Chapter 1141 – Purgatory

000

Jade Dragon Mountain, the sixth mountain in the Sarong Mountain Range, may have been thought that no one would come this far, but unlike the previous mountains, there were no major trials or obstacles when crossing between mountains.

But still, the members’ faces weren’t that bright…

＂It’s hotter…!＂

The reason was that as soon as we entered the mountain, the surrounding temperature suddenly rose sharply, like a desert or a volcano.

First, the heat rising from the ground naturally warms the surrounding air, creating a haze.

The plants that grew from the ground were lifeless and looked like they were about to be burned to ashes.

There were no leaves on the tree, and it looked dangerous, as if it would crumble if you touched it.

Thanks to that, only a few minutes had passed since we entered the mountain, and the group was already sweating profusely.

“I never thought such a harsh environment would exist…”

More than others, Melusine, a spirit with an affinity for fire and water – and cold – was having the most trouble.

Of course, when she first came in, she was protecting herself and her allies with her ability to create ice.

As the ice created in this way naturally melted, moisture gathered around her, creating a layer of lukewarm and sticky air, creating an unpleasant feeling that was more difficult to endure.

＂Melusine, are you okay…?＂

When Cleon asks Melusine a question, Melusine answers with a droopy look.

＂… Wouldn’t it have been possible to withstand this heat if it had been cursed like that weasel…＂

Certainly, a vivre that is more friendly to flames would have been able to survive in a space like this sauna.

Is this heat so harsh on her that she wants to return to her cursed form…

＂Everyone is lacking in practice~＂

On the other hand, humans who are resistant to heat – that is. Ms. Laila, who usually has a high body temperature, spoke while looking at her companions.

She, you could say, is a human vuvre.

The magic of flame is the source of her power.

In this space where the proportion of magical power in flames was strangely high, so that the bare ground was on fire and burning, she seemed more alive than usual.

“By my standards, this is still at the level of lukewarm hot water.”

“Imagine having to walk around for a few minutes while soaking in that hot tub…”

At Laila’s words, Artis could not bear it and tackled her.

However, in Cleon’s opinion, it did not seem like a good idea for this situation to continue, so he probably thought it would be good to at least show a ‘goal’ that the group could endure.

＂Artis. What we need to find is the entrance to the underground, right?”

“That’s right. Here too, a woman with a strange personality… There must be a guardian.”

Attis answered Cleon’s question by nodding his head helplessly, but Cleon asked again as if he was interested in the answer.

“… No one knows if it’s a woman?”

“Haha… You’re probably the only one who doesn’t know that…”

All the guardians I met upon entering Six Dragon Mountain had an appearance related to Cleon’s women.

Now, if an unrelated man suddenly appeared, that would be an even stranger story.

“Then I guess I can leave the guardianship to Lord Cleon.”

And, when Aine heard the story and said something that I couldn’t tell if it was a joke or serious, it felt like the surrounding air froze for a moment.

“Oh, no. You came because you said there was a way to defeat the last guardian of the mountain, right? Right, Artis?”

“Yes, that’s right. Unfortunately, as Aine said, there is no way for Cleon to pass by.”

Cleon, who heard those words, looked relieved as he sighed and rubbed his chest.

Huh…? Is it okay to feel safe?

“… Anyway. How long does it take to get to the place where the guardian of Jade Dragon Mountain is?”

“It would have taken about a day at my normal walking pace… But in such a harsh environment, even with breaks in between… About two days?”

“… It’s further than you think.”

That’s probably what the half-stretched Schrödinger would reply to Artis’ answer.

“I threw away most of my camping supplies. Is that okay?”

And Amelia’s doubts were also natural.

In order to pass through a place infested with wyverns, I threw away as much of my luggage as possible and left most of my cooking and camping gear at the entrance to the valley.

The bag may have become lighter, but since there were so few supplies remaining, it seemed difficult to spend the night.

＂…＂

＂Mr. Artis…?＂

At those words, if Artis stays silent for a moment, Sasha will call her name again as if she has become anxious.

A chilly feeling hovered among the group once again.

“. Hehe! It’s a joke, it’s a joke!”

However, when Artis smiled, only then would others feel at ease.

Looking at that expression, it seemed like there was some method.

“Wow, I was surprised. I wonder if I came to Jade Dragon Mountain without a plan…”

Ahaha, the atmosphere among the group, which was a little tired, must have become a little more lively.

“That’s right. I was worried that they might say something like self-sufficiency.”

＂Oh no way~. In a place like this?”

