Future Plans: Year 300, April

"… Now then, there are so many things I want to do that I've gotten confused, so I want to organize it all once more.

The immediate goal is to challenge Eclair as a fellow S-Class.

By that I'd get strong comrades, Eclair and Sario, train them properly, and challenge the S-Class Tournament.

So the goal is S-Class 5th or above.

… That said, if possible, I'd really like to defeat Leonhardt here.

To Leonhardt, who's retiring this year, I want to show I'll properly take up after him, so there's no need to worry.

Goal: S-Class 4th!

… But if 'aim high' is the rule, should I aim for 1st after all?"

So I posed the question.

I'd asked Ursula, but…

Ursula's face was sour.

"I believe in Naoto's talent.

Someday surely, that he is a vessel that could stand at the world's peak.

… Even from me, who values thee to the maximum…

To achieve 1st in this year's S-Class Tournament is, I must say, a goal slightly lacking in realism."

… What?

Being told that by Ursula, who loved me and rated me to the max, was a little… no, quite a shock.

But Leonhardt had told me that too.

There's always someone higher, so don't lose heart.

Thinking of it that way, it was just a repeat.

Did being told by Leonhardt not bring me low, but being told by Ursula did, because I didn't trust Leonhardt?

Hmm, that wasn't exactly it…

But, after all, the distance was greater, in a sense.

Leonhardt didn't know my abilities firsthand.

But there was no one who understood my current ability to the max more than Ursula.

To be told by that Ursula that winning was impossible was… still a shock, perhaps.

Ah, but, not a bad thing.

In the original world, I'd given up on everything from the start.

Even being told "you can't become world number one," I could only have responded with "what're you saying? Obviously, right?"

Well, it was obvious, but it'd be slightly irritating.

But being told that and feeling such a heavy thud in my chest meant… I was seriously aiming for world number one.

That about myself, I thought was a little nice.

"… First, let us say you achieve 4th. Even this is no easy story. In thy current state, basically impossible.

That said, perhaps thou couldst produce a miracle of that scale?

… I hold such hopes.

… But the next wall before thee is that genius Sairas.

He is… abnormal. Abnormal.

… His insight, his reading… they are not normal. It is as if he can predict the future.

In every action, he gets the first move, the first move. Every action precise and the best.

By that, in our first match… even leading Garumon who should have been weaker on paper, I was beaten without lifting a hand or foot.

After that, I was outclassed in Garumon quality too, and well…

And the one who stopped that insanity-defying genius… Aqueria. She is also a tremendous superhuman.

And further above is Satoru…

These three are in a class apart.

… I don't want thee to misunderstand, but I believe thy talent rivals even that genius Sairas.

In tactics and strategy, Sairas may be one step above.

… But, thou hast me."

"Indeed, that's a big advantage."

I was convinced.

"… Th-that was a joke just now."

Ursula was a little embarrassed.

"Eh? No, but Sairas doesn't have Ursula attached to him… I was fully convinced by that just now."

"… Honestly, thou… thou delightest me. But that's the sort of thing it is.

… Thou hast the talent to love Garumon and be loved by Garumon.

Thy comrades, for thy sake, will draw out power beyond their own.

Sairas's Garumon… Sairas is everything to them.

Should he err in judgment, all is over.

On the other hand, when thou seemest in peril, we will exert power beyond our limits to save thee.

This ability will fill even his genius."

So Ursula said.

If Ursula says so… it puts pep in me.

"… But since thy talent rivals his…

Naoto. Dost thou think thou couldst win, fighting thy four-years-later self now?"

"Four years later…"

I tried to consider.

"… Honestly, this year, reaching legendary-tier…

Maybe with luck Ursula's Demon God might be doable!? That much I'm hoping.

But Suzanne, Luna, Ceras becoming Goddesses; Saria becoming Dragon God… honestly, I think difficult.

But four years later, that's a totally different story. I think it's possible for all."

"… Fufufu, indeed. If I at least become a Demon God… the S-Class 5th seat takes on real possibility.

In fact, without achieving that, climbing to S-Class 8th or above is impossible at best.

But four years.

With that much time, even six legendary-tier ones isn't impossible for thee.

And Sairas, with that much time given, is thee. Think of him as such.

The growth of Garumon power, once they become legendary-tier and surpass LV60, naturally dulls afterward.

Likely, next time the gap between thee and Sairas will all but vanish.

… But to win this year, just how much miracle one must ally with, I cannot guess.

Just that with thee, even so, perhaps… such a feeling thou givest, for certain."

"Hmm…"

Being told that much, achieving S-Class 3rd or higher had to be said to be difficult in current state…

"I do not say aiming is bad.

But with aim-Aqueria in mind, Aqueria's party is six all Water-element.

Then, making a Grass or Thunder party and training it up is best.

Will it be ready in time this year?

For Thunder there are Eclair, Leone, Griera… but what about the other three?

But it's not just a matter of having Thunder. There must be a means to counter that massive Water buff.

