Being caught in a sandstorm and losing consciousness from the heat, I was saved by someone.
A cup of water tasted better than any feast in this world. As the water passed down my dry throat, my heart pounded like my body had come back to life.
“Haaah, thank you. I’m saved thanks to you!”
“Fufufu, that’s good.”
The lizardman before me smiled with narrowed eyes, holding the child from earlier.
“Um, did you carry me all the way here?”
“Yeah, but this kid found you. Right?”
The child whose face was peered into shyly retreated behind his father.
“I, uh, well, there are various circumstances, but I was sent here, or rather, I’m here. Excuse me, but what race are you?”
“Huh? Me? I’m of the Sand Lizard Tribe, but where did you come from dressed so thinly? Sightseeing? Were you left behind?”
The Sand Lizard Tribe, not the Desert Scale Tribe. Both are lizards, but they were simply bipedal lizards.
“Uh… it’s more like I got separated from my companions. Something like that. That’s right, were there any other lost people besides me?”
“No, you’re the only one so far. There’s another town near here, you should go there as soon as possible. This isn’t a comfortable place.”
Another town, my chest fluttered at the words. Good, there’s civilization! Maybe I can find a clue about my companions.
“Yes, thank you. I’m in your debt.”
“Ah, you can’t go now. A sandstorm is coming. It’s stopped now, but it will come again, and you won’t be able to cross it.”
Is that so? That’s a shame. Was that one of the reasons I got caught?
“You can stay here until it stops. But try not to stand out too much. You must be hungry, come with me.”
I followed him out of the room. Outside, a hallway carved from rocks appeared, just like the one before. There were holes in some places, and it was plastered with clay. I see, this space utilizes a hollow created by stacking giant rocks. Perhaps they dug through beneath the rocks. This way, it’s sturdy and blocks the harsh sunlight. It also keeps out the wind, making it easy to stay warm.
“Wow, this is amazing! It’s quite comfortable!”
As I marveled, he pointed to something with his chin. Passing through the hallway, we emerged into a wide space where several giant monsters were gathered and sitting. No, looking closely, their body structure resembled his. However, their size was completely different. The largest ones were easily four or five meters tall, with huge bodies. They also had four arms. Their faces looked like dinosaurs, and they even had horns.
“Ah, are, are they perhaps the same race…?”
“They’re completely different from me. Let’s go without being noticed.”
The child on his shoulder cowered and clung tightly to his father. I, too, walked stealthily, making no sound as he told me to. Meanwhile, the monsters were feasting with large pieces of meat in their hands. Children were running around nearby. Even though they are children, they are the same size as the one next to me, and some already have four arms.
They seemed to be fighting over the scant meat, hitting each other.
We passed through the noisy plaza and were guided back to a small room. Old books and scrolls were carelessly placed there. It was narrow, but there were mats and cushions, making it seem reasonably comfortable. The child slid off his shoulder and jumped onto a cushion.
“I’m sorry it’s messy, but this is my room. Please make yourself comfortable.”
“Thank you, but you don’t have to trouble yourself.”
As I said that, I sat down on the mat. In the meantime, he was diligently preparing a meal.
“That’s right, my name is Arisugawa Hiroaki.”
“Arisugawa Hiroaki? That’s quite a long name. I’m Rose, and this is Stella.”
Rose placed a porridge-like food and dried meat in front of me.
“I’m sorry, this is all I could prepare.”
“N-no, thank you.”
To prepare a meal for a man who had just collapsed, I’m not yet abandoned by heaven. I gave the dried meat to the child named Stella, who had been watching from behind. Then, Stella tentatively reached out, took the meat, and began to eat it.
