Zach drove slowly down the dark corridor, lit only by his headlight. He could feel Anastasia's hands gripping his handlebars tightly, not daring to let go. But one thing was bothering him.
"Anastasia, explain what you meant just now?" Zach asked in Anastasia's head.
"Can I ask you something first?" Anastasia asked.
"Go ahead," Zach replied.
"How do you know my name? And why did you call out to me earlier?" Anastasia asked.
"Because those two guys were about to assault you," Zach said curtly.
"But how did you know my name?" Anastasia asked again.
"Hmm... because I can see your profile... Your name is Anastasia Forna, 17 years old, Holy Saint level 90, right?" Zach asked, analyzing Anastasia again using his skill.
"Yes, that's right. That means you truly are the divine artifact I've been looking for," Anastasia replied.
"There it is! I need an explanation about that. What do you mean, 'divine artifact'?" Zach asked.
Anastasia explained that divine artifacts are relics left behind by the gods that possess extraordinary abilities and can only be used by the Saints appointed by the gods to fight the Demon King, who has been reborn and threatens the peace of the world in the future.
"Hmm, I see. You mentioned the gods, right? How many gods are there?" Zach asked.
"In this world, there are four gods and two goddesses. A total of six gods and goddesses are worshipped here. Each god or goddess appoints their respective Saint and sends them on a journey to the Demon King's palace in the north to eliminate the world's threat," Anastasia explained.
"Hoo... so you're one of the ones who has to go there, is that it?" Zach asked.
"Yes, according to the abbess, she received a revelation from the Goddess Machina that she left her artifact in this Minotaur dungeon. That's why I came here to find it, but no one wanted to escort me, and I couldn't do it alone. That's why I came with them, and they ended up trying to hurt me. Thank you," Anastasia answered.
"Goddess Machina?" Zach asked. "Why is her name like that?" Zach wondered in his heart.
"She is the goddess of knowledge and technology in this world, the goddess who appointed me as her Saint," Anastasia answered.
"Oh... is that so?" Zach replied, becoming more confused but reluctant to ask because he didn't understand.
"According to legend, every god or goddess's artifact can speak with the Saint appointed by that god or goddess. I'm sure you're the artifact of the Goddess Machina," Anastasia muttered.
"I can talk to her because I'm using an intercom... but I can't possibly tell her that, since she seems so convinced by her belief. It would just mess things up," Zach muttered in his heart. "Okay, I understand," Zach replied.
"Do you have a name?" Anastasia asked.
"Zach Mach," Zach answered.
"Zach Mach? Is the 'Mach' short for Machina?" Anastasia asked.
"I don't know, my name just showed up like that," Zach replied.
The right rearview mirror of the motorcycle moved, aiming toward Anastasia's face. Zach, seeing Anastasia's face light up as if she had successfully fulfilled her mission, smiled in his heart. Then he turned his attention back to the seemingly endless corridor.
"Hey, how do we get out?" Zach asked.
"Oh... just go straight. My group cleared all the monsters here earlier. We still have time before they respawn," Anastasia replied.
"Alright, hold on tight," Zach said.
"Y-yes," Anastasia responded.
Zach sped up. Then he glanced again at Anastasia and saw the clothes she was wearing. Anastasia was only wearing a nun-like robe with no protection whatsoever.
"Isn't it dangerous to go into a dungeon or travel wearing clothes like that? Besides, isn't she too hot covered up like that? Let me build something for her," Zach thought in his heart.
While driving, he opened his shop and looked at his Craft skill. He bought materials for making clothes or armor, then stored them in his Dimensional Storage to process inside after they got out of the dungeon. After driving for quite a while, a light finally appeared at the end of the corridor, growing bigger and becoming a doorway. Zach drove out of the door. He looked in his rearview mirror and saw a crumbling, ancient-looking ruin behind him. When he looked around, he realized he was in a thick forest with all sorts of plants that looked completely different from his previous world.
"Whoa, I thought I was only going to be stuck in that room forever. So this is what the outside looks like, huh?" Zach asked in his head.
"Yes, you've never been out, have you?" Anastasia asked.
"This is my first time getting out, it's awesome," Zach replied.
"Thank goodness. Let's go to my city," Anastasia suggested.
"Can we? Won't I stand out too much in the city?" Zach asked, feeling a little anxious.
"It's okay, we'll go straight to the monastery. I'll explain to the abbess that you are the divine artifact I was looking for," Anastasia answered with a smile.
"Um... are you really sure I'm the divine artifact you're looking for?" Zach asked, starting to doubt himself.
"I'm sure. You can talk to me and call my name. Plus, your name is Zach Mach. I'm certain you're the artifact of the Goddess Machina," Anastasia asserted.
"I hope so," Zach muttered. "She... she definitely has the wrong idea, but seeing how convinced she is... I just worry about her being disappointed later," Zach muttered in his head.
They continued driving through the forest. Zach used his Earth Spike Wheel magic to make it easier to travel over the uneven and rocky terrain in front of him. Suddenly, "Thump," Zach checked his rearview mirror. He saw Anastasia had fallen asleep, slumped over his gas tank, with one hand still gripping the handlebars.
Zach immediately slowed down, then paused for a moment, letting Anastasia sleep.
"She must have been really stressed out earlier, now that she feels safe, she just passed out," Zach mused in his heart.
Zach looked around. He could hear the sounds of rustling bushes and animals in the distance. After all, a forest is a forest, and it was dangerous to let his guard down.
"Protective Barrier."
Zach used his Barrier skill to create a holographic sphere that encased him and Anastasia sleeping on top of him. Seeing Anastasia's face sleeping soundly with a slight smile, Zach was immediately reminded of his wife and daughter in his previous life. His heart instantly felt sad, but he was starting to accept his loss.
"Heather, Sonia, I hope you're doing okay. Somehow I got separated from you, and now I'm here, living another life. I hope you're both like me and happy in your lives now. Goodbye, my wife... my daughter," Zach muttered in his heart with sadness, even though, as a motorcycle, he couldn't cry right now. A few moments later, as he was brooding over his fate,
"Sniff... Mama... sniff,"
Zach looked over at Anastasia. It turned out she was crying in her sleep and calling for her mother. Seeing this, Zach's heart grew steady again because he understood that he wasn't the only one who felt the loss of the most important people in his life.
Anastasia also seemed to have gone through something that made her cry in her sleep. Then Zach smiled as he continued to watch Anastasia through his mirror. He imagined himself gently stroking Anastasia's head.
"Alright, I'll join you on your journey and always be with you, Ana," Zach muttered in his heart, imagining stroking Anastasia's head with an invisible hand.