CH 65

Chapter 65 – Uncertain Future

“This is amazing…”

It was the first time I had ever driven a truck bigger than a bus with a manual shift. The steering wheel is as big and thin as a hula hoop, the interior is rugged and simple, and the gauges are minimal, exactly what you would expect from a military vehicle.

The huge diesel engine is a bundle of torque, and the vehicle’s weight is quite heavy, so the speed is moderate (although I don’t want to go too fast because it would be hard on the people on the back of the truck).

I don’t know if it was a lie or not, but Simon said it had 11,000 cc, and that made sense.

“With such a big body, it’s really powerful. It’s even more powerful than the Hanbi.”

“It’s a car used by the military of a very cold country in my world, famous for its lack of decoration. It’s the same country that made the AKM and RPK.”

“…Fumu, it looks somewhat familiar. So, the country that made the Woji doesn’t make cars?”

“Cars made in Israel? I’ve never heard of it.”

I’ve heard of military vehicles and tanks, but it’s probably impossible for Simon to buy them.

We made more distance than I expected. It took us about an hour to enter the kingdom from the fork and head north towards Casemaian, with no one coming or going and no sign of our pursuers.

Myrril led us off the road and onto a narrow path where the ruts of the carriage had almost disappeared.

“M1 to H1, I’m worried about the health of the people in the back. Let’s take a break a little further into the forest.”

“H1, I’ll stop first, and then you can pass us.”

I run down and open the rear gate as I bring the Ural to a stop a little further down the road beside the Humvee.

Myrril has her UZI at the ready and is on perimeter alert, and behind us, Minya has taken up the rear gun position on the Humvee.

“Are we there yet?”

A small group of Beastman children peeked anxiously out of the container. I help them down. In the back of the container, some of them were asleep, wrapped in blankets. It would be impossible to go on a long trip like this.

“Sorry, not yet. Let’s take a break. Have you had some water?”

“Yes, I ate some of that crunchy stuff. It was delicious.”

“Yoshua, what’s that crunchy stuff?”

“It’s a highly nutritious rescue food. There were many who were nearly malnourished, after all.”

“Okay… Yadar, you and Minya will take over the gun position.”

“Yeah, I’m on it!”

“Minya, please help if anyone needs healing magic.”

“Roger that.”

We decided to take a longer break, so we prepared the cooking stove and built a fire.

Since they are in a weakened state both physically and mentally, eating something hot and easily digestible should help them feel a little better. For the children who had regained some strength, I gave them some cookies and candy bars as a quick source of nourishment.

“Yoshua, do you need any help?”

As I was boiling two large pots of water, Minya came back. She was in the container examining one of the weakened people.

“How did it go, Minya?”

“Lack of food and weakness of the mind. It wasn’t so bad that he needed recovery magic, but I applied some. It helps with fatigue and healing.”

“Well, thank you. I’m thinking of making some barley porridge now… What do you think I should put in it?”

“If you cook the Wyvern meat, it will give it a good flavor and nourishment. Give me a minute, I’ll pick up some herbs.”

“Keep it within sight of here. Do you have a gun with you?”

Minya nodded and showed me the sawed-off shotgun on her back, tucked in a leather strap.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen one… The current Minya would be no match for 10 or 20 heavily armed infantrymen.

“I’ll be right back.”

With the help of the women, I put the Wyvern thighs into tsukune style dumplings. When it was cooked, I added the barley and let it simmer for a while. When it started to melt and smell good, everyone gathered around, drooling.

“Here they are.”

Minya picked up some herbs and root vegetables, which were said to be good for nourishing and restoring strength. When I chopped them up and put them in, they smelled even more delicious.

I handed out the bowls and spoons that I had taken from the Transportation Corps of the Kingdom Army and used the ladle (or whatever they call it, it’s a product of the Kingdom) to serve a generous portion.

I also added some flatbreads and baked goods with nuts that I had gotten from Casemaian. The women at Casemaian made these in imitation of American sweets, but the simple, healthy taste is already better than the original.

“”””Delicious!””””

“What a wonderful taste!”

“It makes my stomach warm.”

“I can feel it seeping into my body…”

It was very popular. We sold out in no time, and each of them started to look sleepy. Some of the children seemed to have already curled up and fallen asleep.

“Well, we’d better get going. We have about fifty more miles, right?”

“A little more, about eighty miles. If everything goes well, we should be there before dark.”

Less than 130 kilometers. How long it will take depends on the road conditions.

The rain started to fall around the same time as everyone else was getting in.

I had a bad feeling about this. Something was going to happen. I had the feeling that there was something unpredictable waiting for us at the end of the road. I tried to convince myself that it couldn’t be, that I was just nervous, but the feeling wouldn’t go away.

I shook off my anxiety and let the Ural depart.