第１１０３堀：調査メンバーの挨拶 (Part1)
Chapter 1103: The Investigation Team’s Greetings
Side: Wazfi
"For starters, these are the survey reports I’ve compiled over the last ten years."
I gestured to the mountain of documents I had gathered, which I’d presented to Yuki-sama. It was impossible to carry them all at once, so I had invited him to my room instead. My room, after all, doubles as my laboratory.
"Oh, you’ve actually organized these quite neatly."
"How rude. I am a woman, after all. I make sure to keep things like this in order."
"Fair enough. That’s normal, isn't it? Though, looking at people like Nairua, I suppose I shouldn't take it for granted."
"Ah... well, when the top student of the Academy is like that, it’s hard to argue."
I let out a dry laugh; it’s difficult to deny the truth. There are certainly plenty of students at the Academy who are so obsessed with their research that they completely neglect their personal appearance.
"Well, to each their own, I suppose. So, I have your permission to look through all of these reports?"
"Yes, go ahead. My research is something no one ever pays attention to anyway, so there’s nothing worth hiding."
"That’s the sad reality of pioneering research, I suppose."
"Exactly. That said, if Yuki-sama is willing to fund it, I’d be quite grateful."
"That depends on the content. For now, I’ll collect these. Do you mind if I take them to our room?"
"Eh? You’re not going to look at them here?"
The materials I had painstakingly collected over a decade were far too voluminous for any man to carry in his arms. They spanned everything from my early investigations back home to my exhaustive surveys of the Great Forest—a veritable treasure trove of monsters. It had been a struggle just to lay them all out like this, so the idea of moving them elsewhere seemed impossible. But as soon as Yuki-sama reached out to touch one of the reports, it simply vanished into thin air.
"Excuse me?"
I wondered if I’d blinked or if he had some way of concealing them, but Yuki-sama just kept picking up the reports one after another, making them disappear.
"Wait—what!? How are you doing that!?"
"Hm? Oh, you don't know about an Item Box?"
"What!? That’s spatial magic! I’ve only ever seen the Academy Principal use something like that! And wait—that makes so much sense!"
"Why are you so excited? It’s a bit rare, sure, but it’s not *that* big of a deal."
"No, it is definitely a big deal! I’ve seen plenty of item bags, but being able to designate items to store in space itself? That’s a super-convenient spell that makes item bags obsolete!"
"That’s true. No need to carry bags around. You just touch the object, and it’s stored."
*Oh, boy.* The person who hired me is far more incredible than I imagined. He uses magic on a level only the Principal can manage as if it were nothing. Come to think of it, I’d heard some absurd rumors about Yuki-sama’s wife defeating the Principal—could that actually be true?
While I was lost in thought, Yuki-sama, having effortlessly stowed away the fruits of my ten-year labor, started heading for the door.
"H-hey, wait a second!"
"Did you forget something?"
"No, but... what about leaving someone this shocked behind?"
"...Ah, well, yeah. Good luck with everything."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. Try not to let your brain overheat."
*Haaah?* What on earth does he mean by that? I pride myself on having a wealth of knowledge, but I can’t make heads or tails of what Yuki-sama says.
...Actually, since he says so many things I can't understand, it’s starting to sound like a load of nonsense. Could he be making up random excuses just to get me to come with him? But if that were the case, he could have come up with something more convincing...
Well, it’s too late to back out now. He has my reports, and I can’t just say goodbye and leave. I followed him quietly until we arrived in front of an unfamiliar laboratory in what should have been the very heart of the Academy.
"Wait, was this place always here?"
"Ah, Popuri said she prepared it for us, so you might not know about it."
"Wow, the Principal herself prepared this?"
"Apparently, there are several rooms. It’s meant to serve as both a laboratory and our living quarters."
What is this? Even hearing it briefly, the preferential treatment they’re giving Weed is staggering. They don’t even let the great powers of the If Continent have their own dedicated laboratories here. Not that those countries have any need to station a lab at the Lancer Magic Academy, but the fact that they just whipped this up on request is bizarre. They’re risking the possibility of their technology being stolen by Weed.
"Well, let’s head inside and get the introductions over with."
As Yuki-sama opened the door, what lay beyond was... well, in a sense, a familiar, chaotic laboratory. It was a masterclass in the kind of clutter typical of a researcher.
"..."
I was speechless, and for some reason, Yuki-sama—the owner of this room—was silent as well. As I hesitated, wondering how to break the ice, a woman with messy hair and a strangely pale complexion poked her head out from the back of the room, looking utterly exhausted.
"Hmm? Oh, it’s Yuki. Hey, Agil, Yuki’s here."
"Oh, my beloved husband. You’ve returned."
A tiny girl emerged from behind the tall woman. She, too, looked rather disheveled.
"Yeah, I’m back... but why is it so messy in here?"
"Hm? Oh, we’re just making it easier to work in."
"Ahaha. Well, Comet is right, but... is it really that bad?"
"Haaah... keep it organized. Well, I’ll help you clean up later, but first, I have someone to introduce."
"Introduce? Oh, the girl behind you?"
"Hm? Is she a student of the Academy?"
It seemed they had finally noticed me after Yuki-sama pointed it out. I should probably introduce myself first, right?
"Um, nice to meet you. My name is Wazfi. I’ve come here to assist Yuki-sama with his monster research."
"Oh? A student at the Academy doing monster research? My name is Comet."
"If Yuki brought you, I assume you’re quite capable? I’m Agil."
"Well, yes. I believe there is no one more qualified than Wazfi, especially when it comes to the Great Forest."
"Hmm, what do you mean? She’s just a student, isn't she? If it’s monster surveys, Popuri would be much more knowledgeable."
"Now, now, Comet. There’s surely a good reason for it. Right, Yuki?"
"That’s right. So, Wazfi, do you mind showing these two the reports from earlier?"
"Oh, yes."
There was nothing in them that I was worried about being seen. It’s just that, to someone uninterested, they would be completely indecipherable. If Yuki-sama wanted to show them, I had no objections.
Yuki-sama quickly cleared some space on the table, pushing aside the scattered books and documents, and laid out the reports I’d brought from my room.
"What is this?"