Ch.423The NPC Going to Haiti (2)

“…What’s that? Hey, can you see that?”

“Huh? What is it. A sandstorm? Ah, shit. Was it in the IT forecast?”

“No, it wasn’t in today’s forecast.”

“Tsk, wrong again, I guess. Make an announcement that we’ll be shaking a bit.”

“Sigh, we’re almost home and now the weather’s acting up~”

In the control room of the running mado-engineering train, the two operators merely grumbled about the approaching sandstorm as they traveled across the desertified land that had developed alongside the city.

*

“…Hmm. Is it my turn today?”

“Really, these people keep doing the same thing over and over for a week.”

On the mado-engineering train heading to IT. It’s been a week already, but everything’s been smooth sailing so far. Salt Noon, sitting next to me with a spoon in hand, didn’t look particularly pleased.

How should I describe this? It could be considered a problem if we wanted to make it one, but it’s such a petty level of harassment that it feels trivial to even mention. That’s the situation we’re in.

“The food is always delicious, so it’s hard to complain.”

“Still, shouldn’t we say something? This has been going on all week.”

“Honestly, I didn’t want to eat yesterday. How can I eat when I can see someone’s touched my food?”

“…Chikuyo, didn’t you ask for seconds yesterday despite saying that?”

“Eek?! W-when did you see that…?!”

Chikuyo’s ears drooped as she blushed at the fact that I knew, which was cute enough to let slide. The real issue was Salt Noon. For the past week, someone had clearly been taking a large spoonful from his rice fried rice, which reminded him of meals from his past life. Despite his hesitation, he finally moved his spoon. Hmm, it must taste good, as his pointed elf ears perked up slightly.

“As expected, it tastes good.”

“If you don’t like it, I’ll trade with you. I took a spoonful too, but better me than a stranger, right?”

“It’s fine. I already know I can eat it, so I’ll finish it as is.”

This will be a memory from our journey too. Saying that, he continues eating, remarking that it’s not bad. It’s reassuring to see him moving normally now, when originally his hands and legs shouldn’t have been able to move after being tortured. And Ira, who’s guarding the chairman with Ray, must be eating proper meals without this kind of harassment. I don’t think there would be any lunatics messing with the food meant for a city chairman.

So we got used to this somewhat boring incident and started eating, but after a while…

-Ding dong♬ Ding dong♬

A loud sound like a doorbell from my past life rings out.

It’s the crystal orb for train announcements, which occasionally broadcasts the driver’s voice warning about rain or strong winds that might shake the train. Seems like something’s happening outside today too.

[Attention all passengers. We have entered the desert region as we approach IT. In about 20 minutes, we will be passing through a sandstorm. The train may shake significantly, so please finish any urgent business now and remain seated holding the safety bars when the train begins to shake. Once again, we announce…]

-Click.

“Everyone heard that? If you need to use the bathroom, go quickly and be back in your seats before the 20 minutes are up.”

I get up and tap the crystal orb to cut off the sound as I speak, and all three nod in response. In my past life, I really hated being forced to listen to the same loud announcements over and over, so it’s really nice that I can cut them off myself after hearing the initial broadcast.

After finishing our meal, Chikuyo and Miho left the room to pick flowers, while Salt Noon and I sat in our seats looking out the window.

“A desert, huh. It’s refreshing since there aren’t any near Siltra.”

“This is my first time seeing a desert too. It really is just rocky mountains and sand.”

While I’ve seen deserts through TV or videos in my past life, this is my first time seeing one in person, so I speak honestly. Salt Noon nods while looking out the window, but soon seems bored and starts reading a book. It’s one of the academy textbooks Ira brought, something like a social studies book with history and daily life information about various countries. He reads that book every day since it contains knowledge necessary for traveling outside.

Time passes, and as the sisters return from picking flowers and are about to sit down with us…

– ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯!!!

“”””?””””

We were told the train might shake significantly, but what is this?

With a tremendous roar, Chikuyo and Miho, who were approaching us, are lifted into the air before we who were seated. As I turn my head in the air with all my might to assess the situation, I see that the train windows are showing ground instead of desert. Wait, are we in the middle of overturning?!

-Grr.

