My Glasses Will Be Able to Conquer the Whole World, I Suppose

Chapter 207 – Glasses Boy Is Entrusted With the Dissection

“… Hold on a moment! Let me handle that deer!”

With ten signal fires now gathered, today’s training session came to an end.

As Instructor Yorugo said, “Dismissed!”, the instructors promptly left.

Even Instructor Sorichika left without saying anything.

You asked me to hunt this deer, didn’t you? And now, nothing? Well, that’s so like her.

Since it’s best to bleed it out quickly, as I was about to start dissecting the deer, a powerful voice said, “Hold on.”

It was the big man, Belge.

“I aspire to be a chef. I want to butcher animals and monsters I’ve never seen before with these hands. Please let me do it.”

“Huh, aspiring chef…?

I thought he was a dignified giant, a dignified adventurer, but he aspires to be a chef with this burly physique?

…Well, I don’t mind giving in, but I also want to do it myself for the same reason. I think it’s a different kind of deer from the ones I know.

But I’ll step aside here. He seems like the type who’d insist even if I refused.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

If he seems inefficient, I’ll take over.

“Sorry about this.”

And with that, Belge pulled out a large knife and began dissecting the giant deer.――Hmm, seems fine. He’s skillful and fast.

“Florentine, could you fetch a bucket of water?”

“Oh? Of course! I’ll get it!”

That should do it.

Now, I need leaves for preserving the dissected meat and something to remove the smell.

With such a big catch, what I have on hand won’t be enough.

“Eil.”

I’ve confirmed they’re growing in the forest.

Seeing how efficient and swift Belge was, I was about to rush off to gather them myself, but Hydra intervened.

“Is this going to be our food?”

Huh?

“You won’t eat it?”

With something this sizable, it’s unrealistic to expect Instructor Sorichika alone to consume it all. Plus, she’s not much of an eater to begin with.

Even if I join in, it won’t change much since I can’t finish it alone, and Florentine already seems eager to eat.

I think at least three people will eat it, but three people’s stomachs won’t be enough. Even if we intend to finish it, the meat will spoil before that happens. It’ll go to waste.

Sharing it with everyone is a preferable option to letting it spoil.

…That’s just how I’ve always viewed things.

Could it be? Like, nobody’s interested in eating it—

“As I mentioned! Anyone interested in consuming the deer, gather Shishira leaves and Vetavera grass! Quickly!”

Following Hydra’s directive, all those who had been observing the deer promptly leaped into action.

Including herself, they all rushed into the forest once again.

Ah, I see. It turns out everyone did want to eat it after all.

Well, it’s valuable food, so nobody wants it to go to waste, right?

By the way, Shishira leaves are for preservation, and Vetavera grass is for removing the smell.

“Um… um, well… I have dried powder of Vetavera grass…”

Caro-something, the lone individual who remained behind and didn’t venture into the forest, murmured softly. Oh, she has dried powder?

Usually, Vetavera grass, when chopped and rubbed, is left alone to remove the smell. It’s something that grows almost everywhere.

Yet, even more potent is the powder derived from dehydrated Vetavera grass.

It takes quite an effort to make, so it’s not usually used for everyday purposes, but its effectiveness, speed of action, and penetration are completely different from chopped grass. And of course, since it’s powder, it boasts a longer shelf life.

Vetavera grass is scarce in winter, so people often use the powder during that season.

“We might need a bit more.”

I have a small amount stocked up too, but it’s not intended for a deer of this magnitude.

With over ten people, we could feast for five days without any issues. However, there’s certainly not enough for all this meat. Well, I guess whatever’s lacking can just use the grass as is. Everyone’s out gathering it now anyway.

“It’s fine, I have plenty.”

Caro-something stated.

“I’ll go get it.”

And she headed towards the tower. She likely has it stored in her room.

While Belge carried on with the dissection, he said to her back,

“If you have it, could you spare some Gadan leaves too? Just a bit!”

Ah.

Belge truly is a chef.

On the contrary, Gadan leaves have properties that hasten the spoilage of meat.

In other words, they can accelerate its aging process.

To elaborate further, with Vetavera grass powder and dried Gadan leaves, we could prepare the deer meat for dinner later. We could bring it to a delicious state for eating.

My master taught me that intentionally spoiling and damaging food is not a widely practiced method, but Belge was also familiar with it.

It’s proof to his deep knowledge of ingredients.

