After that, everything proceeded smoothly according to Vivian's battle plan.
Once Merika had collected the spring water, everyone lay in ambush nearby, waiting for the monsters to appear.
There were quite a lot of monsters drawn in by the Magic Power Source, and their variety was equally astonishing. Compared to the forest where Shien had spent ten days when he had first arrived in this world, they were no less numerous. There was even a group of Thorn Horn Demons—the very species Shien had once wiped out entirely. As if that made him feel nostalgic!
That period was undoubtedly a dark chapter in Shien's history. Calling it a period of psychological trauma would not have been an exaggeration, so he had nearly been unable to resist rushing out and wiping out every last Thorn Horn Demon.
Unfortunately, it seemed he would not need to do that himself.
Just as Vivian had said from the start, the monsters attracted by the Magic Power Source began slaughtering one another over the spring water.
The scene was far more spectacular than when Tier had massacred the Lizardmen. All kinds of monsters spewed fire and lightning, while others pounced on, bit, and devoured each other with extreme brutality. It felt to Shien like he was watching some unprecedentedly bizarre horror movie, and it made his stomach churn.
If he had not gone through those ten days in the forest, Shien felt he would have vomited on the spot.
It was worth mentioning that the girls of Vivian's Squad were much calmer than Shien. Even Lumya, the most timid among them, watched the scene with a serious expression and was not frightened in the slightest. Their mental fortitude was leagues beyond the girls from his previous life who could scream for ages at the sight of a cockroach or mouse.
"They're adventurers, after all. No matter what, they're used to this."
At the very least, Shien felt he should learn from that kind of composure.
"This is also a common flaw of overpowered characters. They have strength, but their qualities in every other respect are completely lacking."
So, wasn't there a skill that could make someone instantly comprehend some supreme realm and become a cool, composed, ridiculously impressive guy? My cheat power, why have you forsaken me?
While Shien idly immersed himself in his own world, the Fire Lizards, Vivian's Squad's target monsters, finally appeared in groups.
They joined the brutal slaughter as well, and quite a few of them ultimately died beneath the claws and fangs of the other monsters, becoming corpses.
The battle continued until a rhinoceros-type monster at level sixty-two appeared, finally bringing it to an end.
The rhinoceros monster displayed overwhelming strength. Only after slaughtering all the other competitors did it drink every last drop of water from the Magic Power Source and leave in satisfaction.
Only then did Vivian's Squad emerge from the bushes where they had been hiding.
"Is this really okay?"
Shien turned to Vivian and asked her that.
Naturally, he was referring to letting the rhinoceros monster drink all the spring water without subduing it, simply allowing it to leave.
"Don't worry." Vivian shook her head. "After one night, the magic power in the atmosphere and the earth will gather in the Magic Power Source again and materialize into spring water. There's no need to fight such a high-level and dangerous monster for reasons unrelated to the request."
After Vivian explained it that way, Shien understood.
"No wonder you mentioned something about the activation of the Magic Power Source before."
That probably referred to the Magic Power Source filling with spring water again.
"Ordinary Magic Power Sources are all like this. They attract a large number of monsters, which kill one another, then the victorious monster drinks the water dry. After one night, new spring water forms again, repeating the same cycle. Thus, people call the phase when a Magic Power Source is filled with spring water its activation phase."
Vivian thoroughly explained why they had camped at the foot of the mountain yesterday.
It was because that had not only been an unsuitable time to enter an area bustling with monsters, but also an unsuitable time to collect spring water from the Magic Power Source.
At that time, the spring water in the Magic Power Source had probably already dried up.
Vivian had not wanted to miss the Magic Power Source's activation period, which was why she had camped directly at the foot of the mountain and collected the spring water before the monsters were drawn in by it.
"Before long, low-level, weaker monsters that don't dare compete for the Magic Power Source will be attracted by the corpses and blood here," Vivian continued. "Since they can't compete for the Magic Power Source, they'll target these monster corpses instead, consuming their flesh and blood to obtain the magic power that hasn't fully dissipated and gradually strengthen themselves. Before they arrive, let's quickly collect all the monster materials."
That was Vivian's Squad's true objective.
Under Vivian's lead, the party immediately began skillfully dismantling the monster corpses.
During the process, Vivian taught Shien a great deal of knowledge: how to dismantle monsters, which parts of which monsters were in demand and could be brought back to sell for money, how such materials should be preserved and carried, and much more. Vivian explained all kinds of things to Shien.
Vivian's explanations were quite easy to understand, allowing even Shien, a person from Another World who had only just arrived and knew little about this world, to follow along.
Of course, quite a few monsters approached during that time as well.
However, these monsters were all relatively low-level. Vivian seemed to want Shien to use them for practice, but for some reason, she gave up on the idea afterward.
"They don't seem suitable for you to practice on. I'll find you a more suitable opponent next time."
After hesitating as though she wanted to say something more, Vivian said that, leaving Shien only able to nod in confusion.
In the end, Lumya and Merika took care of all those monsters.
"Is everything ready?"
At the foot of the Mangal Mountain Range, Vivian, seated in the driver's seat of the carriage, called back toward the cabin behind her.
"Y-Yes, we're ready!"
"We can leave now, Sister Vivian!"
Lumya responded nervously while Merika answered with energy, making Vivian smile.
"Then let's return to Lamigium."
Vivian urged the carriage onward, sending it rolling ahead.
A closer look revealed that the roof and cargo compartment of the carriage were piled high with bags stuffed full of monster materials. It was obvious at a glance just how bountiful their haul had been.
Shien was seated in the cabin as well, looking at the Mangal Mountain Range gradually receding behind them and reflecting on the end of his first adventure.
Yet Shien did not feel reluctant to leave. Instead, he was looking forward to returning to Lamigium.
"Once we're back, I'll start by learning Magic Sword skills from Tier."
"If I can learn any other skills, I should learn as many as possible. Otherwise, leaving Skill Points unused would be a waste."
"And magic... I really want to learn magic."
There were many things Shien wanted to do.
Compared to troublesome matters like the Hero and the Demon Lord, disputes between the God Race and the Demon Race, and peace among the Three Races, Shien looked forward to those things much more.
"This Another World is pretty interesting."
Adventuring was pretty interesting too.
Right?
Third update today!
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