The first day ended with nothing but a pile of raw materials, but I estimated the pack frame for the drone Meleo would be finished by the following afternoon. This meant we could depart as early as tomorrow night or the morning after.
"Hakuren, how long will it take to get back to the village using your method?" I asked.
"Hmm? It'll be quick. Very quick."
"I know it’s fast, but surely we need to prepare provisions or something for the trip?"
"No need for that," she replied.
"We can really get back that quickly?"
"Of course we can."
She was brimming with confidence.
"Alright. I'm counting on you then."
"Right. More importantly, make sure that pack frame is sturdy. It’s fine if it looks a bit like a box, but add as many handholds as possible."
"Good point. We have to make sure no one falls off."
"Exactly."
We chatted as the night passed, and work began again the next day. With the help of Daga, Galf, and the breeding ground caretakers, the pack frame was completed shortly after noon. It came together faster than I expected. Then again, I had processed the materials with the Universal Farming Tool, Hakuren had assembled them in her dragon form, and the others only had to secure the joints.
It was more than sturdy enough. Even if a large Meleo climbed on and started thrashed around, it wouldn't budge. Per Hakuren's request, I had added plenty of handles. We were ready to leave at any moment. The weather was perfect, so I decided we should head back immediately. Beezel had brought a reply to my letter earlier, and it stressed that I should return as soon as possible. Personally, I would have liked to examine the flora of this unknown land, but there would likely be other opportunities.
The drone Meleo climbed into the pack frame strapped to the back of Hakuren's dragon form. Joining him were Daga, Galf, Beezel, and myself. There had been a suggestion that Hakuren could carry only the Meleo while the rest of us traveled via Beezel's teleportation magic, but Daga and Galf were concerned about the drop in escort strength. They didn't want to risk a "just in case" scenario while Hakuren was on her own. Hakuren assured us that a few extra passengers wouldn't be a problem, so we all boarded together.
I was glad to be heading home, but I was also a little apprehensive. We went as far as tying ourselves to the frame's handles with ropes to prevent anyone from falling. Even when I asked about her specific method, she wouldn't tell me, insisting it was a surprise. Well, I trusted her. She might do things that seemed reckless, but she would never do anything that truly put our lives at risk.
"Well then, we're heading out!" she called.
I started to reply, but then I blinked. "Wait, what's with that gear on your arms?"
The equipment hadn't been there while we were building the pack frame, but now she had integrated shield and scabbard units on both forearms. And they were dragon-sized.
"It would be a pity if I wasn't wearing my gear when we got home, right?"
...Fair point. "There's no issue moving while you're wearing it, right?"
"None at all."
"Alright. Let's go."
We waved to Silkyne, the caretakers, and the female Meleos who had gathered to see us off. The drone Meleo called out to his mates, promising he would return soon. Then, Hakuren floated gently into the air.
"Oh, by the way, Village Head. I won't be able to talk to you during the trip."
"Wait, really?"
"I have to concentrate, otherwise we might end up in the wrong place."
"I-I see. Got it."
Once I confirmed I understood, Hakuren began to gain altitude vertically. She was moving at an incredible speed, but we were likely shielded by her magic; we felt no physical strain at all. Because of that, I stayed quite relaxed.
... ................ ................................................................
While I was busy bracing myself, we ended up in space. No, strictly speaking, it was likely still the stratosphere—the altitude where satellites orbit. It wasn't quite the void of the cosmos, but it was close enough. The view was breathtaking. I could see the planet beneath us—I suppose I should call it Earth. This other world's version of Earth was clearly spherical. It was truly a moving sight.
Then, I finally understood Hakuren's method. By ascending past the atmosphere, she could essentially bypass the planet's rotation to cover massive distances. Even if we didn't move ourselves, the world would spin beneath us. Of course, that only worked for traveling east or west; we would still have to move north or south on our own power, but...
Suddenly, Hakuren began a steep dive. We were plummeting. The speed was... terrifying. Are we okay? Are we not just falling? Is Hakuren's body catching fire? Oh, right—reentry. The phenomenon where the compression of air creates high-intensity heat. I realized I was slipping into escapism; the reality was far too frightening. Perhaps passing out like Daga, Galf, and Beezel was the smarter move. The drone Meleo was... somehow hanging on. Alright, I'll hang on until the end too.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, the shields on Hakuren’s arms split apart, transforming and expanding. A blue light pulsed from the newly exposed parts. It looked incredibly cool. I knew instinctively that the transformation served no practical purpose—the Mountain Elves would have bragged about it otherwise if it did. This was a gimmick designed purely to surprise me. Which means the Full Armor has the same mechanism, doesn't it? I decided to ask her to show me once we were safely on the ground. Yes, this was also escapism.
The ground drew closer, and the terrain became recognizable. Ah, right, that area is the Forest of Death... Just as I realized where we were, our descent speed slowed. We returned to Hakuren's usual flight pace.
"How was it?" Hakuren’s voice reached me.
It was finally safe to talk again. I could clearly see Village Four and the Village of the Great Tree below us.
"You were surprised, weren't you?"
"W-Well, yeah. Anyone would be shocked to see a sight like that out of nowhere. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
"So, where should I land? The Village of the Great Tree? Or Village Four?"
"Ah, right. Since we're delivering the drone Meleo, Village Four would be better. Head there."
"Roger that! Leave it to me!"
From the Meleo breeding ground to Village Four, the trip had taken about an hour and some change by my reckoning. The ultraviolet rays and radiation had been blocked by Hakuren’s magic. There were no ill effects on the human body.