Volume 6 Chapter 82 New Crisis
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”This place is no good either,” she said.
Thanks to El’s strong body, we crossed mountains, valleys, and jungle quickly.
It was embarrassing to be carried by a woman at my age, but no one watched. Only gods and spirits. I was used to them.
We reached the next teleport gate earlier than planned.
But it was destroyed again.
No surprise for its age. It was amazing it worked for thousands of years.
We must mark broken gates on the map. I should tell the dwarf king.
I had a backup plan.
The next gate was far and probably broken too. Another wasted trip would be bad.
Instead of teleport gates, we would go by inland sea to Toyata Village.
Unlike the rough outer sea, the inland sea was calm and easy to sail.
My magic bag had a rubber boat from U.S. military surplus. Boats were slow but faster than walking unknown paths.
The problem: countries near Toyata fought over salmon rights.
Few salmon left, but fights stayed.
They might not let us pass the canal.
We planned to sneak at night.
Also, exiled professors lived near the canal’s mouth on a small island.
We might meet them, but chances were low.
Near there was Mr. Ginchi’s farm growing strange plants.
Professors and Ginchi together? That could be dangerous.
* * *
”A magically bigger boat?” I said.
We set up the military rubber boat on the beach.
It was bigger than expected — could hold more than ten people. Plenty of room for El.
With a strong compressor, it took a while to inflate. We attached other parts.
Bro Jirou got a great deal on the engine and compressor. Military surplus can be cheap if you’re lucky.
After inflating, El jumped in with joy.
Even for a giant, it was stable.
”Can you swim, El?” I asked.
”Swim till tired? A race?” she replied with a confident smile.
Now I remembered, she swam in the lake before.
There was a warning sticker on the engine. Multi-fuel? Meant many fuels worked.
It was set for diesel — safer than gasoline with fire spirits around.
Would diesel work? I had to try.
If it broke, dwarves could play with it.
I had a backup motor, battery-powered. Not strong, but useful.
The generator ran on kerosene. My uncle was an idiot.
”It’s running, it’s running — is it mad?” El asked, watching the shaking engine.
Trying was better than worrying.
Even in another world, diesel worked fine.
A fire spirit came near, got bored, and left.
El stared at the engine with interest.
She thought it was angry because it shook.
She was the blacksmith’s daughter — maybe she liked machines.
”It’s okay, El,” I said. “Just sit. If you stand, the boat might flip.”
I explained why. Just saying “sit” wouldn’t help if the boat tipped.
When we moved on water, I knew — this boat was top class.
No wonder the U.S. military used it. Strong, fast, easy.
Radar showed no danger. I sped up.
Tsunami signs were gone on the inland sea. The meteor hit far away.
The outer sea took the damage. Human lands were safe inland.
Even the outer lands, thought empty, had some settlements.
Humans are tough. Nature is scary.
Was a meteorite natural? Yes. A disaster hitting all the same.
If it hit you, it was just bad luck.
Still, people blamed gods. Said leaders lacked virtue.
But in this world, gods were real. El’s power might come from them.
Gods test people with trials. Mr. Donovan said the world trains souls.
I didn’t fully get it, but the gods here gave impossible tests.
Even Earth myths felt like that — trials meant to break you.
We kept sailing after dark. I didn’t stop — the land might be dangerous.
The sea was calm. I used Dragon God’s Herb to stay awake.
El slept peacefully. She trusted me.
I couldn’t betray her. Even if Cyclops marriage rules were unclear.
The sky was full of stars.
The moons, Io and Saria, looked big.
Earth’s moon was just very large.
If I saw the meteor earlier, maybe I could have saved more.
Maybe that was my Stargazer duty.
Natural disasters — just bad luck?
Even animals sense danger.
But humans can watch the sky, build far from water, and plan.
So, maybe it was Osamu’s fault.
Even without stargazing, he picked the village spot.
Instead of taking blame, he exiled us. That annoyed me.
I hoped he would grow and become a better leader.
I wanted to become a good king too.
A nation needs a Stargazer.
To make calendars, help farming, and see falling stars.
But old Stargazers got lazy and greedy.
Their job drew liars. We must pick good people.
I looked at the sky, using Astronomy skill.
I also watched the boat with Radar Scan.
Something felt wrong.
Even on Earth, meteor showers happened.
Sure enough, I saw trouble.
Star debris crossed our planet’s orbit.
Most were small, but some rocks were big.
Three were going to hit.
Cold sweat ran down me.
Could we move them with bombs? Like in that one movie?
Wait — I had a weird skill: Curse of the Sky.
It randomly shook flying stuff.
I once thought about using it on a plane. I didn’t.
What if I used it on a rock from space?
If it moved even a little, it might miss us.
Would it reach space? I tried — and it worked!
One rock changed path completely. It was on the edge already.
One more, headed for land, moved to the sea. It was small.
A tsunami might come, but survivors would be far from the coast.
The last one was bad. It was heading to the Larse Empire — lots of people.
Each use of the skill moved the target a bit. But the effect was random. I could only shift the crash area.
I moved it to hit an empty high mountain. That was the safest place.
Still, the shock would hurt the nearby land.
