第１６６６堀：意外と授業は得意だったりする (Part1)
Chapter 1666: Surprisingly, I’m Good at Teaching
Side: Comet
"Bwahahaha!"
I burst into laughter while watching the recorded lecture material. Honestly, how could anyone keep a straight face? The content was...
*“Eat dirt!”*
*“You said ‘eat dirt,’ didn’t you?!”*
It was footage of Wazfi and Nilua playing interdimensional dodgeball, looking like something straight out of a soccer anime. Sure, if we pull out all the stops with physical enhancement and enchantment magic, we can recreate the same flashy effects as games or manga, but you’d think they’d have the sense not to actually do it in a real sport.
By the way, we’re currently in the middle of class, learning about—or rather, enjoying—Weed’s home appliances. Specifically, a tool with a playback function. A projector, essentially. The source material is a recording from a smartphone. It’s small and convenient, you see. But anyway, putting that aside...
"Pfft..."
"Hey, don't laugh, that's mean."
"No, seriously, that’s just incredible."
"Indeed. For students to reach that level... or wait, could even regular soldiers pull that off?"
The other Zurable students seemed to be enjoying it, and I was glad they were getting a glimpse of Wazfi and Nilua’s true strength indirectly. It’s much better to show off their power this way rather than having them clash head-on; it’s a credit to Jessica and Stasia’s planning. Still, for us, it’s hilarious. I’m sure Hivia and Noriko would be cheering, while Yuki and Taiki would be laughing just as hard as I am.
"Now then, continuing from last time, we are looking at a slice of the technology produced in Weed. You all know that this footage is from your physical activities in the plaza earlier. I had Stasia record it for us. Convenient, isn't it?"
"Y-yes. Convenient... but couldn't it be used for even more than that?"
"Exactly. It makes it clear who said what, and if you installed them somewhere, couldn't they be used for crime prevention?"
"Mm-hmm, exactly right. If you keep records in official settings, those kinds of disputes will decrease, and it could be used to improve public safety, too."
It’s a good thing they aren't just seeing it as a simple convenience. The value of an object changes entirely depending on how you use it. That said, I personally believe that truly utilizing an object lies in the "wasteful" application of technology. I’ve seen all sorts of things on Earth, and I think that’s the real path to innovation. Even I was stunned at first to see the techniques I’d cultivated being used in such ways.
That’s when it hit me. That’s just how the world is. It might be a waste, but you can’t take your eyes off it. Things that are incredibly fun, packed with all the skill one possesses, things that seem to have meaning but are ultimately meaningless. I wonder if you kids can reach that level?
As I was pondering this, Nilua and Wazfi sidled up to me.
"Comet-san. How long are you going to play this video? It’s getting embarrassing, you know?"
"I think it’s a fine record, but I suppose watching it on loop is a bit much. Don't you have anything else to do?"
They seemed concerned about just watching the footage. But honestly, there’s nothing more convenient for learning about Weed than this.
"Sorry I can't meet your expectations, but I’ve finally finished the basic explanation of Weed’s tools and reached the audiovisual equipment. It was Yuki’s instruction to use this to introduce Weed to you all."
"Ah, I see. I guess you can learn about Weed without actually going there."
"Right, it’s convenient to be able to learn just by watching."
"Exactly. It’s a dry run before I actually take you there. It’ll make things much easier once we do."
Even if it’s just a video, knowing what to expect beforehand is a huge advantage. Of course, there are plenty of things you can only understand by being there, but being able to learn without traveling is undeniably a good thing. Above all, I like that I don’t have to move.
"...Comet-san, are you trying to slack off?"
"What a ridiculous thing to say. After I show the video, I’m going to be bombarded with questions. There’s no slacking off for me. Well, that goes for you two as well."
"Eh?"
"Obviously. While the questions will mostly be directed at me during class, you two will have to handle them the rest of the time."
"Is that how it is? I guess if Comet-san isn't there, Nilua and I will have to answer."
"I plan to hand out Weed guide pamphlets, so most questions will come from there, but questions about the video will be based on hazy memories. It’s a pain."
"Ah, yeah. If someone asks for a timestamp, we won't know it, will we?"
"That’s true. I guess we’ve been tainted by Yuki-sama, too."
Yeah, yeah. When Yuki checks footage, he’ll say things like, "Five minutes and forty-three seconds." It’s precise, sure, but most people would describe the situation or the scenery, right? Well, I suppose that’s just Earth culture for you.
While we were chatting, the footage of the morning’s explosive dodgeball tournament ended, and the main event began.
"Alright, I think you understand from the video we just watched that this device records the moment. What I’m about to show you next is Weed, the place where we live and the place you are aiming for. Or rather, the place where you will be living. So, consider this pre-study."
I clicked the mouse connected to the projector. The words "Weed Introduction" appeared on the screen. And it was perfectly localized into the Zurable language. Well, editing text is easy enough. What was more impressive was that the audio was also in Zurable. While exchange students and their associates are given translation rings, the Zurable side doesn't understand the language of Weed—or rather, Rogari. I was wondering how they managed that when Nilua, standing next to me, spoke up.
"Oh, come to think of it, Show-san did the dubbing for this."
"Seriously? Now that you mention it, that is Show’s voice."
"Well, if you're looking for someone from Zurable who is currently in Weed and can handle this kind of work, Show-san, who is studying under Rurua-san, is the most accessible choice. It’s easier than using other Zurable people when it comes to maintaining confidentiality."
"When you put it that way, that makes sense."
Show is a high-ranking official in Zurable, and his authority regarding Zurable affairs in Weed is second only to Eupia. In that case, it’s faster to ask Show than to rely on his subordinates. As I thought about this, the introduction video for Weed began to play. When the segment mentioning that "Weed is a nation that utilizes a dungeon" appeared, a stir of excitement rippled through the room.