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Chapter 23 – The Investigation Team and the Magical Reaction
After handing Gwaine the map and power of attorney, Clare and the others left the capital on foot — or rather, on broomsticks — and set off on the journey back to the hermitage.
They returned to their usual routine of gathering materials and training in the forest, but one change was that they started paying more attention to keeping track of adventurers’ movements.
Clare learned a new detection magic from Rona, and by detecting long distances, she was able to see the adventurers in the Great Sea of Trees. Since the detection range is narrow and long, it is not suitable for use while exploring the Great Sea of Trees, but it is convenient for finding out about adventurers from a distance.
Naturally, the adventurers also take measures such as hiding their presence with stealth barrier charms and talismans, but just like the jamming magic against Clare’s disguise magic, the more advanced the detection magic and stealth barrier, the more likely they are to win the information war.
Commonly available espionage tools are meaningless to Rona, and even to Clare.
So while she was at the hermitage, where she was training, she cast detection magic on the area where adventurers would likely enter the Great Sea of Trees, to find out their movements.
While keeping a close eye on the adventurers’ movements, Clare and the others were also working on developing their own unique magic. A blue glow appeared around Selena’s eyes as she chanted loudly.
“It’s activated.”
“That’s good. How’s the effect?”
Selena’s expression relaxed as she saw the girl doll give a thumbs up, and she turned her gaze to some ceramic containers placed a short distance away.
“…I’m amazed. You can see the poison in the water and air… You can even tell the concentration.”
“I see. We can’t activate magic by assembling the technique like that… But I thought it would be possible, since Selena can see things that normally can’t be seen. That’s what my thread is like.”
They lined up several containers, filled them with water and mixed them with a colorless poison, and generated a colorless, odorless gas, and then experimented and verified whether they could be detected.
Just as Clare’s threads can combine various magic spells, Selena’s unique magic can also be used to expand the function of the eyes. However, unlike Clare’s chantless magic, Selena needs to chant to activate her unique magic.
Even though she has unique magic, Selena does not have the magical talent or training that Clare has. Rona thinks that a swordsman who uses magic to strengthen herself is a good choice.
“If only the mines hadn’t closed, this magic would be useful. However, I feel like it’s wasting a lot of my magical power right now.”
Selena puts her hands over her eyes with a serious expression on her face to release the spell.
“Originally, you need to select the effect and modify your own eyes with the magic eye. Considering that it can be used easily, the consumption is quite high.”
“I guess it’s good to use it at key times. If you use it in the mine… it would be difficult to use it in rescue situations.”
“Even now, it can be used to check water sources and avoid diseases caused by the mine. But to think that you’ve created such a useful magic… thank you, Clare.”
“Well… I still don’t have enough knowledge about parts of the magic that I could use. Rona has taught me a lot of spell books, scrolls, and magic books that I could use.”
“There are a lot of books, but it would be a waste to let them rot away. The feeling of connecting the assembled magic with the unique magic is something I can’t teach. You two will discuss and hone your unique magic.”
It’s not often that users of unique magic get together and reveal their secrets before practicing each other. Not only is it rare, but inherent magic itself is a trump card and can be a lifeline.
Rona enjoys watching such training and improvement, and sees it as something that can lead to her own magical research.
“Huh…?”
Clare was putting away the containers containing poison, but she suddenly froze, and the girl doll on her shoulder raised her head as if she had noticed something.
“What’s the matter?”
“Yes. The terrain to the south – this area is where the cliffs are. I think that’s probably collapsed. I feel a strange magical power coming from around there.”
“Is it the effect of the rain from the other day? Which…”
Rona casts a detection spell in that direction.
“Indeed… It’s a small but strange reaction. And the place where the adventurers are exploring is nearby.”
“Shall we go and see?”
“Yeah. It might be a little clumsy. I’ll have to check it out for myself. Selena, do you have any magic left?”
“Yes. I only stopped the spell because it was consuming a lot, so I have plenty of magic left.”
“Okay, you two, get ready. It’s dangerous, but it’s even more dangerous not to be able to accurately grasp the situation when such a change occurs. You have more ways to detect and obtain than others. You might need those cards, after all.”
Hearing the word danger from Rona’s mouth, the two of them became nervous.
Clare and the others quickly put on emergency equipment and prepared themselves, then moved south through the Great Sea of Trees and headed toward the collapsed area. Rona, who is leading the way, is walking a little faster than usual when she goes to the Great Sea of Trees — no, a lot faster.
“Several people are already moving near the scene. There’s no change in the magical reaction, but…”
“They heard the sound of the cliff collapse… and went to check it out, I guess?”
“I think so.”
Rona puts her hand on her chin and says.
“This is no good. They’ll get there first.”
“It’ll be a gamble whether we can make it before we hit the source of the magical power… but I can get ahead.”
When Clare says this, Rona looks back over her shoulder.
“…Are you aware that it’s dangerous?”
“I know. I won’t push myself.”
Looking into Rona’s eyes, Clare answers with her own mouth. They stare at each other for a while, and then Rona says.
“I see. I guess that’s just your nature.”
Rona continues speaking.
“Well, carefully check the situation, and if you can stop the adventurers, stop them. But if you can’t stop them in time, don’t push yourself. You know, it could be an undiscovered area or something related to ruins.”
“Yes. Well then–I’ll go ahead…! I’ll leave a thread behind, and I’ll use that to communicate…!”
As soon as she said that, a thread of light stretched out from Clare’s hand. The moment it seemed to have entangled itself in the trees, Clare ran straight through the forest at such a speed that her figure blurred.
It was a combination of forest walking magic and a technique to manipulate the trees with threads to move at high speed. She was pulling the trees while pushing aside the branches and leaves in front of her. She jumped forward at high speed, and the trees in front of her were pulling her in. All that was left behind was a single faintly glowing thread.
“That’s amazing speed…”
“If Clare is serious about moving through the Great Sea of Trees, that’s what she’ll do. Come on, let’s hurry up too…!”
“I get it!”
Cutting through the wind, leaving the trees flowing behind her in an instant, Clare moves forward. With a speed and trajectory like an arrow, Clare cuts through the middle of the Great Sea of Trees.
She moves so fast that even monkey-like monsters can’t possibly catch up, but compared to her speed, the amount of magical power she consumes is not that much. It’s not a burden for Clare.
A territory or ruins? The former is of course a dangerous area, but the latter is also dangerous because it’s unpredictable.
The legacy of an ancient civilization sounds good. Some people may feel romantic about it. It’s true that simple gold and silver treasures, as well as simple ruins, have high historical value.
But [living ruins] are a different story. For example, magical devices from ancient civilizations. Then there are still-functioning magical creatures and ancient guards known as tomb keepers.
These things are rarely unearthed, and not much is known about them. That’s why there’s a risk in touching them.
“It’s about time, but–”
The adventurers were too late to make contact. The branches and leaves made a way–and jumped out to a higher place. Clare jumped out from the top of the cliff.
With the same momentum, Clare threw herself into the air, sending threads flying in all directions and turning around. And then–Clare’s fall stopped mid-air while she checked the location of the collapse. Above and below the valley. She was standing on threads stretched between the trees. Then she looked at the collapsed area and understood the situation.
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