… The realistic thing is to climb one rank per tournament."

"That… I get well."

That was the most rational. In something like Koushien, everyone started on the same line for a one-shot showdown. You didn't necessarily face everyone.

But the S-Class Tournament was a stair-climb from lower rank to upper rank.

You were guaranteed to face everyone. Which meant without raising members suited to anti-Leonhardt, anti-Sairas, anti-Aqueria, anti-Satoru, all parties, winning your way up was impossible.

… Not realistic.

If I reached 4th this tournament, this time's result of facing Sairas meant next time I'd form against Sairas and win.

Next: anti-Aqueria; next, anti-Satoru. Raising up step by step was fine.

Even Leonhardt-san hadn't taken the elite course.

It had taken him 30 years to climb from lower S-Class to upper S-Class.

I'd live another 200 years in this world; clinging to one-year goal achievement didn't hold that much meaning.

… If I must, must return to the original world within this year!

… If I were thinking that, it'd be a different story, but.

If so, I should've gone back through that radiant path at B-Class.

"Well, even S-Class 4th is excessive for current me. Naturally I'll not look beyond."

"Mn, that's fine for now.

… To be clear, even that is, as thou sayest, an excessive goal for now.

Thy current ability is just barely at the right to challenge mid S-Class.

… And that right, in lower S-Class, is held by thou and Eclair Feradria.

In that sense, the two of thee settling the matter is, one could say, inevitable."

"Mn.

Defeat Eclair and make her my comrade. With that, strengthen forces in half a year… and challenge the S-Class Tournament.

Eclair into a Goddess, Ursula into a Demon God.

… If I raise to that level, the possibility of beating Leonhardt rises sharply too, right?"

"Hoh, indeed. With two legendary-tier, the possibility certainly rises further."

"Mn, so for that too, I want to settle things with Eclair as soon as possible.

It's not permitted for S-Class Masters to have decisive battles. But it's fine if approved in S-Class Council, right?

Get approval at the next S-Class Council on 4/24, duel Eclair, win.

And train at maximum to hold two or more legendary-tier… This is the path to victory I'm picturing, maybe."

"Mn, good. Then let us move toward that goal.

… First, to have the duel with Eclair approved, opinions must pass in the S-Class Council…

This is the first obstacle."

"Eh, hard? Eclair will agree, so isn't it just passing it in the council?"

"S-Class Council is decided by majority vote among the 24 S-Class Masters.

But 1st gets 5.5 votes, 2nd 4 votes, 3rd 3 votes, 4th 3 votes, 5th–8th 2 votes, 9th–24th 1 vote, contesting 39.5 votes.

How many upper-rank Masters approve will weigh greatly."

"Um, so if I negotiate ahead of time with each S-Class Master…"

"Messages from S-Class Master to S-Class Master become known to other Masters.

Pre-council negotiation is generally considered cowardly. Doing such things makes it pass less."

"Eeeh…!"

More troublesome than expected.

"The next S-Class Council is a decisive moment. For that, raising thy speaking weight as much as possible is advantageous.

For that, raising visible accomplishments is useful.

… Therefore, I have prepared one accomplishment for thee to raise."

"Eh, what would that be…?"

"Offensive battle! We shall control the Magical Beast Territory Ernest!

Success in offensive battle is a great war-feat for S-Class Masters.

Alongside rank, this offensive battle success count is spoken of as part of an S-Class Master's standing.

Currently, the individual offensive battle achievement ranking is as follows.

As thou seest, over half the Masters have never accomplished an offensive battle.

For not conducting offensive battles properly, lower-rank S-Class Masters are looked upon with regret.

… So if thou, the S-Class lowest, succeedest at an offensive battle, upper-rank S-Class Masters cannot but evaluate thee.

That is the scheme."

"Oh…! … And Sairas is amazing! Leonhardt-san, as expected, but he's been in S-Class for 180 years, right?

Sairas has been in S-Class 4 years, Aqueria 16, right…?"

"Satoru's been in 40 years. Satoru has the reputation of slacking, but his actual pace is by no means bad.

Offensive battle is normally something you painstakingly prepare for about 10 years and then execute.

Sairas, succeeding at one offensive battle every half year, is already abnormal.

Without human-wave tactics, how he achieves so many… I cannot understand."

How to put it, he seemed an outrageous person.

I'd heard his name in various places but had never met him… what kind of person could he be?

"Well, enough of him.

Now, thy turn. An offensive battle that's good if one succeeds in 10 years, accomplished by thee, debuted 1 year ago, promoted to S-Class 1 month ago… thy speaking weight at S-Class Council shall rise."

"… But that 10 years of preparation, Ursula's been preparing it the past 5 years of S-Class life, right?

For me to just take the tasty parts…"

"What sayest thou? My all is thine. My preparation and results are, of course, thine. That is my joy.

… Wilt thou not receive my gift?"

"Not at all… Thank you, Ursula. I'll accept it."

So I decided to conduct an offensive battle.

