TYBMB 36

Chapter 36 – “How to Make the Most of Future Knowledge”:

Chapter 36: How to Make the Most of Future Knowledge
2024.02.05

It had been three days since I discussed the person secretly transporting monsters with the commander.

The commander appeared to have come up with a countermeasure during that time.

He summoned me and explained his plan in detail.

“There are currently five suspects: Elma, Karl, Oscar, Maximilian, and Caroline.”

“Why are Oscar, Maximilian, and Caroline among the suspects?”

“Do you remember the special ability tests conducted on the entire order two months ago?”

The ability test was used to confirm what abilities an awakened person possessed.

In the Silver Order, these tests were conducted regularly to monitor each member’s powers.

When I nodded, recalling the testing period, the commander shared a surprising fact.

“Oscar, Maximilian, and Caroline all tested as having a high likelihood of awakening a secondary ability.”

“…!”

“In other words, they may have recently awakened a secondary ability—and that ability could be teleportation.”

Oscar, Maximilian, Caroline.

Unlike Elma, they weren’t known to possess teleportation abilities, but if the commander’s words were true, it was reasonable to suspect them too.

They might be hiding the fact that they had awakened teleportation and were secretly moving in and out of the rift.

I nodded and continued questioning the commander.

“Oscar, Caroline, Maximilian… So, what are you going to do about them?”

“We’ll have to verify one by one. By bringing them into the rift.”

“Ah, during a monster subjugation, if they’re in danger, they might instinctively use their teleportation ability.”

The commander nodded in agreement.

“Exactly. And as their squad leader, I also plan to bring Karl and Elma—the primary suspects—into the rift so we can observe them together.”

“Then this will be quite a large-scale expedition. You, me, Karl, Elma, Oscar, Maximilian, and Caroline…”

“And since the rift itself is large, it won’t seem strange to bring a team of that size.”

The larger the rift, the stronger the monsters beyond it.

The rift we needed to clear this time—Rift #1 in Baron Nibertal’s territory—was one of the largest I had encountered, even before the regression.

That meant we needed a larger team.

I suddenly recalled how difficult that rift had been before my regression.

One member had died during that expedition—Rupert, I believe?

We weren’t particularly close, but I clearly remember how shocking his death had been.

It’s not every day someone gets so horrifically mangled to death by a monster…

Thankfully, unlike the previous timeline, Rupert wasn’t part of the team this time.

That meant he wouldn’t die—so it was a relief.

While I was lost in thought, the commander spoke again.

“So, during this rift expedition, we must catch the one smuggling monsters. But that’s only our secondary objective.”

“…?”

Wasn’t that the main goal?

As I looked puzzled, he added:

“Our primary goal is always to close the rift and return safely. Don’t forget that. Understood?”

“Yes! I’ll keep that in mind!”

Right. That was always our top priority.

Close the rift. Get out alive.

Even if we didn’t catch the smuggler, we must never forget that first mission.

Rift #1 in Baron Nibertal’s territory was located in a forest not far from the outpost.

As soon as we entered the woods, a hazy fog greeted us.

But this wasn’t ordinary fog.

It was poisonous mist flowing out of the rift—responsible for withering the trees.

This really was a large rift.

The corrosion was spreading fast.

The poisonous energy and the monsters leaking from the rift that corrupted the surroundings were what we called “corrosion.”

This rift had caused severe damage to the surrounding forest.

Looking around at the decaying forest wrapped in thick, toxic fog, the commander spoke.

“Let’s move quickly. We don’t have time to waste.”

“Yes, sir!”

Myself, Karl, Elma, Oscar, Maximilian, and Caroline—all standing by—answered in unison.

Without hesitation, the commander stepped through the rift first, and the rest of us followed.

Bzzzz―

That familiar ringing in my ears greeted me as I passed through the rift.

I immediately scanned the surroundings.

As expected, it was an island.

White sand beaches, clear ocean—and on the other side, a dark jungle.

Had it really been five years since I came here?

Five years ago—before the regression—when I first saw this place, I had let my guard down.

The beach and sea were so beautiful, it felt like we were on vacation.

But the monsters lurking here had been utterly terrifying.

Rupert’s mangled face—how he had died here—flashed through my mind.

He was safely waiting at the outpost this time, but I was here again, facing the rift.

Hopefully, I wouldn’t be the one mangled this time.

“Yulia, can you sense the Queen’s presence again this time? The rift is large, and the terrain is complex—it might be difficult.”

I didn’t hesitate.

“No, it’s not difficult. I can sense it. And one more thing.”

“…?”

“Before we enter the jungle, there’s something else I can do.”

Besides detecting the Queen’s location, there was something more I could offer.

Hearing my confident words, the commander looked curious.

“What is it?”

“Just give me a moment. One minute is enough.”

As the others watched with curiosity, I closed my eyes.

Then, I pretended to concentrate.

The commander asked, unable to hold back.

“Yulia, what are you doing?”

“Sensing the energy of the Otherworld.”

“Sensing the Otherworld’s energy…? What does that mean?”

I kept my eyes closed and explained.

“As you know, I have heightened senses—so much so that I can track monsters from a distance.”

“…So?”

“Using these heightened senses, I believe I can grasp the geography of this place. By detecting the positions of the land, air, water, and living beings—I can map the terrain.”

“You can map the terrain by sensing it? Is that true?”

Of course, it was a lie.

I did have sharper senses than most, but no one could map the layout of an unfamiliar island just by “feeling it.”

The truth was, I knew the terrain because I had explored this rift before my regression.

But I couldn’t exactly say that—so I wrapped it up as “good instincts.”

Either way, the commander seemed truly impressed by my claim to draw a map.

“If that’s true, it’s incredible. An extremely useful ability. It’ll drastically reduce the danger.”

“I’ve just finished sensing. I’ll draw the map now.”

Under the expectant gazes of the others, I pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen from my pocket.

Then I began drawing a map on the blank page.

Fortunately, the terrain of Rift #1 was still vividly etched in my memory.

I had wandered it for quite a long time before the regression.

Thanks to that, I quickly and easily completed the map.

“It’s finished.”

The commander took the map I handed him and looked over it with surprise.

Then he pointed at a part of the map and asked:

“Is the circled spot our current location?”

“Yes, and the X on the opposite side marks the Queen’s position. The fastest route is to cross the river that runs through the center of the island.”

After hearing my explanation, he looked stunned.

For a while, he stared blankly before finally opening his mouth.

“You really…”

Unable to finish his sentence, he wiped his face twice, then finally said what he wanted to say.

“You’re incredible. This is more useful than any other ability. I’m truly impressed.”