Touch.
I sat down again once I finished saying everything I had to say, and a moment of silence fell over the banquet hall. It was natural. The intention of this meeting was for us to convince others that we were good leaders. It was obvious how my statement was received.
«Do you mean you are stronger than us?» The question came from the noble knight, whose displeasure was clearly visible from the way he clenched his jaw.
I smiled with satisfaction. «You understood me well». I decided there was no need to deny it. He hadn't said anything bad.
Despite my bold response, the table was surprisingly quiet. The knight seemed to want to return fire to me, but held back for the sake of the marquis who was at his side.
Slide.
I looked at the marquis and we exchanged glances. Surprisingly, the marquis looked at me amused rather than disgusted by my actions.
Hmm, I wonder how others will feel.
When I looked around, I saw different emotions in the eyes looking at me.
«I hope you have at least half as much skill as arrogance. Skilled subordinates are always welcome». The noble knight's eyes radiated hostility born of offense.
«Haha, men that age are all like that. I rather like it because it's manly». Contrary to her friendly tone, the dwarf woman's gaze suggested that I was pitiful.
«Riehen Schuitz... I've heard of you. I have heard that you are the man of the Spirit of Blood». The deputy commander of the Sawtooth Clan, for his part, had eyes that seemed determined to tear me apart, a deep curiosity in his gaze.
As for Jun, the paladin of Heindel Church, he looked at me with eyes surprisingly empty of all emotion.
What, I don't even deserve to worry?
I couldn't be sure, but the attention on me dispersed and everyone began to study each other. Now that the introductions were over, it was time to make a call. Who would be the biggest obstacle in my path to becoming a leader?
«This is supposed to be a joyful event, but it seems like things have gotten tense. Since everyone has introduced themselves, let's eat». The marquis came forward at that moment to lift his spirits and everyone began to eat and chat. Of course, things didn't get much friendlier.
«One of us will be in the position to lead us all. As I'm sure you all know, it is a position of great responsibility».
The position required you to take responsibility for the lives of thirty people. However, everyone present also knew that as soon as you took up that mantle, you would see great rewards. As for me, the marquis already promised me a lot of support.
«So what do you mean, Sir Kaislan? That we don't deserve it?» The dwarf lady spoke calmly, making it clear that she had no intention of resigning from the position.
«Ahem, I just wanted to make sure you all really understand what that means», the gentleman said, seeming almost upset by his refusal. It seemed like he considered her his biggest competitor.
The deputy commander took the opportunity to speak subtly about his career. «Haha, I think I know what you mean. Countless responsibilities and obligations also weighed on me as I rose through the ranks to my current position».
Wow, what kind of battle of wills is this?
«Let me ask you this bluntly and get you out of the way. Mr. Jun, do you want this position too?»
«There is nothing as fleeting as human emotions. Everything will happen as God wants.» In a way, that sounded like he was taking the position of a spectator in all of this. The knight's expression lit up, just until the paladin continued. «But it seems that, among all those present, I am the one who is most aligned with the will of God». That was a verbose way of saying that he would also participate in this competition.
Perhaps because he knew that all three churches supported the paladin, the knight seemed even more worried. It seemed that he also saw the paladin as an important player. «I see.»
Why don't you ask me? Jeez, hurting my feelings.
Once the battle of wills to test each other came to an end, the knight nodded firmly and determinedly and regained control of the conversation. «There are many who want it, but only one seat. In the end, we will have to decide which of us is more qualified».
«That sounds like you have ideas about how we should choose».
«First, why don't we talk about what everyone believes makes an ideal commander?». Simply put, I wanted us to learn more about each other's personalities.
«Okay. We can do it». The dwarf lady gladly accepted the knight's suggestion. The paladin and I were not opposed either, and the process went smoothly.
«Since I was the one who raised it, I'll go first». As always, the first to speak was the gentleman, who liked to take the initiative. Like the soldier he was, he declared out loud: «A group cannot develop its full potential if it cannot work together. I think the most important quality for a commander is leadership».
«That's too abstract. What exactly do you think leadership means?»
«It is the power to create and maintain discipline. From there, control is created. A perfectly controlled unit has no problem working towards a target».
I could already imagine this guy as the leader, rigidly micromanaging every little thing to create a group without any individuality. The gentleman continued with a long, passionate speech about the type of team he wanted to create and what its strengths were.
«That's it».
As soon as the knight's turn ended, the dwarf lady spoke. «Thanks for your explanation. I will be next».
Unlike the gentleman's speech, which was all very predictable, I was quite interested in what this woman had to say. She was a first-class adventurer, after all. I wondered what someone like her would value more.
«Since ancient times, problems within the labyrinth were solved by adventurers. Historically speaking, military intervention like the one we see today was extremely rare. Because?»
«That's because the palace respects the customs of adventurers».
«That may be the case too, but I think the real reason was because the palace considered it the most effective solution. Anything can happen in the maze. They needed talent that could cope with all kinds of situations, and that talent was the adventurers of the city. Mobilizing hundreds and thousands of troops inside the maze is too much of a logistical challenge in the first place.»
«So, Akurava, are you saying that the ideal commander is an adventurer?».
«That's not what I mean. I'm just saying that if we need someone to lead within the maze, that person must have abundant knowledge and experience in the maze, and the ability to make proactive decisions.»
Many of the qualities the dwarf listed were qualities she could accept. To be honest, I thought it would be much safer to work under this woman's orders than under that bastard gentleman's. However, his statement was not without problems.
«Excuse me, but Miss Akurava, you have no experience directing others, do you?». He frowned at the subcommander's words. I guess she never expected someone who respected her to throw her under the bus like that. But as she looked at him, the deputy commander finished his reflection. «Surely someone else was in charge of leading your old team».
