Isekai Nonbiri Sozai Saishu Seikatsu - Chapter 199

After repelling the swarm of soldier ants, we were making smooth progress towards the top of the giant tree.

“Amazing! My body feels so light!”

“It’s thanks to the Queen Ant’s honey!”

One reason we were able to progress smoothly was also because, after about a hundred meters, the vines started to stretch diagonally, creating a slope that allowed us to walk up normally.

However, the biggest factor was that the fatigue that had been building up in our bodies had been removed.

Our bodies felt unusually light, and our legs moved swiftly.

Although we thought we still had plenty of energy and stamina, it seemed our bodies had been more tired than we realized.

It was good that we had collected and immediately consumed the Queen Ant’s honey.

We were now about three hundred meters above the ground. We were finally reaching the midway point, and normally this would be when fatigue would start to set in, but thanks to the honey’s fatigue recovery effect, our progress was excellent.

Using our investigation skills, we determined the optimal route to the top, avoiding unnecessary battles with monsters as we moved forward briskly.

“Oh, materials.”

As I advanced while appraising, I saw the glow of materials.

It was a vine casually hanging from another vine.

【Rubber Vine】

A rubber vine that grows naturally on the giant tree.

It stretches and contracts significantly in the direction of applied force, and returns to its original state once the force is removed. It has rubber-like elasticity.

It is very excellent as a cushioning material but extremely weak in heat resistance.

“Wow, amazing! It’s rubber!”

“Is this a material?”

As I gazed at it in surprise, Franryule came closer.

Apparently, it was a material she was unfamiliar with.

“Yes, it’s called a rubber vine. It stretches and contracts significantly in the direction of applied force and returns to its original state once the force is removed.”

“I don’t quite understand, but it feels kind of squishy.”

Franryule touched the rubber vine while tilting her head.

Modern people understand rubber elasticity, but since rubber is not common in this world, it doesn’t seem to resonate.

Explaining other world materials is difficult.

Even so, a rubber material… Just off the top of my head, it seems like it could be used for making rubber belts, hoses, and various other things.

If I leave it with Lumia or Saffy, they might process it into something useful.

As for me, I’d like to attach it to the wheels of the carriage to reduce the shaking.

There are few well-maintained roads in this world, so the ride is quite bumpy and hard on the butt.

Also, as a man, having elasticity in my underwear would be reassuring.

Right now, there’s only something like a string in them, which feels a bit unreliable.

For that reason, it’s a very promising material.

When I pulled the rubber vine, it was really elastic and stretched.

When I let go to test it, it snapped back to its original position with a loud “snap.”

“… It looks like it would hurt if it hit someone.”

Such a thick vine with rubber elasticity must have an incredible force when it stretches and snaps back.

I should definitely avoid snapping it at someone like a rubber band.

“Can I take a bit of it?”

“Go ahead.”

With Franryule’s permission, I cut the rubber vine from its base with a harvesting knife.

It was about two meters long. It seemed long enough to be used as a whip if swung around.

I decided to take a bit more for processing into rubber products.

“Shuu-san, I will rest over by those leaves for a bit.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Franryule, who had been helping me, moved to the leaves for a rest, perhaps unable to muster the same enthusiasm as I did.

At that moment, I felt a sense of unease.

I was so engrossed with the vine that I didn’t investigate, but when I used my investigation skill, that leaf also showed up as a silhouette.

Since there are vines with rubber elasticity nearby, doesn’t that leaf also have rubber elasticity?

【Rubber Leaf】

A rubber leaf that grows naturally on the giant tree.

It stretches and contracts significantly in the direction of applied force and returns to its original state once the force is removed. It has rubber-like elasticity.

When you stand on the leaf, you can bounce high like on a trampoline.

Thinking it might be, I appraised it, and sure enough, it was.

“Franryule! Don’t step on that leaf!”

“Huh?”

It seemed my warning was too late, as Franryule had just stepped onto the rubber leaf.

Her weight pressed the leaf down deeply.

Then, as the leaf exerted its strong restoring force, she was launched high into the air.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Being flung into the air when already over three hundred meters above the ground without a safety line.

There’s probably no human who wouldn’t scream in this situation.

From my position looking up from below, I could see right up her skirt, but this wasn’t the time to worry about that.

Franryule jumped about ten meters into the air and then began to fall straight down.

Given her confusion, the chances of her landing precisely on the leaf again were slim, and even if she did, the impact would launch her even higher.

If that happened, rescuing her would be even more difficult. This was my only chance to intervene.

“Franryule, stay still! Wind!”

As I called out to Franryule, I activated my wind magic.

I manipulated the airflow to guide her fall precisely onto the rubber leaf.

Then, timing her landing, I also positioned myself on the rubber leaf.

The rubber leaf sank deeply.

“Shuu-san, what are you doing getting on here with me!?”

“We’re going to jump even higher together!”

“What!? You mean, even higher than now–”

Before Franryule could finish her sentence, we landed on the rubber leaf.

The falling energy combined to propel our bodies upward with tremendous force.

“Eeeeeeeeeeeek!”

“I’m sorry, excuse me.”

I pulled the tearful Franryule close to stabilize her.

With the vines rushing past at an incredible speed, I searched for another rubber leaf with my detection skill.

Then, I spotted another rubber leaf in our jumping path.

We landed on it and jumped again.

“Yeah, using this, we can climb pretty fast.”

Looking up, I saw the rubber leaves continued on.

By repeatedly jumping from one rubber leaf to another, we could keep climbing quickly.

After jumping on the third and fourth leaves, the number of rubber leaves started to decrease around the 650-meter mark.

Probably, the vegetation changed, and the rubber vines and leaves disappeared.

I decided it was impossible to jump any higher.

“Franryule, the rubber leaves are ending, so we’re going to land.”

I used wind magic to soften the landing impact and landed on a large nearby leaf.

“I’m sorry, Franryule. Are you okay?”

“………”

“Franryule?”

I called out to Franryule, but there was no response.

When I looked at her face, she was limp and had fainted.

It seemed she had passed out during the jumps.

“… I messed up.”