第１１０７堀：調査方法について (Part2)
"Yes, yes. Calm down. If we stop to be surprised at every little thing or explain every detail, we’ll never get anywhere."
"Ah, right. My apologies."
As Wazfi immediately tries to examine the monitor that has just descended, Agil steps in to stop him. As expected of a fellow kin, she read his movements perfectly. Still, he’s in for a continuous barrage of surprises from here on out.
I chuckle to myself, powering on the monitor and connecting it to my laptop.
"Whoa!? I-it lit up! And there’s a map on it!!"
"Alright, zap."
"Hgyaa!?"
Ah, Agil zapped him. And that was enough of a jolt to leave him paralyzed for a while. Well, it’s noisy and unproductive if he keeps making a scene, after all.
"Wazfi. I’ll explain how these tools work individually later. For now, just listen quietly while I use this device—which displays these convenient images—to explain the situation."
When I say this, Wazfi, seemingly unable to speak due to the lingering numbness, manages only a nod.
"Good. Let’s begin the briefing. Our objective this time is to survey the Great Sea of Trees. But 'survey' is too vague, so we need to narrow down our focus and be precise. Just to confirm, Yuki, it’s correct to say that you are looking for 'something' that will lead to the 'elucidation of the magic power depletion phenomenon,' right?"
"Yeah. That’s correct."
"Good. With that in mind, I’ve considered what actions will lead to solving the mystery. Given that we’ve added Wazfi to our ranks, one obvious starting point is the distribution and habitat data of the monsters."
As I touch the laptop, red dots appear on the map—*pop, pop, pop, pop*...
"These are the locations of monsters gathered by Kirika and her team, Popuri, and Wazfi. We’ll use this to check the concentrations of magic power and the strength of the monsters to confirm the state of the depletion. That said, this only shows the areas we’ve investigated so far. We’ve been gathering data from the air, but to do a proper job, we have to go on foot. So, the monster survey will proceed as field work."
"I suppose that’s the only way."
"Well, if we were only thinking about time, we could just seize the land and survey it, but that’s out of the question, isn't it?"
"Obviously. We don't know what might trigger a Great Outbreak."
"Exactly. I share that concern, so it’s crucial that we advance deep into the forest without provoking the monsters as much as possible. However, since we don't know the specific species or their habitat conditions, we must account for the possibility of creatures that surpass us or possess troublesome abilities. That’s why we need to ensure we can deploy reinforcements immediately in case of an emergency."
Yes, support is the most important thing. Popuri losing to Kuro-chan was a funny story because it was all in the family, but there’s no guarantee the same won't happen again. When conducting research like this, the quality of your contingency support is everything. If everything goes smoothly, there’s no problem. That’s why it’s vital to communicate the plan clearly and prepare for the unexpected.
"Understood. I’ll handle the emergency reinforcements. Now, the way you explained it, it sounded like there were other ways to investigate the depletion phenomenon?"
"Yes. You can see it on this map—there are rivers in this Great Sea of Trees. And as Wazfi explained, monsters like Orcs tend to stay in areas where water is easily accessible. So, aside from the basic monster habitat survey, I think it’s necessary to conduct a detailed investigation of the terrain and the distribution of magic power."
"Ah, I see. So not just monster ecology, but finding those spots—the magic pools."
"Exactly. It’s about time we observed the moment a monster spontaneously generates. What do you think? Doesn't that sound viable?"
"Yeah, it’s viable. Go ahead and draft a plan for that as well."
"You got it. Leave it to me."
*Aha*, Yuki is on board. Well, since it’s just an extension of the field work for the monster ecology survey, I didn't think he’d refuse.
"Zargis, take a look at the plan once it’s finished. You’ll be able to see things from a different perspective."
"Understood. It is a subject that interests me as well. I will contact you once it is ready."
"Good. I’m counting on you. And Wazfi, do your best."
"...Yeah. Wait, the numbness is finally wearing off. Hey, Agil-san, about that board..."
"I told you, I’ll teach you, so just stay quiet."
Now then, time for me to draft that plan. Investigating the land is a matter of legwork. Listen, in the field, you earn your results with your feet. It might be old-fashioned, but that’s the essence of biological research. Though in our case, the risk to our lives is significantly higher.