The Scout's Proposal
Is it because I’m so frail? “The basic strategy for dealing with wraiths is simple. Overload them with more mana than they can handle, force them to materialize, and then strike them down with physical attacks.” “How many wraiths are we expecting in total?” “Excluding the boss, we’re estimating around twelve.” “…That’s more than I thought.” “In addition, you’ll encounter regular undead from the entrance all the way through the mid-section. Once we’re inside we’ll know for sure, but they’ll come in various forms—humanoid, beast-type, plant-type, and more.” “Then what about our formation?” “Three knights will take the vanguard while four mages handle the rear.” “But with that setup…” The man frowned and turned his head slightly. His gaze settled on the two first-years who would have to hold the front line.
“I know what you’re worried about. But they were chosen for this subjugation precisely because of their skill.” “…Even so, haa.” He held his tongue since it was too late to change the roster, but his heavy sigh revealed everything. No matter how much he trusted their ability, these students had only been at the academy for a month. For the second-years who had spent half a year preparing to enter a dungeon, his anxiety was perfectly natural. This was the moment I needed to step forward.
“Senior Abinel. May I say something?” I raised my hand to break the heavy atmosphere, and every eye in the room turned toward me. Even Sisen Alencia, who had stayed silent the entire time, flicked her red eyes in my direction. “Yes. What is it?” “I’d like to join the vanguard as well.” “…Ha. What is this nonsense now?” “A commoner who took first place thinks the world revolves around him?” “Enough.” Abinel’s single word instantly silenced the grumbling of my classmates. His expression still showed he had no idea what I was thinking, but as the subjugation team’s vice-leader and the one who would personally command the vanguard, he remained remarkably composed. Even if it was just politeness, Abinel offered a faint smile.
“May I hear your reason?” “As you all know, I specialize in the Ether school rather than the general departments. To be precise, I can use space-time magic.” “Space-time?” “I can detect every single monster that will appear inside the dungeon.” The conference room stirred. All kinds of murmurs broke out as opinions split. We can’t put a commoner who only spouts nonsense in the vanguard. If he’s going to talk crazy, he should leave right now. Or— “……Is that true?” Like Abinel, who now faced me directly, some looked at me with genuine surprise and expectation, wondering if it was really possible. It was exactly the level of commotion I had predicted.
“The vanguard’s role is to quickly map the dungeon and create a safe environment for the strike team to eliminate monsters. That’s why the vanguard always includes an Aero or Geo-key mage who can identify terrain and monster locations.” “…The problem is that both of those schools can only gather limited information when it comes to wraiths.” Abinel nodded with a bitter smile. Mages assigned to the vanguard were usually placed there to scout terrain and monsters, and the schools specialized for that were Aero, which controlled wind, and Geo-key, which controlled earth. However, neither could provide truly accurate data… Aero became useless in places where reverse winds, barriers, or air currents behaved abnormally. Geo-key was equally helpless if the ground’s vibrations were distorted or if the monsters were floating in mid-air. And this particular dungeon was an irregular case centered around ‘wraiths.’ These creatures floated through the air and completely twisted the mana flow around them, rendering the only two schools capable of scouting the dungeon completely ineffective.
“My power is still immature, so I can’t scan everything at once, but each scan can cover a radius of seventy meters.” “…Seventy meters is quite a distance. If that’s the case…” “Ah, of course I can detect not only the dungeon’s terrain but also the exact location of every monster. Even special cases like wraiths are no exception.” “———Hoo.” A dry laugh escaped. They had listened, but their eyes still said they couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t just Abinel. I hadn’t expected them to trust me right away either, so I continued with a smile. “One scan is all I need. If you give me the chance to identify how many undead appear in the early section, the entire subjugation team—beyond just the vanguard—will be able to complete this raid safely.” “……” “I know. I’m not someone worthy of your trust yet. A commoner who insulted a noble. That alone is more than enough reason to hate me.”
———So please, don’t trust me as a person. Trust the ability I possess.
“Trust the skill that let a commoner set multiple records, claim first place in the ranking evaluation, and proudly take the top spot in the Magic Department where both Eliad and Asher study.” “……” “Well, it wouldn’t be so bad if you ended up liking me in the process, either.” I flashed a grin and looked around the room. Bewilderment. Distrust. Suspicion. Worry. Doubt. Unlike the first-years, the upperclassmen only knew of someone named Rain through rumors, and rumors grow further from the truth the more they spread. The fuel that sends rumors flying isn’t truth—it’s strangeness. I had smiled through countless provocations and harassments, and I had proven the suspicious glares and words with action. Of course, what I had accomplished in a single month probably wasn’t enough to overturn the rumors they had heard, and the eyes watching Rain were still far from friendly, but… “He’s as bold as the stories say.” I could smile.
