"Let's tentatively call the outside world the 'Yellow Sand World.' Right now, we need to clarify two things..."
While speaking, Kitahara handed the Book of Answers to Taki:
"One is the clear condition, and the other is the main source of danger. Conveniently, exactly two question attempts remain for today. Taki, you ask first."
"...Leave it to me."
With a serious expression, Taki reached out and took the Book of Answers.
When it came to serious business, she naturally wouldn't act contrary.
Rustle, rustle.
As Taki asked softly, the Book of Answers flipped rapidly on its own without any wind, and soon words quietly emerged.
[You have arrived in a world of Road Survival. Having perceived the hidden rules of this world, you realize you must travel over a thousand kilometers to leave this world.]
"Road Survival?"
A peculiar expression appeared on Kitahara's face, feeling as though he had entered some kind of wildly popular fragmented world.
"The weather outside is blistering hot, and we actually have to travel over a thousand kilometers?" Taki knitted her delicate brows, looking over with worry. "Even if it's you, you'll definitely suffer heatstroke, won't you?"
"I'm naturally happy that Taki cares about me," Kitahara stretched out his right hand, placing it on Taki's head. "Though don't underestimate me."
"Huh?"
Taki's small face flushed slightly red, swiftly swatting Kitahara's arm away:
"Don't pat my head, I won't grow taller!"
The fastest growth period for girls is middle school; you're not growing any taller at this point anyway, alright!
"It's fine," Kitahara comforted her. "Being petite is very cute too."
Taki was so peeved that she bared her teeth and tried to bite him:
"...Disgusting!"
Kitahara took half a step back, effortlessly dodging Taki's 'hungry tiger pouncing on its prey,' then said unhurriedly:
"Ordinary people can't bear the scorching heat, but I should be fine... There's still one last question attempt left. Misumi-san, please do the honors."
"Eh?"
Uika Misumi's blonde hair quivered lightly. The moment her gaze met Kitahara's, her pretty face instantly flushed crimson; hurriedly looking down toward her toes, she took the Book of Answers with both hands, shyly stammering:
"L-Leave it to me..."
Inside the Onsen Dimension were five girls—Sakiko, Mutsumi, Taki, Hitori, and Uika Misumi—which, combined with Kitahara, made six people in total, whereas the Book of Answers only offered five questions per day.
In other words, Kitahara could have entirely used this final question attempt himself.
However, doing so would render Uika Misumi completely 'useless.'
Back when they were in the pool world, Taki had mentioned wanting Uika Misumi to help ask questions.
After all, they didn't intend to let Uika leave the Onsen Dimension; if they didn't even entrust her with a trivial matter like asking a question, that feeling of being excluded from the group would surely be miserable.
Kitahara looked toward Taki and winked subtly:
"Taki, remember to give me a reward."
"Ptooey~"
With a slight blush, Taki spat softly in disdain and muttered under her breath:
"Stop having a mind full of lewd thoughts!"
Kitahara looked over with a smile:
"I clearly said 'reward,' yet Taki immediately thought of that sort of thing. Just whose head is filled with lewdness here?"
"Huh?"
Embarrassed and flustered, Taki clenched her small fists in indignation:
"It's clearly you, alright!"
"..."
While they bantered, Uika Misumi had already completed the inquiry ritual.
"Words have appeared in the book."
"Thanks."
Kitahara looked toward the Book of Answers, raising an eyebrow slightly:
"Extreme heat, thirst, and monsters... Splendid, I'm quite satisfied."
Taki crossed her arms over her chest: "There are so many sources of danger, yet you're saying you're satisfied?"
Kitahara said as a matter of course:
"Compared to those invisible, shapeless dangers in the pool world, intense heat and monsters are actually much more adorable."
"What are you on about..."
Although Taki wanted to roast him, thinking it through carefully, it actually made a lot of sense.
Compared to mental oppression and dread, physical sources of danger were indeed easier to stomach.
Kitahara picked up a can of sports drink, threw his head back, and chugged it in one breath:
"Rest well, everyone. I'll make a trip outside first to gather some intelligence."
"No way," hearing this, Taki spread her arms, blocking Kitahara's path. "Heading out alone is too dangerous. I'll go with you."
Kitahara held up both hands: "The outside world no longer has mental pollution."
"Still no," Taki's tone brooked no refusal. "Letting you go out alone is far too risky."
