Chapter 38 "Unexpected Situation Late at Night"

It had been drizzling down the mountainside since the afternoon, soaking the leaves and tree trunks above my head. Luckily, Dimas and I were able to make a tent out of tarpaulin just before the rain started, so there was no need to be afraid that the water would wet my body.

This emergency tent wasn't too big, only enough to accommodate three people and the belongings. Because of this narrow space, Dimas, Kak Shella, and I arranged for our bags to be placed in the middle of the tent so they wouldn't get wet. That was what made me make peace with the splash of rain that fell on the ground.

A breezy wind tickled my nape, creating a chill that enveloped my body. Knowing our journey would climb up the mountain, I had prepared myself by bringing a jacket from Glafelden Town. Even though I'd put it on, it still couldn't resist the freezing cold. Naturally, this cheap jacket for twenty pieces of bronze was made of thin material. Maybe it was no different than normal clothes.

For a moment, I regretted my decision to choose this jacket. I was tempted by the model was so cool. Though, I'd be able to get a thick jacket for the same price. Just look at Dimas! The man didn't seem cold at all in his thick jacket. We shopped together right before going on an adventure. If only I had listened to his advice, maybe I wouldn't have been this cold.

"What are you looking at?" asked Dimas, who noticed my gaze.

"I'm cold. Wanna exchange jackets?"

"No way! It's your own fault for choosing such a thin one!" Dimas immediately snorted in front of my nose. "You really think we're going on a study tour? If you want, just use your magic to warm up your body!"

"If I could, I have done it earlier, you idiot!"

Dimas ignored my words. He turned his face outside the tent even though there was nothing to see outside. Meanwhile, I dropped my gaze to the oil lantern in the middle of the tent. Gave a little light in the thick darkness around. I could only hope that this light source didn't invite any beasts here.

I huddled under the tent with my arms crossed. Kak Shella, who felt sorry for me, gave me a piece of cloth. Compared to a cloth, it was more like a light blanket. Thicker than cloth but thinner than blankets. Wrapped with this thing really reduced the cold from outside. Finally, I could feel the warmth in my body.

For dinner, we prepared the gathered ingredients while the sun was still shining. When we passed the overgrown path with fungus on both sides, of course, we didn't want to miss it. After sorting, we brought a lot of mushrooms that were safe for consumption.

We cooked using some kind of charcoal briquette I bought in Glafelden. Fortunately, in this world, briquettes and lighters had been found. If not, maybe right now we should look for firewood and try to fire by rubbing two sticks together. It would be more troublesome and very inefficient.

Dimas made a stove from a pile of small stones that formed a rectangle. After that man placed a few pieces of briquettes in the center of the stone and lit it, he placed a small metal cauldron on the rock. Even though this wasn't a picnic trip, I still wanted essential needs like food to be fulfilled. So I bought a small cauldron that I could carry in my bag. This way, we could cook anything without having to eat it raw.

"This is delicious!" I exclaimed enthusiastically, looking at Dimas, eating his mushroom soup. "I forgot that you're a restaurant entrepreneur's son."

Dimas didn't answer. The man just sighed and continued his dinner.

"Oh, sorry! Did I remind you of the past?" I asked carefully, afraid of hurting his heart.

"Indeed, but it doesn't have to be like that. I can still control myself. Not like you!" Dimas replied in a flat tone.

"Serious?"

The man glanced at me out of the corner of his eye without turning his face to me. "Have you forgotten the meaning of this journey?"

"Huh?"

Dimas took a deep breath. "You haven't forgotten our goal, have you? Find and collect Spirit Crystals, then we'll head home. So there's no need to go to great lengths to sympathize because we will return to our homeworld. So stop your nonsense chatter and finish your dinner!"

Dimas's nagging stabbed into my super sensitive ears. My eardrums hurt because of it.

It was true what he said. This journey aimed to find eleven Spirit Crystals from various parts of the world, then collect them. After the Hope Spirit Crystal appeared, we would beg for all of my friends and me to be returned to earth. It was easy to put it into words.

But I knew, no. The three of us knew that this journey would be very long and very difficult. The location of the first Spirit Crystal has indeed been obtained, but what about the others? Would it be easy or hard to find? Or maybe some were missing and destroyed? For now, I don't know the answer yet. This journey would probably take two or three years or more than I could imagine.

However, not a single person from Dimas, Kak Shella, or I gave up and retreated. We could only move forward. Who knew what would happen in the future.

"If we really are going back to earth, what about Anggi? Will she return to being a man or remain a girl like this?"

