Chapter 46
"You always bring trouble wherever you go."
"It's not like I wanted this."
Facing the unconscious Jake, I shot back at Arthur's words.
"But what about that?"
"It’s what he was saying earlier. A mutant Bugbear."
"That is strange. Can we even call this a Bugbear anymore?"
Alexandra poked at the protrusions on its back while speaking.
"It wasn't this bad to begin with."
Not to be outdone, Fiona also examined the mutant Bugbear from various angles.
Gills?
Fiona crouched down to examine the gills and wrinkled her nose at the stench.
"First, I'll cast preservation, anti-decay, and deodorizing magic."
Fiona quickly cast three spells on the mutant's corpse.
The air, which had felt humid, became noticeably fresher.
"The City Guard will take charge of examining this."
"Wouldn't the School be better for monster biology, Grand Duchess?"
"No, this matter requires swift action. Considering the time that would be wasted coordinating between Schools, it's better for the City Guard and Union to quickly gather information first. And, Roman, I'll show you that we possess capabilities no less than the major Schools."
As Fiona made this bold declaration, her gaze alternated between me and the Axis I was holding.
Given Fiona's competitive nature, and especially since I had entrusted staff crafting to her rival Alexandra, a flame must have been burning inside of her.
"Very well then. I'll leave it to you."
"Good!"
Fiona immediately had her Union people collect the mutant's corpse.
Actually, we'd already done all the experiments while it was alive.
I had to properly compile that data and send it to them later.
More than that, looking around, it felt like we were missing some people.
Counting heads, it seems only the Three Commanders' team had finished their task so quickly.
"Are we last?"
"Four people from Dustin's team haven't returned yet."
"Ah, they went to the White Fang's abandoned castle? Makes sense they'd be late."
Those who went there were more interested in using this opportunity to search the White Fang's abandoned castle than getting their confirmation stamp.
It was only natural for them to take longer.
They'd probably use up the full-time limit for this exam.
"So we're effectively last."
"Heh. Brings back memories."
"...Of what?"
"Well, it's not your first time being last, is it?"
Arthur must be referring to our first exploration training.
"That's ancient history."
"Hmm? It was only three weeks ago, though," Alexandra said with her characteristically languid tone, chuckling.
"It was a strategic defeat."
"That's right. Honestly, isn't it rather underhanded to quickly make a bet with the last-place team to arrive when you're already in first place?"
As expected of Teacher Fiona.
She never missed an opportunity.
"I have no rebuttal. That's a fair point."
"Oh~ Johan actually admits it?"
"I don't argue pointlessly, Amaia."
While we were having this idle chat, faculty members of the Exploration Union were tending to the unconscious Jake nearby.
Then, Jake opened his eyes.
§
The first thing Jake saw when he regained consciousness was the faces of people looking down at him, surrounding him.
Was it not a dream?
These were the same people he'd seen right before passing out, which he'd thought was a dream.
Thinking this might still be a dream, Jake habitually created a mana distortion to cause pain.
Ugh, not a dream then.
So this was reality, but reality felt more like a dream.
If everything he thought was a dream was actually real, then what kind of person was this Roman character?
As if noticing Jake's suspicions about himself.
Roman suddenly held out his palm.
"...Hmm?"
Jake reflexively placed his palm on Roman's outstretched hand.
Is he asking for a handshake?
Though it looked more like commanding a pet than a handshake, Jake, in his addled state, didn't think that far.
Just as he was about to grasp Roman's hand, Roman swatted it away and said somewhat irritably, "No, not your hand, I meant give me the confirmation stamp."
"Ah, ahem... the stamp."
To hide his embarrassment, Jake quickly searched his person.
"Ah... I think I lost it when I was captured. The rest are at the Edge Windmill. Let's just do this verbally."
After all, confirmation stamps were only given because supervisors had to stay at their posts, but if the supervisor could testify directly, there was no need for a stamp.
Since they were at the Union anyway, Jake's testimony that Roman's team had reached Edge Windmill was enough for them to pass the test.
The processing was remarkably quick.
Immediately after Jake's testimony, Roman was able to obtain his Explorer License.
Along with the badge symbolizing a Novice Explorer.
Finally, Roman had become an official Explorer.
§
"So this is an Explorer License~ It's less impressive than I expected."
