We set out early the next morning from the campsite where we had spent the night. By the time the sun had reached its zenith, we arrived at our destination: the Plain of Poisonous Insects.
"Is everyone here? Good! For the next three days, this will be our base of operations. First, I want everyone to set up their own camps, just like yesterday. Once that's done, I'll go over the schedule. That’s all! Get to work!"
The participants scattered in small groups.
So this was the Plain of Poisonous Insects... A vast expanse of grassland and gentle rolling hills stretched out before us. A short walk away lay a forest where the trees were just beginning to take on their autumn colors. It was a peaceful place, with a cool breeze carrying the fresh scent of grass. No powerful monsters lived here. With the sunlight having grown so soft lately, it seemed like an ideal spot for a picnic.
However, the real danger here was the poisonous insects. As the name suggested, this plain was home to an incredible variety of venomous bugs that preyed on humans.
Avoid exposing skin whenever possible. Prepare insect repellent and apply it before entering the area. Maintain strict preventative measures throughout the stay. These three points were the fundamentals of operating in this region. Neglecting them led to immediate consequences.
"Man, I’m itchy already..."
"Did you get bitten?"
"Probably..."
"Dammit, talk about a bad start."
It seemed some students had already fallen victim.
According to the information I had purchased beforehand, none of the insects here possessed venom potent enough to be fatal with a single sting. However, without proper precautions, an adventurer would spend the next morning writhing in agony from the itching and pain. Furthermore, depending on the specific insect and the victim's physical constitution, it could occasionally become life-threatening, so caution was mandatory.
Right, that should do it.
"Phase one: sleeping quarters secured."
Just like the day before, I used Earth Magic to construct a shelter. Today, I built it in a raised-floor style to make it harder for crawling insects to enter. I also fitted the windows with mesh screens, ensuring they were secured tightly to block any flying pests.
"Now then... Oh, Roche-san!"
"Need something?"
"I'm about to burn some insect repellent. It produces quite a lot of smoke, so I wanted to give you a heads-up. I saw you coming around on patrol and figured it was a good time to mention it."
"I see. Got it. Still, I thought so yesterday, but you really can throw these things up fast. It’s practically a hut at this point."
"Hahaha..."
He had a point. While everyone else was setting up tents, I was the only one standing next to a structure with solid stone walls. Between that and the raised-floor design, my "tent" stood a head taller than the others and was incredibly conspicuous.
"Hmm? Are you hurt?"
Hurt? Oh, he must have seen me taking a bandage out of my pack.
"No, this is actually insect repellent. I've soaked the fabric in a custom medicinal solution and dried it so it's easy to carry. I have liquid types to apply to the skin and incense sticks made from blended herbs, but if I'm trying to clear out a building or a wide area, this is the most efficient method. The materials are cheap, the effect is potent, and since it produces so much smoke, it’s much faster."
As I explained, I cut about a meter of the bandage and used magic to sear the tip. Normally, cotton would catch fire instantly, but the solution made it fire-resistant. It smoldered slowly from the lit end like a stick of incense, billowing out a thick, blinding cloud of white smoke.
Once I confirmed it was burning properly, I tossed it through the entrance and shut the door. After waiting about ten minutes for it to burn out, the interior would be completely bug-free. While I waited, I took the rest of the insect repellent bandage and skewered it onto a three-pronged iron rod with a wooden handle. I ignited the whole thing and crawled under the raised floor, using the smoke pouring from the smoldering ball to fumigate the entire structure. I was especially thorough around the areas beneath the windows and the door.
"All done."
"Ryoma, you mentioned you brought several types of repellent, right?"
"Yes. I have spares of these, as well as a full set of anti-itch medications and healing salves."
I had made them while studying pharmacology, so I had a massive stockpile inside my Item Box.
"I see..."
"Is something worrying you?"
"No, I was just thinking that things might be easier this time around."
"Could you be a bit more specific?"
"Whenever we run a training camp here, we always—without fail—get at least two or three kids who end up in misery. People who underestimate the bugs. People who don't know how to apply repellent correctly. People who try to save money on medicine and run out halfway through. The reasons vary, but since we're here for three days, there's usually a massive uproar by tomorrow or the day after.
We bring spare medicine for that very reason, but we need people to help distribute it. Having someone who actually understands medicine is a godsend. Plus, we usually take those opportunities to lecture them on the importance of repellents and basic supplies, but you occasionally get a student who’s a bit too enthusiastic and starts firing off really technical, probing questions."
"So you run into students who ask questions you can't answer?"
"They don't mean anything by it, I’m sure. We can handle the basics, but once it gets into the specialized stuff, we're out of our depth."
"In those cases, do you just put the answer on hold?"
