Chapter 198 - A Desperate Flight
The roads of the small nations are far from well-maintained, and it took us several days to reach the Abandoned Road.
This is where the real journey begins. I think we can smoothly make it to the central part of the southern continent, but beyond that lies the unknown. There’s the Forest of the Underworld, which sounds ominous just from its name.
Still, the Crimson Knights are supposed to have cleared the way, and the Clad Family is ahead of us, so it shouldn’t be impassable. The only concern is the gap of a few days between our travels.
We traveled smoothly along the Abandoned Road for a few hours. Despite its name, the road wasn’t in as bad a condition as I expected. The Crimson Knights had done a commendable job, and their efforts were evident everywhere.
We saw large stones and fallen trees moved to the side, holes filled, and even traces of battles. With no human traffic, these battles must have been against monsters. This means we can’t let our guard down. Even if we don’t get killed, significant damage to our vehicles would be a serious problem. We need to avoid such issues.
As we continued to be vigilant and progress, it started raining. I had heard that the south gets a lot of rain, and we might be entering that kind of climate.
The rain gradually intensified, and the fog grew thicker. The muddy path became increasingly worrisome.
We kept moving, but we started getting stuck in the mud and having our tires caught in ruts. We could fix these issues with magic, but our speed dropped significantly.
"Damn it, this is getting us nowhere."
If we could see the ground, we could use earth magic from inside the vehicle to level it out. But with the road turned into a river, it’s impossible. Hasty fixes create uneven surfaces, and we end up getting stuck again after moving just a short distance. It’s frustrating.
"The rain makes travel difficult. Maybe it’s better to move when it clears up."
Fortunately, the rain tends to stop after a short time. We might encounter heavy downpours every few hours. It’s true that taking breaks during the rain and moving when it stops would reduce stress.
"Onee-sama, I see a rock formation to the left. There might be a place to shelter from the rain."
She seems eager to go outside despite the rain. She must be bored staying in the vehicle.
"Go check it out, then. It’s getting late, so we might set up camp here. It would be nice if we find a cave or something."
"Yes, I’ll let the others know."
Valeria put on a poncho and got out of the vehicle. She informed the trailing vehicles about the break and then ran into the forest. She returned quickly, carrying a handful of bright red fruits.
"I found something unusual."
She offered the fruit with a delighted look. I’ve never seen anything like it before. The shiny, translucent skin looks edible. The fruit, which resembles large grapes, looks delicious. It smells fresh and sweet, like grapes or muscat.
I’m not reckless enough to eat something unfamiliar, but Mira and Ophelia took the fruits with knowing smiles. Hm, they seem to know what these are. Well, if my little sister went through the trouble of picking them, I’ll try one.
I took the bright red fruit and bit into it with Valeria.
The juice burst out. The freshness is unmatched by anything I’ve ever tasted. The skin and flesh have the perfect texture—neither too soft nor too hard. But then—
"Ugh!"
"Ah-ah!"
We both spat it out reflexively. The juice that burst from the fruit had an awful taste and smell. This isn’t something humans should eat.
"...Ew! What is this?"
"It tastes and smells like blood... I’m sorry, Onee-sama."
I patted her on the head to comfort her and glared at the others who seemed to know what it was.
"Sorry, but this is a rookie adventurer’s mistake. It’s not poisonous, so don’t worry."
"I apologize. It’s a basic rule for adventurers not to reveal the true nature of such fruits beforehand..."
"...Well, as punishment, take some to the others in the rear vehicle. The young ones might not know, and even Graylease might not be aware. It will be a good lesson."
"Yeah, okay. I’ll casually feed them to everyone later."
If it’s harmless, it’s fine. Sharing experiences is a valuable part of any journey!
With renewed determination, Valeria headed out to explore. We were starting to relax as we prepared to rest.
"I hope we find a good place to shelter from the rain. Sleeping in the vehicle is cramped."
I agree. I’m used to camping, and it’s much better than spending a night in a cramped space. We have insect repellent magic items, so it’s not a problem as long as it’s not raining.
"...Hmm?"
