It's too dangerous. Once we return from the Bekalite Continent, I'll have to research a solution. It seems I'll have to start with my clothing.
Just like my windproof cloak, I need to develop clothes that can shield my mana from being sensed by monsters.
After about four days of clearing the path through the forest, we finally reached its center. All that was left was to find the stone monument engraved with a crest that Nanahoshi mentioned.
According to her, that monument should be the switch to unseal the ruins. Without finding it, discovering the ruins would be impossible.
We spent another two days searching along the central area.
Fortunately, although there were many monsters in this forest, they weren't very strong. Having been baptized by the terrifying monsters of the Demon Continent...
...everyone was well-versed in handling them. It was also clear that Roxy, Rudeus, and Elinalise were working together with better coordination.
This must have been honed on the Demon Continent. I hardly had any chance to act.
I only occasionally dealt with one or two small fry trying to fish in troubled waters from the rear. It was truly a waste of talent.
The three mounts were also easy to manage. Because Silly Bird was tall, imposing, and full of spirit, it had already cowed the two little colts. Under Silly Bird's dominance, the horses followed obediently behind it.
I didn't even need to lead it; I just had to use Kanryu while walking ahead to sense if any enemies were trying to ambush us from behind.
The mounts would follow on their own.
When Rudy heard we were taking two horses along, he intended to give them names.
He'd probably pick something tacky like "Matsukaze" again!
But I told him:
"In the desert, there's a chance we'll get lost. If we can't find our way out for a long time, we'll have to eat monster carcasses or the horses.
If you name them beforehand, you might grow attached and find it hard to do what's necessary. So, my suggestion is that if these two horses make it back alive from the Bekalite Continent...
...we'll name them then. It's like this Silly Bird here; I never planned to bring it back from the Demon Continent, but once Nanahoshi named it, I couldn't bear to abandon it."
Rudeus took my advice. So, they were called Little Red and Little Black—a simple naming method based on their colors.
On our third day in the center of the forest, we finally had the luck to find the Dragon Race monument. It was very easy to identify; the crest engraved on it was identical to the one on the Teleportation Magic Circle I used with Orsted to transfer to the Demon Continent.
Now that we'd found the monument, I was relieved. We were truly lucky not to have picked the wrong forest.
I walked up to the monument and recited the incantation Nanahoshi had told me:
"This dragon is born only for conviction. Its arms are grand and sturdy; none shall escape. This dragon is the second to perish. Possessing the most ethereal of eyes, the Green-Silver Scaled Dragon General. Here, I invoke the name of the Holy Dragon Emperor Szilard to shatter this barrier at once."
As I recited the incantation, I felt some mana being drawn from my body; the monument must be a magic tool. The incantation was clearly a magic chant as well.
Because while reciting, I noticed the flow of magic within my body; there was indeed a circulation.
So this incantation is part of a magic chant. I'm really curious what kind of magic it is; it seems to be related to breaking barriers.
I wonder if reciting this chant would be useful if one were trapped in an anti-magic barrier.
After the incantation was finished, a stone hut appeared out of thin air behind the monument.
Inside the hut, there was a staircase leading down—this, I was familiar with. I led them down and found the room containing the Teleportation Magic Circle.
There were some clothes in the room; I remembered that because the other side of the teleportation was a desert, one often had to change clothes.
Since we came with three mounts, we brought a lot of luggage. It's currently afternoon; I wonder if it will be very hot when we arrive on the Bekalite Continent.
Whatever, if it's hot, we'll just change clothes then.
Elinalise was very afraid of Teleportation Magic Circles; she likely had traumatic memories of them.
Upon seeing the magic circle, her hand instinctively gripped mine.
I squeezed her hand back, interlacing our fingers. She seemed to regain a bit of confidence.
I said to Rudy and the others:
"Elinalise and I will go through first. If there's no danger on the other side, I'll come back. This process might take a long time, or it might be short.
Wait here. If we don't reappear within a day at most, then head to the Bekalite Continent on your own.
Elinalise and I will find our own way home."
Seeing me speak such pessimistic words, Rudeus seemed to want to say something but hesitated. Someone definitely had to make the attempt.
Both Elinalise and I had memories of using Teleportation Magic Circles—hers were bad, mine were good. It was only right for the two of us to try.
So, in the end, he said nothing.
Roxy was much more decisive than Rudy.
She simply said, "Alright, we'll wait for your return. If something happens, we'll search the whole world for you after rescuing Rudy's mother. Please don't worry!"
She really is a reassuring girl.
I glanced at Elinalise; her grip on my fingers tightened.
At that moment, I really wanted to say to her, "You jump, I jump!"
Unfortunately, she wouldn't understand. I wonder if Rudy still remembers that meme.
Then, we stepped into the Teleportation Magic Circle together.
After a flash of receding light and shadow, we arrived on the other side of the magic circle.
This time, I saw those lights and shadows more clearly. That familiar feeling was exactly the same as before.
I really can't figure out why I feel so familiar with it.
After confirming with Elinalise that the room was indeed different from the previous one and seeing the dust on the floor...
...she and I returned to Rudy and the others.
Seeing us return, Rudy said:
"We've been waiting for about ten minutes."
That looks like the time it takes for the transfer. It seems that teleportation isn't just opening a door on both sides and walking through.
It must be a faster way of moving, or some kind of jump.
After confirming there were no issues, we held hands again and stepped onto the Teleportation Magic Circle, transporting to the Bekalite Continent.
After arriving at the ruins where the magic circle was located on the other side, we packed up and headed to the surface.
While underground, I noticed the temperature wasn't high, which I found strange.
However, once we reached the surface, I saw why. It was around 5 or 6 PM when we were in Sharia, and it wasn't dark yet.
But upon reaching the Bekalite Continent, it was already pitch black outside the ruins.
It seems this world has time zones. Also, there's a horizon. I suspect the continents here are on a sphere, not the six faces of a die as mentioned in the Six-Sided World novels.
There may be six worlds, but each is likely a planet!
Of course, these are all just guesses and don't count for much.
Since it was already dark, we decided to spend the night in the teleportation ruins and continue our journey the next day.
I have a deep impression of this plot point from the book. After all, there are genuine succubi I'm looking forward to here, unlike the knock-off elven succubus by my side.
If we run into any, I wouldn't mind seeing what a succubus tastes like.
Haha, although I'm thinking that in my head...
...with female companions around, I doubt I'll be able to fulfill that little wish!
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