«...I have experience leading a team before that».
«I see. But leading a team and leading thirty people are two different things».
Wow, this guy doesn't have brakes either. Well, it would be weird to worry about the morality of questioning seniority in a business environment like this.
«Anyway, I'm done talking. I guess it could be next, Mr. Calla.»
«Well, yes he insists». The courage that Calla embodied in belittling the dwarf woman was this. «No matter what happens, the most important thing for a commander is information. You said it yourself, Mrs. Akurava: the commander has to be able to respond proactively to any situation.»
«Yes and?»
«With prior information, it is possible to completely avoid finding yourself in these situations. And even if you find yourself in a crisis, your options only increase the more information you have».
It seemed that the subcommander's main objective was to keep her at bay, because he kept looking at the dwarf as she spoke. Did that shake her?
«Of course, you are not wrong. That is, if you have that much access to information», the dwarf lady responded, sounding more irritable than usual.
The deputy commander opened his mouth immediately, as if he had been waiting for her to react like that. «The Alminus Company and the Adventurers Guild support me. Of course, I won't be able to know everything that happens with perfect accuracy, but... It seems that my finger is the one closest to the pulse of everyone present».
The dwarf lady was not able to say anything to that. If the Alminus Company and the Adventurer's Guild supported him, he would be able to gather more information than even the palace when it came to the labyrinth, although he might be at a slight disadvantage when it came to top-secret information.
«That's all from me. Who wants to be next?»
«Me», Paladin Jun said from next to the deputy commander. He then launched into a long speech as a priest preaching to his congregation. «It all starts with faith, and that is no different for a commander. Strong faith and trust create courage that will not give in to any evil...»
Wow, this guy really talks a lot.
«The world is full of evidence. Some overcome them, while others become frustrated and lose faith. But did you know?» Unlike before, his eyes were full of passion. Before I had the impression that he was a cold guy like a rock. «Those who overcome these tests are always those who have maintained their faith. Only faith can unite strangers, and only that united faith can make us overcome trials.»
Ugh, but repeating the same thing over and over again has to be monotonous....
Yawn...
When I let out an involuntary yawn, the paladin pursed his lips and stared at me. «My talk about faith seems to bore you».
What, you thought not?
When I gave him a «What did you expect?» look, the paladin frowned. «So why don't you talk now?».
When the paladin tried to pass the baton to me, the person next to me perked up. «Yes, it would be a good idea».
«Yeah. I'm curious».
I assumed the others were also bored with the faith lesson.
«Riehen Schuitz, what kind of person do you think the commander has to be?», the deputy commander asked me. There was a subtle nuance to his voice, as if he was addressing a citizen who might be influenced to vote for him in the future, rather than a fellow nominee. And he wasn't the only one.
«Before, it sounded like you wanted a commander who can lead firmly». The gentleman subtly promoted himself.
When the knight stepped forward, the dwarf lady also jumped. «A soldier might want that, for sure. But an adventurer would know how important the things I've mentioned are».
It was ridiculous to the point of hilarity. Why did they expect me to agree with them? He had already explained it to me before.
«...Why are you laughing?»
That was obvious. «I just find it funny that you waste your time trying to debate who fits best. Who are you trying to persuade in the first place?» While the others gave their passionate speeches, I ate carefully and now licked the sauce off my fingers. «When the winner can simply take a seat». I put down the cup after drinking all the contents.
Boom.
The loud bang echoed through the banquet hall, but no one flinched.
«Ha... I knew it would be like this».
«So I guess what you're looking for, Mr. Schuitz, is power».
They gave me looks that seemed to suggest they saw something pathetic about me. Either they didn't know how to read people, or they simply lacked imagination.
«Now I see that you were nothing more than a fool believing in your own petty abilities. Do you think you can convince us like this?».
«Yeah.»
«Traditionally, leadership is not achieved with strength alone and what?»
«Why can't I convince you?» Now that it was full, I was in perfect condition to get some exercise. «Stop talking and fight me».
When I jumped up from my chair, the gentleman on the other side of my gaze was taken aback. He seemed to wonder if that was allowed in front of the marquis.
But I assumed that he had decided to entrust me with this task, because the marchioness completely took my side. «I have no intention of interfering in the method you choose».
I shrugged. «That's what it says».
The dwarf lady responded to my lackadaisical attitude with a cutting tone. «Even if you fight him and win, we will not accept you as a leader. If someone who only knows how to look for a fight ends up in that position...».
What was this woman saying? «What, would you have accepted me if I had said something else?» This was the fundamental reason why I said that what these guys were doing before was a waste of time. I looked at each of them in turn and said: «Firm control. Experience and good judgment. A great ability to collect information. And trust». These were the qualities of a commander they mentioned. «Yes, these things are not bad».
And he really said it, but there was a very serious problem here.
«The fact is, however, that we can talk about this all day, but who here will really accept someone else as a leader?»
There was no way for everyone to get what they wanted here by reaching a deal, especially if what they were trying to sell were fanciful buzzwords like that.
«Are you saying you're different, then?»
«Yeah.» The power was different. «So, fight me».
«Don't be stupid. Even if you defeat him...»
«Who said I was referring only to him?»
They wouldn't accept me, I knew that. But life as a barbarian had taught me that if you were ever faced with a situation where power alone was not enough to get the other party to bow to your will, it was only because you lacked the power necessary to achieve it.
«All of you». Looking at the three men and women who seemed to be struggling to follow my logic, I smiled. «All of you, attack me at the same time».
If we talked about power, there was not a single wizard among them.