Chapter 132: Star Fall (15)

Chapter 132: Star Fall (15)

Now, before I start the explanation, theres something we should go over, right?

A speech is a rather odd form of communication from one person to another. Its odd, but its still a conversation. Its a way of creating connections through words and opinions and adding in each individual intention in between those.

Thinking about it simply, all I needed to do was just babble on about what I wanted to say, but if I fail my ultimate objective, which is to persuade the audience, then thats failure to communicate.

Especially if theres a mixture of friendly, neutral, and extremely hostile audiences like this, just saying what I want will very likely make people butt into every single word I say and make me refute, then another refute to that refute, and eventually blur the point and make a mess.

Then what did I need to do?

What do you mean what? If there are three types of audiences, then I need to respond accordingly to each of them.

First, the friendly ones. I dont need to worry much about this side thanks to the Archbishop siding with me so clearly that it looks like weve talked it out beforehand. The Lights Order was going to say I was right even if I said the sun was the moon.

Then the neutral group of Warriors. These people Ill pull towards the friendly group through the conversation.

They were all unique, but it was that much easier figuring out which parts to target through his speech.

And then there was Gregorio, who was grinding his teeth at the moment, and Paladin Captain Karbrick, staring me down with a pose that embodied no mercy. Since their reaction was already set to negative, he just needed to utilize those reactions.

Looking at how simplistic he is, its gonna be fun using him.

Thinking about what would make this boar of a paladin pop up like a weasel, I carefully opened my mouth.

Now, before I start, theres something I need to go over first. Can you look here for a moment?

Collecting the peoples attention and shaking his right hand, which was already done regenerating to the bottom part of the palm, most of the peoples gazes turned toward it.

Most of the people here are masters in either mana, aura, or holy power, so I wont explain too much. Its a method of healing based on natural regeneration. Is there anyone that can explain exactly what this is caused b

Rustle!

I am Axion Root, an inferior mage of the Earth Type Living Growth Academy.

Even before I finished my sentence, an old man who looked like he was itching to talk raised his hand. I knew that guy would do that. All hed been doing ever since I came through those doors was looking at my right hand.

There is also a magic from our academy that raises the natural regeneration of a person to heal wounds. So we have quite a few alchemists and mages who are researching natural regeneration, and your current state is incredibly similar to the recent studies we have been conducting. This may be rude to ask, but did one of your parents have mutation blood? No, a female mute would have been the Queens servant, so if the father captured a female mute and

No, they arent.

Did this guy really think my dad smashed with a mute? What an imagination!

Then are you truly a mute that changed sides?

Not that, either.

Then a transplant of a part of a mutes body

Looking at several other figures in robes around the table who also looked antsy as his conversation with Axion continued, Professor decided it was time and gave them the answer.

This body is a result of the combination of a peculiar condition I innately had with the experiments that Mage Isaac Mandalius conducted on me. Like you can see, it has somewhat succeeded, and I have managed to keep my consciousness as a human while having the regeneration of, no, a stronger regeneration than a mute.

A test subject!

Isaac, is that not the mage who was killed by the Crimson Mute?

I have heard of rumors that he was infected by a mute but he may have been researching about the mutes in order to escape from that parasite.

What a shame. If only Mandalius were alive, the magic alchemy field would have improved much faster

It may have been that the experiment made so much progress that their researchers sent the Crimson Mute to assassinate Mandalius. What an unfortunate turn of events.

The mages had now completely forgotten the procedures and mannerisms of a meeting and were whispering amongst themselves with a greedy look in their eyes as they scanned my body.

A mage was someone who conducted all sorts of wild experiments in order to reach a new awakening. One of their most popular issues as of recent would have been the study about the biological oddity that the dark mages created, the mute.

[A dead Level 6 mages study subject], [mute test subject], [successful results]. I tossed out some information that any mage would drool over, so they wouldnt be able to resist getting interested.

I gave them a slight nudge, remembering the oddly manic obsession of the Domes Administration Branch he saw recently, and it looked like they reacted at about the same level, if not more.

Out of the Warriors, the mages will now have changed their impression of me from someone that they just met to someone that they want to get a favor from by throwing them the bait called successful experiment subject of another mage. When a person wants to ask a favor of someone, they become quite accepting of the person. With just one severed hand, I made close to half of the mages in the room look at me with greedy eyes.

Theyre not dumb, so they wont listen to what I tell them to do or anything, but the important fact is that theyre in a positive relationship with me now. This is just the warmup stage, after all.

Slowly, little by little, he needed to reel them in like a large catch with tight tension on the line.

