Chương 210: Chapter 13: “And the Place They Reached”

It was a crack so vast and profound that it could only be called a Crack in the World. The bottom was endlessly deep, painted over in darkness. A colossal rift that seemed to rival even the ocean. No one knows what lies beyond it. There seemed to be no way to proceed further from there. Flight Magic surely wouldn't last to the other side. Since the wind was terrifyingly strong, even if there were other means of flight, it didn't seem likely to go well.

Even if they tried to go by land, once they descended into this valley, they might never be able to climb up again. It was deep enough to make one feel so. Dead end. To Yu, this place seemed like the end of the world. Like the end of the adventure. Considering the remaining time, it might be better to think about calling it quits here and returning to the Forest of Green Needle Trees. Except for the sea, they can return relatively quickly by connecting points with Teleportation Magic.

Although they would have to confront that monster again at sea. Having reached a conclusion, Yu felt heavy-hearted that it would end here, but she told the two.

"We can't go any further from here. The journey ends here."

"I see." Esta looked out over the endless rift and said deeply. He was convinced in his own way.

"We couldn't find a human village in the end, but it was fun."

"Yeah. It was fun." Asha nodded with a smile. Yu placed her hands on their heads and said.

"Let's go home. To your hometown. To the Forest of Green Needle Trees."""Okay!"" Then, Esta suddenly came up with a good idea. He proposes.

"Ah, but wait. Before we go back, I want to leave something like proof of our adventure. Saying 'We came this far'."

"Asha thinks that's good too."

"That's true." Although proof is only for self-satisfaction, Yu decided to grant their wish. There was a huge ore pillar that she had put in the"World of Heart" and left removed because it was blocking the road during the journey. Yu thought she would carve their names on this and set it up instead of a flag. The ore pillar is actually hundreds of meters in size. With this, it won't be buried in snow for a while. Yu took out the stone pillar from the"World of Heart."

There, she carved the names"Yu," "Esta," and"Asha" largely with magic. Transforming into a man again, Yu lifted the stone pillar with spirit.

"Here goes." Throwing a glance back at the two watching with excited faces, Yu jumped high into the sky with 《Passtrive》. Thrusting the stone pillar vertically, applying gravitational acceleration, he throws it down at once. With a ZUDON impact, it pierced deeply into the surface of the snowy mountain. At that moment. Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently gura-gura.

"Whoops!?"

"Auu-!"

"Wah! What!?" The shaking became bigger and bigger, and snow began to slide off here and there. Thinking it was dangerous, Yu transformed into a woman and scooped the two up with Flight Magic. Observing the situation from the air, the mountain was transforming before her eyes. All the surrounding earth wriggled, and what appeared from under the sliding snow was golden glowing ground. The ground swelled high and stretched long like wings. No, she could only think of it as someone's wings.

To the hearts of the three with wide eyes, a mysterious voice speaks. 『... Who is it. Who woke me up... 』""The mountain spoooooke!"" Esta and Asha scream in unison. Yu was also surprised and lost her voice. 『... I am not a mountain. I am the one who watches the world. 』 With a loud gogogo sound, more snow peels off. What was revealed was a neck covered in scales. And what captured the three in its vision was the head of a giant dragon. Yu understood.

What they thought was a big snowy mountain and had climbed until now was not a mountain, but a Golden Dragon as big as a mountain. They had stimulated him while he was sleeping. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Since his life response had completely disappeared until then, Yu didn't know. But now she knows clearly. The fulfillment of immense life force.

She was convinced that he was undoubtedly more powerful than any creature she had met in this world so far.

'Umm. I'm sorry. I didn't think you were alive.' Yu also uses the power of the heart to speak to the dragon. Esta and Asha, who have high intimacy, can hear it properly too. 『It is fine. I did not expect to be woken up in such a way, though. It hurt a little. 』'I'm sorry!' 『It is fine. To hurt me with that small body is impressive. Strong one. 』 When he spread his wings basa-basa, just that caused a tremendous sound and fierce wind that was deafening.

Yu deployed a wind barrier, and it was all she could do to keep Esta and Asha clinging to her from being blown away. The dragon, completely standing up, showed off his overwhelming majesty under the daylight vividly. Compared to him, the three are nothing more than dust far smaller than fleas.

"I know! Can you give us a ride!?" Fearlessly, Esta declared so.

"Cross the hole! Smart!" Asha follows with sparkling eyes. That's right. These two, when meeting something unknown, curiosity wins over fear. Showing interest in anything and opening their hearts. They are such obedient and cute children. Yu made up her mind and asked the dragon.

