Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

A wilderness stretched out before them.

A few newly sprouted bushes and withered grass. The moss had not yet regained its green color.

At the town of Inno, we were stopped by a large group of people, but we shook them off and set out, and after about two hours, the road was completely gone.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

The road was completely gone.

We are told that the rainy season in this area is in May. We have a little more than half a month to go.

"If the grass starts to grow, it will be more difficult to find the path, so maybe it's just as well.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Jin chuckles to himself. The car moves forward, step by step.

It was difficult to go faster than usual, because we had to keep looking for what barely looked like footprints or partially leveled areas. The average speed was about 10 km/h.

Jin estimates that the distance is about 300 kilometers. If we traveled 100 km per day, it would take us three days to reach the destination.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

The first day passed uneventfully.

Day 2.

The air felt somewhat cooler, probably due to the northward movement.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

The peak of the mountain on our left was now behind us, and the view to the west opened up.

"Is that the Great Sahara Desert?

The sandy desert stretches out in the distance. This is the location of the automata guiding the leader of the town of Miyako.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Looking to the right, the gravel desert and the Harihari Desert seem to be in the distance.

Actually, we can't see that far, but that's just our mood.

And ahead is the yellowish land of spring.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"It looks like it's going to be less arid from here on out."

The place is in the middle of the Laurentian continent.

However, Jin felt that the land had become somewhat more moist, perhaps because it had passed the watershed point and was more easily influenced by the northern sea winds.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Brother Jin, it's going to rain.

Erza looked up at the sky and muttered worriedly.

"Oh, it's true. Black clouds seem to be increasing, Jin.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Saki also looked out the window and said worriedly.

"Well, it will rain when it rains. Well, if it does, we should return to Horai Island, right?

"Kuhu, you don't seem nervous at all, as if you are traveling in an unknown land.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Finally, the rain started to trickle down.

"Come to think of it, I've never seen rain in the field before.

When we built the car, we had done test runs to check for leaks and operation in the rain, but this was the first time we had actually driven in the rain for an extended period of time.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"It looks like it's going to be a real downpour.

In case of emergency, there is no problem as long as a <> is deployed to protect against the liquid.

Just then, the car stops unexpectedly.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Edgar, what's wrong?　Is there something wrong?"

"No, Master Jin, it's not that. It's just that there seems to be a big puddle ahead.

Edgar confided, "It's so big that I can't decide whether it's better to go right or left.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"I see. ....... Reiko, any news from the <>?"

Reiko was checking with the old man via the built-in manacam (manacam), and then she reported with an apologetic look on her face.

"Yes, father. I'm sorry, but the rain clouds have covered the area and we can't see it. However, this rain seems to be localized.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"I see. ......"

I could have checked the image before the rain, but that would have made no sense since there were no puddles yet.

"Let's wait and see. It doesn't look like it's going to rain for very long."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Jin stopped the car and waited for the rain to stop, thinking that if it was like an evening shower, it would clear up soon.

The rain was pouring down in torrents, and the sound of it hitting the roof of the car made it seem quieter.

"The rain never stops, does it?

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Hannah said boredly.

Outside the window, the sky was gray and smoky, and visibility was poor.

Hannah, it's going to stop soon. Look, the sky over there is getting brighter.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Even on this planet, there seems to be a westerly wind blowing in the mid-latitudes, and the weather tends to shift from the west.

The sun was already shining in the direction of the Great Sahara Desert.

"I've heard it rains in the desert, too."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Jin looked out the window, thinking in the corner of his mind that a desert is defined as having annual precipitation of less than a few hundred millimeters.

"But it rarely rains, right?　If that's the case, then we are having a precious experience.

Saki laughed, "We got to see the rain in the desert, which doesn't happen many times a year.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"But Saki, this isn't a desert, is it?"

Hannah interrupted.

Indeed, the place where Jin and the others are now is more like a step than a desert.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

As he was not a meteorologist, he could not determine whether or not the strictly earthly climate classification would apply.

"Umm, well, yeah..."

Saki flinches. Hanna's knowledge has been growing remarkably recently.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"...... the sound of the rain is getting quieter."

Elsa, who had been silently listening, blurts out.

The sound of the rain on the roof is indeed getting quieter.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Look, the clouds are breaking.

The sky seen from the window on the side opposite to Elsa's ...... window suddenly became brighter and a ray of light was shining through.

"It didn't rain for an hour. ......"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

In the blink of an eye, the clouds parted and the earth regained its brightness and color.

"Wow, baby, look at this!　It's amazing!"

Hannah points in the direction. Roughly northeast, there was a puddle of water glistening in the sunlight.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"It's really amazing."

"It's beautiful."

"It's so mysterious!"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

The puddle was about ten times the size of a soccer field.

There were still a few rain rings, but the visibility was now wide enough.

"Oh, I should have gone around to the left.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

If we had gone to the right, we would have gone around about 80% of the wide puddle.

On the other hand, if we turned left and went around, we would only have to go around 20% of the puddle.

"Okay, Edgar, let's go around from the left."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Yes."

Edgar then tries to start the car .......

The rear wheels are spinning and the car will not go forward. The car is stuck.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

With the muddy ground and thin tires, it would be strange if the car does not slide into the muddy ground.

"It's no use, Reiko, please."

"Yes, Father."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Reiko runs outside.

Of course, using her force field generator, she floats in the air.

She does this so that her feet do not get caught in the muddy ground. At the same time, it is also a way to keep your clothes and shoes clean.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"I push!

and the car started to move. Edgar lightly steps on the accelerator pedal.

The tires, which had been stuck in the mud, began to move.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Okay, I think we're all right now.

Just to be sure, he kept going until the ground was no longer muddy.

After about 15 minutes, we rounded a puddle and the muddy area was over and the ground became hard and gravelly, so we stopped the car for a while.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Reiko also stopped pushing using the force generator and returned to the car.

"Thank you, Reiko."

Jin thanked Reiko.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

The other members also praise Reiko's work.

"Well, we still have some time before the sun goes down, so let's keep going a little further.

Jin and his group's trip was generally going well.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com