For now, I have attracted the attention of the mages with my identity. On the other hand, that would mean I talked about something uninteresting that only the mages would be interested in

So. What does that have to do with us? Do you want us to sympathize with your sad lab rat life? I thought this meeting was arranged to talk about battle strategies.

It was time for the guy to say something.

Looking at the conversation progressing just as he expected, Professor gleefully continued to speak.

Of course it is related. Because of the traits that I possess, there is a strategic advantage we now have.

And this advantage is?

Information.

Whooosh!

I could feel a new type of gaze train in on me. Different from the slightly passionate ones from when I mentioned the experiments, but more of a sharper, observant type of gaze.

Dang, I think I can see lasers come out of their lives.

The second point. A word that assassin or ranger types, especially Warriors with larger parties, would go crazy over.

It was information.

The topic he was going to use this time was the Chamber Maids head that he brought out in advance. When he picked up its vines of hair, the peoples eyes began to shine.

This meeting is also being held to decide who is placed where on the battlefield. Since the entire fate of humanity depends on this matter, we need to look at this from the perspective of the entire world, not each individuals benefit, so there will be some who need to be positioned in dangerous spots. But thats a little unfair, right? As a person, you want to be in the more honorable areas, and you dont want to be the one to die.

Drrrgg

With the sound of a chair being dragged, another Warrior who had been on another side of the table joined in the conversation.

We understand what you want to say. We arent nobles, so we arent flattered by all of the sweet talk, so lets get to the point. Youre talking about the commander, right?

Bingo. Your name?

Ashtalon. Without surname.

Aha! Singing Blade Ashtalon!

Hm? Ive come from quite a far distance, and you know me?

Ahahah. How could I dare talk about the commander role without knowing my allies?

Woah, woah. Calm down there. She shouldnt be dead yet.

How do you know that?

Tap tap.

I have told you before. Because of a mages experiments, this body is now mixed with a mutes. Due to some circumstances, I can overhear the Queens thoughts somehow.

His assumption that the Priestess of Mercy was alive was close to certainty. The Mute Queen attained a divine status. However, she hasnt been able to display much divine power to fit her title aside from their obvious increase in resources.

A mortal being suddenly became immortal, and it isnt easy to jump that gap. The Mute Queen is currently being completed as a god. And that Palcatus guy he was pretty obsessed with learning things. Since the Queens divine power is still unstable, they wouldnt have killed the Priestess of Mercy, whos basically their textbook on spirituality, just yet.

Of course, they might have dug through her brain for research, but he didnt have to tell that part to the angry paladin right now.

While Karbrick was angrily murmuring something to himself with his head down, the rest of the audience had time to comprehend what I just said and was in shock.

Read the Queens thoughts?

Uh although it is limited and cuts off at times.

Then, is the information that you just listed out not just assumptions, but the truth?

Well I saw it in person, so it should be.

Then can you tell us the enemys location, strategies, numbers and their types at this moment?

It isnt that convenient. Im able to receive partial information or knowledge, but not live information like you just asked.

T-then can you come over to my place after the meeting is over? I wish to open up your head

Ill give you some other parts instead of my head.

The ones that approached me with questions started to sit back down one by one.

So this must mean the Lights Order will take the commanding authority.

Mmm No wonder they made such a big deal about it. They had a card hidden up their sleeve.

If its not the detailed operations tactics but just the troop locations we will need to take the Lights hand here. Although only partially, it is still a direct source of the enemys information. What else could possibly top that?

Though they were expressing their exasperation, it looked like the Warriors were agreeing with them. Seeing the perfectly intended reaction, Professor smiled widely at the Archbishop. From the wide smile the Archbishop was returning to him, it wouldnt feel out of place for the old man to say, Lets go get a drink! My treat! if he asked.

It was the detailed skills that were complicated when luring out a certain reaction or emotion, but it was easy when you split it into steps.

Someone needs to take the position of head commander. Right? Agreed.

Facing a mysterious enemy, I think information is the most important quality of the organization thats going to take the head commander spot. Right? Agreed.

From our results, it looks like the Lights Order has the best information. Then we can take it, right? Uh darn it. Agreed.

You start with easy questions to fish out the opponents agreements, and based on that agreement, you move on to a more difficult question. By expanding into a complicated topic, bring out the opponents participation and logical agreement. They say this is the method that Germanys Goebbels often used in his speeches during World War II. Everyone just agreed, no? And they already talked about it too passionately with their neighboring table to take it back now.

I didnt know why the Lights Order arranged this meeting, but these results should be beyond whatever they were prepared for. Look at the Archbishops happy smile. Its clearly a mission success.

