Chapter 1159 - Exchange Unit on the Move
Although inferior compared to the [Great Rock-Eating Hive], not a few players visit the [Grotto of False Tears], where high-quality mineral resources can be expected—that being said, however.
The dungeons existing in Arcadia, their number is what it is. For an overconcentration of population to occur to the extent of what would be called a popular spot in existing online games is, even now, four years after the service started and many "playgrounds" have become recognized, a considerably rare case.
For example, the [Spiral Crimson Tower], which still shows daily bustle due to the influence of a certain someone, and the [Shadow-Infested Arena], where challengers are said to have exploded in number due to the influence of a certain someone and a certain someone, correspond to that, but needless to say, they are exceptions among exceptions.
In short, because a popular spot in Arcadia is merely something on the level of a place where encountering other parties is not rare...
"It was a help that there were few people today."
"What are you saying after going on such a rampage with zero self-restraint?"
"I-I am sorry. Since I was told to show no mercy..."
After ten-odd minutes of this and that.
Along with the group of five that Nene was accompanying—a close-knit party whose leader was the sole woman besides Nene, [Anemone]—the three girls had peacefully left the rocky mountain area without encountering any other players.
And so, running through the wasteland while making a noisy yet light clattering sound, was,
"Wow, it's my first time riding a 'Follower Carriage'. This is pretty good."
The 'Follower Carriage' Nia spoke of... namely, an individual means of transportation pulled by a large, land-dwelling [Stardust Beast (Lim)]. A vehicle, the first in the history of Arcadia, with a shape resembling a carriage in reality.
...To be precise, although it was 'the first vehicle put into practical use by players', there was no doubt it was a great achievement. It had begun to circulate around the end of last year, but seeing how it had reached the general public like this, its spread seemed to be going smoothly.
That being said, Sora and Nia, who were close to the virtual world's (somewhere's) fastest means of transportation (someone), had neither connection to nor need for it. Iris, for whom running on her own specs was basically faster, was also the same.
Therefore, for all three of them, this was their first ride.
A wooden cargo bed with a hood roof. It was probably intentionally focused on atmosphere, and to Nia's words as she poked at the heavily-designed Follower Carriage from atop the moving platform, the other two also gave a silent affirmation.
As Sora nodded in agreement and Iris blinked quietly and gently,
"Ndehhehe..."
"I-It is not that much..."
Instantly turning into mush, approximately two sad creatures. Respectively, the evasion tank dual-wielder [Left] and the skirmisher greatsword-user [Right] showed humility, but indeed.
For the masters of the two large lizard-type [Stardust Beasts (Lim)] pulling the Follower Carriage were these two.
—Well, how should one put it, that too was somewhat...
"...Rather than a carriage, it is a rickshaw, though."
Just as the words Iris muttered, rather than looking cool, it was an appearance that suited the two characters of "comical". The sight of two large lizards running not on four legs but on two legs, pitter-pattering, holding the handles with their front legs (hands?) and sprinting at full speed was, to put it mildly, entertainment.
"Ah, haha... B-But, it is fast!"
"It is fast. Even though it is such a bumpy road."
However, the horsepower, or rather lizard-power, output by the two [Stardust Beasts (Lim)] and the performance of the Follower Carriage were splendid. Setting aside comparing it to a certain shooting star as a taboo, being able to expect a stable march at a speed close to two hundred kilometers per hour without requiring effort was a revolutionary progress in Arcadia.
"Until recently, it was difficult, wasn't it?"
When Sora asked for the details of the knowledge she knew of but was uncertain about.
"Yeah. An engine that could hope for horsepower exceeding the running speed of players, tires to traverse Arcadia's diverse environments (bumpy roads) without distinction, and then durability that wouldn't break even if it encountered some trouble, and so on and so forth... well, how should I say it."
"Although realizing each of them was possible, aggregating them all to build a practical object was difficult. —Especially the engine, on top of having a difficult time with miniaturization..."
Nia, Iris, and...
"T-The cost aspect was immeasurable... If we were to directly use the Universal Currency Catalyst (Luna), bankruptcy would be just around the corner, and if we tried to utilize other resources, further mechanisms and facilities would be required for power conversion and extraction, and in that way, the realization of miniaturization would recede further..."
