The night was quiet. Perhaps Nearl couldn't make too much of a ruckus here, or perhaps she was conserving energy for the next day's climb.
Byerley and Godolphin had already gone to sleep early.
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, they set off before the sun had risen, following the small path toward the Pillar of the Goddess.
"There aren't any tall trees around. Is it because the unnatural form of the Pillar of the Goddess blocks the sunlight?"
She had thought she'd be trekking through a forest path, but from what she could see now, it felt more like a stroll through grasslands and shrubs.
"Exactly. Celestial Peak's overly broad peak blocks too much of the direct sunlight. Big Sis has no mind to care for the plants down here, either, so this withered state is the result."
Byerley, who had a thick pack of luggage on her back, explained to Nearl. Her bag was stuffed with various clothes.
By the way, Godolphin was carrying the tent, sleeping bags, and some miscellaneous items, while Nearl carried the food and drinking water.
Crossing over the parched grasslands and shrubbery, following the man-made cobblestone path, the oppressive presence of the colossal entity ahead instantly filled your mind.
Looking up, the mountain blotted out the sky within your field of vision.
The stark contrast made you aware of your own insignificance in the vastness of the world, and the illusion of the mountain leaning, ready to topple, stirred unease and fear deep within one's heart.
"A sensory experience utterly different from ordinary mountains. There's no sense of majesty or solidity here; instead, it's overflowing with bizarre wonder and awe."
Tilting her head back to gaze at the mountain that surged upward like a slanting wall, Nearl's face was full of admiration.
"That's Big Sis's doing. Without her maintenance, this mountain would have crumbled apart back in the caveman days, turning into an ordinary mountain range."
Byerley, leading the way, turned back and gave Nearl a tug, interrupting her immersed wonder. As for Godolphin, she had already strode far ahead.
Compared to Byerley, who was just a bit lively, Godolphin was downright carefree, taking the phrase 'doing as one pleases' to its absolute limit.
"Come on, time to start climbing. See those natural ridges winding around the mountain? Those are the paths up."
"For fear of causing irreversible damage to the miracle that is Celestial Peak through human activity, any machinery or actions causing vibrations are strictly forbidden. That's why there are no lodges or supply points on the mountain. If you climb too high, it's practically no different from wilderness survival."
"Of course, below 3,000 meters isn't that extreme yet. The drastic environmental changes happen higher up."
As they began their climb, the treacherous nature of the path gradually revealed itself to Nearl and the others.
The lack of guardrails alone was mentally taxing enough, but some of the natural paths became narrow, even requiring actual climbing—all without any safety measures.
"I see. No wonder a climbing permit is required. In a sense, it's no different from signing a waiver."
With an easy leap, Nearl, backpack and all, jumped onto a ledge two people's height above. This showed why Uma Musume found it easier to get this climbing permit than humans. Physical strength was the foundation for scaling the Pillar of the Goddess.
"Nearl, pick up the pace a bit. We're almost at the first rest stop."
Godolphin called from ahead, and Nearl replied with a "Coming!"
The rest area was actually just a customary term. It was simply a relatively spacious spot inside the mountain with a nice view. But for visitors who had expended great effort to climb here, it was as precious as an oasis in the desert.
So far, there were only about seven such well-known rest areas. Of course, the number of smaller, privately discovered resting spots was unknown.
Climbing over rock faces, crossing gaps, following a narrow, winding path for a stretch, the trail began to lead deeper into the mountain's interior.
At the end of that path, a breathtakingly beautiful cavern imprinted itself shockingly onto Nearl's vision.
"Mm... the splendor of nature is truly hard to put into words. But should such scenery appear on a mountain?"
Intricate stalactites hung high overhead, with fungal organisms attached to them emitting light in various colors. These faint glows scattered over small, widely distributed pools on the ground, refracting into even more dazzling beauty.
Nearl followed the path between the pools further back, passing all sorts of beautiful sights, stepping onto naturally formed stairs, until what finally appeared before her was a vast, boundless expanse of land.
Yes, within this part of the mountain housing the first rest area was a space about four meters high. This space was almost hollowed out. Its edges had no cover, offering an unobstructed view of everything outside the mountain.
"I fully understand the decision to forbid any machinery now. Seeing this part of the mountain, clearly hollowed out yet still standing firm, they must be itching to plant a few steel girders here for support."
"Will we stay here today? Little Nearl, you seem to really like the view here."
Byerley, having unloaded her pack, sidled over and stealthily pulled some food from Nearl's bag to munch on.
"Byerley-nee, will the scenery higher up be even better?"
"Of course. Are you looking forward to it?"
"Then I want to keep going. I'm not tired now. I can climb, I can jump. I want to see more beautiful sights."
"Hmm~ It's rare for you to have a thought just for 'yourself,' little Nearl."
"Not at all. Helping others feel joy is also my thought. It's all the same. They're all born from my own feelings."
"It's different! Let's go, let's go."
For some reason, Byerley was inexplicably happy. She took Nearl's hand and led her toward the next climbing point.
'Little Nearl is finally relaxed like a child now. Is it because she's finally realized she's personally walking upon the earth? After all, that was her greatest wish in her past life.'
--+--
"Tachyon, there's a bag of snacks here."
Manhattan Cafe, her eyes sparkling, was exploring every corner of the first rest area. This was her first time in such a magical place. The impact was so great it seemed to have altered her personality a bit.
In contrast, Agnes Tachyon seemed somewhat distracted.
This wasn't her first time here—not even her second or third. Even the most spectacular scenery becomes commonplace after seeing it too many times.
However, Manhattan Cafe's words made her frown deeply.
"Littering on this mountain? Truly a product of failed education. Cafe, put that snack bag in our trash bag. Can't let it stay here and pollute the mountain."
"But it doesn't seem like litter. It says 'For those who come after.'"
"Huh? Never mind. Toss it in the trash bag. Who would eat snacks left behind by someone else? Aren't they afraid something might be wrong with it?"
Before Cafe could finish, Tachyon interrupted impatiently. In her view, this kind of behavior was pure foolishness.
'If it were higher up, maybe, in case some novice didn't bring enough food. But this is just the first rest stop. Supplies are most plentiful here.'
Tachyon mocked inwardly. It was then that Cafe finished reading the rest.
"Ah, there's a signature too: Maria Nearl...?"
"?!"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.