Juzo-san took a sip of tea as if to settle his nerves, then fixed us with a half-lidded stare before speaking.
“Well... how should I put this? At any rate, it is the answer I expected.”
““Y-Yes... we’re sorry.””
“There is no need to apologize. Do not look so miserable.”
Seeing how dejected Hiiragi-san and I were, Juzo-san told us not to let it bother us... but we certainly did.
“In the first place, even among those who enjoy mountain climbing or the outdoors as a hobby, very few have actually performed a bivouac, regardless of whether they have gone camping. It is not just the two of you.”
“I suppose... you’re right.”
After replying in a small voice, I decided there was no point in moping forever. I shook my head to clear my hesitation and looked Juzo-san straight in the face.
“...Let us continue. As I said, I anticipated that you two would lack bivouac experience. However, I cannot allow an expedition that involves staying overnight inside a dungeon in such a state. You understand that, do you not?”
“““Yes.”””
Just as Juzo-san feared, staying overnight in a dungeon where monsters roamed at will without any bivouac experience would be nothing short of madness. At the very least, it would be out of the question if we couldn't manage to take rest while standing watch in shifts. Whether or not one could actually sleep under such extreme tension was another matter entirely.
Moreover, while the difficulty would likely decrease if we could cooperate in a large group, it was easy to guess that it would be difficult for a small party like ours to take turns sleeping.
“I have taught Yuji the basics of those matters, but it would surely be difficult for a single experienced person to lead those who have never even trained for it on an expedition. Therefore, I have decided that you... mainly the Kokonoe boy and the Hiiragi girl, will gain bivouac experience before summer vacation begins.”
“...Bivouac experience?”
“That is right.”
Gaining bivouac experience... were we going to do some kind of mountain seclusion?
However, we were shaken, our cheeks twitching slightly at Juzo-san’s next words.
“I have already spoken with Genya about it.”
“G-Genya-san...?”
“Yes. When I told him about you all, he was quite eager as well.”
Hearing Genya-san’s name, memories of the Biribiri Training flashed through our minds. Physically it was one thing, but mentally, it had been a grueling ordeal. If this bivouac training was to be held with Genya-san’s cooperation...
“It will be a three-day, two-night bivouac training session in the mountains where you trained before.”
“Three days and two nights... I see.”
“Indeed. Since the goal is to gain bivouac experience, there is no point if you do not stay overnight, after all.”
Juzo-san confirmed this as if it were only natural, his lips curling into a slight smile as he heard my words, which had slipped out while my face was still twitching.
However, seeing that expression on Juzo-san’s face gave us an even worse premonition.
“Um, Juzo-san? This bivouac training that Genya-san is helping with... it’s not just simply staying overnight in the mountains for three days and two nights, is it?”
“Of course not. Simply sleeping in the mountains would not count as bivouac experience, now would it?”
Juzo-san cut down Hiiragi-san’s question—asked while raising a hand slightly with faint hope—as if with a single stroke of a blade. Well, I suppose I knew that already, but as expected, it wasn't going to be ordinary mountain training.
Sensing a recurrence of the Biribiri Training, we reflexively looked away from Juzo-san and stared up at the ceiling in despair.
Though we were momentarily lost in thought due to the shocking news, we calmed down after Juzo-san prompted us to drink our tea.
“It seems you have composed yourselves. Shall we return to the topic, then?”
“Ah, yes. Sorry for losing our cool.”
When I lowered my head slightly in apology, Juzo-san resumed talking about the field training.
“As I said, you will undergo bivouac training under Genya. However, although I have reached an agreement with him, he said he cannot prepare for the training today or tomorrow.”
“Well, if it’s training that uses an entire mountain, I suppose it certainly wouldn't be ready by today or tomorrow just in terms of logistics.”
“That is so. Due to the preparations, the bivouac training will start next weekend.”
“...Understood.”
I was relieved that he didn't say we were going to Genya-san’s place right this second. I was spared the surprise of Muroi-san suddenly appearing at the dojo to haul us away.
