Read Novel Full Vol 17 Chapter 5
Vol 17 Chapter 5
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Chapter 5 – Panther
Impressed by the advantages of desert costumes, puzzled by the taste reactions of scorpion and lizard meat, and confused by the cold of the desert at night, I decided to make more efforts to gather information before traveling in the desert.
“The desert is… scary…”
This was my conclusion after arriving at the fortified city and spending two days gathering information.
We gathered in Alessia-san’s room to decide on our next course of action, but the mood in the room was somber.
“I thought we could handle it, but we… underestimated the desert…”
We all nodded in agreement with Alessia-san’s words.
Yes, we had underestimated it.
I thought we could do well in the desert because we were all so strong, and I had a few tricks up my sleeve.
As I gathered more and more information, I lost confidence in my abilities.
“Right now, it’s not a good idea to accompany the merchant corps to gain experience in the desert, is it?”
I beg you all to nod your heads.
“Well, normally it would be suicide, but in our case, we have Wataru, so it’s safer for us to go alone.”
“Yes, it would be harder for us to join the merchant corps and have our actions restricted.”
Dorothea-san and Ilma-san nodded their heads in agreement with my opinion. If the two people in charge of Girasole’s brain nod their heads, it can now be considered a decision.
Now, I don’t have to think about being hit by a sandstorm and having to endure being wrapped in cloths without being able to move, or not being able to drink water, and eventually about urine…
When I checked the documents in the mercenary guild, I was horrified to learn that the sandstorms usually don’t stop for days and that people usually describe their experiences with… their urine.
What about daily life magic? I was wondering about that, but it seems that you can’t use magic carelessly on a desert journey because monsters will also appear, and you have to use magic to withstand sandstorms, so even the magic to use daily life magic to save your life will be spared.
In addition, sandstorms seem to occur easily in this world, and it is said that most participants in the merchant corps experience them.
It seems that if you experience this, it even means that you will graduate from the desert beginner level… I guess it’s inevitable to live, but all of us who don’t know the desert don’t like it.
On the other hand, if I can use Ship Summoning, getting caught in a sandstorm is no problem, and I no longer have to worry about water. This is significant.
I mean, I want to go in the direction of not using urine because I can stay lost and survive for a month, six months, or even a year.
“Right, if it gets too hard, we can just take refuge on Wataru’s ship. Experience is important, but we should travel in a way that suits us.”
Alessia-san concluded. And everyone nodded in agreement.
Everyone had been gathering information, saying that experience is important, that we should learn from the wisdom of the ancients, that knowledge alone is not enough, and so on.
“It’s been decided that we will go alone, but the problem is transportation. Wataru, have you found a ship that we can use for transportation?”
I waited for this question.
“I found a good one.”
I grinned and announced confidently.
When I heard about the urine, I frantically checked my ship purchase screen as well. I tried to resist if everyone else was prioritizing experience at the expense of urine.
I thought about forcing our way forward on the Add since it would never break due to its indestructible effect or using the hovercraft even if it was rumored that a new species of monster had appeared in the desert without worrying about what others would think.
However, I decided not to use the hovercraft because I thought that if a new kind of monster caused a commotion in the desert, it would directly affect other people’s lives.
The goddess of fortune smiled at me because I was such a good boy.
I thought it would be difficult to travel in the desert in an amphibious vehicle, no matter how indestructible it was, but when I looked back at the screen, one of the amphibious vehicles jumped out at me.
Huh? That looks like a jeep. I read the details and found out that it is capable of not only water use but also land use.
Its name is Panther. It is an amphibious vehicle named after a panther.
I am a little worried about its open style, but it is a four-seater, so if push comes to shove, we can get by with two of them.
It costs 17 gold coins. I can only consider it a bargain.
Well, if I think about it in yen, the price is a frightening 17 million, but I can afford 17 gold coins because I have been investing platinum coins for the purchase of the luxury liner, just like medals in an arcade machine.
My financial sense is definitely broken.
“Heh, I had heard that even a magic vehicle can’t drive in the desert, so I thought it was impossible for even Wataru to do it. That’s great, Wataru.”
When I confidently explained about the Panther, Ilma-san was impressed and praised me. I was quite pleased.
“I don’t think I can understand how great it really is until I see it in person, but if Wataru is so confident, I guess it’s okay. Now that we have all the information we need, shall we go?”
Alessia-san seemed to believe me when I was so full of confidence, but half of my confidence was just an act to escape the urine. I’m sorry.
“I agree. I need a bath.”
Carla-san, who hadn’t participated much in the conversation, cut to the chase, and from there, we were on our way to leave before sunrise tomorrow.
Yes, I had a hard time without a bath, too, so I understand how she felt.
“What about our route? There are several oasis towns along the way.”
While everyone was silent, Alessia-san’s gaze caught mine. She wants to know my opinion.