'Umm. We want to cross this rift. I know it's abrupt to ask this right after you woke up, but...' 『... I was dreaming. 』'Eh?' 『I saw it. That one who can converse with me will appear soon. 』 The dragon snorted fun. Somewhat happily. 『Exercise after a long time is also good. Looking at the current world is also good. 』 The dragon purred low in his throat and said gently. 『Hop on. 』'Thank you very much!'"" Yay!"" ""Waaai!"" The Golden Dragon carrying the three crosses the Crack in the World lightly.

The big hole that seemed impossible to cross was conquered in the blink of an eye. The mountain-like giant body didn't mind the raging wind at all. Eventually, what was seen beyond the rift. The place the three arrived at was—— The dragon was asked to wait nearby for a while. He accepted waiting readily. Yu's group is now facing ruins. Rather than ruins, it was a giant ship and its interior. It is by no means a wooden ship. Something like a spaceship covered in platinum metal.

At least to Yu, she couldn't think otherwise. Moreover, for some reason, the atmosphere is strangely familiar. It is damaged here and there and destroyed miserably. Although the original entrance remains closed, a large hole has been blasted in the side, and the inside situation could be glimpsed from there. Inside the "spaceship," vast ruins spread out. It was like a compact town so that one could live only inside. Many tall buildings stand in a row, completely destroyed, but things like cars and trains remain.

It was not hard to imagine that it was a very advanced civilization. Yu thinks. When she investigated the washed-up ship some time ago, she felt it was too advanced compared to the uncivilized nature of this world, but does it mean they were originally those who came from a different star?

"Awesome buildings."

"Like Yu's story." Taking the two looking around restlessly, Yu started exploring the ruins. She hoped there were people, but there is no life response anywhere.

"Everyone is dead..." Skeletons in terrible condition were rolling everywhere. Some have traces of crushed skulls, and others have plants entangled. It seemed that a considerable amount of time had passed. Esta, who was expecting somewhere in his heart, darkens his face shun. Yu patted his head and comforted him.

"Letters...? Can't read."

"Yu. What is written here?" Eventually, Esta and Asha found a metal plate. Letters were densely carved into the plate. Writing on such a thing purposely, is it for recording? However, Yu clearly recognized that metal. Yu peeked into the metal plate as if devouring it. There, it was written like this. It is said that we enjoyed prosperity on a rich star long ago. The name of the mother star is Estotia. However, one day, we made a mistake. Seeking further prosperity, we started a space invasion war. We were defeated.

The star was burned, and it is said that only a few humans and scientific technology remained. Since then, we abandoned our mother star and went on a long space journey in search of a new world. This might be a punishment. At the end of a long, long journey, the spaceship finally broke down. What awaited us in the new world where we crash-landed was a natural environment too harsh for people to live. Flooding of giant creatures. Unknown infectious diseases. Shortage of food. Day by day, someone dies.

Blood battles occur over the little remaining stockpile food. I can't take it anymore. Captain Yama. Please find it. Please find a peaceful land not threatened by the threat of nature.

"... Esta... Esto. So that was it..." The truth finally grasped at the end of a long journey. It was a truth that only Yu could understand anymore. Yu couldn't help but feel strongly about the turn of fate that she came to this star. About two thousand years ago, Estotia started a space invasion war. And, judged that their arrogance could not be overlooked, they were miserably destroyed by the Dyler Star System. It is said that the remaining humans were divided into three factions.

One is to remain on the mother star to the end and share the fate of destruction. One is to entrust the management of the star temporarily to Natura and Humite, betting on a comeback. And one went on a long space journey seeking a new world. This was the conclusion. The place they reached betting on a ray of hope was a world too harsh for them to live. Far time has passed. In a distant land of a different star, Estotia perished completely. But. There is no sin in these children born on this star.

Yu pulled Esta and Asha close and hugged them tightly, tightly.

"Sorry for being late."

"What's wrong, Yu?"

"Can't breathe..."

"I'm sorry..." For being two thousand years late. Yu, who served as a substitute for the mother who couldn't come, apologized to the two she loved from the bottom of her heart. If Mom were alive then. If she knew. She surely wouldn't have allowed such an ending. Everything was too late. The descendants of Estotia perish here. Unfortunately, the last humans will not prosper again. Still. Only two innocent lives left knowing nothing. At least these children. I want them to live happily.

I want them to survive toughly on this star overflowing with harsh nature. I will be gone soon, but. I just wish for that.

"Esta. Asha. Live. Live happily for the share of everyone who died here."

"... Yeah."

"Got it." Thus, the journey of the three ended. The world viewed from atop the dragon was very small. The path they struggled so much seems like a lie. And the untouched star with no people was cruelly beautiful. Crossing mountains, crossing seas, leaving scenery behind in the blink of an eye.

"Ah, I see it!"

"Asha's forest!" The calm hometown, the Forest of Green Needle Trees was seen. The reason why"Uncle" made this place a settlement. Yu felt like she understood well now. The Green Needle Trees have strong neurotoxins. Giant creatures fear this place and do not approach.