they probably won't find it amusing. But it is better to keep your trump card hidden until the end. There are still many among them whose loyalty is unknown."
The Seventh Head held a similar opinion.
"Many people let things slip. With the current Lariel, anything on this floor that isn't boss-class wouldn't even serve as a test of strength."
For now, I wanted to hide my capabilities as much as possible. Even more so against a father who cannot use skills. If I am to think about the future, it is best to keep my hand hidden.
Walking with Unit One, I proceeded through the labyrinth via the shortest route until I reached the room where the boss waited.
—Count Label Bagdia.
Inside the Rufens Royal Castle, he had been approaching the woman who had announced her engagement to Lariel, or who was in such a relationship.
While it was impossible for the women who were outside, he could easily meet Shannon and Rianne, who worked within the royal castle.
Furthermore, he could quickly find Monica, who worked as a maid, just by searching the hallways.
Rianne could not leave her office often. Shannon was being made to help within the royal castle, so it was relatively easy to tell where she was.
The one who was wary of Label approaching these women was Baldor. Even now, Baldor approached Label, whom he found talking to other knights in the hallway.
"Count! What is the meaning of this? At such a busy time, instead of participating in training, you frequently visit women... would it not be better to avoid actions that invite suspicion of infidelity?"
From Baldor's perspective, Lariel was a proper successor to his liege, even before being the Alliance Leader. Currently, due to the wishes of his family home, he revered him as his lord. It was unpleasant for Label to head toward the women while Lariel was away.
Then, Label, who was accompanied by two knights, shrugged his shoulders.
"Now, Lord Baldor. Do you truly think such things? How sad. I am a knight of Banseime. Moreover, I am from a count's house, a direct vassal of the royal family. To be suspected of infidelity is outrageous. Besides, would that suspicion not be taken as a sign that the Alliance Leader's fiancées do not trust me?"
To Baldor, the part about being a direct vassal felt as though it implicitly meant "a mere vassal of the Walt family."
"Should you not refrain from ambiguous behavior? Furthermore, what is the reason for your absence from training?"
The fragility of the gathered group was becoming apparent because the scale had become too large.
In the Rufens Royal Castle, without Lariel or Broa, discipline was beginning to slacken. Broa was originally a general of Banseime and had his own subordinates, and as for Lariel, he had beaten Banseime to a sickening degree on the battlefield.
Both had achievements, so the absorbed soldiers had no choice but to remain silent. However, with Baldor, the other soldiers also let their guard down.
It was not so much that he lacked achievements, but rather that his contributions were overshadowed by Lariel and the others. At the same time, due to his position as a vassal of the Walt family, he was looked down upon by the surrounding nobles.
One of the knights accompanying Label clicked his tongue.
"Tch, a mere vassal."
As he said that, the atmosphere in the area began to turn dangerous. Baldor had his pride as well.
"...It seems you wish to be called a remnant of a defeated army. Despite being kept alive by Lord Lariel's mercy."
The atmosphere soured for both sides, and the knight who was Label's lackey was the first to reach for the sword at his waist.
However, Monica appeared at that spot.
"Lord Baldor, Lady Rianne is calling for you. She says to come to her office immediately."
In front of others, Monica addressed Rianne with "-sama." With Monica's appearance, the four of them released their grip on the hilts of their swords.
Label said to Baldor.
"I cannot show blood in front of a lady."
His attitude was as if Baldor were the one who had been cut, but in a three-against-one situation, the odds were indeed poor. Baldor also thought,
(I let the blood rush to my head. I must become more calm.)
While Baldor was reflecting on how he had lost his composure due to the busyness and the provocations of his opponent, Monica was looking at the backs of Label and his two companions. Baldor looked at Monica.
"Excuse me. I shall go to Lady Rianne immediately—"
However, Monica spoke.
"No, that was a lie, so it is not a problem. Well, I was told to say that. You may leave them alone."
At Monica's words, Baldor spoke with a serious expression.
"Then discipline will slacken. In fact, their behavior is excessive, and if this continues, when Lord Lariel returns—"
Monica turned her face toward Baldor and said expressionlessly,
"It is not a problem. Everything will be settled by the time that chicken coward returns. It will be fine as long as Lord Baldor performs his duties as usual. Also, I would ask that you do not take such rash actions. If something happens, the chicken coward will be sad."
Baldor could do nothing but watch Monica as she walked away—.
"Leaving them alone is not a problem... surely not."
It was a wide room.