“All right, Rain. I’ll put you in the vanguard.” Even if it was only one person, someone was willing to believe in me. “Abinel!” “What’s the problem? Honestly, what could possibly go wrong if one mage moves from the rear to the front?” A slight laziness mixed into his otherwise serious and gentle voice. Abinel shrugged at his classmate who had called his name. “No matter what, putting a mage in the vanguard is…!” “Ah, and for reference, I’m also quite skilled in martial arts. These two can vouch for me.” “Eh?! Ah, yes…! During the ranking evaluation, Rain knocked out both mages and knights with his fists.” I politely pointed at Sien and Keith with both hands. Keith looked flustered by the sudden attention, but she soon gave the answer I wanted in a calm voice. “…Rain is stronger than most knights. Even if all the seniors here attacked him at once———.” “Hahaha! Sien, what are you saying? I, who respects my seniors like the sky above me, would never do such a thing?” I hurriedly covered Sien’s mouth and played it off. So she was here. The culprit spreading those vicious rumors. As expected, the mastermind was closer than I thought.
“To be honest, I’ve never seen an Ether mage before, so I wasn’t sure how to place you. I wanted to send you to the strike team, but the higher-ups specifically ordered me to put you in the vanguard.” A relaxed voice cut through the chaotic atmosphere. The charismatic tone naturally drew everyone’s eyes to Abinel. “Even though you’re D-rank, I was honestly worried. On top of having to deal with those peculiar wraiths, I also had to babysit a bold junior like you.” “…Yes, well. It must have been quite stressful for you.” “Exactly. But thanks to you stepping up and explaining yourself so proactively, I feel much more at ease. Especially when I heard about that incredible ability to scout the dungeon—I got so excited I could barely believe it.” Abinel walked over to me and lightly placed a hand on my shoulder. “Rumors don’t spread without some basis, but I’m sure they’ve been maliciously twisted. I hope today becomes an opportunity to soften those rumors at least a little, Rain.” For a moment his smile was so dazzling I couldn’t look at his face properly. “…Senior!” I was moved. So moved that even someone like me—who only cries when dust gets in my eyes or when I yawn—felt tears coming. In that sense, is the boyfriend position still open?
“My little sister seems to think highly of you.” “By little sister, you mean…” “Lynn Wentz.” “Ah, Lynn Wentz from Class 3.” “You know her?” “Yes. We take the same liberal arts class. She asked me to explain parts she didn’t understand. I was impressed by how quickly she caught on despite how difficult it was, so I remembered her.” “Really? Then please continue to treat her well. It’s thanks to her that I don’t hold any particular ill will toward you.” “I see. I’ll have to thank her properly later.” “Anyway. That covers the basics. Everyone, prepare well and we’ll meet at the gate in thirty minutes.” Abinel clapped his hands to end the meeting. Thanks to the warm atmosphere he had created, his comrades left with words of tentative trust… “I’m looking forward to it, junior Rain.” “I will definitely live up to my brother’s expectations.” “Haha, good. I’m counting on you.” I held back the overwhelming emotion as much as possible and gave a perfect ninety-degree bow. My radiant older brother Abinel patted my back a few times, flashed his pretty dimples, and left the room. Only after all the seniors had gone did Keith, who had stayed quiet, approach me with an impressed smile. “Rain, you’re amazing. You completely turned that atmosphere around for the better.” “It’s all thanks to my brother, isn’t it?” “Wait, are you already calling someone you just met today ‘brother’?” “Now that you mention it, that does sound a bit weird.” “Exactly.” “Because he’s my savior.” “…Ah, so the weird part was that you were being too humble by calling him senior?” Keith let out an exasperated chuckle. But she quickly caught on to my teasing; her smile carried far more amusement than disbelief——— “Rain.” “Yeah?” “Guys aren’t an exception either.” “…Huh?” “I told you not to give your attention to guys either…” The self-proclaimed puppy puffed her cheeks and furrowed her brow. …What kind of thought process leads to that conclusion?
“I’m not gay.” “…So what?” “…Did Chloe teach you that too?” “…So what?” Sien poked my side weakly. She even stuck her lips out in that forty-percent-pout she makes when she’s sulking and kept jabbing my ribs with her finger. Chloe. You really are the best friend ever. “Hehe, you two are entertaining to watch too. I’m really glad I got to know both of you.” “…This person seems weird too, doesn’t she?” “Pardon?” “Ah, as expected, birds of a feather really do flock together.” “Then that would make me weird too. I don’t like that.” “…What’s with this person?” “I’m upset, Rain. I’m upset.” With only thirty minutes left until the subjugation, I should have been taking energy pills, yet my energy was being drained instead. I let out a dry laugh at the absurd situation—right at that moment. “So this is how you’ve been breaking her, huh.” A cold voice instantly froze the mood. A rough gaze that could tense up anyone just by looking at them. “You. You’re too distracting.” Sisen Alencia leaned against the wall, staring at me as if she would cut me down at any second. “…Sister.” “……” The two of them stiffened at her sudden intervention. “———Huh? You hadn’t left yet?” But unlike them, I wore a blank expression. “No, your presence was so faint I didn’t even realize you were still here.” “…What?” “Ah, I’m sorry. I ran my mouth rudely again.” I truly hadn’t noticed she was in the same room. “So, why are you still here instead of leaving?” …Is it because I’m so frail?