It was the second day of pioneering the Magical Wilds.
The objective remained the same.
Leaving Viola and Primula behind, Rest set out for the center of the plain with the same party as the previous day. Since they were retracing a route they had already cleared once, they reached their destination in far less time than on the first day.
"This is...!"
However, Rest and his companions were forced to a sudden halt.
The sight stretching before them was identical to the one they had encountered yesterday. Identical—meaning the vegetation had grown with such unnatural speed that the plain once again resembled a dense forest.
"The grass I burned away is back to normal... and in just one night?"
Indeed, the weeds Rest had incinerated with his magic were once again standing as tall as a man. No matter how quickly weeds were known to grow, this was well beyond the realm of the natural.
"So this is what it means to be in the Magical Wilds... Incredible."
Rest let out a heavy sigh. Behind him, Lyubase and Isis stared at the overgrown greenery with grim expressions, while Yuri was playfully tearing handfuls of grass apart.
"What do you intend to do about this, Count Clover?" Knight Argil asked, his voice tinged with a matching sigh. "At this rate, we won't be able to fulfill the orders from His Highness Andrew. With the vegetation this thick, it will interfere with both the investigation and the monster culling."
Argil was right. The orders given to Rest’s team were to survey the center of the plain and subjugate any monsters they found. However, with the grass this high, visibility was nearly zero, making it impossible to read the terrain or spot incoming threats.
"I’ll report this to the Prince later, but for now... it looks like I’ll need to put in a little extra effort."
"Effort? You think that’ll actually change anything? This is looking like way more of a hassle than I signed up for," Lyubase said, drawing his sword and slashing through a cluster of weeds.
Golden grains of mana spilled from the severed stalks, shimmering in the air.
"Look at this. The cuts are already starting to regenerate. It’ll probably be back to normal in a few hours." Lyubase scowled at the fallen grass. The repairs to the stalks had already begun—moving at a speed that was subtle to the eye, yet undeniable.
Even if they burned it all away like they had yesterday, it would just grow back as long as the roots remained.
"Unless we set up a barrier to drain the mana from the Dragon Vein, is there even a point?" Lyubase asked.
The root cause of this explosive growth was the massive amount of mana erupting from the Dragon Vein. To suppress it, they would eventually need a specialized barrier to consume that energy. Once that was accomplished, however, the area could be developed into a city largely immune to plague or natural disaster.
"In the long term, you're right. But as for our immediate problem, I have a way."
Rest held his hand out toward the overgrown weeds and activated his magic.
"Fire Storm!"
Raging flames surged forth, incinerating the weeds instantly and leaving a patch of blackened, bare earth. That much was the same as yesterday. The real ingenuity began now.
"Hardening."
He cast a second spell toward the ground. The loose dirt began to solidify, turning as hard and smooth as fired ceramic.
"Oh! It's solid!" Yuri exclaimed, stomping her feet on the ground to test it.
Isis looked on, clearly impressed. "I see... You're hardening the earth to prevent the seeds from sprouting."
While roots that hadn't been fully burned might still be beneath the surface, they wouldn't be able to break through a layer of earth this dense.
"Even so, one shouldn't underestimate the resilience of nature. Let’s make absolutely sure."
Rest activated his magic once more. This time, he used Stone Wall—a spell that literally summoned walls of stone. Instead of standing them upright, he laid them flat against the ground, paving the surface like a road.
Weeds were known for their ability to eventually crack through asphalt, but even the most persistent plant would struggle to breach this magical fortification.
"This would certainly prevent the grass from returning... but what about your mana?"
The question came from Jacks Rail, the priest standing at the rear of the party. Rail hadn't had much of an opportunity to contribute yet and had remained largely in the background, but now he spoke up tentatively.
"Count Clover, you showed us yesterday that you possess a vast amount of mana... but casting this many powerful spells in such quick succession... surely even you will run dry eventually?"
"Ah... well, I should be fine. I'll just keep going as long as I can," Rest replied vaguely.
Since his mana pool was infinite, there was no actual risk, but he wasn't about to explain that.
"Right. Please don't worry about my mana levels. However, since I’ll be concentrating entirely on the construction, I need the rest of you to handle the monsters. I won't have the leeway to defend myself."
"...Well, if that is your wish, Count Clover," Rail said, backing down. Rest was the Captain of the party and a Count to boot. While Rail might offer advice, he had no intention of disobeying a direct order.
"I won't let a single monster get near you, Rest. You can count on me," Yuri said, puffing out her chest reliably.
Isis also began scanning the surrounding brush for any movement. "The vegetation might grow back, but the monsters we kill stay dead. This should be easier than yesterday."
"Hmph." Lyubase shrugged and rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Argil and Rail kept watch from a slight distance behind the younger members of the group.
"Then I’m counting on you all."
Once he confirmed his companions were in position, Rest resumed his work, burning away the weeds and paving the earth. Because of the extra steps, the process was time-consuming; however, as Isis had noted, the number of monsters had indeed thinned out since the previous day.
It was a slow, deliberate pace—more like a construction project than an exploration—but they were undeniably carving a permanent path into the heart of the Magical Wilds.