Chapter 170: Paving the Plain
“Firestorm! Harden! Stone Wall!”
“Firestorm! Harden! Stone Wall!”
“Firestorm! Harden! Stone Wall!”
I continued the repetitive task of burning away the weeds sprouting in the center of the Plain and paving the ground. After defeating a large number of monsters, including the Corrupted Beasts, yesterday, there weren’t many monsters appearing today. Despite the increase in workload, we were making steady progress.
“Firestorm! Harden! Stone Wall!”
“Firestorm! Harden! Stone Wall!”
“Once again… it’s incredible. Your Magical Power is astonishing.”
While I worked, Isis, who was keeping watch for monsters, spoke up.
“You’re casting three spells repeatedly, yet you show no signs of exhausting your Magical Power. Especially Firestorm, which is an Advanced Magic and consumes a considerable amount of Magical Power… What on earth is going on with your body?”
Initially impressed, Isis now wore an expression of disbelief. Among the students at the academy, being able to cast Advanced Magic a few times was considered exceptional. If one could cast it ten times, they could easily become a court magician.
“Rest, your Magical Power could rival that of the sages in the Council of Sages… Honestly, I’m in awe.”
“It’s just a lot of Magical Power. When it comes to output and technique, there are plenty of magicians who surpass me.”
In reality, aside from my Magical Power, I couldn’t compete with Isis. Her spellcasting speed was superior, and if we exchanged the same spells, I would undoubtedly lose.
(I struggled against Rodel, who I should have overwhelmed with my Magical Power… It seems that endurance alone isn’t enough to win in magical battles.)
If I were to compare myself to athletes, I would be a long-distance runner. My stamina was boundless, but in a sprint, there would be many who could outpace me.
“Isis, if we fought head-on without any tricks, you’d be stronger than me, right?”
“I can’t imagine you losing so easily. You’re being modest.”
Isis shrugged her shoulders. As the leader of the Executive Committee, she was the top student in the Magic Department, possessing abilities comparable to a court magician.
“Rest is just a humble person. I think you should take more pride in yourself… Munch munch.”
Meanwhile, Yuri chimed in, chewing on something. In her hands was a bright red fruit, a result of her newly acquired gluttonous trait.
“Oh, I found some raspberries in the bushes earlier. Want to try some, Rest?”
Yuri offered the fruit with a smile. The vividly colored raspberries emitted a tangy aroma that made them look delicious, but…
“…That’s huge.”
Though it unmistakably resembled a raspberry, it was the size of an apple. Moreover, it felt heavy, as if I were holding a cannonball. It was likely that this fruit had grown abnormally due to the Magical Power of the Demon Realm. I hadn’t noticed it while burning the weeds, but perhaps there were similar fruits hidden among them.
“Wow… Seriously?”
“Yuri, you’re quite brave… Biting into that without caution is reckless.”
Rübese looked shocked, while Isis wore a wry smile. Argil and Rail stayed at a distance, not joining the conversation.
“Do you two want some? I found plenty, so I can share!”
“No thanks, stay away from me!”
“Hmm… Will you give me some too…?”
Rübese snapped back at Yuri, distancing himself. Although Isis accepted the fruit, she looked down at it suspiciously without taking a bite.
“It’s delicious, though… What a shame.”
Last night, Yuri had devoured the meat of a Magical Beast without hesitation, and it seemed she could eat just about anything despite being a marquis daughter.
“…Well, I can use magic to detoxify it.”
I steeled myself and took a big bite of the large, heavy raspberry. As the flesh burst on my tongue, a mix of sourness and sweetness exploded in my mouth.
“Ugh… This is quite peculiar…”
Sour and sweet… It was a flavor that was hard to describe, leaving my brain struggling to process it. It wasn’t bad, but I couldn’t confidently say it was good either. It reminded me of the time I accidentally ate an astringent persimmon in my previous life. However, the seeds in this raspberry were also large and gritty, which was undeniably unpleasant.
“It’s an interesting taste, isn’t it? I don’t dislike it.”
“…I see. Well, I’m not sure I can eat it like this.”
I wore a perplexed expression as I looked down at the half-eaten raspberry.
“Hmm… This might be easier to eat if made into jam, juice, or even dried fruit.”
Perhaps fruit wine would work too. The rich acidity of the fruit seemed just right for a diluted drink.
“Oh, that sounds great! I’ll try it when we get back. Viola and Primula will be thrilled!”
Yuri cheerfully secured a few raspberries as souvenirs. If she brought those back, Viola and Primula would surely be surprised.
“If we can process it well, it might become a new specialty product…”
If we could create a new specialty product, it would increase the income of our territory. Thinking about creating a new local delicacy made Yuri’s gluttony seem quite useful.
“Just… don’t pick up anything too strange.”
“Oh, look! There’s a snake! Should we roast it and try eating it?”
“Stop!”
“SHHAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!”
As a giant snake slithered out from the bushes, Yuri drooled, but I quickly attacked it with magic. I trusted Yuri’s instincts to some extent, but if we brought something like that back, Viola and Primula would faint. I made sure to roast it thoroughly until it was charred and inedible.