Chapter 296: 296: Who Are You, Really?

This was an issue that could only be resolved in a discussion with all parties involved, so I asked them to come with me to speak in private.

As we left the main hall, Typhon instructed Morgana to take over command, much to the chagrin of others, Arsinoe in particular who looked at her like a prisoner.

Morgana herself seemed surprised but she quickly nodded and instructed the others. There were a few murmurs but no one really opposed, which made me wonder what had changed.

As all the nestlings came together quietly, I wondered if it had something to do with Ophelia. But I decided to let it go for now and went into one of the cave rooms. 

I was rather curious to know what my strongest captains had to say.

|[As you know, I'm sending Apollo to search for the Serpent Clan.]| I announced. |[And I can see you don't approve, so who would you have sent instead?]|

I wasn't changing my decision, but I was curious to know what insights they had about the nestlings and their abilities.

[Galahad.] Typhon answered without hesitation. [He is well suited to tasks like this.] 

I was surprised, because I never got the impression that Typhon particularly trusted Galahad, so for him to be suggested he must be confident in his abilities.

And it just so happened that he wasn't here to speak his side.

[Artemis.] Was Ophelia's answer which caused Typhon to give her a withering stare.

[What's wrong with him?] Ophelia argued defensively.

[He's more likely to leave his mission to look at poisonous plants!] Typhon bluntly replied.

[That's not true!] Ophelia shot back. 

She was trying to convince me but Typhon only scoffed.  [He is too set on his interests to stick to a single plan. Doing that will ruin everything.] 

But Ophelia scowled at him. [I consider that a good trait! At least he can think for himself!]

[And Galahad can't?] Typhon disagreed.

Hah.

It was amusing to see them bicker as I never thought the two would ever clash. 

A difference in opinions was okay, but this only served to reinforce the notion that they were very different from the others.

[His intellect outweighs his strength, so why not let him use that to his benefit?] Ophelia said. 

Typhon disagreed. [A garden is a waste of time, he should be sparring with the others to improve his strength, not hiding away with the Veladrys.]

Ophelia hissed in anger. [His collection is not a waste of time. He found a plant that can mark anything it touches to create a trail, amongst other things. It can be used to track the Serpent Clan if he gathers enough!]

Oh?

I thought both sides had good points.

But more specifically, I was curious to know why Typhon and Ophelia were smarter and more knowledgeable on things they had no means to be. 

While the search for Galahad hadn't yielded much fruit as of yet. Typhon already knew to send a search team consisting mostly of wolves, alongside Cygnus and Delphine. And this was only moments after I mentioned Apollo's bad deeds.

Ophelia, on the other hand, was already this good at using her magic without any assistance - it came easily to her like a natural talent. Part of the reason the nestlings were so stellar was also because of their guidance.

So, was it wrong of me to think they were far too efficient for their own good? 

I was beginning to think we had more in common than they let on.

The two were glaring at each other, Ophelia's feathers raised and more ruffled while Typhon simply looked displeased. 

I thought they were far more animated right now, than I ever saw them being with the nestlings, and I let out a chuckle.

Ophelia stormed over to me, keen to defend her suggestion. [Who do you think is right?]

|[I think both of you have valid points.]| I replied. |[But Typhon is correct, it's about who will get the best results. But I think Apollo is still the best candidate because he cares more about his life than he does for glory. He wouldn't do anything to jeopardise that, and he will come back alive no matter how dangerous the situation gets. I can't say the same for the others.]|

Ophelia may have suggested Artemis because he was tactically superior, but he had other things he valued more. Meanwhile Galahad didn't seem to value anything enough to strive to improve, he just seemed to drift by, so Typhon's choice was rather strange to me.

Ophelia looked defeated, but she listened attentively while Typhon simply nodded at my reasoning. 

|[Anyway, tell me the progress of your search teams first.]| I asked, and they began to give me a summary. 

It turns out Cygnus and Delphine had located several other caves throughout the dense forest, but there were no living serpents inside. These caves were old and the nestlings in them all seemed to have been killed in one of three ways. Starved to death, battled to death or by getting burnt to a crisp. 

