Chapter 10 - Aftermath and Reflection
After the massive relocation of Capros and the subsequent demonic beast attacks, we were all exhausted and drained.
In the end, we didn't even start the cleanup that day. The relief of finally getting some rest was a welcome break for everyone. Still, the warden, as the person in charge, did his job. He worked through the night to address the issues and formulate practical solutions. It's what we would expect from him, of course.
The sheer number of carcasses to process was overwhelming, so we called in reinforcements from the local guard and adventurers. It took a few days, but the problem was eventually resolved. Before we started the cleanup, we made sure to secure any valuable resources, like the meat from the Bright Ape and other edible demonic beasts.
However, we were a bit too ambitious with the amount of meat we secured. It was too much to fit in the Camp's freezers. So, the inmates and staff, including the warden, decided to expand the freezer capacity. It was a situation where anything goes, but it wasn't a bad thing for us. No one was complaining about the extra effort.
Speaking of the bounty, the meat from the Capros is quite flavorful, though it has a bit of a gamey taste. With proper preparation, it's quite delicious. We also secured various other demonic beasts like deer, cattle, birds, and snake-like creatures for both their materials and meat.
Experienced inmates, former adventurers, and merchants were mobilized to process the haul. There were so many of them that we were even considering making smoked meats and other preserved foods. That's something to look forward to, and I hope they do a good job.
As for the combatants, it was decided that we would receive proper rewards. After all, we're not criminals or slaves; we deserve a share. The rewards include both money and a reduction in our sentence.
The warden here has a lot of authority. Most things can be decided with a word from him. The amount of money we receive upon release could be quite significant, assuming the staff doesn't lie to us.
The materials from the Capros are valuable, but there's so much that the Camp alone can't handle it all. So, the surplus was given to the cleanup crew to do as they pleased. Given the sheer volume, it was a wise decision.
Once everything was sorted out, I was called in for another interrogation today.
It was a hassle, but I had expected it. There was no avoiding it.
Accompanied by a female staff member, I entered the room where a few employees, including the deputy warden, were waiting. The atmosphere was tense, making me feel uneasy. It was like a job interview, except it wasn't.
"Please, have a seat," the deputy warden said.
I sat down, but it felt like I was being interrogated, which made me uncomfortable. Then I wondered if this was indeed an interrogation.
"Sorry to trouble you, but we need to report everything that happened here in detail. You have an idea of what we'll ask, don't you?"
"Well, the explosion, right?"
"Yes. We've heard the general story from others, but we want to hear it directly from you."
I knew I couldn't hide anything. The skill and my magical aptitude had already been identified through the appraisal, and everything I did was witnessed. There was no point in hiding it. I decided to be straightforward and get it over with.
"Alright. In simple terms, I used mineral magic to create explosive stones and threw them."
"Hmm, you really did keep it simple. Can you provide more details? For example, what kind of explosive stone?"
"Nova Ore. It explodes under strong pressure."
"Is such a stone common? I've never heard of it, and does anyone know about it?"
The deputy warden looked puzzled as he asked the others, but they just exchanged glances.
It's no wonder. Nova Ore is a rare and valuable material. Only scholars would know about it.
"Does no one know about it? I learned about it in the library. It was in an encyclopedia."
"I see. You're always studying, I've heard. That's how you found out. Can you mass-produce these stones?"
"That's not possible. It would require too much mana for an individual, and mass-production on an industrial scale would be out of the question."
Mass-producing them would require an industrial level of mana, which is simply beyond my capabilities. Besides, I wouldn't want to do it even if I could. The scale of the explosion is too large and difficult to control.
After explaining this and my method of triggering the explosion, the deputy warden seemed to accept it, though I couldn't tell what he was thinking.
"I understand. While there might be other uses if we consult with a specialist in magical artifacts, for now, it's good. Thank you for your cooperation."
I was relieved to be dealing with reasonable people. There were a few underlying concerns, but thanks to the discussions I had with the female staff member and Rosabel-san beforehand, it went smoothly. At least for now.
A few days later, as we were gradually returning to our routine, a bright afternoon scene unfolded.
The heat from the recent events hadn't cooled down yet.
"Watching you fight the demonic beast, I couldn't help but think..."
Zenobia began thoughtfully during our free time.
"What is it?"
"Your attacks were impressive, but you should consider improving your defense. During that battle, you hardly used any magic for defense, right?"
"True. I almost died from a demonic beast's attack."
"Indeed. I was surprised to hear that you were brought back from near death so quickly. Can you tell us more about that?"
Zenobia's insightful comment sparked a discussion with Frederica and Rosabel-san as well.
