Volume 4 Chapter 10: Guild’s countermeasures

Translator: “Pink Tea” Editor: ”Ryunakama”

「The storehouse is a short distance away from this building. We will have to go outside. Please, follow me.」

Being told so by Michaela we left through the backdoor.

Right into the still raging purple storm. We were immediately covered in sand.

…It’s a bit hard to move.

She said that it will keep up at the very least for half a day, so the situation will remain unchanged until night time.

「With the purple storm the footing is getting worse, and it’s hard to see anything, so please be careful. The sand is piling.」

「Yeah, you are right.」

The footing was the first thing that felt out of place when we got outside.

With each step, it felt like my feet were sinking.

It would be very tiring unless I find a proper way to walk here.

「The visibility is poor as well.」

「I can’t see a thing. Flying through would be a problem after all.」

Saki and Berzelia were squinting their eyes.

Though the magic draining of this storm wasn’t too noticeable, it’s physical effects were a different story.

「Right. We also have a very hard time walking through this. After all, you can’t see anything past a few meters ahead. ……Though it might be a bit of a makeshift, we are using something like this.」

Saying that Michaela pointed to a stake thrust into the ground which has a rope tied to it.

Several such stakes were arranged every few meters from each other, with a rope tied between them.

「Going along this rope you would eventually reach a dome-shaped storehouse. Let’s advance relying on this.」

I looked in the direction Michaela pointed.

Indeed, a guideline made of rope was stretching in that direction. Andー

「The dome-like storehouse is that thing over there, huh. Certainly, some kind of guide might be needed when traveling through the sandstorm.」

I said, looking at the building ahead.

「Yes…… Eh…… EH?」

Michaela, who walked beside me, made a nod, after which she suddenly turned her head and looked at me.

「Eh-ehm,…… Axel-san, you can see it? The storehouse? From here……?」

「Hm? Well, the sandstorm is in the way, but yes, I can see it. There is only one dome-shaped building ahead after all.」

In my view was a building that looked like a cut-off cylinder.

It’s a bit hard to see due to the sand in the air though.

I can tell that there are a few minutes of a walk to it. If it wasn’t for a sandstorm, the rope would be completely unnecessary.

「It’s not that far, so yes, I can see it somehow.」

As I answered her question, Michaela opened her eyes in surprise.

「B-But! But, it’s in this storm of colored sand? Even I can’t maintain my vision and hence stick to the guiding rope… How can you have such clear vision……」

「Well, in the past, I had to fly through the air filled with a colorful barrage of sorceries many times. I might have gotten used to discerning my surroundings through bad visibility.」

During the great war, I had to ride Berzelia through incoming magic missiles, raging flames, smoke screens and all other sorts of things.

As such, I learned to be able to somehow identify my surroundings even if my vision is obstructed.

This time as well, though the visibility wasn’t as good as with clear air, it was enough to move around.

「Master has really good eyes. I’m not good with such stuff so I always end up relying on his support.」

「I-I see……… Amazing. Eyes better than those of a dragon monarch…… And to think you can still make use of your experience even after quitting as a hero.」

「Well, though I don’t get many chances to do that. Anyway, since we now know where it is, let’s move there quickly.」

After a few minutes of walking through sand and wind, we arrived at the storehouse.

The building had a massive metal door.

Which was then opened by Michaela.

Inside wasー

「……An amazing number of pots…… No, water jars?」

Large jars with faucets.

A number of them were lined up there.

「Yes. This is the archeology guild’s storage for the most important item in desert exploration. Now, brush sand off and come inside.」

After we entered, Michaela immediately closed the door after us.

「Here is what I wanted to give you. Everyone. It’s still a little dark, so please be careful where you step.」

The storehouse had windows, but little light came through them due to the sandstorm outside.

So Michaela switched on the light and went farther into the storehouse.

We followed after her, butー

「Uuuh, we walked outside for only a little bit, but my lips are stinging……」

「The air humidity is close to zero. It can ruin my skin.」

「My fur also turned to bristles……」

My comrades, that walked beside me, commented while dusting off sand from their hair and clothes.

「Fufu, and that is all you have to say after walking through that. As one would expect from heroes, I guess… If I walked outside in the same equipment as you, I would’ve lost so much magic power that I at the very least would’ve been out of breath.」

「I see. So the magic drain effect is that strong.」

「Yes. That’s why we are using this.」

Saying that, Michaela turned the handle of the faucet attached to the nearby jar.

Pouring some water that came out into cups, she handed them to us.

「Here, take this『Miraculous Water』. Please drink it or sprinkle a bit on yourself. You will get better.」

「Whoa, water! Thank you!」

Taking the cup, Berzelia first took a sip. Thenー

「Wah, wah. It’s amazing. It’s so tasty. And my skin is no longer dry!」

Berzelia’s skin regained moisture at a visible rate.

Next to Berzelia, Saki poured some of the water onto her palm and nodded looking at it.

「Yes. It is immediately absorbed when put on the skin…… And it also helps with the recovery of magic power. Which means, this is not a normal water.」

Saki says with curiosity observing her hand and the water in the cup.

「As expected of the hero of magic. You can see its effects.」

「Well, that’s at least what I was able to tell at a glance.」

「Even so, being able to understand that much upon seeing it the first time is amazing. The miraculous water is created by those enchanted jars.」

「Since you called it miraculous, I knew that there is something to it… But it actually has quite an amazing effect.」

I also took a sip and rolled it on the tongue. Taste aside, the absorption speed clearly wasn’t that of normal water.

Here, saying that I can feel it spread through the body, wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

It felt like it immediately reached through the whole body.

「Yes. The wind that was originally coming from this desert already had water stealing properties. As a countermeasure for that, we combined the wisdom of denizens of those lands with information on ancient magic given to us by the snake god and managed to produce this. The damage from an ordinary sandstorm―― dehydration, can be blocked almost completely by drinking a cup of water produced from those water jars.」

「That’s amazing.」

「For that reason, it’s an effective countermeasure for the dry desert of this land. In fact, it became an indispensable item. The exploration team is taking this water with them and moving through the desert and drinking it. As such, for your search please take as much as you can carry.」

「All we can carry…… Are you sure about that? Isn’t it something valuable? I thought about putting some into the bag…… And it can fit a considerable volume.」

I asked, holding the transportation bag in my hand, to which Michaela shook her head with a smile.

「Each of those jars automatically produces water. It’s that kind of magic item. There is no problem.」

「Ooh, that’s convenient.」

「That’s how it is. So you can pour it into your transportation bag. For those that have nowhere to put it, there are glass bottles. I will pour the water there and give it to you.」

「Yeah, thank you. We’ll take you up on the offer and will do just that.」