Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Subcontractor
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The hero who subcontracts.
It sounded quite strange… but it didn't seem like there would be any problems.
What's wrong with subcontracting? As long as they're treated fairly, right?
A system where I provide the information and the hero candidates do the work.
I would handle the S-rank dungeons myself. The loot would be phenomenal, but they were just as difficult.
I couldn't have the subcontractors doing dangerous work.
Let me make it clear that this was absolutely not out of a desire to monopolize the top-tier artifacts.
It went without saying, but it was highly inefficient for the strongest force, the hero's party, to tackle A-rank dungeons.
The artifacts were decent, but not good enough to bother with when better options existed.
The core of this plan was to arm the subcontractors with them.
Occasionally, some decent items dropped in A-rank dungeons, and I'd just have to take those as a commission fee.
“…”
Hey, what! I was planning on giving them the leftover items!
Don't go thinking I'm some villain who only provides information, skips the payment, and takes everything for himself!
Anyway.
I came face to face with the workers who would be toiling for no pay.
Hmm… Every single one of them had a gloomy expression.
Excluding Skadi, who was always expressionless, the other three were in bad shape.
I had a good guess as to why. They were probably blaming themselves for failing the pursuit.
Not only that, but their feelings must have been complicated in many ways. They might not have considered Cedric a friend, but he was still one of their peers.
Or perhaps there was some inside story I didn't know. Gale, I could understand, but even the macho men, Baken and Crow, were crestfallen.
An unbelievable situation.
The way they were glancing at me was highly suspicious. I soon heard the full story from them.
“Why so down? Because you lost Cedric?”
“It's not just that we lost him. We saw something unsettling.”
“Unsettling?”
“At first, I thought Cedric was brainwashed. What he did wasn't something a sane person would do. But… it might be the other way around.”
“???”
“Cedric was treating the Demon King's Army spy like his subordinate.”
“…”
What on earth was that reversed relationship about?
I see why they're in this state. Just hearing about it is confusing!
“In my opinion…”
Gale offered his own analysis.
As a mage, he was a guy with a pretty high intelligence stat.
“The Demon King's spy must have done something to Cedric, but he became too strong to control… I'm pretty sure that's it.”
“How much stronger did he get?”
“Strong enough that the three of us couldn't subdue him even when we attacked together.”
“…”
“Even the Student Council President stepped in, but he immediately fled then.”
I fell silent in thought. I had expected some level of power-up.
He was a troublesome guy in many ways, but Cedric was ultimately one of the main characters.
He had the qualifications to become a hero, just like Esterize.
With stats comparable to an S-rank, he was not someone to be ignored. Piecing together their story, it seemed he was about as strong as I was. I was confident I could withstand an assault from these three as well.
“What about the Student Council President?”
“He hasn't returned yet. He remained at the front lines, as if he had some lingering attachment.”
The dragonkin, Landegarde.
A powerhouse so strong that even if the princess and I attacked him together right now, victory wouldn't be guaranteed.
When would I get to see that guy? For some reason, I felt like we kept missing each other.
Well, it wasn't like we absolutely had to meet.
The process of controlling him seemed like it would be very difficult. He becomes an ally after certain conditions are met, but… hmm, I wasn't too keen on that route.
It wasn't that, but my current party composition was quite good. Not the absolute best, but having two heroes was a huge advantage.
But what if Landegarde joined?
He wasn't eccentric, but his serious-about-everything personality was a bit much. There was a high chance he would shatter the pleasant times I spent with the girls.
I couldn't stand that.
I was so used to things now that I was afraid of change.
Anyway.
The subcontractors… no, I had to create a B-team.
I could ignore Cedric's problem. He seemed a bit stronger, but I was already assuming he'd become one of the Four Heavenly Kings anyway.
I'll raise the B-team to be strong and prepare for any unforeseen variables. For the record, the A-team and B-team system didn't exist in the original story.
It was entirely my own idea. Originally, they were supposed to wander around separately and occasionally cross paths.
