The Laziest God Mortal Reincarnation

Chapter 91: The Problem With Competent People

( Daphne Spinster’s POV )

Elizabeth Aurelius smiled too much.

Not in the same way Sophie did.

Sophie smiled because she was happy.

Or amused.

Or because someone had said something stupid and she found it entertaining.

Simple.

Elizabeth smiled because other people were watching.

Different problem.

Much more dangerous.

I decided this within thirty seconds of meeting her on the southern road.

Class One arrived from the northwest with twelve wagons.

Food.

Water.

Tools.

Medical supplies.

And civilians.

Far too many civilians.

Children sat between crates.

Injured people occupied several wagons.

Older civilians walked beside the convoy.

A blacksmith was repairing something while the wagon he occupied was still moving.

Efficient.

Complicated.

Very Elizabeth.

My eyes moved toward the wagons again.

Class Four had five carts remaining.

Mostly mana crystals.

We needed transportation.

She needed mana.

The exchange was obvious.

Unfortunately, Elizabeth had also noticed.

Her eyes moved toward my carts.

Then toward me.

She smiled.

There it was again.

"I assume those are the mana crystals you mentioned."

"Yes."

"How much remains?"

"Enough."

Her smile changed slightly.

"Enough is not a quantity."

"Correct."

Behind me, Nadia made a small sound.

Probably laughter.

I ignored her.

Elizabeth looked toward the carts again.

Lucan stood near the first one, arms crossed.

He had already noticed the same thing I had.

Class One needed mana.

Class Four needed wagons.

No reason to waste time.

"I can provide two wagons," Elizabeth said.

"Four."

She did not blink.

"That would significantly reduce our civilian transport capacity."

"You have twelve."

"We currently require ten."

"Then you have two to spare."

"For free?"

"No."

Her smile widened.

I disliked that.

"We require mana crystals."

"I noticed."

"And Class Four requires transportation."

"I also noticed."

"Then perhaps we can reach a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"Four wagons."

"You appear attached to that number."

"I am."

"Why?"

"Because five would be unreasonable."

Nadia coughed behind me.

Elizabeth’s mouth almost moved.

Almost.

"Three."

"Four."

"Three wagons and Class One provides food for Class Four until we reach the Citadel."

"We have food."

"Not much."

I looked toward her.

She had been watching.

Of course she had.

"Three wagons, food, and medical supplies."

"Limited medical supplies."

"Define limited."

"Enough."

I stared at her.

She smiled.

Annoying.

Very annoying.

"You’re doing that deliberately."

"Doing what?"

"Using my answer."

"I thought it was efficient."

Lucan turned away.

His shoulders moved.

I looked at him.

He became very still.

Good.

Elizabeth continued.

"Three wagons. Food support. Basic medical supplies. In exchange, Class Four provides mana crystals to the combined group."

"How many?"

"Twenty-five percent."

"No."

"Twenty."

"No."

"Fifteen."

"Ten."

"Fifteen."

"Twelve."

"Fourteen."

"Thirteen."

She paused.

I paused.

Nadia leaned toward Lucan.

"Are they negotiating one percent at a time?"

"I think so."

"I heard that," I said.

"So did I," Elizabeth added.

Nadia went silent.

Temporarily.

Elizabeth extended one hand.

"Thirteen percent of what remains when we reach the Citadel."

Her eyes sharpened.

Interesting.

She had been hoping I would commit now.

"No."

I continued.

"Thirteen percent of our current crystal supply, distributed only when necessary."

"That is more restrictive."

"Yes."

"Three wagons."

"Four."

She sighed.

It was subtle.

I enjoyed it.

A little.

"Three wagons, and Class One gives Class Four first selection from any additional equipment we recover before reaching the Citadel."

I stopped.

Useful.

Potentially.

Depending on what we found.

Unknown value.

Which meant she was offering something cheap to herself that might be valuable to me.

Dangerous.

I looked at her.

She was waiting.

Not pushing.

That was worse.

"Three wagons," I said. "Thirteen percent mana allocation. Emergency Gravity support only."

"Emergency?"

"Collapsed terrain. Steep climbs. Broken wheels. Combat evacuation."

"Not ordinary travel?"

"No."

Elizabeth considered it.

Then nodded.

"Agreed."

We shook hands.

Her grip was light.

Controlled.

Perfectly polite.

