"Vivian's Squad"

The Magic Power Source Vivian's Squad had set their sights on was no different from a pond, whether in size or scale.

However, the spring water within truly was not ordinary water. It was magic power made tangible; its essence was still magic power, which was why it gave off a hazy glow, as though the pond were veiled in a mist of light. It was quite pleasing to the eye.

"If there'd been a place like this in my previous life, it would've instantly become a tourist attraction, drawing in crowds and making someone a fortune, right?"

The moment Shien saw the Magic Power Source, that was what he thought. This showed just how visually appealing it truly was.

"But considering there are monsters around, unless someone has a death wish, nobody would come to a place like this for sightseeing, would they?"

Otherwise, collecting the spring water would not have been treated as a commission and handed over to adventurers.

It was precisely because Magic Power Sources were usually located in areas overrun by monsters that people could not freely collect the spring water. They could only commission adventurers to do it. Otherwise, every Magic Power Source would likely have been drained dry long ago, rather than being completed as commissions by adventurers for rewards as they were now.

Moreover, extracting spring water from a Magic Power Source required skill.

"Since spring water is materialized magic power, it not only requires special containers to hold it, but will also evaporate back into ordinary magic power and disperse into the atmosphere once removed from the Magic Power Source. Special tools are needed for both extracting and preserving it."

Vivian explained this to Shien while having Tier and Lumya take out a set of apparatuses from their luggage that looked as though they could be used for chemistry experiments. They handed them to Merika, who was responsible for operating them and collecting the spring water from the Magic Power Source.

"Spring water extracted through specific procedures can be preserved in special containers for a certain period. The storage time is related to the scale of the Magic Power Source. Water from a small Magic Power Source can be preserved for about three days, a medium one for about seven days, and a large one for a month."

Vivian's detailed explanation cleared up one of Shien's doubts.

Originally, Shien had wondered why, if the spring water from Magic Power Sources was so useful, people did not make a bigger effort and transport it all away at once. With a preservation limit, though, it was easy enough to understand.

It also crushed Shien's idea of draining the Magic Power Source dry and hauling the spring water into town to sell for a fortune. It had to be said that this was rather disappointing.

Furthermore, the extraction process was quite complicated. Even Merika, a mage with the highest affinity for magic power, needed a considerable amount of time to complete it.

During that time, monsters inevitably appeared.

"Sha!"

Amid a sharp cry, a dark figure slowly emerged from the forest.

"Stay alert!"

Tier was the first to spot the enemy and shouted a warning, making everyone tense up and face the foe.

Shien also drew the broad-bladed sword at his waist, staying beside the others like an unassuming junior newcomer.

Of course, what Shien was really thinking was—

(It's a real pain that I can't call out a warning when I spot an enemy.)

With his max-level Enemy Perception skill, Shien had naturally been the first person to discover the enemy in the truest sense. But since he could not warn the others, he had only reacted now.

The enemy that had appeared was a humanoid monster holding a longsword and round shield, covered in green scales, with a reptilian head and tail and scraps of cloth wrapped around its waist.

"Lizardmen?"

Vivian took out the tower shield she had been carrying on her back and equipped it.

"Th-there are more behind it!"

Lumya, likewise nervously clutching her fists, said this to everyone.

Just as she said, behind the Lizardman that had appeared, one identical dark figure after another slowly emerged from the woods.

They were all Lizardmen.

"One, two, three... twenty-two in total."

Tier seemed to have detected the number of enemies with Enemy Perception and calmly informed them.

"I'll help too!"

Merika, who had been extracting the spring water, immediately stopped working and picked up the staff beside her.

The group faced the pack of Lizardmen.

At that moment, Vivian suddenly spoke to Shien.

"Come to think of it, I don't think we've ever shown you what we're capable of, have we?"

When Vivian said that, the smile on her face was not her usual gentle, amiable one. Instead, it carried an air of sharp competence.

"This is a good opportunity. Let me properly introduce the adventurers of this squad to you."

As Vivian said this, the Lizardmen ahead began to move.

"Sha!"

"Sha!"

With menacing cries, the Lizardmen that had slowly emerged from the forest charged toward them.

At the sight, Shien reflexively wanted to meet them head-on.

But someone moved faster than Shien.

"Ha!"

Lumya, who had been standing there nervously clutching her fists, suddenly shouted and shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow. Moving as fast as a bullet, she instantly reached a Lizardman.

That speed was enough to surprise even Shien.

"Sha!"

The Lizardman seemed startled as well. Once it recovered, it roared furiously, raised the longsword in its hand high, and slashed down at Lumya.

"Watch out!"

Shien cried out instinctively.

He could not help it. Lumya had always seemed gentle, frail, timid, and shy to Shien. Seeing the Lizardman attack her at such close range, he naturally could not stand by and watch.

"Don't worry."

Yet Vivian was exceptionally calm and made no move to rescue her.

The next second—

Clang!

With a crisp ring of metal striking metal, the Lizardman's descending sword was knocked away.

Facing the slashing blade, Lumya simply threw a punch and knocked the sword flying.

Looking closely, metallic gauntlets had appeared on Lumya's hands at some point.

Thud!

With a dull impact, Lumya threw another punch, violently sending the disarmed Lizardman flying and kicking up a gust of forceful wind.

The sight was quite shocking, leaving Shien staring blankly.

Vivian, on the other hand, spoke without the slightest surprise.

"Lumya is our squad's vanguard. She is a Beastfolk of the canine tribe, with an exceptional sense of smell and the naturally powerful physical abilities of the Beastfolk. That is why she uses Unarmed Combat and Body Reinforcement as her primary fighting methods. She specializes in both skills and has raised them to level six. She is currently level forty-four, a fourth-rank adventurer."

As Vivian's voice fell, Lumya had already darted toward the second Lizardman, once again knocking aside its weapon as it swung down before launching it into the air with a punch.

Then—

"Burn Off!"

Merika raised her staff and channeled magic power, causing the crystal atop it to bloom with light.

Boom!

Flames erupted across the Lizardman that had been launched into the air, instantly burning it into ashes.

"Merika is our squad's mage. As you can see, she is an Elf. Elves are close to nature and have an extremely high affinity for magic power and magic, so every one of them is a natural-born mage. Merika's magic ranks among the best even against others of the same level. She specializes in fire and ice magic. Aside from Chanting and Meditation, the skills every mage must train, Merika has spent all her Skill Points on Magic: Fire and Magic: Ice, raising both to level four. As a result, she can use intermediate magic from both schools. She is currently level forty-two, also a fourth-rank adventurer."

As she spoke, Vivian suddenly turned and slammed into one side.

Thud!

A Lizardman that had unknowingly crept close was heavily knocked away by Vivian's tower shield. It crashed into the trunk of a tree and was left barely alive.

"As for me, you should already know. As the squad leader, I am a defense-oriented vanguard. The skills I have learned include One-Handed Sword, Shield, Light Equipment, Parry, Taunt, Damage Weakening, and so on. I am currently level fifty, a fifth-rank adventurer."

Vivian turned her head and smiled at Shien.

"Next, let me introduce you to the strongest member of our squad, and one of Lamigium's foremost geniuses."

As though carried along by Vivian's words, a petite figure flashed past the group.

There was quite a lot of information in this chapter, so it took a little longer.

I hope everyone will continue supporting me as always.