Rest and his party had set out to survey the central region of the Sabnock Plain, but an unforeseen obstacle immediately blocked their path.
This barrier was not composed of monsters empowered by the mana of the wilds; rather, it was merely an overgrowth of abnormally lush weeds.
The vegetation, standing as tall as a grown man, obscured their vision and masked the presence of monsters. Furthermore, because the stalks were saturated with dense mana, they created interference that neutralized Rest’s [Life Search] magic.
At this rate, they would be vulnerable to a constant stream of ambushes with no way to anticipate them. The harsh natural environment itself had become a formidable adversary, threatening to halt their progress.
"…Well, I suppose I’ll just burn them," Rest remarked.
Suiting action to words, he began to incinerate the surrounding brush.
He invoked the high-tier magic [Firestorm].
The wide-range fire spell reduced the thickets to ash, carving a path into the heart of the magical wilds.
He deliberately chose not to use [Amaterasu]. Since that spell functioned by concentrating sunlight, it would cause the surrounding area to grow dim, increasing the risk of being blindsided by monsters.
"Stupendous…"
"Rest, you really are incredible. I can’t believe you can even do things like this."
Behind Rest, who was currently leveling the fields with flames, his companions watched. Isis gazed at him with eyes full of awe, while Yuri offered her honest praise.
"…Well, he has to be able to manage at least this much," Wilhelm grunted.
Lyubase stood with his arms crossed, snorting dismissively while maintaining a sharp watch on their surroundings. The other two—Argyle, the knight dispatched from the Royal Palace, and Jacks Rail, the priest from the Temple—could only stand in stunned silence, completely lost for words.
Rest continued to fire off high-tier fire spells one after another, rapidly clearing the dense growth.
He had, of course, secured prior permission to burn the flora from Andrew Aiwood, the leader of the pioneer group. The plan was to construct a town in this area once the development phase was complete. By tapping into the mana of the magical wilds, they hoped to build a city far more prosperous than any average settlement.
Since both the vegetation and the local monsters would eventually need to be cleared for construction regardless, Rest’s decision to burn them away now was actually a significant help to Andrew.
"To use that many high-tier spells and still show no sign of hitting the bottom of his mana pool… As expected, this man is my ideal…" Isis murmured, swallowing hard as she watched Rest’s display of power.
For most upperclassmen in the Magic Department, firing two or three high-tier spells was their absolute limit. Rest, however, had already unleashed over twenty of them—spells that should have been incredibly taxing—and showed no sign of exhaustion whatsoever.
"Gaa!"
"Gyau, gyau!"
Driven out by the flames, monsters began to leap from the burning bushes. Some charged straight for Rest, while others tried to flee.
"[Thunder Bolt]!"
"Hyah!"
Isis instantly struck down the beasts attempting to attack Rest. Simultaneously, Yuri crushed the skulls of the fleeing monsters with her devastating kicks, pinning them to the dirt.
"Hmph… Small fry."
Lyubase swung his sword in a blur of steel, cleaving a monster in two.
The four of them carved a path through the center of the magical wilds with practiced ease, making steady progress.
"Damn it… Are you kidding me?"
Trailing behind them, Argyle clenched his fist in frustration. Thus far, only the four youths had seen any action. Argyle, despite being a veteran knight, had barely had a single opportunity to prove his worth.
He was not incompetent by any means. Though he had been dogged by the misfortune of a relative’s involvement in the rebellion, his skills were genuine. That was precisely why he had been assigned to this mission—it was supposed to be his chance to clear his name.
(I came here expecting to wipe the butts of some green brats, but every single one of them is a monster!)
It wasn't just Rest and his seemingly bottomless mana. Isis’s casting speed and Yuri’s physical capabilities were so high that they finished off enemies before Argyle could even register the threat. Lyubase’s swordsmanship was equally impressive; in fact, as a fellow warrior, Argyle could tell that Lyubase had already surpassed him in martial prowess.
(Are these kids really just students? I haven't had a single chance to step up!)
He had joined this dangerous mission as a last-ditch effort to reclaim his honor, yet he found himself completely overshadowed by young talent. He hadn't contributed a thing. He felt like nothing more than baggage.
"Damn it… at this rate…!"
"By the way, you’re really being a huge help, Mr. Argyle."
"Huh?"
Rest, who had momentarily paused his work, spoke up.
"Because you're keeping such a close watch on our rear and protecting Mr. Rail, our healer, I can focus entirely on what's ahead without having to worry about my back. I'm truly grateful that you've taken it upon yourself to handle such a vital, thankless task."
"A-Ah. That’s right… No, indeed!"
Belatedly remembering that Rest held the rank of Count, Argyle adjusted his tone.
"Someone of my experience must proactively take on the supporting roles! Looking after the youth is the duty of those more senior. Please, think nothing of it!"
Argyle eagerly leaned into Rest’s praise. If he was staying in the back specifically to support the younger generation, his pride remained intact even if he never saw the front lines.
"Leave the rear guard to me! Continue focusing on the path ahead!"
"Yes, we're relying on you."
As Argyle’s spirits visibly lifted, Rest turned away to hide the smirk creeping across his face.