Needless To Say, This Was A Waste of Time. (15.1)

…

I didn't know where Zaimokuza pulled the mechanics of the War Games out of, but I have no doubt the source material is absolute trash. Sure, on the surface it seems simple. When gods disagree, rather than waging all-out war all over Orario, they fight in a controlled situation that limits damage with conditions for loss and win agreed upon at the start. On the surface it seemed simple, especially when killing in the War Games is frowned upon, but given that the "rules" of the situation were decided by divine beings with the self-control of children, War Games usually didn't happen because they were almost always guaranteed to be absolute clusterfucks.

The gods who initiate the War Game get to decide the rules. Of course, each one would stack the rules in their favor. Hestia managed to get Apollo to agree to having allied Familias involved, but only by risking the allied members who fought alongside her own and accepting that the battle would take place at the Coliseum. Apollo agreed because he was a pervert who had no self-control, wanted both Cranel and myself, and probably thought that he could win even if Hestia brought a few friends along. Naturally, the whole "alliance" between Dionysus, Hephaestus, Miach, Hecate, Loki, and Hestia, which came to being because of the fight against the Calamity, came into light shortly afterward.

Apollo, of course, went out to get his own allies to spread the prizes around rather than undoubtedly lose. Unfortunately, the man may have a few screws loose in his end, but he wasn't an idiot. Again, unfortunately.

Any help we could've gained from Loki, Hecate, and Hephaestus disappeared right then. Why? Since one of the strongest Familias and the second was equal to the Apollo Familia, the whole of Orario would've been dragged into the War Game. Ganesha, as decent of a god he was, and Freya, despite the fact she was involved in Cranel's harem shenanigans, wouldn't sit still knowing one of their rival would be risking prime members in a fight. That's not even taking into account all the other middling Familias around the same strength as Hecate and Apollo Familias who would want a piece of the pie.

Collbrande, Hiryute, and a few decent mages disappeared from our ranks because if they stayed we'd have faced an army of adventurers instead of a just a group. Challia, my students, the Hestia Familia, and myself were the only ones fighting because if everyone fought, we'd be crushed, sliced apart, and passed around like whores for the rest of Orario. Rather than having a powerhouse roster with plenty of muscle, basically only the "main cast" was present and without the usual safety net that Hiryute provided.

That wasn't even the worst of the situation.

Though losing meant being dissolved and taken into other Familias who only wanted us for our bodies (kyaaa~), winning a normal victory wouldn't be enough either. The whole deal with the Alliance was the bluff we gave off that we could beat anyone and anything while together. Naturally, each and every Familia had their own goals, but the image of facing so many Familias, with the Loki Familia in the mix, was a daunting challenge. With that bluff called, and with us forced to work with only what we had, we had to win an overwhelming victory. If we struggled in the War Game, it would be a gathering of Familias, but several weaker Familias being protected by three stronger ones when nothing is to be risked. Thus, a decisive victory was required to show that we could hold our own without our best assets, to ensure that our budding reputation wouldn't be hurt! We don't even gain any if we win, we just manage to keep our bluff!

Seriously, I go into a coma for a week and everything goes to hell!

Goddammit, this was just plain unfair no matter how I looked at it!

Why is it that I have to do everything? Cranel, do your job as the protagonist, damn it!

…

"What do you mean you're not going to be at the War Game tomorrow!?"

Swiftly, I activated one of my 108 Loner Skills. Tactical Headchop Maneuver Version Three: Silencing Loud Students Edition. The strike was originally born from my constant interactions with Hiryute. Over time, the Headchop skill gained prestige and power as it increased in level due to constant use against a Level 5, now Level 6, Amazon Berserker. The technique has tripled in number of variations, has become more effective, and is possibly evolving toward affecting gods. Truly, my 108 Loner Skills are my true source of strength.

"Quiet, brat. We might be followed." Once the trio of "antagonists" left me alone, like a good non-main character, I sought out the protagonist to solve the issue. As expected, despite his growth in ability and power, my white-haired student didn't really provide any answers on how to fight an average Familia with the support of loads of trash mobs and an overpowered troll, let alone decisively triumph over them. His Rank Up allowed him to gain Slayer, which increased all his stats when fighting against stronger opponents, but it didn't exactly solve the issue with the Level 5 we were setting out to face. "And, you weren't listening, I said that I won't be at the start of the War Game."

Cranel opened his mouth to ask a question, but I raised my hand to speak first. Listen well, my student—you may be stronger, but that doesn't mean you're any less of an idiot.

"We're outnumbered, outgunned, and fighting on territory where we hold no advantages." I'd carefully explained to Cranel, in as few and simple words as possible, why all our friends couldn't help us. I was sure that a whole three minutes of the anime went by with my VA just narrating away to still pictures. Hopefully, whoever was voicing me was decent. Who am I kidding. There's no way the sellout anime studio making this would have the budget for a good VA for a supporting character! "That means that we now need to rectify those problems." I eyed my white-haired student as seriously as I could. He fidgeted. Heh. "Give me advice. I have a plan, but I want to hear yours."

