Chapter 28: Dungeon Field Class (3)
"I am against it."
The first person to answer was Anette, who had been silent until now.
"Anette?"
"Your Highness, please forgive me for the rudeness of speaking without first asking for permission."
To Velita, who tilted her head curiously, she bowed with a loyalty that anyone could see.
"But Your Highness, is there really a need to follow his opinion? Once we leave the cave, the exam will end anyway, so I don’t think there’s a need to go around unnecessarily."
Lifting her head slowly, she stared straight at me with eyes as red as her red hair.
"Above all, isn’t the claim that ants will chase us because of a strange scent just that man’s assumption? Since there’s even the slightest possibility that they might pursue us, wouldn’t it be right to break through as quickly as possible without wasting time?"
"Hm… from here on, may I explain instead, Ganetsa?"
Tesrad, who was standing next to her, shrugged his shoulders as he added.
Anette gave him a sideways glance and then looked at him once.
Perhaps it was a sign of approval, as Tesrad muttered softly, "Thanks."
"First of all, Gwendil’s suggestion to burn the cocoon chamber to avoid pursuit makes sense."
At his words, Anette frowned slightly, but she didn’t interrupt.
"Colossal ants prioritize the queen first, then the cocoons, larvae, and finally the eggs. They protect according to that order. If the cocoon chamber catches fire, they’ll devote all their attention to putting it out, or if not, moving the cocoons elsewhere. Then, for a while… yes, at least until the Dungeon Field Class is over, they won’t have any reason to bother us. There’ll surely be bonus points too, and many other benefits as well."
But then, Tesrad glanced at me.
And with a slightly awkward smile, as if apologizing, he continued speaking.
"The biggest problem is how to locate the cocoon chamber. You’re not suggesting we just wander around blindly, right? That would defeat the whole purpose."
"You finally say something right."
Anette spoke as if adding on, then looked at me.
"And setting fire inside a cave? What if the flames or smoke reach us?"
"There’s no need to worry about that."
Since I had expected that question, I answered without hesitation.
"The most important thing for a cocoon chamber is ventilation and humidity. That’s why they dig several direct tunnels that function as vents. If a fire is set, the smoke will escape through those. In fact, it’s a well-known method that adventurers often use, so it’ll definitely be implemented properly here too."
As soon as I finished explaining, Allen gave a small nod.
"I agree with Lian’s opinion."
When Velita’s gaze turned to him, he spoke quietly, as if explaining.
"It’s not that I have any grand reasons like the others who spoke before."
"Hmm, the opinions are exactly split in half."
Velita murmured as if troubled, then finally turned her head to me.
"Lian, do you perhaps have anything more you’d like to add?"
I nodded.
"First of all, since it has already been mentioned that burning the cocoon chamber can throw off pursuit and earn us bonus points, I won’t repeat that."
At my words, Anette looked at me silently, and Tesrad shrugged his shoulders once again.
"Then are you saying that you have a way to find the cocoon chamber, Lian?"
"Yes."
At my answer, Velita glanced at Tesrad.
Tesrad shook his head.
"It’s impossible for me, Your Highness. With no preparation, I might be able to find the approximate location, but in a cave like this I can’t determine the exact path. Not to mention, it would take quite a lot of time."
"The mage Tesrad says it’s impossible. But Lian, you say you do have a method. Can you take responsibility for that claim?"
"That statement seems a little off, Your Highness."
"…What?"
For a very brief moment, I caught her eyes wavering in surprise.
Velita, who seemed as if not even a drop of blood would come out if pricked—so even she had moments of inexperience.
With that thought, I spoke in a calm voice.
"I am merely presenting an option. Because Your Highness asked me for advice."
Trying to subtly corner someone, huh.
I pressed down that thought and spoke to her in a tone that was polite to the end.
"The decision and the responsibility rest entirely with Your Highness. Whatever choice you make, I will comply."
"……"
She fell silent.
It was a silence that was unbearably uncomfortable.
Then after a brief moment of time passed—
"…Lian, you are right."
She slowly nodded.
"Yes, that’s correct."
Velita smiled faintly.
Then, glancing at the others one by one, she spoke.
"I will make the decision."
She pronounced the ruling in a solemn voice, as if she were a judge.
"I will adopt Lian’s suggestion. We shall move forward to exit the cave, but along the way we will stop by the cocoon chamber and burn it—that will be our course of action."
At her decision, Anette and Tesrad bowed their heads silently, as if to show compliance.
"Then Lian, as you said, please take the lead so we can stop by the cocoon chamber first. And if it seems like things might go wrong, we will abandon the cocoon chamber. Is that acceptable?"
"Of course, Your Highness. I will do my best, however meager it may be."
With that reply, I moved to the front of the group and let out a quiet sigh of relief.
'…It’s done.'
I slipped my hand into my pocket to check inside.
There, the charm Yuran had given me in advance was faintly glowing.
Through this, I was able to see through the structure of this cave—no, this colossal ant nest—as if laid out before me.
Thanks to it, heading toward the place where their cocoons were kept wasn’t difficult at all.
The only reason I had been tense until now was because the one I had to propose this to was none other than Velita.
'I had already expected the opinions to be split in half.'
To be more precise, I had easily predicted that things would flow this way.
"……"
I still didn’t know why I had been chosen as one of her team members.
But one thing was certain—whatever the reason, I had, at the very least, caught Velita’s interest.
Naturally, that meant Anette and Tesrad would be inclined to oppose me.
The only difference was in how much they showed it outwardly, but both of them were fervent devotees—fanatics, even—of Velita.
