amgoat

Incredible... Even I didn't have a chance to react... And despite your eyes and ears...

You're right, Barty. I didn't hear anything. And I only vaguely saw a shadow.

But what I could feel... was the change in heat.

As Mr. Guide here also mentioned, the stone here is unstable. When affected by the strong winds, the rock formation fractures, and the friction between the fault and the rock mass generates a significant amount of heat.

Wow! Eyjafjalla, you're awesome, really!

Amazing... and kinda scary...

In just a flash, a single moment! That huge boulder, reduced to molten fragments!

My god... if that thing had smashed into my head—

Got it, shutting up. Shutting up.

Ah, we've finally arrived.

Right now it's... Oh, we're fifteen minutes behind schedule. Let's pick up the pace.

Booting up the equipment... still need to improve accuracy by fifteen percent... Frequency control, oscillating flow rate... Okay... Nine percent... Three percent...

Great, noise readings are into the ideal range. Barty, you can let go now.

This... this is also Arts?

Yes, this indeed is my Originium technique. You can think of it as Arts, but I prefer to call it a scientific research method.

Incredible...

Mr. Guide, you must be tired as well? We can head up and rest for a bit. Sample collection will take a while to finish, so we'll have about five hours before we have to check back on the equipment.

So this is a scientist... A real scientist. Even though she's so young, she's got some real weighty words.

Also, you just saved my life. And I'm the kind of person who knows a good one.

Tell you what, I'll take the prepaid part of the guide fee. You don't have to pay the rest.

Huh?

Look, how many times do we have to tell you... Rhodes Island isn't that stingy—

Mm... Um, Barty... If Mr. Guide insists, I think we should accept his gratitude.

Huh? Oh, I see... Well, if you say so, Eyjafjalla, I guess we could do that.

(low voice) I must say, I'm a little surprised...

What did you say, Barty? Sorry, but I couldn't hear you clearly.

Haha, it's nothing. I'm just saying, I didn't expect you to be so perceptive about this kind of stuff.

Huh? Actually... it's kind of awkward when you put it that way...

I guess I don't really understand what Mr. Guide is talking about.

Huh?

In any case... Um, my hearing aids still don't work very well... But Mr. Guide looked really sincere and seemed to be thanking us...

Did I misunderstand something?

I guess not... Ahaha... You really are a true scholar, aren't you?

You can look past the superficial noise and cut straight to the truth at just a glance.

Errmmm... O-Okay...

The time is now 3:14 P.M. Data collection and analysis are progressing steadily.

A small incident occurred just now on the way to the last sampling site. Of course, it hasn't affected our work.

I also had some interesting conversations with Mr. Guide and Operator Barty along the way...

Even though I'm not sure I understood everything they meant, I think Barty said I'm a true scholar...

I blushed a little when I heard that... and it also made me think of something that happened before I left.

I won't allow it! Eyjafjalla, given your physical condition, you are forbidden to work outdoors again!

B-But... the anomalous Originium signal is likely related to volcanic activity, and it happens to be situated on Rhodes Island's next route.

Both as a volcanologist and as an Operator of Rhodes Island, I must complete this field survey.

But your health...

Please have faith in me. I know how to take care of myself.

Let her go.

Huh? Ceylon? You're a medic. How can you support the patient's irresponsible actions?

Sure, even if it's irresponsible...

I also consider myself an academic of sorts, so I can kind of understand how she feels.

In other words, if I was given an opportunity to learn more about Originium, I'd definitely do everything within my power to make that happen.

I know, but... I'm just worried that another mission would worsen her condition further.

That would make me want to go even more.

What?!

Time is short, but the truth is still far away— and that's why we're even more eager to seize every opportunity, every day.

While I still can... while my legs can still support me... While my eyes... can still see that light... the brightness of the volcanoes.

Yes, those lights... A an armchair scientist like me might not be able to see them, but I know Eyjafjalla can.

Scholars like her have always been on the bleeding edge, pushing this world's knowledge forward. Every time she can move forward is another step that we'll be able to follow.

Moving forward may not always be a good thing. It might be scary, and it might trip you up. But I'm not going to stop Eyjafjalla's progress just because I'm worried she'll get hurt.

I see...

Whatever... I'll never understand you academic types.

Alright, if you insist, Eyjafjalla, I won't try to stop you. You'll have to take it up with Dr. Kal'tsit!

Right... Thank you. Thank you so much, and you as well, Miss Ceylon.

That was the same topic back there.

What does it mean to be a scholar, a scientist? I don't think I've ever given this much thought.

Ceylon was right. I wanted to delve deeper into these volcanoes, to explore the mystery of the deepest parts of this land while I still have the time.

When I was young, if I had to think of what was a true scholar, I would have thought of my mom and dad...

But now, there's one more person.

So, can you tell me the answer to this question when I get back—— Professor?

4:32 P.M. \ Overcast

Leithanian Northern Wastelands, Volcanic Belt Sampling Site #7

Please rest assured, this mission has come to a smooth conclusion. Operator Eyjafjalla is very tired, but her health is stable.

Though the specific results of this expedition are still unclear, judging from Eyjafjalla's reactions, there should be some semblance of progress, albeit small and hardly worthy of being called a breakthrough.

On the way back, I will continue to make sure that she...

Barty?

Oh...! Um, Eyjafjalla! D-Did you need something?

Um... that device on the front left-hand side seems to have shifted a bit, and background noise from its real-time data has suddenly started fluctuating...

Would you mind helping me see what's going on?

S-Sorry!

Huh?

I was the one who moved it! I'm really sorry, I... I wasn't trying to peek at the data—

Hmm... I see, so you were looking at the data?

*cough*—*cough* *cough*...

In that case... all is well then. I thought the wind shifted it, so this at least saves us from having to check all the other devices.

Huh...? Wow, you're not upset with me at all?

You're not going to chew me out for looking through your data?

Chew? S-Sorry, I'm not sure I heard you clearly... But I'm assuming you're asking if I'm bothered by something?

I wouldn't say bothered, but there is something I'm curious about. I didn't think you'd be interested in my research data.

Haha... You have a point. An old dunce like me...

That's not what I'm trying to say.

It's just that volcanology isn't exactly the most exciting thing in the world. Most of the time, you head out into the wilderness like this, sit here and observe things all day, then bury yourself in data analysis after you get back... Most people would find that boring, right?

Boring, huh? If you really break it down, most people in this world lead pretty boring lives.

Every day, you get out of bed, you eat, you keep yourself busy with work all day, then you go to sleep at night.

But a scholar like you is always exploring new things. Isn't that a lot more interesting?

(She laughed!) H-Hey, did I really say something that stupid?

No, not at all. The way you were talking just reminded me of someone I used to go to school with.

Hah, is that so? I've also had my fair share of dealing with those collegiate types in the past.

Huh? Haven't you always been doing security work?

Oh, it's a really old story. Back then... I was only able to land a start-up job opportunity thanks to the compassion of a young faculty member.

He helped me out a lot, and also made me realize that research is something that is both meaningful and... Uhh, how do I put this. Not that simple? Yeah, not that simple.

Through my last conversation with Dr. Kal'tsit, I learned that you were working at Rhodes Island. I also have another request...