Even the monster world had its share of celebrities. For example, if you picked up a normal person from the street and asked him about the Bellarios, no one would have any idea what he was talking about. Ogres, Orcs, Trolls, Goblins and Minotaurs, though? Even a normal citizen of Rafdonia could conjure up an image of them in his mind in perfect detail.
So what was the difference between the two groups?
The stories.
In my opinion, stories played a very important role. Just like the people of Earth learned about the Little Mermaid and the Nutcracker as children, the people of this world also grew up hearing stories.
The heavy side.
The Wild Orc.
El Minotauro del Laberinto.
The Ogre Tyrant of the Forest.
Monsters told famous stories used to carry descriptions like that, and the same was true for rank one monsters.
«...Has everyone found out? Looks like we'll have to fight Kashan or Leviathan».
«Do you mean the Wolf of Prophecy or the God of the Sea?»
The Wolf of Prophecy, Kashan, and the God of the Sea, Leviathan. Sometimes they only referred to them by their titles, so he had had to look for them when he came into this world to know what people were talking about. In any case, that wasn't the important thing.
«...If we can defeat one of them in battle, this will truly be a legendary expedition».
«I'm a little worried. Will we be able to take down monsters like that...?»
Everyone already knew that we were going to have to fight a rank one monster, but even among the members of the palace expedition group, public opinion was divided.
«Haha, you worry too much. Yes, they are incredibly difficult to combat when you face them in their original territories, which is why they have legendary status. But aren't they still just monsters? With our strength, we will be able to take care of them without problems».
«Hmm, I hope so...»
Some were confident while others were openly worried. Jerome listened a little to gauge popular opinion before looking at his mage, who quickly cast another sound restriction spell so we could continue our discussion. «We will not be able to defeat any of them except Kashan... Your Honor, could it be explained better?».
«I have nothing more to say. I have made my opinion clear, so make your decision. Will you put your trust in the word of your magician, or in the word of an adventurer?»
The old wizard next to me giggled upon hearing that. Or, well, his mouth laughed, but his eyes didn't. «I understand that you attach great importance to your experience, but we are the ones who have spent decades delving into first-hand stories and becoming experts on these creatures».
"¿Y que?"
«I cannot accept your statement that Kashan is our only option. The most recent case of a defeated rank one monster involved only forty combatants. And from my point of view...» The old man shrugged and looked at the group of expedition members, and only then did I realize why I was so sure.
«So you think just because forty people were able to do it, such a large group can do it too», I deduced.
«That's right. Gathered here, we have almost two hundred talented individuals who were hand-picked by the palace itself. What objective exists that we cannot meet?».
«Let's first make sure we agree. Are the forty people you speak of the Boat Clan, which disbanded decades ago after a dimensional collapse?».
My question caused a hint of surprise to reflect on the old man's face. «...So you know the story?».
Of course I knew her. I wasn't relying solely on my knowledge of the game: I had studied a lot.
«From what I've heard», I continued, »each of them was one of the best adventurers in the kingdom, and they prepared for that one hunt for more than half a year. They also spent almost a billion stones to buy all the items they needed».
«If you are concerned about resources, our expedition group has more than enough-»
«Sir Versilus», Jerome said pointing. «Do not interrupt Your Honor».
The old wizard fell silent, and fortunately I was able to continue my explanation without impediments.
«Do you think we have enough supplies? It's impossible. An hour ago we didn't even know we were going to have to face a rank one monster. Do you really think that potions and scrolls alone will be enough to kill one?».
«If we were guided by your logic, Lord Baron, what difference would it have made against a Kashan?», replied the old wizard, clearly annoyed. «We would be just as unprepared».
Yeah, I figured you'd say that.
I took advantage of the opportunity before I could say another word. «The Kashan monster has the lowest resistances of all rank one monsters».
«But in exchange, its attack power is much greater».
«That's why we have any chance of beating him».
«...What do you base this on?»
«In the fact that I'm here». I pointed my thumb at myself. «It should be enough to contain the wolf».
«¡And!»
Before the old mute wizard could grumble at my bold statement, I quickly added a more logical explanation.
«Furthermore, there is no set method for hunting a Kashan. In other words, that means that kashan can be hunted without the need for special preparations. Although we will have some casualties, the Kashan is definitely defeatable».
