Volume 5 Chapter 8 Preparation Is Important. In Everything
About 2 weeks after the meeting held in a corner of the Cathedral... Randy and Liz were swaying in a shared carriage under the winter sky. The destination of this shared carriage, the first since heading to Eldenberg, was a small town about a day's journey from the royal capital.
It's a small town called Alcantara, but it's also known for being the home of the honorable gravekeepers who protect the royal family's tomb nearby. ...Right. The dungeon that the students visit for their training is located near the ruins close to the tombs of the past kings, and the labyrinth that spreads beneath it.
Although it's not the royal tomb itself, it's related to the ruins, so normally adventurers wouldn't be able to enter. In other words, if they miss this chance, who knows when they'll get to go in next? It's a rare opportunity.
As Randy and the others head to this town, the students had already set off yesterday, and today they seem to be having their final meeting and doing some research around the area before exploring the dungeon. This seems to be a more practical approach.
Just like in actual dungeon raids, they need to investigate and plan for themselves. The training requires them to even do the mapping on their own, so preparation might be the most important part.
Today is the day for necessary preparations, like gathering information from the locals and possibly obtaining a simple map.
On this day of preparation, there's a reason they're leisurely swaying in the carriage... but before that, Randy couldn't help but voice a concern that had been nagging at him.
"Is it really okay to have a labyrinth under the royal tomb?"
Randy chuckled wryly, but Liz corrected him, saying, "Technically, it's not under the royal tomb, but under the nearby ruins." Mysterious ruins close to the royal tomb.
The mausoleum said to be where loyal subjects rest.
The church nearby tells the story of how the royal family began.
Some think it's just leftover remnants from an old civilization.
While others believe the church holds secrets about the royal family's history.
Various theories are whispered, but for now, the exact details remain unknown.
"If it's a mausoleum, that means it's spread out under the tomb, right?"
"Well, that's true..."
Liz scratched her cheek, but cut off the topic with, "Anyway, it's been around for a long time." After all, this isn't private; it's a shared carriage. Even though the people riding with her are fellow adventurers, it's not something you just blurt out.
Bouncing along with Randy and the others, the adventurers are part of an A-rank party accompanying the academy's training this time.
[Iron Falcon Steel]. Known as Iron Wing, they are truly skilled adventurers with both talent and achievements that are top-notch.
Starting with their leader, Leonard, everyone is a powerhouse at A-rank individually, making them one of the best parties in the kingdom. Yet, despite their strength, they are calm and humble, which surprised Randy.
(Seriously, the way they certify S-rank is totally messed up.)
In fact, out of the corner of Randy's eye, Leonard's skills are impressive. He's quiet but has strong trust from his party members, truly embodying the presence of an adventurer leader.
(Oh right, there was another leader who's different.)
He remembers Ian, the leader of [Iron Lion]. Though different from Leonard, he also has a certain charm that draws people in.
It's strange how the two parties, with similar names, also have similar members.
Leader and tank Ian and Leonard.
Hunter Serena and thief Sarah.
Magician Irios and Emma.
Cleric Leyra and Shaun.
Though their sub-leader roles differ, the similar structure seems to be the most comfortable fit.
Randy couldn't help but mutter, "They're similar," which caught the cheerful cleric Leyra's attention.
"Who are you talking about?" she asked.
"Oh, no. They just remind me of an adventurer party I know."
Randy scratched his cheek, and Serena showed interest with a "Hmm."
"Sir Randolph, that's near the Beast Forest territory, right?"
As expected of adventurers, they seem to know a lot about that area. Nodding, Randy saw Serena pause for a moment, then smile and say,
"Is it [Iron Lion]?"
Randy was surprised but smiled when she got it right.
"You really understood well."
"We've been compared to that since a long time ago. It was annoying, to be honest."
Irios, the magician, replied with a wry smile. Compared to the delinquent cleric Shaun and the carefree cleric Leyra, Irios had the most cleric-like vibe. He was a rare kind of adventurer, a gentle giant walking around in human form.
"We became adventurers and climbed up to A-rank almost together."
With a smile, Irios talked about their journey of pushing each other in competition between the Dukedom and the Kingdom. Whenever one of them raised their rank, the other would soon catch up. They both climbed up to become a representative adventurer party of their country.
"Even in mock battles, it ends in a draw... and even in drinking contests, it's a tie. We just can't seem to settle it."
Irios shrugged, and Randy couldn't help but smile at such an adventurer-like rivalry.
Emma, the magician at [Iron Lion], is known to be quiet but a heavy drinker, according to Victor. The fact that someone who can match Emma exists in [Iron Falcon Steel] made Randy glance at Leonard.
A silent but solidly built man. While Randy was taller, Leonard was thicker. Randy nodded a few times, thinking it made sense for such a big guy.
"The one who drinks the most in our group is Serena."
In disbelief, Randy turned to the slender Serena and saw her striking a proud pose, flipping her hair.
"People really don't look like what they are."
"Well, Ms. Emma is like that too."