And the moment someone said that.

Accordingly, Attis’ laughter stopped.

The others who noticed the change in Artis also followed suit one by one and stopped laughing…

＂…＂

Once again, there was silence there.

＂Ji, are you serious!? What are you thinking!? “

＂Shall we go back to Guirong Mountain first? Oh, no, if you’re going to pick up the luggage you left behind, just a bit more…!”

The group naturally fell into panic.

Even if you look around, all you see are dried, twisted or burned plants.

There seems to be hope that it won’t get as cold as the desert at night, but sleeping in a place like this is still like being told to die for some elderly people (e.G. Oldburn).

At the words of the party members who strongly opposed them, Artis looked away and spoke.

“Ha, but. If the conditions to overcome the guardian here are right, at least there is an animal…”

That’s how Artis turned his gaze.

Beyond the swaying layer of air.

Maybe it was a mirage, but she found it.

A small cabin standing proudly on this hot earth.

“Now, wait a minute! Everyone! Look over there!”

In order to quickly inform others of her discovery, Attis will raise her voice and point with her finger.

Then, the gaze of the group moves along with her fingertips.

Just like Attis, it was about confirming the glimpse from beyond.

＂It’s a cabin!＂

Kshat raised her voice in surprise.

“Why is there a cabin in a place like this?”

Lila will naturally have questions.

Among the Sarong Mountains, this is especially not a place suitable for people to live in, so why does a building suitable for people exist?

“I’ll go and take a look!”

However, while Lila was thinking that, Sasha, who was in charge of scouting for her group, quickly rushed in front of her.

No. Maybe she just wanted to go inside the cabin and avoid the sun that was heating up this hot earth even more.

＂Now, wait a minute, Sasha?!＂

Kuon called Sasha’s name, but Sasha had already run far and reached the front of the cabin.

Sasha narrowed her eyes like a hunter examining his prey, and she walked around the hut, observing.

Meanwhile, when the others followed Sasha and arrived in front of the cabin, they were surprised at how small the cabin was.

“… This. “Who is managing it, right?”

Even though it was a simple structure made of wood and stone, it was placed without any problems in this harsh environment.

And, I couldn’t help but be surprised once again that it didn’t look old at all on the outside and had a neat appearance as if it had been built less than a year ago.

“Sasha, how are you?”

“I don’t feel like I’m popular inside. And… It’s also dangerous.”

To Cleon’s question, Sasha answered that way.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her confident answer and herself, but everyone else looked at each other.

“Is it okay to go inside?”

“It’s a bit small for everyone to go in and rest, but… At least, it’s fortunate that there is a place like this to rest inside. For now, for Melusine and old man’s sake, I think it would be better to take a little rest.”

When Cleon said that and pointed at the two people, the two people nodded silently.

Almost drooping.

“Let’s go in and check inside. Me and… Rosé.”

＂Me, me?!＂

Rose, who had been quiet until then, was startled by Cleon’s words and pointed at herself with her index finger.

“Okay. Even if I don’t know anything else, I believe in your durability.”

Cleon responded casually to Rose’s reaction, and Rose looked questioning for a moment after hearing that, but then understood the meaning.

＂…? That means I have to take the lead…”

“Are you okay. If something happens, it will come out right away.”

＂If something happens, it will be too late!?＂

However, she understood that she was in no position to protest, so she had no choice but to walk to her door.

And Cleon is standing close behind her, his hand on the sword at his waist.

＂D, let’s go in…!＂

Rosé opened the door while saying that-

When I heard a rattling sound and opened the wooden door, the space inside the cabin came into view.

＂This, this…＂

Cleon will look a little surprised when he sees that scene.

No matter how you think about it, it was physically strange, but beyond that there was a space that looked like a very well-decorated inn.

Considering the space, it seemed like there would be no problem even if the whole group could fit in, and the beds were prepared to fit the number of people.

The lack of separate rooms may be a drawback as an inn, but at least you can lie down and rest.

Moreover, it was so quiet inside that it wasn’t worth having Rosé at the forefront.

There didn’t seem to be any traps, and as Sasha said, there didn’t seem to be any pretense of popularity.

＂How is this…?＂

Rose speaks in confusion and glances back at Cleon.

What she meant by ‘this’ was that, as Cleon himself felt, the difference in the size of her cabin when viewed from the outside and from the inside was enormous.

＂It looks like they’re probably using a technique like space distortion… But that’s not all. The temperature inside here is completely different from the outside. For some reason, it doesn’t even look like it’s been air-conditioned.”

