Chapter 1173 - During the Leadership Meeting
—A day after the sleepover.
Namely, the day after the size and weight of the trauma was shared by the idiot.
"And so... we're having Haru stay behind this time."
"I had heard about it, but was it really to that extent..."
"Well, can't be helped, I guess."
The venue was the southern meeting place. The three known as the Representative Leaders who united the four factions—namely [Sword Queen], [Lady-in-Waiting], and [Grand Commander]—were meeting face-to-face in their usual manner.
Representatives who stood out even from among the Rankers who represented the players. One princess and two adults who were entrusted with trust not just because of charisma and the like, but because they excelled in resourcefulness.
What kind of meeting full of wisdom is being held at any given time... such is the breakdown of the curiosity the public directs toward them, unchanging in both the past and the present, but—
"So he's human after all. He's got a cute side, which is nice, right?"
"Nn."
"Why do you look so proud?"
"I am boasting about the 'cuteness' of my future husband."
"Uwah..."
"Kah-kah! You're getting ahead of yourself, the kid's gonna be turned off, you know?"
"No problem. The current Haru will gladly accept it."
"Wah..."
"Man, to be young... hey, Helena. It's about time you follow her exam—"
"Ha? Something?"
"Now then, let's get on with the meeting! What were we talking about again?!"
In reality, since they too are nothing more than humans, the content of their conversations is never as detached from the world as the public thinks. Moderately calm, moderately relaxed, letting their guard down... and ever since about a year ago when a certain someone's heart was melted, that has been all the more true.
"My prince is staying behind. We will form a party from the other members."
"Hey, what are we gonna do about this? She's probably planning to go on like this all day today."
"Is there a problem?"
"You were turned off too, weren't you? Don't suddenly give her your full approval, it's startling."
The representative raid meeting of Arcadia proceeded in an extremely peaceful manner.
—And yet,
"For now, I plan to participate. My aptitude happened to go up at just the right time, too."
"Well, even without that."
"Indeed. According to the information provided by [Screen]-sama, the [Deep Realm of Blue Source] in question is of an estimated difficulty level of 'Overraid' (unrestricted large-scale combat) class... even if we form a squad of Rankers."
"Yeah. It'd be best not to underestimate it."
Banter and fooling around were one thing. The fact (T/N: possible typo in source — original reads 事事実) that the three's meeting was serious and meaningful was certainly continuously demonstrated by the path of virtual world conquest up to now.
Therefore,
"It is an underwater stage where players are at an absolute disadvantage to begin with. Even if changes have occurred and a path to conquest now exists, the fact remains that it is invisible."
"We'll be groping in the dark, you know...? Not to mention aptitude for being underwater, we'll have to wander around for a long time in a crazy scary environment. Unless you're someone exceptionally tough, you won't be able to endure it."
"Regarding fatigue and exhaustion, we would like to alleviate them by assigning backup members, but..."
"Nn... the absolute number of those with underwater aptitude is insufficient."
"Other than you... the first one that pops to mind is Rinne, right?"
"Yes, she is a definite choice. She will likely be the cornerstone of both offense and defense."
"In that case, I'd like to bring up her partner (Maru), but delicate techniques have poor compatibility with water—"
"I'm thinking of taking the plunge and bringing May."
"Ah... well, I see."
"............Yes, indeed. It would be an overly solid choice, but..."
"Probably, even if it is Overraid class, Rinne and I have enough firepower. Unless the dungeon is directly connected to something like a 'Blue Point' conquest, there shouldn't be any opponent prepared within the game's framework that we can't handle. ...Probably, surely, perhaps."
"...And, if a situation arises where we can't handle it?"
"At that time, we can just think about it again."
"Nn. —And then, one sensory-type is essential."
"That's it. The [Thread-Weaver] girl... is a no-go?"
"The compatibility between 'threads' and underwater is too poor. Though it wouldn't go as far as complete functional shutdown."
"Also Sayaka. Extending activity time underwater via support effects (buffs) is also essential."
"Rinne would also be capable of pseudo-sensory perception via 'sound', but more than that, we want her to allocate her resources to offense and defense, and on top of that, her own aptitude issue is... well, it is a bit hard to say, but..."
"It is not very good."
"............At worst, we could even bring the Nia girl..."
"No, that would be too pitiful. We can't take her to an extreme horror space without her tranquilizer (Haru)."
"True... Helena. How about it, you—"
"How many years do you think it has been since I retired from the battlefield? I am no longer of any use except for scheming."
"I see... then, what. For now, Iris, Rinne, Sayaka, and May make four. With one more as a sensory-type............ is the final sixth member Sora after all?"
"............No, that's wrong. We will have the sensory-type and wide-area annihilation firepower handled by the person who brought it up."
"Whoa, seriously? Well, I guess they'll nod their head in agreement this time, huh...?"
"...It is a choice that is not solid at all, but it is reasonable. Then, who is the final sixth member?"
"Nn, I've decided."
At the end of the words that were strung together smoothly, albeit with twists and turns.
"In a broad sense—let's have [Peerless] do their best."
Today as well, the meeting reached a decision.
Master? We have enough firepower, so please stay behind, Master of Getting Lost.
Ashe thinks it wouldn't be surprising if you got separated in two seconds during an underwater trek with absolutely no signposts.
By the way, the runner-up candidates were Tetra-kun and Ricky-shi. Too bad, unpopular cloud.