"A license is just a license. The badge actually looks better made."
"Though the magical processing on the license is far more complex."
I commented while examining the intricate magical treatments on the license with magic vision.
By the way, we are at...
"Um, why are we gathering here again...?"
The Telema School.
"Why not? I'm an official school member now."
"W-well, that's true..."
"These two are here as visitors."
While they were distracted examining the license and badge, Hecate nervously leaned close to me and whispered, "About that book you brought last time, we've decoded more of it?"
"Oh, really?"
I'd trusted it to her based on Mea's recommendation, and she certainly was versatile.
With abilities like this, why is the school in such a state?
I suppose this was a case of individual capability being separate from management ability.
"You two, what are you doing?"
A cold gaze pierces my cheek from the side.
Even through the shadow of the hood covering her face, those sharp eyes didn't lose their intensity.
However, I spoke confidently, "There was a request I left earlier, and there's been some progress."
"I-I see..."
"Request? What kind?"
Leaf quickly returned to normal, and Rei showed belated curiosity.
Hmm, what should I do?
It might be fine to tell these two.
When I shot Hecate a glance, asking if it was okay to reveal it, she quickly shook her head.
Well, sorry, but that just makes me want to tell them more.
And who knows?
These two might know something even Hecate doesn't.
Rei, being from noble Beast-folk lineage, might have some unexpectedly high-level knowledge. Surely, she had at least that to make up for her lack of common sense.
Although also lacking in common sense, Leaf was obviously hiding secrets, and perhaps those veiled mysteries could be helpful.
Though also lacking in common sense.
"Should I just tell them?"
"Haa..."
Hecate sighed deeply.
But my mind was already made up.
To School Member Roman, School Head Hecate might be superior.
But to Client Roman, Contractor Hecate was subordinate.
Actually, the former case might be the same as the latter?
There was that saying about being super subordinate.
Anyway, at my request, Hecate shoulders slumped in resignation and brought something from inside.
A box that was clearly carefully preserved at first glance.
Inside was the book I had brought and entrusted to her.
Hecate very carefully removed the book with both hands.
And though we hadn't looked at it much, she spoke in an uncharacteristically serious voice, "This book is penned by Cordelia Wollstonecraft."
"Cordelia?"
"Wollstonecraft?"
Rei and Leaf tilted their heads simultaneously, rolling the name on their tongues.
"Who's that?"
I knew this already, but I didn't expect their minds to be this pure.
At Rei's question, I barely held back from facepalming as I answered, "She was from the First Expedition Team."
After the Abyss appeared, there were seven heroes who first ventured inside.
They returned from their expedition and shared with the world both the dangers of the Abyss and its mysteries.
Afterward, Robard, who had led the expedition, established Res Limen above the Abyss and made treaties with surrounding countries to establish it as an independent city-state.
And Cordelia Wollstonecraft was the expedition member who cooperated most actively in building Res Limen.
Unlike other members who returned home to meet their end or met unknown fates in unknown places, Cordelia remained in Res Limen until the end and established Golden Intellect, a world of alchemists distinct from the mages' schools.
Only after my additional explanation did Rei speak as if finally remembering, "Ah~ that's who it was?"
“That's who it was?” We're talking about a historical figure from hundreds of years ago.
"So this is hundreds of years old?"
Well, only what I salvaged was clean; everything else left outside had rotted away.
Hecate nodded at my question, "Probably? The First Expedition existed during the transition period between the end of the Mythical Age and the beginning of the Age of the Abyss when the Abyss first appeared. Though since Cordelia reached the peak of alchemy and enjoyed a long life, it might be more recent."
"So, what is it?"
"No one knew this, but it seems Cordelia had a sister."
[To my beloved and hated sister.]
That was what the dedication said.
It was to her sister.
"But it seems the sister had different intentions from Cordelia. I'm not sure what either of them pursued, but anyway. This is a kind of experiment journal. While I haven't deciphered the research topic yet, to explain the basics..."
Hecate took out a glass bottle containing an unidentified liquid.
"This is some kind of enhancement agent. I'm not sure of its exact effects, but according to the book, it was created to birth a perfect being."
A perfect being?
What I thought of then must have been the same as what Rei and Riff thought.
Given how we all looked at each other simultaneously without anyone saying anything.
"Things are getting rather complicated."