With court magician Maitis setting up a barrier, the frontier development of the "Sabnock Plains" — a region of the demon realm — reached a major milestone.
Monsters were steadily disappearing from the plains. It must have been the effect of the barrier designed to repel them.
Of course, the monsters hadn't been reduced to dust and obliterated.
They had simply fled the plains, which meant there was a risk of damage to the surrounding regions… but countermeasures had naturally been taken in advance.
Traps for monsters had been pre-installed from the center of the plains to its outer edges, and many monsters were subjugated there.
Unfortunately, some managed to slip past the traps and escape beyond the perimeter… but since warnings had been issued to the surrounding villages and towns, no major damage had occurred.
With things like this… the demon realm was no different from ordinary land.
All that remained was to recruit settlers and build towns and villages.
Crops grew easily as well, so immigrants had been gathering steadily. Left to its own devices, the region would surely continue to develop.
"Hey, you lot. You're too slow building those magic circles. Pick up the pace!"
"Y-Yes!"
Meanwhile, progress on the frontier development continued.
At the development team's base, in one of the buildings, an impromptu magic lesson was being held.
Numerous young people sat at arranged tables, refining their mana.
"The foundation of barrier techniques is first committing the formulas to memory! If you try to do it with a vague recollection, you'll definitely fail, so start by copying the formulas onto paper. As many times as it takes until you've memorized them!"
The one wielding the teaching stick as instructor was a master of barrier techniques — Jalana Maitis.
As the most senior court magician, Maitis rarely left the royal palace, and opportunities to meet in person were few and far between.
For reasons unknown, Maitis had taken a liking to Rest, who had been assigned to receive instruction on barriers… but other young boys and girls had begun gathering there as well.
"Please, teach me too!"
"Nice to meet you, Master Maitis!"
The ones who bowed like that were students who had been participating in the frontier development.
As students of the Magic Department, they latched onto this precious opportunity and desperately sought instruction from Maitis.
"Hmph! I don't have time to waste on those without talent!"
That's what Maitis said while striking the ground with her staff.
"So keep up and prove you're not useless! The old hag's lessons are tough, so be prepared, you brats!"
Maitis had a foul mouth, but she was actually a rather caring person.
While spouting hateful things like "I won't teach those without talent," she was giving every single student who had come seeking instruction a chance to learn.
"Hmm, this is really hard... I'm no good at all."
"Barrier techniques really do test your sense for it..."
Viola and Primula were also participating in the lesson.
Both of them were groaning "mm-hmm" as they drew geometric shapes with their mana.
"Neither of you are doing badly. I'm completely hopeless."
Yuri tilted his head in distress.
Yuri had also joined this lesson for some reason, but his mana reserves were insufficient and he hadn't picked up the technique at all.
"Hmph... Albert's daughters are reasonably capable, aren't they. Primula in particular — you have good instincts."
Maitis walked over to the Rosemary sisters and huffed with a nasal sound.
"You're probably good at detailed work like sewing and knitting, right? Barrier techniques suit people like you. Keep at it with that approach."
"Thank you very much, Master Maitis."
"As for Cattleya's daughter... she genuinely has no talent, so just stop. Running drills on the surface would be more productive for her."
"Ugh... I knew it wasn't good enough..."
Primula smiled proudly as Yuri slumped his shoulders.
"Besides... kid. You don't need to keep doing this either."
".........."
And then... Maitis turned her gaze toward Rest, who was seated at the same table.
"There's nothing left for me to teach you. I'd say you've mastered everything I've got."
"Thank you, Guide."
Rest bowed his head and idly manipulated the magical circle floating between his hands.
It had only been a week since Maitis's lessons began... but Rest had already mastered every barrier technique she had taught him.
Apparently, learning even a single barrier technique normally took over a month, and in some cases years... but Rest could memorize them all at a single glance.
"...What an absurd talent. Good grief, you're one unlovable brat. This old hag's getting jealous."
"I'm flattered. It's simply that your teaching methods are excellent, Guide."
"Flattery, is it? I can see you've got the talent to charm women, not just cast magic... If I'd met you a hundred years earlier, I'd have pinned you down on the spot."
".........."
Rest's face nearly twitched at Maitis's unsettling grin.
Of course, he kept his expression unchanged out of courtesy.
"I've taught you every barrier technique I can. The rest are secret arts that even researching without special authorization is forbidden. If you want to learn more, try becoming a court magician first."
There were forms of magic so forbidden that even knowing of their existence was prohibited — like the barrier used for crime prevention.
Unless one held special qualifications like those of a court magician, even learning about them was illegal.
"Thank you very much. You've been a great help."
"Hmph... I don't need your thanks. Just keep working hard and become a magician good enough to make this old hag's life easier."
Leaving behind those harsh words, Maitis walked off toward the other students.
"That's amazing... As expected of Rest."
"That's wonderful, as expected of Master Rest."
Viola and Primula both offered their praise at the same time.
"No, it's nothing special."
"It's definitely something. Just memorizing this figure alone would make my head spin."
Yuri twirled her fingers in circles on both sides of her head.
The brawny Yuri apparently wasn't good at studying. She had scored decently on the academy entrance exam, so she probably had the motivation, but...
"I've always been good at memorizing things like figures and formulas... ever since I was young."
In his past life, his best subject had been mathematics too.
Compared to things like differential and integral calculus, the formulas for barrier magic seemed almost simple.
"Well then, I'll head outside so I don't get in your way. You two, don't push yourselves too hard."
"I'll head out too. I'll do exactly as you said and run around outside."
"See you later."
"Later."
Rest took Yuri along and headed outside the building that had been turned into a temporary classroom.