"The mana of the plain has stilled... It looks like the barrier is finally complete."
The Subnock Plain had once been a magical wilds that endlessly birthed powerful monsters, but its source of mana was now a resource available for human use.
If people migrated here and built a town, it would surely flourish as a wealthy and peaceful city.
"Hmph... Were you watching, you brats?"
"Ah, yes... It was incredible."
"It's not enough for it to be 'incredible.' What matters is whether you learned anything."
Maitis struck the ground with her staff.
"An elder's duty is to leave wisdom for future generations. It’s a problem if you just stand there staring blankly. You'd better have studied properly, or this old woman's hard work will have been for naught."
"Ah... Right. I completely agree."
Rest scratched his head with a wry smile.
Seeing was believing.
He decided to demonstrate what he had learned by observation.
"Anti-Monster Field."
Rest activated his magic, mimicking what he had seen.
Patterns of light etched themselves above Rest’s head, forming a single magic circle.
It was considerably smaller than the one Maitis had created, but a ring resembling a halo rotated as it formed a hemispherical dome centered on Rest.
"The range is twenty meters at most... but I managed to set up a barrier that repels monsters. From now on, I should be able to move while maintaining it."
Rest's barrier was constructed directly above his head. He felt his mana being steadily drained.
However, unlike a magic circle carved into the ground, he could move the barrier along with him.
"..."
Maitis's eyes widened as she watched Rest put his words into action.
Then, she swung her staff with an air of dissatisfaction.
"Hmph!"
"Ouch...!"
The target was Lucas, who had been slumped on the ground in exhaustion.
Hit squarely on the forehead, Lucas clutched his head and writhed in pain.
"Just like Albert, you're a brat with no charm! Honestly, you couldn't be less fun if you tried!"
"Um... My apologies?"
"I have a little time before I must return to the Royal Palace, so I'll teach you a few barrier arts. You'd better etch them into your mind!"
"Thank you very much!"
Though Maitis appeared displeased, it seemed she intended to mentor him.
It was a rare opportunity to receive guidance from the kingdom's foremost expert in barrier magic.
Rest bowed to Maitis, grateful for this unexpected stroke of good luck.
"That's amazing, Rest! And you were cool too, Granny!"
"As expected of Guru Maitis... Even with magic implements, to set up such a massive barrier all by herself...!"
Yuri clapped her hands, while Isis wore an expression of admiration.
The others looked down at the magic circle on the ground with interest, fascinated by the rare sight.
"Come to think of it... this barrier is layered fourfold."
Yuri suddenly spoke up.
"There's 'Monster-repelling,' 'Fertility,' 'Disease-prevention,' and... what was the last one?"
"She said 'Crime Prevention'..."
Lyubase answered, then immediately looked away upon realizing he had addressed a woman.
"Ah... That's right, she did."
His Highness Andrew, standing behind them, gave a troubled, wry smile.
Then, he reprimanded Maitis, the one who had actually performed the ritual.
"Guru Maitis... the 'Crime Prevention' barrier is a classified matter."
"Hmm? Oh, was it? I’d forgotten."
Maitis scratched her temple with the handle of her staff.
"It's not something that really needs hiding... Honestly, times have certainly changed. It's gotten terribly difficult for an old woman like me to live."
"Um... His Highness Andrew. Was that something we weren't supposed to know?"
"Technically, that's how it is... Well, I suppose it's fine."
When Rest asked with a troubled look, Andrew spread his arms wide in an exaggerated gesture.
"The 'Crime Prevention' barrier is exactly what it sounds like. It deters crimes committed by those within its range. It suppresses human malice and violent impulses, making it difficult for crimes to occur. In short... it's a barrier that interferes with the mind."
"Interferes with the mind...?"
Rest’s eyes widened.
To think that magic capable of affecting the minds of an unspecified number of people actually existed.
Was such a barrier also installed in the Royal Capital?
"Regardless of whether the goal is crime prevention, people don't like the idea of their minds being tampered with, right? That's why its existence is kept secret."
"Well... I suppose that's true."
Even if the purpose wasn't malevolent, there was a natural resistance to being subjected to hypnosis or suggestion.
Learning such a barrier existed would leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth.
"But crimes still happen. Both in the Royal Capital and in other towns."
Lyubase interjected.
If such a barrier existed, why hadn't crime been eradicated?
Rest harbored the same question.
"The barrier only suppresses the malice that leads to crime... it doesn't turn a villain into a saint, nor does it make desires vanish. It's really only a minor psychological deterrent."
"If we dedicated all the mana from this Dragon Hole to that single barrier, we might be able to eliminate crime entirely... though we might lose our humanity in the process."
Maitis chuckled, her shoulders shaking with amusement.
Hearing those words, Rest realized why the barrier's existence was suppressed.
(I see... For instance, if the effect wasn't 'Crime Prevention' but 'Domination' or 'Charm,' it might be possible to keep every resident of a city under total brainwashing...)
Perhaps such an event had occurred in the past.
"I forbid any mention of the 'Crime Prevention' barrier. Everyone, forget this ever happened."
" " " " " …… " " " " "
At Andrew's command, the group nodded in silent agreement.