This choice would drastically shake up the flow, but increasing our overall strength was unconditionally a plus.
“I have a proposal for you.”
“A proposal? Don't tell me…”
“Are you thinking of putting us in your party too?”
“It seems a bit too crowded… but I'll consider it favorably.”
Huh? What's this? Were they secretly hoping for it?
Why are they so excited? They're even counting their chickens before they hatch.
“Um, that's not it…”
“…”
They made disappointed faces.
Amidst it all, Skadi didn't even blink. I calmly explained the plan to form a B-team.
I'll provide you with information. Form a party among yourselves and go do something!
Less so than before, but they showed a strange sense of relief.
“To be honest, we were at a loss for what to do.”
“Chasing Cedric made me realize. We can't keep doing things the way we have been.”
It seemed Cedric becoming stronger had spurred them on in some way.
I was grateful enough that the troublemaker had disappeared on his own, but he even instilled a sense of urgency in the remaining kids.
Everyone was hanging on my every word.
I talked a mile a minute. If anyone else had made this proposal, they would have been suspicious, but I was originally an icon of trust, and becoming a hero had solidified that image even further.
In the first place, Baken and Crow were simple.
Not stupid, just that their way of thinking was straightforward. They were easily persuaded, but the remaining two were a bit of a problem.
Gale and Skadi.
Mages who wielded fire and ice, respectively.
Their intelligence stats were high, so I had to put in just as much effort. Hmm, how should I persuade them?
“That information… you're saying the Sage told you?”
Gale asked, his voice trembling slightly. Just from his excited state, it was clear he respected the Sage.
I got a feeling. Alright, let's start with you!
I took out the guidebook I received from the Sage. I readily showed him the subspace pocket and the scrolls as well.
Gale's reaction was better than I expected. As a mage, he recognized their value precisely.
“Truly amazing… Indeed, the title of Sage is well-deserved.”
He said it was something far beyond his current abilities. He looked genuinely impressed by the Sage's wisdom.
“The teleportation scrolls are one thing, but to think he could create a scroll of a Tier 2 attack spell…”
A Tier 2 spell was equivalent to Gale's ultimate move. The Sage's understanding of magic was unparalleled, enough to contain it in a scroll.
Well, there was no need for him to feel such a huge gap, though. He was a couple of steps below now, but Gale was a hero candidate after all.
He would grow quickly thanks to his main character plot armor. In the original story, by the time the ending approached, he becomes strong enough to take the Sage's title.
Of course, I wasn't hoping for that much. As part of the B-team, not the A-team, there would be a limit to his growth. I'd be more than satisfied if he could shave off even 1% of the Demon King's HP in the final battle.
“By any chance, do you want to meet the Sage?”
“Of course I do!”
“I can arrange a meeting.”
“!!”
His expression brightened instantly.
He expressed his gratitude over and over, and I felt a pang of guilt.
S-stop… that's enough!
It's actually a scenario from the original story!
Towards the latter half, the hero candidates who used magic receive teachings from the Sage. Through this, they grasp the key to Tier 1 magic. In the end, I was taking credit for something that would have happened regardless of my involvement.
“I'm already looking forward to that day…”
Was it because his expectations were soaring? He looked at me with sparkling eyes. A guy doing that was damn creepy.
Anyway, it was obvious he was now ready to get on my good side. It seemed he would readily accept whatever I said.
True to being a mage, his thirst for knowledge was immense. If I persistently targeted that part of him, things would go my way.
A past memory suddenly surfaced. Gale had once teamed up with Cedric to bully innocent students.
He had a history of sending a hitman after me when I was merely a B-rank. It wasn't a major crisis, but I did get pretty badly hurt.
“…”
Well, whatever. I'll be the bigger man and let it slide.
Prioritizing the greater good was the right thing to do. If he follows my orders well from now on, I'll forget about it completely.
“Let's finish what we were talking about. Will you accept my proposal?”
