"[Firestorm] [Hardening] [Stone Wall]."
"[Firestorm] [Hardening] [Stone Wall]."
"[Firestorm] [Hardening] [Stone Wall]."
I tirelessly repeated the cycle: incinerating the weeds choking the center of the plain, then paving over the bare soil.
We had slaughtered a massive number of monsters yesterday, including the Corrosion Beasts, so very few creatures dared to show themselves today. Despite the extra steps in my construction process, the work was proceeding at a steady clip.
"[Firestorm] [Hardening] [Stone Wall]."
"[Firestorm] [Hardening] [Stone Wall]."
"I have to say it again... your mana is incredible."
Isis, who had been standing guard against monster attacks while I worked, finally spoke up.
"You’ve been cycling through three different spells without a single sign of exhaustion. [Firestorm] is high-tier magic—the cost alone should be staggering. Just what is your body made of?"
While Isis had seemed impressed at the start of the day, her expression had long since shifted to one of sheer exasperation.
Among the Academy’s student body, anyone capable of casting high-tier magic a handful of times was considered elite. Someone who could manage ten casts was practically guaranteed a position as a Court Mage.
"Rest, your capacity likely rivals the Sages of the Council... honestly, it’s intimidating."
"It’s really just the volume," I replied. "When it comes to raw output or finesse, there are plenty of mages who could school me."
I wasn't just being humble. Aside from the sheer depth of my mana pool, I couldn't beat Isis in a fair fight. Her invocation speed was far superior, and if we clashed using the same spell, her superior technique would undoubtedly overpower mine.
(I struggled against Rodel, and I should have theoretically overwhelmed him in terms of mana capacity. This just proves that endurance isn't enough to win a magic battle.)
If magic were a track-and-field event, I was a long-distance runner. My stamina was inexhaustible, but if I were forced into a sprint against a specialist, I’d be left in the dust.
"Even you, Isis-san, would probably beat me in a head-on fight without any tricks, wouldn't you?"
"I doubt you’d go down easily. But thank you for the modesty."
Isis shrugged. As the Leader of the Executive Committee, she was the undisputed top talent among the Magic Department students. Her abilities were already on par with the kingdom's finest mages.
"Rest is just humble by nature. I think he should be a little more boastful... munch, munch."
"Yuri... what are you eating now?"
Yuri chimed in, her jaw moving rhythmically as she chewed. Having apparently leaned fully into her new glutton trait, she was currently clutching a vibrant, red fruit.
"Oh, I found some raspberries in the bushes earlier. Want one, Rest?"
Yuri offered the fruit with a bright smile. A sharp, tart aroma wafted from the brilliantly colored berries. They looked delicious, but...
"...They're huge."
They were definitely shaped like raspberries, but each one was roughly the size of an apple. They were also surprisingly heavy, feeling more like lead weights than soft fruit. They had likely undergone abnormal growth after soaking up the dense mana of the Magical Wilds.
I had been too busy incinerating the brush to notice, but there had probably been similar clusters hidden among the weeds I'd destroyed.
"Whoa... are you serious...?"
"Yuri, you’ve got guts... It’s incredibly reckless to just bite into something unknown out here."
Lyubase looked physically repelled by the sight, while Isis could only manage a wry smile. Argyle and Rail didn't even bother joining the conversation, preferring to watch the spectacle from a safe distance.
"Do you two want some? I found plenty, so I can share."
"I don't want any! Get that thing away from me!"
"Hm... you’re offering one to me as well?"
Lyubase barked his refusal and scurried away from Yuri. Isis accepted the fruit, but she merely stared down at it with deep suspicion, making no move to actually taste it.
"Their loss. It’s actually good."
Yuri had eaten monster meat without a second thought last night, too. Despite being the daughter of a Marquis, she seemed to possess an iron stomach and zero hesitation.
"...Well, I can always cast a detox spell if things go south."
I steeled my resolve and bit into the massive, heavy raspberry. The moment the flesh hit my tongue, a violent explosion of tartness and sweetness filled my mouth.
"Ugh... that’s a very... intense flavor..."
It was sour, yet sweet, in a way that was difficult to describe. My brain struggled to categorize the sensation. It wasn't exactly bad, but I couldn't call it delicious either. It reminded me of the time I’d accidentally bitten into a bitter persimmon in my previous life. To make matters worse, the seeds were massive and gritty, adding an unpleasant texture to every bite.
"Interesting, right? I don't mind it at all."
"...I see. Well, I’m not sure I’d want to eat it raw again."
I looked down at the half-eaten fruit with a strained expression.
"Hmm... this might be better if we processed it. It could work as a jam, juice, or maybe even dried fruit."
Fruit wine was another possibility. The concentrated acidity of the fruit felt like it would be perfectly balanced if diluted and fermented.
"Oh, I like that idea! Let's try it when we get back. Viola and Primula would love it!"
Yuri gleefully began packing away several of the giant raspberries as souvenirs. Viola and Primula were certainly in for a shock.
"If we can figure out a way to process them, they might actually become a viable local specialty..."
A unique product would mean a steady source of income for the territory. Looking at it that way, Yuri’s habit of foraging for snacks was actually proving useful.
"Just... try not to scavenge and eat every strange thing you find."
"Ah, look, a snake! Should we roast that and eat it, too?"
"Absolutely not!"
"SHAAAAAAAA!"
A giant serpent slithered out from the tall grass, and Yuri’s mouth actually began to water. I didn't give her a chance to act, immediately blasting the creature with magic.
I trusted Yuri’s palate to a degree, but if she brought a monster like that back to camp, Viola and Primula would probably faint on the spot. I roasted the snake until it was nothing more than a charred, inedible lump of carbon.