第１２９２堀：調査開始 (Part1)
The 1292nd Excavation: Survey Commences
Survey Commences
Side: Yuki
"Burp..."
"Ugh... my stomach..."
"Ahh, I ate so much."
Haviar, Nairua, and Wazfi were slumped together at a desk in the academy's surveillance room. It seemed the lingering effects of overeating at yesterday's send-off party were still with them.
"Just how much did you eat?"
"Ahaha, it couldn't be helped. With Aslin and the others cheerfully piling food on us, we couldn't very well refuse, could we? Besides, we won't be able to enjoy such luxuries for the next week." Agil offered this defense. Indeed, the next week was planned to be spent in the forest. While not quite a last supper, it was certainly true that such lively meals would be off-limits for a while.
"If they can't move, I'll just kick them, so don't worry about it."
"No, at that level, I'd have to remove them from the survey team."
"Only Haviar is actually going this time, and it's just overeating. There's no need to worry about it in the first place." Deryu and Noriko offered this... support? Well, Haviar is a ghost to begin with, so perhaps it's fine to think of it that way? No, if there's no hindrance, then it's fine.
"Well, leaving them aside, how are the preparations, Comet?" With that, I regained my composure and checked with the survey team leader. Comet was dressed in a stereotypical 'explorer's outfit' and... "Ah, no forgotten items. I've even prepared my Pokemo○!" she declared proudly, holding up a handheld game console. The doubt that she was truly going on a survey couldn't be shaken, so I offered a warning for now... "Don't get too absorbed in the game."
"Of course, not during work. But I'll do as I please during breaks. Without that much mental leeway, you can't see what needs to be seen." She merely waved her hand dismissively in response to my warning, showing no sign of being bothered. I see, something necessary to maintain composure. And such things are readily permitted in Weed's workplace. Truly enviable. In the wider world, there are places where bringing a game to work is simply unthinkable. Well, I don't intend to create such narrow-minded workplaces.
"All that's left is to wait for our departure time... How are things in the Great Forest?" Comet placed the game console she had been holding on the table and slowly turned her gaze to the large screen. It didn't just display a map of the Great Forest; numerous surveillance data points, constantly being updated, flickered across it. "No particular problems. If there's anything unusual, it'll be yellow, and an emergency will be red, so we'll be alerted."
"No, that's not the level of thing I'm talking about..." When I instinctively retorted to Comet's answer, she narrowed her eyes and stared at the large screen. "Hmm. The numbers don't seem to show any particular abnormalities."
"No, but there isn't enough accumulated data to even tell if there's an abnormality, is there?"
"It's that 'hunch' thing. Like hearing an engine sound and detecting a problem."
"I don't not understand what you're trying to say, but I don't have that feeling myself." Certainly, if it were my own car's engine, I could tell if something was different, but I'm not familiar with the Great Forest's measured data, especially on a monitor, so I can't judge. Should that be called a sixth sense? Ah, in this case, 'sixth sense' isn't referring to a psychic ability, but rather something gained from accumulated experience. It's the experience Comet has gained from all the time she's spent as a researcher. That's precisely why I couldn't possibly understand such a thing.
"For now, if there are no problems, that's fine. But if you decide to retreat based on that hunch, I'll demand a concrete reason."
"I know, I know. I'll make sure to show proper evidence at that time." Even if she only said it was a hunch based on past experience, from an outsider's perspective, it would just look like abandoning work for an inexplicable reason. While it might be acceptable once or twice, if it accumulated, people would eventually stop believing her, and she wouldn't be able to be evaluated. Because she's family, or rather, precisely *because* she's family, I can't show Comet favoritism. For the sake of everyone else.
As I was giving these warnings, Comet checked the clock and... "Unfortunately, our discussion ends here. It's almost time to head to the departure point."
"Ah, be careful."
"Haviar, Noriko, Deryu, let's go!" When Comet called out to the survey members...
"Okay!"
"Alright. Shall we go?"
"Indeed." they stood up briskly from their seats.
I then addressed the three of them in turn. "Haviar, whatever you do, don't push yourself. You're the one I'm most worried about."
"Wow, you're blunt, Yuki."
"Well, there's no point in hiding it. Besides, in Haviar's case, retreating immediately upon finding a body is an option."
"Right. Noriko, please look after Haviar."
"Yes, leave it to me. Even if she's a pseudo-vengeful spirit, if anything happens with her skills, I'll suppress it."
"Deryu. You're on guard duty, but don't overdo it, alright?"
"Indeed. I shall not overdo it. For the place I must return to is here." Saying this, Deryu lightly tapped her fist against my chest. It probably meant there was no need for any more nagging talk. After all, we've known each other for a long time.
"I'm counting on all of you."
"Leave it to us." With that, the departing members left.
"Agil, how are the drones and familiars on aerial patrol doing?"
"Both are fine. I'll put the footage on the monitor." As Agil spoke, nearly ten video feeds appeared one after another on the large monitor. Each showed Comet and the survey team from above. There were so many, and their varying distances were due to fear of them being shot down. Of course, in addition to these, others were positioned along their route, around the perimeter, and even at very high altitudes to provide an overall view, so any major problems would be immediately apparent. These aerial surveillance drones and familiars were for confirming the survey team's status and ensuring their safety. Well, once they actually entered the forest, it was often impossible to see inside from the air, so it was only a small comfort. But it was better than doing nothing.
As I was thinking such thoughts, Comet and the others began to move... and for some reason, stopped by the Innkeeper's inn. Wondering what they were doing, I watched as they talked to the Innkeeper, received a large amount of karaage, and smiled. Oh, and of course, they paid for it.
"Th-they must have told the Innkeeper and others that they were going on this survey, so they probably received a send-off gift... Ugh, I'm getting hungry too..."
"Seriously, freshly made stuff looks so good."
"..."