Part 1
The second day since we started our trek in the desert.
We continued north.
On the second day as well, we made our resolve to fight the monsters.
This desert has a lot of monsters.
We especially have to be careful of sandworms.
There's no problems if we are cautious with the worms while walking.
However, there are tis where we can't pay attention to our feet.
For example, in the middle of battle.
Once, while fighting a Twin Death Scorpion, a sandworm appeared.
It swallowed whole, and seed like it was about to drag into the ground.
I panicked a little, and imdiately cast interdiate-level [Wind Slice] and sliced his body to bits.
With earth magic I escaped to the surface.
Elinalise got poisoned by the Twin Death Scorpion.
She was shaken up when she saw get done in by the sandworm.
Elinalise's knees crumbled and her face was purple.
I imdiately killed the Twin Death Scorpion.
Then I saved Elinalise with interdiate-level detoxification.
It wasn't anybody's fault.
It was rely bad timing.
"That way of killing it, as expected of the Quagmire. You've saved ."
Elinalise didn't bla for her almost dying.
Even though from one's point of view, it was from my negligence.
What an amazing person.
"Don't make such a face. Even if you concentrate as much as you could, there are tis when it's just not enough. This was just one of those tis. That's all there is."
We were very close to being annihilated.
She understood that quite well.
It was only that ti when we felt such dread.
Right now we're moving along smoothly.
On the way, we saw an enormous monster.
It was walking clumsily from far away.
Just by walking, clouds of dust were stirring, but we knew from afar.
Maybe it's about 100 ters?
It's a creature that's hard to describe.
It's like a blue whale that has multiple elephant-like feet attached to it.
"That's a Behomoth."
"You know what that is, Elinalise?"
"Oh, would you finally stop addressing so formally?"
"No, never. I always show my respect to elders."
"Zanoba is older than you, though?"
"That's because he's a big child."
It seems Behomoths are a well known creature that live in the Begaritto continent.
Their lengths range from 100 ters to 1000 ters.
What they eat is unknown. They're found in the desert.
Their personality is quite gentle for a monster.
As long they're not attacked, they're pretty docile.
In the past, according to stories from people that defeated Behemoths, was that they carry a lot of magic stones in their stomachs.
When people heard that, they made plans on getting rich quick.
But taking down a Behemoth was difficult.
The skin was extrely firm and hard, with a tough body that doesn't flinch when facing ordinary attacks.
Although there are ways to attack, just having that giant body rampaging is enough to be a threat.
One would think, "Why not use long range attacks?"
However, when a Behemoth feels he's in danger, it escapes by diving deep underground.
Therefore, there aren't many people that have claid to kill one.
Also, it's been said that nobody can find a corpse of that, despite its giant body.
Thus, there were rumors that there exists a grave for Behemoths.
It seems there are a large amount of Behemoth bones and magic stones there.
An imagery of that kind of grave, I am a little excited.
I wonder if a reason for that is that they eat demons?
"If it's Rudeus, you could do pretty well, no?"
"I have no intention of attacking innocent herbivores."
But, if I ever run into money troubles, maybe I'll amuse myself with a long range fight.
Part 2
The third day, we encountered a sandstorm.
No, it might be strange to say that we 'encountered' it.
While we were walking, we saw sothing that looked like a wall from far away.
When we got closer, it was a sandstorm.
Although I consulted with Elinalise that we should wait until it dies off, it seems that this sandstorm seems to be fixed on one spot.
There were no signs of it ceasing.
Since we needed to hurry on our journey, I stopped the sandstorm with my magic and broke through.
I've been told it's best not to ss with the weather too much, but it can't be helped.
After walking for about an hour, I suddenly turned back.
A sandstorm reford in that sa place again.
Perhaps that was another type of magical barrier.
Like a natural barrier to block off the path to the teleport ruins Orsted used.
Nanahoshi didn't say anything like that, though.
It seems she didn't have the luxury of checking her surroundings.
There may be so things she doesn't rember.
Her information may not be entirely accurate.
Part 3
Fourth day.
The number of monsters decreased significantly.
That sandstorm must've done its duty by acting as a barrier.
The ecosystems were totally different before and after passing through the sandstorm.
Not a single sign of a scorpion tail, and there were no herds of ants.
Even the sandworms were only about as big as Elinalise's body.
Around evening ti, we sotis saw raptors.
However, the herds were few, and their bodies were small.
While there were a lot of Garuda, I couldn't find a shadow or shape of them now.
At night, succubus no longer attacked us.
Should I be happy or sad about this?
No, I am not sad at all.
Part 4
Fifth day.
We walked across the desert.
A sea of sand as far as the eye can see.
A landscape that stretches endlessly.
When a person walks without landmarks, even though he intends to walk straight, he'll instead walk in a big circle and co back to the sa place.
It seems it's because the pace between the right and left leg differs.
I don't think it's like that for Elinalise.
However, speaking of which, that sand dune, I feel like I've seen it before.
When I thought about that for a mont, a seed of doubt began to grow.
