Chapter 34

By preparing, Angen meant taking a lot of rest. Since she already went on a resupply run the day before, there was nothing else to prepare. At least, that was the case until I introduced hoverboards to the two of them.

Memorus had no trouble getting used to the moving wheels, while Angen struggled as much as Elerina did when she first started. Elerina, on the other hand, had gotten used to zooming all over the place.

They picked a field a bit farther away from the frontlines to train. This meant wasting time to train, but since they wouldn’t be able to use magic when in former empire territory, this is the second best option.

There’s also concern regarding supplies. We’re still operating on the assumption that I would just go up and disappear one day. So, they need a way to carry supplies into the desert without their carriage. The solution I offered came in the form of large suitcases with wheels on them. I then let them get used to both moving and pulling the suitcases, all loaded with rocks to simulate the weight. It took about a week before each person could bring two suitcases with them while riding the hoverboard.

But you could never be prepared, so…

“I’m not sure what to say…”

“It’s ugly.” Again, Elerina with her honesty…

I decided to create a machine I call the transporter. It’s like a mini carriage that uses a hoverboard in front as a way to power it. It also had several spots to attach extra hoverboards, in case I was separated from them.

In front was a control stick. When pushed, it would move the front most hoverboard forward. That single hoverboard wouldn’t have enough power to move the entire carriage, but it should make pushing the thing easier. This ‘ugly’ machine is the best I can think about, because all of these need to be transported to Elerina’s world in pieces, then reassembled there, so I must keep it simple.

What surprises me the most is the amount of help I received from Frederick. He looked at me with suspicion when I came with the weird request, but helped me design it regardless. The mini carriage wouldn’t be carrying anyone, though, and would be designed to work as a larger version of the suitcases.

Oh, and the suitcases are also the rideable type.

After we prepared all these backups, we stuffed them with everything they’re going to need. They also let me keep some extras, to hand over in case something happened.

Early morning the day after, we ate breakfast together at the inn then departed. The trip to the former empire's borders didn't take long. If previously, Elerina needed maybe two to three minutes to take on a monster, now that time is reduced to less than the ten seconds it took to aim and pull the trigger, so monsters didn’t become a challenge.

It's impressive how accurate she is, despite not having any shooting training before. Thanks to her skills, we arrived at the borders quicker than expected. Pitch black stains littered the area, although there was a lot more brown compared to when I saw it in my visions. Maybe nature had healed. The destroyed town was still visible in the distance, its tower floating upside down eerily in the air.

“... So this is the former empire's territory…”

Before we reached this place, we needed to pass some hills. Those hills must have blocked the view here, as no one mentioned anything about how the area looked.

I handed the drone over to Elerina and let it take flight. The drone allowed us to take a good look from above. From above, the landscape below looked like someone who started throwing black paint all over the place. Many parts of the ground had been painted black, and not just any kind of black.

They're pitch dark black, even light couldn't escape them. Elerina picked up a rock, then dropped it above the darkness. It touched the surface, then slowly sank, and soon disappeared completely. It reminded me of those quicksands we have on Earth. Regardless of what it actually is, It's clear that we need to stay away from these marks.

“Do you three feel anything?” I asked.

“No,” Elerina answered immediately, but the other two took a pause. I looked at them through the action camera on Elerina's helmet. They didn't seem all that well.

Elerina opened one of the boxes and gave them the anti-magic medicine. It was supposed to be potions, or rather, toxins you throw at your targets to prevent them from using magic. The medicine worked immediately, and color returned to Angen and Memorus’ faces.

“Thanks, I owe you one.”

“Can't believe it's that strong…”

“What did you feel?”

“It's sickening and dizzying, like you're losing control of yourself, but at the same time, you’re not really aware of it.”

Losing control, huh?

“The magic interferes with your mana and brain, but in a different way to the medicine.”

The medicine worked by interfering and disabling the mana inside of people, preventing them from using magic. It also stopped the dark magic from affecting it, thus stopping whatever sickness spreading to them.

As someone that couldn't use magic, Elerina didn't need to worry about it, although this does make me wonder about something.

“Does this mean you don't have mana, Elerina?”

“Huh? Maybe? I don't know.”

Regardless of the actual reason, having Elerina there should be a huge help, as her inability to use magic meant she could notice when the other two were in trouble.

“Let's continue.”

“I'll guide you from the air.”

Since we don't know what those black patches do, I used the birds eye view to pick out a route away from the patches.

“Go left here. Now go straight, and go right on the next intersection.”

“Gotcha.” Angen followed my instructions. She rode past the dark magic puddles on the ground, pulling the mini carriage behind her. It, admittedly, looked weird. Like three people at the airport about to catch a flight, not trying to save the world.

Elerina passed one of the patches of black and stopped. She leaned closer, giving me a better view of it. Looking at it from up close confirmed my suspicions.

“Elerina, can you try using the lighter I gave you?”

Elerina took it out from her bag and lit it up. She brought it closer to the black surface, no reflection could be seen, despite the surrounding ground being lit up by it.

“So it really doesn't reflect light.”

“Interesting.”

Don’t think I've ever seen a color that dark before.

“That’s kind of scary, not gonna lie.”

It’s as if it could consume us if we touch it. Just the thought made me shudder.

“Let’s continue. I don’t want to be here for long.”

Angen nodded to my words, and they went even deeper.