Nene—a Mako Craftsman who apparently specialized in mineral resources and energy-related research in Arcadia, joined in the explanation, albeit presumptuously.
"Haa... It is really, how should I put it..."
"It is already normally in the field of science and such, isn't it? Actually, it seems people who work as scientists or engineers in reality were involved in the development of this Follower Carriage. It is a world Nia-chan does not know."
Sora and Nia expressed their admiration, and Iris also nodded, slightly but surely, perhaps out of respect for the virtual world's engineers. And, if that was the case, it was a natural flow.
"...Could it be, you are also involved in the development?"
"Heah, e-eh, well, um..."
Knowledge, and the skills possessed. When Iris threw out the question, thinking it wouldn't be strange if that were the case, Nene's shoulders jumped with a start, and after flustering for a few seconds.
"J-Just a little bit...? No, um, really, just a little bit... though."
""Oh.""
"That is not it, I really did not do anything great, it is out of the question (?)!"
Nodding slightly, slightly, slightly, being admired by Sora and Nia once again, and once again flustering and panicking, she covered her face with both hands and crouched down. Her suspicious behavior was at its peak.
Whether it was because she was nervous in front of famous people, or because she was dragging along the agitation from the previous incident, or if she was normally like this... there was no way to know, but as the three girls, who had begun to realize she was quite a comical character, cast lukewarm gazes at her...
It was just at that timing.
"—Look, you guys. Don't just stand there staring in love forever, work has arrived. If you want to show off your good side, brace yourselves, though it is probably impossible."
The position corresponding to the driver's seat of a carriage. The female leader who united the party members, or rather, as she herself called them, her 'subordinates', raised her voice. Contrary to her very sisterly way of speaking, her extremely cute voice was unbalanced... setting that aside.
If she, who was playing the role of lookout, uttered a meaningful voice, the situation was self-evident.
"...Wolves, is it?"
"The [Wandering Gray Wolf Pack (Graiva Wolves)]. They are normal enemies that randomly encounter in the wasteland areas throughout the Divine Creation Garden. ...Hm? Sora, is it your first time seeing them?"
"It might be... my first time, yes..."
"I see... I mean, they shouldn't be that rare of an enemy, but..."
"Um, probably, because I... don't walk on the ground very much, I think..."
"...That is true."
"...Yes."
"Excuse me, is this the time to be acting so peaceful? I can see a whole bunch of them, though."
—And, it was like that.
A pack of wolves that could be called familiar friends to players who frequently traveled or went on expeditions. The figures of the wandering-type enemies, which numbered in the dozens, or even reached a hundred if large, were, just as Nia said, 'a whole bunch'... approaching straight toward the Follower Carriage.
If so, then.
"Um, so—"
Just as Sora, who recognized dealing with large crowds as her specialty, was about to stand up.
"No, no, no, please stay seated!"
"Although we are inadequate, ordinary people who are embarrassed to show off!!"
"Providing everyone with an effortless journey is at least something we can do!!!"
"Let's do this, boys!! Let's clean this up quickly and return to paradise (chatting)!!!!!"
Leaping out were approximately four sad creatures.
The men, who jumped down from the Follower Carriage with their respective weapons in hand, triumphantly confronted the tsunami of wolves... Next to Sora, who watched their backs with a blank expression.
"Now, now, let us leave it to them."
Nia, while making a similarly exasperated face, pulled the girl who had lifted her hips back to her seat,
"Perhaps watching over them is the courtesy to show them."
Iris, who settled down with a blank expression, watched over the brave heroes literally,
"Y-You two are calm... both of you..."
Sora, who was plopped back down to sit, floated a bitter smile, wondering what kind of face she should make,
"Honestly... I am sorry for these foolish men, it is embarrassing."
As Anemone let out a sigh,
"H-Hiee..."
Nene, who as expected had no time for anything but shaking her heart, was trembling as she watched the start of the battle.
How peaceful.
Note that although there was a possibility of encountering them during the expedition with the tiger siblings that was thoroughly sent via ground movement a long time ago, because the intimidation-type skill possessed by the tigers was active, the enemy encounter rate itself had drastically decreased, so the story goes.