… Since I also have stockpiled Vetavera grass powder and dried Gadan leaves, I’ll contribute them as well.

“… Sorichika, what’s on your mind?”

After the last person went into the forest to look for signal fires.

Evanesque asked his former colleague, who seemed absent-minded with unfocused eyes.

Evanesque and Sorichika.

These two trained together at this tower over a decade ago, so they’re like old classmates.

She has always been a mysterious woman, and it seems that hasn’t changed.

“I simply had a craving for deer.”

That’s not what I’m asking about.

“Now is not an appropriate moment to bring that up.”

Since her days as a candidate, Evanesque has always been rather strict.

Though he’s become somewhat more flexible now, his fundamental seriousness might not have changed.

However, this time, it’s something she can’t just overlook.

“Why introduce unnecessary challenges when he’s entering an unfamiliar forest? It only increases the risk.”

Young Eil, the final one to venture into the forest, didn’t voice any objections or sentiments regarding Sorichika’s abrupt demand of “Catch me a deer because I feel like eating it.” Instead, he simply replied, “Alright,” and went along.

But that was practically a rude remark. Given her position as the instructor, some individuals might find it difficult to decline.

“It’s intriguing.”

She was like that back then too, and her actions are still incomprehensible to me.

“What’s intriguing?”

I don’t understand the sudden assertion of “It’s intriguing.”

“That candidate, he seems to like ‘choosing the best option for the situation he’s in.’

Just now, too, didn’t you notice?

He grasped the explanation of the training, simplified it, and had already decided on the best course of action before starting.

…Introducing the task of hunting a deer is intended to disrupt that ‘best option.’ How will he react to this additional ‘training scenario’?”

I truly don’t understand your point, but Yorgo, who had been silently listening to their conversation, spoke up.

“The task of managing a deer adds complexity and burden. Consequently, the strategy of ‘gathering the signal fire and promptly returning’ is no longer viable. Embarking on the task alone, apart from the group, suggests a mindset of caution towards one’s surroundings.

This is perhaps because this individual prefers his actions to remain unseen by others. Given this preference, were I in that position, I would purposely opt to arrive last. Claiming to lack a signal fire, yet returning confidently with one.Mimicking those who couldn’t secure a signal fire.”

Sorichika laughs.

“I agree.”

“I think that giving her a sudden task alone will help her develop more than having her work with the group.”

“… You mean giving her special treatment in a different sense?”

Typically, when you mention special treatment, it involves favoring or showing preference for the instructor’s favorites.

But Sorichika is suggesting the opposite.

She’s proposing that it’s more beneficial to challenge him with adversity.

“Eil doesn’t accept what he can’t do. He accepted the task I gave him before entering Krozheit, and this deer now too.”

When they were dropped off near Krozheit during the search for the Tower of Bryne, Sorichika informed Eil that she had given him a special task.

Thanks to that, Eil got involved in various troubles and ended up with a score of zero, the lowest evaluation possible.

Even Evanesque, who evaluated him, likely felt considerable sympathy for him.

If it weren’t for the substantial deduction for essentially winning the hunting festival, he would have received a decent score. There were numerous instances where he could have earned credit.

Yes, indeed, considering the points he could have gained, there’s a point to be made that he was choosing the best option given the circumstances. There were also moments where it seemed like he made the judgment that there was nothing more he could do.

“So, that means there’s still room for more challenging training and tasks. If he doesn’t become a bit more desperate, Eil won’t gain much from training or tasks. At this rate, he’d be better off receiving individual instruction in the village.”

…Indeed.

Sorichika was a woman whose thoughts were hard to understand, but she seemed to be thinking even when it didn’t appear so. She possessed that sort of mysterious aura.

Evanesque suddenly relaxed his shoulders.

Yorgo is here but he’s not proficient in teaching, and Sorichika typically doesn’t intervene much.

With this arrangement, considering the responsibility of representing the tower instructors and guiding everyone, one must inevitably remain vigilant.

If you don’t handle it properly, things could get messy.

But indeed.

Sorichika, as it happens, is remarkably considerate.

Just as she was before.

“You’re still the same, Sori.”

“That’s a nostalgic nickname, Eva.”

By the way, Yorgo holds a role similar to that of a seasoned supervisor at the tower.

Evanesque also mentored Sorichika when they arrived here over a decade ago as candidates.

Watching her former students grow as adults and assassins in various ways is one of her annual pleasures.