Chapter 156: Arrival at the Heart of the Demon Realm
And so, Rest and his party arrived deep within the plains. The Subnock Plain, a part of the Demon Realm, was covered in grass that towered to the height of an adult man. It was the first time for both Rest and Lübesse to be in such a place. Faced with the abnormally overgrown vegetation, they couldn’t help but gasp.
“This isn’t… a forest, is it?”
“It should be a plain. Though it certainly doesn’t look like one.”
Rest’s murmur was met with Lübesse’s response. Upon closer inspection, the tall grass before them was of the same kind as the common weeds they had seen on their way here. However, it was extraordinarily large. Just how much nourishment had it absorbed to grow to such a size? The grass was so densely packed that it obscured their vision, making it impossible to see even a meter ahead.
“I see… So this is the heart of the Demon Realm. Just as I heard, it’s a strange place.”
Rest grasped a handful of the grass and tore it away with brute force. As he did, golden particles, resembling fireflies, spilled from the torn edge. The grass was saturated with a visible density of magical power. It seemed that this plant had indeed absorbed the magic from the Dragon’s Hole to grow.
“Oh, amazing! Is this beautiful light magical power…? I can see it too!”
“Unbelievable… The rich magical power is almost suffocating…”
Yuri gleefully plucked at the grass, releasing more magical particles, while Isis paled and covered her mouth. Lübesse, though not as exuberant as Yuri, watched the glowing particles with curiosity. The four young adventurers were captivated by the bizarre scenery of the Demon Realm when Argil sharply interjected.
“Hey, enough of that! We’re already at the heart of the Demon Realm!”
Compared to the youths, Argil, an adult knight, maintained a sense of tension. He directed a voice as cold as ice at the distracted youngsters.
“We don’t know when a monster enhanced by the magical power of the Demon Realm might attack! If you’re feeling like it’s a picnic, then hurry and—”
“GRRRRRAAAAAAAAH!”
“Retreat—huh?”
From the grass behind them, a black lion-like monster leaped out, lunging at Argil’s back. The tall grass had delayed their reaction. The lion’s fangs were closing in on Argil’s unprotected back.
“Take that!”
“【Fireball】!”
The first to react were surprisingly Yuri and Isis. Yuri picked up a stone from the ground and threw it, while Isis unleashed a fire spell. The stone and fire struck the lion’s forehead simultaneously, startling the creature.
“【Wind Cutter】【Amplify】【Accelerate】!”
“GYAH…”
Then, Rest unleashed his magic. The trio of spells cleaved through the immobilized lion.
“That was close. Are you alright?”
“Ugh…”
As Yuri cheerfully called out, Argil’s face twisted in discomfort. He had intended to scold the exuberant youths, only to find himself saved by them. It must have been quite an awkward feeling.
“It seems we’ve already entered a monster nest… We should remain vigilant.”
“Yeah, you’re right…”
Lübesse gripped the hilt of his sword, scanning the surroundings for threats. Rest narrowed his eyes, glaring at the grass around them.
(【Life Search】 isn’t working well… The surrounding magical power is too dense…)
Rest was continuously activating 【Life Search】 using his Infinite Magic Power. Normally, he would be able to sense any ambush, but the overwhelming magical power was interfering with his ability to detect life forces.
(After all, 【Life Search】 is a spell that senses the magical power of living beings… The thick magical energy in the grass is muddling the presence of any monsters.)
Moreover, the tall grass obscured their vision, necessitating even greater caution.
“By the way… you really are impressive, Isis.”
While keeping watch, Rest praised Isis.
“Even though it’s basic magic, being able to cast spells at that speed is quite remarkable.”
Before Rest could cast his spell, Isis had already unleashed hers. In terms of magical power, Rest far surpassed her, but when it came to instantaneous casting speed, Isis was superior.
“R-Really? Being praised like this makes me a bit shy…”
Receiving Rest’s compliment, Isis blushed, her demeanor surprisingly cute for the strong-willed leader of the Executive Committee.
“Rest, I did something too!”
“Ah… very impressive.”
Yuri chimed in, eager to claim credit. Rest offered a half-hearted compliment.
“Honestly… your reflexes and strength are hard to believe for a student of the Magic Department. Your physical abilities are on par with a gorilla.”
“I don’t quite understand what a gorilla is, and it feels like a backhanded compliment… but I’ll take it!”
Yuri proudly crossed her arms and puffed out her chest.
“Now then… let’s continue our investigation. Argil, are you alright?”
“…… No problem.”
Argil nodded reluctantly in response to Rest’s inquiry, his expression betraying his frustration.
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Title: The Cursed Queen, But After Being Killed by My Family, I Got the Best Fiancée
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