第１２０５堀：事実を告げる (Part2)
"Indeed, as Comet-dono suggests, the pursuit of research remains the constant, regardless of the form it takes. That is precisely why, even when told to halt, one simply cannot stop."
"By the way, Hivia-san, what do you intend to do if you actually find your own remains? Honestly, I fear it would only serve to destabilize your existence," I said, voicing my thoughts directly.
There was no point in remaining silent; I felt that doing so would ultimately be a disservice to Hivia-san.
"Hmm. I’m not sure if it would destabilize me or not, but even if found, it would likely be nothing more than bones by now. Or rather, I suspect there wouldn't even be bones left..."
"Come to think of it, Hivia, how did you end up losing your life in the Great Sea of Trees? You were accustomed to trekking through it, weren't you?"
"Ahaha, not a chance. That day, we had a research team with us, so we ventured much deeper than usual. That’s where I was ambushed by a monster I’d never seen before and—*snap*—just like that."
"..."
The weight of those words settled over us, leaving no room for doubt. If there were no bones left, it was because she had been consumed.
"Well, the fortunate part is that my memory cut out the moment I took the hit, so I assume it was an instant death. Honestly, if I’d been conscious while being eaten, I’m sure I would have gone completely insane."
"I see. By the way, is the monster that attacked you listed in the bestiary we brought along? You aren't exactly weak, Hivia. If you were taken down by it, we need to be on our guard."
Indeed, this was vital information for Comet and her group, who were preparing to venture into the Great Sea of Trees. In that sense, our conversation today had been immensely productive.
"Oh, you're right. I know you all are incredibly strong, but I really should warn you. Um, hold on a second."
Hivia began flipping through a nearby bestiary...
"Found it. Here."
The page she displayed to us showed...
"A Wyvern Zombie?"
"That’s the one. A Wyvern Zombie. I suppose a specimen that died deep in the forest must have reanimated. I mean, I knew about the concept of reanimation in theory, but I never expected to encounter one myself. I found the Wyvern’s corpse and thought, 'What a massive discovery!' so I leaned in close to its face, and then..."
"And then you got snapped up."
"Exactly. I had a magic barrier deployed, but it tore right through that too. My, I was just thinking about how the world holds monsters beyond one's wildest imagination when—*poof*—it was all over."
"..."
"Wahahaha! I like you, Hivia! You should definitely come to Weed. You’d be a great contribution to Popuri’s academy."
We were all wondering why she could be so cheerful while recounting the story of her own death, but Comet, who had been listening to the same tale, was laughing as if she found it utterly delightful. As for Popuri-dono, she was simply covering her face with one hand and looking toward the ceiling. Ahaha, I shouldn't laugh, but I can certainly sympathize—having to guide such children for the foreseeable future must be truly back-breaking work.
"Eh? If I go to Weed, will it also be a way to repay the academy head?"
"Exactly. Weed is now the hub of intercontinental exchange and the cutting edge of technological development. For Hivia to go there, just like Niruwa and Wazfi, proves that your abilities are recognized. That alone bolsters the academy's reputation. And if you produce real results, the academy’s prestige will soar even higher for having cultivated such elite talent."
"Ohhh!!"
"Not only that, but you’ll also receive full research support. In your case, Hivia, since you’re one of the few ghosts in existence, you’ll likely get that support almost for free!"
"Wow, that’s amazing!!"
...I can't help but feel that Comet-dono’s pitch is becoming increasingly suspicious.
"Wait, hold on, Comet. I heard the same thing from the academy head, but are there ghosts in Weed?"
"There are. In fact, right there."
"Eh?"
Where Comet pointed, of course, was...
"Yo. I’m Noriko, manga artist and resident 'ghost'."
"Eeeeh!?"
A bizarre situation unfolded where, for some reason, a ghost was surprised by another ghost. As the matters we needed to confirm proceeded with surprising smoothness, I found myself wondering what to do next...
*『For now, bring her to the surveillance room. We’ll hold an interview there. I have questions regarding the survey of the Great Sea of Trees as well.』*
"Understood."
And so, we took Hivia and headed back to the surveillance room.
"Hey, is it true that Noriko-sensei is a vengeful spirit?"
"Of course. Want to see?"
"Eh? Won't you go berserk?"
"Not at all. Here we go—"
"Stop that!"
If she were to manifest as a vengeful spirit in the academy hallways, it would cause absolute panic among the students—to say nothing of us.
The facts had been revealed with surprising ease, but a new problem had emerged. How is one supposed to properly handle a ghost?