Chapter 8: The Strongest Onmyoji, Recruited (Part two)

I continue to ask.

“If you add more party members, you will soon exceed the limit of what you can manage on your own. What will you do when that happens?”

“I’m going to divide the party into several units and put each one in the hands of a trusted subordinate. I have already started preparing for that.”

“It’s wonderful. It’s a model of how an organization should operate.”

Lloyd gave me a clear smile as I said this without even smiling.

“I am a nobleman by birth, and to hear you say that makes all the hard work worth it. So, what do you think?”

Lloyd continues.

“My 《Linked Tree Alliance》 is a sub-first class guild. It is the second largest party in Lakana. Even if you look at the entire empire, there are only a few parties that are better than us. We can provide ample support, such as making arrangements and sharing information. We are ready to provide loans in the event of injury, and to arrange other jobs in case of emergency. We won’t force any combination.If you guys dive into the dungeon alone, that’s fine. We may ask for some cooperation in terms of military strength and money, but I promise that there will be more benefits than that. So…would you like to join our party?”

“No, thank you.”

Lloyd did not seem particularly surprised by my immediate answer, and asked me back without changing his expression.

“I see. May I ask why?”

“As you may have guessed, we have our own reasons.”

We are in a position where we may be pursued.

It is not mutually beneficial to belong to any party.

It would be wise to keep your distance from outsiders.

Lloyd said calmly.

“There are few people in this town who don’t have a reason to be here. I’m sure …… you wouldn’t listen to me if I told you it’s nothing to worry about.”

“Yeah.”

“Then tell me one more thing. Assuming that you guys didn’t have any troublesome circumstances, would you have thought about joining my party?”

I closed my eyes for a moment and quietly shook my head.

“No.”

“As I thought… I guess 《Linked Tree Alliance》is not very appealing for those who already have ability.”

“I guess compared to a fledgling, but in my case, that’s not the reason. …… I just don’t share that philosophy.”

I say.

“There are many different kinds of people. Not all of them grow up the same way with the same teachings. I don’t think it will be so easy to educate adventurers who have different habits. There will be many who will drop out because they do not agree with your policies.”

I had many different students.

Some became good at divination, some became good at witchcraft ……, some became good at math, some became good at oratory, and some went on to the sword, even though I taught them as well.

Teaching something to others is more difficult than one might think.

I thought about it for decades, and in the end, until that last moment, I didn’t really understand.

Lloyd said, Amused.

“That would be …… true. But for them, it’s a lot better than not being taught anything. How many new adventurers die simply because they didn’t know the signs of a simple crisis that every veteran knows?”

“Yes, that’s right. So it’s just a matter of my likes and dislikes.”

“in that case……”

“But for this city, maybe it’s more than just a matter of like or dislike.”

I say.

“When one becomes accustomed to the environment one is given, one loses one’s desperation. If your party becomes much, much larger, it could weaken the adventurers and, by extension, the entire city.”

“You …… say that too.”

Lloyd mutters bitterly, as if someone had pointed this out to him before.

“You can say that because …… you are already strong and have everything to gain. Put yourself in the shoes of someone who doesn’t. You are thrown into a dungeon with no idea of right and wrong, and forced to compete to die if you fail. What do you like about such a world?　How would you feel if someone close to you was suddenly put in that position?”

“Of course, it would be ideal if everyone could live peacefully without competition. But perhaps the world is still too immature for that.”

“I disagree. The wealth of the dungeon is enormous. I am sure that a near-ideal situation could be achieved.”

With that, Lloyd leaves his seat.

“I’d better get going. I’m sorry to take up so much of your time. I’ll take care of the payment, and you guys can relax.”

“I see. I’m sorry for rambling on like a big shot when you treated us  to a meal .”

Lloyd laughs lightly and shakes his head.

 “I’ve heard some interesting opinions, and I’ve had a lot of rejections to begin with. Just …… be careful, from now on you will be alone in the dungeon.”

Lloyd says.

“As I said in the forest, there has been a change in the number and types of monsters appearing in the dungeons of late.” Even in the wandering forest, there were many monsters called in by traps. Old information may not be helpful, so please proceed with caution.”

“Yes, I will. That’s very kind of you.”

“See you then.”

With that, Lloyd left.

After looking behind me, I turn my attention back to my plate and scoop up the salty noodles with a meat fork.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t touched much of my food because of all the talking I’d been doing.

Lloyd didn’t seem to have eaten much either.

“……, something I didn’t expect.”

Amiyu, who had been silent for a long time, says as she scoops up the soup with a spoon.

“’Seika, you seemed to agree with that kind of thinking.”

“You did?”

“Yes, I did. Seika, you seem to help people in trouble.”

I stopped eating and Ifa laughed.

I turned my attention back to the food and replied,

“Not really.”

I don’t care how many adventurers I don’t even know died in the field.

However, I could understand …… Lloyd’s feelings.

He must have felt a lot of things when he saw an adventurer he knew die so easily.

The super-large party approach is probably effective, too. The concerns I mentioned would be a minor issue.

In fact, now that I think back on it, I just wanted to make a small comment because I had some experience in training disciples in a previous life. I have no reason to oppose his methods, if you think about it.

But even if I had been aware of it, I wouldn’t have …… affirmed it right then and there.

“But I’m glad you said no.”

Mabel says as she shreds the bread,

“I don’t want to cause trouble for someone who’s so nice to me.”

Yes, after all.

That’s the reason I kept him away.

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