I immediately disliked that she had obtained almost exactly what she wanted.

"You planned that."

"Of course."

"I dislike you."

"Noted."

Nadia stood behind me.

Quietly.

Too quietly.

Then,

"I think she likes you."

I closed my eyes.

Elizabeth answered before I could.

"I heard that."

Nadia went silent.

I turned toward her.

She smiled innocently.

Terrible class.

***

Redistributing everything took nineteen minutes.

Too long.

Also faster than expected.

Class One moved efficiently.

Very efficiently.

Elizabeth gave instructions without raising her voice.

A wagon was emptied.

Three civilians moved to another.

Supplies shifted.

Two students changed positions.

A horse was reassigned.

Nobody argued.

Nobody seemed confused.

People simply moved.

I watched.

Not obviously.

Probably.

Elizabeth appeared beside me.

"You’re evaluating."

I looked toward her.

"You’re speaking."

"Also true."

I looked back toward the convoy.

Class One students rarely waited for her to finish giving an instruction.

They seemed to understand the system already.

Teams.

Roles.

People responsible for specific tasks.

Several civilians were included in it.

A blacksmith handled repairs.

Stable hands managed the horses.

Two carpenters inspected wheels every time we stopped.

Useful.

Organized.

Almost irritatingly so.

"My class is less structured," I said.

Elizabeth glanced toward Class Four.

"Yes."

I looked at her.

She smiled.

"You could pretend to hesitate."

"Would that help?"

"No."

"Then why?"

Fair.

Class Four was different.

They moved well.

But independently.

Lucan handled combat preparation without being asked.

Nadia somehow knew where every supply had been placed.

Two Earth mages had already reinforced the crystal carts.

Nobody needed constant instruction.

That was good.

Still, several students looked toward me whenever something changed.

Not because they needed help.

Because they expected a decision.

I disliked that.

Less than before.

But still.

"We’re ready," Lucan said.

I looked around.

He was right.

"Move."

The combined convoy started south.

***

Traveling with another class was unpleasant.

Not because they were incompetent.

Because there were too many people.

Too many voices.

Too many moving parts.

Too many opportunities for someone to do something inefficient.

Within fifteen minutes, I had identified seven.

I corrected three.

Stopped myself from correcting two.

And discovered the remaining two had already been fixed by someone else.

That last part was becoming increasingly common.

I did not know whether I liked it.

Probably not.

A wagon wheel broke thirty-two minutes later.

The crack was loud enough that half the convoy stopped.

I turned.

The rear axle of one Class One wagon had split.

My first instinct was immediate.

Gravity.

Lift the wagon.

Reduce the strain.

Hold it while someone repaired the wheel.

Simple.

I raised one hand.

Then stopped.

Nadia was already moving.

"Lucan!"

He looked over.

"Lift the frame."

He walked toward the wagon.

A Metal mage followed.

Two students removed the damaged wheel.

A carpenter climbed down from the adjacent wagon.

Elizabeth had not spoken.

Neither had I.

Within seconds, the frame was supported.

The axle was being reinforced.

The civilians had been moved away.

Nobody asked me anything.

Good.

I lowered my hand.

Elizabeth stood several meters away.

Watching.

Of course.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You’re evaluating."

"Always."

"Stop."

"No."

At least she admitted it.

Nadia passed carrying a tool kit.

She looked at my hand.

Then at me.

"You were going to use Gravity."

"No."

"You raised your hand."

"I was stretching."

She looked at my completely straight arm.

"Naturally."

I stared.

She continued walking.

I was beginning to understand why people sometimes threw things at other people.

***

The wagon was repaired in seven minutes.

We continued.

Several Class Four students rotated between the crystal carts.

I no longer carried them myself.

Still strange.

More efficient.

Also strange.

I had spent years learning not to need anyone.

It had been useful.

When people could leave, disappoint you, change their minds, or decide you were inconvenient, the safest solution was simple.

Need less.

Do more yourself.

Expect nothing.

Then there was nothing to lose.

The logic was sound.

Except Zenith appeared determined to make the logic inconvenient.

First Nadia.

Then Lucan.

Now an entire class of people I barely knew.

Worse.

They were useful.

I disliked that word.

Useful.

Elizabeth had likely categorized everyone around her that way.

I had seen it in the way she watched people.

Combatant.

Healer.

Driver.

Civilian.

Asset.

Problem.