I was told we’d enter a sandstorm in 20 minutes, but I didn’t know that meant the train would overturn. And it hasn’t even been 15 minutes yet, let alone 20! In this irritating situation, I grind my teeth while processing what’s happening, kick off the window sill my feet can reach, grab the completely defenseless Chikuyo and Miho floating in the air with both hands, and then catch Salt Noon with my body just before he hits the ceiling.

Ah, I can somehow manage the weight of three adults, but it’s a bit difficult with just my arms. Fortunately, it’s not just us floating—the furniture in the train car is also rising, and I kick the ceiling with all my might to throw the three people onto the bed. Right after that.

-Screeeeech⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯!!!

“Kyaaaah?!!”

“Kyaak?!!”

“Kuaaaak?!!”

Along with a metal-scraping sound that seems to tear through our eardrums, the group finally screams. Does this situation explain how quickly I moved? Before the three could even grasp what was happening, I push the bed once more to create a cushion so they don’t fall strangely, and all three—Chikuyo, Miho, and Salt Noon—start coughing painfully from the tremendous impact.

“Everyone check yourselves first. Anyone hurt?!”

“Kuh, kuhak. W-what on earth…?”

“D-did we overturn? I thought I was going to die!!”

“Kuluk! Kuluk! Ah, ugh. J-Jack. Thank you. I’m alive…”

Immediately after my words, Gordo helpfully confirms through status windows that all three are fine, and starts helping assess the situation.

[Ira and Ray are also safe. The train has collided with a monster. Currently, Ira is using gravity magic to forcibly keep the train from tipping over as it runs, but if the monster hits one more time, it will definitely overturn.]

I see. I thought it was strange how easy it was to move my body for being forcibly suspended in the air—Ira was doing something! Realizing once again that beloved siblings should be raised well, I tell the three to pull themselves together and then go to Ira and Ray, while I immediately run to the control room where the driver should be. When I arrive…

“Kuaaaaa!! What the fuck is that…?!! What did we hit?!!”

“It’s a Sand Dragon! What the hell!! We cleared them out before departure! This isn’t even their territory!! No, wait, why hasn’t the train overturned?! How are we still running?!?!”

I was going to treat any injuries and ask for an explanation of the situation, but I could immediately understand from the panicked screaming of the engineers who hadn’t fallen because they were wearing safety belts. It seems IT’s field boss, the Sand Dragon, had hit the train while mixed in with the sandstorm. Ah, can’t we have just one quiet day?

[Sand Dragon: Level 860]

[HP: 3,203,129]

Gordo, having assessed the situation, immediately displays the opponent’s level and HP. Huh, looking at those strange numbers, it seems the creature has already lost some HP from the collision, but why did it ram us in the first place? I approach the engineers’ seats to get the creature in my sight and look out the window, ignoring the engineers who shout in surprise at my sudden appearance, but I can’t assess the situation… I can’t see anything.

“Are we inside the sandstorm now?”

“W-who are you…!”

“I’m the chairman’s escort. So, are we in the sandstorm?”

All I can see outside from the control room is sand dust. I asked how they knew what monster it was when nothing was visible, and heard from an engineer that they saw the creature’s shadow just before entering the storm. Well then.

[Should we continue running like this? The creature is approaching from the side. This train is quite fast, but it will catch up soon.]

“What if we stop? Do we have means to stop that thing if we go outside?”

“W-what?”

“What do you mean stop?! We can’t even control the train right now…!”

“I wasn’t asking you. Just keep going straight ahead. Don’t panic, and use the announcements to inform the passengers about the situation. Do your job. Standing there screaming stupidly in panic isn’t your job, is it? If the controls aren’t working, fix them, and if it looks like we’re going to collide again, at least try to avoid it. Leave the monster to ‘us,’ the escorts.”

After reprimanding the engineers who were squawking at me, I immediately leave the control room and run again. The creature is indeed a strong field boss, but it’s not our enemy right now. Even in a sandstorm, we still have means to attack. Running straight to where she is—the one I love and depend on more than anyone…

“Ira! Can you just hold that field boss outside for a moment…?”

“Nnnngh!! B-brother!! It’s impossible!! I’m at my limit just keeping the train from falling over!!!”

Seeing my little sister sweating profusely as she grips the staff I bought her with both hands, I once again keenly realize how severely we lack ranged attack options.