Chapter 16

Artemis, could you return back to being a bow?] (Varius)

I asked Artemis after returning the extended Ruyi Staff back to its original length and storing it back into the storage .

[Back to a bow…I do not mind, but why?] (Artemis)

[I want to test…if it is possible to send you back to the moon . ] (Varius)

[Is…is such a thing possible?] (Artemis)

Artemis latched on to my suggestion .

[Well…whether it is or not, is something that I won’t know until we’ve tried it . Still…it would help if you don’t hold on to too high of an expectation . ] (Varius)

[U…understood . ] (Artemis)

Artemis’ tension fell when I didn’t confirm the possibility and reverted to her bow form .

I equipped the bow that Artemis transformed into and got onto the Nimbus Cloud where Caucasus and the others are .

I had Artemis revert to her bow form in order for us to travel using the Nimbus Cloud together .

Artemis — who didn’t take part whatsoever in the Son Goku subjugation from my previous life — would only slip through the Nimbus Cloud if she tried to get on .

Although that is the case, similar to how I don’t suddenly end up naked when I get on to the Nimbus Cloud, my equipment and belongings would be transported along with me .

I raised our altitude once I got on the Nimbus Cloud .

Our destination is of course, the moon .

As humans would be unable to survive beyond the troposphere, the Nimbus Cloud’s shields are obviously deployed .

It would be great if we can reach the moon with just this .

Thinking such thoughts, I focused on raising the Nimbus Cloud’s altitude .

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[Varius… . raising our altitude any higher than this, is it not impossible?] (Caucasus)

It has been about 20 minutes since the Nimbus Cloud began its ascent .

In this space higher than the highest cloud, Caucasus raised his doubt .

Admittedly, it doesn’t seem like the Nimbus Cloud would ascend any higher .

The Nimbus Cloud which had moved as if cutting through the wind is currently barely even moving at 2 to 3 centimetres per second .

It’s just a matter of time before it comes to a complete stop .

For now, I thought of investigating our surroundings up here .

I looked around thinking that I might chance upon some clues…and moved the Nimbus Cloud towards a nearby cloud .

As a test, I thrusted a paper bestowed with the Litmus magic into the cloud .

Soon after…the paper immediately turned red .

……It’s a mother-of-pearl cloud[1] .

Being at the same height as this cloud means that we are currently in the stratosphere (Altitude of 20-30km) . This height seems to be the limit for the Nimbus Cloud .

Obviously, the moon is far higher than this .

After all, the distance between the surface and the moon is about 380000km .

[Caucasus…you wouldn’t happen to…be able to fly 10000 times this height…can you?] (Varius)

[As if I can . ] (Caucasus)

I asked since I had nothing to lose but was flat out rejected .

……hmm, I’m out of ideas .

Since nothing can be done by staying at the stratosphere, we returned to the ground for the time being .

It’ll take another 20 minutes before we reach the ground anyway, might as well work on the plan .

[Varius, was it not possible?] (Artemis)

While I was racking my brains, a female’s voice called out telepathically .

Caucasus and Beelzebub should be males though…which would mean…Artemis?

[Yeah . Just so you know, I was listening when you made that unreasonable request from that rhinoceros beetle . ] (Artemis)

…To think that she would be listening in .

Well, as long as she doesn’t go overboard, I won’t be coming up with any anti-telepathy-interception countermeasures .

On the contrary, I can say that this is something to be thankful for as we can have a strategy meeting .

[Artemis…if you’re OK with it, would you lend us your knowledge?] (Varius)

[My apologies…… To have you all go this far for me . ] (Artemis)

Thus, the 4 of us (A person, 2 monsters, and an equipment?)[2] began our strategy meeting .

[The staff that Varius has, how long can it extend?] (Artemis)

Artemis enquired .

[I wonder . Based on the stories, it was said to be able to reach Trāyastriṃśa[3]…… This is just a simple estimate, but wouldn’t it be fine to assume that it extends to about 960000km?] (Varius)

[In that case, wouldn’t it reach the moon easily?] (Artemis)

Artemis thought of having the Ruyi Staff take her up .

The Ruyi Staff’s maximum length is 960000km; and the distance to the moon is 380000km . Definitely, it’s not an unreachable distance .

But…getting up there using it would likely be impossible .

When I confronted chouhakai, I avoided its attack by using the staff to get me up into the air…although, to reach the moon…ahh there’s no way .

Somewhere along the line, she’ll lose her balance and fall .

[Distance-wise, it isn’t a problem, however, the problem lies in securing the staff . ] (Varius)

[……is that so . ] (Artemis)

Artemis once again placed her hand to her chin and resumed thinking .

The one who came up with a new suggestion was Caucasus .

[Is there not a lake nearby? If it is a matter of anchoring the staff…will it not work if you just stab the staff there? This me will then freeze the lake . ] (Caucasus)

……To think that there was such a method .

I thought Caucasus’ suggestion was brilliant .

It’s true that the current Caucasus would be able to freeze something like a lake .

If we can ensure the staff is anchored properly — thus resolving this foundation issue — the rest will work out somehow .

Which would mean…there’s only one last concern left .

[If I have to list a problem, it would be the creatures living in the lake…] (Varius)

……I stopped my sentence midway .

My last concern is in regards to the destruction of the ecosystem of the lake…but to be honest, that’s not something I should even consider .

I decided to do everything in my power in order to return Artemis to the moon .

To not prioritise that, what am I doing?

At the moment when I had made my resolve, Artemis sent an unexpected lifeline .

[Regarding the creatures living in the lake, if I strengthen their life force, they should be able to withstand being frozen . ] (Artemis)

……I see, then that solves everything .

Assured of everything, I waited for the Nimbus Cloud to reach the ground .

Notes:

[1]: AKA Nacreous clouds .

[2]: The original text was “1人と2匹と1丁？” which are counter words used for humans(人), animals(匹), and items(丁) respectively .

[3]: The original text was “忉利天” (Tou-Ri-Ten) . For more info: Wiki Link