Chapter 139: Role of a Leader (1/2)

Chapter 139: Role of a Leader

Translator: Tseirp

If your companion asks for healing, you would probably do your best to help.

Then, if it is between the retainers of a big shot and your companion, which would you prioritize to treat first?

When I arrived at the large training ground, almost all of the members of the Knight Corps had collapsed on the ground.

I saw that Lionel and the others had not collapsed but they were on their knees.

“It looks like you guys are fine.”

When I approached while feeling relieved, I noticed that Catherine-san had collapsed in front of Lionel and Lumina-san had collapsed in front of Cathy and Kefin.

“Lionel! What’s the meaning of this?”

Lionel reacted and looked back to my voice and gave a relieved expression.

“Thank god. Luciel-sama, you’ve returned. You could please treat these people first?”

Lionel postponed explaining about the matter and urged me to treat both Catherine-san and Lumina-san who were covered in blood first.

Naturally, I would have treated them even if he didn’t say anything but looking closely, even Lionel and the others were quite beaten up as well.

“You all come into range as well, is just a 「Area High Heal」 enough?”

” … Catherine-dono has multiple broken bones.”

I could infer that the equipment he borrowed wasn’t good enough so he couldn’t defeat her immediately.

If that wasn’t the case, I find it unlikely that Catherine-san would be able to cause Lionel who has great combat compatibility against her to be so beaten up.

” … To be safe, I’ll use 「Extra Heal」 too. For Lionel and you guys too.”

Cathy and Kefin didn’t say anything and I understood that they were in a condition where they could barely stand so after I applied 「Area High Heal」, I subsequently applied 「Extra Heal」 too.

“I don’t know what happened but everyone has lost too much blood so rest for awhile. I’ll be helping the Healers heal the Knight Corps members who you guys most likely sent flying. Incidentally, was there anyone who lost a body part?”

“Nothing like that happened.”

“We’re not that weak nya.”

“There wasn’t a need to do so.”

I could almost see the scorn the 3 of them had for the Knight Corps.

Even I have not been looked at with such eyes.

From the situation, I couldn’t judge if it was because of just how far their skills have rusted or if they’ve been having easy training that can only look like they are playing around.

Indeed, half of the members of the Knight Corps have been sent flying and the Valkyrie Paladin Corps were not an exception.

“Is the reason why Lionel and the others are looking at them with scorn because of this weakness? Or because of their laid back attitude towards their job … I’ll definitely ask later.”

I continued treating them.

Including the Valkyrie Paladin Corps, they thanked me but none of them told me when I asked them about what happened.

After finishing all the healing, I returned to the center and Estia was greeting Lionel and the others.

“Were you introducing yourself?”

“Ah, Luciel-sama. Erm, why am I here? I should have been at the labyrinth up until earlier?”

While feeling irritated at her for saying the no-go word out of the blue, I decided to complain to the Darkness Spirit the next time she comes out.

“What labyrinth are you talking about? Leaving that aside, were you greeting Lionel and the others?”

“Ah, yes. I don’t know about the plan for the future but I did inform them about the plan for me to follow along to Meratoni as well.”

I let the talk about the labyrinth slide and continued the conversation.

” … I see. Lionel, Cathy, Kefin. I apologize but this is a request from Pope-sama. Estia will be following us to Meratoni.”

“Well, I should be able to look forward to it more than the Knight Corps who pretend to be friendly with each other.”

“Estia is quite strong so we’ll be able to train properly nya.”

“She’s stronger than I am … maybe, but in situations like these I have better situation assessment capabilities.”

They didn’t forget to show contempt for the Knight Corps. It’s rare for the 3 of them to show this much emotion.

“Most probably Estia is stronger that you nya, Kefin.”

“Now you’ve gone and said it.”

“You want to go nya?”

“No, I’ll get you back someday so remember this.”

“I’ll look forward to it nya.”

I smiled while remembering that the 2 of them have been hitting it off well lately but I can’t just observe Cathy and Kefin joke with each other all day so I called out to the 2 people who were still on the ground.

Since I’ve noticed that they’ve woken up since a while ago.

“Catherine-san, Lumina-san. My retainers have been discourteous. I don’t know why such a thing happened in the large training ground and why I happened to not be present but I apologize.”

” … Was this matter under Luciel’s orders?”

Lumina-san was the first to reply.

Even so, orders?

“I didn’t give any orders in particular? Did something happen?”

” … It’s fine if you don’t know about it.”

Lumina-san hung her head down and kept silent.

Even though I looked at Lionel and the others, they didn’t say anything.

However, thinking back to yesterday … I have a feeling that quite some scolding is in order.

” … If they did something, it would all be for my sake. Since the 3 of them are not people who would move for the sake of their own benefit … While looking at yesterday’s combined drill, for a combined drill by the Church Headquarters in the Holy Capital, I was also made to think if the knights would actually be able to defend the church given such a lukewarm performance.”

While feeling surprised at my own astonishingly sharp tongue, the 2 of them also did not imagine such words from me and their bodies flinched.

Maybe having me say that was that shocking or that the same exact words were said by my 3 retainers as well, the 2 of them remained gloomy.

” … Luciel-kun, wouldn’t it be better if you just led the Knight Corps instead?”

Just when I thought that the silent Catherine-san spoke, she really proposed for her to relinquish the captain seat of the Knight Corps.

Lumina-san was looking at Catherine-san with an unbelieving expression.

“Of course there’s no way I can do that. I have my own mission and the Paladins and Priest Knights were gathered as the church’s Knight Corps to protect the church right? Then who will protect Pope-sama?”

The 2 of them didn’t answer … or to be precise, Lumina-san was peeking at Catherine-san’s reaction.

Individually, Lumina-san was already the stronger among the 2 and with regard to commanding ability, she has also become better than Catherine-san in leading.

For the Catherine-san who has lost herself, Lumina-san allowed her to win even to the extent of holding back in hopes that she would regain her self-confidence?

However, that does not help anybody and only causes adverse effects.

I told Catherine-san the little take home I got from Ienith.

“I believe that it is wrong to think that if a person is strong individually, he will not have the ability to lead a group. If a person doesn’t have leadership ability, then he can think of other ways to contribute while polishing his leadership ability. If not, he would not be able to have subordinates and retainers.”

” … By any chance are those words pointed at me?”

I sensed intense anger.

Her feeling angry means that she’s mortified right?

If that’s the case, it means that she actually wants to remain as the Captain of the Knight Corps right?

I continued.

“It’s my opinion but if Catherine-san can’t be the Captain of the Knight Corps, it is fine to resign. Once that happens, the chain of command will become a mess and a rift will form between the Paladin Corps and Priest Knight Corps once again.”

“That won’t happen. It won’t change that Lumina and the other squad captains are at the top. This couple of years, at least once a month, we’ve been doing drills so the relationship is not as bad compared to the past.”