A temperature just right for humans.

Cleon went inside with Rose and looked around a bit, looking for supplies such as food, but unfortunately there was nothing.

However, Cleon, who thought that there would be no problem staying inside even if there were no supplies, stuck out to the outside of the hut and spoke to his group.

“Everyone, I don’t think there will be any problem if you come inside. Plus… It’s quite spacious.”

＂…＂

At Cleon’s words, the party looked at each other for a moment.

＂1st place!＂

Schrödinger ran inside without even suspecting anything.

＂3rd place, I guess.＂

And then, starting with Lila walking in following Schrödinger, the others also step into the building one by one.

Everyone showed the same reaction as Rosé.

＂Chi, bed!!＂

And then Schrödinger throws his body onto the neat, soft-looking bed.

Her body sank to the bed and then surfaced, as if she had fallen into the water.

＂Ugh~!! I feel like my fatigue goes away just by lying down.”

＂Um, really…? Then I too…”

Kuonon, she must have been tired from walking all the time, so she went and sat down on the bed next to Schrödinger.

“It’s true… This bed may be better than the one used in the kingdom’s lodgings.”

“… No matter what the identity of this facility is, it would be better to take a little rest before leaving.”

“Ah. I agree. Even after leaving the returner’s mansion, I couldn’t rest much.”

Cleon nods her head at Attis’ words.

＂Aisha. Now you can relax and rest.”

And, as Cleon said that, he put his hand on Aisha’s shoulder, her face not bright, without saying a word until she came out of the Returner’s mansion and came here.

Although she had taken her revenge on Darwin with her own hands, it seemed that something about her had not yet been resolved.

“Ah, yes… I will do that.”

＂…＂

At Cleon’s words, Aisha smiled weakly and walked towards her bed like everyone else.

Likewise, as Cleon, who took revenge on someone in order to open up her own destiny, I thought it would be necessary to give her some advice.

She, being as strong a girl as she is, decided that it would be better to let her organize her thoughts on her own right now.

There is nothing else that will be on her side like time.

＂Cleon.＂

＂Huh?＂

At that time, her familiar voice called Cleon’s name.

She turns her head away from the group going up to their respective beds and looks behind her.

But since there were no others there, Cleon would ask.

＂By any chance, someone called me?＂

“Huh? No? “

Cleon scratched her head as the group shook their heads.

Suddenly, I could see a small doll sitting on what could be considered the counter of this cabin inn.

“Oh… When I came in earlier. Was something like this posted…?”

Cleon would feel a strange sense of déjà vu at the doll, but would tilt her head and wonder if something like this had happened when Rose and Chum entered the building.

Besides, that guy was a strange-looking doll.

First, black hair and black eyes.

And a doll modeled after a girl with a skin color close to white.

The clothes they were wearing… Were closer to clothes worn by characters in the original world, even though they had skirts, rather than something from the world they lived in.

Where on earth did this doll come from?

Her face, with its round eyes and pursed mouth, looked quite cute and lovely.

It was difficult to express such attachment to an unidentifiable object.

Thinking that it might be something dangerous, Cleon approaches the doll and lifts it with both hands.

Then, shake it and press its body to check what’s inside.

‘There are no dangerous items inside.’

And then have a snowball fight with that doll.

Since there was no response, it was at that moment that I thought it was just an ordinary doll and tried to put it back on the counter of the inn.

[That’s strange! Men usually look inside the skirt of these dolls!]

Suddenly, a girl’s voice came out from the doll.

＂Who says that!?＂

And Cleon taunted her without even knowing it.

Everyone gathered there looked at Cleon, who suddenly shouted at the doll.

＂Cleon…?＂

The gaze that was looking at me as if asking if I was okay was stinging.

“Oh, no. Just now, this guy…”

When Cleon said that, the head of the doll in his hand suddenly shook left and right.

It’s like shaking your body to the rhythm.

[Welcome! At Hotel Fugatorium! Since it’s been a long time since I was a guest, it took time to prepare, so the response was slow!]

And, when a cheerful and bright voice came out of the doll, each member of the group reacted with surprise.

＂The doll… Said…!?＂

“Hey, the characters overlap!”

Fleur reacts in surprise, and Schrödinger gets angry in a strange place.

But, what was most important was…

[I am the manager of this hotel and the guardian of this Jade Dragon Mountain – Guardian-TH! We sincerely welcome you here, the inhabitants of this world!]

The identity she revealed was very surprising.