Chapter 16: [STAGE 1] Preparation for War

[Ash (EX)’s class has been changed to ‘Beginner Commander’!]

I heard a sound effect congratulating me on choosing my class.

And…

[A -50% debuff is applied to stat growth.]

[A -50% debuff is applied to equipment proficiency.]

......?

Excuse me? What did you just say?

“Wh-what?!”

My eyes only blinked for a while at the messages printed in front of me. What did you say now?

“What the actual fuck?”

It was real when I checked it. It really has a growth debuff written in the stat window.

“Don’t fuck with me!’

What the fuck is this?! For fuck’s sake! What kind of class provides these debuffs? You dare to put a trap like this, Aider? You stupid Director piece of shit, I’m on my way to…

[Acquired Trait - ‘Attack Totem’]

[Acquired Trait - ‘Defense Totem’]

[Acquired Trait - ‘Super Buffer’]

[Acquired Trait - ‘Main Order’]

[System - You can now use ‘Party Synergy’.]

I was about to go find a weapon and kill Aider, but I stopped.

The message that I had acquired traits and a window I saw for the first time flickered before my eyes.

Attack Totem?

Defense Totem?

Super Buffer? Main Order? Party Synergy?

What are all these? I opened up the trait window.

[Attack Totem Lv.1]

- Increases the morale of the allies just by standing on the battlefield, providing a 5% bonus to all allies’ attack power.

[Defense Totem Lv.1]

- Increases the morale of the allies just by standing on the battlefield, providing a 5% bonus to all allies’ defense power.

“......”

So it’s a totem trait. As long as I’m standing on the battlefield, I can provide a bonus to the attack and defense stats of my allies.

Furthermore,

[Super Buffer]

- The effects of the buff provided by the commander unit are enhanced by one level.

I even got a buff-enhancing trait.

‘Wait, this is awesome.’

Actually, it’s not just ‘awesome’. It’s overpowered if this buff is provided to everyone.

Just having one character stand on the battlefield can provide attack and defense buffs to thousands of allies.

‘So this is why the unit itself has debuffs.’

The buffs that this unit can give are very OP, but if this unit can even grow to fight, then that’d be too OP. Makes sense now.

This isn’t too bad as a penalty. Actually, it’s a pretty good trade-off, to be honest.

‘There’s still this one little problem. I can only equip up to three traits.’

These three traits are great, but if I were to use other traits, I wouldn’t be able to use these traits.

I looked over other newly acquired traits. Let’s see.

[Main Order Lv.1]

- The ability to deliver commands accurately on the battlefield. Conveys the commander's intentions more accurately, making the subordinates act like a part of the commander’s body.

It was a trait related to troop control.

In the game, I was able to easily control hundreds and thousands of troops at will, but this is a reality. It’s very difficult to control the battlefield completely at my will.

So this trait helps with that.

‘And I have [Map Creaton] along with it.’

Now I have five traits in total.

The cooldown for changing traits is 24 hours, so it seems that I will have to fight by changing the traits according to the needs depending on the situation.

‘I’ve seen enough with the traits now.’

I remember that I unlocked the party synergy system. It’s also something I’m seeing for the first time.

[Party Synergy]

- Commander Class Special

- Depending on the party members’ class composition, the party will receive a stat bonus. Try different combinations.

Bonus stats are given depending on the party members’ class composition.

I turned on the synergy list window and checked the top row.

[List of Party Synergy]

- Knight Synergy: Increases physical defense according to the number of knight characters in a party

> (Knight 2) Dual Knights: Increases the physical defense of all party members by 20%.

> (Knight 4) Iron Squad: Increases the physical defense of all party members by 50%.

> (Knight 5) Unbreakable: Increases the physical defense of all party members by 90%.

“Aha.”

This way, you get additional stats depending on the party composition.

As the player advances in the game, the number of heroes the player recruits increases, and the number of parties the player operates also does.

And all of the parties receive synergy bonuses depending on the composition.

“Not bad…”

This system itself was a unique specialty given to the Commander class.

There’s no better class than this as someone who used to be a player fighting on the battlefield.

I quietly put the poker I had brought to kill Aider back into the fireplace. Sorry~ XD

* * *

[Translator: Dawn ]

[Proofreader: Alissa ]

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* * *

I thought of several strategies to clear Stage 1 this time and finally reached one conclusion.

The standard.

I know a bunch of tricks and gimmicks, but they’re not even ready to be used yet, and there’s not enough time. It's best to prepare a solid defense for the time being.

Under that decision, carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, and alchemists were conscripted to reinforce the defense.

“...Didn’t I tell you to conscript them.”

I shed a cold sweat as I looked at the four people in front of me.

Carpenters’ union president. Masons’ union president. Blacksmiths’ union president. Alchemists’ union president.

Old men with sullen faces were dragged in front of me with their whole bodies tied with ropes.

“Not kidnapping! I said conscript them!”

“Well, that’s because they didn’t comply with the conscription order.”

Aider awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

“Only the presidents of the unions were brought in as soon as possible.”