"How is it risky?"
Taki raised her face and suddenly asked:
"If you run into a monster out there, what will Kitahara-san do?"
"Hmm... I'd punch the monster to death?"
Kitahara chose to tell the truth.
"That's precisely the problem!" Taki crossed her arms, her small face dead serious. "When normal people encounter a monster, the first reaction is definitely to hide. Even if they don't hide, they'd observe cautiously from afar. How could anyone's head be filled solely with the thought of punching it to death?!"
"Mhm, mhm," Hitori nodded in agreement. "Taki makes a lot of sense."
"That's why someone must accompany Kitahara-san," Taki exhaled softly, her eyes sincere. "We might not be able to help much, but as long as we're by your side, Kitahara-san will definitely be more alert and cautious, right?"
"..."
Kitahara fell silent for two seconds, then suddenly said warmly:
"I like Taki."
"Huh?"
Taki's small face flushed beet red in an instant, glaring at him in sheer embarrassment:
"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
"Didn't hear it clearly, Taki?" Kitahara smiled at her. "Then I'll say it again..."
Thump!
Taki clenched her small fist, hopped up, and whacked Kitahara's kneecap:
"Don't say it! Know when to stop already!"
Blurting out that you like me right in front of Uika and Hitori—do you have no sense of shame whatsoever?!
"Understood. Moving in a team it is then."
Kitahara looked down, speaking gently:
"However, Taki's mental state hasn't recovered yet, has it?"
"I'm fine now," Taki averted her gaze guiltily. "Nothing is wrong with me at all."
"U-Um..."
Gathering her courage, Hitori raised a timid hand:
"I can go out with Kitahara-san, and let Taki stay in the Onsen Dimension to get some good rest, okay?"
Uika Misumi parted her lips and spoke softly:
"I can do my part as well..."
"There actually is something that requires Misumi-san's help," Kitahara turned his head to look over. "Mutsumi and Sakiko haven't woken up yet, and Taki isn't in top shape either. Please stay in the Onsen Dimension to look after them, Misumi-san."
"Understood," Uika Misumi agreed crisply. "Leave it completely to me."
"..."
Consultation concluded.
Kitahara acted promptly, leading Hitori out of the Onsen Dimension together.
"Ah... Is this the desert world?"
Hitori's eyes widened, looking around inquisitively.
Earlier in the Onsen Dimension, Taki's description of the outside had only brushed over it. Now, seeing with her own eyes the boundless yellow sand, a dilapidated highway stretching to the end of the world, and rusted, abandoned vehicles littering both sides of the road, Hitori naturally parted her mouth in awe, thoroughly dumbfounded.
"This is Hitori's first time in a desert, right?"
Kitahara surveyed the surrounding environment while casually chatting with Hitori.
"Mhm, mhm," Hitori nodded hastily. As a shut-in, traveling far from home was out of the question. "I've only ever seen deserts on the internet before; seeing one in person is super awe-inspiring."
"You won't find it awe-inspiring for long; soon, all you'll want is to rush right back to the Onsen Dimension."
Kitahara clenched his hand lightly in mid-air. The mark of the [Scale of God] on his wrist quietly illuminated, and a professional thermometer materialized out of thin air.
A thermometer was merely a small novelty; it took only a tiny sum of money to obtain via equivalent exchange, so Kitahara didn't mind the cost at all.
"Ah?"
Hitori looked over blankly, wanting to ask why, but quickly realized the answer.
The temperature in the Onsen Dimension was comfortable, even slightly cool, but upon stepping into the Road Survival world, that lingering coolness vanished in an instant, replaced by suffocating, billowing heat that surged forward and swiftly swallowed them whole.
"S-So hot..."
Before she had even lasted a single minute, Hitori felt sweat pouring out across her whole body, to the point where even her pores began to feel parched and scorched.
(So hot, so hot, so hot, I feel like I'm dehydrating...)
(The desert world really is terrifying. If I were stranded here all by myself, wouldn't I be baked into dried salted fish in less than half a day?)
"Measured it..." Kitahara held the thermometer before Hitori. "The current temperature is fifty-three degrees."
"The temperature is actually that high?!"
Hitori's eyes widened in shock.
"No wonder all my clothes were soaked through with sweat in the blink of an eye. With a temperature this high, if an egg dropped onto the ground, it would be fried cooked immediately, wouldn't it?"