With a wry smile, the two of them exchanged glances, and Leyra grinned while poking Leonard's side, saying, "By the way, Leonard is a lightweight."
"I can drink at least one cup."
Leonard said that and looked around at everyone before continuing.
"Seems like we've warmed up to each other, so let's get to the main topic."
At those words, not just the [Iron Falcon Steel] members, but Randy and Liz nodded seriously.
A big day for the students as they rush to get ready. It's an important day for Randy and the guards too, but the main reason they're skipping out is because there's something they don't want the students to hear.
"First, the map──."
"Thank you!"
Leonard handed over the map of their training destination from his pocket. The guards have a map that the students don't. They need to use the map to figure out the points to be cautious about and understand the terrain beforehand.
Of course, the instructors have maps too, and they'll be on alert just like the guards. But for Randy and Liz, this is their first time on a guard mission.
So, they decided to use the travel time to get some tips from the experienced [Iron Falcon Steel].
"I never thought I'd hear someone say 'I want you to teach me' to an S-rank fighter."
"Guard missions aren't that easy, you know? You can't just rely on muscle."
"Yeah, true."
As Leyra shrugged and said, guard missions are not that simple. Plus, this time they have to protect a group.
Even if the target has combat experience, guarding a group of more than ten people is a pretty crazy task.
From managing health to dealing with unexpected situations. Of course, they'll mostly leave it to the students, but they need to think about how to respond in case something happens. They'll learn various things here and finally earn the right to participate in tonight's pre-meeting with the instructors.
In other words, the meeting that's about to start is like preparation for tonight's discussion.
Leonard spoke to Randy and Liz, who were all set with their notes.
"The first thing to be careful about is panic."
Liz took notes at Leonard's words.
"Fear and anxiety can spread. Especially in dimly lit dungeons, it's even more noticeable."
Leonard pointed to a corner. The point where the hallway turns, a blind spot, is somewhere they need to be cautious about, even if it's bright. A beast could suddenly appear, coming out from the dark ahead.
It's not a familiar place like the old school building; it's a completely unknown space. The fear and anxiety here will be nothing like the training exercises.
"I think we'll be fine since the instructor is here, but if anxiety or fear starts to spread, step up immediately and hit the beast."
Randy and Liz nodded at Leonard's words. The visual reassurance of having a guard made the fear feel less intense, which was the most important measure to ease their worries.
"Also, regular check-ins can be effective too."
Randy nodded with a "Got it" in response to Irios's words, taking notes just like Liz.
"Managing lost individuals is also pretty important, you know."
Despite the lighthearted words, Serena had a serious expression.
"When you take a break in a big room and it's time to leave... make sure to do a headcount. Normally, the instructor does this, but sometimes the instructor might be ahead checking the situation."
Tragedies often happen in large groups, especially in dim light.
"It's also a good idea to have an escape plan."
Leyra, with her finger to her mouth as if recalling something, pointed to the map and said, "You absolutely need to remember the branching routes." The several paths extending from the big room could lead to getting lost if they made a wrong turn on the way back.
"When you're coming back, sometimes retreating is a possibility too."
If there are seriously injured or unwell individuals, they might have to give up on the mission. And even then, the beast won't wait for them. They need to take the shortest route with the fewest battles. Choosing such routes is an essential ability for the guards.
"──Well, as a guard, this is basically it."
Leonard summarized and continued to mention other points to be careful about, but the rest were mostly things the students themselves should handle.
Managing the formation.
Pre-checking danger zones.
Managing equipment.
Being wary of traps.
Thorough safety checks.
Adapting to the environment.
These are mainly things the students should be careful about, but they need to keep them in mind as well. You can never be too prepared.
"First, let's confirm the escape route──"
"Should we also prepare some spare equipment?"
As soon as Leonard finished speaking, Randy and the others started chatting about various things, prompting Leonard to mutter, "It's a strange thing."
At that mutter, Randy and Liz looked up and tilted their heads in silence.
"Sorry. Just talking to myself."
Leonard shook his head, but his gaze was directed back... towards the capital city that was already out of sight. The two who followed Leonard's gaze looked back for a moment and then tilted their heads in confusion.
"We were actually asked by His Excellency the Marquis to be 'bodyguards' when Lady Elizabeth was exiled."
At Irios's words, Randy and Liz turned around with a start.
"Well, it's kind of funny that we ended up with some knight wannabe as our assignment."
He exchanged a wry smile with Serena.
"I never thought I'd be doing bodyguard work for someone I was supposed to protect... it's a strange twist of fate, isn't it?"
Leyra smiled, and Liz showed a surprised expression, saying, "I didn't know that." Taking a deep breath at the realization that she was standing shoulder to shoulder with the adventurer that Lord Lucian was planning to send, Liz opened her mouth.
"Well, let's make sure this connection continues... first, I'll do my best on this mission."
With her fists clenched, Liz received a small chuckle and a nod from Leonard.
Ahead on the road, a small town was visible.
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