Extra chapter thanks to Furiamanca for the donation
Tradition said that a commander was always busy. They never had the chance to settle for an excuse. If someone died, if the plan went wrong, if something went wrong, the commander had to take responsibility for everything.
I'll find out about the flower crown when I get back to her...
So after letting Raven take care of the wreath, I immediately returned to focusing on reformatting the expedition group.
Clack, clack.
The current arrangement of the expedition group was simple: only four large squadrons. That was all.
Priests, wizards and knights were distributed in each squadron in relatively equal numbers, so the combat capabilities of each squadron were similar and the functions they could perform as well. Honestly, it seemed that the expedition had been randomly divided into four groups so that each one could do their own thing.
Such a provision also had its advantages, of course. When necessary, a squadron could operate effectively on its own, and if a squadron was annihilated, the main group of the expedition could continue to function without problems.
But it's too militaristic.
We were currently inside the maze. Although sacrifices were inevitable, that did not mean that we had to allocate our human resources thinking about those sacrifices.
The problem is that I don't have time to allocate everyone properly.
Honestly, I wanted to combine the four groups and assign each their role, but there were too many things I would have to change if I did. It would take too long for all the members of the new groups to become familiar with each other, and in the meantime more accidents would occur.
...We are going to treat the classification system as planned.
The most effective way to deal with low-ranking individuals was to put a suitable person in charge and then instruct them in his place, a command structure inherited from the ancient arts of war.
With that, I erased the names of all the current leaders from the list and rebuilt everything from scratch. Mages, priests, ranged attackers, melee attackers, knights, tanks, support, non-combatants. After separating all members in their classes, regardless of their current squad, I chose supervisors to be in charge of and assigned their tasks.
Court magician, saint, bow master, warrior master, knight captain...
I just wrote the titles that came to mind. Names weren't the important thing here, anyway.
Hah... so I have decided on each of them.
After deciding who the supervisors would be, I also created the subdivisions. For example, mages had research, investigation, and combat subdivisions. The knights had combat and administration, as well as a supervisor for each, and so on.
Which one would Raven like more? Research or investigation? Hmm, I could ask him and decide later-.
«Bjorn? You're busy?»
«Missha? Why are you here?»
«It's just that... lately you always seem very busy. I brought the fruit tea you like...»
Oh honestly, I was starting to crave something sweet too.
After drinking almost half a drink, Missha looked at me with expectant eyes for some reason.
I guess it wouldn't be right for me to stick with his good will and give him nothing in return.
«Thanks for that, Missha. Therefore, I will give you a position».
«...Hey? I don't need something like that...»
«Now you are the chief secretary. Your duty is to do everything you can to increase the commander's efficiency, and you can decide what that entails on your own.»
«Eh...? So you're telling me you want me to bring you more tea later?».
Well, that was one way to look at it.
When I nodded, Missha blushed a little after trying to reject the pose. «Well, yes it is something like that. Okay...»
Now he had a cat secretary.
***
After formulating the new hierarchies, I opened a new meeting of leaders. There was nothing important to discuss, and it was more for the new supervisors to become familiar with each other. I was curious to know if my system would also work correctly.
Not to mention there was literally nothing to discuss during the meeting, of course.
«How long until the investigation into the stone statue and the portal is completed?».
While I had been tucked into my tent disassembling and gluing the expedition group, the magicians had diligently carried out their mission, and today was the day of their report.
«Ah, I'll talk about that topic». The chief supervisor of the magicians, Gahuin Versilius, stood up at my question.
«Do you feel good now?» i asked.
«I feel good after these days of rest».
According to him, he had been limping a few days ago, but today he was walking well. «It's good to hear that. So, speak, court magician. How long until the investigation into the stone statue is completed?»
«So... one thing before giving that report». Gahuin Versilus asked me directly, «Why am I a court magician?»
Oh that?
«This place isn't even a palace to begin with», he continued protesting.
