In September of Sapphire Year 157, the new season's Pioneer Order was being overseen by the Development Committee. Bored from staying on Flame Island, Liszt decided to take a stroll through the Bountiful Land.
The giant lion Nemean Lion lived in this place. On several previous visits, he had failed to find any trace of this legendary dragon descendant, and it had always left him unwilling to let it go. Now that he had returned to familiar ground, he mostly wanted to try his luck and see whether he could run into the Nemean Lion. Even if he could not, he might still pick up a few elves to bring back.
By this season, most elves that were meant to be born had basically matured.
Riding the Invisible Dragon Bard, Liszt activated Crystal-White Trajectory. All the magic power across the Bountiful Land arranged itself in orderly patterns within his special vision, standing out clearly. However, the magical feedback glow of elves was very faint and easily obscured by that of Magic Beasts. Most of the glows he saw along the way came from Magic Beasts.
Magic Beast meat nourished by magic power was highly nutritious, but it was not necessarily tastier or better in texture than poultry and livestock raised by humans.
In particular, the higher a Magic Beast's level, the tougher and drier its meat tended to be, making it unpleasant to eat.
"Looks like this trip was another waste. Didn't pick up a thing. Bard, let's head back." After making two rounds through the Bountiful Land, Liszt reluctantly prepared to return.
Bard suddenly cried out, "Wuiya!"
It had spotted something unusual on the ground in the distance and told Liszt through their mind-unity link—space above that patch of ground was rippling, so something unusual had to be there.