Rot-Faced Fern and Parasitic Chickenblood Vine

Locke hired a carriage run by three Centaur brothers in the port city, paying them one Magic Stone.

Magic Stones had tremendous purchasing power in mortal society.

Since he was leaving the port city for Ashgra City, a city deep in the mountains and forests within Lilith's Cottage's territory, Locke needed reliable drivers.

The three Centaurs each looped a rein over their shoulders, then threw themselves into the task, pulling the carriage along country roads toward Ashgra City.

Inside the carriage, Locke sat reading the mission materials the Academy had given him.

First, Lilith's Cottage's territory contained many kingdoms and even empires. There were also many lords who belonged to no nation and pledged loyalty solely to Lilith's Cottage.

Ashgra City was one such city.

Ashgra City was located within the Ashgra Mountains.

The mountain range contained many naturally growing rare Magic Plants, as well as three magical mineral veins. The most important among them was the Resonant Gold Crystal Vein.

It was an essential auxiliary material for the Cantrip Model, Light Explosion Spell.

At the same time, this ore was also a key supplementary material for the First-Ring Spell, Echo Barrier. During the initial construction alone, dozens of kilograms of it were required.

In other words, Ashgra City was a relatively important resource point for Lilith's Cottage.

However, recently, the city's lord had reported to Lilith's Cottage headquarters that a large number of residents had developed a strange illness involving paralysis of the limbs and facial deformities. Mortal treatments had proven completely ineffective.

Thus, Lilith's Cottage believed that some wild Magic Plant from the Ashgra Mountains might have invaded the city and caused the outbreak.

That was why Locke, as an Assistant Breeder, had been sent to investigate.

This was to prevent Ashgra City from falling further out of