061-080 · 065-ch58

Chapter 58: Surface Arc - Looking Ahead

That said, nothing concrete had been decided yet, nor had any explorers other than Kagetora and Hagane declared their participation in Takamiya's proposal.

Therefore, from here on, Takamiya would need to persuade the explorers using his words and the rewards he offered.

"Minori, please distribute the materials."

"Understood."

At Takamiya's words, his female secretary effortlessly lifted a mountain of documents with one hand and began distributing them as she walked before the explorers.

"These contain my proposed division of forces for this operation, each person's role, and the rewards I will pay upon their completion."

These were documents that arranged those who had contacted him beforehand about attending this meeting in terms of combat capability, with Takamiya's side considering what forces would be needed and making appropriate assignments.

"So we're..."

"Support for the District 12 conquest, huh? Well, figures as much."

"I was wondering about District 12 given our abilities, but I suppose we can manage this way."

Having skimmed the materials, Kanata and the others exchanged words of confirmation with their companions about their roles.

To briefly explain the contents of the materials, they detailed the policy for dividing the roughly sixty people present into teams of twenty for each District—12, 13, and 14—as well as the specific roles required of individual members.

For example, the greatest combat forces such as Kiryuin Hagane and Nagao Kagetora would be tasked with blazing the trail toward conquering Districts 13 and 14.

Those like Dungeon Stars, who were slightly inferior in ability, would serve as their support, entrusted with maintaining the base camp and preparing meals.

Through such role division, they would simultaneously conquer the Deep Layer's District 12 and subjugate its boss while also advancing on Districts 13 and 14 in parallel.

The information gathered would be shared among explorers to pursue more efficient exploration.

"Depending on this role assignment, some will receive fewer benefits. For those individuals, I would like to provide substantial support from my side. Though what I can prepare will mainly be financial."

"I have one question."

At Takamiya's words, it was Erika—who had been reading the materials alone—who interjected.

"E-chan...!?"

As Kanata inadvertently let out a voice, Erika posed her question to Takamiya.

"With this exploration method, excluding those already high in ability who will primarily focus on conquest, I believe those of us assigned to support roles will have difficulty leveling up. What are your thoughts on this?"

In response to that question, Takamiya answered with his reasoning for making this proposal.

"The reason I'm proposing this now is because the technique of Magic Power Manipulation, which John Doe made widely known, has allowed explorers as a whole to improve their abilities. However, as a result of that improvement, explorers like our Hagane here and Nagao-san from Another Frontier—who are clearly overqualified for District 12 yet unable to demonstrate their full strength due to exploration not advancing—have become more common. If we can push the front line forward all at once through this joint operation, each person can explore in an appropriate area. That aspect is what I envision for this operation."

The pioneers who had been carving open the front lines until now—Hagane, Kagetora, and the other members of Pioneer and Another Frontier—were individuals who had been exploring District 11 without issue even before the technique of Magic Power Manipulation existed.

Therefore, as a result of acquiring Magic Power Manipulation, their abilities had grown so great that they could no longer be fully utilized at the front line.

However, on the other hand, because the guilds schemed against each other while each aimed to conquer floors alone, Japan's dungeon conquest remained stalled at District 12.

To break through this status quo and provide a place where those with power could appropriately wield it, Takamiya was proposing this conquest operation.

"In other words, you don't intend to repeat something like this multiple times in the future?"

"Forcibly gathering people and taking forceful measures will only be for this occasion. Once this operation concludes, I'm considering limiting myself to merely mediating cooperation between multiple guilds."

"Understood. Thank you very much."

That was exactly what Erika had wanted to ask.

Would this plan be repeated over and over?

While doing so might increase the number of conquered districts, overall it would cause a thinning of forces.

For example, if they participated in this operation, those with sufficient ability to handle conquest would gain levels through combat with monsters and acquire combat experience.

But those like Erika's group, who lacked sufficient ability and could only maintain already occupied areas and support other explorers' conquests, would barely be blessed with combat opportunities and would gain neither levels nor ability.

If such an operation were repeated multiple times, a phenomenon would occur where only those who already had ability would steadily grow stronger, while everyone else would be left behind.

Erika had been concerned about that.