«What do you say to that, Sir Versilus?» jerome asked.
The veteran was slow to respond. «...With that logic, you could argue that any monster is beatable or unbeatable depending on what suits you best».
All he did was refute my argument without even bothering to confront him.
However, Jerome didn't seem to have anything to say about it. «I see», he interrupted himself, nodding as he sank into thought.
Seeing an opportunity, the old wizard murmured: «Commander Saintred, how about we ask everyone? Ask them if we should summon the Leviathan as I suggested, or summon the Kashan as the Baron suggests».
In other words, I wanted to put it to a vote. I couldn't sit idly by and let that happen. It was obvious what the group would be left with if they were forced to choose between relying on the advice of a barbarian or that of a wizard.
So now he's using his brain.
I needed to avoid a vote at all costs. But before he could open his mouth, a stern voice interrupted our discussion.
«I won't let that happen», Jerome said.
«Won't you let it happen?», the old man repeated in disbelief. «And why is that?»
«Force responsibility for making a decision on my subordinates simply because I myself could not choose between two options? Sir Versilus, a leader willing to do something like that could never earn the genuine trust of the people below him».
«...It is not about changing responsibility. We're just going to ask for your opinions-»
«That's the same thing», Jerome said sharply, cutting off the old wizard. «A leader is someone who makes decisions and takes responsibility for those decisions». With that, he ended the debate by declaring: «Very well, I have decided».
«And by decided you mean...?».
«Kashan. We will summon the Wolf of Prophecy». With an air that admitted no opposition, he continued forward and added: «This decision is mine alone, and any consequences will fall solely on my shoulders. Everyone will do well to remember this when we begin preparations».
Faced with such charisma, the other leaders could only say one thing.
«¡Nia Rafdonia!»
Heh, this kingdom really had a lot of talented people.
***
While sharing the news with members of Squad Four after the meeting, Jerome approached me. «Your Honor, could you have a moment of your time?»
«Of course.»
We both didn't need to go anywhere, as everyone quickly snuck away to make room for us. Nearby wizards even cast a sound restriction spell so we could talk privately.
The commander chuckled. «I wasn't going to cause such a fuss».
«There is a saying that the more reserved the leader is, the better».
«...¿Lo hay?»
«No, I just made it up».
He didn't seem to have anything to say to that.
«So what is it about?» asked.
Jerome quickly got to the point. «I come to tell you not to worry too much about Sir Versilus. I'll take care of him».
«Take care of him...?».
«I know you and the Magic Tower had a little disagreement a while ago. I realized I was being petty and arguing against his suggestions on principle.»
«...Do you have information about Kashan?»
«Nothing that any adventurer didn't already know. Honestly, I hadn't even heard of the Boat Clan before you mentioned it, since I'm not an adventurer myself.»
«...So how did you know that the magician only argued with me because he wanted to and not because I was wrong?».
«What I lack in adventurous experience, I make up for with my great knowledge of people. And Sir Versilus is pretty easy to read».
This was an unexpected facet of Jerome. He had assumed that he was a muscle head who left all thought to his deputy commander considering how he ordered him to resolve the whole stone gate matter on his own.
Although I guess it doesn't have to be one or the other.
Honestly, people like him were the hardest to deal with. Deciding when to use their strength and when their brain was as easy for them as breathing. In a sense, he could tell that he and I were the same kind of person.
«In any case, I ask you not to hold too much grudge», Jerome implored. «Regardless of whether you like him or not, we will all be allies until we get out of this place».
«Don't worry. To begin with, he wasn't even angry».
«Haha, is that so?»
«I mean... you've put up with a lot of shit too».
«Well, I don't see it as 'enduring' anything...»
«I guess you were born to be a soldier, then».
He laughed again. «How about you take this opportunity to enlist in the army too, Your Honor? I think it would feel like a fish in water».
Don't say something so sinister with such a serious face.
But still, how unexpected. I hadn't anticipated that we could relate like that. Maybe we could get out of this with a friendly relationship...
«By the way, Your Honor.»
«...¿Hm?»
«Could I maybe make a request?»
«A request?»
«The more time I spend with you, the more you remind me of someone I once knew. And that's why, although I know it's impossible...» With that premonitory preface, Jerome raised an object that he had carried under his arm throughout our conversation. «Could you try this on for a moment?».
