第１１９７堀：意外と平気そう (Part2)
There was no trace of mere obligation or hesitation in her reply.
In that case, I had nothing left to say on the matter.
"Then, get some proper rest after today's training. We’ll discuss the work details again tomorrow."
"Understood."
"Okay! In that case, I’d like to go and deepen my bond with Fiora, if that’s alright?"
"Sure. As long as Fiora doesn't mind."
"I don't mind at all. I would be delighted to hear what you have to say."
"Great! Let's go grab something delicious to eat while we chat."
"Ah, if you're going out to eat, it’s a business expense, so make sure you get a receipt."
"Yes, yes. Honestly, though, why is it that even in a fantasy world, we’re still dealing with 'receipts'? It’s so jarringly realistic. I still can't get used to it."
"That’s just how the world works."
"It’s a harsh life, isn't it? Oh well. Let’s go, Fiora."
"Oh? Is it truly alright for me to go?"
"Yes, off you go. Kirika, go with them, just in case."
"Yes. As you command."
And just like that, Noriko, Fiora, and Kirika headed out of the training grounds.
Honestly, Noriko is a special case—even among the spirits summoned by Luna, she’s an anomaly who can just wander into the streets of Weed to eat and drink without a care in the world, despite being a vengeful spirit.
I’ve stopped trying to make sense of the details. Even Souta-san and Sui were left speechless when they first saw her. That’s exactly why I said she’s in a league of her own.
Still, I suppose it’s a good thing to have her acting as an escort—or perhaps a support—for Fiora.
"So, you intend to send Fiora in as a new classmate for Havia, right?"
"Yeah, just as I laid out in the reports this morning."
Ultimately, we adopted the plan discussed with Taizou-san and the others last night: using Fiora as a new stimulus to reach Havia.
"And for Fiora, it serves as a way to build connections with the If Continent, while also giving her experience in dealing with a race she’s never encountered before—ghosts. Plus, the official pretext is that she might contribute to resolving the ghost problem at the Lancer Academy of Magic. You really do have a silver tongue, don't you?"
"It is very much like Yuki-sama, but how much success are we actually anticipating?"
"Honestly? I don't know. But if we do nothing, nothing will change. That’s why I agreed with the opinion that we need to cast a stone into the pond."
"Taking our time isn't exactly an option when the burden is on us, is it?"
"There were some opinions that we could leave Havia-dono to Popuri-sama and the others, but given that the subject is a ghost..."
"Right, as Quar says, there was talk of leaving it to Popuri and her team since it’s an academy matter, but because it’s a ghost, we decided it would be better for us to handle it. After all, we were the ones who discovered it in the first place."
"It would be a bit much to stir up the problem ourselves and then just dump it on someone else, wouldn't it?"
Exactly.
We started the ghost investigation half-jokingly, and finding the real thing was a total surprise—a bolt from the blue, even for us. It was good that we did it just in case, but the reality is that the subsequent handling of the situation has become incredibly tedious.
"It looks like we’re going to need a dedicated department for ghost countermeasures in the future."
"Yeah, that’s an absolute necessity. Based on what we’ve learned from Souta and this Havia incident, being able to hear directly from the parties involved is incredibly valuable. It’ll help with investigating incidents and even our own mana depletion."
"It is certainly a blessing to receive information from those who lived in that era. A department established to standardize that process would be a great help."
"Which means we’ll need to secure personnel for that department, too. Well, we can rely on Souta-san and Sui for the guidance, but we’ll need someone else for the actual legwork."
Ah, the workload just keeps piling up.
"You’ll have to give it your all, then. But before we can build that department, we need to establish a 'track record'."
"Right, solving the Havia problem. Or rather, I suppose we need to define what 'solving the Havia problem' actually means."
"If that’s the case, wouldn't the ideal be someone like Noriko-dono, who can communicate, judge situations, and understand her own circumstances? If she can do that much, the risk of a rampage is low. Since anyone can lose their cool, the risk of a rampage should be judged based on those three factors."
"You've got a point."
First, resolve the Havia issue. Then, the investigation of the Great Forest surrounding the Academy of Magic.
"Come to think of it, what’s the status of the report on supporting the Academy of Magic?"
"Kagura and the others should be handling that, so I’ll check on it. We’ll need to circulate it to the relevant nations beforehand, too."
"Yes, it would be best to confirm the direction of the academy support by showing them that report in advance."
Good grief, there’s so much to do; it’s truly exhausting.
And just like that, a duo of a princess and a ghost has been formed.
Wait, doesn't this sound like the premise for an entirely different story?