«It's just a title, so don't think about it too much. I need something to call you, right?».
«Sure, but why did you choose that as your name...», he murmured with a hint of dissatisfaction, but I had no intention of changing the name. He also didn't understand why he didn't like it so much.
Court magician. Honestly, it seemed like a great profession.
When I gave Gahuin a withering look to stop him from complaining, a gray-haired, white-robed old man spoke softly. «Sir Versilus, it's as the baron says. It's just a name. The important thing is its essence... And isn't a court magician better than a saint? Bahaha».
The person who had spoken was the archbishop of the Church of Tovera and also the one who held the position of saint of the expedition. Since the archbishop saw no reason to complain about his own worse position, the court magician lost all excuse to complain and began his report in his place.
«I will now provide an update on our progress. First of all, we found nothing else in the stone room: only the three stone statues and the portal.»
«AND?»
«The portal remains the same as previously reported.»
«I mean, there's a good chance it connects to where we came in, but it's too early to be sure?».
«That's right. Even if we investigate the nature of the portal, we have no way of knowing where the other side will be. However, we have learned quite a few things about stone statues».
«Forward.»
Gahuin Versilus took out three large-scale figurine-sized stone statues and placed them on the table. One of them was dyed black.
I asked him again: «What happened?».
«During our research, we used one of the statues».
«...Do we use?»
«To go to the result, this statue is similar to the stone statues of the Guardians. A crack opens when used».
«Do you mean the small crack where only the Guardian appears?»
«That's right. See this cleft here? If you put a crack stone here, a portal will open for about thirty minutes».
«Have you entered it?»
«The portal disappeared thirty minutes into the middle of our investigation, so we couldn't confirm what was inside».
Huh... so I guess we wasted one?
I felt a wave of disappointment for a moment, but I felt better after Gahuin's explanation continued.
«It does not appear that these statues are for single use. See this black woman here? As time goes by, the color returns to it from the bottom up, like this».
Oh, so it was a chilled item?
«And although we didn't enter the portal, we learned quite a few things from the outside. This is just a theory that has not yet been proven...» He continued speaking eloquently, explaining everything to me in difficult words before finishing: «And at the end of all that, we learned something. The portal that opened from this statue was very similar to the coordinate waves produced by the Bloody Citadel...»
The conclusion was the following:
«The crack stone we used to activate this stone statue was the rank 9 crack stone obtained from the first floor crack. We think it is not a coincidence».
Simply put, the rank of the Guardian would be determined by the rank of the crack stone sacrificed to the stone statue. Of course, that was all just a theory.
«Deputy Commander, do we have any more crack stones among our reserves at this time?»
We checked the crack stones we had, but unfortunately, the only ones we had were below rank 6. There weren't many cases where it was necessary to carry fissure stones into the maze, so it was understandable. Honestly, the mere fact of having those few demonstrated how much the palace had prepared for this expedition.
I assume it is a low quality Crack Maker...
Speaking of which, there was something similar to stone statues among the numbered objects.
No. 18, Crack creator. The object could open a crack when a crack stone was placed in it. Put about ten rank 9 stones on it and it will open a random crack in the plant you are on. You had to be on the plant whose crack you wanted to open, but even with that disadvantage, high-ranking crack stones were not necessary. Furthermore, it opened a real crack, so overall it was a net benefit for the user.
Well, there's a chance this thing will open a real crack too...
However, he had a hunch that these stone statues functioned like the Guardians stone statues and would open a smaller crack with only the boss inside.
«I see, good job. I understand the basics of how it works, so I'll stick with these stone statues». After putting the three statues in my pocket, I checked the other reports. «What about the essence of the Soul Eater?»
«We didn't make any new discoveries. Since it is an essence, we really can't know until someone absorbs it...»
«So you're saying we have to feed someone if we want to find out what they do. Understood. I'll think more about this».
«As you like.»
«I'm getting hungry. Anyone other than the head of the research department can go to rest».
