"[Fire Storm][Hardening][Stone Wall]"
"[Fire Storm][Hardening][Stone Wall]"
"[Fire Storm][Hardening][Stone Wall]"
He repeatedly performed the task of burning away the weeds growing in the center of the plains and paving over the ground.
Having defeated a large number of monsters yesterday, including the Corrosion Beasts… today, not many monsters had appeared.
Even though the process had become more complex, he was able to proceed smoothly.
"[Fire Storm][Hardening][Stone Wall]"
"[Fire Storm][Hardening][Stone Wall]"
"I have to say… it's amazing. Your mana."
While he worked, Isis, who was keeping watch for monsters, spoke up.
"You're using three spells in succession, yet your mana doesn't seem to be running out. Especially since [Fire Storm] is an advanced spell that consumes a fair amount of mana… What on earth is going on with your body?"
At first, Isis had seemed impressed, but now she wore a look of exasperation.
If a student at the academy could cast an advanced spell a few times, they were considered talented. Casting it ten times over would be enough to qualify one as a court magician.
"Rest, your mana might rival that of a sage on the Council of Sages… Honestly, it's a little intimidating."
"It's only the amount of mana that's high. When it comes to output or technique, there are plenty of mages better than me."
In reality, apart from his mana reserves, Rest couldn't win against Isis.
Her spellcasting speed was higher, and if they clashed with the same magic, he would certainly lose.
(Since even Rodele, whom I should overwhelm in mana, put up a tough fight… it goes to show that stamina alone isn't enough to win a magical battle.)
In terms of track and field, Rest was a long-distance runner.
His stamina was virtually limitless, but if it came to a sprint, there were surely plenty of people who could outpace him.
"If you fought Isis without any tricks, head-on, she'd be stronger than me, wouldn't she?"
"I don't think you'd lose that easily. You're being modest."
Isis shrugged.
As the leader of the student council enforcement, Isis was the top-ranked student in the Magic Department.
She possessed abilities equivalent to those of a court magician.
"Rest's just the humble type, that's all. I think it'd be fine for him to be a bit more proud of himself... *nom nom*"
"Yuri... what are you eating?"
Meanwhile, Yuri had joined the conversation while munching on something.
Ever since he'd acquired his gluttony trait the other day, Yuri's hand was clenched around a vivid red fruit.
"Oh, I found some wild strawberries in the grass earlier. Want some, Rest?"
Yuri held out the fruit with a bright smile.
The wild strawberries were a deep, brilliant crimson, giving off a tart aroma that looked incredibly appetizing, but...
"...Those are huge."
They were unmistakably wild strawberries in shape, yet they were as big as apples.
To top it off, they were surprisingly heavy, feeling like he was holding a shot put.
These, too, had probably undergone abnormal growth by absorbing the mana of the demon realm.
He hadn't noticed before because he'd been busy burning through the grass, but there might have been similar fruits hidden among the weeds.
"Whoa... seriously...?"
"Yuri's got guts, I'll give him that... but biting straight into something without knowing what it is, that's reckless."
Lubeth had a disgusted look on his face, while Isis offered a wry smile.
Argil and Rail didn't join the conversation, watching from a safe distance.
"How about you two want some? I found a lot, so I can share!"
"No thanks, and don't come near me!"
"Hmm... you'd give me some too...?"
Lubeth snapped back as if biting, putting distance between himself and Yuri.
Isis accepted one, though she made no move to eat it, looking down at the fruit with suspicion.
"It's delicious, though... what a shame."
Even last night she'd eaten magic beast meat without hesitation, so Yuri seemed to be able to eat just about anything for a young lady of marquis standing.
"Well... I can cast a detoxification spell, so it should be fine."
Rest steeled himself and took a bite of the large, heavy wood strawberry.
The moment the flesh hit his tongue, a burst of sourness and sweetness exploded in his mouth.
"Ugh... this is quite an acquired taste..."
Sour, sweet... a flavor so indescribable that his brain couldn't process it.
It wasn't bad, but he couldn't exactly call it delicious either. It reminded him of the time in his past life when he'd accidentally eaten an unripe persimmon.
That said, the seeds of the wood strawberry were also large and gritty—there was no denying that part was unpleasant.
"An interesting flavor, I'd say. I don't dislike it."
"...I see. Well, I'd still have reservations about eating more of this."
Rest wore an indeterminate expression as he looked down at the half-eaten wood strawberry.
"Hmm... maybe if you turned this into jam or juice, or perhaps dried fruit, it might be easier to eat."
Or perhaps fruit wine would be nice too.
The rich acidity of the fruit would be just right if diluted with water.
"Oh, that sounds great! Let's try making some when we get back. Viola and Primula will be thrilled!"
Yuri gleefully set aside several wood strawberries as souvenirs.
When he brought those wood strawberries home, Viola and Primula were sure to be astonished.
"If we can process them well, they might become a new specialty product..."
If they could develop a specialty product, it would also bring income to the domain.
Thinking that a new local specialty might come of it, Yuri's gluttony actually proved useful.
"Still… don't go eating random things you find."
"Oh, there's a snake! Want me to grill that one too and give it a try?"
"Don't!"
"Sssssssssssssssss!"
A massive serpent slithered out from the undergrowth, making Yuri drool — but Rest frantically attacked it with magic.
Rest trusted Yuri's palate to some extent, but bringing something like this home would make Viola and Primula faint on the spot.
So he grilled it until it was charred beyond recognition — cooked to the point where it couldn't even be eaten.