Chapter 182: The Barrier Master and the Journey
The marching party was larger than usual, yet… no particular accidents occurred as they made their way deeper into the Plain. They encountered monsters a few times along the way, but dealt with them without any issues.
Enemies in the distance were sniped by Isis’s magic, while those closer were handled by Yuri with her legs and Lübesse with his sword.
“Leave this to me! Power Slash!”
If there was a problem, it was that Argil, the knight who usually kept to the back, was trying to stand out far too much, unleashing flashy techniques that served no real purpose.
“It was a tough enemy, but… it is no match for my sword!”
He struck a dramatic pose while glancing back at Andrew, who was trailing behind. It seemed he was trying to impress the royal family. However, this only disrupted their usual formation, turning into a rather poor display instead… and he was the only one oblivious to it.
(Well, no matter how much he gets in the way, there’s no way we would be defeated in a place like this…)
They had already hunted down most of the troublesome Corrupted Beasts. It would be a shame to lose out on that delicious meat, but there was no danger in the center of the Plain. They arrived at their intended point without troubling Andrew’s escort.
“This is the center of the Plain… it hardly feels like a Demon Realm,” Andrew exclaimed, standing up from the carriage seat in surprise. Once, the area had been overgrown with weeds taller than a human, blocking paths in every direction. Now, however, most of it was paved with cobblestones, transformed into an artificial space. If there had been walls or a roof, it would have resembled a grand hall or stadium.
“We paved it with magic. It might be a hindrance when building structures, though…”
“Given how vast this land is, paved with stone, I would love to establish a town that utilizes it well,” Andrew mused, stroking his chin. His expression was that of a ruler, clearly indicating that he had received ample education as a member of the royal family.
“Count Clover, I won’t let the land you’ve cleared and paved go to waste.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Now then… Master Meitis, may I ask for your assistance?”
“Yes, yes, the old man will get to work… now then.”
Meitis stepped down from the carriage, leaning on his staff as he surveyed the surroundings.
“The source of the magical power is… over there. Look, right there! Hurry up and carry that old lady!”
“Ugh…”
Meitis struck Lucas, who was sitting on the ground, drenched in sweat from carrying their supplies, with his staff.
“I… I’m exhausted from carrying the load… please let me rest a moment…”
“What are you saying with that cabbage-like body! You need to lose some weight!”
“Uggggh… such harsh treatment…”
Once again struck by the staff, Lucas grimaced. Yet, given their difference in status, he reluctantly obliged and hoisted Meitis onto his back, becoming his legs.
“That way, go on. Hurry up.”
“Uuugh…”
“You’re going too far, you fool! More to the right! You’re going too far, you idiot!”
“Ugh…”
Lucas staggered while carrying Meitis, eventually arriving at a certain point.
“This is it. No doubt about it… the center of the Dragon’s Lair is here.”
The area was already paved, covered with cobblestones. Meitis dismounted from Lucas’s back and struck the ground with his staff.
“Whoa…!?”
Suddenly, the cobblestones created by Rest exploded into a shower of fragments. It was clear that magic had been used, but how it was done remained a mystery.
“I can’t see the magic formula… could this be a type of Barrier Technique…?”
Rest’s greatest talent was his boundless Magical Power, but he also possessed the ability to use any magic he had seen before. This power was derived from reading the magic formulas embedded in the spells of others, yet… he couldn’t see any magic formula in what Meitis was using.
“I don’t dislike sharp kids. The old lady always uses barriers, you know.”
Even though he hadn’t raised his voice, it seemed Meitis had heard him.
“You use magic to sense presences all the time too, don’t you? It’s similar.”
“………”
It appeared that this too had been seen through. Once again, he realized just how high-level a magician Meitis was.
(If it comes to combat ability, I don’t think I’m at a disadvantage… but the precision of his magic is on a different level. He surpasses any magician I’ve encountered so far…)
The only one who might be able to compete would be Verloid Harn, the Headmaster. Being on par with the sage or wise man known as a magician, he was undoubtedly one of the best in the country.
“Come on, you should hurry up too. Since we’re here, you might as well learn something.”
“Yes, I will be grateful for the opportunity to learn.”
“You better get those magical tools ready quickly! Don’t keep the old lady waiting!”
“Ahh…!”
“Now, run! Dash, dash!”
Lucas was struck on the backside with the staff and stumbled off toward the pile of supplies.