It was wider than the corridors I had walked through so far, and the ceiling was high. The stones embedded in the walls, ceiling, and floor sparkled, but since there was not enough light, I had Unit One, the Valkyrie, carry a lantern.
Facing the monster that was the master of the large room—a Minotaur—I ran around the perimeter with the katana in my right hand.
Combined with a body nearly twice the size of a human and great speed, it felt like a running wall.
"As expected, this would result in deaths. Even if we throw people at it, the casualties would be immense unless we solidify it with elites—whoops!"
I was caught, and the Minotaur's raised massive club swung down toward the floor. Even upon colliding with the floor, the club did not break, gouging the ground.
However, that floor would return to normal shortly after some time passed. Even so—.
"It looks like nothing more than timber, but is that really a club?"
When I voiced the question, the Minotaur shook its bovine head and opened its mouth wide. Saliva splattered around, and its red eyes seemed to glow.
There were several scars on the Minotaur's body. I had inflicted them.
From within the Orb, I heard the voice of the Third Head.
"It's tough, which is a help. It's just right for practice. Now, Lariel."
Told this, I concentrated my consciousness once more. I focused and activated the skill.
"...Warp."
Without dodging the club that swung horizontally, I activated the Seventh Head's skill and teleported from that spot to move behind the Minotaur. I saw sparks, perhaps from the club grazing the floor, but I, looking at the Minotaur's head, swung the katana down.
"Still too shallow."
Attacking after moving. It seemed simple, but it was very difficult. The Seventh Head gave me advice.
"Better than before. Keep at it and get the hang of it. Well, using it consecutively still seems difficult."
It was originally the Seventh Head's skill. From their perspective, I must look clumsy. After all, if anyone other than the original owner uses the skill, everything from the mana consumption to the burden placed on the user is different.
The mana consumption is high, and the burden is great. It was originally a dedicated skill for one human. If I am forcing its use, it would be strange if problems did not arise.
I cut about a meter diagonally, a few centimeters deep, from the Minotaur's neck to its back, but the opponent showed no sign of falling.
It roared and delivered a backhand strike with its left hand toward me, who had moved behind it.
I caught it in mid-air and used the opponent's attack to create a large distance.
Then, Unit One, who had anticipated where I would land, arrived. She had deployed the binder-like wings on her back; she was likely trying to protect me in case I could not move.
To such a Unit One, I said.
"Number three doesn't feel right either. I tried number four before, so give me number five."
"Understood."
One of the binders opened, and several katanas were stored inside. Unit One took out the fifth katana, which were stored alternating upside down, and handed it to me.
I handed the katana I was holding to Unit One and resumed the game of chase to draw the Minotaur's attention.
The Third Head spoke, concerned about my katanas.
"I prepared several with subtle differences, but is number five really the best? From the outside, the attacks look sharp."
Among those I used, number five certainly felt the most right. I tried the others, but number five was undoubtedly the correct choice. The feel when gripping it, the feel when cutting—everything felt right.
"When I return, I will have one finished based on number five. But before that."
Turning back to the pursuing Minotaur, I waited for the opponent to attack and then teleported—using the Warp skill.
Because I had repeated similar actions many times, the Minotaur had learned and immediately swung its club toward my rear.
However—.
"Too bad. But thanks to that, I've got the hang of it."
The approaching club swung through empty air. Having moved to a slightly higher position, I looked down at the Minotaur, who opened its eyes wide in surprise, and delivered a horizontal flash with the katana—.
The bovine head flew through the air.
As I landed and tried to put the katana in the scabbard—.
"Ah, this was the scabbard for a different katana."
It did not fit well, so I called Unit One and decided to entrust the katana to her. As the Minotaur's body, blood spurting from its neck, fell backward, the stairs to the underground, which had been blocked, appeared.
Unit One collected my katana, carefully wiped the blood from the blade, and put it in the scabbard.
"Splendid, Master."
I looked at Unit One's face.
"The same face as Monica saying 'Master'... the dissonance is incredible."
The same face as Monica. However, since she could not yet show expressions, she remained expressionless. But a Monica who did not call me a chicken coward—there was nothing but dissonance.
Then, Unit One spoke.
"It would be troublesome to be lumped together with that piece of junk. However, if you dislike that piece of junk, you may keep me by your side as your exclusive attendant."
She showed no expression, but as expected, she was an automaton. She was of the same kind as Monica. Surely, whether an automaton is broken or not, they all have this kind of personality.
"What on earth were the ancients who created you thinking when they gave you this personality..."
The mystery of the ancients only deepened. Well, it does not concern me right now.