The object brought out before us, as we waited with hearts full of anxiety over what might emerge, was a rectangular, milky-white plastic case. One was placed in front of each of us.
...What is this?
"Um... Genya-san? What is this?"
I eyed the case warily as I asked Genya-san what it actually was.
A vaguely ominous aura seemed to drift around them.
"Well, first, try opening them."
"Y-Yes, sir..."
Encouraged by Genya-san, we hesitated for a moment before opening our respective plastic cases.
Inside were several white, circular tablets.
"...Medicine?"
"Those are sleeping pills."
"What!?"
At Genya-san’s words, we froze, still clutching the plastic cases.
Sleeping... pills!?
"During this training session, I will have you all take those."
"W-Wait just a minute! We're supposed to train while taking sleeping pills!?"
Yuji instinctively raised his voice at the unexpected proposal. While Hiiragi-san and I didn't shout, we were just as overcome with shock.
"Yes. As I mentioned before, a little trick."
"Calling sleeping pills a 'trick' is..."
"Rest easy. They aren't that strong; they won't interfere with your ability to move."
I really wanted to press him on what part of that was supposed to make me feel "at ease," but the words wouldn't come.
Ignoring our confusion and agitation, Genya-san continued his explanation.
"For a human being, sleep deprivation is the state that most effectively scatters one's vigilance and attention. Since we don't have the time to push you to the point of complete physical and mental exhaustion through preliminary training, this kind of trick is necessary."
"I-I see... I get it."
"The medicine you're holding is not a fast-acting type that induces sudden, intense sleepiness; rather, it's formulated so that a mild drowsiness persists for a long time. Therefore, while you are taking that medicine, you should remain in a state of being constantly under attack by a mild urge to sleep."
In other words, he was telling us to survive while battling sleepiness.
...Are you serious?
"Now then, let's leave the explanation of the trick at that. I also have to explain the training content itself."
"Y-Yes..."
Though parts of it still didn't quite sit right with us, Genya-san lightly clapped his hands to conclude the talk about the sleeping pills.
If the "trick" stage is already at this level... just what kind of training are we going to do?
After confirming that we had regained our composure by sipping some tea, Genya-san began explaining the details of the exercise.
"Now, as for the training content and rules, what you actually have to do is simple. I want you all to live a survival life in the mountains for three days and two nights."
The training content was exactly what I had expected.
Well, aside from the sleeping pills, that is.
"That being said, there's no point in simply having you survive. While you are out there, these men are scheduled to attack you at irregular intervals, day or night."
Following where Genya-san pointed, I saw the disciples who had helped us during the previous session; they gave us a light wave in greeting. Still seated, we bowed back silently.
Ah, we'll be in your care again.
"In other words, you'll need to live a survival life while staying vigilant for their raids and repelling them."
It seemed Juzo-san had been right after all. His comment during last week's camp about practicing with the three roles was likely made with this in mind.
A raid... will it be electric shocks again?
"Genya-san. Does that mean we'll be using the electric shock devices from the previous training?"
"No, we won't be using those this time."
Whew, no electric shocks... Those things really hurt.
However, my relief only lasted until Genya-san spoke again.
"If we used those, the sleepiness would vanish for a while, even if only temporarily."
So it wasn't a proposal born out of kindness...
I couldn't look Genya-san's smiling face in the eye and instinctively looked away. It seemed Yuji and Hiiragi-san felt exactly the same.
"This time, instead of electric shock devices, we'll use paintball guns. If you get hit, the paint inside the rounds will get on your clothes or skin. If you don't want to get dirty, do your best to prevent the attackers from approaching or dodge the rounds."
"..."
The image of us camping while covered in paint flashed through our minds.
Yeah, I really wanted to avoid spending three days and two nights covered in paint.
"Furthermore, as a means of stopping the attackers, you'll be using the lights I'm about to distribute."
"Lights...?"
"They are called zoom lights, which have a function to converge the light. By gathering the light into a narrow beam, you can pinpoint and illuminate distant locations."
"Oh, those."
Yuji seemed to have an idea of what they were, as he moved his hands in front of his chest as if extending the tip of a flashlight. Come to think of it, back when we were scouring for explorer gear, there were products like that in the lighting section.
At the time, I didn't think they were particularly necessary, so I didn't buy any.
"The lights I'm handing out are fixed in zoom mode. When an attacker approaches, use that light to illuminate them before they can strike. An attacker illuminated by the light is considered to have failed their raid and must withdraw immediately."
"Is it not allowed for us to close in and directly restrain them?"
"The purpose of this training is to learn how to take safe rest. I want you to learn to detect attackers approaching the safe zone you've established and deal with them before they can launch an assault, rather than suppressing them directly."
"...In other words, for this training, any counter-action other than illuminating the attackers with the lights is prohibited."
"That is correct."
With zoom lights, the area illuminated would be narrow, so if we didn't stay vigilant and observe our surroundings carefully, there was a high possibility of missing them. And to do that while being assaulted by drug-induced drowsiness... We might manage on the first day, but the second and third days would be dangerous.
