CH 46

“Toki-san. How much water have you brought with you?”

“Considering the contingency, I prepared a reasonable amount of water, enough for all of us to last the whole day. But it may not be adequate to distribute to those in need of rescue, especially given the possibility that we may not be able to find a way out under the sun for any length of time.”

Driving the “Frozen Cloud” through the “Maze,” which is nothing more than a wilderness, I throw a question to Toki-san.

Yet, the reply is not positive.

But I suppose that is not surprising.

This sunlight is much scorcher than anticipated. Even though I am simply making my way in the “Maze” like this, along with my parched throat, there comes the sensation that my physical strength is being depleted.

It seems unlikely that there would be sufficient water to last even half a day, despite Toki-san’s claim that there would be enough for a whole day at this pace.

After all, proper rest is a necessity for battling monsters.

“I understand. Anyway, we’ll take a break the next time we locate a room.”

“Right. That would be a good idea. The mobility of the ‘Frozen Cloud’ is essential in this ‘Maze’.”

We seem to be mutually worried about one another physical condition, but at any rate, our opinions are in accord.

I mean, who would have dreamed that the sunlight would be so penetrating right after we exited the room, which was surrounded by black stone pillars and beams, as one would call it in a typical “Maze” environment?

Judging from the fact that the member who escaped from here lacked this information, he must have really fallen right in front of the exit.

Otherwise, he would have certainly shared about this exposure to the sun.

“Akira onee-sama. I have confirmed a monster… Rampike that is mimicking a dead tree is estimated to be in the direction of one o’clock.”

“Understood.”

At this point, Sora-san alerts me to the presence of a monster in the direction of our route, and when I spot the monster Rampike, Sora-san secures her position by extending her hammer to the side of the sidecar.

Rampike, as I recall, is adept at attacking by swinging branches, and its core is at the base of the tree.

“Kare…”

“Freeze…”

“Shatter!!”

“Kiiiiiiiii!?”

Rampike may have been plotting to attack us as we pass by, but with the force of my right eye, its dead tree-like surface and seemingly hollow eyes are transformed to ice, severely impeding its mobility.

Aware of its unfavorable standpoint, Rampike endeavors for an escape, only to be confronted by a fully accelerated “Frozen Cloud,” and its dead tree-like body is pulverized halfway to smithereens by Sora-san’s hammer, propelled by the speed of the “Frozen Cloud”.

“I am going to brake hard!”

“Sora! Be on your guard!”

“I know, Toki nee-chan!”

“Ka… ka…”

Right after crushing Rampike’s body, the “Frozen Cloud” is brought to an abrupt halt by me, followed by Sora-san leaping off the “Frozen Cloud” with the same momentum as it has been stopped, then swinging her hammer down on the last of Rampike’s core, destroying it utterly.

Rampike’s body transforms into clay as proof of total annihilation.

Phew, now that’s a relief.

“I’ve retrieved Rampike’s piece of clay, Akira onee-sama, Toki nee-chan.”

“Good work. Shall we resume?”

“Here’s the water. Drink a little at a time.”

“Thanks.”

After collecting the materials from Rampike, Sora-san gets back into the “Frozen Cloud” and I start the “Frozen Cloud” again in the direction I was heading in earlier.

In this situation, it may sound like how could anyone possibly afford the time to collect materials, but there is no issue since there is plenty of space on the “Frozen Cloud”.

To improve the following considerations and the security of individuals in need of rescue, the monster that can be defeated should be eliminated.

“Gulp… Akira onee-sama, I have confirmed the presence of a room.”

“In which direction?”

“11 o’clock. It should be in sight soon.”

“All right.”

Following Toki-san’s instructions, I alter our course and drive the “Frozen Cloud” while spotting in the distance the Soldier, the Flying Feathered Eyeball… Fly, and other quadrupedal monsters that are not even listed in the textbook.

“I can see it now.”

“I will stop right in front of it.”

Before the black pillars, I halt the “Frozen Cloud” out of concern that passing through the space will set off a trap of some sort.

It’s hard to say if it should be called a room… but there is a “box” in the room as far as my eyes can see.

“Is there a trap?”

“Well… it seems to be fine.”

“Then I will take the first step as usual.”

“Please do, Toki-san.”

“Watch out, Toki nee-chan.”

Like what she learned in training, Toki-san enters the room with her shield at the ready after confirming the presence or absence of a trap.

She, therefore, concludes that the box’s contents are safe after inspecting and retrieving them, and with a wave of her hand, she beckons us into the room.

“I knew it.”

“Wow, the temperature got cooler all at once.”

That is the initial sensation we experience as we pass between the black stone pillars.

After all, it appears that the raging sun, which unrelentingly deprives us of our physical strength, is only affecting the outside of the room.

“We should take a break for now. I’ll give you the purifying salt, so you can inspect your equipment and rehydrate yourselves.”

“Okay.”

“Yes.”

They both take a sip of water and inspect their respective equipment after I hand them the purifying salt.

Now, I need to check my “Frozen Cloud” while I am at it. In the event that the “Frozen Cloud” goes haywire outside the room, it might lead to a life or death scenario.

“(Then, please instruct me. Ys.)”

[I understand.]

I consequently squat down next to “Frozen Cloud” and periodically sip purifying salt water while examining its condition.

While drinking the water, a thought surfaces in my mind, so I ask Ys about it.

“(By the way, Ys? If I melt the ice with your power, it will turn into water, but can that be drinkable?)”

[The next one is that. Hmm? Oh, in short, you are asking if the ice made by my power can be consumed. If the ice was originally food, there would be no problem. However, the ice made from monsters, iron, stone, and the like, should not be consumed. Whether it is hazardous or not is not clear, but at least safety can’t be guaranteed.]

“(If the ice from you is to be used directly as such, it is better not to use it for anything other than cooling huh.)”

[Exactly. Well, given how oppressive the heat is, it’s useful to be able to lower your body temperature without using precious water. Oh, that’s the end of it.]

“(I can tell that without being told.) Okay, that’s it.”

According to Ys, it is not edible after all.

Well, in case it reverts back to stone in the belly, it would be too perilous.

The “Frozen Cloud” inspection concludes while we are having this conversation, so I get up to see how the two of them are doing.

“It appears like everything is in order. There are no issues either.”

“Also, I confirmed that the next room is in that direction.”

“I see. No problem from my end either, so you two go on board.”

As if to reassure me that they have already finished what they needed to do, Toki-san and Sora-san are both calling out to me.

Apparently, I am the one who took the most time to check the equipment.

Well, it makes sense. The technology in “Frozen Cloud” is incredibly complex when compared to common equipment.

“Then, let’s get moving.”

[[Yes.]]

I then call out to the two of them and start to steer the “Frozen Cloud” in the direction of the room that Sora-san has indicated as the next.