Chapter 20. Mezaia Great Forest (2)
“Commander, even so, taking along a cadet who only just entered the Department of Command is……”
“You can say that, but look.”
The woman with fiery red hair cut short at her shoulders, Raviata, waved the paper in her hand as she continued.
“This kid wrote something like this without ever setting foot in Mezaia. Could you write a paper of this caliber about a dungeon you’ve never even visited?”
“Well, of course I couldn’t, but……”
“Neither could I. And of all things, a Dragon Heart!”
“But it is still nothing more than a theoretical fantasy dreamed up by someone sitting behind a desk. Taking him along because we believe this blindly would be—”
“Of course. But that’s exactly why we’re going to verify it. We have to go there anyway.”
“Urgh…….”
At Raviata’s words, James, a member of her Adventurer Party, frowned and fell silent.
After all, just as Raviata said, the paper was far too sophisticated to simply dismiss as fantasy.
“‘The Great Rainy Season of the Mezaia Great Forest follows a pattern that cannot be identified. However, this is merely due to the limitations of human reasoning. Phenomena beyond the bounds of our understanding are perceived as anomalies precisely because they occur outside the scope of what we can recognize.’ And the conclusion this brat reached was a Dragon Heart…….”
Dragon Heart.
The mere words were enough to set even the coldest Adventurer’s heart ablaze.
The heart of a great being said to have stood at the pinnacle of every race in ancient times was supposedly filled with Mana so pure that it could be called the very source of Mana itself.
If one obtained such a thing, would immortality truly be the extent of what it offered?
By human standards, it might grant power approaching that of a god.
In Shane’s paper, he had concluded that the Dragon Heart was the cause of the Great Rainy Season in the Mezaia Great Forest.
More precisely, he had proposed that the corpse of a Dragon was buried there.
“Just as it says here, it can’t be dismissed as pure fantasy. According to ancient records, all manner of strange phenomena occur near the place where a Dragon dies as the Mana within its Dragon Heart returns to nature. They didn’t have the technology to analyze Mana patterns back then, so there aren’t any detailed records. But if a Dragon’s corpse—an Elder-Class Dragon’s corpse, at that—was sealed there as this paper suggests, then the other scholars’ theories about those anomalies fit perfectly as well.”
That was exactly what Shane had done.
He had presented hypothetical evidence that supported the existing papers concerning the Mezaia Great Forest.
“And he even explains the reason here.”
[If Akasha’s Great Seal occurred immediately before the Dragon’s death, then the endless Mana fluctuations spanning the Mezaia Great Forest can be defined.
A dungeon created through the Great Seal is a ‘Frozen World.’ Therefore, Mana itself remains trapped and is unable to return to nature according to the Will of the World, endlessly repeating the phenomenon that occurred at the time.
However, this is not a simple repetition. Although the Mana was sealed by the Will of the World, Mana is fundamentally an element that constitutes the world itself. It could not completely resist the Will of the World, yet it continuously alters its own elemental nature in an attempt to restore the natural environment that was damaged by its presence.]
The hypothesis presented in the paper had caused an enormous stir.
Scholars from various schools of thought had even retrieved their old papers on the Mezaia Great Forest and begun cross-checking them against Shane’s theory.
Of course, since the truth hidden within the dungeon had yet to be uncovered, everything was still only in its early stages.
But there was another group just as excited as the scholars.
Adventurers.
They did not possess the same depth of academic knowledge.
But ultimately, what the scholars were saying amounted to one thing.
A dead Dragon’s corpse might be lying dormant somewhere within the Mezaia Great Forest!
That was enough to seize the attention not only of Adventurers, but even of nobles.
“That’s why we need to bring him along before someone else gets to him. Doesn’t this prove he has that much foresight?”
“Phew…… Then at the very least, he should undergo a test. This is one of the Five Great Cradles we’re talking about. If we’re bringing him inside, he needs to be capable of protecting himself to some extent.”
“Fine, fine. I understand. When have I ever done whatever I pleased without listening to you?”
“That would be right now.”
While the two continued bickering, the door opened and two more people entered.
“Greetings. I am Jahad, a Professor from the Department of Command.”