We frowned as we imagined the difficulty of the task.
"There are a few more rules to explain, but let's hand out the equipment first. It'll be easier to understand the explanation that way."
Genya-san gave instructions to one of the disciples, who lined up the gear in front of us.
"What we've prepared this time is a set of food, lights, and maps."
The luggage was unexpectedly sparse. I hadn't brought any food since I was told it would be provided, but the food Genya-san had prepared consisted of cans, retort pouches, and two-liter bottles of water. This was basically disaster-prevention food. There were also heating packs, so at least we'd be able to eat something warm.
And this map...
"Genya-san. Is this map the same one we used in the previous training?"
"No, it's slightly different. The one from before only had points marked that were suitable for that specific exercise. For this training, we have to use something appropriate for the task."
"I see."
Looking at the map again, there were twenty points marked in total. Based on my experience of running around this mountain, I recalled that these locations were easily cleared areas.
In other words, these points marked on the map also served as bivouac sites.
"In this training, you will visit the points marked on the map in the order of the numbers rolled on this die."
Genya-san rolled an unfamiliar-looking die in front of us. It was a die made of combined triangles... a 20-sided die.
So they have dice like this, too...
"Considering the risks of getting lost or injured, movement between points is restricted to daylight hours only. While the sun is down, please bivouac at the nearest point. Also, even if the sun hasn't completely set, I recommend starting your preparations as soon as it begins to get dark."
"...Understood."
It would certainly be possible to move at night, but considering the effects of the medicine, it was probably best to avoid it as much as possible. Moreover, since our lighting was limited, it would be better to set up camp while some daylight remained.
It would be brutal to set up a bivouac in pitch darkness while staying vigilant for attackers.
"That concludes the explanation... Are there any questions?"
We looked at each other, checking if anyone had anything to say. I couldn't think of anything in particular, but Hiiragi-san gently raised her hand, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Um, Genya-san. What about the toilet...?"
Ah, that's right. The toilet situation was a matter of life and death.
Given the nature of this training, we were essentially under constant surveillance. In such a situation, the toilet was... well, problematic.
"Ah, I hadn't explained that yet. We've set up a portable toilet at the summit of the mountain, so if you need to go, head for the summit point."
"Ah, yes. Thank you very much!"
"Normally, I would say to just dig a hole... but that would be difficult during this exercise."
Hiiragi-san looked profoundly relieved. Yeah, this situation would be harsh for a girl.
"Any other questions?"
Genya-san looked around at us once more.
This time, Yuji spoke up.
"How should we handle water replenishment? Should we refill at one of the points, similar to the toilet?"
"At the summit point, there are water bottles in a storage case. Additionally, extra supplies of food are in the storage case as well; feel free to take them if you run low."
"Understood."
So everything important was gathered at the summit point... It would probably be a good idea to head there first.
Genya-san turned his gaze toward me, but I shook my head. I'd heard everything I needed.
"It seems there are no more questions. Then, let's change and start the training immediately."
"Yes! We look forward to it."
We stood up and bowed to Genya-san and the others.
All right, let's do this!
After changing, we put on our gear and lined up in front of the prefab hut. We were now dressed in tracksuits with backpacks containing the camping equipment we had used last week.
We could have passed for a club on a mountain climbing trip.
"It looks like you're ready."
"Yes."
"Now, I would say to roll the die and decide which point to head for... but since it's already this late, I think we'll have you bivouac at the summit point today."
Genya-san muttered that while looking at the sky, which was dyed red by the setting sun.
Between the travel and the explanation, it was already nearly 6:20 PM. Considering the sun would set in less than an hour, it was better to skip the travel for now and focus on setting up camp.
"Oh, right. I forgot to mention this, but open fires are strictly prohibited in the mountains for fire prevention. You must not build a campfire."
"Ah, yes. That's why the heating packs were provided."
Now that he mentioned it, unless you're in a developed campsite, the danger of a forest fire is real. Embers thought to be extinguished could reignite and spread.
When I looked it up after the last camp, it said that the majority of mountain fires in Japan are caused by human error.
"Now then, let's begin. All three of you, please take the sleeping pills."
"...Yes."
Muroi-san, who had been waiting behind Genya-san, handed us paper cups of water.
We each took one tablet from the pill cases and, after a moment's hesitation, swallowed them. I'd heard they weren't fast-acting, but I was still anxious about how they would affect us.
"You should be able to feel the effects in about thirty minutes."
"Thirty minutes...?"
"By the time you get near the summit, I think you'll feel it."
Genya-san made it sound like it was no big deal, which only made me more uneasy. By his standards, "no big deal" usually meant trouble.
However, since we had already taken the medicine, there was no going back.
"The effect lasts for approximately six hours. It's about 6:00 PM now, so don't forget to take it four times a day—at midnight, 6:00 AM, noon, and 6:00 PM."
"Yes."
Four times a day... That was going to be a hassle.
"Then, training start. I wish you all the best of luck. Make sure to eat and rest properly."
"Yes!"
Thus, our three-day, two-night bivouac training began.