Do You Like Hiking?
...Let's head back.
Let's head back!! What did you mean when you said [Then now that's settled, shall we depart right away?]?!
...Luna. Shouting rapidly consumes stamina.
If stamina drops in a place like this...
It's... dan... ger... ous...
Don't die on us, kid!
...Let's take a short break before moving on.
It had already been eight hours since we set out on our expedition to find the secret weapon under Frey's guidance.
Before us stretched an enormous jagged ridgeline, endless like the spine of some massive beast.
The mountain crest, formed from layers of massive stacked rock, created steep cliffs with only a narrow path running precariously along the top.
Below our feet was a sheer drop. One wrong step and we could fall straight to our deaths.
If we were coming into the [Monastir Mountain Range], we should have prepared properly!
Instead, we ended up hiking like idiots dressed for a casual trip to a neighborhood restaurant!
The ancient document Frey brought contained detailed records of the weapon's location and how to break the seal protecting it.
The problem was that we only learned the weapon was located deep within the [Royal Mountain], connected to the Monastir Mountain Range, after we'd already crossed around two ridgelines.
Luna and Smile both appeared to be reaching their physical limits.
...I tried not to show it, but I was reaching my limit too.
As for the others...
Oh? Then a five-minute break? Hmm, that should be enough, right?
Hmm. From where we started climbing earlier to here, this could probably be connected in a straight line with a cable car.
If we market it as a way to enjoy the scenic views of the Monastir Mountain Range without physical effort, we could aim for an explosive growth in tourism revenue!
If only I could figure out how to cover the installation costs for the cables...
"Cay-bell car"? Want Omega to make one?
Oh? Is that possible?
Yes! If Omega knows what it is, Omega can make anything!
But first Omega has to eat one of those [cay-bell cars]!
Ehh?!
...Why are they completely fine?!
Hmm. I've never considered myself particularly physically strong. However...
In any business, timing is everything!
When the moment comes, you have to push forward!
You can take your rest only after everything's finished!
Wow...
Come on, Captain. Let's keep going.
We're almost there!
Whoa...
Just as both patience and stamina were reaching their limits, and even Asherah and Omega were beginning to show signs of fatigue...
There it is!
Frey stopped and pointed ahead.
Along the shadowed face of a cliff stood a massive stone gate covered in weeds and moss.
It clearly hadn't been touched by human hands for a very long time.
Now... Now we actually made it, right...?!
Of course. Then let's break the seal on the gate and head inside.
Frey unfolded the scroll again and quickly scanned through it.
There are... two methods to remove the seal.
A fast and forceful method, and a slow but gentler method.
Which would you prefer?
...What is this? You're asking us to choose like we're ordering food from a restaurant?
Considering probabilistic stability, selecting the gentler method is the rational choice.
However... just this once... recommending... the irrational choice...
Omega's getting hungry now... Omega wants to get this over with...
What's the difference between the two methods?
Hmm... The gentler method appears to require a ritual lasting about two hours.
Two hours?!
We should hurry. The sun sets quickly in the mountains.
Okay. Let's go with the fast method.
Very well. I personally prefer the brute-force approach anyway.
As Frey raised her hand, the symbols carved around the stone gate began lighting up one by one, and cracks spread across them like fractures.
Streams of light flowing along those cracks spilled onto the moss-covered ground and began taking shape.
This is...
The power of the seal itself... manifested to block entry.
The fast method is to fight these and destroy them.
Simply put, we force the gate open through strength!
Okay, simple works for me!
So if we just break this thing, we're done... right?
Maximum output, ready...!
Pew!