第１７０１堀：行動開始と体力測定をしましょう (Part2)
I involuntarily let out a cry. I had just remembered something rather harsh.
"Agil, you can rest. There's information from the monitors, and you could prepare for the discussion in the conference room."
"Ah, that's certainly an option, but... well, I also want to know Holy's true abilities. I want to assess what equipment she can use."
"Indeed," Yuki affirmed.
Although surprised, I still needed to assess Holy's condition. Yuki seemed to understand this as well, nodding. After all, I'm the one who explains the tools and selects them.
"What's the point of you all running too? I think just watching would be enough, wouldn't it?" Holy asked, tilting her head.
Certainly, I could grasp Holy's abilities just by watching. But...
"By running with you, I want to understand your movements and personality, at least to some extent. After all, there's a tendency for equipment choices to reflect one's personality."
"What do you mean?"
"It's hard to explain, but... ah, no, that's not quite right. Calling them 'tools' is misleading. They're weapons. Like, are you good with a sword, an axe, or a staff?"
"Ah, but you mean you'll know that *before* running, not *from* running?"
"Exactly, exactly. This is about how well you can move fundamentally, before we know all that. It means we'll also run and observe Holy and Vilia."
"I don't quite understand the last part, but I get that we're running. So, where will we be running?"
"That's part of it. I'll lead, so follow me." With that, Yuki entered the track.
The soldiers noticed us and continued their training, offering a light salute.
"This is the starting point. We'll run a lap from here. Are you ready? You don't have any luggage, do you? Should you change into running shoes or something?"
"No, this is just my regular school uniform, it's perfectly fine."
"Leave it to me. I'm always chasing after mischievous kids."
Hairen seemed really full of energy. Even though she's the least involved.
Well, putting that aside, Prof, Lucy, Hobis, and Yayui also seemed fine and lined up behind Yuki. I did the same.
You never know when a fight might break out. So I make sure I can run reasonably well even in these clothes.
"Alright, let's go. We'll start with a light pace." With that, Yuki began to run at the front.
First, it was just a normal jogging pace. Running with only our own bodies, without any physical enhancements.
The track's surface was properly constructed, a route well-suited for running. I looked at Holy, and she was running without any particular problem.
However, this is where it gets tricky. This track allows you to choose your running route. You can adjust by turning or going straight. If you want to finish on the same surface, a turn would complete a lap quickly, but if you keep going straight, the path changes continuously.
"From here on, it's sand, so be careful." I thought I heard Yuki's voice, but the ground beneath us had changed to sand, giving a sensation entirely different from before.
This is really tough until you get used to it. It's the kind of place where new recruits groan during training.
Holy, too, seemed a little surprised by the difficulty of running as the ground turned to sand beneath her feet. Well, it's normal to be surprised.
This goes on for about 500 meters, you know. And that's not the end of it.
"Next is a rocky area, so think about where you step~" Yuki said this as he pushed forward without hesitation, navigating a path strewn with loose, uneven rocks.
Of course, if you went off course, you'd be on the safe, regular track, but he ignored that and just kept running. This is a place where even new recruits stop and ponder which route to take. After all, there's a real worry about whether you can actually run through it.
By the way, at this level, I, of course, along with Vilia, Prof, Lucy, Hobis, and Yayui, didn't stop. However, Holy and Hairen, experiencing this for the first time, stopped.
"Hold on a minute!"
"Can we actually run on this?"
Well, it's normal to be confused like that. And so, Yuki and I went back and began giving instructions.
Just a change in footing can be utterly exhausting, you know. There are people who run on sandy beaches, but that really takes a lot of stamina.