Chapter 53: Ch. 52 – Speechcraft

After I leave the dungeon, I join back up with the other three.

Chloe asks me, "How much longer did you stay?"
"Not much, the boss on floor 30 was just too dangerous. It has a ridiculous [Earthquake] skill that would hit everyone on the whole floor unless they are flying. I'm not even sure I could survive a single hit of that. Elly could avoid that but would be unable to damage the boss. And out stalling its resources wasn't on the table either."
"Still", Marca adds, "even our floor 17 is much further than most groups can ever reach. We simply lack the necessary SP or means to regenerate it."
"If that is so, how could someone even find out that this dungeon is supposedly 120 floors deep? I'm not just talking about the required SP but also the necessary strength. If it goes on like this, fighting hordes of monsters with level 100 or more in several classes seems impossible."
Chloe knows something, "There are a couple of theories about this. In one of the legends about the first hero, it was claimed that they cleared all the major dungeons and ours was explicitly called out as the hardest at 120 floors deep with monsters going up to level 30."
Geoffrey is surprised, "I have never heard about this."
"So something has changed since then? Level 30 sounds quite doable."
"That is one theory. Another calls that particular story false and claims God told us about it with the task to conquer it. This was obviously never achieved."
"Considering what I know about your dear gods this seems unlikely."

"The third theory I know of... it claims that either the monsters were weaker or mankind was stronger, even at the same levels compared to now. Then... something happened."
"Huh... well, considering how the last few system updates were to my detriment, I'd certainly believe that."
"Quite possible. Now, we need to get going. You have your grand speech later and I think you wanted to still prepare something?"

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"Yeah, true. We'll take care of the dungeon loot tomorrow? I wanted to check the vault for artifacts with Therese's permission. And you two, Geoffrey and Marca, will afterwards go with me to a trader to test the glitch item idea."
"You got it", Marca confirms.
Geoffrey nods.
"Good, then see you later."

I return to my mansion to perform some last-minute checks for the planned tax changes.

I had expected to gain more exp from the dungeon trip and with that increase my title level after hitting Lore Seeker level 5, but it seems I was just spoiled in the previous glitched dungeon crawl with its hundreds of mid to high-level monsters per floor and damage over time status effects that never end. Well, there's nothing I can change about that now. I just have to make the most out of the flood monsters and eventually grow strong enough that I, or better we, can reach much further in the dungeon. My supply of blood packs isn't endless, so even if it wasn't for the demon artifact posing an unknown time limit, the food supply still is one.

Anyway, I check my options and it looks like I can add temporary tax cuts for blood donors, so that's something at least.

I rehearse my speech one last time and then head towards the stage prepared for today.

I arrive at the designated place ten minutes before the speech is scheduled to start. I can see a lot of people gathered before the stage and some soldiers stationed to keep public order.

Behind the stage, they've prepared a small cabinet for me in case I need to escape the sun. It shouldn't come to that, my speech should last ten, fifteen minutes at most. I'm... not really an elaborate speaker.

Therese finds me, "Jared, have you prepared everything?"
"As good as I can, Therese, but I'm still very nervous."
"Can't help you there. This is something that has to be done. The sooner the better, and now everyone is already present. Well, minus the soldiers guarding the gate."
"Yeah, yeah. 'The future of the world depends on you now but no pressure', right?"
"It is good that you are quick on the uptake."
"You could at least wish me luck."

"I'm confident you're able to pull this off without the need of luck."

Yeah, we're clearly not getting along. Good thing I don't have to put up with her in combat at least.

Maybe she would be less of an insufferable bitch if I made her a familiar? No, screw that, I have neither the resources for that nor is any form of mind control an acceptable way to improve a relationship.

It is finally time. I send Elly and Maria to join the guards in keeping order, then move to the main stage and begin my speech. The people in the crowd are clearly confused and terrified. That ends when I finally reveal the symbol of 'God's Lost Child'. Too bad that is its last use already.

I give the people a moment to let this revelation sink in.

I notice Elly yawning. Please pull yourself together over there, I know that standing around pretending to watch the order of this is boring but can we have at least that bit of dignity?

While I wait, a system prompt starts distracting me.

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