“Still, for all the executives to be meeting together the day after I joined, the timing’s quite good huh?”
On the way to the venue for the general meeting, I randomly ask.
“That’s true. But it’s just a coincidence, you know? In the first place, my job for this general meeting is to report on the guided exploration, so to make sure it was a success, I was training the beginners up to the very last minute. And, I can say it now, but there was a plan to promote one of the three Officers to the 1st Unit. The guided exploration was also a test for that. We had intended to get approval at this meeting to promote the person who would have passed the test.”
I see.
This might be the ‘true intent’ of the guided exploration that I’d prior doubts about.
I guess they wanted to see how the Officers deal with unforeseen circumstances.
The plan was executed on a tightrope…
Among those three, there’s someone who might have been selected for the 1st Unit huh.
“Hmm, there’s no need for you to worry, yeah Orn? In the first place, all three of them have their own parties. So they should have some emotional ties. Besides, since this was all off the record, the three of them aren’t even aware. In fact, we wanted a Vanguard Attacker to join us, it ended up being the best case for the Clan that you decided to join.”
If that’s so, is it okay if I don’t let myself get bothered about it?
◇
Arrival at the conference room.
Following Selma, I enter.
It looks like the other members have already gathered, leaving only two seats vacant.
A quick look at the participants reveals that they are all young.
I would say the average age is thirty.
”Night Sky’s Silver Rabbit” is a Clan with a history of more than fifty years.
So it wouldn’t be strange for there to be more older people, but this is probably because the seniors have mostly been forced out after the previous year’s incident.
I don’t know the finer details, but I heard that those who were made to resign had their hands involved in wrongdoing and were condemned by the President.
This led to turmoil within the Clan, and at that point, they lost their momentum.
Though in this past year, they’ve been regaining their former progress.
“Everyone is present. Now, let us start the general meeting. First of all, there is something I want to talk to everyone about.”
When I sit down in the seat closest to the entrance, the President, after confirming that everyone is here, gives the command to start the general meeting.
“I think most of you already know him, but I will once again introduce him. Joining ‘Night Sky’s Silver Rabbit’ from yesterday, this is Orn Doula.”
Since the President is beginning by introducing me to everyone, I stand up.
The eyes of the participants gather on me.
Most of them look at me as though they are assessing me, so it’s not very comfortable.
“As an explorer, he originally belonged to the Hero Party, but some days ago, he withdrew from the Hero Party, There will be a more detailed report on this later, but after his withdrawal, he accompanied our guided exploration, and on the day before yesterday, he demonstrated himself as a powerful person capable of subjugating the 92nd Floor Boss by himself.”
The President thoroughly goes through everything about me.
“Notwithstanding his combat power, including the 93rd Floor which we have yet to set foot on, he holds much information that we lack. In addition to that, another special point to mention is that he was, in effect, managing his previous party alone. Not just combat power, his knowledge and management abilities are impeccable. Because of that, while I am aware that he has only just joined, I am considering installing him as Albert’s successor in an executive role. Although the matter of him joining the Clan as well as the 1st Unit has already been settled, in order to become an executive, the consent from two-thirds or more of the current executives is required. Therefore on this occasion, I would like to raise this resolution.”
Somehow, I feel a bit ashamed by such high praise that is far more than what I’d imagined….
“Then, we will vote on the resolution. Those in favour of—”
“President, please wait.”
When the President pauses for a moment and is about to call for a vote on the resolution, one of the attendees stops him.
An intelligent-looking man in his late thirties who wears glasses.
“Before the resolution, I would like to ask the person in question about their resolve. Orn, right? Will you be able to devote your body to this Clan? There are quite a few members that belong to this Clan. Your judgments have the possibility of affecting the lives of each member. You are surely aware of that, right?”
The man with glasses asks while directing a piercing gaze at me.
From what he’s saying, I can feel how just much this person values the Clan, and just how much resolve he holds here.
I can say some flowery things here.
However, there’s no point in lying.
Let me convey my honest thoughts.
“I don’t intend to devote myself to the clan like you do.”
A few people frown at my remarks.
“However, since the time I chose to join this Clan, I have made my resolve. When I became an explorer, I also made a vow. ‘No matter what unfair things might happen, to not lose anything, no matter what situation, to protect what’s important to me, I will become stronger’. As a member of ‘Night Sky’s Silver Rabbit’, no matter what happens, I will exhaust everything I have to protect my comrades. Are you dissatisfied with this answer?”
For me, rather than the organisation known as a Clan, I think the people who belong to it are more important.
This Clan has a history of more than fifty years, and I think it’s important to cherish the Clan.
However, it’s the people who support that Clan.
If there are no people, the Clan will simply disappear.
That’s why I’ll protect the members.
Let’s leave the protection of the Clan to the other executives.
“Each and everyone of you, have you made your decision? Then, let’s call the resolution. Those in favour of appointing Orn as an executive, raise your hands.”
The President calls for whether to pass the resolution.
Everyone in the meeting room raises their hands, and I become an executive of “Night Sky’s Silver Rabbit”.
–
