第８９３堀：いざ竜山へ (Part1)
### Chapter 893: To Dragon Mountain
**Side: Comet**
"Command here. Tori, do you read me?"
"Yes, I hear you. Signal is clear."
"Good. I can hear you clearly as well. Can everyone else hear me?"
" " "We hear you loud and clear." " "
Good. It seems the magical communication via the call function is working without any issues.
"The familiars and drones are operating normally. There shouldn't be any problems even after crossing the forest boundary."
"Understood. Alright everyone, let's move out. From here on, we are at the foot of Dragon Mountain."
That’s right—I am currently assisting in the conquest of Dragon Mountain by providing support to Tori and her team.
To be honest, I didn't have the slightest desire to help at first.
Actually, even now, that feeling hasn't really changed.
I’d love to go out into the field and carry heavy gear, but I’m a zombie, after all. I can’t carelessly wander outside the effective range of my dungeon.
*Sigh.* At times like this, being a zombie is truly a nuisance.
Maybe I should consult with Hifii about this?
Well, that’s a topic for another time. Right now, I have to properly support Tori’s team, or Yuki and the others will get angry at me.
"Alright, scouts, move ahead and begin reconnaissance. Familiars, stay low and weave through the trees instead of flying at high altitudes. Drones, continue filming from high above."
" " "Understood." " "
As I gave the orders, the surveillance goblins immediately began their work.
On the giant monitor in front of me, the footage from the scouts began to stream in.
Meanwhile, the diversionary team had also started their mission, but...
"Haaah... Alright, Steve’s squad is heading out."
A voice came through from Steve, sounding strangely dejected.
Well, that couldn't be helped. After all...
"Look, I know you have your complaints about being sent out in nothing but a loincloth, but this is for the sake of the investigation. It might be cold, and you might get bug bites, but please do your best."
Yes, at Yuki’s suggestion, they are disguised as wild goblins and are investigating Dragon Mountain separately from Tori’s group.
They are meant to act as a support unit in case of interference or trouble for the main team.
The camouflage work done around the dungeon was just a side job.
This support mission is the real deal. Still, I thought it would be too cruel to have them deploy alongside Tori’s team, so I sent them out separately.
...This is about all I can do for them.
After all, there is no way I could ever go out in just a loincloth.
I mean, look at me—I’m a beauty, right? I’d definitely get attacked by wild beasts.
Anyway, that aside, it was time to see Steve off.
"Understood. Well, this loincloth... it was specially made by Narjia-san. It has temperature regulation and even a magical barrier, so it’s higher performance than most armor, and it even completely guards against bug bites... I just don't get why she put so much effort into a loincloth. That woman."
"...She’s just meticulous about those things. Honestly, when it comes to crafting weapons, she’s overwhelmingly superior to someone like me."
Even I find Narjia-san a bit... well, hard to keep up with.
Right now, she’s developing new weapons by referencing robot anime, and after pursuing the possibilities of enchantment, her clubs somehow ended up with more firepower than a legendary sword.
It’s truly incomprehensible. Yuki once said with a serious face that she might eventually engrave the name "Legendary Sword" onto a random twig, and I couldn't even laugh at that.
"Well, no point in complaining. Steve’s squad, moving out."
"Understood. Don't forget to send your scheduled reports."
"Roger. You keep the information management under control on your end, too."
"Yeah, leave your back to me."
Before I could even finish my reply, Steve and his team had already dashed into the forest and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Now then, I should get to work, too.
I looked around my workspace, but monitoring this giant screen all by myself is, as expected, impossible.
My main job is to watch the様子 (state) of Tori’s team and Steve’s team, which are projected prominently in the center.
I leave the other monitoring and analysis to my subordinates.
Now, let’s see how Tori’s team is doing...
"Beyond the forest is... another forest?"
"Looks like it. Still, it’s strange how there’s a clear, grassy plain like a border."
Those voices came through my earpiece.
Just as Riel and Mauve said, the footage from the familiars showed that once the forest ended, there was a stretch of pure grassland without a single tree, followed by the forest at the foot of Dragon Mountain.
It seems they’ve reached the boundary plain.
"I can’t see it from here, but based on the drone’s preliminary survey footage, there is..."
Zargis said, walking forward, before stopping again.
"There is a river."
Yes, this river separates the forest—which is free of monsters and animals—from the forest at the foot of Dragon Mountain.
The river seems to flow from the peak of Dragon Mountain, but it’s impossible to go up the river to reach the mountain.
The reason is simple: there is a massive waterfall along the way, and it’s impossible to climb.
Ah, well, it wouldn't be impossible for Tori and the others, but since this is also an investigation, we’ve decided against such shortcuts.
"Yup. The water seems normal."
"Ah!? Riel, you shouldn't drink that on your own. What if you get a stomach ache?"
"...No eating things you find on the ground."
"No, I don't think you need to go that far for just water..."
It seems Riel drank the water on her own right away.
Well, she’s either courageous or just doesn't think ahead—but that’s part of her charm.
"Still, it’s very clear water. There might be something in it, so let’s collect a sample."
Zargis said, collecting some of the river water.
Still, that wouldn't be enough of a sample.
"Zargis, please collect some for me as well."
"Understood."
Zargis immediately took another plastic bottle out of his item box, filled it with river water, and stored it back in the item box.
...While still carrying a massive amount of luggage on his back.
"Hey, Zargis. It’s a bit late to ask, but if you have an item box, why don't you put that luggage on your back inside it? You only needed to look like a regular traveler when we went to town, but surely you don't need to carry that stuff while moving now, right?"
Actually, now that I think about it, it’s not just Zargis—everyone else is doing it too. For some reason, they are all still carrying their packs.
"No, we need to carry them. I’m actually surprised you didn't know that."
"What do you mean?"
Did that heavy luggage have a purpose other than camouflage?
As I tilted my head, Zargis began to explain while walking.
"We keep the necessary equipment out so that we can continue our exploration and investigation even in areas where magic is nullified."
"Ah... I forgot that item boxes can't be used in magic-nullification zones."
"Yes. Well, I don't think a dragon would have that kind of technology, but in the unlikely event that they do, we would be isolated in the forest without food. If that happens, no matter how strong we are, there’s nothing we can do."
"I see. So you’ve thought that far ahead."
"Yuki basically assumes the worst-case scenario. This luggage is one of our lifelines for surviving in situations where magic can't be used, which is why we carry it around."
"Ah, so that’s why you were so reluctant to participate in this investigation."