Chapter 49: Yabilga desert
If I remember correctly, there was an acupuncture point that was effective for motion sickness…
I crouched and took Yumir’s hand.
She jumped a bit in surprise, but I didn’t mind that and made her sit down in that spot.
「W-What’s with you suddenly…」 (Yumir)
「It’ll be fine, stay still.」 (Hind)
I took off her arm’s defensive gear and turned her arm over, then searched for the spot with my fingers.
The spot was about 3 fingers placed across on your wrist towards the direction of your elbow.
Then I pressed the middle of that location.
I believe this should be the spot that helps with autonomic nerves.
「Take a deep breath.」 (Hind)
「Muh? …Suh, hah…」 (Yumir)
「Keep breathing like that.」 (Hind)
Would this have any effect inside VR? I was having that kind of doubt.
I pressed firmly on the spot while matching the timing of Yumir’s breaths.
After a while, Yumir’s shallow breathing start to gradually turn normal.
「How is it?」 (Hind)
「Ooh, I think…I feel better.」 (Yumir)
「In that case, let’s continue. I’ll press another spot. After that, let’s see…I heard that looking at the scenery in the distance is good.」 (Hind)
「…If I looked at the suspension bridge now, I feel that I’d get depressed though. I might vomit, you know?」 (Yumir)
「In that case, look over there. Towards the town.」 (Hind)
「Muh…」 (Yumir)
While holding her arm, we turned around.
This time I pressed in the middle of her palm and traced circles slowly.
Well, it might only give her temporary peace of mind, but it’s better than nothing.
When I was doing that, the two camels we got off of, turned their heads around towards us.
Could it be that they are worried? …No no, no way, right?
We just bought them, there’s no way that they would have warmed up to us to that point.
They are probably curious about what’s going on.
「Hind, is this a pressure point? Even the cures you know, are like the knowledge of a grandma.」 (Yumir)
「…You were saying I was like a dad or a mom a while ago and in the end I’m a grandma now? Jeez, what kind of person am I even?」 (Hind)
「How about, everyone’s caretaker?」 (Yumir)
「Even if you ask me that…」 (Hind)
It’s not like I’m unhappy about them relying on me, but I wish they wouldn’t give me weird nicknames.
While we were having that kind of conversation, Yumir’s complexion kept getting better.
Even her lifeless voice was turning back to normal.
「Alright, guess this should be about it?」 (Hind)
「-Thank you. However, could I ask you to keep pressing it? I still feel a bit sick.」 (Yumir)
「Is that so? In that case…」 (Hind)
I kept pressing the spot with my hand.
She did look like she was fine already, but if the person herself says so.
Though, I get the feeling that the hand I’m holding is getting warmer?
I think her face is also redder than usual.
「Fufu, fufufufu…」 (Yumir)
「Why are you grinning?」 (Hind)
「-Right? It’s unforgivable, right?
「Acting like she’s weak to get your attention.」 (Riizu)
「Bloodlust!」 (Yumir)
「!?」 (Hind)
Suddenly, Riizu’s chop…no, spearhand thrust aimed at Yumir’s hand.
Yumir, who had jumped out of the way to avoid it, glared at Riizu.
I was completely left out of the sudden situation.
「I wasn’t pretending, I was really feeling sick! I was just making use of the situation!」 (Yumir)
「Don’t get all defiant on me now! Was it delightful to hold hands? I’m so envious that I’d wish that I was in your place!」 (Riizu)
「You finally let out your true thoughts! Do you have any right to tell people what to do!?」 (Yumir)
I don’t really care, but I guess Yumir is fine already?
…Yup, she’s engaging in a lively quarrel.
That’s already something akin to playing with each other, let’s leave them alone.
I left them there and went to search for Tobi and Selene-san.
They are probably used to the camels by now, it’s about time we gathered and departed.
The width of the suspension bridge was barely enough for a single camel to go through.
We made a row and pulled the camels across the bridge.
To not let the camel’s legs get stuck in the floorboard, we were careful to go through the boards that didn’t have any crevices.
Though, I think this would be a no go if someone was coming from the other side…what should we do if that happened?
Unexpectedly, the camels didn’t have a fear of heights and calmly followed us.
Was this also because of how well trained they were?
While having those kind of nonsensical thoughts, we kept crossing the suspension bridge.
「However, I wonder how they managed to make this bridge?」 (Tobi)
Tobi, who was right behind me, raised his voice.
I replied to him while looking at the pillars erected on both sides of the bridge.
「Well, as you can see, they are made by building a tower on each side and passing a rope from one side to the other.
「However, what you want to know is how they got the rope across, right?」 (Hind)
「That’s right.
「The width of this canyon is about 100 meters? It’s quite deep too, so bringing the rope down and climbing with it on the other side would be quite tiring in my opinion.」 (Tobi)
「This is a world with magic after all. There’s the chance that they could make the rope float and make it fly to the other side?」 (Hind)
Though, if we assumed they made it with magic, they could also make one made of stone.
I’m not sure about the limits of magic in this world, so I can’t be certain about it.