Could we warn the people there? Maybe.
Thirteen days until the crash. Enough time to escape.
Would they believe my warning?
Best way — talk to the leaders. If they’re smart, they’ll help people run.
Ah, my meeting with Ms. Nina would be late again.
Still, I wanted to be someone strong when I saw her.
To ignore danger would be cowardly. I was a Hero. I had to act.
Knowing the future was a cursed gift.
The only good map was the Eye of the Cyclops, so I only had rough ideas of borders.
Lots of lands had unclear lines.
If I went and messed things up… bad news.
Better if the dwarf king gave the warning.
Anyway, I must find a working teleportation gate as soon as possible. No… heading for the royal capital as planned is more reliable. The boat trip is going better than expected. If I cross the inland sea and move up the canal, I should reach the Holy Kingdom in just a few days.
Time-wise, there’s still plenty left to return to the capital. Searching for a teleportation gate that might not even work feels like a wasteful gamble.
No, wait. If it’s a big town, there should be dwarves. Maybe I can ask them about the teleportation gates they use.
More and more ideas keep popping into my head. I have no one to ask for advice, so I have to decide everything by myself.
No… El is here too. I’ll ask her what she thinks once she wakes up.
For now, I’ll head toward the human kingdoms. Whether I go to the royal capital of the Holy Kingdom or just the closest major city, the path is the same in the beginning.
Thanks to my Astronomy skill, I can sail far enough that land disappears without getting lost. It’s scary if the boat sinks, but deeper waters mean less chance of hitting anything. Sea monsters? I wonder if they’re even real.
The good weather helps. The boat glides smoothly across the sea.
The sunrise was beautiful. But the sunlight during the day burns my skin. Traveling at night is much easier.
As El stirred from sleep, sunburnt and groaning faintly, I decided to talk to her about what comes next. Speaking it aloud helps clear things up in my own head too.
El sat up slowly, her face serious as she listened.
”Will the stars fall again?” she asked softly, rubbing her arms. “If El uses her power again, she’ll die. El is really happy now, so she doesn’t want to die.”
After thinking for a moment, she said only that, then pulled the blanket over her head. I started to worry she was angry, but then I heard soft snoring.
Huh? She just fell asleep again?
So… if El uses her power, she’ll die. Her strange ability—like prophecy or foresight—comes at a huge price. No wonder. I shouldn’t have brought it up.
El’s kind. When the time comes, she might still use her power.
If she does, would we really find the best solution?
Is this ability truly prophecy? Or is it just insight? Either way, I won’t let her use it again. I have to be strong enough myself.
* * *
The sea changed color, turning a muddy ochre. It’s the sediment carried by the great river.
Without taking out the Eye of the Cyclops—which might upset El—I checked the map information stored with Editor skill.
A massive river runs along the outer edge of the Larse Empire. This must be it. They say it marks the border between the human world and the land of outsiders. But that sounds like a human-centered view to me.
If we go upstream, we’ll get closer to the crash site. Before I knew it, I had already set our course inland.
But what can I do if I go alone? Isn’t that just self-satisfying heroism?
Real rescue work in disasters needs careful planning and coordination. I know that. So then… why am I doing this?
Ever since gaining this cheat-like power, I’ve lost sight of myself now and then. Is this what happens to summoned heroes?
Maybe it’s just plain curiosity.
Ah… I get it now. I don’t want to help people. I want to test myself—see how far I can go in helping them.
I should stop pretending to care. If saving strangers puts El at risk, then it’s better to leave them behind, isn’t it?
There’s a fight happening inside me. Not angels versus demons—but demons versus demons. Both sides have dirty gray wings.
Fine then. I’ve made up my mind. If it’s like this, I’ll fall to the dark side!
I’ll treat lives like numbers, aiming for the highest score like it’s a game!
No more hesitation. First, let’s reach the crash site as fast as possible. If nothing blocks us, we’ll get there by tomorrow.
The real problem is interruptions. The river is wide and empty now, but that won’t be true near a town. Can I hide the whole boat using Stealthskill?
There aren’t any boats that can match our speed, so we could also just force our way through if needed.
Also, I need to make a sort of hazard map. Without knowing the damage range from the impact shockwave, I can’t give out any proper evacuation orders.
Save only those whose lives are truly in danger. Leave the rest behind. It’s cruel, but that’s how to get the highest score. Cold and efficient.
Luckily, Stargazer skill makes this easy. In the past, many stargazers must have helped people escape meteorite impacts.
Some were even executed for “spreading panic,” and their regrets still linger. This world has had more than its fair share of falling stars.
Now I see it clearly.
Using Editor skill has made me think of skills and magic as just lines of code. And in a way, that’s true. But these powers were also refined and passed down by countless people before me.
It’s like the shared memory of spirits.
What’s the real difference between spirits and humans anyway? They even have children together.
I feel like I’ve brushed against some hidden truth—but now’s not the time to chase it.
As for the impact’s blast, severe damage will likely spread across tens of kilometers. Even inside the danger zone, people could survive if they take shelter underground.
The earthquake is another problem. Even light shaking could destroy buildings that aren’t made for it.