“Hmm, looking at that alone, it seems fine, but…”
He sent me a look, looking troubled. He shook his head as if to say the members were a hopeless case.
Yeah, that made sense. I understood what he meant. Their abilities were beyond doubt, but teamwork was a pipe dream.
Baken and Crow were stubborn, and Skadi was a quiet girl, almost to the point of having no presence. In truth, it was impossible for even me to control them perfectly. That's why I formed the A-team only with those who followed me well.
In any case, it was time to pick a leader for the B-team. For the subcontractor's team leader, Gale was the most suitable choice, if anyone.
His experience leading a faction, his outstanding intellect and judgment befitting a mage.
Of course, that alone was far from enough. It would be tough, but he could think of it as penance for bothering me in the past.
“It would be best if you took the role of team leader.”
“Team leader?”
“I mean the leader.”
“!!”
Huh? Look at this guy.
As if to prove he was smart, he caught on immediately. He realized his own leadership wouldn't be nearly enough.
-Sorry, but I really don't have the confidence. I don't know about Skadi, but will the other two accept it?
He sent a secret message with magic. As expected, he saw right through it. It was obvious they would challenge him, asking who he thought he was to be the leader.
Even now, they were showing their full dissatisfaction. They seemed to be holding back because I was here, and the fact they could exhibit that much self-control was surprising.
Well, it was a problem easily solved if the hero stepped in. I stared at Baken and Crow for a moment before letting out a sharp yell.
“You two, are you confident you can do a better job than him?”
“Um, well…”
“Speak clearly. Are you confident!”
“…”
“If not, then shut up and accept it. In my eyes, Gale is the right person for the job.”
I had no faith he would do it perfectly. Still, he was talented enough to lead the B-team to some extent.
Was it because I had established his position for him? Gale looked satisfied, as if he'd hit the jackpot. His expression was getting on my nerves, so I added a few more words.
“As you all know, if any problems arise in the party, it's all the leader's responsibility.”
“???”
“You'll have to achieve great things to have something to show for when you meet the Sage, right? I trust you'll do well on your own.”
“…”
The pressure multiplied a hundredfold.
He seemed to realize something was wrong, but it was already too late. In the end, he acknowledged the rationality of my proposal and accepted it without complaint.
Next, we all looked at Skadi. The girl simply nodded silently at the gazes gathering on her.
I wasn't sure if it was my imagination, but it seemed like the corners of her mouth twitched for a brief moment. Then again, from Skadi's perspective, she might be secretly pleased.
Except for her, everyone was a man. Looking at the composition alone, she was the female version of Jace.
Yes, it's a gift from me…
It's a rare opportunity, so enjoy the reverse harem.
With her stoic concept, nothing would probably happen, but this could be an opportunity for her to change a little.
And so, the subcontractor… no, the B-team party was formed. They were lacking compared to the A-team, but it was good to see them gathered together nonetheless.
“Well then, I'll be off…”
“No, wait. Didn't you forget something? It feels important, yet not at the same time…”
“???”
Gale was extremely confused. Seeing him like that made my head spin too.
Huh? What did I miss? After thinking hard for a long time, I finally remembered something.
“I forgot about Erich…”
“I feel like there's someone else besides him… Anyway, what should we do about that guy?”
He looked unenthusiastic. A guy with mediocre skills who was nothing but a nuisance because he was royalty…
“Use your judgment as the leader.”
“…”
He frowned at being told to handle it himself. Having passed the buck, I turned and left.
I couldn't take care of everything from one to ten. I'd laid the foundation, so I could only hope they'd do well.
I didn't have high expectations, but you never know. The B-team also had potential that wasn't inferior to the A-team's. If we were lucky, one or two of them might even awaken on their own.
I spun my wheel of happy thoughts. An unexpected stroke of luck could happen, right?
Competition between the A-team and B-team, or perhaps joint operations…
Creating the B-team was a sudden idea, but the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a pretty good picture was forming.