And precisely because Takamiya had predicted this as well, he basically intended for this joint exploration gathering sixty top-class explorers to be a one-time-only affair.

It was necessary to break through the current situation, and he had no intention of foolishly repeating this operation multiple times to thin out overall forces.

"Ah, so basically."

It was then that the one who spoke up was the leader of the Lycans, who had been brushed aside by Takamiya with words at the very beginning.

"You're gonna provide financial support so we can all hurry up and advance the conquest. That about right?"

The obviously aggressive person who had picked a fight at the very beginning spoke up again, causing some tension to run through the room.

Though Kagetora narrowed her already narrow eyes further and smiled, and Hagane kept his arms crossed with eyes closed—those stronger than the Lycans' leader showed no particular signs of tension.

"Generally, yes. As for the means to that end, if there's a better method, I'll leave it to you."

"Nah, that stuff's fine. We don't get complicated stuff. Just means you'll take us to where there's stuff we can beat, right? Simple and easy to understand."

According to the materials Erika had checked, the Lycans' assignment for this operation was conquering District 12 and subjugating its boss monster.

In that sense, the Lycans would be thrown at the boss monster whose location was nearly known, just as they wished.

"Also, sorry about before. Thought some small fry was acting tough, so I picked a fight."

"It's fine. I'm used to that degree."

And while many were astonished that their leader had apologized so normally, Takamiya once again confirmed agreement with the entire group.

"Then, does anyone else wish to decline this operation?"

At Takamiya's words, no one raised their hand.

And that made sense.

The strongest and second strongest in this room had agreed.

The Lycans, who had been the first to oppose, had also agreed.

There weren't many people who could back out of this situation.

In that sense, it was Takamiya's strategic victory in bringing the atmosphere of this meeting to this point.

"Then, let's nail down the details. Including distribution of dropped items and items obtained from treasure chests, I would like to have a discussion with one representative from each guild or agency. It would be somewhat troublesome to discuss this all at once with this many people. I'd like to take a break and move to a different location to begin, but is there anyone with objections?"

At Takamiya's words, the principal individuals present responded.

"I am ready even now."

"Me too."

These two said they didn't need a break, but Takamiya deliberately overruled them and gave his next instruction.

"The break will be thirty minutes as scheduled. After that, we will move to the adjacent conference room for a representatives' meeting. Then, please take your break. You are free to use this conference room, and those not participating in the representatives' meeting may leave."

With that announcement, Takamiya rose from his seat and left the conference room.

Following after him, the female secretary and Hagane also exited.

Only then, perhaps finally feeling that the meeting had ended, Kanata exhaled the breath she had been holding.

"S-so tense..."

"The higher up you go, the more difficult solo exploration becomes, and these kinds of strategy meetings become more common. You'll all need to get used to it eventually."

"We don't really do this kinda stiff stuff. Makes my skin crawl. Well, it was good that Takamiya guy didn't use polite language. Wasn't awkward or nothin'."

"...We're on support duty?"

At Noah's words—who had been playing with the spirit in her hand even during the meeting—the members of Dan-Sta looked through the distributed materials.

"Well, figures as much. I'd be more surprised if any of us besides Erika were called for our ability. We're basically barely called 'cause they're short on people."

"Ahaha, we can only fight stably around District 8 after all."

"...Growing that much in one month is plenty."

"That's true, but still. The road ahead is long."

Seeing her companions exchanging words like this, with no one getting depressed over being evaluated as lacking ability, Erika felt relieved.

Being selected as support for this District 12 conquest team essentially meant they were being evaluated as not yet usable on the front lines, but her companions accepted this fact, faced reality, and looked ahead—and Erika found them reliable.

"We need to be on the front lines when a similar meeting is held next time. With that mindset, we'll be fine. Actually, our growth in ability has been quite significant."

"Yeah, that's right. We have to work harder."

"And we've barely earned half our debt back~"

"...Trying to earn it in one year is what's impossible."

"You never know, we might win some amazing magic staff or something."

Making such small talk, the four of them spent the time until Erika would participate in the representatives' meeting.

And so, an unprecedented large-scale conquest operation in Japan involving numerous explorers had opened its curtain.