Volume 3 - CH 19

Volume 3

Chapter 19-The whirlpool of anxiety and black walls

(TL:By Rafael)

"Okay, the third installation is complete."(Yuki)

A corner of the Valley of Death.

I set up the magic tool artifact for delivery in the grotto-like area and let out a breath.

This is quite a painstaking task. It takes more care than I thought it would.

But I see what they meant by this task as their forte.

The Royal Academy of Sciences has a large number of alchemists, who are considered an unfavorable occupation in the adventurer community.

It would take an alchemist to do this kind of work.

It is the work of turning a piece of earth into a magical tool artifact.

A technician with only a little knowledge of magical tool artifacts would not be able to set this up.

I, too, had to read a lot of manuals.

"Hmm. Confirmation of activation. Good work, Yuki."(Rain)

I took the towel offered by Rain, who was assisting me with the startup next to me, and sat down.

Silk looked worried as she prepared a water bottle next to me.

"We have one more place to go. Will we be able to finish the installation by the end of the day?"(Silk)

"I'll be able to move after a short rest. Let's then move. The location is at the camp point."(Yuki)

The final installation point was the same place where we had camped the last time.

I had brought materials to set up a search base there, so my plan was to set it up while we were camping.

"I hope you're not pushing yourself too hard.　It may be urgent, but it won't do any good if Yuki collapses, will it?"(Silk)

"I understand. Besides, if it looks bad, Silk will stop it, right?"(Yuki)

"I know that but that's not what I meant."(Silk)

Silk's small cheeks puffed out and she looked at me with staring eyes.

Flinching a little, I chuckled and added, 

"Don't worry, we've done everything according to plan so far. I've got enough energy. Thanks to you guys."(Yuki)

"We are okay, too."(Rain)

Once the magical tool artifact for delivery is in place, we will have a little more time to spare.

The new fixed-point distribution artifact, "Gopro-kun Watch," is a base station type distribution magic tool artifact.

It does not have a recording function, nor can it be configured in detail, but with the use of a large magic stone (......), it can be used for long-term live broadcasts, and can be diverted to watch the surrounding area for signs of a "stampede. This idea is based on the mastoma and its distribution system.

This idea came from the Mastoma and his men.

As one would expect from Salmutaria, a city that thrives on the creation of magical artifacts, the idea was to create a series of ideas to make up for the lack of manpower.

One after another, ideas were proposed to make up for the lack of manpower, and they were realized.

Suddenly, I looked at Marina, who was standing guard, and saw her frowning with a difficult expression on her face.

She is usually too cheerful, but when she is in that kind of mood, it means something is wrong.

I was a little concerned, so I stood up and called out to Marina, 

"What's wrong, Marina?"(Yuki)

"Um, what is it?"(Marina)

She frowns again, returning the question to me who asked.

"You can say what's on your mind without forcing me to make it easy to understand."(Yuki)

"I'm not sure if it's a feeling of being on edge, or a feeling of being in a rush. I don't feel comfortable."(Marina)

(TL:Me during my exams)

Then I lightly embrace Marina, who leans over to me.

"This is unsettling. It's easier when I'm close to Yuki."(Marina)

"Anxious?"(Yuki)

"I don't know. Is it fear? I feel like something is wrong."(Marina)

(TL: Me before my results)

It is true that the "valley of death" is tense, but it has not been like that so far.

Maybe her sense of smell is picking up on something.

"Nene, please."(Yuki)

'...... I understand.'(Nene)

Nene, who had been watching us at her side, looked at me sharply and ran away without a sound.

I looked over at Silk and Rain, who gave me a small nod.

"I'm  sorry Yuki, I know It's not a good time for this."(Marina)

"It's okay. Have you calmed down?"(Yuki)

I lightly stroke her bright red hair, and a smile returns to Marina's face, perhaps cheering her up a bit.

"I'm okay,"(Marina)

'Something might be going on. Let's stay alert."(Yuki)

The moment I said this to reassure my friends, I felt as if I ...... have lost my footing.

"Guh What ......?"(Yuki)

"Yuki!"(Marina)

"Yuki-san?"(Silk)

Supported by Marina and Silk, I manage to avoid falling.

"Wait ! Yuki?"(Rain)

"Rain?"(Yuki)

Rain looked at me closely with her hand on my cheek as I tried to stand up.

"Yuki. Take a deep breath."(Rain)

I do as she says and take a deep breath.

When I did this, I realized that the magic mana inside me was greatly disturbed.

...... this is.

'I've calmed down, thank you. And ...... I'm ready to evacuate. As soon as Nene returns, we will retreat from here."(Yuki)

"I'm already back! Do you need me to explain the situation?"(Nene)

"I'll ask on the way!"(Yuki)

While granting my companions enhanced magic to improve their agility, I leap out of the grotto.

A strange sight appeared at the edge of my vision.

A pitch-black wall spreading out in a hemispherical shape. It is slowly closing in on us.

It looks slow because it is far away, but it must be spreading at a considerable speed.

"What is that thing ......?"(Marina)

Marina looked at me with a blue face.

I pulled a little harder on her hand.

"We'll talk about that later. First, we have to leave! Silk, ask Biblion for help!"(Yuki)

"I understand! Biblion, give me your help!"(Silk)

A small snake slithers out of a gap in Silk's silvery white hair.

In such unforeseen circumstances, his predictions of the future come in handy.

"Nene, I'm sorry! Please lead the way! At this rate, the demons might be in a panic!"(Yuki)

"Okay!"(Nene)

Nene nodded and we all ran behind her.

The pain I felt in my cheek seemed to be getting stronger and stronger, even though I was moving away from it.

TL Note- They ran as I ran from my results, period.