For someone like me, a newcomer who suddenly drew her attention, they must have found the situation extremely unpleasant.
So in a situation like just now, it was obvious they would stand on the opposite side of me.
Honestly, no matter what I said, the two of them would have opposed me with hostility.
'The back of my head feels so hot it’s like it’ll burn through.'
Even without looking, I could feel how openly their gazes had changed after my exchange with Velita just now.
If circumstances allowed, they would have already flung spells and magic at me.
But there was nothing I could do about it.
Even knowing Anette and Tesrad would find my words insufferable, I had no choice but to say them to Velita.
Because the answer I had just given her was the only correct one.
'…No matter how I think about it, she’s nothing short of insane.'
If I had said something like, "I can take responsibility," or, "If you trust me, I will surely live up to it," she would certainly have rejected my proposal.
Worse still, she would have loosened the reins she held on those two, deliberately making them clash with me, drawing out more reactions from them, and watching from the sidelines for her own amusement.
She was the kind of person who would absolutely do that.
'…At least things went as planned, thank goodness.'
If she had rejected my proposal, and that had led Tesrad and Anette to openly hinder me, it would have been more than a nuisance.
Even then, I could have dealt with it somehow…
But deep down, I wanted to minimize even the smallest variables from here on, so this outcome was truly fortunate.
After all, from this point onward, even the slightest mistake would not be allowed.
"……"
I quietly grasped the necklace I had been given at the entrance.
When I focused, I could sense someone’s presence.
It was the aura of Cecilia Everglenn.
She was not far from here.
'Good.'
I nodded and stepped forward with confidence.
First, I needed to lead these people to the cocoon chamber.
Yes—toward the place where the culprits, hidden and prepared by Rahma in secret, would be sleeping soundly, awaiting the great catastrophe soon to unfold.
At the same time.
Cecilia Everglenn was already in quite an exhausted state.
It was because she had run into swarms of colossal ants three times in such a short period.
Though they had only fought once, even that was enough to drain her and her teammates.
"Does this make sense? Three encounters in such a short time? We haven’t even been inside the dungeon that long…!"
"Hey, shut that mouth! What if they hear and come after us again?"
"Colossal ants don’t hear, you idiot! At least know what you’re talking about before shouting!"
"Ha, and you’re so smart, but you don’t even know they sense vibrations around them, huh?"
"…Tch, fine. What can I say? I’m the fool for trying to talk with someone who stutters because they can’t even remember a simple incantation."
"What did you say, bastard?"
"Enough! Can we please stop fighting?"
"Yeah, both of you calm down and quit getting worked up!"
Fatigue and anxiety make people sensitive, prone to conflict.
And if the group had only been forced together unwillingly without true camaraderie, division was all the more likely.
Even in such a situation, Cecilia Everglenn stood apart, unable to mix in with them, a step removed.
"…Let’s just keep moving. We can’t afford to quit in the middle of our very first Dungeon Field Class. Especially not when we’ve barely even entered."
At the words of the student acting as team leader, everyone swallowed their complaints with effort.
As he said, none of them wanted their very first field class to end in failure by dropping out halfway.
"After all, this is just practice. Honestly speaking, even if something goes wrong, it’s not like we’ll die. So let’s all calm down, stay composed, and try to do well together. Don’t you agree?"
"…Yeah, sure."
"Yeah."
"Let’s do that."
The student acting as team leader nodded and looked at Cecilia Everglenn.
Contrary to the words he had just spoken, his eyes carried a faint contempt, along with that distinct sense of superiority people revealed when looking down on others.
"Then I’ll ask you to take the lead, Lady Everglenn. Since you’re from Hilts dormitory, your assigned role is vanguard, isn’t it?"
"…Yes."
She nodded obediently.
Why was it that, at that moment, the face of Lian Gwendil she had met before entering the dungeon suddenly came to mind?
"……"
When she saw him chosen by the princess and placed in the same team, she had unconsciously thought it natural.
That was because Lian possessed abilities so outstanding it was hard to think of him as just a fellow classmate.
But perhaps…
[You were expecting he might suggest being in the same team, weren’t you?]
"…!"
At the sudden voice, she flinched in surprise.
Since when had it been?
The voice that once was only faint had started to sound clear.
No, she knew exactly when it had begun.
It was from the very day the brand engraved on her wrist, hidden beneath bandages, had appeared.
From that day, the once-murky voice had resounded in her head with piercing clarity and intensity.
[You’d better be careful of him.]
The voice whispered to her.
[I know.]
[Trust me.]
[I’m your friend.]
[I won’t put you in danger.]
[It’s better not to stay close to that man…]
"…I’ll take the lead."
Cecilia forced herself to ignore the voice as she moved her steps forward.
Because it was a voice she had been hearing since long before she was even old enough to understand, she knew better than anyone how to ignore it and let it pass.
But this time was different.
[You must be careful.]
This time, the voice carried a power so strong that it couldn’t be dismissed or brushed aside.
It was so compelling that she couldn’t help but listen.
[A danger is approaching right before your eyes.]
[And I’m not talking about Lian Gwendil from earlier.]
[Something far greater, incomparable to that man, is drawing near.]
[But don’t forget, Cecilia.]
[We are on your side.]
[As long as you wish it, as long as you call for us, we will appear at any time.]
Don’t forget that.
With those words, the voice died down quietly, like an ember fading out.
But Cecilia knew well that at any moment, it could flare back to life again.
"……"
She walked silently deeper into the dungeon.
Was it just her imagination?
It sounded as though faint footsteps were crunching somewhere nearby.