“Hey, Jahad! Been a while, hasn’t it?”
Jahad, who was still relatively young for a Professor, quietly bowed at Raviata’s greeting.
“Yes. It has been a long time.”
“Good grief. You’re still as stiff as ever. We were classmates, you know.”
“You are the Princess of Raviata, are you not? I should observe proper etiquette.”
The one who reacted to those words was Shane.
‘So this is Raviata, the Mobile Nation.’
The Raviata Adventurer Party stood on the same level as the now-vanished Hermes Adventurer Party.
They were an elite Adventurer Party composed of only a small number of members, yet their combat strength was so immense that they had earned the epithet ‘Mobile Nation.’
Back when the Seven Great Cradles still existed, they had contributed greatly to the subjugation of both the First and Second Cradles.
Their fame was tremendous.
Shane had known since his previous life that Raviata had an extraordinary interest in Dragon Hearts.
Even so, he had never imagined that the Mobile Nation itself would make a move from the very beginning.
“Anyway, that’s exactly what I mean when I say you’re too stiff. So, is this expressionless kid the one causing all the commotion?”
“That is correct. Cadet Shane, introduce yourself. This is Raviata Chloe, the leader of the Raviata Adventurer Party, known as the Mobile Nation.”
“……Greetings. I am Clayton R. Shane.”
When Shane politely greeted her, Raviata showed visible interest.
“Well now. You’re different from the rumors. And Clayton is a pretty famous family too…… yet you’re surprisingly polite.”
Had she investigated him before meeting him?
Shane showed no displeasure and simply answered.
“I was told you came regarding a collaboration for an expedition into the Mezaia Great Forest.”
Raviata grinned at his words.
Raviata belonged to no country and therefore possessed no formal social status.
Of course, no one would dare look down upon the leader of the Mobile Nation Raviata.
Still, Shane had shown no change in expression despite realizing that someone who was not even a noble had investigated a noble family.
Raviata liked that.
It meant he at least understood how this world worked.
“Mm, getting straight to the point suits me too. Good. First, yes, that’s why we came. Naturally, it’s because of this paper.”
“Then I assume I would accompany you all the way to the Mezaia Great Forest.”
“If we reach a satisfactory agreement, you may even get the chance to operate inside the Cradle itself.”
Raviata spoke with the confidence of someone well aware that she held the stronger position.
And in truth, no matter how powerful House Clayton’s commercial influence might be throughout the Allied Nations, attempting to pressure an Adventurer Party of Raviata’s stature would only earn the family widespread condemnation.
Adventurers were practically revered within the Allied Nations.
Shane knew that perfectly well.
But he had no intention of meekly allowing himself to be led around.
“May I see the terms?”
“I like your personality. Unfortunately, our Adventurer Party doesn’t operate purely on my whims yet. James!”
At Raviata’s call, the young man who had been standing beside her stepped forward.
“Greetings. My name is Ardia James, and I am responsible for the finances of the Raviata Adventurer Party.”
Shane returned the greeting, and James continued.
“As you know, Mezaia is home to dangerous monsters befitting its brutal natural disasters. We therefore need to test your minimum combat capability.”
“I see.”
“Yes. According to the information we gathered beforehand, Cadet Shane’s practical combat evaluations up until last year were not particularly favorable.”
That was true.
Before his regression, Shane at this point in time had been utterly overshadowed by Klein.
Though he had not shown it openly, he had been deeply intimidated.
For a Mage, such a mental state was nothing short of poison.
No matter what sort of spar he entered, he became flustered easily and failed to control his emotions.
There was no reason his evaluations would have been good.
“Of course, you were still around average…… but frankly speaking, entering the Mezaia Great Forest at that level would be tantamount to suicide.”
There was no particular hostility in James’s expression.
But his eyes clearly conveyed one message.
Know your own limits.
Only by understanding one’s limitations could a person distinguish when to step forward and when to remain behind.
James still believed it was too early for Shane to collaborate with them.
He simply did not want to see an immature sprout become intoxicated by fame and die before it ever had the chance to bloom.
Of course, maintaining such an attitude after being the ones who approached Shane for collaboration was hardly polite.
