Chapter 66
Ford Desert (Dos)
Ford Desert.
Located between the Borhelic Kingdom and the Hà Giang Empire, it serves as the greatest obstacle for travel between the two countries.
There are three routes for traveling between the two countries: the Yuguru Great Forest, the Bolt Mountain Range, and the Ford Desert.
The Ford Desert is rarely traversed compared to the other two routes due to its long distance and harsh environment.
Therefore, since it was deemed ineffective as an entrance, this area has only dungeons built underground.
In that desert, Dos diligently uses wind magic.
His role is to create localized sandstorms using wind magic and transport the carried sand to the dungeon through a teleportation gate.
This is done to create a special environment called the “Desert Area” within the dungeon.
「………………I’ll do my best.」
Dos earnestly uses wind magic and transports the sand to the teleportation gate.
His silent and dedicated work is truly that of an artisan.
Originally, he possesses dual attributes of “wind” and “earth.”
Therefore, it would be more efficient to use earth magic to create and move sand golems.
However, he intentionally chooses to transport them using “wind” to practice fine control of magical power.
In practice, as he repeats the process, he gains delicate control of wind magic and becomes capable of manipulating the wind and transporting sand more efficiently.
He can combine magic training and dungeon creation.
It’s truly killing two birds with one stone.
However, it is a very plain task.
Just silently transporting sand, repeating the process.
Due to his reticence, both visually and in writing, his actions are very plain, but it is through his unassuming efforts that the dungeon continues to expand and strengthen.
We must not complain.
「………… Hm?」
Feeling something, Dos stops his work and looks around.
Among the three of them, he excels in sensory perception of his surroundings.
When he looks, he sees figures in the distant sand dunes.
That’s not all.
Behind them, there are several signs of monsters.
「………..Hm.」
Dos felt concerned and decided to go and see what was happening.
And as expected, the scene unfolded exactly as he had anticipated.
A carriage overturned on the sand, with two panicked merchants.
Furthermore, surrounding them, four scorpion-like monsters were creeping closer.
Upon closer inspection, at the feet of one scorpion, there were scattered pieces of a bloody sword and flesh.
It seemed that one of the escorts had already ended up inside their stomachs.
Now, what to do?
Dos pondered.
Since there was no entrance to the dungeon here, the decision to assist or abandon humans or side with monsters was left to Dos’ discretion.
In other words, Dos had the freedom to decide whether to help humans or abandon them, or even aid the monsters.
Dos pondered.
What choice would be convenient for Papa?
「…………Un.」
After a brief moment of thought, Dos sprung into action.
Dos was swift in his movements.
It wasn’t a reflexive action; it was simply that his ability to assess the situation and make decisions was exceptionally fast.
He wasn’t acting out of frustration or a desire to kill, nor was he trying to hasten things because they were troublesome.
Immediately, he pulled out a white mask from his pocket and put it on.
He kicked the ground.
In an instant, Dos closed the distance between himself and the scorpion-like creatures and struck one of them with a “Wind Palm” on its back.
The scorpion-like monster disintegrated in an instant.
While its companions were momentarily distracted by the sudden explosion, Dos dealt with another one.
He struck its side with a “Wind Palm,” causing its body to scatter.
Now, only two remained.
At this point, the scorpion-like creatures finally seemed to notice Dos’ presence.
They attempted to counterattack.
However, their speed was overwhelmingly slow.
It was as if they were moving in slow motion.
Dos’s diligent training in wind magic had significantly enhanced his senses and precision in controlling magical power.
These monsters were probably intermediate-class.
Their magical power felt similar to that of earthworms.
And yet, they were slow.
They felt overwhelmingly slow.
Without allowing the remaining two scorpions to launch any attacks, Dos eradicated them.
The two merchants could only stare blankly at the scene unfolding before them.
Chunks of scorpion flesh flew around, soaked in green bodily fluid.
Covered in the green liquid, Dos slowly approached the two merchants.
「Ah…」
One of the merchants reflexively let out a scream.
However, Dos paid no attention to it and approached the two, handing them something.
「……………Take this.」
「What…?」
It was a piece of parchment.
Detailed maps of the Ford Desert and the most efficient routes between the Borhelic Kingdom and the Hà Giang Empire were drawn on it.
The merchants seemed to have grasped the significance of what was depicted on the parchment.
Their expressions transformed from surprise to astonishment.
「…………With that, you can return. And also, this.」
Saying so, Dos took out another piece of parchment.
It depicted the route to pass through the Yuguru Great Forest, with markers indicating the entrance to the dungeon.
「…………From now on… use this.」
An unquestionable gaze.
The two merchants simply nodded in response.
「…………Ah…」
As if remembering something, Dos approached the broken carriage.
It seemed salvageable.
Using alchemy, Dos also repaired the damaged parts of the carriage.
Since the camels are still nearby, the cargo could now be transported without any issues.
The two merchants watched in a daze.
「……………Then…」
Saying that, Dos collected the scorpion magic stones and left the scene.
Dos’ magical power was infused into the maps given to the merchants.
At the very least, it would serve as protection against monsters during their journey across the desert.
After distancing himself from the two merchants, Dos took out another piece of parchment from his pocket.
On it were the logos of trading companies based in both the Borhelic Kingdom and the Hà Giang Empire.
Dos had obtained it independently during his visit to the town of Agur in the past.
This was a copy, as the original had been given to Elibel.
Similarly, copies had been given to Una and everyone else.
Dos looked at one of the marks again.
「……………As I thought.」
It was a symbol resembling an eagle.
It belonged to one of the major trading companies within Hà Giang Empire.
And it was the same mark that was painted on the cargo bed of the merchants Dos had just helped.
If they were kept alive, considering the fact that they now had the map and the high likelihood of using dungeons as their future travel routes, they would realize the value of what they possessed.
That was why Dos had helped them.
Because saving them was more beneficial in the long run than dealing with the scorpions.
It was for Papa, for the sake of the dungeon.
In that split second, Dos had made that judgment.
「……………Keep your promise and make good use of the dungeon.」
Murmuring softly, Dos returned to the task of moving the sand.
Like a mirage illuminated by the dazzling sunlight, Dos immersed themselves in the mundane work, blending into the scenery of the desert.
By the way, it is said that the two merchants safely returned to the empire.
They described the events of that time as follows:
――――The silent spirit of the desert came to our aid.
It would be a little while later when they realized the value of that map.
Author’s Note:
In this chapter, I focused on the story of the two characters who don’t receive much spotlight.
As mentioned in the character introduction, among the three, Dos is the one with the most understanding towards humans. This is strictly in terms of his utility value and such.
Therefore, Dos is the only one among the three who can be understood through conversation.
Chapter 4 will also come to an end soon.