第１２１１堀：調査隊の様子 (Part1)
Chapter 1211: The Survey Team’s Status
Side: Agil
“……And so, the four of them and their children are all doing well.”
“Mm. We’re safe, so Agil, Comet, Wasfi, and Nairua, please don’t worry and do your best.”
“I imagine you have no cause for concern, but please, do not let your guard down.”
“Yes. As Cleena and Samantha say, focus on the mission at hand first.”
“Yup. Let’s celebrate together when you get back!”
On the other side of the call screen, the members who had just given birth were showing their healthy faces alongside their children.
Incidentally, this was a recording. Since we are currently traveling through the Great Forest, they had been considerate enough to record it so we wouldn’t have to stop our progress.
Man, I was worried when this happened right after we departed, but there was no point in turning back now. Besides, Yuki himself told us to carry on, so here we are, “adventuring” through the woods.
Though, in truth, most of it is just us sprinting through the forest.
Right now, we’re taking a leisurely lunch break.
And thanks to the Item Box, we can enjoy freshly cooked meals even in the middle of a forest like this.
What’s more, mine is a handmade bento from Yuki.
Man, it pays to ask.
He really made them for me. It wasn’t a full week’s worth, but he still prepared ten meals’ worth of bentos.
I was busy savoring the love packed into Yuki’s bento when a shadow suddenly fell over me. I looked up, startled, to find Comet standing there.
“Agil. Did you get some news?”
“Hm? Oh, yeah, the video that arrived this morning.”
“I see. It’s a relief to see everyone is doing well.”
Comet sat down next to me as she spoke.
“With this, the relationship with the If Continent will be strengthened even further.”
“That’s true…… though I suppose the wind blowing against me is only going to get stronger, too.”
After all, among the members from the If Continent, I am now the only one who hasn’t had a child yet, despite being by Yuki’s side.
“For someone in that position, you don’t seem particularly frustrated or impatient.”
“Well, I intend to nurture our love and have children with him, too. I’m just waiting for my turn, that’s all.”
“It’s funny how things like that get complicated when nations are involved. Ugh, what a hassle.”
“Well, it can’t be helped. I joined the family quite late.”
That’s right. Even though I met him quite early, I married into Yuki’s household long after Cleena, Samantha, and Jessica.
Naturally, my turn to have children is later as well.
Originally, it was just an agreement among the wives to ensure there were enough people capable of moving around, but before we knew it, the various nations started making a fuss if we ignored that order.
Ranking children like that is truly base and vulgar.
“Still, the partner is Yuki. I have no complaints about my current life. Well, people might call it luxury, but if I had to name one thing, it’s that once I get pregnant, I won’t be able to go on field trips like this for about a year.”
“Ah, Yuki is overprotective, after all. Actually, I’d stop you too. I’d really rather you didn’t go adventuring while carrying a child.”
“Oh? So Comet is that type, too.”
“I have a conscience, you know. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be trying to protect the children in the first place.”
“That’s true. Popuri and the others are proof of that.”
At a glance, Comet seems like a self-centered person who cares for nothing but her research, but she actually looks after people quite well.
Perhaps that’s why she was a bit… questionable as a ruler.
“Anyway, you’ll be working hard with Yuki soon, so consider this your last chance before pregnancy to explore to your heart’s content.”
“Right, I’ll do just that. So, if you don’t mind, can we start now?”
“What is it?”
I unfolded the call monitor into the air so Comet could see it.
“It’s our third day, and we are right here.”
The point I tapped was blinking blue, marking our current location.
“Overall, we’re making better time than the scheduled itinerary.”
“I see.”
I nodded at Comet’s words.
We were just about at the halfway point of the entire journey.
The plan was to circle the area in seven days, and since we were having lunch on the third day at a spot originally scheduled for the fourth, our pace was significantly faster.
“At this rate, we’ll finish about a day ahead of schedule. I wanted to discuss whether we should spend time investigating somewhere or just head back as planned.”
“I see. But wouldn’t we need to consult with Yuki and the others at headquarters for that?”
“True, but that’s only after we relay our findings from the field. For example, if we say there’s a suspicious area we want to investigate, we have enough leeway in the schedule that he’d likely grant us permission.”
“Ah, I see. That said, have you found any ‘suspicious areas’ on the road so far?”
“Not at all. We’ve encountered monsters, but nothing that required special handling or disposal.”
“Same here. The drones didn’t confirm the presence of any particularly strong monsters on the outer perimeter, either. I suppose that leaves the second half?”
“No, it’s too early to conclude that. Since they are with us, we should hear their thoughts as well.”
I turned my gaze toward Wasfi and Nairua, who were taking their lunch break.
“Ah, right. Both of them have been trained surprisingly well and seem to have energy to spare. Let’s ask them.”
“Agreed. Hey, you two, do you have a moment?”
“Yes. What is it?”
“Did something happen?”
When I called out, Wasfi and Nairua stood up immediately and walked over. There wasn’t a hint of fatigue in their steps.
“Yes, you both seem to be in good health. We’ve been running non-stop, but you look like you have plenty of stamina left. How are you feeling?”
“Yes. No problems at all.”
“I’m surprisingly fine, too.”
Wasfi replied firmly and clearly, while Nairua seemed a bit surprised by her own endurance.
“Haha, well, Deryu wouldn’t have been half-hearted with her training. Still, it’s impressive you managed this well after less than a month of training.”
“I’m sure it’s thanks to Deryu-san’s training, but I think it’s mostly because our stats have gone up.”
“That’s true. If not for that, I would have collapsed a long time ago.”
Hm, they can even crack light jokes; they really are fine.
Time to get to the point.
“I’m glad to see you both have energy to spare. Now, I wanted to discuss something……”
I repeated the explanation I had given to Comet.
“I see. We are moving much faster than planned.”
“……And you’re asking how we should use the extra time.”
“In that case, I think we should investigate any areas that catch our attention.”
“But so far, nothing has really stood out, right?”
“As of now, yes. But we might find something as we move forward. If not, I think it’s fine to head back early. It’s just a hunch I developed while surveying the Great Forest.”
“Ah, yes, yes.”
Nairua sounded dismissive, as if Wasfi’s talk of “hunches” was irrelevant.
Well, Nairua is a specialist in tool-making.
It’s only natural for her to act based on accumulated facts and results rather than vague intuition.
Though, I suppose ideas and inspiration often come from that very intuition.
“Right. In any case, regardless of hunches, if you see anything suspicious along the way, let us know. We have the time to investigate.”
“Understood.”
“Understood.”