The union presidents, who did not hide their displeasure at the polite ‘invitation’, shouted as if they were waiting for the right moment.

“What is the meaning of this?!”

“Isn’t this too much even for a member of the imperial family?!”

“I was in the middle of operating the magic crystal production line! Are you going to take full responsibility for the loss?”

See. Everyone is mad. Look at him screaming with a red face.

I couldn’t help but apologize to them.

“Shut your damn mouths.”

“......”

“You dare to shout with me in your presence? Hm? Have I been too easygoing lately?”

The four presidents shut their mouths immediately. I continued to warmly apologize.

“If I, the prince of this country and the lord of this city, call for you, then you come here with your own feet right away without any excuses. But here you are, tied with a rope, refusing to follow the order. Why would you hurt my feelings like this? Would you like to take responsibility for that with your lives?”

“I, uhm, well…”

“O-our sincerest apologies…”

“This is our first time serving a lord from the imperial family, so…”

The union leaders immediately bowed their heads.

I kinda thank Ash for situations like these. It’s all thanks to him building up national recognition as a scumbag that I can be an asshole any time I want.

“Attention.”

As I growled, the union leaders immediately straightened their posture. Cold sweat glistened on the old men's faces.

This seems to be enough whipping to scare them, so it’s time for the carrot.

“Okay. Yes, I am aware that you’re busy. You’ve got a bunch of high-quality magic crystals, so you must be having a blast at work. You must also be having a busy time processing and packaging them.”

“Th-that’s correct, Your Highness.”

“But who was the person who brought them in?”

I pointed at myself with my thumb.

“And who’s going to keep bringing them in?”

“......”

“The person who you will have to try your best to keep a great relationship with! And who would that amazing person be?!”

“It is you, Your Highness.”

“Correct. Make sure you remember that from now on.”

I wiped the smile from my face.

“Let me get this straight. The monster corps are coming for an invasion.”

“......?!”

“They will arrive in this city in three days.”

The bewildered union leaders looked into each other's eyes.

“But the monsters have been quiet in recent years…”

“Even if they appear occasionally, most of them are repelled before they even reach Crossroad, aren’t they?”

“The situation is different now. Didn't you hear the news about the forward operating base?”

I clicked my tongue and shook my head.

“The monsters started moving again in earnest. The size is not normal either. Thousands. And this won’t be the last time they attack us.”

“......!”

“And we… Let me be honest with you. We lack in power.”

I crossed my arms and looked around at the union leaders in a serious manner.

“I need assistance. From you, the production workers of this city.”

“Even if you say that… What kind of assistance can we provide to you?”

“I want to borrow your hand for the production of military supplies. I'm of course not asking you to do it for free. I will pay the right amount.”

I smiled and wiggled my fingers.

“The movement of monsters is not only a crisis but also an opportunity. Correct?”

As the monsters have become more docile over the past decade, naturally, the number of magic crystals had also decreased.

There were several difficulties in the magic crystal processing industry.

But what if the monsters return?

Magic crystal production will boom once again.

And when the production booms, what happens?

Money!

“How about this?”

I clapped my hands.

“I will provide you with some of the magic crystals that the military recovers at the original cost. Does 20% sound good to you? We can adjust that gradually.”

The union leaders' eyes widened.

“Pardon?!”

“F-for real?!”

“Of course. Wouldn’t it be beneficial to you if you had a direct access line to the product?”

Until now, the magic crystals recovered from the military were sold to merchants, and the merchants commissioned production workers to process the magic crystals.

But there’s no need for that now, right?

“There’s no need to feed the middlemen. Let's deal directly with each other.”

There’s no need to split the pie.

In the long run, I was planning to take all production jobs in the city, including the magic crystal distribution line under my command.

I’ll be in control of not only the production of magic crystals, but also the processing, distribution, and sales of them.

“But in exchange, you will prioritize producing military supplies if I order you to. I’ll of course pay the exact amount for that production.”

I gave a chin gesture to the union presidents who were taking dry gulps.

“How does that sound? Not a bad trade, no?”

In the end, I was roasting them with money and interest.

A little too mammonistic?

“I’ll do it!”

“Let’s give it a try!”

“When do we start?!”

What can I say? There’s nothing more trustworthy than money.

* * *

After finishing the meeting with the union presidents, I came out to the entrance of the mansion and saw all the heroes gathered.

Lucas, Demian, and Lily.

And the representative of the new party, Jupiter.

Since Lucas, Demian, and Lily had met before, they exchanged greetings comfortably.

However, Jupiter was alone on the other side because of her sinister atmosphere.

Of course, Jupiter, who was not the type to care about such things, smoked a cigar and looked at the other party members.

This old lady—her eyes looked like they were gazing at her cute grandchildren.

‘They will get along soon enough.’

I started explaining to the party members without paying much attention to the details.

“I think you’ve heard a rough explanation of the situation from Lucas.”

I nodded as I looked around at the four people staring at me one by one.

“Monsters, to be exact, a thousand living armor corps are advancing into this city. We have about three days to prepare.”

Hm.

All of them were making faces as they realized how fucked the situation is. It was a little sad and funny at the same time.