"Well then, let's pull it out!" (Mile)
Mile, who had heard a lot from Slow Walker, told Reina and the other two.
"If things continue like this, humans… no, the human species, other species, animals, plants, everything in this world will suffer great damage. Some things may even become extinct. However, if we bring back this information and spread it around, maybe we can prevent everyone from becoming confused and not understanding what is going on, being unable to work together and being overrun by monsters, and instead allow them to fight properly!" (Mile)
"...But would you believe such an absurd story..." (Pauline)
In response to Mile's words, Pauline, who seemed to understand what Mile and Slow Walker were saying the most out of the other three, spoke worriedly.
"But it's better than doing nothing! Besides, according to what Slow Walker just said, the place that everyone thinks is the invader's invasion point... the place where the new species originates is not the actual dimensional rift, but a precursor to it, or more like an anchor or balancer that stabilizes the actual rift, so if we carry on like this, we might end up being ambushed from behind..." (Mile)
From what Mile had just heard from Slow Walker, Kingdom of Marlene, Kingdom of Trist, and Aubram Kingdom and the temporary dimensional rifts that had randomly opened in the three eastern countries, Kingdom of Marlene, Kingdom of Trist, and Aubram Kingdom, were "Adjustment test", and the rift that had remained open for a long time was a counter-mass to stabilize the main rift that was about to open. And that the main rift would open in this country, Albarn Empire.
Yes, the same place as last time... That's why many of the underground ruins left behind by prehistoric civilizations, as well as the village of ancient dragons, were located in Albarn Empire...
"Anyway, it's a waste of time just standing here talking. Let's discuss it on our way home. So, Slow Walker, thank you very much for everything. Please let me know if you get any new information!" (Mile)
[Yes. At that time, ...I will send the one Administrator-sama called 'Little Mecha-Bird'.] (Slow Walker)
Slow Walker did not specifically ask for any instructions from Mile. Perhaps it was satisfied with the words that Mile had previously spoken to the terminal device and the Scavenger, or perhaps it was fully aware of what they need to do even without such things...
"Well then, let's go back!" (Mile)
"Wait, wait a moment..." (Pauline)
"What? What's the matter, Pauline-san?" (Mile)
When Mile shouted for them to return to base, Pauline, with a pale face, tried to stop her.
"Um, well, Mile-chan... Perhaps we're going up the same path we came down..." (Pauline)
"Ah……" (Reina + Mavis)
……Impossible. The faces of Pauline, Reina and Mavis said it all. Even when descending, they were over their limit, so ascending was obviously impossible. If it's Mavis, with plenty of breaks she should be able to return home after spending a night on the way. ...However, Pauline and Reina would probably be useless on the second day.
"Um, Slow Walker, what about another route..." (Mile)
And the answer to Mile's question was...
[None. The elevators and float systems are all broken, and the shortest route, maintenance passageway, and emergency escape route are all blocked off. The only route currently connecting to the outside world is the one excavated by the servants.] (Slow Walker)
"Ah, as I thought..." (Mile)
Hearing this, Reina and Pauline collapsed in despair.
"Hmmmmmm..." (Mile)
At this rate, it would take about three days to get back to ground level. That would be a waste of time, but it would also render Reina and Pauline useless for a few days after they reached the surface. That would be a bit bad and too hard on both of them. Mavis was doing stretches and other exercises behind Reina and the others, perhaps thinking that it would be good training, but Reina and Pauline looked on with despair.
"...Hmm, hmm... What should I do..." (Mile)
Mile was thinking hard, but she couldn't come up with a good idea. Then, when she looked to the side, she saw the six Scavengers that had been their guards and guided them.
"...This is it! Double Buster, this is it!" (Mile)
…Yes, if it was difficult to return home on one's own, one could simply board a vehicle. If you had someone else to carry you....
"So that's why I made this!" (Mile)
In front of everyone was a palanquin that Mile had haphazardly made out of wood he had taken from her item box. A palanquin was a vehicle that had a platform on top of poles, on which people sit. It was carried by multiple people. Of course, there was no roofed section like a portable shrine, and the platform on which people sit was just a board stretched between two poles. Also, a cushion was attached as a service to prevent them from getting sore on their bottoms. ...There were three of them.
"This, Scavenger... I'd like the 'Servants' to carry it in pairs!" (Mile)
Mile could walk by herself. It's not a big burden. Besides, there were only six Scavenger, so there was no other way. If Golem was there, she could have him sit on its shoulder, but since it wasn't there, there was nothing she could do. It would take time to call it now, and besides, both Rock Golem and Iron Golem's bottoms would get cold if she sat on its shoulders, and it looked painful.
Also, the viewpoint was quite high, which seemed a little scary, and if you're not careful, there was a risk of hitting your head on the uneven ceiling. If Golem hit its head on a ledge in the ceiling at its walking speed, you would probably die. Therefore, it was safest to ask Scavenger to carry them.
"Mile, you did it!" (Reina)
"Mile-chan, I believed in you!" (Pauline)
"Ahaha..." (Mavis)
Mavis didn't seem to mind if she carried the palanquin or walked, but for Reina and Pauline it was a matter of life and death. So, Mile was given rare words of praise.
"Well then, let's get going!" (Mile)
"Oooh!!" (Other 3)
Then, Reina and the rest got on the palanquin, with Mile walking alongside them. Scavenger, as the orphans called it "Shakashaka-sama," was a very fast walker, so it looked like they would reach the surface quite quickly.
"...So, why is it before dawn...?" (Mile)
"…………" (Other 3)
Yes, the time they entered the cave, the time it took them to go down, the time it took them to talk to Slow Walker and to make the palanquin, and the time it took them to go back. Based on these calculations, it was inconceivable that now that Mile and her party had returned to the surface, it was still only the twilight before dawn.
"……" (All CV)
As Mile and her party remained silent with puzzled looks on their faces, Nanomachines began to speak to Mile by vibrating her eardrums.
[Umm, Mile-sama, I'm sorry to say this, but...] (Nano)
(Hmm? What?) (Mile)
[It has now been 38 days since Mile-sama and his family went underground...] (Nano)
(Eh?) (Mile)
Mile was stunned and for a moment and didn't understand what Nanomachines was saying.
[No, well, 38 days have already passed since then...] (Nano)
Nanomachines seemed to have not noticed this until now and was not very clear about their answer. Then, after thinking about it slowly, Mile finally seemed to understand the situation.
"A time statis field! Is that what Slow Walker called a 'time scale variable device'?! That bastard, was trying to delay even a little the time before he deteriorated and broke, so even while we were talking, he left the innermost device functioning without stopping it!?" (Mile)
Reina and the other two looked confused when they heard Mile's scream, not understanding what she was talking about...
Author's Note
The short story that I wrote as a bookstore bonus when the 5th volume of my work "Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement" was released (August 2019) is now posted on the Kodansha Light Novel Editorial Department's blog.
I would be happy if you could read it. (^^)