But it starts next week... what do I even need to prepare for bivouac training?
“However, there is something I want you to do before that.”
“Something you want us to do...?”
What could it be? Buying tools to use for the training?
While I was thinking about that, Juzo-san turned to Yuji, who had been listening in silence.
“Yuji.”
“What?”
“Take these two and go camping overnight starting tomorrow.”
“Eh... tomorrow?”
“Indeed. Rather than throwing them straight into the bivouac training at Genya’s place, it would be better to have them experience a bivouac once beforehand.”
At Juzo-san’s words, Yuji looked at Hiiragi-san and me as if evaluating us.
Then, he gave a firm nod toward Juzo-san.
“Understood. It would indeed be harsh to throw someone with zero experience straight into bivouac training in the mountains.”
Once he had Yuji’s consent, Juzo-san spoke to us.
“And so, there you have it. Can you go camping tomorrow and the day after?”
“E-Err...”
Hiiragi-san and I looked at each other in bewilderment. Given the flow of the conversation, it was certainly true that it would be better to experience something, even if it was just camping, before the formal field training.
On top of that, fortunately, since it was exam week, we didn't have any particular plans for the weekend. If it was a question of whether we could go or not, we could go camping starting tomorrow without any problem. However...
“In terms of schedule, it’s fine, but we don't have a single piece of equipment needed for camping or a bivouac.”
Just thinking about it briefly, I didn't have any camping gear like a tent or a sleeping bag. It seemed the same for Hiiragi-san, as she nodded her head repeatedly in agreement with my statement.
Surely, he didn't mean for us to go without any gear... right?
“No need to worry about that. There are plenty of those kinds of tools in our warehouse. You may take what is necessary. However...”
While he offered to lend us the tools, Juzo-san sent a searching look toward Yuji.
“I know. We’ll only take the absolute minimum required.”
“Then it is fine. This camping trip is strictly a rehearsal for the bivouac training. As long as you understand that this is not a camping trip for leisure, that is enough.”
Listening to the exchange between Yuji and Juzo-san, I realized that the camping trip starting tomorrow would be a bit different from the fun, lively excursion I had imagined.
Seriously, what are we getting ourselves into?
“And so, you do not need to worry about the tools. You can go with just yourselves.”
“Y-Yes...”
“Now, are there any other questions or problems?”
“Eh, ah... nothing in particular.”
Stumbling over my words, I glanced toward Hiiragi-san.
She gave a small nod and spoke.
“I-I don't have anything in particular either...”
“Then, there is no problem with going camping tomorrow?”
““...Yes.””
Hiiragi-san and I gave our replies in small, powerless voices while nodding.
And so, the camping trip starting tomorrow was set.
After the discussion with Juzo-san ended, Hiiragi-san and I were led by Yuji to the warehouse where the camping gear was stored.
“Ah, it’s here, right here. Wait a second, I’ll open it now.”
Saying that, Yuji used the key he had received from Juzo-san to open the warehouse door. The inside of the warehouse was dim, and I couldn't tell what was stored inside.
Yuji felt along the inner wall near the entrance and turned on the light.
“It’s pretty cluttered. I really need to organize this warehouse once in a while. Let’s see... the camping gear should be over here...”
Yuji pushed aside the items scattered at his feet as he moved toward the wall shelves in the back right of the warehouse.
And then...
“Found them, found them. Daiki! I’m going to pass the bags to you, so just take them outside for now. We’ll check if they’re usable later.”
“Got it.”
Yuji pulled several cylindrical storage bags from the wall shelves and passed them to me. I could hear the light sound of metal rubbing together from inside, so I thought the contents were probably tents.
However, seeing as they were smaller than the storage bags for the tents we used in outdoor school back in the day, these were probably one-person tents.
“This is the last of them. For now, this much gear should be enough for tomorrow’s camp.”
“No... you say this is enough, but...”
What Yuji had brought out from the warehouse were only six storage bags about the size of two-liter bottles. It was true that he told Juzo-san they would only take the bare minimum equipment, but... isn't this even less than the minimum?
