Shouldn’t We Get Some Research Data?

“Aaaaah──!”

“Wh-What kind of monster is that big!”

The cadets’ high-pitched screams shook the forest.

It was truly enormous.

They shouted with such sincerity that most of the leaves barely clinging to the branches fell to the ground.

‘That’s not good.’

It was truly a pitiful sight.

But in some ways, they were pathetic.

There was nothing good about screaming.

It’s probably a reaction out of fear of the situation, but rather than just stimulating the monster, there was a possibility of attracting new ones, so it was absolutely not beneficial behavior.

It was a foolish act that invited danger.

Well, what could they judge in this situation?

“I-If we just get past that thicket…”

Even Erika, who hadn’t even seen the monster yet, was trembling like this.

I couldn’t imagine how much fear the owners of those urgent voices, who were just ordinary cadets, were experiencing.

Then isn’t it right to help them?

“Yeah, let’s go quickly.”

Isn’t saving someone in danger the true attitude of a cadet and practicing the virtue of courage that an officer should have… I thought as I moved my steps.

Rustle, rustle─!

Trampling on the green leaves.

Is this how it feels to open a Christmas gift box in childhood? As the monster’s cry grew closer, my heart rate increased and my breathing became rough.

The safety of my classmates?

Taking steps to practice the proper attitude of an officer?

‘As if.’

To be honest, it was just a hollow pretext.

Above all, the most important thing was my own well-being and happiness.

Maybe, a tiny bit, about a teaspoon’s worth was moving due to such noble causes, but the truth was that I was approaching because my body was itching.

‘Now I just need to get over this.’

I finally reached the front of the dense thicket. Now, if I just cross these vines, I can encounter the monster!

There was no hesitation.

I pulled my coat down all the way in case of any injuries, and immediately stepped towards the other side where the wailing sound was coming from.

“Wait.”

“Hm?”

No, I was about to step.

Grab─!

If it weren’t for Rina suddenly grabbing my collar.

“What is it?”

“…I’ll go first.”

“Hm?”

“I hope you don’t forget we’re in team training right now. If you get hurt, we all lose points, including us.”

She pulled back on the sleeve she had grabbed.

I could have resisted if I wanted to, but there was no reason to create an excuse for conflict, so I obediently followed Rina’s words.

“Your mana is Grade 7 and mine is Grade 2. At least in a situation where we’re moving as a team, me taking the lead is the best choice, so follow without any complaints.”

I even felt a bit of admiration for Rina’s appearance as she spoke in detail.

‘A princess is a princess after all.’

It’s unexpected, considering the long-standing grudge that has continued since the first day of the entrance ceremony, to the point of investigating me. I thought she wouldn’t stop me.

“You should have just left her, let her get beaten by the monster.”

“You be quiet.”

Like Wolf grumbling over there with his arm propped on his head.

But she led the team members, treating me without barriers, as if she would exclude emotions from training as much as possible.

Unlike someone who attempted an attack akin to murder with reason devoured by emotion, she seemed to have sufficient qualities as an officer.

Of course, it could be pretense.

Those with different outsides and insides are the scariest.

In that respect, it wouldn’t be wrong to see Rina as a quite dangerous person.

Those who get angry at the right times could be less threatening than a child who silently sharpens a sharp blade inside.

But what does that matter?

“Alright.”

“…Thank you.”

I nodded and followed Rina’s words without any resistance.

I just quietly took a step back, standing side by side with Erika, watching her diligently push through the thicket.

‘I’m not particularly worried.’

Even though Rina had tried to secretly observe my past, and even though the rift in emotions between us was deep and I didn’t know what might happen, there was no need to worry much.

Isn’t Helena there?

For Rina, that is.

“Everyone follow me. Be ready to face the monster as soon as it appears.”

“Understood.”

Rina, who had already pushed through the complexly overgrown vines considerably, gestured.

And I readily answered her words and headed behind Rina’s shoulder covered with white hair.

“O-Okay!”

“If it’s hard, tell me, Rina. I’ll help.”

