Chapter 312
Well then, another day's work is done.
Judging by the reports after dinner, the fund-cutting in Hokushi is proceeding smoothly, and the forces I'm training will be fully developed to the point of being able to defeat Azidahaka, assuming we're prepared for total losses.
It hinges on having a decisive weapon, but it's a relief to finally have a path to victory.Of course, I won't let my guard down here, but the fact that we have an insurance policy can be considered a reassuring factor.
Today, also for information gathering, I'm healing my body, tired from training and material gathering, while lying on a single-person sofa repurposed from a custom-made mochi cushion made by an artisan, checking the work progress.
Seriously, this mochi cushion, which can eliminate the Fatigue debuff now that it's real, is just too excellent.I wanted this back in Japan too.
The微量の持続回復 is incredibly convenient. With normal rest recovery, you don't really feel like the fatigue is gone, but with this, it recovers while you're just zoning out, so your brain recognizes that it's recovered.
I think one per household would be good.Wait, thinking about home use, would one be enough, or would people fight over it?
"Having come this far, all that's left is to increase the survival rate... but thinking in terms of patterns, isn't it about time for some interference to show up?"
Mixing in such thoughts, I read through the documents, checked the current situation, and if I had to give my impression, it's simply that the pace of progress is smooth.Judging by the soldiers' training content from the other day, their motivation is also sufficient.If this continues, we might even be able to move the schedule forward.
Considering the planned training schedule, if things continue smoothly, we should be able to challenge Azidahaka before its complete revival, during its incomplete revival stage.
But for me, who has experienced too many irregularities since coming to this world and has never had things go smoothly, feeling a预感 that something might happen around now is a natural flow.
"If someone were to interfere, the most likely candidates are Duke Boldorinde and the Evil God Cult, followed by the other Dukes, and a long shot would be forces from another continent."
I absolutely want to avoid trouble, but there also exists trouble that is unavoidable.
"Is it possible for a named character event to occur?"
Among those, the forced event types came to mind.Thinking that I still haven't shaken off my 'game brain' completely in this world that has become reality, it's still one of the events that comes to mind.
"Will the Satsuma Event occur?"
Considering I defeated the Mad Jester and Jackaran will soon be executed, it's natural to think of the Satsuma Event.The trigger conditions are a bit special, but factoring in the current situation, it wouldn't be strange for it to occur.
The Mad Jester, the Tyrant, and the Fanatic – if you mention the 'Three Madmen' in FBO, people know who you mean – the last one of these famous figures.
Given how smoothly we've been encountering them so far, it wouldn't be strange for the last one to show up too.
The probability of encountering all three just in the Southern Continent is, well, fairly low, but it's high enough that I can't say it's impossible.And considering the possibility of *not* hitting that probability is sadly something I can't rule out.
"Countermeasures, countermeasures..."
Genjirou, the Satsuma Madman.Compared to the previous two, he can be said to have gone mad *because* he was a victim.Both the Mad Jester and Jackaran acted more like perpetrators, but Genjirou, specifically, has a history of becoming a fanatic *from* being a victim.
To put it simply, he is a character for whom there is room for sympathy.
"More importantly, can I make it in time?"
He lost his family in the past.He was originally a skilled samurai, trusted by his subordinates, and it was expected he would eventually attain a position matching his skill.
However, luck was not on his side.His wife and two children contracted an epidemic.Moreover, it was a disease where, once symptoms appeared, most people died.
Genjirou spent his fortune trying to buy medicine, but then came the man-made disasters common in FBO.Young masters from the privileged class, who disliked the successful Genjirou, interfered to prevent him from obtaining the medicine.
This kind of story is one you hear often in FBO.
From their perspective, their plan was probably to help him if he came crying and begging, but these guys misjudged the situation.The critical phase of this illness comes quickly, and while they were playing around, Genjirou lost his wife and children.
Praying to the gods yielded no help; asking his comrades for help resulted in them yielding to authority. Crushed by his own powerlessness, just as he was about to commit suicide, the hand extended to him belonged to a follower of the Evil God Cult.It was the worst possible combination.When someone's spirit is broken, the 'I'll help you' pattern is normally effective.
And for Genjirou, who was inherently highly loyal and prone to feeling grateful towards those who helped him, the realm of religion was, in a bad way, far too compatible.
It's fair to say a demonic chemical reaction occurred.To make matters worse, within the Evil God Cult, there *is* a method, not entirely nonexistent, to bring back the dead.However, it doesn't resurrect them as humans, but as monsters.
The Evil God is the god of monsters.And among monsters, there are Undead.
They can turn people into monsters, not as rotting zombies, but in forms like vampires or Jiangshi.
If they use that method to resurrect one of his children and let him meet his father, the rest is easy.'Worship. Do so, and we will let you meet the rest of your family.'
And so, Genjirou descends into madness.Having been abandoned by others, he feels no hesitation in cutting down random people on the street.
Having offered his heart to the god who saved his family, his inherent loyalty is channeled in a terrible direction. If killing in battle is justified as 'to save his family,' well, anyone would go mad.
"If it's before the original story, there's a possibility his family is still safe. If Genjirou is mentally sound, his actual strength is incredible, you know."