It was a helmet that covered the entire face.
«...I'm hungry, so I'm leaving now!»
It doesn't matter, none of that «friendly» stuff. From here on out, I needed to stay as far away from that guy as possible.
***
The rank one Prophecy Wolf, Kashan... Although we had decided to summon him, we did not immediately launch into a raid. Defeating a rank one monster was no easy task. We needed to replenish health and PM to make sure we were going to be at our best in this fight.
«Attention to all soldiers! Sir Versilus will inform you about the monster we will soon face».
We also needed to be prepared for the strategy we would use against him. However, unlike when we faced rank two or three monsters, we couldn't ignore the parts of the explanation that didn't directly affect us.
«Greetings, soldiers», said the grandfather, clearing his throat. «As you all know, I am Gahuin Versilus, the leading mage of the First Expedition Group. I have been tasked with imparting to you the intelligence you need to confront the Wolf of Prophecy, Kashan. But first, its name is derived from...»
Bored, he couldn't even begin to describe how dense and wordy the old wizard's explanation was, but since everyone's lives were at stake, we forced ourselves to stay awake and listen.
Oh, except for one person.
"Honk!
¡Hooonk!
A vein throbbed on the old wizard's forehead when he saw that Ainar was not only sleeping, but also snoring loudly. But it seemed like he distrusted me, because he let it go without making any comments.
I sighed. I'll have to explain things to the barbarian later.
Anyway, after that lesson, we had another leaders' meeting. We planned the formations, the items we would use, how we would do the damage cycle during the raid, etc. The discussion lasted several hours and, unexpectedly, I had to make very little input into the conversation. It was not necessary.
«Saintred, do you have experience fighting these types of monsters?». I asked curiously.
«Hmm... If there is anything you think I'm missing, please tell me. My ears are open».
Hey... that wasn't intended to be a criticism.
Once I explained that I was only asking because I couldn't find any fault with his plan, Jerome smiled happily. «Haha, it seems like the maze tactics I learned in my youth have been useful to me», he said humbly.
«Maze tactics? Is it something you learn when you train to become a knight?».
«Not usually, but my father was a bit of a peculiar man».
«...Ya veo.»
Anyway, once that first meeting was over, we got to work doing some combat simulations and continually exchanging ideas about any variables or unforeseen events we might face.
With so many people contributing, it feels like I'm playing a tabletop role-playing game.
Maybe it's because when I played Dungeon and Stone, I played and thought things through myself, but being able to discuss them with a group like this was fun in its own way.
«Then we can leave it here for today. Tomorrow we will gather the whole team to train and the fight will start the day after tomorrow, so make sure you go to bed early today».
In any case, we had nailed our plan.
The next day, we gathered everyone in front of the stone gate to assign the formations and then spent the day rehearsing the assault.
«You, the one over there! You are in the wrong position. You should be here, not there!»
«Ah, sorry...!»
«You... what's your name?»
« Celt's Abyss -»
«Incorrect! Your name is a disgrace to humanity!»
«¿Eh…?»
«If 'I'm sorry' I could figure it all out, why would we need martial law? Is something wrong with your brain? Look there! Even Ainar, a barbarian, knows where he should be!»
Even as I wondered if this battle drill would be really useful, I made sure to be as strict with everyone as I could. Just in case.
Who knows? Someone who would have otherwise died could come out of this alive thanks to my screams.
«...I hadn't realized that the baron was so scary.»
«It's reminding me of my time as a knight's apprentice.»
«Don't look so betrayed. Don't you already know the type of person the baron is? He's saying all this for our own good!»
«Oh... I guess he must feel terrible for yelling at us, then.»
Thanks to the work I put into building a friendly relationship with them, none of them protested the way I was treating them.
«That's all. There will be nothing else to do until tomorrow at noon, so rest until then and get ready!».
Once the battle drill was over, we camped earlier than usual and went to sleep.
And noon came the next day.
«To their positions!»
«To their positions!»
«Lift the book on the altar!»
¡Rumble!
Once we were all in formation, we watched, staring at the laser, as the stone door opened and a pair of eerie blue eyes stared at us through the darkness.
Then, from the sinister shadows...
¡Bum!
A quadrupedal beast slowly came to light.
[You have found the Ominous Prophecy. Your Luck has been set to -200.]
Alright, let's do it.