Erika and Wolf were the same.

They too lined up behind my back following Rina’s instructions.

Eventually, everyone stood in an orderly manner, forming a single line completely dependent on Rina’s movements.

“Hmm.”

And I stared intently at Rina’s back as I moved my steps.

More precisely, I glinted my eyes coldly, recalling Helena who always treated the girl in front preciously.

‘She’ll stop it.’

Stop what?

Rina’s actions that cross the line.

For Helena, who was full of the belief to protect the princess, it was clear that she would want to avoid conflict with me somehow.

I had a card in my hand that could send Rina away in an instant.

Of course, even if the princess harbored ill feelings and made plans, Helena would step in to prevent it.

If that happened, Rina would be able to do nothing.

Isn’t this like having the best safety device in place?

‘Somehow it feels refreshing.’

I bloomed a smile on my lips without the team members knowing, enjoying the coolness of the shadows from the tall trees.

That was the conclusion I reached, deciding I didn’t need to worry about Rina considering all that- it was a perfect situation tightly woven by the combination of actions so far.

‘It’s rewarding.’

Doesn’t that mean the path I’ve been treading since the first day of the entrance ceremony wasn’t in vain? Despite many twists and turns, it means I’ve been acting properly?

I was happy.

Very satisfied.

‘If worse comes to worst, I can submit the materials to the principal.’

If Rina were to act suddenly and harm me, I could just turn around and reveal everything to the military academy principal and instructors.

Judging from Rina’s behavior so far, I didn’t think she would do such a stupid thing, so I wasn’t too worried.

‘I hope we can get along peacefully here at least.’

I want to focus all my attention on eliminating monsters! I want to use the skills I’ve honed through all the training so far on those filthy creatures groaning…

I didn’t want to be disturbed.

I wanted to properly engage in the training.

“Groooo──!”

Hoping that the current stable atmosphere of the team wouldn’t change,

“W-Wow, the voice is really loud.”

“Follow me.”

“Yes, I understand… No, I got it!”

Together with Erika and the other team members who were responding diligently to Rina’s words,

Patter patter─!

I ran to finally confirm the owner of the voice.

When we finally emerged from the thicket into one of the few clearings in the forest,

“W-Wow.”

“That must be it, the source of the loud noise.”

“Probably. If it’s a monster with that appearance, surely…”

With a massive body that showed finely detailed thigh muscles, fierce reptilian eyes, and claws that looked like they could cut down entire trees,

“Langarm-Gynäkus.”

A fierce monster species called ‘Long-armed Crocodile’, with a long mouth and wide limbs true to its name, greeted us.

“Gyaaah──!”

And then it charged at us in less than a few seconds.

Whoosh!

Swinging its massive limbs.

---

Electronic beeps and the murmuring of researchers heard from all around.

“Coordinate change, reception complete!”

“Team ‘4-13’. All team members emitting life device scores equivalent to elimination! Requesting use of ‘Monster 201’ neutralization function for safety and dispatch of rescue team…”

“Team ‘2-9’. Notification of score increase due to successful monster elimination. Receiving coordinates and requesting movement…”

And amidst all this, the Astrahan Military Academy commanders focused on the map before them while wearing headsets.

“How’s the 3rd class doing?”

“What? 5 have already been eliminated?”

“I’d like to request information on the following numbered students.”

“How many are left now?”

At a glance it seemed chaotic, but in reality, everyone was moving systematically, each taking charge of their own tasks.

Instructors listening to the cadets’ situations.

Researchers receiving that information from outside.

People judging the danger to cadets and appropriately using the electric stimulation devices on the monsters’ necks, the so-called ‘neutralization function’, etc.

The behind-the-scenes of the world’s highest level scientific training was clearly revealed.

“Is there a cadet you’re most looking forward to?”

“Looking forward to?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m just curious about the insight of someone serving as both the military academy principal and the Imperial Eastern Commander-in-Chief, haha.”

And in the midst of this, Rustet and Serty were sitting at a table set aside in a corner, engaged in conversation.