They prey on his weakened heart, tempt him with resurrection, and then smoothly drag him into the darkness of fanatical faith.When I heard that story, I felt sympathy, but as players, we were like, 'But that's got nothing to do with us!? That's crossing a line, right!?' – that's how we reacted.
I understand the reason he became that way, and I sympathize.But that's no reason for him to slash us from behind, right!? He's a character who received that universal retort from players.While mentally deranged, Genjirou, who possesses experience points under the name of 'effort,' is quite a formidable opponent in terms of technique, unlike the physically brute-forcing Jackaran.
Moreover, he's also a skilled combatant, so if achieving his goal becomes too perilous, he has the foresight to retreat.His core motivation is that of a fanatic, but his other abilities are high.
That's precisely why he's considered such a nuisance.
"Hmm, if I tell Kon, maybe there's a chance?"
And what players often say about him is, 'If only his ideology were better, he'd be Tier 1.' In terms of specs, he's close to the top tier.
Loyalty, technical skill, and compassion – if he were normal in all these aspects, he'd be an incredibly useful character.
If he weren't mad, he could hold the front line even in the Azidahaka battle, and furthermore, my personal impression is that if treated properly, he would feel indebted and swear loyalty – to put it concretely, you could say he's a samurai-like figure of the old school.
In the original story stage, he had already fallen into the hands of the Evil God Cult, but at this pre-original story stage...Considering Lady Esmeralda was saved, it's possible there's still time.
I've heard the episode story about Genjirou before he went mad, so if I can make contact here, things might proceed quickly.
"Hmm, in that case..."
In Genjirou's case, I had no choice but to leave him be.I simply didn't have any connections in the Eastern Continent, so I left it alone. But now, there's Kon, who seems like he might owe me a favor and is struggling with the compensation.
Then, maybe it wouldn't be a problem for him to arrange for the personnel transfer.
"Well, no harm in trying."
Strike while the iron is hot. I must contact Kon first. I pick up a pen and write a letter.Not that it's anything major, just asking if he can set up a meeting because I have something to discuss regarding the compensation.
It's just a matter of writing that text politely and having it delivered, but since me taking it directly would be pointless...
I ring the bell on the desk.Yeah, that thing you use to call servants and such.
I rarely use it, but as my perceived value keeps increasing day by day, this was installed.
"Did you call?""Yeah, could you ask someone at the mansion to deliver this and this to Duke Edelgard? This one is for His Grace the Duke, and this is a letter for Lord Jinsai.""Understood."
Ingrid is the one responding. Perfect.
Yeah, somehow, I'm getting the undeniable feeling that I'm gradually being absorbed into noble society.
Even though I have no intention of going down that route, it feels like the result of paying attention to noble-related matters.
"Yeah, I'm counting on you."
And so, I entrusted the letters and was just waiting for their response, but...
"No problem at all.""Is that alright?""Yes, rather... For us, this would be a considerably cheap deal. Are you sure it's alright?"
A reply came the next morning, and thus I was able to meet before the afternoon training session. When I asked if he knew Genjirou, full name Genjirou Shizuma, he said he was an excellent samurai, though from a different faction, deeply trusted by his subordinates, and recently considered a nuisance in powerful circles.
It's good if his family is still safe, but if it's after he's lost them, it's pretty bad. How is it on that front?
My proposal was to secure the person named Genjirou and, in exchange, settle for the amount of Crimson Gold that Kon could provide, and it seems we are close to an agreement.
"By the way, what is Lord Shizuma's situation like? Does he have a family?""I don't know the details either, but at the very least, I can't say it's a good situation. I believe he has a wife and two children. Regarding his financial situation, it seems his salary is enough to support his family and live modestly.""You know quite a bit?""When you're in business, you naturally gather information. Also, people in my position must constantly collect information on influential figures, or we'll quickly be tripped up.""I see.""From my perspective, I can only think he must be quite the talented individual for Lord Liberta to be so concerned about him. How is it on that front?""Let's just say I also have my own sources of information. If you want to snatch him away or utilize him as a spy, be my guest?""Even I wouldn't try to sow discord after a conversation like this. Besides, I can't imagine that person being suited for a shadowy role. From what I've heard of his character, he's apparently a rather rigid-minded person."
If I could change Lady Esmeralda's fate, perhaps I can change the fate of other characters as well.But what exactly will happen as a result of changing that fate is far too unknown.
Here in the Southern Continent, where Lady Esmeralda exists in the present timeline, we're fighting Azidahaka so early in the story.I'm apprehensive, wondering if we might end up fighting the Hyakki Yagyo even if Genjirou is removed, but if I can acquire a talent who awakens like the bully leader in that certain cat-shaped robot's movie, I can't help but reach out.
"Precisely because of that rigid mindset, it's difficult to poach him once he's sworn loyalty, even if it's unreasonable. So, if it proves impossible, can we renegotiate?""That sounds fine."
Having fought him before, I know his true strength.If I can fix the demerits, I think I can acquire a truly excellent person.
With that in mind, I'm looking forward to seeing how this roll of the dice will turn out.