There were reasons for silence with so many people gathered. They could all be focused on something, or the atmosphere could be solemn, or maybe everyone was just shocked.
For this particular silence, the latter was the reason. All the leaders who had been sitting in their seats looked at me in amazement at what I said and did. However, no one spoke to say anything and rather everyone looked in the same direction.
Zylan Ebost, the deputy commander of our expedition group, who had every right to obtain commander authority in the absence of the current commander.
To be honest, I held this man in high regard. Even when an unexpected monster entered Commander Jerome Saintred's body, the expedition continued smoothly. This man was the oil and engine that made this expedition group run smoothly.
He was probably thinking about announcing his promotion after he told everyone during this meeting what happened in the rift.
Had it not been for my sudden meddling, that plan would have gone ahead without any opposition and he would have become the commander.
Everyone was waiting for his response, but the deputy commander also remained silent. It seemed like he was reflecting calmly.
I don't need to give it time.
I looked at the deputy commander and spoke again. «Do you really not understand what this means?».
When I let a hint of mockery seep into my voice, the deputy commander couldn't help but finally respond.
«Yes I understand it. I understand exactly why you sat in that seat, and I was just thinking about the words I should use to make you understand, Your Honor.»
«Make me understand... Could you take it as if you don't accept me sitting in this seat?».
The eyes of the other leaders widened at my provocative question. «Are you serious now, barbarian?», they seemed to want to shout, but they weren't able to say anything because of my noble title and reputation.
Unfortunately, that also applied to my allies. Even Amelia, whom I considered my right hand, stood further away as she looked at me with eyes that said: «Has this guy gone crazy?».
«Of course not».
The deputy commander chose that moment to answer my question.
«You have no right to become commander of this expedition group», he informed me.
«Because?»
«Because you are the leader of Temporary Squad Four, Your Honor».
Not even the leader of an officially created squad, but only the leader of Temporary Squad Four.
«Under palace military law, if the highest-ranking officer dies in battle or is unable to continue his duty, the next highest-ranking individual will assume his position.».
The subcommander even mentioned military law and also invoked the name of the palace.
Hey, do you think I don't know all this?
«So there's no problem», I said. «The one with the highest rank after the count is me, the baron».
Although this was an expedition group filled with all kinds of elites, the only people here with noble titles were the count and I, the baron. What kind of nobility would enter the labyrinth, much less this underground floor that had not even been mapped correctly? The only reason Count Saintred was here was because they needed someone to lead the rest of the people on the expedition.
He deputy commander dejó to escape a sigh myentras looked at me. «Su Siria, you need to understand the difference between rank and nobility ».
To be honest, it was a softer response than I expected. If I were in his place, I would have yelled at him and raised the hammer first, telling him I wouldn't continue with his nonsense.
«No matter what rank the nobility, yes yes a status, no? Yo soy he that he had the most high offices of the count », the rebuk.
The subcommander responded calmly again, talking about the difference between military rank and noble title, and even the military system. He also talked about the political problems my stubbornness would cause and gave me a lesson in military law.
«¿Y?»
«...Sorry?»
«So why can't I be the commander?» I asked.
Not even a sage would be able to contain his shame when he realized that he had been talking to a stubborn bull the entire time.
The deputy commander finally stopped speaking, realizing that he would not be able to persuade me with anything he said.
«Zylan Email».
I looked for the right space and spoke. It was quite laughable that a barbarian who had just created a barony would say this...
«In the intention of obscuring the alguien that ni siquiera had a noble title ».
But I finally realized what kind of person the deputy commander was. This method would work best for him.
«And first of all», I continued, »do you think you can give me orders? Do you really think you can treat me like one of your subordinates?».
The deputy commander did not answer.
It was quite striking that he remained firm and honest and did not hear him say empty words to try to oppose me, but that aspect did not fit the image of someone who would potentially assume the position of commander either.
But he was fine for a deputy commander. He deputy commander remained silent.
Only then did I look away from him and take a look at the others. Surprisingly, they did not show any expression of worry or nervousness. They just seemed curious and remained silent to watch this unfold.
So they don't care who takes the commander's position.
Honestly, my insistence probably only seemed excessive from the deputy commander's perspective. It seemed good to them. A baron who had been officially approved and to whom the palace had given the title. This truth was too shocking in the city of Rafdonia.