The difference between us was that Elizabeth seemed comfortable relying on useful people.

I wasn’t.

I decided to think about something else.

The leader communication network activated.

A translucent interface appeared.

James.

Sophie.

Alash.

Elizabeth and I were already physically near each other, but her projection appeared anyway.

Pointless.

James spoke first.

"Monster group east. We handled it."

Sophie stood beside his projection.

Her expression was cheerful.

James’s was not.

Probably related.

"Classes Two and Three are approximately forty minutes ahead of you," Sophie said.

Elizabeth nodded.

"Class Five?"

Alash’s projection appeared.

He looked tired.

Extremely tired.

He also had his pillow.

Of course.

I stared.

Why did the pillow still irritate me?

Because it made no sense.

The examination restricted artifacts.

Which meant it was either not considered an artifact or...

No.

Later.

Alash noticed me looking.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

I looked away.

Elizabeth spoke.

"Status?"

"Alive."

James closed his eyes.

I understood why.

"Your group," Elizabeth clarified.

"Also alive."

"Vortex."

"Thirty-seven."

I looked toward him.

All of them still alive?

James had lost three.

Sophie one.

I had lost two.

Alash had lost none.

"How?" I asked.

"Barrier."

Of course.

He said it again as though stopping an entire monster attack with one Attribute was ordinary.

I disliked talented people who behaved like their talent was inconvenient.

Mostly because he genuinely seemed to believe it.

Elizabeth continued.

"Distance?"

Alash looked somewhere outside the connection.

"Still approximately two hours from the convergence point."

Sophie frowned.

James asked, "Can you maintain that pace?"

"No."

At least he was honest.

Elizabeth looked toward me.

"We should send two of the empty wagons toward Class Five."

I stared.

Those were the wagons I had just negotiated for.

"No."

Alash looked mildly interested.

Elizabeth remained calm.

"They need transportation."

"We need transportation."

"You currently have three wagons."

"Because I negotiated for three wagons."

"And now circumstances have changed."

"I dislike changing circumstances."

James looked toward Sophie.

"Should we leave?"

"No," Sophie whispered. "This is interesting."

I heard her.

Terrible woman.

Elizabeth continued.

"One wagon."

"No."

"Daphne."

"Elizabeth."

She smiled.

I disliked that smile.

Alash raised one hand.

"I have a solution."

Everyone looked toward him.

He immediately seemed to regret speaking.

"What?" I asked.

"Don’t send the wagon."

Elizabeth frowned.

Alash continued.

"Send the horses."

Silence.

I thought about it.

The wounded were being moved on stretchers.

Several could be tied between horses using medical litters.

Not comfortable.

Faster.

Less resource loss.

Sophie tilted her head.

"That might work."

Elizabeth looked at me.

I looked at her.

"No wagon."

"No wagon," she agreed.

Good.

Alash sighed.

"Excellent. I accidentally participated."

James stared at him.

I understood the feeling more than I wanted to.

The communication ended shortly afterward.

***

We traveled another hour.

Nothing attacked us.

Suspicious.

The Mirage Hermit had probably decided calm was more stressful.

He was correct.

I found myself watching Class Four.

Not the road.

Not the crystals.

The students.

Nadia had taken responsibility for supply rotation without being told.

Lucan moved between the front and rear guard whenever terrain changed.

The two Earth mages checked the carts automatically.

A B-potential student I barely knew had started recording mana crystal usage.

Nobody asked permission.

Nobody needed me.

That should have been ideal.

Instead, a small part of me kept waiting for something to go wrong.

For someone to make the wrong choice.

For someone to stop.

Leave.

Fail.

Anything that would prove relying on them had been a mistake.

Nothing happened.

Annoying.

Nadia appeared beside me.

Again.

"You’ve been quiet."

"I’m usually quiet."

"Quieter."

I looked at her.

"Why are you monitoring my quantity of silence?"

"I get bored."

"Find a hobby."

"This is my hobby."

Disturbing.

She looked toward the convoy.

"Things are going well."

"For now."

"There it is."

"What?"

"For now."

I stared at her.

She continued.

"You always say things like that."

"No, I don’t."

"You do."

"Evidence?"

She started counting.

"The carts were working...’for now.’"

I said nothing.

"The wagon repair went well...’for now.’"

Still nothing.

"Elizabeth hasn’t betrayed us..."

"I never said that."

