Volume 3, Chapter 10 – The Caravan Crossing the Desert

“You want me to escort these young ladies to the Red Sky Empire?”

“That’s right. Master Marco, I’m counting on you. Your skills are well-known, so what do you say?”

“Even if you put it that way…”

The innkeeper was negotiating on our behalf with Marco-san, the caravan leader, but Marco-san looked reluctant.

Ahead of us lay a mountain range, and immediately beyond that, we would enter a barren desert region.

Rather than attempting to cross the desert on our own, accompanying a caravan would significantly reduce the risk of getting lost or stranded.

“And what can these young ladies actually do?”

“We can provide security. We have two swordsmen and one archer, and I can use Healing Magic and Holy Magic.”

“I’m not so desperate for manpower that I’d rely on women for guards. So, in short, this is a pilgrimage for a young cleric, is it?”

“Something like that. I need to go to Jinsha to fulfill my duties.”

It wasn’t exactly a cleric’s duty, but well, I suppose I could be considered a cleric for an Elf, and it’s still a duty regardless, so it wasn’t technically a lie.

Claiming to be a Saint would likely lead to all sorts of complications, and since the Elven village is our destination this time, I didn’t want to rely on the name value of a Saint and shoulder unnecessary burdens.

“That’s quite a trip to the frontier. Isn’t that near the Sky Mountain Range? Hmm, I’d love to help, but is there anything else you can do? For example, can you use Water Magic?”

“I can use it, though it’s only Skill Level 1.”

“Level 1, huh? Level 1 isn’t quite… Hmm, if only it were Level 2.”

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“Does that mean you need water for the desert ahead? How much do I need to produce?”

“If you can fill that water jar over there in one go, that’d be enough.”

“Understood. Um, would it be alright if I put water in that jar?”

I asked the innkeeper, and once he gave his consent, I began to produce water.

——Water Magic Come forth, water!

Splash.

A small amount of water, about the size of a glass, came out.

I continued to activate the skill repeatedly for as long as my MP allowed.

Splash, splash, splash, splash…

After continuing for about a hundred times, the water jar was finally full.

“How is this?”

“Ah, yeah. That’s impressive. Alright, you’ve got a deal. I’m Marco, captain of the Marco Caravan. Welcome aboard, ladies.”

“Thank you very much. I am Fiene Argentata. Next to me are Christina, Lumia, and Mieshiro Shizuku. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

And so, we joined the Marco Caravan.

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◇ ◇ ◇

We departed from the town of Yurgu. It was a large party with dozens of camels.

With Marco-san and four others, the sight of the camels walking in a single line was quite impressive.

And I was riding a camel.

Yes, for the first time since coming to this world, I was on a vehicle other than a carriage.

I’ve never ridden a camel even in my previous world, so it was a bit exciting.

By the way, I was the only one riding. Apparently, since my role was “water bottle,” I was exempt from walking so that I wouldn’t waste unnecessary stamina before then.

“Still, Fiene-san, I didn’t expect you to take to riding a camel so easily. I always figured most clerics weren’t much for physical activity, but I guess there are exceptions.”

Marco-san praised me, but it wasn’t that I was “handling” it. I just looked the creature in the eye and asked nicely. Then, this kind child happily agreed.

Hm? Did I do something wrong? What are you talking about? I’ll purify anyone who says strange things, you know?

“It’s only because this little one is kind enough to let me ride. I’m just holding the reins.”

“Hahaha. If humans could ride just by doing that, life would be a lot easier.”

I’m a Vampire, not a human. Wait, that’s not what he meant, is it?

“Fiene-sama seems to have a constitution that animals love. When I first met Fiene-sama, she was receiving fruit from the little forest birds, wasn’t she?”

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“Ah, come to think of it. That did happen. How nostalgic.”

While we chatted, we crossed the mountains and entered the desert region.

Before us stretched a desolate land where not a single blade of grass grew.

Though called a desert, it wasn’t like a sandy beach, but rather a barren wasteland scattered with pebbles.

It would take ten whole days to cross this desert region. I heard there was a single oasis about six days from here, but other than that, we would be camping in the wild.

“Alright, let’s start preparing the camp.”

As Marco-san announced, we set about the preparations. Now, it was my turn.

“Alright, Fiene-san. I’ll leave the water to you.”

“Leave it to me.”

I used Cleansing Magic to clean the water skins I received and then filled them with water.

Indeed, what I was doing wasn’t producing drinking water for immediate use, but replenishing the water that had been used. I was told this was to prepare for a situation where some accident might prevent me from producing water.

I see, that is certainly rational. Caravans that cross the desert are truly resilient.

While I acted as the water supply officer, the tents were efficiently pitched and fires were started.

We had agreed to handle our own meals, so we prepared our own, but our portions were inside my Storage.

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“Onee-sama, please give me food! ♪”

My little sister-figure becomes incredibly energetic when it comes to meals. I took the pot of stew out of Storage and handed it to her.

“Thanks, Onee-sama!”

In a great mood, she took the pot and put it over the fire to warm it up.

By the way, I only recently discovered that this little sister-figure can’t cook at all.

Considering how much she eats, you’d think she’d know how to cook.

“Lu-chan, please learn how to cook a little.”

“Okay~”

I lightly brushed off Lu-chan’s absent-minded reply, and once I finished my duties as the water supply officer, I sat down for dinner.

Today’s dinner was the stew she had warmed up and some bread.

It wasn’t particularly luxurious, but sharing a desert table with four—no, five people, including Riche, even if she doesn’t eat—was enjoyable.

We never ran out of topics, from our journey so far to Shizuku-san’s past, her hometown, and Chris-san’s time in the knights’ order.

Glancing over, I saw the sun setting over the western mountains we had crossed, dyeing the ridgeline a deep red.