Well, I suspected there were probably other reasons for his reactions.
«Listen to me everyone».
Sensing that the time was right, I adopted a more serious tone and addressed all of them.
«We find ourselves at a crossroads».
The crossroads was not about which person to choose as commander.
«We could complete the mission entrusted by the palace and return triumphantly to the city, or we could be trapped here forever, never being able to escape».
The more time we spent here, the more people would worry about this thought at least once. After reminding everyone, I continued.
«However, if everyone trusts me and follows me...»
I didn't need to say much.
«Then I will definitely return you all to your homes.»
I had proven it with my actions all this time.
Even inside the Crystal Cave when the Lord of the Abyss appeared, inside the Goblin Forest, and even during the Ice Rock Expedition. Even during this expedition to Basement One Plant. On Library Island, I was the one who had fought the rank one monster the most. I was the one who had entered all the guardian stone statues and cleared all those cracks.
What did the deputy commander do during that time? He maintained the stability of the expedition group, but that was all he did.
How long do we have to stay stuck here?
It was clear to you that these expeditionaries, who had begun to worry about that issue, would see it as a «trusted commander ».
«Everyone here, including me, knows that you are an intelligent individual, Your Honor. What do you want? What do we have to do to make him accept this situation?», the deputy commander asked me directly, and I smiled.
«Let's get everyone together and put it to a vote».
Democracy was always the answer.
***
Voting by majority.
It was a democratic process far removed from the strict hierarchical nature of the army. However, the deputy commander accepted this process without much resistance.
He probably concluded that he had no way of dissuading me from my insistence if we didn't go ahead with the vote.
Of course, he probably had some self-confidence as well. Although he did not have a noble title, he was still a member of a noble house and a high official respected by knights.
I guess fifty percent...
All his subordinates would vote for him. On the other hand, my Temporary Squad 4 would all vote for me.
Since both numbers were similar in size, he couldn't rule out the possibility of defeat. The most important thing was the majority sentiment of the rest of the expedition group.
«The results are here.»
The voting results of everyone on the expedition were compiled.
«It was quite close».
I obtained the majority vote by a small number and was elected commander. It seemed like people thought they needed a strong leader to get them off this ground, and this outcome was good for both me and the deputy commander.
Now he wouldn't have to resort to the Plan B he had formulated just in case he didn't win.
«Alright then since the results are out...»
I sat naturally in the commander's chair and gave my first order.
«Zylan Ebost, you will be the deputy commander. Your job will be the same as before, so I'll trust it to you, okay?»
«Sí.»
It was a formality to show everyone the hierarchy of the group.
After that, I gently moved on to the real meeting. «Looks like we'll finally be able to talk about the crack».
Only then did I start talking about what happened in the crack. I didn't tell them everything. My story focused above all on the archbishop's last moments, what everyone was curious about.
«So he ended up becoming Karui's priest...!».
«Wait, so the reason the count died in combat was because of the archbishop...?».
The religious members of the leaders' meeting could not hide their shock and unease. Although it was because of the archbishop's death, it was also because the monster that killed the commander ended up being the archbishop.
«No worries. I will ask La Iglesia de los Tres Dioses to take responsibility for the occurrence here. This completely unexpected variable unit fue. We fled to such a dangerous mission and, however, only it murió the archbishop "TAG1>.
I comforted those who were worried about receiving punishment.
«And this might have been a real problem if Count Saintred had really died, but that's not even the case, is it? You won't suffer any problems even when we return to the city».
«You are a relief to hear that ...»
These people were not the typical pious individuals. They all held decent positions of power within the Church of the Three Gods, which meant that although they were deeply religious, their sense of power and interest was clear.
«In any case, let's officially start the meeting now. Subcommander, has the investigation into the room beyond the stone door been completed?»
«If it is the stone statues, the investigations are not over yet».
«So you're saying you've discovered something about portals».
«We will have to investigate them further, but many opinions suggest that it is a portal that will take us abroad».
«I see.»
«However, I think it will be prudent to postpone taking over that portal in the short term».
«And why is that?»
«Currently it must be the rainy season outside.»
I hadn't done the weather calculations yet, but it seemed like it was the rainy season again. «Then we can continue investigating the room and wait here until it passes».
Today's meeting ended with those words.
«I'm hungry, so leave me».