After finishing the meeting there, I sent everyone outside except the head of the investigation department.
«Mr. Yandel, the reason you sent everyone else...»
«Not to Mr. Yandel, but to the commander.»
Although we were still in a professional environment, the head of the research department didn't even care what I said and just moved on. «...Apart from me because you're curious how much I've found out about that object, right?».
«Yeah. So did you get something?»
At my question, the head of the research department, Raven, cast voice control magic before saying: «To be honest, I managed to do a lot of research».
«Really?»
«First of all, this flower crown is a numbered object.
«A numbered object?» It was a difficult fact to accept. He had memorized all the articles numbered from number 1 to 9999. A flower crown like this did not exist among the numbered objects. And Raven should know this as well as I do.
In the end, I ordered him: «Tell me more».
«As this is the first time anyone has come to this plant, the expedition group's research team is really good».
«AND?»
«When I investigated its nature, this flower crown has the unique quality that all numbered objects possess. And that's why I decided to categorize this flower crown as a numbered object as well.»
«But it lacks the most important thing: the number».
«It's true. So I tried to give it a proper name...»
«What are you ashamed of? Say it out loud».
«How about calling it... a numbered secret object?»
The name was pretty bland, considering it came from Raven.
«For some reason, I feel like as we explore more of the first underground floor, we'll find more numbered objects like this, all with unknown numbers», he was quick to explain.
«Sounds good.»
«Uh, so can I make that the official name for these?»
«Clear».
Raven's expression lit up in an instant as I nodded. He seemed to be imagining a future where people would continue to use the name «secret numbered object» to refer to these.
I mean, I didn't understand what was important about naming things, but it didn't matter.
«The name is fine, so tell me how it can be used». I was honestly worried that he would have come here after just brainstorming what to call it, but luckily, Raven was just as serious about her research as she was about fame.
«I'll just tell you what I'm sure of. There may be some things I haven't found out about it, so keep that in mind».
«Understood, so tell me».
«First, as soon as you equip yourself with this flower crown, you will become immune to all negative mental effects».
«Oh...»
The effect of the item was better than I expected. A piece of headgear that could give you complete mental stamina? Many high-level raids required adventurers to have high mental stats or equipment to reinforce them, so this would be quite a useful item.
Can I go around carrying it?
A wreath on the head of a powerful barbarian went against fantasy, but as a player, effect was more important than appearance...
«Oh, and one more thing».
However, after hearing what Raven said next, I gave up my desire for the flower crown.
«When you wear it, you become immune to divine power. Divine spells will not harm you, but you will not be able to heal with them either. Naturally, blessings don't affect you either».
«Ah...» I was honestly expecting a disadvantage.
I can not use it.
I was a tank that needed to be cured regularly, so I couldn't use this equipment.
«That's all I've been able to find out for now», Raven concluded. «I haven't been able to find out what it's for to use it. But there's a higher chance that it doesn't have much use outside of that«.
«Good job.»
«I'll take it and continue researching it, just in case. Okay, right?»
«Of course. You can also give it a name. If it is a numbered object, you will also need a name».
He paused. «Can I really name it?»
«Of course.» Motivating a subordinate was also the duty of a high-ranking official.
«Oh, right. Mr. Yandel.»
«I told you to call me commander.»
«There were three stone statues in that stone room. You already know that it activates when you use a crack stone, and that the crack opened will most likely depend on the range of the crack stone used, right?».
«Yes?»
At that moment, Raven pulled out a crack stone. I couldn't tell what rank it was, but I quickly saw that it was quite large.
«This is the fissure stone we got after defeating that Guardian vampire in the first variant fissure, the place where we met».
«Oh, since then?»
«Yeah. I didn't really want to sell it, so I kept it...»
«AND?»
Raven looked at me and her voice was filled with curiosity as she asked herself: «What crack will open if we put this one in one of those stone statues?».
No idea.
After a long moment of hesitation, I suggested: «Shall we try?».
I was also quite curious.