As we headed toward the Rem Desert, we set out from the dungeon aiming for Redon*, our chosen stopover.
TN: You know what happened.
Along the way, we became intrigued by the changes in the landscape that differed from what we usually saw.
「Once we got this far, the vegetation has thinned out, making it feel a bit desolate.」
「Also, the temperature seems to be rising.」
Charlotte and Kiara were calmly analyzing the environmental changes.
Since the area around our dungeon was densely forested, this stark barrenness was particularly striking.
「The desert, huh… I’ve never been to one. What about you all?」
「I haven’t either.」
「I just caught a glimpse of it while flying as a dragon… I tend to avoid dry places since they’re not my strong suit.」
「I see. So, as a water dragon, dryness is your enemy.」
「Eh? Then, are you going to be okay?」
「That’s not a problem. Thanks to the pendants made from water magic ore that Kiara and Charlotte gave me, I can stay hydrated at all times.」
Ailia, Martina, and Simone were engrossed in a conversation themed around the desert as we headed toward our destination.
—However, there was one member, Hanon the Alraune, who observed the scenery with a rather different expression from the rest.
「Is something wrong, Hanon?」
「…No, it’s not that there’s anything particularly wrong.」
She said that, but her face told a different story. To me, it seemed she was deeply concerned about something.
「Really? If there’s something on your mind, you can tell me.」
「…I sense a strange presence.」
「A strange presence?」
Her voice, typically so steady, carried a hint of uncertainty—indicating that she was feeling more confused than anxious or worried.
「I can’t quite express it specifically…」
「That’s alright. Just knowing that you’re feeling this way helps us plan our next steps.」
「I’m sorry.」
「You don’t need to apologize, Hanon. We’re all friends here.」
I offered my support to Hanon, who looked apologetic. …But for Hanon to admit to feeling this way… something must be seriously off.
It might be a matter of her instincts as an Alraune.
Alraune are plant-based monsters.
This is just a guess, but just as Simone, a water dragon, struggles with dryness, Hanon, being a plant, might also have a tough time in dry environments. Since she had never been in such places before, she might be struggling with an unfamiliar sensation.
The conditions were only going to get harsher from here on out.
We had to keep a close eye on Hanon’s condition.
After a few hours of traveling in the wagon, we stopped for lunch on a scenic hilltop to enjoy the bento prepared by Martina and Claudia-san.
「Speaking of which, Claudia-san stayed behind again this time… was that alright?
「If she said she wanted to stay, then there shouldn’t be any issues.」
That may be true, but for her to always leave Charlotte, a genuine ojousama, to us, well, I guess she trusts in our abilities that much.
After finishing our lunch break, we set off again toward Redon.
I hoped nothing would happen, and we would arrive without incident.
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