Chapter 108 That'S Not The Way To Do It!!
On the morning Aaron led the 17 members of ≪Bastard≫, ≪Holy Knights≫, and ≪Silfied≫ to the Snowfield Floor.
The members of Clan ≪Wooden Sword Way≫ were continuing their wooden sword crafting as usual that day.
Gathered in the clan's workshop, they worked and had lunch before starting the afternoon session.
Fiona, who was one of the top craftsmen in the clan, next to Aaron, was working on her own project while also teaching the other clan members.
"Big Sister Fiona, I'm having trouble with this part~!"
A member of the ≪White Lily Maiden≫ party made a cute face as she asked Fiona for help.
"Ah, this part is tricky because it's hard to get the plane right. First, secure the wooden sword to the workbench, and stand facing it directly..."
"Like this~?"
"Yes. And hold the knife with one hand while stabilizing it with the other, and angle the knife slightly..."
"Um, is it like this, big sister!?"
"Yeah. That's right. Now, carve it out without moving your arm, and move your body sideways while keeping the knife in place."
"Yes... Wow, I did it! Thanks, big sister~!"
"Good job. Now, I'll get back to my own work..."
As Fiona tried to return to her workspace, the White Lily Maidens member who had asked for her help hugged her to stop her.
"Wait, big sister~!"
"Huh? ...Is there something else?"
Fiona wasn't comfortable with the White Lily Maidens members.
They stood too close to her, and for some reason, they kept calling her "big sister" even though she had told them multiple times that she wasn't their big sister. It was a bit scary how they didn't seem to care.
On the other hand, the girl who had hugged her didn't seem to notice Fiona's subtle discomfort.
"Big sister~, I want to thank you for your help~!"
"...You don't have to thank me."
"Hey, aren't you going to that guy's (Master's) house today? I know all about it~. So, how about we have dinner together instead? I know a really delicious restaurant~. I'll treat you, so let's go together~!"
"...Sorry, but I have something to do today."
"Huh~? Is it something like going back to your hometown to learn cooking from mother-in-law? I've been wanting to learn how to cook lately too~ If it's okay with you, can I come with you~?"
(Ugh, how does this girl know all this stuff?!)
Fiona felt a chill run down her spine.
This stalker is scary, she thought.
"...I won't be able to focus if there's someone else there, so please don't come."
She firmly refused, trying to hide her fear.
The girl suddenly looked disappointed, but she didn't seem to want to bother Fiona, so she backed off. However, she still had her arms wrapped around Fiona.
"Okay~. I'm sorry, but I don't want to bother you, big sister~. I'll visit mother-in-law another time~."
As she said that, she naturally tightened her hug and pressed her face against Fiona's body.
Mmm...mmm...
"Wow~ You smell so good, big sister~!"
"Hey, stop sniffing me?"
"Just a little more, just a little more~!"
Fiona tried to pull the girl away, but just then, another clan member approached them.
"S-Sword Dance Maiden! I, uh, I have something I don't understand, and I was wondering if you could teach me...?"
It was the familiar, chubby magician.
The girl who was hugging Fiona reacted first.
"――What? You pervert, can't you see I'm talking to big sister right now? Read the atmosphere, you idiot...!!"
"O-Oink~!?"
The girl's voice was completely different from the high-pitched, sugary tone she had been using just a moment ago. It was low and menacing, and her face looked like she was staring at something disgusting.
The pervert felt a little good with such a merciless attitude.
"Sorry, but..."
Fiona replied this time.
"It's disgusting, so please don't come near me?"
Her expression was like looking at a stone by the road, with no emotions at all. Yet, it seemed to convey a sense of rejection even stronger than disgust.
She was already fed up with the girl, but Fiona's reaction was even more intense.
The pervert...
"O-Oink, oink, OINKKKKKK!!?"
He fell on his back and bridged.
"Ah, thank you so muchuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!"
The pervert felt extremely good.
The girl and Fiona couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and whisper their true feelings.
"Ugh, this guy is really disgusting..."
"I don't want to see him in my sight."
"OINKKKKKKKK!!"
The pervert shouted, but no one even looked back at him, and the clan members resumed their work.
And so, the clan's daily life went by――in the evening, when it was almost time to end today's activities, Io, the sub-master, stood in front of everyone, clapped his hands to get their attention, and said.
"Sorry, everyone I have something to say!"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Io, wondering what it was.
Io looked around at everyone, nodded once, and opened her mouth.
"As you all know, Aaron and the others are currently exploring the Snowfield Floor. If everything goes as planned, they should return to the surface by tomorrow night... before the date changes. So..."
Io paused for a moment and announced with a very serious expression.
"We plan to explore the Snowfield Floor tomorrow morning and carry out the plan to kill the Clan Master!"
Suddenly, cheers erupted from some of the members.
"It's finally time!"
"My arms are itching for a fight!"
"We're going to take back our big sister from that man!!"
"――Wait, Mr. Io!? What are you talking about!?"
Fiona was the one who shouted in surprise, her voice unusually loud.
She looked at Io with an expression of disbelief.
Some of the clan members had been discussing the "Clan Master Assassination Plan", but she had no idea why Io was taking the lead in this matter.
Io revealed the truth to Fiona, who was confused by the sudden declaration.
"To be honest... this plan was something I initiated."
"W-why... how could you...!?"
Io responded to Fiona's shocked question with intense emotion.
