第１１１６堀：実力差 (Part2)
"First, I must finish this work before I can even consider beginning their training," I stated.
"Understood. Since it has only been a few days since we began these duties, I suppose Kagura and the others aren't quite ready for a formal regimen yet."
"Exactly. For now, why don't you focus on drafting a training curriculum?"
"Very well. I shall prepare the methodology."
"Good. Now, let me clear my head and take a look at this survey proposal for the Great Sea of Trees."
As I shifted my focus to the documents Comet had submitted, a thought struck me. "Come to think of it, Comet handled herself quite well, didn't she?"
"Indeed. Her movements were fluid. As one would expect from a Dungeon Master, she held her own remarkably well against Deryu-sama."
"It’s still a shock, honestly. I never imagined Comet could fight like that."
It was true; as part of the force evaluation conducted by Deryu, Comet had stepped into the fray. She had managed to trade blows with Deryu on equal footing—a feat that defied expectation.
"She lost the bout, of course, but she showed no signs of fatigue afterward. She simply returned to her work as if nothing had happened."
"Still, she’s an undead; she’s desensitized to pain. I should check on her later. I wouldn't want to find her limbs twisted in impossible directions come morning."
"A valid concern. Though, one wonders when Comet-sama finds the time to train?"
"Oh, you’d be surprised. The research team is quite active in their daily routines. They’re always testing the tools they build."
They conduct test-firings and experiments with hazardous materials constantly. You couldn't pull that off without a baseline of genuine skill. It’s much like being a test pilot for cutting-edge aircraft—experience is the only thing that keeps you alive.
"But, I digress. Now, let’s see the survey methods for the Great Sea of Trees..."
As I began to scan the documents, Kirika started reading the same data through her interface. She had grown quite accustomed to reviewing files on the call screen. I, however, still felt a sense of unease unless I had paper in my hands. More importantly, the concept of electronic documentation hadn't yet permeated the entirety of Weed; paper remained the standard.
The proposal was simple: first, blaze a trail; then, document the monsters and terrain discovered; and finally, determine which areas required intensive investigation.
"It’s surprisingly pragmatic," Kirika noted.
"Well, it’s the only way. If we could turn it into a dungeon, we wouldn't need all this legwork, but that’s not an option here."
The Great Sea of Trees was a nexus of magical energy within the If Continent. While magical life had withered across the rest of the continent, this forest remained teeming with monsters—many of them quite formidable. If we were to turn it into a dungeon, the resulting surge in activity could drive those monsters toward the town of the Lancer Magic Academy, leading to a catastrophe. We would be forced to intercept them with everything we had. And if such a disaster were to occur, the number of people blaming the very existence of the Lancer Magic Academy would skyrocket.
We couldn't afford that risk. Consequently, we had no choice but to enter the forest and investigate the monsters the hard way.
I couldn't rely on Wai-chan or Aslin’s Feni-chan for anything more than aerial reconnaissance. I couldn't risk sending them into the heart of the forest; if they were to land, the resident monsters might panic, potentially triggering a mass migration—a disaster akin to a Great Flood.
So, aerial scouting was off the table. The only way forward was to slip through the woods, masking our presence.
"However, for a mission of this nature, wouldn't our intelligence division be the most suitable choice?"
"Ah, if the objective were clearly defined, perhaps. But this time, we don't know what might prove to be a clue. It’s better for the researchers to go and see for themselves."
"Is that how it works?"
"Yes, that’s how it works. Just as you’ve cultivated your skills through intelligence work, the researchers have their own expertise. There’s no issue here. I’ll show this to Seraria and have the survey begin."
"Understood. Shall we return to Weed now?"
"Yes, let’s head back and get the authorization. I want them ready to move by tomorrow."
"But will everyone be capable of moving by tomorrow?"
Kirika gestured toward the training grounds, where Kagura and the others lay sprawled on the ground. The craters and indentations in the earth told the story of just how grueling their session had been.
"First, we need to level this ground."
"Indeed. Otherwise, the other students won't be able to use it."
And so, casting a glance at the exhausted group, we set about restoring the training grounds.
Wazfi and Nairua had passed for now. However, it seemed Kagura and her team were currently buried under a mountain of paperwork. It was time we gave them a proper, rigorous training session. The members of Weed, led by Seraria, never neglected their physical conditioning. In fact, they were all rivals, constantly pushing each other to improve.