"She'll stay like that forever," answered Dimas briefly in response to Kak Shella's fad question.

"No way! I'll also ask to be turned back into a man, you know!" I protested loudly.

"Obviously you can't, idiot! Try to remember the Dragon Balls cartoon. When all the balls were collected, the dragon Shen Long could only grant one wish. If we have to choose to turn you into a boy or return to our original world, surely all of our friends will choose the second option. So just accept your fate as a girl completely. Maybe when we're back to earth, you'll meet a rich businessman and get married and have kids with him."

"Y-You bastard!" I swore, annoyed. If the situation had been better, I would have punched him right now. "I will still be a man on earth later, even if I have to have sex surgery in Thailand!"

"You crazy bitch!"

The feud between the two of us continued until dinner ended. Kak Shella laughed at my and Dimas' behavior. This kind of light conversation melted the atmosphere amidst the cold that covered these mountains. Made us forget the presence of the rain that continued to pour without stopping at all.

It was getting late, we decided to rest here until the sun rose. Watches still hadn't been invented in this world, so I wasn't sure exactly what time it was. Judging from the length of time since the sky had darkened, it seemed like it was around eight or nine o'clock in the evening.

I got to stand guard for the first three hours, then Dimas for the next three hours. Dimas and I agreed not to add Kak Shella's name to the list because she wasn't very suitable for this job. Apart from not being used to being awake at night, I also doubted her alertness at critical times. Besides, I wanted to see her fit to continue the journey tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Dimas asked to rest first because his head hurt slightly. In a small emergency tent, it wouldn't fit three people lying down at the same time. So I let the man and Kak Shella slept in the tent with all our luggage. While I sat under a tree outside. Luckily the rain had stopped. Otherwise, I would have had to spend my guard time under the splashing water.

While sitting on the roots of a pine tree, I pondered. It wasn't clear what I did. I walked back and forth from one tree to another. Then carved my own name on the tree trunk. I played with my Viglet and tried to cast some minor technical spells every now and then.

"Vitr Ans!"

As soon as I pointed the tip of my Viglet at a rock the size of a cow, the heavy object flew above the ground. As if ignoring the laws of physics, the rock floated in the air regardless of mass and gravity. Isaac Newton wouldn't believe this. Maybe he would rise from his grave if he found out magic really existed. The magic system in this world or Esze was beyond reason. Modern people like me didn't even have the slightest idea how it worked in detail.

After a few seconds, I dropped the rock where it came from, producing a loud thud. I stared in awe at this black ivory-patterned Viglet. So elegant, strong, and reliable. Normally, I could only lift a wooden table or chair, but I could lift objects that weigh many times more with this thing.

I suddenly thought of something. How about I give it a name? A superb thing like this should have an equally great name. I didn't give the old Viglet a name that was destroyed. After all, it was just cheap secondhand stuff.

In contrast to this black Viglet, what I held in my hand was special. I guessed I should give it a name. This viglet was black as the darkness of the night, gave a mysterious impression, and was very strong. What do you think is a suitable name? After pondering and thinking hard, I finally came up with a name.

"Viglet of Hope," I said softly with pleasure.

I wasn't really good at naming. That was why I named it as simple as possible. Hope this Viglet could help me through all the obstacles ahead and lead me to the Hope Spirit Crystal. That was the meaning contained in this name. From now on, I would call this thing by that name.

After that, I tried some Esze tricks with Viglet of Hope. In addition to the techniques Almira taught me, I tried to combine two spells. Although the result wasn't what I expected, at least this combined technique could be useful for defeating the enemies that would come later.

My guard time was up. Now it was my turn to rest. I returned to the tent and woke Dimas to change the shift. My hands shook his body, but he didn't budge as if he didn't want to get up and take his turn. I tried to shake him even harder, even shouting loudly at him. However, Dimas was still asleep in his sleep.

It was weird. He wasn't usually like this. He was the most agile among us. Usually, Dimas would wake up when he felt something was wrong. His instincts were quite sharp when in the wild. But this time, he looked like the unemployed lazy to wake up. Because I was annoyed that Dimas didn't wake up, I wanted to prank him by closing his nostrils. Let's see, will he still sleep when he can't breathe?

A moment later, I pointed my finger at the man's face. It was only when my hand touched Dimas' skin that I realized something odd. His body was as hot as smoldering coals. His breath hitched, his mouth let out a small, incoherent slur. It was obvious he wouldn't be able to answer my calls in such a bad condition.

"Dimas!!"