Eventually, Rest’s party reached the deepest reaches of the plains.
The heart of the Subnock Plain—a region designated as a Magical Wilds—was carpeted in grass as tall as a grown man. This was the first time either Rest or Lyubase had set foot in this area. Staring at the lush, abnormal growth before them, the group stood in stunned silence.
"This... this isn't a forest, is it?" Rest murmured.
"It’s supposed to be a plain. Though it certainly doesn't look like one now," Lyubase replied.
Looking closely at the towering stalks, they realized it was the same species of common weed they had seen on their way here. Yet these were gargantuan. One could only wonder what sort of nourishment had fueled such growth. The vegetation was so extraordinarily dense that it obscured their vision entirely, making it impossible to see even a meter ahead.
"I see... so this is the center of the Magical Wilds. It’s every bit as strange as the rumors suggested."
Rest grabbed a handful of the grass and tore it away with brute force. As he did, golden specks, shimmering like fireflies, spilled from the severed stalks. The plants were packed with mana so concentrated that it had become visible to the naked eye. It seemed the flora here had reached these heights by gorging themselves on the power of the Dragon Vein.
"Oh, wow! Is this beautiful light mana? I can see it too!" Yuri chirped.
"It’s incredible... the mana is so thick it’s stifling," Isis muttered, her face turning slightly pale as she covered her mouth.
While Lyubase didn't share Yuri’s playful excitement, he watched the shimmering particles with a look of quiet fascination. For a moment, the four youths were captivated by the ethereal scenery of the wilds. Their wonder was abruptly shattered by Argyle’s sharp voice.
"Hey, that’s enough! We are in the heart of the territory now!"
As a seasoned knight, Argyle alone maintained a sharp sense of vigilance. He doused the youths’ excitement with a voice as cold as ice.
"We have no idea when a monster reinforced by this mana might strike! If you’re going to treat this like a picnic, then hurry up and—"
"GAAAAAAAARRGH!"
"Go back... huh?"
A black, leonine beast lunged from the thicket behind them, its claws aimed squarely at Argyle’s back. Because of the tall grass, his reaction was a fraction of a second too slow. The lion’s fangs closed in on his defenseless spine.
"Hah!"
"Fire Bullet!"
Two people reacted instantly: Yuri and Isis.
Yuri snatched a stone from the ground and hurled it with pinpoint accuracy, while Isis unleashed a bolt of flame magic. The stone and the fire struck the lion’s forehead simultaneously, staggering the beast just as it reached Argyle.
"Wind Cutter, Amplification, Accelerator!"
"Gyagh..."
Rest followed up immediately. The Trio magic surged forth, cleaving the immobilized beast in two before it could recover.
"That was close. Are you all right?" Yuri asked with a bright smile.
"Ugh..."
Argyle’s face twisted with humiliation. He had been in the middle of a lecture on their lack of discipline, only to be saved by the very amateurs he was scolding. The silence that followed was thick with his embarrassment.
"It seems we really are inside the monsters' den now... We’d best keep our guards up," Lyubase remarked, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword as he scanned the perimeter.
Rest narrowed his eyes, peering into the emerald depths of the tall grass.
My Life Search isn't working the way it should... the mana in the air is far too dense.
By utilizing his infinite mana, Rest usually kept his Life Search magic active at all times. Normally, a surprise attack would have been impossible—but the dense ambient mana acted as constant static, drowning out individual presence.
Life Search senses the mana within living things... but since every blade of grass around us is saturated with mana, the monsters just blend into the background.
With their sight also restricted by the towering vegetation, they would have to be more cautious than ever.
"Regardless... that was impressive, Isis-san," Rest said, offering praise as they continued to keep watch. "Even for lower-tier magic, your activation speed is incredible."
Isis had managed to fire her spell even faster than Rest. While Rest’s total mana capacity was far beyond hers, Isis held the advantage in terms of sheer casting reflexes.
"I-Is that so? Being praised so directly is a bit embarrassing..."
Isis’s cheeks flushed a bright red. For the leader of the Executive Committee—a woman known for her iron will—it was a surprisingly charming reaction.
"Rest, I helped too!" Yuri chimed in, eager for her share of the credit.
"Yes, yes... very impressive," Rest replied dismissively. "Honestly, your reflexes and raw strength are hard to believe for a Magic Department student. Your physical abilities are on par with a gorilla’s."
"Mm-hm! I have no idea what a 'gorilla' is, and I'm not entirely sure that was a compliment... but I'll take it!" Yuri puffed out her chest, looking immensely proud of herself.
"Anyway, let’s continue the investigation. You're fine to keep going, right, Mr. Argyle?"
"............No problem," Argyle managed to squeeze out. He gave a stiff, bitter nod, his face tight with frustration.