I think the reason for everyone’s silence is the same as mine.
To be honest, life in the desert is hard. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t interested in the oasis town. I think that’s how they feel.
The scenery of the oasis towns is said to be unique, which interests me, but the fact that the main food in the desert is mainly scorpion meat and lizard meat everywhere makes me feel uncomfortable.
No wonder, since the environment is unchanged and cattle breeding is impossible, but it’s a big disadvantage not to be able to look forward to the food, which is one of the pleasures of such an arduous journey.
“…How about going straight to our destination for now and stopping in a town on the way back, when we are used to the desert and have some time to spare?”
It’s not that I didn’t want to go to the town, but I didn’t want to push it, so I suggested postponing the matter.
Everyone agreed, so I guess we all felt the same way.
＊＊＊
It is hard.
Early in the morning, before the sun rose, we left the inn and followed the first group of merchants as they entered the desert.
As the sun rose over the dark and cold desert, the process of the desert taking on color was an inspiring sight, but as we stepped off the trade route to avoid being seen, the harshness of the desert attacked us.
Of course, desert professionals know the paths that are easy to follow, and we knew that going off that route was fraught with danger.
But it was hard. On the trade route, our feet were only slightly stuck, but now our feet were sinking deep into the sand. The number of monster attacks also increased.
Then, the Armored Scorpion and the Desert Lizard appeared.
As the name suggests, they are giant scorpions with armor-like bodies and giant lizards that seem to have adapted to the desert.
They are generally used as food, so they are not that strong, and Alessia-san and the others were able to kill them with a single blow, but the thought of eating their flesh made me feel down.
And the heat.
As the sun rises, the temperature gets higher and higher, and combined with the unfamiliar sandy terrain, our stamina is sapped.
To put it simply, it was hell.
“Rimu, are you okay?”
“Hmm? Rimu is okay…”
I’m in hell, but Rimu, who is twitching in my clothes, seems to have no problem at all. Only now I want to be a slime, too.
I run as fast as I can. But the sandy terrain and the heat make it difficult to cover any distance.
Nevertheless, I walked for two hours away from the trade route.
“Should I summon the ship now?”
Well, it’s more like a car than a ship…
By the way, this is the third time I have made this suggestion. The first and second times were rejected because we were still too close to the trade route.
I hope they will give me permission for the third time soon. I’m already sweating and running out of energy to walk.
“…Well, we’re pretty far away and there shouldn’t be any towns in the direction we’re going, so it’s about time.”
Finally, Alessia-san gave her permission, so I quickly executed the summoning of the ship. I had already made the purchase last night, so all I had to do was summon the ship.
“Ship Summoning!”
A magic circle appears above the desert. A magic circle floating on the sand is surprisingly cool.
While I was thinking that, a car body appeared out of the magic circle.
I thought it looked like a Jeep when I saw it on the purchase screen, but when I saw it in person, it really looked like a Jeep.
When I was in Japan, I thought the Jeep was very rugged, but when I saw it in a place like this, its style seemed more reliable, which is strange.
“Heh… it has a different atmosphere from the Ranger, it’s so cute. I wonder if the smaller size is lighter and more maneuverable?”
“I don’t know. But it would be better to have a roof over it to block out the sun, wouldn’t it?”
“Wouldn’t you put a cloth over the top of the pole?”
“Oh, I guess so.”
…And the difference in perception between me and the women is also strange. Is it because they only saw the Ranger as a car, or do they feel differently than I do?
Also, I don’t think I would hang a cloth. No, I guess I could if I wanted to, but… what do you think?
I don’t know; the heat makes my head spin when I think about it.
“…Ship Summoning.”
A magic circle floated up, and out came a rubber boat. It was a rubber boat filled with ice-cold juice.
I had intended to summon the second Panther, but I needed to rehydrate before the trip.
“You can have one too.”
I said, then picked up a sports drink, removed the cap, and poured it down my throat in one gulp.
“Phew!”
The plastic sports drink bottle was empty in an instant. Today may have been the best sports drink I have ever had in my life.
I took a deep breath, looked around, and saw that everyone was drinking the juice as if it tasted good. Maybe the desert is a better environment for drinking beer after a bath.
Let’s try it when we’re not driving.
“…Rimu too…”
A thought flew from Rimu. The heat had clouded my mind to such an extent that I was the only one to rehydrate myself, forgetting about Rimu.
“Rimu, what do you want?”
“Shuwashuwa…”
Rimu, Shuwashuwa is… soda, right? I took the fizzy drink out of the rubber boat, took off the cap, and handed it to Rimu, who jumped out of my clothes, and the fizzy drink disappeared in an instant.
The fizzy drink bursts inside Rimu’s body. What is it? It looks so delicious.
Feeling refreshed after the rehydration, I summon another Panther and go for a ride.