Since I knew about an influential archer, I looked past Tobi and directed my gaze at Selene-san.
「Right.
In the case that it’s not done by magic, I wouldn’t be able to reach it with my crossbow…maybe they send the rope flying with something like a big ballista? It seems like a ballista can reach a distance of about 400 meters after all.」 (Selene)
「In real life, when it comes to long distance bridges like the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, the first cable is carried by a helicopter.
「Depending on the situation, there’s been cases that it’s been done with a small scale rocket too.」 (Riizu)
Furthermore, Riizu chipped in.
Be it today or in the old days, the need to find a way to get something like a rope or cable to other shore is the same, so they would have to search for a suitable method in this era.
Since we don’t know about the details of this particular bridge, it would be nice to go back to the town and ask the NPCs for details.
「Y-Yumir-dono! The difference of knowledge between me and those three is like heaven and earth!」 (Tobi)
「D-Don’t drag me in with you! I do have some knowledge about it!」 (Yumir)
「In that case, go ahead and say something about suspension bridges! Go ahead!」 (Tobi)
「Eh? Ehm, huh…s-suspension bridges, shake!」 (Yumir)
「In the end, aren’t you an idiot too!?」 (Tobi)
「Ugogogo!」 (Yumir)
We would know that they shake even if you didn’t point it out.
Luckily for us, there wasn’t anyone among us with a fear of heights, it would be hell for someone like that.
I’m getting scared, so we should cross this bridge before we get into any trouble.
That being said, this 「Baska’s great bridge」 is like a lifeline for towns that exist in the desert.
There are no monsters in the vicinity and they take great care of maintaining the bridge so we were able to cross without any issues.
Once we crossed the bridge, we rode the camels and headed west of the wastelands.
「Yumir, are you not feeling sick?」 (Hind)
「Umu, I’m getting the hang of it. As long as I don’t look down and direct my gaze a bit in front of me, I don’t feel that sick.」 (Yumir)
「Glad to hear that.」 (Hind)
She can predict when it’s going to shake by looking at the inclination so I guess it’s reasonable.
Though I’m not sure if Yumir has thought that out.
We proceeded like that for ten minutes.
As we went westwards, the temperature rapidly increased.
Then, the surrounding wasteland’s earth lost all its moisture and turned into delicate sand.
Until it turned into a scenery that was sand no matter which direction you looked at, it didn’t take long to become like that.
The displayed field name was 「Yabilga desert」.
「Uheh, it’s so hot…」 (Hind)
「Now it’s turning more into a desert! I’m getting fired up!」 (Yumir)
「Kuh! This feeling of going through the desert on a camel! It’s a romantic scenery that reminds you of a trip or an adventure!」 (Tobi)
「It’s so hot. Even though it was hot already…hah.」 (Riizu)
「Even then Riizu-chan, you are staying cool…」 (Selene)
This is just from feeling, but I believe this is over 40°C.
Regarding where we were heading, we were heading towards the town in the desert we heard from in 「Town in the wastelands, Baska」 that I had marked on the map.
To not have to worry about getting lost in such a desert with no landmarks helps a lot.
Once you turn on the navigation, an arrow will display in your field of view, it’s fine as long as you follow that.
「Well, I don’t know if you’ll want to. Once dusk comes inside the game, let’s take a screenshot. With the camels included.」 (Hind)
「Oh, that would be nice! Good idea, Hind!」 (Yumir)
「Do you mind if I upload it to the BBS? To show them the good parts of the desert.」 (Tobi)
When Tobi said that, I looked at Selene-san and she started shaking her head.
Well, I thought so. Personally, it’s not like I want to stand out in the BBS.
「If you are fine with a screenshot that doesn’t show us, do whatever you want. It’s no good if we show in it.」 (Hind)
「Umu, understood.」 (Tobi)
「Wait guys, we got to change clothes soon. You are getting a status ailment.」 (Hind)
「Oh, you are right! We are getting burnt.」 (Yumir)
「Now that you mention it, I was thinking that I was feeling some kind of stinging!」 (Tobi)
For both of their sakes we decided to take a break and let the camels rest, changing their clothes in the process.
Yumir rolled a big head scarf on her head hiding her head and the nape of her neck.
Since Tobi didn’t show his skin to begin he should be fine…guess I can’t say that.
He was wearing all black, so he switched to the whitish clothes he had previously bought.
We somehow decided to make preparations as if this was real life and it turned out to be a good choice.
Since the rest of us felt hot and decided to change clothes beforehand, there were no issues with us.
Our initial clothes were already good to cover us from sunlight, but these ones did soften the sunlight even more.
I used 「Recover」 on both of them to heal them from burn and healed their HP with 「Healing」.
「Alright, let’s depart aga-」 (Hind)
「Hind-kun! I can see unnatural movements in the sand!」 (Selene)
「!!」 (Hind)
Due to Selene-san’s warning, we all put ourselves on guard.
When we did, the surrounding sand exploded upwards and a large number of desert colored scorpions appeared.
We are surrounded..!?