Under our anxious gazes, Yuji calmly stepped out of the warehouse while holding the remaining three storage bags.
“Now, let’s check if they’re usable.”
“No, Yuji. Rather than whether they're usable, is this really all the gear we’re taking for tomorrow’s camp?”
“That’s right. To provide shelter from the rain and keep warm, this much gear is sufficient. The things you want to avoid most in a bivouac are a drop in body temperature due to rain or low outside air temperatures. This time of year, unless you go to a high-altitude mountain, there won't be any extreme drops in temperature anyway. Of course, you should bring an extra layer so you can easily regulate your body temperature.”
Regardless of our concern, Yuji stated firmly that this gear alone was sufficient. Since Yuji, the experienced one, said so, it was probably fine... but since we had no experience, we couldn't judge, and our anxiety remained.
“First, let’s check the sleeping bags.”
“Ah, yeah. Got it.”
“...Understood.”
Prompted by Yuji, Hiiragi-san and I also picked up the bags containing the sleeping bags. Wait, these are light. They probably don't even weigh a kilogram.
Surprised by the unexpectedly light weight, Hiiragi-san and I took out the contents. The color of the sleeping bags was a two-tone blue and black, and from the feel of them, the filling was likely down.
“...Yeah, these seem fine for now. No big frayed spots, and the filling isn't coming out.”
“This one’s fine, too.”
“No problems on my end either; they don't even smell of mold.”
We checked the inside and outside of the sleeping bags, and everyone’s was fine. They didn't smell of mold as Hiiragi-san said, but I thought it might be better to hang them out until tomorrow to let them air out.
After finishing the check of the sleeping bags, we moved on to the tents.
“Setting up the tent is simple. You just extend the included poles and slide them through the sleeves in the tent fabric. One person should be able to set it up in a few minutes.”
Yuji said this while skillfully connecting the poles and assembling his tent. While it looked easy enough watching him, I, having never assembled a tent by myself, was slightly anxious. Especially the task of bending the poles that had been passed through the tent fabric to make the tent three-dimensional.
The pole... it won't break, right?
“Well, it sounds simple enough when you put it that way...”
“Kokonoe-kun, let’s just try it for now.”
“...You’re right, Hiiragi-san.”
First, try everything. You won't get anywhere just by being anxious. It wasn't like I was working in a place where my life was in danger, like inside a dungeon.
And so, Hiiragi-san and I also began the task of assembling our tents, but...
“Gah, it snapped!?”
“Hmm? What happened, Daiki?”
“...Sorry, Yuji. I put too much strength into it, and the pole snapped.”
My bad premonition had come true. The moment I applied force to bend the pole and expand the tent, the center of the extended pole snapped.
I bowed my head and apologized to Yuji while showing him the broken piece.
“Ah, that? We’ve used it many times, so it was probably fatigued. I believe we had replacement poles, so it’s fine. Wait a second, I’ll go get one.”
Yuji brought out a replacement pole from the warehouse, and my tent assembly was successfully completed. I checked it over, and no other problems appeared.
“Alright. This gear should be fine for tomorrow. After that, it’s just personal belongings like a change of clothes and food... but we can just procure the food tomorrow before we go.”
“True. For the luggage we're bringing, should we bring the stuff we use during dungeon expeditions?”
“You don't need armor or weapons. It’s enough if you just bring the minimum, like lights to use at night.”
“In that case, it seems like easy-to-move clothing and a single bag will be enough.”
While folding and putting away the tents and sleeping bags, we each voiced our opinions about tomorrow’s camp. In the end, we adopted Yuji’s opinion and kept our gear to the absolute minimum—just a change of clothes and a few small items.
And then...
“Well then, you two, let’s meet at the station around nine tomorrow morning.”
“Got it, nine in the morning.”
“See you tomorrow, Hirose-kun.”
Hiiragi-san and I left Yuji’s house carrying the tents and sleeping bags we had been lent.
I didn't know exactly what was in store, but I’d have to do my best during tomorrow’s camp... or rather, our serious bivouac.