Valeria’s destination, the rock formation, was quite a distance away. It’s not a flat area, so it should take some time to get there and back. As we relaxed, Mira tilted her head in confusion.
"What’s wrong, Mira?"
"Something happened?"
Ophelia and I exchanged worried glances as we looked at Mira.
She muttered to herself, then became serious and focused.
"Hey, what’s going on?"
"...Just, wait a moment. This is..."
Just as I was about to expand my magical senses, Valeria came running back.
"Run!"
She shouted while running, urging us to evacuate. I didn’t understand what was happening, but I wasn’t foolish enough to ask questions in a crisis.
Ophelia started the engine, and Mira launched an emergency signal flare out the window. I used magic without concern for the cost, creating a thin magical film along the river-like road. I spread it on the ground, checking the road’s condition, and quickly transformed it into a stone path. This way, the tires wouldn’t get stuck in the mud.
Valeria tumbled back into the vehicle, and Mira spoke with urgency.
"Ants! Large monster ants are coming, no, not just many, but countless numbers are approaching!"
She nodded frantically, confirming Mira’s words.
"Yikes, let’s go!"
We accelerated, and the trailing vehicles followed.
The ultra-thin magical film, like a graphene sheet, is my ace in the hole. It allows me to control a vast area with minimal magical expenditure.
However, it’s only effective when stationary. While moving, especially on a constantly changing road, the consumption is much higher. Even with my abnormal magical capacity and recovery rate, prolonged continuous use is impossible. It’s exhausting, both mentally and physically.
"They’re still following us!?"
"Don’t slow down! They’ll catch up!"
I can’t afford to be distracted, so I can’t use my magical senses to detect the monsters. Mira’s specialized magic for detecting ants proved useful, though her slightly excited tone is a bit unsettling.
The sun set, and the rain eased, replaced by thick fog.
The Jeep has headlights and fog lights, but driving at high speed through the dark forest is still risky.
Without my magic to change the muddy road to stone, we would have been overwhelmed by the ants long ago. Ophelia followed my magical waves, driving without needing to see the road.
We pushed forward, trying to outrun the giant insects. Many of the Kikyo Society members, including me, have a particular aversion to insect-type monsters. They’re just creepy.
"I can’t take much more! What, a fork in the road!?"
Just as I was complaining, we discovered a fork in the road ahead.
"A fork in the road!? I can’t see!"
"Just a bit further, straight and then diagonal right, in about eight seconds! Mira, which way!?"
"Go straight, and there are ants. Take the diagonal right!"
There are ants ahead too!? Ophelia counted down while driving, navigating the invisible road. I matched her timing.
"Diagonally right, thirty degrees, three, two, one, now!"
"Got it!"
We turned perfectly and continued straight.
We kept driving, but my limits were approaching.
"...I can’t do it anymore. It’s up to you now."
"Yukari, stay awake! The ants are coming!"
"Onee-sama, are you okay!?"
No, I can’t. My concentration broke, and my magic stopped.
Ophelia continued driving, but the tires got stuck in the mud as soon as we hit the dirt road. Our luck was terrible.
"Aah, damn it!"
Seeing our vehicle stop, the trailing vehicles also stopped.
"Mira, what’s going on?"
Reluctantly, if the monsters come, we’ll have to fight.
But then, I’m at my limit, and letting everyone handle it might be for the best. I hate fighting insects. Feeling drowsy from fatigue, Mira cautiously used her magic, calmed down, and sighed.
"...It seems to be okay now. We must have moved too far from the nest, and they’re heading back."
"Really? Phew, that’s a relief."
We all sighed in relief.
The rain had stopped, so we got out of the vehicles. We explained the situation to the members who had just arrived and decided to have a light meal and sleep in the vehicles for the night.
We didn’t want to move around in the dark and risk attracting more monsters. It was best to stay put. I fell asleep quickly.
Feeling the warmth of my little sister, I checked my body. I woke up early because I was so tired. It was still very dark.
I quietly got out of the vehicle and used water magic to wash my face, feeling refreshed.
My back felt a bit stiff, but that was probably due to my sleeping position. My magic is fine, and I can use the same spells as yesterday if needed, though I don’t like the idea.