Most homes are one-story, so just warning people to stay away from tall buildings should help. If only we had radios, it’d be easy.
Can we use the Adventurer Guild’s network? No… there’s something better! I was thinking too small.
Why not leave it to the Great Temple?
They’re the best group for this kind of situation. That Cardinal would even use a disaster to tighten his grip on power—but the result is still more lives saved.
Even tiny villages have churches. They all secretly have some kind of message system, like a magical telegraph.
If we can contact a bishop from the Cardinal’s faction, they might have an even better line. Speaking with the Cardinal directly would be fastest.
Let’s check for the temple symbol in the next large town. The one for God Keras would be ideal.
But bringing El into town… he’ll draw too much attention.
Should I have him stay inside the magic bag?
No, wait. Maybe I should let him stand out on purpose—in a good way.
Looking over at El as he slept, I began assembling his silver armor. I focused on balance—good looks and easy movement.
As long as he doesn’t suffer instant death, Dragon God’s Herb can heal the rest. So I focused on guarding the brain and heart.
The giants used to add big decorations to their helmets to make their bodies look even larger. Like thorn bugs or frilled lizards.
Following their example, I made armor with a divine look. It gleamed like something out of legend. The red cloak added to the heroic image.
While I was at it, I planned to get a new set of armor for myself from Pelk.
I finally understood how much appearances matter. Whether you’re negotiating with nobles or rallying the crowd, how you look matters.
Even Osamu and the others might’ve listened more if I looked like a proper hero.
What I used to think was just showing off… turned out to be something real. Only after falling into darkness did I see that.
* * *
We could see a town to the right. At the top of a tall tower, the symbol of Goddess Belzea shone brightly. A Cardinal faction town, huh? It would do for now.
We woke El and helped her into the armor. She smiled brightly as she put it on, which was a relief.
The armor could be taken off alone thanks to clever designs, but putting it on solo was tough.
Working together, we managed to get her fully dressed. Now… what about the rubber boat?
It couldn’t be stored without deflating it. Maybe I should leave El to guard it? That felt a little risky.
”They’re fighting! A big battle is happening!” El shouted as she pointed toward the town.
I used Radar Scan right away. She was right—two armed groups were facing off.
El really had sharp eyes.
One group was about fifty mercenaries. The other was wild-looking Antfolk, also around fifty.
Wait… that presence…
Could it be Ms. Nina? No way, that’s impossible.
I wondered if it might be Princess Auroora, but their presence was a little different.
Wait… I could also feel Ms. Shirakaba and Exceneca nearby.
So it really was Ms. Nina.
What in the world were they all doing here?
”Full speed ahead,” I muttered, gripping the controls tightly.
Notes:
• El – She is a giant woman, appeared as Saburou’s captor, living alone in a large tent, skilled in hunting and cooking, proposes marriage to Saburou.
• Ginchi – Male. A dwarf, scientist, artist, and seeker of truth. Ms. Mahal’s acquaintance. He is a skilled artisan, researcher of homunculi, and monopolizes high-precision glass tubes. He is wealthy, rational, and critical of both dwarfs and Earth’s civilization. He has a rivalry with Mr. Zenom.
• Jirou – Male. Saburou’s other older brother. He is a shady businessman with a villainous look. He is more understanding of Saburou’s experiences in another world due to his exposure to light novels and anime. He is also tight-lipped, which makes him a good confidant for Saburou’s secrets.
• Donovan – Head Priest of the Great Temple. He has a newfound respect for the MC, referring to them as a ‘Saint.’ His actions suggest he is highly organized and influential within his organization.
• Saria – Sar-Sar. A young girl from a noble family, the Toyata Viscount house. She is the daughter of Lady Laara and is destined to bear the fate of her clan.
• Io – Mysterious beauty. Asked the protagonist to bury corpses in the Village of the Dead or the Old Toyata Village.
• Osamu – He is an old giant, appeared as the village head, overseeing El’s marriage contract, and enforcing the divine axe delivery obligation.
• Ms. Nina – Doll Princess (Auroora 217), renamed by the protagonist. Beautiful blonde, ~168 cm, slim waist. Wears adventurer attire. Made from artificial parts and wooden limbs, resembling a princess. Knowledgeable, can read, write, and use basic healing magic. Reliable partner, often saves the protagonist with her skills.
• Nina – Doll Princess (Auroora 217), renamed by the protagonist. Beautiful blonde, ~168 cm, slim waist. Wears adventurer attire. Made from artificial parts and wooden limbs, resembling a princess. Knowledgeable, can read, write, and use basic healing magic. Reliable partner, often saves the protagonist with her skills.
• Holy Kingdom – Located on the east of the continent.
• Keras – God of Purification in this world. While not directly involved in the narrative, Keras is referenced through the High Slime, a noble being that serves as a servant of the god. The High Slime is summoned by the protagonist due to their connection with the earth spirits and their status as a spirit vessel. A figure who purified the cursed old Toyata Village, making it a viable relocation site.
• Shirakaba – A paladin who seems to be a skilled fighter. He’s introduced as someone with a strong defense and healing abilities.
• Exceneca – Lady Uno’s butler girl
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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