第１７１５堀：いつもと違う別のお仕事 (Part2)
“Another headache. So, what’s the status? It’s all well and good that we have more drones and familiars, but they have their limits. Where is the main force?”
“The main force—or rather, the merchants—have already set out.”
“How unusual. You haven't even held the briefing with the investigation team yet, have you?”
“We haven't. But given the possibility that the village might be wiped out, I decided it was better to move early.”
“I agree. Nations can be surprisingly quick to discard what they no longer need.”
Sister Nina didn't seem shaken by Yuki’s words; she simply accepted them with a grim, pragmatic understanding. Filia had overheard these sorts of "adult" conversations many times before, but they never sat well with her. Even if it was impossible to save everyone, treating people like sacrificial lambs was simply wrong.
“I’m planning to have them move at maximum speed. They should arrive in about three days.”
“That’s a relief on my end, but that’s more than twice the speed I made. Won't that look suspicious to the locals?”
“I can't say for sure, but since the enemy's movements are unpredictable, speed is our best bet. Besides, they’re officially traveling merchants who have been there before, so it shouldn't cause too much of a stir.”
Indeed, Sister Ratz had arranged for the merchants who had previously visited the village through Asu’s connections to return. Regardless of how fast they traveled, their presence in the village wouldn't be seen as out of the ordinary.
“Understood. I hope we can keep things under control for the next three days. Keep an eye on the skies for me.”
“We’ll provide as much support as we can from here. If the worst happens, we’ll open a Gate and move in.”
That was the plan. If an emergency arose, they would deploy the army from Weed—where Filia and the others were—and prioritize the evacuation.
“I pray it doesn't come to that. So, what did you want me to look into?”
“Right. I need you to check the distribution of monsters.”
“Monsters?”
“Yes. A theory just came up. We’re wondering if the summoning magic has caused a shift in where the monsters are located.”
“You mean monsters might have been snatched from the forest?”
“I can't say for certain. But if there’s no lingering mana or magical disturbance in the immediate area, the forest is the only place left to investigate. Or have you managed to find any other leads?”
“Unfortunately, nothing new. I’m still sending the data, but have you found anything on your end?”
“We’re analyzing it here, but nothing has caught our eye yet. That’s why I want to change our perspective. Start by asking what kind of monster threats the village usually faces, or what lives deep in the woods. You can frame your questions around the possibility of monsters being abducted.”
It felt like a bit of a stretch, but they had to start somewhere if they wanted to get people talking.
“I see. Attributing it to monster magic... It’s not impossible. If I hint at a new species or even a Lich, I might get some answers.”
“A new species is fine, but don't mention a Lich. That’s a legendary creature. You’ll start a panic.”
“...True. Regardless, I’ll move things along so we can investigate the forest. But the village’s defense will be spread thin while I’m away.”
“Agil and Filia will handle the follow-up.”
Yuki turned his gaze toward the two of them as he spoke.
“Yeah, Nina. Leave the village to us. If things get hairy, we'll let you know.”
“That's right! You can count on us, Nina. We're masters of drone operation now!”
“Alright. I'm counting on you both. I'll get back to the questioning then.”
“Good luck.”
With that, Sister Nina headed straight back toward the village from the forest.
However, just as Sister Seraria had noted, they hadn't encountered any monsters yet. For a place called a "Monster Forest," the lack of activity was unsettling. Having monsters within a kilometer of a settlement would usually be a crisis, but here, the silence felt unnatural. The inhabitants would surely have the answers.
With that in mind, Filia and Sister Agil intensified their surveillance, keeping a sharp eye not only on the village but the surrounding wilderness as well. If there was a problem, an abnormality was bound to surface somewhere. Something had definitely changed; the only question was whether they could detect it in time.