"Ah, that feels good."
The early morning forest, though eerie, felt refreshing thanks to the clean air.
I decided to take a little walk to practice moving in the dark. There’s plenty of information to gather from the natural magic, wind, and sounds of the leaves and grass. With practice, I’ve learned to navigate the darkness without relying on sight. I won’t bump into trees anymore.
I continued my walk, paying attention to my footing, and used the time to think.
The monsters we encountered yesterday were manageable. Insect-type monsters are common in forests, and we’ll likely encounter them again.
What bothered me was the fork in the road. We had to choose the right path to escape the ants, but I wonder if that was the right choice. As long as we’re heading in the right direction, it should be fine, but deviating from the path cleared by the Crimson Knights could mean unnecessary hardship.
We were in a panic yesterday, so I can’t be sure if we made the right choice. Today, I’ll confirm our direction and decide whether to continue or turn back.
The sensible choice is to follow the path cleared by the Crimson Knights. Even if we have to turn back, it’s better to choose a reliable route.
We should head west along the Abandoned Road. Deviating to the right, northward, would bring us closer to the Romariel Mountains. The central part of the southern continent, with the Forest of the Underworld, is a difficult area, and the Romariel Mountains are even less explored. It’s risky to get too close. If we’re on the right path, it’s fine, but if not, it’s dangerous.
Lost in thought, I tripped over something.
I didn’t fall, but I was distracted. I shouldn’t be so careless. The sensation was strange...
"Rumble..."
I was too careless.
Glowing eyes in the darkness caught me. I must have kicked a sleeping monster. I couldn’t see it clearly, but its magical presence grew rapidly as it awoke.
Hm, so their magical presence is weaker when they’re asleep. It makes sense that I didn’t notice it. I haven’t observed sleeping monsters before, so this type might be more common than I thought.
There’s no need to be polite to a monster. I tried to kick it away, but I sensed multiple growing magical presences.
Glowing eyes, eyes, eyes. Countless eyes. Oh no, this is...
"A monster nest!?"
I didn’t want to face multiple unknown monsters in the dark. I decided to retreat.
I wasn’t lost, but I was deeper in the forest than I realized. To avoid tripping, I cast light orbs to illuminate the area. The forest, growing lighter, was brightly lit as I ran. The monsters seemed intent on pursuing me.
As I neared the others, I launched an emergency signal flare and kicked trees to move in three dimensions. I aimed to break them and make noise, waking the others and slowing the monsters.
I saw the vehicles and found everyone awake, ready. They must have noticed. I kicked a large tree and leaped over the vehicles.
"Onee-sama, what’s happening?"
"Probably animal-type monsters! A lot of them are coming!"
I answered from the air.
"Animals, huh? Busy start to the day."
"Perfect for securing food."
"Well, it’s a good morning workout."
They’re reliable. I landed and grabbed the Silver Super-Hard Bat.
The Exembra-type pig monsters, numbering around a hundred, were quickly reduced. We took down half the group and the largest one, and the rest fled.
With the leader or the reduced numbers, they retreated. It’s good to secure food, especially since we missed the opportunity yesterday.
"So, what were you doing in the forest?"
"Yukari, what did you do?"
"...I was just taking a walk when they attacked. Don’t waste time, let’s get them ready and eat!"
I glossed over it. The results were good, so there’s no need to explain further.
Half of the group prepared the meat for storage, while the others cooked breakfast.
It’s impressive how they can butcher and cook the monsters simultaneously. I’ve gotten used to it.
As we made tea after eating, I planned to discuss whether to continue or turn back. Suddenly, Mira stood up.
Everyone’s attention turned to her. Her pale face made everyone stand up as well.
"What’s wrong, Mira?"
"Run. Ants!"
"Again!?"
Mira’s specialized ant-detection magic was still useful. She pointed to the right rear.
The direction is different from yesterday, so it’s likely a different colony. Why are they coming here?
"There are even more than yesterday, and they’re still far away. They might be drawn by the smell of blood."
Ugh, that’s karma for you.
"Let’s run!"
We agreed to avoid insect-type monsters and run. It’s our pact!