From this revelation, it was possible we were the only serpents left on this Stratum and that was somewhat unnerving. 

Nevertheless, it gave me an idea of just how much hostility to expect. 

|[Ask Artemis to find more of this plant and place them around the caves in case anything visits.]| 

It was a long shot but if a serpent or other creature was near, I would like to know. 

[I will ask him and the Veladrys to gather as much as they can find.] Ophelia replied.

I nodded and turned to Typhon. |[How ready would you say the nestlings are to fend off an attack?]|

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[That depends on how many creatures are attacking.] he replied. [We can't defend the cave from a large scale attack with our low numbers.]

I thought of all the creatures in our vicinity that could be a threat to us - serpents, apes, wasps, perhaps even elves. We were sorely outnumbered and very easy to find, and as nice as this cave was, perhaps it was time to move on to somewhere heavily defended, like the castle in the Valley.

|[What if we had a stronger base with only one path of entry?]| I suggested. If my [Pit] were to join the hundreds of Abyssal monsters guarding that valley, they would be better protected.

[Where is this place?] Typhon asked.

|[Not far from here, if you can fly.]| I replied. 

Considering not all of the nestlings could, the journey would be slightly longer.

Typhon considered it for a moment. [How safe is this place?]

[How far away is it?] Ophelia asked excitedly. [Can you show me?]

Ah... I didn't mean to bring their hopes too high.

Perhaps I should have mentioned that it was a cesspool of Abyssal monsters first?

I coughed nervously. |[It's moderately dangerous.]| 

[So it's very dangerous.] Typhon corrected, making Ophelia sigh in disappointment. 

|[It's not all bad!]|

I wouldn't have considered travelling there if not for them! 

The Abyssal monsters here had acclimated so quickly. 

To see them cooperating with Typhon and the others was really cool and it gave me hope that the others could be tamed as well.

Still, there was no telling how long that would take.

[If we move, how will Galahad find us when he returns.] Ophelia asked. 

She brought up a very good point which got me thinking. 

[He chose to leave the cave.] Typhon harshly replied. [It's not our responsibility if he can't find his way back.] 

[Don't say it like that!] Ophelia swivelled around in anger. [We should all stick together!]

Typhon simply ignored her and turned to me. [We can move in small groups until everyone is safely escorted. But If he isn't back by then, there's nothing more we can do.]

He was just as blunt as before and even when Ophelia scolded him, he remained unsympathetic.

|[That would work.]| I replied. 

Except none of them knew the way. 

I wasn't keen on making repeated trips so they would need to have a general layout of the journey by themselves, including knowing what monsters could be lurking around, as well as other obstacles foreign to the Labyrinth.

All of these things would have been impossible without the system's involvement, but fortunately the system had a rather unique skill.

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[Legacy] - Grants the user the ability to transfer skills to any member of the [Pit].

Effect: The Captains chosen by their Commander can be granted any skill from the [Rebirth System].

Limit: If any given skill is rescinded for any reason, that captain will no longer be eligible to use [Legacy] skills from thereon after. 

Price: [5000XP]

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I had enough XP points for it and to get them the [Labyrinth Atlas] skill they needed. 

But instead of telling them, I mentioned these problems just to see what solutions they could come up with.

Ophelia was quick to come up with many suggestions including volunteering to act as a guide, while Typhon insisted on marking out a path.

My hunch was right, in that they were different from the other nestlings. 

They both had good characters, were dependable and exceedingly smart. The more I listened to them, the more pleased I was that I had them by my side. 

But how far could I trust them?

I was positive they weren't reincarnates. If they were, Sensei would have mentioned something to me.

He certainly wouldn't approve of me wanting to get along with them. 

At the same time, they hadn't shown any ill intentions so far, so there was nothing to fear. Since they obeyed my orders, I didn't really care what they were as long as they didn't bring any harm to me.

But if that ever changed, I would have to be selfish and ensure my own survival above everything else.

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