Chapter 321
The method to defeat Azidahaka in FBO involved hints scattered throughout various quests, and success depended on piecing that information together.
"For the decoy unit, we'll handle it. The unit for minimizing damage seems good with this setup as well."
The classic method that comes to mind is, of course, brute force through over-leveling and high stats.
However, to do that, we need to venture into the most dangerous area of the Central Continent.Given the current situation where the 'die-and-retry' tactic isn't usable, doing that carries risks.
The proper way is to gear up properly and then grind levels, but that would take too much time, and we wouldn't make it before Azidahaka's revival.
Seriously, why on earth has this event been moved up?
"Alright, with this, there's no escape route."
Before we can defeat Azidahaka—or rather, to prevent Azidahaka's complete revival, we must defeat a certain existence early on.
"Shall we do it?"
Duke Boldorinde, the former Grand Noble of this continent, whom we FBO players nicknamed "Duke Castle Snake."
This guy is heavily involved in Azidahaka's revival, and the longer his event is left unattended, the faster the revival progresses.
"Lord Liberta.""Ingrid, are you really going to participate?""Yes, I am your servant. Now that I have gained power, there is no reason for me to leave your side.""You'll be killing people, you know?""It is merely the subjugation of bandits. If they threaten the peace of this world, then it is a necessary action, I believe.""I see..."
With the addition of Genjirou as new combat strength, we then devoted ourselves solely to leveling, and our preparations are somewhat complete.
This battle is the preliminary skirmish.Due to this country's issues, we cannot use the combat strength of the other continental heroes: Clarice, Kon, and Barbados.
In terms of pure combat ability, we already have enough strength to defeat the former Duke Boldorinde.The problem was creating an encirclement network to ensure the former Duke Boldorinde absolutely does not escape.And the preparations to prevent Azidahaka's revival from accelerating due to the mass killing of people.
For this battle, I originally didn't intend to include my party members: Nel, Amina, Ingrid, Claudia, and Lady Esmeralda.
Because this battle isn't against monsters, it's against people.It's different from monsters.It's not that I'm bound by Japanese common sense in thinking this.
It's simply because killing people is considered evil in this world too.
As Ingrid said, those we are about to fight are bandits.Even so, people are people. I thought it would be mentally tough for them, but...
"Alright! Let's get pumped up!!""Ooh!!""They really don't seem to find it tough, do they..."
Fully equipped and highly motivated, Nel and Amina are also eager to participate.They just don't see bandits as *people*, huh.Some people are troubled by subjugating bandits and such, but even those individuals were educated to understand the harm caused by bandits and accept the necessity.Thinking about it carefully, FBO had depictions like that too.
Back then, since it was a game, I accepted it as part of the world setting.But冷静に考えて冷静に考えて (calmly thinking), in this world, bandits and pirates are more harmful than a wild brown bear coming down into a town.
A brown bear comes down to town seeking food to survive, but bandits and the like rob people, attack them, and destroy their livelihoods to satisfy their own desires.
For people who have lived earnest lives, they are nothing but a harmful presence, a disaster that should be eliminated.
They are perceived as a contradictory existence—human, yet not human—and education is thorough in making children recognize them as evil.
Nel, being a merchant's daughter, has arguably received this education more thoroughly than anyone else here.I can picture Zink, his usual high-tone eyes gone, educating Nel.
"As a noble, subjugating bandits is a duty! Therefore, it is unthinkable for me not to go!""I've also defeated bandits many times during my travels. This is nothing new now."
Lady Esmeralda and Claudia have different positions, but both recognize subjugating bandits as something that must be done.
The forces for this battle are our party, the Edelgard Ducal House's private soldiers, and...
"My Lord! I thank you for granting us the honor of the vanguard!!"
...the samurai group I scouted through Kon.Honestly, I thought we wouldn't have enough time to train them given the number of days.But we managed. We made it.
Even with the EXP boost from paid items, this group is just too exceptional.Well, I did think they were originally quite skilled, didn't I?Even back in the FBO days, I thought their actual skill was considerable.But the samurai group led by Genjirou and the others, freed from being NPCs controlled by AI, turned out to be mentally tougher Satsuma-style warriors beyond my imagination.
I mean, normally, if your stats reset to zero and you were weakened, you'd get scared, right? Anxious, right?But even though I gave them equipment beyond their appropriate level, Genjirou and the others joyfully charged at Class 3 boss monsters *at level zero*!How long do you think it took them to max out their sword art skill slots after securing them at Class 0 using the Kagami Mochi method?
Half a day. Half a day.
When they got motivated right after the contract was formed and I taught them the theory of getting stronger, I thought it was a happy miscalculation.
But these guys are just like us gamers—a group of battle-specialized maniacs.If they can get stronger, their private lives don't matter.
A group that specializes their brain resources on slaughtering enemies.In a sense, they disregard danger and have no hesitation in fearlessly tackling the most efficient leveling course I could devise head-on.
A class difference normally creates a power gap that forces a hard fight.That's normal. That's common sense.