Don't tell , Elinalise is lost?
Well, let it grow.
As long as I don't speak out it's fine.
If I speak out, Elinalise would feel bad.
If she feels bad, our teamwork will crumble.
Crumbling teamwork ans death.
All I can do, is forgive.
When Elinalise makes a mistake, I can only forgive with a smile.
I must not condemn her.
Yeah.
"…Hmm, Rudeus. I can see sothing."
It seems that determination was for naught.
Elinalise pointed ahead, and I could see sothing swaying in the heat haze.
"Let confirm."
I used earth magic to create a stone pillar.
From the top, I confird from afar.
There was sothing over there.
However, I still don't know what it is using my eyes.
It may be a mirage.
We are heading straight over there.
While being careful of monsters.
We headed there in earnest.
Co to think of it, we had not encountered a single monster today.
There may not be any monsters in this area.
No, we mustn't let our guard down.
While thinking that, we saw it clearly.
It's a huge rock that resembles that of Ayers Rock.
It was about 50 ters high.
The word "rock ledge" cos to mind.
Although it's not directly perpendicular to the ground, it's a formation that one would have hard ti climbing.
This seed to stretch beyond the horizon.
There was no end in sight.
"Shall we take a detour?"
"No, let's go up. I'll use magic."
I used earth magic to create a stone pillar.
Elinalise held onto , and aid towards the top with my make-shift elevator.
However, suddenly my body felt uneasy.
I felt a strange sensation of sothing rubbing my butt.
"Um, Elinalise-san?"
"What is it?"
"Your hand movents are a bit lewd."
"Just a habit, don't mind ."
For the few minutes till we reached the top of the ledge,
and Elinalise's body clung together.
…
Perhaps it's the effects of the curse.
I poured magic into the magical tool.
However, I am rely extending its limit.
It's been about 10 days since she did it with Cliff.
While it's thanks to this magic tool that she's still hanging on, in the end it's only a prototype.
I must be careful.
I want to get to a place with people fast.
If the ti cos, I have no choice but to be her partner.
But, that's definitely having an affair.
You can even say it's adultery.
No matter how much of a fault the curse is.
On this trip, I will not do it with Elinalise.
Haven't I decided that before starting this journey?
If there's a place in the bazaar that deals with male prostitution, that would be good.
It would be best if we recognize it as relieving one's sexual urges.
It's for both of our sakes.
"Elinalise, we've arrived at the top of the ledge."
"Yes, it seems so."
Elinalise didn't separate from .
She was feverishly gazing around my shoulders.
"…Please let go."
"Sorry."
Elinalise pushed away.
But her gaze was focused at my bottom half.
I felt my chastity was in danger.
Maybe going up here while being hugged was a bad idea.
There might have been a better way.
In retrospect, I could have avoided making physical contact with her.
Though again, I might have ssed up our balance.
Oh no, I must get to a Bazaar fast.
"Let's go."
"Ok."
At Elinalise's urging, we started walking.
In the next mont, a shadow was cast at our foot.
"Rudeus! Get down!"
A sudden scream.
Before I confirm what was above I hugged the ground.
At that mont there was sothing that flew over my head.
I felt a sense of dread run down my back.
Imdiately getting up, I confird its identity.
A sand-colored monster, with hands and feet of a lion, and had a head of an eagle.
Flapping its enormous wings, it landed sowhere close by.
"It's a griffon!"
Elinalise's scream.
It's an enemy. My mind instantly switched gears.
I turned around facing the griffon and held my staff.
Our position was bad.
Elinalise was more or less behind .
We were put unexpectedly into a 'back attack' position.
No, even in this situation Elinalise can move pretty well.
She can easily switch with and return back to the front line.
"Rudeus, we're pairing up! I'll leave that side to you."
It's not as I had first though.
Behind , I could hear the sound of flapping.
There were two griffons.
We were caught in a pincer.
I have to take down griffon A that's in front of .
If I dodged and griffon A is aiming for Elinalise, her back will beco vulnerable to attack.
…No, it's better that way.
Elinalise will fight against those two, and I'll bring them down one by one.
That was the pattern of how we did things up till now.
No, this ti it's different.
She said she'll leave that side to .
If I don't take it down, Elinalise can't support .
Alright.
The griffon leaned forward, half-opened its beak, and glared at .
It's close.
The griffon looks pretty smart. It seems like it would dodge my rock bullet.
Or possibly, it will just take the bullet head on.
I want to bring it down for certain.
Let's not use the rock bullet.
That guy has wings, I don't know how long he can keep flying.
But it seems the effects of a quagmire would be very little.
In that case, let's use wind.
The griffon's hind-legs were gathering strength.
It's coming.
The griffon's back legs gave off a sharp tap sound.
Like a tiger it spread its fore legs and pounced.
I crouched down, and used magic on the ground.
Upper-level Earth Magic .
The length was 3 ters.
From my surroundings it expanded in a circle.
"Kyuea!"
The griffon imdiately moved with the wings behind his back.
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