Because neither of them had anything particular to do.

Wouldn’t one be interested in checking the cadets’ status only if they were in charge of a class?

For Rustet, who didn’t teach any class, there was no reason to be curious about the safety of cadets whose names he could barely remember.

“Hmm… the most charming cadet.”

Of course, there are always exceptions.

Rustet showed a genuinely contemplative attitude to the research director’s question, spinning his teacup in the air.

‘There are many children I’ve been thinking about.’

Among thousands of cadets, there weren’t none who showed proper potential, and the number wasn’t so pitiful as to be counted on one hand.

Of course, he had sorted out and remembered some.

It’s just that when asked to pick the best, he couldn’t readily choose.

‘This looks like I’m going to be troubled with an untimely concern, haha.’

How could I know after seeing them for only a month?

I’d have a rough idea around the time of the qualification screening.

But it seems a shame not to answer here.

“If you don’t have anyone in mind, you don’t have to…”

“No, wait a moment.”

Rustet cut off Serty’s attempt to change the subject.

And after another moment of silence,

“There is one. If I had to pick just one.”

He finally opened his mouth.

“Could you… tell me who it is?”

“Yena Freud.”

“You mean the cadet named Yena?”

“Yes. She’s the cadet I find most interesting these days. A somewhat mysterious girl…”

He mentioned the name of a cadet belonging to Gartel’s class, who could be called a close friend.

“Does she have the strongest ability?”

“No, but she could be said to have a good head.”

“I see…”

Serty nodded thoughtfully, carefully chewing on Rustet’s words.

As if trying to remember the cadet’s name, he stared blankly at the table with clear eyes and moved his lips.

‘Was she the cadet Gartel was most interested in?’

But in fact, Rustet had just answered without much thought.

It was just so difficult to make a decision.

Honestly, who could understand cadets after just a month? He just mentioned her because Gartel had talked about her and she remained most in his memory.

Of course, Serty had no idea about these inner thoughts.

‘Yena Freud.’

That’s why he took it seriously.

Judging her to be the cadet most trusted by the Imperial Eastern Commander-in-Chief─

Concluding that she was the child who needed the most attention in this training, he sipped his already cold coffee.

‘Wait, did he say her name was Yena?’

He suddenly opened his eyes wide.

His hand holding the coffee cup trembled slightly.

A familiar name.

The only familiar appellation.

It didn’t take long to realize that the child the principal had just mentioned was the only girl who had come to the facility and asked for training.

She was the only cadet whose facial features he hadn’t forgotten.

How could he forget the grateful one who had first become his research data?

‘I expected she wasn’t ordinary, but…’

Diligence above others.

The remarkable movements she showed during training.

He had thought she wasn’t an ordinary girl, synthesizing various characteristics that could be found besides these, but to think she was a cadet receiving the principal’s full attention.

“I-I see.”

“Then let’s finish our unfinished conversation.”

Rustet opened his mouth again, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief.

However, Serty couldn’t focus on his words.

‘In other words, data on that child is essentially information and material on the soldier image the Empire pursues… then?’

Because a suddenly occurring plan was scrambling his mind.

The expectation of what results could be obtained if this concept was applied to the training right now blocked his ears.

“…Then I’ll be going now.”

“Yes, yes! Thank you for your hard work.”

Only when Rustet’s farewell finally reached his ears did he come to his senses and bowed at a right angle to the departing man.

Swish─

As soon as even the principal’s shadow disappeared, he raised his upper body.

“Phew… Is the researcher in charge of monsters here?”

At the same time, he called out to one man who was absorbed in his work.

“Yes, yes!”

“You know the monster we finished researching last time?”

“Y-Yes.”

“Choose a suitable specimen, file down its claws and teeth a bit, attach a neutralization device, and have it on standby.”

“On standby… you say?”

“Yes.”

The operation that had only been designed in his brain,

“I want to deploy it in this survival training once and evaluate its effectiveness.”

In order to execute it.

“Specifically on the child the highest person in the military academy is paying attention to.”