After saying something he wanted to say at least once in his life, everyone left the store like water running from a sink.
Ah, except one person.
«Deputy Commander, do you have something to tell me?»
It was my signal for him to tell me any discontent he had with me. However, the deputy commander only smiled satisfied at my question.
«Did you know, Your Honor? I am one of the people who is truly relieved that you became commander».
«...What?» I realized that they were not empty words to look good to the new commander.
«Actually... I voted for you too.»
«... Why?»
«Because I know my place. A position where I have to be responsible for hundreds of people is not where I should be.»
«But weren't you the one who opposed me the strongest?»
«It's the only way I have an excuse, right? It's the only way he won't have social suicide when we get back to town».
The deputy commander greeted me sincerely as he continued: «So I will be in your charge in the future. You have to lead the expedition group well so that I have fewer things to take responsibility for, right?». Then he put a bag of jerky in front of me before leaving the store, saying: «Ah, because you said you were hungry».
I felt like I had been fooled for some reason, but I grabbed the jerky the deputy commander had left me and put it in my mouth.
Excellent.
This expedition group was now mine.
***
True Barbarian Commander mode was quite comfortable for me. To be honest, it was quite problematic to get my orders through the village chief who was the fictional leader. Now that process had been eliminated. And that was not all.
«Are you saying you're redistributing squad members...?»
«Sí. Use mire como lo mire, separar el grupo de expedición en cuatro escuadrones y limitarse a decirle a cada jefe de escuadrón que se cuide solo no es un proceso eficaz».
He was now able to give extreme orders that the village chief, who had to act like Count Saintred, could never give.
«Ineffective, you say...»
«Oh, and from now on I will modify the members of people who join leadership meetings, so keep that in mind too».
«Of course...»
By that way, he deputy commander was a fairly helpful man. In the matte la ordin que le diera, the first action was to try to think of a way to fulfill it effectively instead of getting angry. However, in short sense también was an inconvenience, ya who never answered los that occupied positiones superior to the suya.
«You actually took over as commander», Amelia said gravely.
«Because? Are you disappointed that you didn't become deputy commander?».
«...I wouldn't do it even if you gave me that position».
In Amelia's case, however, I wouldn't mind if she spoke a little sweeter.
«You have a care. Ask that here in the haya problems, but we know what he will try to blame you for the palace by waving we return to the citad ».
He had a habit of messing with everything I said, no matter what I said. That's why I liked him.
«Do you want something? With my authority as commander, I can...»
«I'm leaving now.»
«Oh, go call Raven when you get out!»
Amelia left the store without saying anything. However, Raven arrived at my store not long after.
«Did you call me, commander?»
«You don't have to call me commander. Sit».
Raven looked at me sitting in the commander's seat in disbelief, but came over and sat next to me. «So why did you call me? Is it because of the research?».
«No, I'm curious about that too... but I have to ask you something».
«Can I go now?»
«Do you think you can? It's an order from the commander».
She sighed. «I should have put Sir Ebost's name on the box.»
It was too late to regret it. This ya expedition group was short.
«So tell me. Is this request?»
Looking at Raven's resigned expression, I took out the object I had secretly carried. «A flower crown...? What is it?»
«I don't know either. But that is what appeared when the count killed the archbishop».
« Was it not a monster?».
«No. Por es mucho musho más sépechoso y especial».
Raven then took the wreath and looked at it curiously. «It is not... a numbered object. I had never heard of a flower crown like that either. Can I take it? Looks like you called me to look into this».
«Hey, it's true... but don't tell anyone about this flower crown. Invest it on your own».
«¿Eh? ¿Por qué?»
«This is a secret research project that no one can know about. You are the only one who knows about this flower crown».
I say this to you and only to you because I trust you.
I spoke with these intentions that Raven especially liked.
«Only I know about this...?»
Unfortunately for me, Raven was smart and fast too.
«This... This is embezzlement!» He immediately dropped the wreath as if he was afraid of becoming an accomplice.
By suppuesto, that was in the big problem.
«Malversation»? This is the decision made by him commander.»
«Don't even joke about it!»
«So you're not going to do it? Even if it is a mysterious object that was discovered in the crack of Basement Plant 1?»
«...I didn't say I wouldn't.»
After quickly turning his head to check his surroundings, Raven lunged forward like lightning to take the wreath to her subspace.