The survival temperature limit for ordinary people is forty degrees; once the temperature exceeds forty degrees, it can cause death from hyperthermia. Exposed to a desert environment of fifty-three degrees, ordinary people likely couldn't last even an hour.
"Does Hitori want to hold out a bit longer, or head back to the Onsen Dimension right now?"
Kitahara asked in a gentle voice.
"I-I can still hold out!"
Hitori clenched her delicate fists, cheering herself on.
"Then let's hold out for a little longer; since we're already here, we should at least do some simple scouting..."
As Kitahara spoke, he activated the Scale of God, exchanging for a white sunhat.
"Here."
"Thank you, Makoto-kun."
Hitori hurriedly put on the sunhat, letting out a gentle sigh of relief.
"Want some iced soda?"
Kitahara asked softly.
"Mgh..." Hitori lifted her small face, a glimmer of longing flashing across her eyes as she involuntarily pursed her parched lips, answering honestly, "I want some."
"Call me boyfriend," Kitahara smiled and looked at her. "Say it, and I'll give Hitori iced soda to drink."
"U-Um..."
"Think it through, Hitori; if you don't say it, you won't get any."
"..."
The scorching heat and thirst swiftly overpowered her shame. Her small face blushing crimson, Hitori stammered in a tiny voice:
"B-boyfriend..."
"Too quiet, say it once more."
"Mgh... Boyfriend..."
Satisfied, Kitahara clenched his hand, and two bottles of iced soda materialized in his palm out of thin air, handing one to Hitori while keeping one for himself.
"Let's go," Kitahara reached out with a scoop, placing Hitori onto his shoulder. "We'll gather intel as quickly as possible, then head back to the Onsen Dimension."
"..."
Yellow sand rolled across the expanse.
Beneath their feet lay a dilapidated asphalt road stretching toward the boundless distance. Kitahara casually picked a direction and began to explore.
Both sides of the road were lined with rusted scrap vehicles—large and small vehicles of every kind. The vast majority were either hollow shells or mounds of scrap metal, their interiors long since completely corroded by rust.
Kitahara inspected several vehicles that appeared relatively intact; upon discovering that none could be driven, he abandoned the thought of traveling by car.
Evidently, the theme of Road Survival was for people to survive on foot rather than skipping classes by driving.
"Phew..."
Kitahara took a deep breath, completely drenched in sweat.
There was not a single trace of wind in the air, only endless scorching heat; with every breath, billows of heatwaves eagerly poured into his body as if threatening to scald his lungs. Even for him, this kind of weather brought on drenching sweat.
However, Kitahara could clearly feel that the Evolution Badge's affix was already active, and his body was beginning its adaptive evolution.
Advancing another hundred meters, Kitahara quickly sensed a wave of intense malice washing over them.
"Hitori, stay right here, don't move around."
Without showing any alarm, Kitahara set Hitori down, then pointed toward an abandoned RV not far away.
Through the perception of [Emotion Sensing], something was clearly hiding beneath that abandoned RV, harboring strong malice toward travelers on the highway; nine times out of ten, it was indeed a monster.
"The monster should be under that RV; I'll go check it out."
As Kitahara spoke, he handed his backpack to Hitori.
"W-Wait a second..."
Nervously, Hitori rummaged through the backpack:
"Kitahara-san, put the collar on first."
"No need to go through all that hassle..."
"No!"
Rarely showing an assertive side, Hitori looked over resolutely, her peach-blossom eyes unblinking:
"Safety first. We don't even know what monster is hiding there; if you run into danger, I can rescue Kitahara-san back immediately."
"Alright, Hitori calls the shots."
Naturally, Kitahara wouldn't stubbornly insist on having his own way. Taking the collar, he fastened it around his neck, flashed an "OK" hand sign to Hitori, and strode toward the RV.
As he arrived in front of the RV, a flash of dark purple shot out from the sand beneath the vehicle with thunderous, lightning-fast speed!
The monster's ambush was exceptionally swift and fierce; even with Hitori widening her eyes and watching intently, she still couldn't make out what it was, seeing only the sand suddenly blast open.
Kitahara, however, saw it with absolute clarity: the thing darting out from under the RV was none other than a tail!
A giant scorpion tail as thick as an adult's arm!