"You thought it."

"That does not count."

"It counts emotionally."

"That sentence means nothing."

"It means you’re waiting for everyone to disappoint you."

I stopped walking.

Nadia took another step.

Then stopped too.

The convoy continued around us.

I looked at her.

She had finally lost the smile.

Good.

Because the statement had not been amusing.

"You’ve known me for a few hours."

"Yes."

"Then don’t pretend you understand me."

"I didn’t."

"You just did."

"No."

She shook her head.

"I said what you’re doing. Not why."

That stopped me.

Annoying.

Again.

She looked toward Lucan.

Then toward the rest of Class Four.

"Maybe we’ll disappoint you later."

I said nothing.

"Probably, actually."

"Comforting."

"But you could still let us help until then."

I stared at her.

She shrugged.

"Seems efficient."

Efficient.

Of course she used that word.

I resumed walking.

Nadia followed.

"Was that agreement?"

"No."

"Almost?"

"No."

"Progress?"

"Nadia."

"Quiet."

"Excellent."

She remained silent.

For almost three minutes.

A personal record.

***

We reached a narrow ravine shortly before sunset.

The road descended sharply, crossed a stone bridge, then climbed the opposite side.

The wagons stopped.

Elizabeth examined the slope.

I already knew what she was going to ask.

"No."

She looked at me.

"I haven’t said anything."

"Gravity support."

Her smile returned.

"That was the agreement."

"Emergency only."

"This qualifies."

"The road is functional."

"One of the wagon brakes is damaged."

I looked toward the wagon.

Of course it was.

Nadia stood beside it.

She gave me a small wave.

Traitor.

I stepped toward the convoy.

"Fine."

Gravity spread.

Not around every wagon.

Only the damaged one.

Its weight decreased.

Four students controlled the ropes.

Two more guided the horses.

I maintained the field.

Then something unexpected happened.

Nothing.

No strain.

No exhaustion.

No unnecessary mana loss.

Because I wasn’t carrying the wagon.

I was assisting people already carrying it.

Different.

Much easier.

The wagon crossed.

Then another.

No Gravity needed.

Then the crystal carts.

Lucan managed one.

Nadia managed another.

One wheel slipped.

Three students corrected it before I moved.

Again.

No need.

By the time the entire convoy reached the other side, my mana expenditure was negligible.

Elizabeth approached.

"Efficient."

I looked at her.

"Do not."

"Do what?"

"You know."

She smiled.

Terrible princess.

I looked toward Class Four.

Nadia was arguing with Lucan about where to place the crystal carts.

Two other students joined.

They solved it without me.

Again.

I watched for several seconds.

Then turned away.

Perhaps independence did not mean refusing help.

Perhaps it meant being able to function even when nobody was controlling you.

That was more irritating.

Because it meant I had spent years perfecting the wrong definition.

Not entirely wrong.

Just incomplete.

I disliked incomplete things.

"Leader."

I turned.

Lucan stood beside me.

"What?"

"We’re ready."

I looked toward the class.

Everyone was prepared.

No one waiting for instructions beyond the obvious.

Good.

"Then move."

He nodded.

No argument.

As we started forward, Nadia fell into step beside me.

Naturally.

"You almost smiled."

"No."

"You did."

"I did not."

"Very slightly."

"I can increase your weight until you become part of the road."

She considered that.

"Would Lucan be able to lift me?"

I looked toward the sky.

Why?

Why had Zenith assigned this person to my class?

Then I noticed something.

I had asked the question differently before.

Why had Zenith assigned Lucan to annoy me?

Why Nadia?

Why people who kept interfering?

Now I knew.

Because if everyone around me politely accepted my decisions, I would keep doing everything myself.

No reason to change.

No reason to trust.

No reason to discover that someone else might have a better solution.

I looked toward Nadia.

She was still waiting for an answer.

"Probably."

Her eyes brightened.

"Can we test it?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I said no."

"That’s not a reason."

I increased her weight slightly.

"Hey!"

I continued walking.

She caught up two seconds later.

"Abuse of authority."

"Efficient use of authority."

"That’s worse."

Possibly.

But she was still beside me.

Lucan was still behind us.

Thirty-four Class Four students remained.

The crystals were moving.

The wagons were moving.

And for once, I wasn’t carrying any of them.

Strange.

Uncomfortable.

Useful.

I could tolerate useful.

For now.