After preparing my equipment for the mission, I relaxed for a moment in my room, reading a book about the curse of flowers recommended by Dante.
Unlike the books I had read before, the explanations in this one were more detailed. Each page presented dense information about the origin of the curse, how it spreads, and the dangerous effects it could have on those exposed. It didn't only describe the flower itself, but also past cases where the curse had affected entire towns or villages.
I closed the book and saw that the clock had already struck 6 PM. Thinking of heading out for dinner at the cafeteria, I stood up from my chair and opened the door.
"Oh."
Just as I opened the door, Dante was already standing in front of me. It seemed like he was about to knock.
"Good evening, Lady Eira."
"Good evening, Dante."
He looked at me for a moment before speaking. "Are you ready for tomorrow's mission?"
"Yes, more or less I'm ready."
"Arion wants us to gather in the meeting room at half-past six, so I think it would be best if you start eating now."
"You're right."
I then headed to the cafeteria for dinner, accompanied by Dante.
After finishing my meal, we quickly made our way to the meeting room, not wanting to be late.
Halfway there, I saw Joshua walking ahead of us, not too far away.
"Joshua."
Hearing me call out to him, he turned around and immediately flashed a bright smile at us.
"Hey, Eira-chan, Dante. Are you two also going to the meeting room?"
"Yes. What about you?" I asked.
"Me too! Arion is already waiting there," he replied, stepping closer.
"Then let's walk together," Dante suggested.
The three of us walked together towards the meeting room. After a few minutes of walking, we finally arrived at the door of the meeting room.
Without knocking, Joshua immediately opened the door. Inside, Arion was already waiting with a calm expression, as if he was used to Joshua's behavior.
"Welcome," he said without lifting his gaze from the documents in front of him.
"We need to discuss the mission plan right away."
We all took seats around the table, and Arion began his explanation.
"As you all know, our mission is to investigate suspicious activities in Clementia and search for the missing investigation team. We will divide our tasks to be more efficient."
I nodded. "Is there any further information about the Dandelion Flower Curse they discovered?"
Arion shook his head. "Unfortunately, no follow-up reports have been made."
"So, what's the plan?" Joshua asked.
"We'll start the investigation from the last known location of the investigation team. We will split into two groups: one to search for clues at the site, and the other to question the remaining residents about any strange events they might have witnessed," Arion explained.
"The locals? Isn't the city abandoned?" I asked, curious.
"Since the mining fire incident twenty years ago, most residents have left the city. However, a few have chosen to stay. This aligns with the reports from the previous team before they disappeared," Arion replied calmly.
"So, how are we splitting the teams?" Joshua asked.
"You and I will interrogate the remaining residents, while Eira and Dante-san will search for clues at the mining site. Is that acceptable to you?" He directed the question to Dante, his gaze serious.
"No problem," Dante answered briefly, with his usual calm demeanor.
"Alright. These are the mission-related documents. I've made copies for all of you. Make sure to read them before we depart," said Arion, handing us each a set of documents.
After that, he unfolded a large map on the table, showing the route we were going to take.
"We will leave tomorrow morning at 8 by train to Cairnfall City. Then, we'll drive from there to Clementia. The journey from Cairnfall to Clementia will likely take five to six hours."
I examined the map closely. From what I could see, Cairnfall was indeed the better choice, especially given the more favorable terrain. Although Thalindor was closer to Clementia, the path there required passing through steep and dangerous mountains.
*I never realized Arion was this competent.* He's usually so quiet and only talks a lot when Joshua is bothering him. This time, though, he's shown his meticulous and thoughtful side.
"Does anyone have any objections to the plan?"
"I don't~" Joshua answered cheerfully, smiling as usual.
"I don't either," Dante added politely, signaling his agreement.
I nodded at Arion to show my approval. There was no reason to reject a plan that had been so thoroughly laid out.
"In that case, we will meet at 7:45 at the station tomorrow. Don't be late. And make sure you haven't forgotten any of your belongings."
With that, Arion made his way out of the room first.
As soon as he left, Joshua exclaimed, "Ahh, finally done! I've been starving."
"Haven't had dinner yet?" I asked with a small smile, knowing Joshua's habit of complaining about simple things.
"Not yet. I was still asleep when that jerk Arion barged into my room and made me get up!" Joshua replied with a pout, clearly still annoyed by the incident.
I chuckled softly at his story. "You two seem pretty close," I commented playfully.
"Close? Where'd you get that idea, Eira-chan? He's always looking for chances to torment me!" Joshua retorted with a mock protest.
After that, Joshua went off to grab some dinner. Since I planned to stay in my room and read the mission documents, I told Dante he could return to whatever he was doing.
Once I got back to my room, I changed into my pajamas and started reading the mission documents Arion had given us.
The contents weren't particularly detailed.
The missing team's investigation results mostly revolved around the discovery of traces of the Dandelion Curse.
There were no reports of Ekibyou no Hokosha or any other monsters. They only encountered the remaining residents.
It seems the only way to get answers is to see everything for myself. That way, I can make my own assessment.