Chapter 171: One Month Later
A month had passed since then, and the work of paving the ground while defeating monsters continued. Day after day, they repeated the process of vanquishing monsters in the Center of the Plain and laying down the pavement. Fortunately, as long as the ground was firmly packed, no new weeds would sprout from it. Moreover, the areas paved with stone remained free from monster incursions. Perhaps it was due to the lingering Magical Power of Rest that acted as a Monster Repelling barrier.
While not all of the Center of the Plain was cleared, a significant portion of the overgrown weeds had been eradicated, laying the foundation for a new town.
“GAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
“Thunder Bolt!”
Isis unleashed a torrent of lightning upon the Corrupted Beast that had appeared. The dazzling bolt incinerated the creature in an instant, leaving it a charred, unrecognizable husk.
“Phew… I think we’ve taken care of most of them now,” she said, catching her breath.
“Yes, they should be gone by now,” Rest replied. The Corrupted Beasts that had made the Center of the Plain their home had mostly been defeated. Some may have fled from this land, but at the very least, they would no longer pose an obstacle to their pioneering efforts.
“It’s quite surprising how easily the minions of Subnock, who once ruled the plains and drove back countless pioneering groups, have fallen,” remarked Rail, the priest, who had spoken up for the first time in a while.
In the past, Subnock and the Corrupted Beasts had annihilated those who sought to cultivate the plains. Now, however, they were meeting their twilight. With their master Subnock slain, the remaining beasts were being systematically hunted down by the pioneering group. There would be no place left for them in this land.
(Those who are arrogant do not last long. Just like a dream on a spring night… No matter how strong one may be, everything comes to an end eventually.)
As he gazed down at the fallen Corrupted Beast, a wave of melancholy washed over him. Rodel felt the same; no matter how powerful one might be, there comes a time when they must face their end. Death is inevitable. And… perhaps that fate awaited him tomorrow.
“Let’s be careful… Life is precious,” he murmured.
“Rest, is something bothering you?” Yuri asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
“No… it’s nothing,” he replied, waving his hand dismissively.
“More importantly… haven’t we made significant progress in our pioneering efforts? The number of monsters has decreased, and we’ve taken down most of the strong ones,” he continued.
The Center of the Plain had once been the domain of Subnock and the Corrupted Beasts. With their defeat, the powerful monsters had vanished. At this rate, it seemed unlikely that a new Master of the Demon Realm would emerge.
“Looks like our work is nearing its end, doesn’t it? Once the specialists set up the Barrier and absorb the Magical Power, everything should settle down nicely,” Rest concluded.
“It’s surprisingly wrapped up rather quickly,” Lübesse said, crossing his arms with a hint of dissatisfaction. The task of pioneering the Center of the Demon Realm had been challenging, but it appeared to be coming to a close without any significant hurdles.
“If there is a problem, it would be the Wetlands to the east,” Knight Argil interjected. Just outside the border of the Center of the Plain lay the Wetlands, a marshy terrain that remained untouched.
“Hmmm, we’ll eventually have to investigate that area as well. Though, it will likely depend on Prince Andrew’s instructions,” he added.
The Wetlands had a different environment compared to the plains, which meant that monsters distinct from the Corrupted Beasts could inhabit that area. There was even a possibility that a creature rivaling Subnock could dwell there.
(When Rodel provoked Subnock, the Corrupted Beasts had headed straight west, avoiding the eastern Wetlands. It was likely because Rodel was on that side, but…)
Perhaps for Subnock, the Wetlands were a place to be avoided. If the reason was simply that he disliked getting his feet muddy, it would be a rather cute excuse…
“Alright, let’s call it a day. Thank you for your hard work, everyone,” Rest said, expressing his gratitude to his companions as they departed from the Center of the Plain.