“Now, now, there’s no need to push him that hard—”
“If a test is necessary, I will take it.”
“Hmm?”
Raviata, who actually wanted the collaboration, attempted to lighten the atmosphere, but Shane interrupted her.
“First, however, I would like to hear the terms of the contract.”
Shane looked calmly at James.
“……That was my mistake. I acknowledge it and apologize. I am sorry.”
Under Shane’s gaze, James was the first to take a step back.
Despite being the accountant of the renowned Raviata Adventurer Party, he did not hesitate to bow his head to Shane.
And there was a reason for that.
They were an Adventurer Party whose reputation demanded such standards.
Adventurers might abandon courtesy at any moment when their profit or safety was at stake, but contracts were the one thing whose procedures absolutely had to be respected.
James had demanded that Shane undergo a test without even showing him the contract first.
That was a clear violation of the basic order expected among Adventurers.
James therefore offered a clean apology without making excuses.
Shane quietly accepted it.
That alone raised Shane’s standing slightly in both Raviata’s and James’s eyes.
At the very least, he was not some sheltered brat ignorant of how the world worked.
“Hmm…….”
Shane carefully read through the contract he had been handed.
Before long, he nodded.
“How will the test be conducted?”
“We’ve already seen enough of your dungeon capabilities through the Academy’s exam. This time, we intend to assess your pure combat ability. It will be a simple spar. Your victory condition will be to touch my body during the match.”
James added that he would not use Mana.
Although James was responsible for the Raviata Adventurer Party’s finances, that did not mean he lacked combat ability.
If anything, he was stronger than most veterans from a First-Class Adventurer Party.
Otherwise, there would have been no way for him to protect the Raviata Adventurer Party’s wealth.
“…….”
When Shane remained silent, James spoke again.
“Are you dissatisfied with the conditions? But at the very least, this much—”
Once again, Shane interrupted him.
“There is something I would like to add. I was not the one who approached you. Raviata came to me, so I believe I am in a position to make at least one request.”
In other words, Shane was not the desperate party here.
James might not see matters that way, but Raviata herself had come all the way here personally.
Her reputation was at stake.
“……Very well. What do you want?”
“If I win the spar, I would like the right to modify and add clauses to the contract. In exchange, I will change my opponent. The person I want to spar against is……”
Shane’s gaze moved past James toward the sofa behind him.
Raviata was sitting there with an amused grin, clearly enjoying the situation.
“Eh? Me?”
Naturally, it did not take long for that grin to turn into bewilderment.
—
“Cadet Shane, are you truly certain about this? Even with the condition that she cannot use Mana……”
“That is not the only restriction, is it?”
“Hmm…….”
Jahad let out a thoughtful hum at Shane’s response.
In truth, calling this a spar was almost misleading.
The conditions were overwhelmingly favorable to Shane.
The time limit was ten minutes.
If Shane failed to make physical contact with Raviata’s body within those ten minutes, he would fail the test and the collaboration would be canceled.
Naturally, given Raviata’s overwhelming strength, she had also been given a penalty.
For the first five minutes after the spar began, she would be unable to leave a designated area.
Even without Mana, however, someone of Raviata’s caliber should have had little difficulty crushing someone at Shane’s current level.
They called it a ten-minute test, but in reality, once Raviata became free to move after five minutes, Shane would effectively have no means left to oppose her.
“I have already devised a way to deal with her. And even if I fail the test, it will not matter greatly.”
Naturally, missing the chance to accompany the famous Raviata Adventurer Party would be unfortunate.
But it was hardly something worth staking his life upon.
The Raviata Adventurer Party was not the only group that needed Shane.
“If you are that certain, I will not interfere any further.”
Jahad stepped back.
Shane soon faced Raviata, who had arrived at one of the Academy’s sparring arenas.
“All right. You’re ready, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s get started.”
Without even bothering with a preparatory stance, Raviata stood in the center of the arena and looked at Shane.
Shane wasted no time and gathered Mana into both hands.
At the exact moment Raviata recognized the concentration of Mana in Shane’s hands—
BANG-!
A fist-sized Mana Bullet shot toward Raviata.
