第１８４６堀：偵察先の状態と新人の準備 (Part2)
"I’ve had that same question myself, but I’m not in any particular rush. Well, when you think about it, while the numbers were indeed in the tens of thousands, he is a Marquis. It’s hard to call them the core of his military strength, and he had gathered troops by requesting aid from allied nations, so the actual burden on his own coffers was minimal. Besides, he was opposed to this deployment from the very beginning."
"Ah, I see. So it didn't really matter to him what the outcome was."
"Exactly. And even if he intended to produce some kind of result, under normal circumstances, that would have been much further down the line."
Indeed, we had entered the fray and brought the conflict to a swift conclusion. While nearly half a year has passed since then, the journey alone would typically take a month. They had likely planned for a campaign spanning years, so neither the Giadana Kingdom nor the Clearstream Church could have possibly prepared and mobilized in time. After all, they couldn't afford to let their opponents catch wind of their countermeasures.
"Well, thanks to that—or perhaps because of it—the royal capital has remained entirely peaceful. The messengers haven't returned yet, so they’re prioritizing intelligence gathering. That’s why there’s still no word regarding the departure of Vilia and the others."
"I see. So that’s still to come. Still, it means there’s no state of high alert, then?"
"Right. Just knowing that much is a relief."
In that case, at worst, we could have Kishua and the others register at the Adventurer’s Guild in the royal capital of the Giadana Kingdom. Though, looking at them, a party consisting entirely of young girls would surely invite suspicion about their origins in the capital, so it would be better to avoid that if possible.
"Anyway, that aside, why are you spreading out all that luggage?"
Right, even if the situation with the Giadana Kingdom is settled, why exactly are Kishua and the others laying out the contents of their bags now?
"Oh, that’s simple. We’ll be carrying various things in our Item Boxes and Item Bags, but we also need 'visible' luggage."
"Yes. It wouldn't do to have nothing at all, and if we carried random, mismatched items, we’d look suspicious if we were ever searched. So, we’re discussing exactly what kind of gear we should pack to look the part."
"I see. That makes sense."
We generally have the luxury of not needing to carry physical luggage thanks to the Item Box skill. There are also bags with similar functions known as Item Bags, but they are exceptionally rare skills and tools in this society—the kind of thing that supposedly guarantees you’ll never go hungry in the future. After all, being able to carry mountains of supplies is a massive advantage. There is the risk of losing them, of course, but the benefits clearly outweigh that.
However, if Nina and the others were to possess such skills or items while posing as rookie adventurers, it would draw unwanted attention and complicate our future movements. So, as Sia said, we need to prepare "decoy" luggage to show to others.
"Setting aside the weapons, we were just wondering what kind of gear a rookie would actually have."
"Now that you mention it... what *does* a rookie carry?"
I tilted my head at Kishua’s words. I certainly know what an adventurer’s gear looks like. I understand the need for standard camping equipment, but when it comes to the grade—the quality—I’m not entirely sure.
"Brother, I’ve basically always had military supplies provided for me, so I wouldn't know. Is it different?"
"I suppose that’s true for you, Vilia. The contents are likely the same, but the quality would definitely be lower. Nina, you were often out on scouting missions, weren't you? How is it from your perspective?"
Right, Nina would be well-versed in this, having handled such camping gear during her scouting missions back when she was a wielder of the Holy Sword and the Betrayal Sword.
"Hmm. It’s not something you really need to worry about that much. That said, rookies don't have the wealth to buy brand-new camping gear."
"That’s true enough."
"In other words, we should just have Narjia-san prepare some camping gear—or rather, some used-looking tents and rain-cover cloths. And then..."
And so, incorporating Nina’s advice, Vilia and the others began preparing their rookie adventurer kits.
Yeah, it feels strange even saying it out loud. The idea of "used camping gear" doesn't really conjure up a clear image. I mean, I’m sure you could find some if you looked, but my instinct leans toward everything being brand new. By the way, while they have tents, they don't use sleeping bags; they sleep wrapped in cloth or blankets. That way, they can move instantly if monsters appear.