Now that I accomplished the churchs objectives, its time to take some of my benefits too. Mmm Why isnt he reacting? Did I not trigger him enough? No. Dont tell me that cultist who was trying to chop off my head actually regained his composure

But on the other hand, like how that Warrior Professor is able to collect information from the Queen, cant the Queen also take our information using him? If he has such an ability, then it should be even more of a correct decision to avoid this man! No, since he has already participated in the meeting, it should be the wisest decision to get rid of that man before it is any later!

As if! Yes! You took the bait! Gregorio!

Watching the happy expression on the Archbishops face instantly crumple up from Gregorios comment, Professor cheered internally. Yes, rebuttal! Yes, rejection!

That is definitely a possibility. Like how the Queen does not know I eavesdrop on her, I also cannot sense their sight if they are indeed watching over me.

L-look! Archbishop, sir! He said it with his own mouth! There is a possibility that he can provide information to the mutes!

Ahem then, Warrior Professor. What do you wish to do? If what you say is true, then I cannot let you hear the information regarding the detailed troop placements

So, I am thinking of traveling far away to call reinforcements.

Ignoring the urgent signals that the Archbishop was sending to me, I continued to speak with a tone of regret, as if I were really sad to go.

After the battle at the Western Frontlines, while we were hurriedly preparing our defenses, the enemy had, for some reason, stopped all attacks and retreated. Do you know why?

Mmm The Ark of Intelligence is speculating that it is to protect the Queen in her current unstable state as she becomes accustomed to her new powers and to use the new surplus of resources that they have suddenly obtained in order to prepare a large army to attack us

Thats right. The Queen is building up her power, and unlike the risky operations using small elite groups like they have until now, she is planning to face humanity with the traditional method. It is still a defensive tactic that prioritizes the Queens safety due to the mutes nature, but thanks to that, we also gained the time to make preparations and build our strength.

When you mean time, exactly how much?

One month.

Professor thought back to the Chamber Maid in Pelas that was growing out her roots. It had covered the entire castle but not settled enough to dig into the earth, meaning that it hasnt been long since it was born and traveled there. Even for the Mute Queen, hell even the Goddess, it was impossible to mass produce mutes like the Chamber Maid. It would have been impossible to win if that happened in the first place, so excluding that option, it should still take about a month until they were fully prepared to mass produce mutes.

In exactly under a month, I will bring with me reinforcements from nations that are currently just watching from afar.

Listening to the words that came out smoothly, like I had prepared them in advance, the Archbishop looked incredibly rueful.

Ahem but as the Warrior of the Lights Order, I believe acting as a mere ambassador will bring down the reputation of our church I will create a separate force, so why dont you take command of those troops?

Darn this old man. Hes being really stubborn. It looks like he really wants to get some use out of me, but hes a little too high up there for me to turn him down sharply.

Ahahah. It is fine, Archbishop, sir. This job will only be possible with our current odd party of a werewolf, half-mute, troll, dark mage, and human mage. Ro Haram will also approve of this.

Professor walked towards the map that was on one side of the meeting rooms wall and pinned down a few locations using the white, shining pins from the Lights Order.

For this war, I plan to request reinforcements as the Lights Orders ambassador to the elves and trolls beyond the Blue Line.

Elves and trolls Other races?

They were excluded due to our lack of interaction with them, but their strength has been proven by the fact they have defended their territories against humanitys expansion for hundreds of years. If we truly need to collect all of humanitys power, then I think that its natural to also request their help.

T-they wont think kindly of our church, though

Thats why it has to be us. A group of ambassadors consisting of different races that were alienated and abandoned, a dark mage, and a mutated human. Is there any better way than this to show that the church has changed from its previous human-centered history?

The Archbishop quietly stared at Professors beaming face, lost in thought for a moment, then in the end shook his head with it placed in his hand.

We will take a short break. A moment, Warrior.

Heheh, gladly, sir. Before that, I would like to thank all of the other Warriors for patiently listening to this long conversation. It seems we wont be able to meet for a while now!

With a cheeky grin, Professor elegantly bowed down like a noble. Game Clear? Of course, thats nice. But I need to try out all of the possibilities that are open to me, shouldnt I?

World Tree! Wish spell! If I add in something about how humanity depends on it, it might be possible to try!

[By wish you mean I can get a new body?]

Of course! According to the settings, its able to fulfill any wish within the game! Sketch it out when you have the time! Im going to ask for them to make a body that you think is the most ideal! Were going to go loot the elf guys now!

Professor smirked as he expressed his gratitude to Paladin Gregorio, who provided him the tag [Inappropriate for Important Missions] at just the right time and gave him his freedom.