With a calm expression, Kitahara suddenly took half a step back, dodging the scorpion tail's strike by a millimeter. Then, right at the moment the tail was about to retract, he grabbed it firmly and yanked it outward with tremendous force.
Accompanied by a screech of agony, an enormous, dark-purple giant scorpion—the size of an automobile tire—was dragged out from under the chassis by Kitahara sheerly through brute force.
Yellow sand sprayed everywhere as the desert giant scorpion whipped its head around, snapping its twin massive pincers toward Kitahara at blinding speed.
Without even batting an eye, Kitahara flexed his right hand with sudden burst strength, directly using this giant desert scorpion as a sledgehammer and smashing it recklessly around.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Sand and dust flew in all directions; the surrounding abandoned vehicles rapidly caved in, while splatters of green slime burst out all over the place.
In barely a dozen seconds, the desert giant scorpion that had just looked so hideous and ferocious turned completely limp, dark green fluid trickling down from its carapace, while a foul stench quickly permeated the air alongside the smell of rust.
"If an ordinary person took a hit from that, they'd probably be lying stiff in a coffin right away..."
Looking at that pitch-black, glossy stinger on the scorpion's tail, Kitahara clicked his tongue softly.
"Though speaking of which... grilled scorpion actually tastes pretty good."
"K-Kitahara-san!"
Hitori's startled cry suddenly rang out.
"Don't panic."
Kitahara leisurely raised an index finger. From the corner of his eye, he had already spotted that inside the sand pit where the giant scorpion was pulled out, countless smaller scorpions were crawling outward in dense swarms like a black tide of venom, enough to make anyone's skin crawl.
Of course, this stuff was just visually intimidating; to Kitahara, it posed virtually zero threat.
"Hm?!"
Just as Kitahara was about to draw a weapon, his gaze suddenly froze, quickly turning his head to look at the boundless desert beside the road.
The yellow sand in the desert surged violently as countless mounds welled up on the ground, bursting open abruptly like festering boils, followed by a black tide pouring out at blistering speed, the rustling and skittering sounds sending shivers down one's spine.
Looking closely, that black tide was unmistakably an endless horde of scorpions.
"Holy cow!"
Even Kitahara couldn't resist sucking in a breath of cold air; instantly biting down on the cookie in his mouth, he transformed into a dog.
Holding her breath in tension, Hitori saw Kitahara transform and hurriedly shook her bell, summoning Kitahara before her, whereupon both their figures vanished abruptly into thin air.
"Hitori, you're back?"
"Where is Kitahara-san?"
"What happened outside?"
"..."
Seeing Hitori return, the girls gathered around one after another, among whom Sakiko and Mutsumi had already awakened.
"What happened outside?" Sakiko's eyes lit up, landing on the dog. "Why did Kitahara-san turn into a dog again?"
"Eh?"
Uika Misumi looked over in shock, finding it hard to believe:
"This dog is actually Kitahara-san?"
"That's right..."
Crossing her arms over her chest, Taki was just about to explain when she suddenly noticed a faint white glow emanating from the dog's body; her expression shifted slightly, and she hurriedly shouted:
"Uika, close your eyes!"
"What's wrong?"
Baffled, Uika Misumi didn't react in time at all.
The next second.
The dog in Hitori's arms leaped out, shifting back into Kitahara in mid-air.
"Eeeek?!"
Her gaze landing blankly on Kitahara, taking in every detail clearly, Uika Misumi finally snapped back to reality, frantically covering her face in sheer embarrassment.
"Honestly..." Taki massaged her forehead helplessly, glaring toward Kitahara. "How did you change back in the blink of an eye?"
With an unruffled expression, Kitahara was equally curious:
"Probably because I grew stronger?"
Shaking off the control effects of the magical cookie in such a short time—thinking it over, it had to be due to his soul abilities being greatly reinforced during the great escape in the swimming pool world.
"Stop talking for a moment," Sakiko cast a reproachful look with her bright eyes. "Kitahara-kun, put your clothes on quickly."
Mutsumi raised her right hand, her eyes filled with anticipation: "Makoto-kun was sweating so much; let me wipe your back, okay?"
Kitahara looked back silently: "Only wipe my back, nothing else?"
"I also want Makoto-kun to punish me ruthlessly..."
"Thanks, but absolutely not needed."
"..."