第１８８１堀：南部調査隊出発直前会議 (Part1)
Chapter 1881: Pre-Departure Meeting for the Southern Survey Team
Side: Firia
"Alright then, take care out there," Firia said, and the members of the first unit—though calling them the "first wave" felt a bit grand—responded with spirited enthusiasm.
"Leave it to us," said Wazfi.
Like Aslin and Hivia, she was a monster researcher, and she possessed more than enough physical strength to back it up.
"Exactly! I might not be an expert on ores, but in other fields, I won't lose to the likes of you, Firia," Agil added, thumping her chest confidently.
She was supposed to be busy with the plateau research, but her curiosity about the environment beneath the cliffs had won out, and she had insisted on joining. Having more experts on hand was certainly welcome, and she was an exceptionally capable commander. The only concern was her tendency to get so absorbed in her research that she lost sight of her surroundings, but...
"Well, you can leave those two to me. If things go south, I’ll drag them back by force if I have to," said Deryu, the sister she trusted above all others.
She was the combat specialist of this first unit—undoubtedly the strongest among them. When it came to battle, her judgment was infallible. With Agil there to handle the command, this was the ideal composition.
Once the three of them had confirmed their resolve and readiness...
"Right then, let me explain the situation once more," Aslin began, outlining the operation's overview.
"As originally planned, the first unit—Wazfi and the others—will descend from the gate located at the start of the cliffside and begin moving south."
Yes, the most grueling part was the initial descent down the cliff on their own. While they had conducted preliminary surveys via drone and identified a path, ensuring a degree of safety, there were still unknowns.
"Please exercise the utmost caution during the descent. We haven't detected any monsters yet, but there’s no guarantee of when an ambush might occur. Just because they didn't react to the drones doesn't mean they won't react to humans."
Until now, only machines had entered the area, so they had no idea what kind of environmental changes human presence might trigger. Of course, if a monster did appear, it would at least reveal where they were hiding, which would be a silver lining for Firia and her team.
"Basically, record and survey the conditions at the base of the cliffs as you head south. If you find routes leading north or east, simply record them and move on. The priority is the southern survey."
Yes, this had been decided beforehand. If they wandered off on a whim, the southern survey would never progress. While detailed research was ultimately necessary, Firia knew what had to come first.
"The objective of this southern expedition is, above all else, to investigate the cause of the Great Monster Outbreak. Environmental and resource surveys are important, of course, but please don't lose sight of that."
That was the core issue. Currently, they were pouring vast amounts of manpower and supplies into defense, which was the very reason the survey had stagnated. It was true that they lacked personnel, but if they could eliminate the need to keep their forces pinned to the defensive line, things would become significantly easier. Efficiency would skyrocket if they could narrow down the defensive perimeter.
"The time limit for this operation is eight hours from start to finish, including breaks. So, consider the actual working time to be about six hours."
"Wait, two hours for breaks?" Wazfi asked, clearly surprised.
Usually, an hour would suffice, so her reaction was understandable.
"It’s not all at once, you know? There will be short breaks along the way, and that’s included in the total. If everyone takes breaks whenever they feel like it, you won't make any progress, so please coordinate your rest periods."
Since they weren't in an office or a prepared living space, but out in the wilderness, even simple things like using the restroom weren't straightforward. The same applied to meals and rest. They couldn't just do as they pleased.
"Ah, I see. I suppose two hours makes sense then."
"Of course, that’s just a guideline. If Agil-nee or Deryu-nee feel that more rest is necessary, please take it."
"Understood. Leave that to us."
"Indeed. I shall keep a close eye on everyone's stamina and physical condition."
Wazfi aside, Firia felt at ease knowing Agil and Deryu would manage those aspects properly.
"The survey speed will basically be at a walking pace, so we’re aiming for twenty kilometers in six hours."
"That’s actually quite fast for a walking survey."
"True. If you find something that catches your interest, please investigate it. While the cause of the Great Outbreak is the primary goal, that doesn't mean you should cut corners on the route survey. Please be thorough."
If they rushed through, they wouldn't be able to investigate anything that wasn't immediately obvious. That was why walking and observing was crucial. While they would be recording data with drones simultaneously, there was no point in sending researchers if they didn't utilize the advantage of having them on the ground. If that weren't the case, they could have just sent the fastest soldiers from the military.
"It’s a welcome task for Wazfi and me, though I suppose Deryu, as the guard, might get bored."
"Hmm, I suppose so, since I don't understand the research side of things. Well, I’ll just think of it as exploring an unknown land. Or perhaps I'll bring a book to read."
"Yes, we’ve stocked the container house at the temporary base with entertainment, but since everyone finds joy in different things, feel free to bring whatever you like."
That was the truth. They had prepared various things, but stress relief was a deeply personal matter. Firia had mentioned this before, but it bore repeating.
"That’s fine. I’ve brought plenty of things. Now, just to confirm, we’re moving forward using the container house we mentioned as our temporary base, right?"