Power is power, but in the end tons of powerful people have died. Orario is an unforgiving city that swallows up superhumans and spits out coffins. Those who survive do so through meticulous preparation, thorough planning, and tactical proficiency. Cranel had plenty of power. A Level 3 is to be respected and feared in Orario. He was in the top 20% in Orario. However, in the end, all he knows is how to fight effectively. That alone would save him against many, many monsters, but not against the politics and the competitive nature of Orario itself. In truth, I considered the city itself as the most dangerous level of the Dungeon: Floor 0.

Fucking politics.

"…We definitely need some way to take care of the Level 5, but being outnumbered really isn't that bad." Cranel didn't voice it as a question, which was a plus in my book. Yes, protagonist, please grow a spine. You're pretty much the only person in this world who can make a decision and have it be beneficial in some way or another. "Even with Laulos-senpai on their team, even if they know how we fight, they can't stop us where we're strong."

"And, that's where you'd be wrong, Brat." I grunted and shook my head. We reached the entrance of the massive banquet hall. They were doing something stupid inside like giving out names to adventurers who just Ranked Up. There really was no reason to stay any longer. Naturally, I was going to make the most of the night before a battle while everyone else rested. The effects of being able to replace a night's sleep with a nap is not to be underestimated! "Laulos may have had only a limited amount of time, but she's twice as clever as you are. You may be stronger than her thanks to your Basic Abilities… but that doesn't matter when she's been organizing a whole force of Adventurers to fight against us."

Cranel stayed silent, not knowing what to say. He simply waited for me to explain further.

"When you face an opponent, the first thing you must always do is find their strengths and weakness. Laulos already knows both because she's my student." Carefully, I explained the situation. This was probably going to be a flashback scene shown at the height of the War Games, explaining why I wasn't present, so I made sure to speak as clearly as possible. I was basically narrating how we stood a fighting chance and foreshadowing how we were going to triumph overwhelmingly so that readers and watchers couldn't complain about us being overpowered and unbeatable. "She knows how we fight, our tactics, and the weaknesses of our style of fighting." Cranel seemed ready to say that our style is unbeatable, but I raised my hand. How super dramatic. "Our method of fighting is based on our individual skill and to quickly take down everything in our path. All she needs to do to destroy us is to completely take our superior skills out of the equation."

This was probably the most screen time I was going to get, so I had to make the most use out of it. Ganbare, my VA!

"Imagine trying to pull off our regular tactics against a line of pikes and bows. The Apollo Familia is famed for their Archers and Warriors. Not only that, but even if only the Soma Familia's dregs are entering, it doesn't take long to learn how to point a spear, y'know?" I could see Cranel's mind turning over the situation. While my white-haired student wasn't incredibly smart, he had a decent head between his shoulders. As a grimace formed on his lips, I was sure that he could imagine attempting to charge toward a line of pikes, having to bat them away, and then being shot by archers for his trouble. The tactic was simple and effective, just what I'd expect from Laulos. I was driving the point home (lol). "That's not even taking into account the Level 5 they have at their disposal." I grasped one of his hands, opened it, and then turned his other into a clenched fist. I placed one upon the other repeatedly. "She'll be the hammer and the rest will be the anvil. We get picked off by Archers if we don't attack, our magic users will be hunted down by their Level 5 if we try to mount a siege, and if we attack we'll be riddled with arrows with a Level 5 at our back."

"...We'd lose if we faced that." Cranel took a breath. My white-haired student thought the situation over in his head. I waited for his decision. This was definitely going to be a mid-fight-flashback scene. Just as they're on their last legs, the protagonist thinks back to this moment for strength and courage! Exactly the sort of writing I'd expect Zaimokuza to consider drama. "Then, Sensei, what's your plan and how long do I need to keep the enemy busy for?"

"Those are the questions you should've asked from the start, brat." I huffed and gave him a nod. Oi, don't look so pleased with yourself. Stop making me want to pat your head, dammit! Naturally, I turned away. "You need to survive the first ten minutes. I'll be there by then. Even if I have to bust through the side of the Coliseum to do it." Actually, I'll probably do that just because I could and for the shock value, but I wasn't going to tell him that. "By then, I'll have picked up the equipment we'll need to break their line, Orimoto, and…" I almost bit my tongue. "Someone I really don't want to owe a favor to."

Ah, who was I kidding; if I wanted to get to Under Resort in a timely manner, I was going to have to owe Ryuu anyway.

May as well have her fight too and get the most out of it.

Hey, wait, don't those words make her sound really cool!?

…