"Yeah. We can't go giving out half-baked advice when we don't know the facts. When Mimil gets asked something like that, she looks it up as soon as we get back to the city. That’s why she’s the most knowledgeable among us when it comes to medicine; she handles that side of the business for the party. She even earned her Emergency Medical Practitioner Adventurer Certification recently."
An "Emergency Medical Practitioner Adventurer Certification"? I could guess the gist of it, but I hadn't realized such a qualification existed.
"Are you interested in it?"
"It's the first I’ve heard of it. Do you know how one goes about getting it? I’m actually curious about what other certifications are available."
"There are all sorts—mastery of specific weapons, trap creation and disarming, cartography... There are too many to list, really. But regardless of which one you want, you start by applying at the Guild. Then you take a specialized training course and a practical exam. If you pass, you get the certificate.
Some certifications let you skip straight to the exam, but for the medical one I mentioned, you have to register at the Adventurer Guild and then take a course at a designated Medical Guild. You’d have to ask at the reception desk to get the exact details."
I had no idea the Guild provided such specialized services.
"Are there any certifications you'd recommend getting?"
In my previous life, credentials dictated your salary and job prospects, so this was a point of high interest for me.
"Well, the Manners Course is a good one. You have to deal with clients, and once you hit Rank D, you start meeting owners of large businesses. Some noble requests even list Etiquette skills as a requirement for acceptance."
A manners course... That was exactly like my old world.
"But keep in mind that a certification is just proof that an adventurer has mastered a specific technique. The real value is in the 'skill' and 'knowledge' you gain during the training. As long as you actually have the ability, a certificate doesn't matter much—the Status Board you get from the church is more than enough.
After all, those boards are bestowed by the gods themselves. Human hands and human will can't interfere with them. If you need to prove your worth, people trust those more than anything else. As far as identification goes, they’re the gold standard."
So, I should treat certifications as a nice bonus to the actual skill acquisition.
"Exactly. If you already have the skills, there's no real need to go out of your way to get the paper. It doesn't hurt to have it, but you won't suffer without it. That's why the Guild recommends training to rookies but rarely pushes the certifications. Though I do hear the occasional story about someone with a rotten attitude being forced to take the Manners Course, or some eccentric who collects certificates as a hobby."
"I see... To be honest, I've never actually taken a course at the Guild, so this is very enlightening."
"Which means you're the type who registered after already mastering survival skills and camping, then?"
"That's right. My grandparents were former adventurers."
"Then you should be fine for a while, but the requests only get harder as you rank up. If you ever feel like you're in over your head, don't push it. Just go talk to the Guild receptionists."
"I will. Thank you very much!"
Even though I was here as an instructor, I was finding that there was still plenty for me to learn.
A few dozen minutes later.
Once the camping preparations were complete, all the participants gathered in front of the carriages.
"I’m going to go over the schedule. Listen up. Students, just like yesterday, you are free to rest or gather food as you see fit. However! Every one of you should have accepted a request back in Gimul. Our stay here is for three days, including today. I expect you to work hard and complete those requests within that time frame.
Most requests come with a deadline. Even if the window is short, once you accept a job, you have a responsibility to see it through. If you can't, you fail. You'll be forced to pay a penalty fee, and your standing with the Guild will drop."
Request failure. Penalty fees. As Roche spoke those words, the students' expressions sharpened with realization.
"This penalty applies even if the failure is unavoidable, such as due to illness or injury. In some extreme cases, it can be waived, but you'll never survive as an adventurer if you're counting on that. I hope to see all of you succeed over these three days.
Furthermore, while you must complete your requests on your own, you are encouraged to ask the instructors for advice regarding your camping setup. Our job is to help you walk away with as much knowledge as possible. Be proactive. You might even pick up some tips that help you finish your requests. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good! Now, a note for the instructors. We’re also free to camp as we like, but to guide the students and prepare for emergencies, I want at least five people on standby here at all times. I trust you remember the shift schedule we decided on earlier, but let’s double-check."
Roche began reading off the duty roster.
My shift for today was from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. I would answer questions outside of those hours too, of course, but that was my official window for being stationed at the central post. As long as we were ready to respond to questions or emergencies, we were allowed to sit, lie down, or eat while on duty.
In my previous life, I’d worked part-time jobs in high-pressure environments where rookies weren't even allowed to sit down during their breaks. Compared to that, this was incredibly relaxed.
But if the veterans said it was fine, I wasn't going to argue.
"Lastly, the night watch will be the same as yesterday. Students and instructors, I’m counting on you. That’s everything! Except for the instructors on shift, dismissed!"
With that, the training at the Plain of Poisonous Insects began in earnest.