Chapter 35 — Steel Beast on the Road

Ren climbed into the right-side driver’s seat and closed the heavy door. The interior of the Armado was unlike anything Lyra or Silvia had ever experienced. Firm but well-cushioned seats, unfamiliar levers and switches, and a wide transparent glass panel at the front gave them a clear view of the forest path ahead.

As soon as he sat down, Ren opened the system interface and checked the vehicle’s integrated functions.

A notification appeared.

**GPS Module Detected**

Integration with current world system: Partial

Warning: Satellite network required for full navigation functionality.

No satellites currently available in orbit.

GPS functions offline.

Ren’s eyes moved to the communication systems.

**HF / VHF Radio System: Online**

Vehicle-mounted antennas detected.

Personal walkie-talkies can now be fully integrated with the Armado’s communication system.

When connected to the vehicle antennas, long-range communication becomes possible.

He reached into the system storage and took out two compact radio units, then handed one to Lyra and one to Silvia.

“These are walkie-talkies,” he explained. “They are now linked to the vehicle’s radio system. On their own they work at shorter range, but when connected through the Armado’s antennas, we can communicate across much longer distances. If we get separated, press this button and speak. We will be able to hear each other clearly.”

Lyra turned the small device over in her hands with curiosity. Silvia examined hers with sharper eyes, already trying to understand its structure.

“How does it work without mana?” Silvia asked.

“It uses radio waves,” Ren replied simply. “Think of it as throwing your voice through the air in a way that only these devices can catch. You don’t need to understand the theory right now. Just know how to use it.”

He started the engine.

A low, powerful mechanical growl filled the cabin. The entire vehicle vibrated faintly as the diesel engine came to life.

Both Lyra and Silvia flinched.

“What is that noise?!” Lyra asked, ears standing straight up.

Silvia’s hand had already moved halfway toward a dagger. “Is something wrong with it?”

Ren shook his head, a faint trace of amusement in his eyes.

“That is the sound of the engine. It is what makes this vehicle move. There are no horses. No magic stones pulling it. The engine burns fuel and turns the wheels.”

A moment later, cool air began flowing gently from the vents inside the cabin.

Lyra blinked in surprise and lifted a hand toward the invisible stream.

“The air… is becoming cold?”

Silvia’s eyes narrowed as she also felt the change in temperature.

“This metal box is blowing cold wind from inside? In the middle of the day? How is this possible without ice magic or mana crystals?”

“It’s called air conditioning,” Ren answered while adjusting a small dial. “It cools the inside of the vehicle so we don’t suffer from the heat. Another function of this machine.”

The Armado began rolling forward slowly.

Lyra pressed her face closer to the glass, eyes wide.

“It’s moving… by itself?”

“There is nothing in front of it,” Silvia muttered. “No animal. No beast. How is a black metal box moving on its own?”

“I told you,” Ren said as he guided the vehicle onto the dirt path. “The engine provides the power. As long as it has fuel, it can keep moving.”

He gradually increased the speed. The trees began to pass by faster. When the speedometer reached 80 km/h, he held it steady. The forest road was uneven and unpaved, so higher speeds would be reckless.

Even so, the reaction from the two women was immediate.

“This is… fast,” Lyra whispered. Her tail had gone still against the seat. “Faster than most carriages I’ve ever ridden.”

Silvia remained silent for several seconds, her violet eyes fixed on the blurring trees outside.

“The ride is smooth,” she finally said. “Far smoother than a noble’s carriage. The shocks from the road are much weaker. And these seats… they are strangely comfortable. Even the air inside is cool and pleasant.”

Ren kept his attention on the path ahead.

“This vehicle was designed for rough terrain. It can handle dirt roads, mud, and uneven ground better than most things in this world.”

As the kilometers passed, the initial shock slowly turned into cautious fascination. Lyra eventually leaned back in her seat, still glancing out the window every few moments. Silvia remained more composed, but her eyes continued studying every detail of the cabin and the moving landscape.

After some time, Ren spoke without taking his eyes off the road.

“Silvia. Once we clear the monsters from the island, what do you intend to do?”

There was a short silence before she answered.

“I will continue to follow you,” she said quietly. “You are full of things I have never seen before. Weapons that kill from a distance without mana. A metal box that moves without animals and even creates cold air. Storage that swallows objects into nothing. I want to understand more… and I want to grow stronger under your methods.”

She paused, then added in a lower voice,

“Also… that island was once my home. Even if everything I knew there is gone, I still wish to live on that land again.”

Ren gave a small nod.

“That’s fine. You can stay on the island as long as you follow the rules of the group.”

Silvia’s eyes softened just a fraction.

“Understood.”

The sun slowly began to lower toward the horizon. The light filtering through the trees turned warmer, then dimmer. When the shadows grew long enough, Ren finally slowed the vehicle and guided it off the main path toward a small clearing near a flowing river.

He parked the Armado under the partial cover of large trees and shut off the engine. The sudden silence felt heavy after hours of mechanical noise.

“We’ll camp here,” he said. “Make preparations for dinner.”

They stepped out of the vehicle. The evening air was cool and carried the scent of water and earth. Ren opened the system storage and took out cooking supplies, preserved ingredients, and a compact set of utensils. With efficient movements he started a controlled fire and began preparing a simple but solid meal — meat, dried vegetables, and flatbread heated over the flames.

Lyra helped where she could. Silvia remained mostly quiet, though she assisted with gathering water from the river and keeping watch on the surrounding trees.

When the food was ready, the three of them sat near the fire and ate. The meal was plain by noble standards, but after a full day of travel it tasted satisfying.

As darkness fully settled over the forest, Ren looked toward the Armado.

“We’ll sleep inside the vehicle tonight. It will keep out mosquitoes and most wild animals. The armor is strong enough that ordinary beasts won’t be able to break in.”

Neither Lyra nor Silvia objected.

One by one they climbed back into the Armado. Ren locked the doors from the inside and dimmed the internal lights. The thick metal walls and reinforced glass created a strange sense of safety in the middle of the wilderness — a small, mobile fortress of black steel.

Outside, the river continued to flow and distant night insects began their chorus.

Inside the vehicle, three people from completely different worlds and histories prepared to rest.

Tomorrow the road would continue.

But for tonight, the steel beast protected them from the dark forest beyond its walls.