Since it was by the 24th, less than 3 weeks were left. We'd have to execute it as a rush job.

First, let me hear the explanation.

"Mn. Then I shall explain the offensive battle again."

"Thank you. Last time the explanation was rough, so I didn't really get it."

"Mn. Offensive battle is rather complex… well, what you do itself is simple.

This time I'll explain step by step.

The key points are:

(1) Subdue magical beast bases and dungeons within the magical beast territory. 8 per nation, total 24.

(2) Build forts within the magical beast territory. 8 per nation, total 24.

(3) Build a wall surrounding the magical beast territory.

(4) Maintain it for the period needed to complete wall construction, so forts and walls aren't destroyed.

These four points.

But (1) and (2) I have already prepared, so this time thou shalt do (3) and (4)."

… Yes, already prepared, she said. It was like 3 Minute Cooking. Grateful.

"Really, thank you.

… Um, isn't it several months of defense until the wall is built? Then it won't make S-Class Council in time…"

"That's if not relying on a Crafting Artisan.

The Engineer Corps are experts in wall construction. They build at a fearful speed, but…

Even so, with 3 Engineer Corps dispatched, the period one must defend them is at minimum about 3 months.

In this case, to secure the Engineer Corps' safety, the procedure becomes more complicated.

But a Crafting Artisan can build a wall in a week.

For this reason, when relying on a Crafting Artisan the strategy changes again.

This time, I've requested the Magicians' Association to dispatch Crafting Artisans and gotten permission, so the strategy incorporates Crafting Artisans."

That meant (4) was arranged for too. So I really only had to do (3).

She'd spoiled me with everything… grateful.

"Why dost thou pray? Whatever. The following is a schematic of the Ernest magical beast district being attacked.

One square is about 50km. ● is a fort.

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When an offensive battle is begun, the Crafting Artisans first deploy a wall.

The wall is best built along the forts, so the structure looks uneven like this.

Of course, one square is 50km. In reality, the wall is built smoothly in a straight line. Well, due to going around mountains, valleys, and rivers, etc., it can't be built in a perfect straight line in reality.

Due to fort positions and terrain, some territory gets cut off, but well, no problem.

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Now, from the wall and forts, 3 places per nation, the symbol has changed from ● to ★.

The forts that must be defended are these ★ forts.

At the same time as wall construction begins, from each fort the 'White Wave,' which magical beasts hate, is deployed.

The magical beasts, attracted by that unpleasant wave's source, attack the forts in concentrated fashion.

Therefore, defending the forts will do.

That said, the White Wave has 2 types: strong wave and weak wave.

The weak wave doesn't directly produce power; it pours power into other forts. So magical beasts don't directly target it.

The strong-wave-emitting forts need to be 3 per nation.

Generally, 2 on the wall, 1 inside the nation.

For about a week, 3 forts emit strong waves, 3 emit weak waves.

If this much can be maintained, OK. Subjugation complete.

Meaning even if up to 2 forts are destroyed, you can switch forts and continue the offensive battle.

Well, in that case the borderline retreats and we redo.

But this time we have Crafting Artisans, so redoing is easy too.

If it were the Engineer Corps, it wouldn't be that way.

… Well, in the Engineer Corps case, the White Wave is deployed in stages and the offensive battle is conducted while securing safety, so it takes time but the difficulty drops further.

Whoops, digression. This time doesn't apply.

If 6 forts can't be maintained, the remaining forts lose power and crumble too.

When forts collapse, dungeons revive, and everything goes to waste. Redo.

Divided by nation, but they're linked, so even one nation failing means the remaining 2 nations fail too.

… Hast understood the rules?"

"Mn, somehow. Truly game-like…"

If I began offensive battle, 3 battlefields had to be maintained. Each had 3 life points.

If 3 forts were destroyed: GAME OVER.

"For an offensive battle, it's pretty defensive-battle-like, isn't it?"

"Pushing back the magical beasts crashing in is far easier, after all.

Relying on the forts' defense, drawing them in to some degree, then with area magic, smashing them all at once.

… Searching out individual magical beasts root and branch would take an army of tens of thousands several months.

We alone wouldn't be done in 100 years."

"I see… maintain 9 battle lines for a week, huh…"

Easy to say…

"Eh, sleepless and tireless? That's kinda harsh…"

"Magical beasts rest at night too. Individually they're weakened by the White Wave, so they attack with some grouping.

So they don't attack continuously without break.

Skill recovery should be expected to some extent.

If we can station those capable of powerful area attacks at 9 places, it's not impossible.

For fort defense, the knight orders can also cooperate.

But what they do is really just maintaining the fort itself, and waking us if magical beasts come even if we're sleeping.

If forts are attacked by magical beasts, they won't hold long, so we must repel them so beasts don't cling to the forts."

Hmm, hmm…

The finer details were unclear and it felt a little anxious, but…

"Well, anyway, I get the rules. We'll work out the finer strategy from here."

So in any case, I decided to begin the offensive battle.