"He's... Aaron is trying to make this clan his personal property! If that happens, all clan members will be forced to work for Wooden Swordsmith for the rest of their lives!!"
"I-I don't know... maybe that's true...!"
Fiona tried to deny it, but after thinking about it, she couldn't quite disagree.
Io's confidence seemed to grow from Fiona's reaction, and he spoke in an even stronger tone.
"We have to stop him!! As the sub-master, I have to protect this clan!!"
"B-but, that's not the way to do it!!"
Fiona desperately tried to change Io's mind.
However, Io's determination didn't waver.
"I'm sorry, Fiona, but this has already been decided..."
"No...!!"
Fiona felt a sense of powerlessness.
Just then, a whispering voice reached her ears.
'Don't worry, we're not really planning to assassinate Aaron.'
(Huh? Mr. Io...?)
Fiona almost covered her right ear in surprise, but stopped herself.
Wind Magic――[Remote Voice]
Io was using this magic to make his voice audible only to Fiona.
'And the reason I'm leading the plan is to prevent the clan members from getting out of control. By taking the lead, I can guide them in the right direction.'
(Could it be... is he really trying to stop the assassination plan?)
Fiona quickly realized the truth.
If the plan had been proposed in a place where no one could control it, it wouldn't be surprising if the clan members, with their personalities, seriously tried to assassinate Aaron.
To be honest, most of the clan members are perverts or weirdos.
Fiona thought that only a handful of people, including herself, had a normal sense of values...
'As you know, Lady Fiona, many of our clan members are dissatisfied with the current situation.'
(That's...true)
Not everyone wants to make wooden swords, and not everyone wants to become a Wooden Swordsmith.
In the first place, Aaron and the others went to the Snowfield Floor to resolve the dissatisfaction of the ≪Bastard≫ and the others members.
'So, I thought I'd create an opportunity for them to release some stress. Besides, Aaron won't die or anything. We should be more worried about not getting killed by him.'
(Well, that's true...honestly, I don't know how Aaron would die, he's that kind of person)
For a while, it seemed like he might take his own life, but now that's not the case. As a result, Fiona can't imagine anyone killing him, simply because of his combat abilities.
――And Fiona had also forgotten that she recently made Aaron drink a large amount of potions.
'Trust me and leave it to me, okay? Lady Fiona?'
(Indeed, I think the clan members need to release some stress... and Mr. Io won't do anything bad, right?)
With that conclusion, Fiona nodded slightly towards Io.
However, there were also those who strongly opposed the plan.
"You can't be serious about trying to kill the master!! That's unthinkable!!"
"Yes, that's right!! Master is a treasure of this world! Trying to kill him is a betrayal of humanity!!"
"Please reconsider, Submaster!!"
These were Calum from ≪Balmung≫ and the members of ≪Wood Sword Appreciation Club≫, who were all obsessed with the great master Aaron.
On the other hand, Io seemed to have expected their opposition from the start and calmly replied.
"Do you guys think that Aaron will easily lose to us?"
"Huh? I don't think that's the case... but isn't that a different story?"
Calum asks back, looking puzzled at Io's response.
But Io doesn't answer, instead asking another question.
"Do you guys not believe in Aaron?"
"O-of course, we believe in our boss!"
"He's the Strongest Wooden Swordsmith!"
The members of the club respond strongly.
Io nods deeply, saying "I thought so."
"Then there's no problem, right? If you guys believe in Aaron, then there's no way he'll lose to us."
"But..."
The wood sword maniacs try to raise their voices in denial, looking puzzled.
However, Io interrupts them with a loud statement.
"Rather than that, this is a great opportunity Whether you agree with the plan or not, let's all go to the Snowfield Floor and participate in the attack! Don't think too deeply about the assassination plan――just think of it as an orientation to strengthen our clan's bonds! What do you say?"
Io looks around at everyone.
The clan members are taken aback by the word "orientation", which is far removed from the assassination plan, but they're basically a festive and fun-loving bunch. Soon, voices of agreement start to rise.
"Whoa, I don't get it, but it sounds like fun!"
"Is this a chance to beat up the Master? I'm in!"
"I just happened to be looking for a way to relieve some stress!"
"With this many people, we won't be scared of ≪Extreme Sword≫!"
"Let's test out the results of our weird training on Master's body!"
They get more and more excited.
The voices of opposition from the wood sword maniacs are quickly drowned out.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Io tries to wrap up the conversation before any more opposing opinions arise.
"Alright! Then it's settled! All clan members, gather at the Seal Temple tomorrow morning, ready for exploration! And while we're at it, those who haven't cleared the 40th floor yet, let's register for the 41st floor's teleportation circle! That way, we can get back faster than going back to the 36th floor!"
"""!!"""
Several clan members who knew the "circumstances" realized something.
This was actually a plan to update the clan members' levels, disguised as a plan to kill Aaron.
If all the clan members were to suddenly dive into the labyrinth, it would provoke the [Four Great Families of the Seals]. But by using the fake story of the Clan Master's attack as a cover, they could achieve their true goal.
The reason for rushing to update the members' levels was unknown, but it seemed Io was feeling anxious about the movements of the masterminds behind the Stampede and the [Four Great Families of the Seals]... and they accepted that.
On the other hand, Io, who had successfully manipulated the situation to his advantage, smiled in satisfaction and nodded.
(Hmph... Aaron, you're going down tomorrow...!!)
――and.
...It was all just a way to blow off steam.
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