"Yeah, I'm counting on you.""Yes! We shall take the head of this man, Boldorinde!!"
But these people, whenever they have free time, they hole up in dungeons.
Wake up in the morning -> Dungeon. Finish breakfast -> Dungeon. Finish lunch -> Dungeon. Finish dinner -> Dungeon.After working up a sweat, they drink a tiny bit of sake, and then sleep.Beyond that, it's just repeating this routine.
The Edelgard House's private soldiers, Clarice, Kon, and Barbados all rest properly, but...
This Satsuma-brained samurai group, having been given a safe haven and wanting to live up to the expectations placed on the skills they've honed, never neglect their training.
They continued leveling at a pace that would make even Judess and the others, who are like "Which black company's death march is this? Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Friday?", make a deathly face.And they boast that any fatigue is blown away by the little sake they drink, and in the morning, they enter the dungeon with refreshed faces and smiles!
"Truly, I managed to scout some remarkable personnel."
Their player skill was high from the start.On top of that, giving them EXBP and additional skill slots made them grow stronger visibly, like fish in water, transforming into a group that enjoys the process of becoming stronger.
It's as if children who received a new game are engrossed in playing it.
They now call themselves my 'Garden Keepers' (御庭番衆).By the way, this organization is officially recognized.
His Grace Duke Edelgard told me that since I'm taking the samurai group as subordinates, I should manage them as a formal organization.Thinking 'That's true indeed,' I considered what to do and consulted with Genjirou.
It was decided that they would be utilized as guards for me, Nel, and the others, and as combat strength when needed.
Following the covert organization 'Entertainers,' the second organization, the "Garden Keepers," was explosively born.
When I placed Genjirou as its leader, he was so happy he cried like a man.
"Everyone, put your spirit into it, to meet our Lord's expectations!!""「「「「「WOOOOOOOOOH!!!!!」」」」」"
At first, I thought their leveling wouldn't be finished in time, so I didn't plan to include them in this operation. But when I said that, they accelerated their leveling and made it in time.
The scene back then... even a workaholic would say 'You go that far?' and make a face like a Tibetan fox. They broke through with sheer guts and determination.I felt like I saw the reason why they were called one of the 'Three Madmen.' While I felt reassured to have such reliable allies, I also felt pressure to become a person worthy of such loyalty.
"Lord Liberta!!""Ah, good work.""Not at all! We are also prepared!"
And then there's this person who, while not to the same extent as Genjirou, directs similar emotions towards me: a man named Borgle, who serves as the captain of the Edelgard family's private knight order.
Should I say his face is square? He has strong, deep features—a muscular man suited by the description 'a face with strong presence.' When he smiles, he has charm, but combined with his large frame, he has such an intimidating presence that one might think a child meeting him for the first time would cry.
At first, I thought he was a guy who often made remarks looking down on mages and civil officials. But after I beat him to a pulp, educated him to get stronger, and thoroughly drilled into him the importance of mages and the necessity of civil officials, he started showing me respect, much like Duke Edelgard does for some reason.
"I see. I'll ask Ms. Claudia to coordinate with the Temple Knight Order as well. Please coordinate closely with the Magic Captain and ensure everything is perfect.""Yes, sir! Leave it to me!"
People can change.But isn't this changing a bit too much?
There isn't something like 'future Duke Edelgard' mixed into that gaze, is there?I have no intention of becoming a noble, you know.
After defeating Azidahaka, I'm fully intending to build an independent city, but I have absolutely no intention of becoming a noble of this country, okay?
"It's become a good atmosphere, hasn't it?""Ah, you mean Mr. Borgle?""Yes. Before, he was serious but bound by noble consciousness, and his fighting was rigid. But now, tempered by you, he has acquired flexible thinking.""Ms. Claudia has been training him too."
Seeing such an exchange, she spoke to me with a smile. For a moment, I thought she might ask if I'd become a noble, but the topic was about Borgle's growth, so I was relieved.
"Yes, he will probably carry out your strategies perfectly.""We can get reinforcements from the Temple too, right?""Yes, without issue. They can act as part of the encirclement and also work to disrupt Azidahaka's revival.""That helps. Regardless of tools, securing spellcasters has been somewhat difficult."
When all is said and done, the main force will be the Edelgard Ducal House's private soldiers.It's no exaggeration to say that this operation won't succeed unless their coordination is solid.
With Ms. Lotus completely occupied with suppressing Hokushi, and Duke Edelgard unable to take direct command, Lady Esmeralda would normally be the one to take command. But this time, she will be acting with my party as part of the main force, so that's not possible.
Putting aside her combat ability, Lady Iris's command ability is still in the learning stages.
Therefore, Borgle taking command is the best option.
Genjirou has the role of drawing the enemy's attention head-on. Borgle is tasked with forming the encirclement. The Temple Knight Order is requested to deploy a certain barrier.
The Entertainers have been requested to monitor Boldorinde and will constantly track him during the battle.
This is the 'Snake-Slaying Formation' we can prepare in the current situation.
Well then, shall we proceed with the execution?