How to Utilize
by Afuhfuihgs
One of the reasons I left the Academy was for the safety of the Messiah members. Being near me puts them in danger. I realized this through Luna’s death, and I chose to leave before losing anything precious again.
But if the Order was targeting me and my friends, my actions were nothing more than running away. A clear mistake. I believe that if I at least realize it’s a mistake, I should try to make up for it.
I said with a serious expression.
“We must protect the members.”
Raelan gave a bitter smile at my words.
“Strange. Wasn’t your primary goal to revive Luna?”
“…That’s…”
I was momentarily speechless. Even in this situation, reviving Luna was still my top priority. Luna was everything to me, almost my entire world. But the members were also precious beings that I couldn’t trade for anything.
Raelan, noticing my inner conflict, said nonchalantly.
“Right now, we’re competing for the Holy Grail. Do you think we can obtain the Holy Grail before Roel and the Order, while protecting members who could be attacked at any moment?”
Saying that, Raelan, who was sitting next to me, crossed his arms. I sighed at his gaze, as if daring me to answer. It’s already incredibly difficult to focus all our efforts on obtaining the Holy Grail. But I can’t help it. Rakar, Kane, and Aria are precious to me.
“…Even so, I can’t just ignore the danger. We need to divide the rescue team and have some members defend against the Order’s attacks.”
“The Coordinator has joined, but they won’t be able to completely fill Estelle’s void. Even if they’re a Grand Magician, they’re a Coordinator specialized in combat. The strengths and weaknesses of a magician and an assassin are clear, right? In this situation, who are you going to pull out?”
“…Yunis and Lamine are Academy students anyway, so those two should be enough.”
Raelan immediately asked at my question.
“Then what are you going to do about the spots those two leave open?”
My face grew hot. Raelan’s sharp question subtly tells me that I’m making the wrong choice. But I can’t abandon my friends.
I said with a slightly annoyed voice.
“…As the last Ross who will save the world, is it not okay for me to be a little greedy?”
Perhaps my voice was too loud, as my colleagues who were conversing turned their attention to me. Raelan, who was staring intently at me, twisted one corner of his mouth.
“Of course, you can be greedy. If you have the ability, you can do anything. But you’re not properly grasping the situation right now. You don’t know what you can utilize. You may not have Yunis’s broad perspective, but utilizing the resources you have is the most important ability a leader should possess.”
In that moment, I realized. This was one of Raelan’s many tests. Raelan is constantly trying to make me aware of what my position is. He’s helping me in his own way to fulfill the role of a leader who guides everyone.
I understand now. To Raelan’s question of what I was planning to do with the Saintess, I should have asked this: What would you do? That was the action a leader with the two best strategists in the world should take. There was no need to come up with a clumsy plan myself as usual.
Now, I’m not the head of the Academy club, but the leader of the rescue team that will save the world. If I don’t adapt to this position, many people will suffer.
I turned my head and gestured to Yunis, who was looking at me. Yunis, who had been quietly watching the conversation, took the seat next to me. Sitting between the two strategists, I asked in a low voice.
“The Order is targeting the lives of Academy students who have entered the labyrinth. Is there a way to protect them while maintaining the rescue team’s strength?”
I’m not in a position to give the right answer. I’m in a position to ask someone better than me and choose the option closest to the right answer. People each have their own strengths. I need to acknowledge my shortcomings and utilize those who are better than me.
Raelan and Yunis exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously, answering.
“There is.”
“There is.”
These two knew the answer to a problem I thought had no solution. Just like Raelan said, I was too hasty in thinking about my friends being in danger and didn’t think to utilize the two of them. I sighed and sent a look asking them to tell me, and Yunis scratched her freckled nose and said.
“Um… Actually, I’ve already made preparations to prevent the Order’s attack.”
I was dumbfounded and made a blank expression. Was I the only one who was serious?
Yunis, reading my expression, waved her hands in embarrassment.
“I wasn’t trying to hide it. I just didn’t think it was necessary to say anything when we needed to focus on obtaining the Holy Grail.”
Saying that, Yunis glared at Raelan. It was a resentful look, as if asking why he had brought it up.
“It’s something that could put my friends in danger, of course I should have said something.”
“…But you’ve prepared so perfectly that you don’t need to worry, right?”
“How exactly?”
Raelan stole Yunis’s words as she was about to answer.
“Still don’t get it? The people gathered in this basement aren’t the only ones helping you.”
At those words, something came to mind. I had forgotten about it for a while. There are people who aren’t gathered in Modiste’s basement, but are ready to fight on my side.
“…Could it be.”
“Yes, the former head of Frax and soldiers armed with magic stone bombs will be in charge of protecting the Academy students and guarding your friends.”
That alone is enough. Illeid was one of the stronger Sword Masters, and the Academy would have professors and knights protecting them. If the Grand Magician Nelson is with them, there shouldn’t be any danger unless the entire Konfession attacks.
The tension suddenly left me, and I leaned back in my chair without realizing it. Now I can focus on the Holy Grail with peace of mind. As I let out a sigh of relief, Raelan leaned towards me.
“Up to this point, it’s Yunis’s plan.”
“…Do you have another plan?”
Raelan gave a joyful smile at my question.
“As Bella intended, the Order plans to participate in the labyrinth. It’s clear they’re after the Holy Grail. But why should we have a fair competition? The other side has already crossed the line. Hehehe.”
That’s right. The Order killed Luna, an innocent Luna. And they’re targeting my friends. Obtaining the Holy Grail is important, but we also need to reduce the Order’s power at this opportunity.
“Are you thinking of attacking the Order?”
“Yes, we can’t miss this opportunity that Bella created. We’ll hunt down as many Konfession members as possible in the labyrinth.”
Raelan readily admitted, and I became uneasy for no reason and said.
“What’s important to us right now is obtaining the Holy Grail faster than anyone else. While we’re fighting, Roel will ignore us and run to obtain the Holy Grail.”
“I know, so we won’t fight the Order directly.”
I tilted my head at Raelan’s answer. If it’s not us, who will fight the Order? Even if there’s a perception that the Order is an enemy of the Empire, those who have entered the labyrinth seeking treasures and artifacts will choose to avoid or ignore it unless they are attacked first.
“…Are you going to use Frax? If the Academy is suddenly attacked, my friends could be in danger.”
“I’m not planning to use Frax. Their role this time is solely protection. There’s no need to take risks when you’re bound to worry for no reason.”
Relieved by Raelan’s answer, I scratched my head at the unresolved question and asked.
“Then who is going to fight the Order?”
Raelan smiled and winked at Yunis. Following his gaze, I turned my head, and Yunis frowned and said.
“The Golden King.”
“…What?”
“I listened to Raelan’s plan and thought we should bring the Golden King into this. Raelan agreed too.”
I was taken aback by Yunis’s words. If the Golden King fights the Order, it would be a great help to us… But he’s so consumed by sloth and ennui that he would close his eyes in peace even if the world was ending. It was impossible to move such a Golden King according to our intentions.
“Sorry, but… I think I explained the Golden King enough last time?”
“I know, he’s a dragon consumed by sloth and ennui.”
“How are you going to make such a Golden King fight the Order?”
“We can use a hatchling.”
Raelan’s words suddenly cut in, and my head turned to the side again. I stared with a dumbfounded look at the unexpected remark, and Raelan grinned and said.
“If the Golden King’s true identity is really a Gold Dragon, he will definitely agree to this deal. Will he protect the uniqueness of being the last dragon, or will he be happy that the same species has increased? Either choice will allow us to trade in a favorable direction.”
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