Live Dungeon! Chapter 363: The Difference in Leadership

Three days following their conquest of the ninety-seventh layer, a significant decision was finally reached by Korinna. That same night, she sought out Tsutomu in his room, a precarious tower of papers threatening to tumble from her arms. Upon opening the door to admit her, he watched her enter as if she were stepping into a forbidden zone.

"That's quite a substantial amount of data you have there," Tsutomu remarked. "Did you compile all of this yourself?"

"No, well… Miss Pico offered her assistance."

While major publishers and newspapers possessed the means and methods for mass printing, such technology was far from accessible to the common person. Fortunately, Pico, now a contracted Dungeon Maniac contributing to Solit Company, had leveraged her extensive network to acquire something akin to a typewriter.

Korinna had borrowed this device to prepare the necessary materials beforehand. She carefully deposited the weighty stack onto his desk, then turned to face Tsutomu, her expression a turbulent mix of apprehension and unease.

"I'll be direct," she stated. "For the party on my hundredth layer, my chosen companions will be Diniel, Leleia, Xeno, and Hannah."

"I understand. And these documents detail the rationale behind your choices?"

"Y-yes!"

Korinna winced internally after having unintentionally bitten her tongue. Tsutomu surveyed the documents with an air of someone perusing a freshly released strategy guide, his gaze sharp and keenly analytical.

"So, ultimately, you are set on maintaining the same Attacker lineup?"

"…Yes. I deliberated between Amira and Diniel, but my final decision was Diniel. Um, I have outlined my reasons in the document marked with the blue sticky note. I believe… she has truly reflected upon the events of the ninetieth layer. She seems more composed now."

"Mm-hmm…"

Tsutomu turned to the specific section Korinna mentioned. The analysis of Diniel was remarkably thorough, evidently stemming from considerable firsthand observation. It even highlighted aspects of her demeanor and performance that Tsutomu himself hadn't consciously registered. Nevertheless, from a standpoint of pure synergy, Tsutomu felt Amira would have been the more potent Attacker. However, Korinna had conspicuously avoided any direct comparison. A faint smile touched his lips as he let this pass and continued his review.

Having concluded his initial scan of the majority of the documents, he set them aside. He then voiced the question that had been most occupying his thoughts.

"I can comprehend your reasoning for selecting Diniel and Hannah. But what about Leleia and Xeno? Beyond the points you've enumerated in these papers, naturally."

The section concerning Xeno was notably extensive and animated; he'd suspected as much the moment Pico’s involvement was mentioned. Conversely, Leleia's dossier relied heavily on empirical data, conspicuously lacking Korinna’s personal insights. Tsutomu’s observation caused Korinna to visibly start.

"It's not that your justifications are without merit," Tsutomu continued in a gentle tone, "but I'm struggling to grasp *your* personal opinion on those two. Especially when contrasted with the meticulous analysis you provided for Hannah. That disparity is quite striking."

Indeed, Korinna’s detailed breakdown of Hannah, and the way her evasion-centric Tanking style complemented her own abilities as a Channeler, was impressive. It also spoke volumes of her consideration that she viewed the Magic Fist as a viable option, backing her assessment with data gathered during training sessions, a testament to her character given her typically cautious nature. Her evaluation of Diniel might have been slightly swayed by personal bias, but it was understandable within the context of their current party composition.

However, with Xeno and Leleia, it felt more akin to presenting a compilation of external arguments. It was almost as if she were attempting to rationalize a choice she hadn't fully committed to herself.

"I… um…" Korinna stammered, her gaze dropping to the floor.

"Hmm…"

Tsutomu continued to leaf through the remaining documents. The soft rustle of turning pages filled the room. Beads of perspiration formed on Korinna’s forehead, and soon, a single drop traced a path from her nose, falling onto the floor.

Then, Tsutomu broke the quiet.

"Is it truly that difficult to articulate? You needn't force yourself if the words won't come."

"No, it’s just… I suppose it’s not something I can state with pride…" Her voice quivered. "The reality is, I still cannot lead a party with the same confidence you possess. I lack sufficient conviction. That is why I wish for Xeno and Leleia to lend me their leadership."

"…Oh."

Tsutomu blinked, momentarily taken aback. He returned the documents to the desk and folded his arms. This revelation had been unexpected, yet it made complete sense. Korinna, despite her significant advancements as an individual Explorer, still lacked the decisive command characteristic of a high-tier Healer like Stephanie. Even newer talents such as Milway and Cecilia were beginning to exhibit a greater aptitude in that specific area. In contrast, Korinna had consistently favored collaboration over overt control; this was particularly evident during their successful clearing of the ninetieth layer.

To address that specific vulnerability, she had ultimately settled on Xeno and Leleia. From Tsutomu's perspective, it was a commendable act of setting aside her own pride to make such a crucial decision. Leleia, in particular, hailed from a rather distinguished family of knights. Her upbringing and rigorous training had naturally cultivated strong leadership qualities within her. She had already demonstrated her competence during a critical moment on the ninetieth layer, stepping up to lead the group in Tsutomu's absence and ultimately achieving victory.

"You're right, I hadn't considered that," Tsutomu confessed. "You've certainly put a great deal of thought into this, haven't you?"

"N-no, not entirely. I just..."

"Listen, if you believe this is the optimal path forward, I have no objections. Let's proceed with your choices. As for Diniel... I'll handle that conversation with her myself. Is there anything else?"

"No, that's everything..."

"Excellent. I will relay this information to the rest of the Clan within the coming days. Would you mind if I kept these documents for a short period? I wish to review them in greater detail."

"Ah... certainly!"

Following that, the conversation flowed without further hitches. With Korinna's assigned members confirmed, the teams destined for the hundredth layer were officially established.