We had all been busy after the battle, so we hadn't had this kind of relaxed conversation. I was also eager to hear their thoughts on defense.
"You're right. I was caught off guard by how vulnerable I was."
"Stronger demonic beasts can deal fatal blows with their horns or claws. Can you use mineral magic to enhance your defense?"
I had been reflecting on this a lot. I had many ideas, but they weren't fully formed yet.
"I haven't come up with a good solution yet. Any ideas would be helpful."
"How about creating a magical armor and wearing it?"
"Hmm, I think I could create armor, but it wouldn't be as functional or user-friendly as something made by a professional blacksmith. Besides, my combat style doesn't really fit with wearing armor. Even if I did, I don't think it would make much difference against such attacks."
"Depends on the armor. For example, my armor is made of mithril and is already very sturdy. By channeling mana, it can be enhanced like a physical enhancement spell, making it much tougher than you might expect."
"Really? I didn't know that."
"My robes and staff work similarly. They become more effective when infused with mana."
I hadn't paid much attention to equipment before, so I hadn't realized how effective it could be.
Mithril armor is expensive, but it's a realistic and desirable piece of equipment that I could aim for. It's like a stepping stone to becoming a top-tier mage.
Mithril and similar materials are known as magical minerals. They can't store mana like magic stones, but they can increase strength and enhance magical effects when infused with mana. I've studied this extensively as someone with an aptitude for mineral magic.
"While armor might not work for me, what about robes...? Hmm, but they might not fit my style."
Imagining myself in a healer's robes... no, it just wouldn't work.
"My robes are made from mithril processed into threads. How about making a piece of clothing from that?"
"That's a great idea! But creating clothing directly with magic might be too difficult. I could try making the threads, though."
Creating clothing from metal threads seemed like a challenge, but it could be useful in other ways.
"If you can create the threads, the rest could be handled by a tailor. But even if you wear it, it wouldn't provide magical defense, right?"
Frederica had a point.
Hmm, defense. I need to think of something for defense.
"How about a shield? Even a disposable one would work."
"Oh, that's an idea. I could make one quickly. But it would tie up one of my hands."
Holding a shield and grappling with enemies simultaneously doesn't seem practical. Using a shield to strike might not fit my combat style.
"What if you floated the shield in the air? You mentioned having trouble moving objects you created. A shield could float around you and provide defense."
That's a good point. If the shield floats, I could use it without holding it.
"Hey, that could work! Thanks, Frederica, that's a great idea!"
I imagined floating shields around me. They wouldn't need to be magic-enhanced, but there are many other minerals with unique properties that could be combined for incredible effects.
I could make them transparent to avoid obstructing my view or even use them for optical camouflage. The possibilities are endless!
Hehe, muahaha.
"It seems you've got a good idea. Visualize it well before you put it into practice."
"Right. I have a lot of ideas, but I'm not sure when I'll get the chance to try them out."
The conversation sparked a flood of ideas. I couldn't wait to test them out with magic.
"By the way, how did the healing spell work? Did you use it on yourself?"
"I was barely conscious at the time. Zenobia, what did you see?"
I was too focused on survival to observe myself objectively. I'm proud of how well I handled it.
"To be honest, I thought it wouldn't work. Your side was crushed. I seriously considered the possibility that we wouldn't make it to the healers in time."
"Really, it was that bad?"
I hadn't realized it was that severe. I didn't want to imagine it.
"Still, we had to stop the beasts from chasing us. I was doing my best to keep them at bay when you suddenly came back to life and started fighting. It was confusing."
Thanks to Zenobia, I'm alive and well today.
"Completing such a severe injury must mean it was a high-level healing potion. It would be impossible without third-level effects. It might even have had second-level effects."
"What do second-level effects do?"
"Most injuries can be healed, even if you're near death. The major feature is the regeneration of lost limbs. For example, if a soldier lost an arm in battle, a healer using second-level healing magic could restore it."
Wow, being able to regrow lost body parts is incredible. I might have achieved that.
"I see. I envisioned restoring what was lost when I created the potion. It could have had second-level effects."
"You make it sound so easy, but a potion with second-level effects would be legendary. It's best to keep it under wraps. I need to test it, so let me have it."
I won't be able to use magic again until I'm released. That's a long way off.
"Rosabel-san, you've been so helpful. I'll give you as many as you want. But how can we confirm if it's second-level? We can't just cut off someone's arm."
"We could use an animal, but the Guild has a magical appraisal tool. I can use it personally, and no one will say anything. If it's second-level, no one will find out."
That sounds fine. I'll ask her to do it someday.
"Appraisal magic is so convenient. I didn't know it had such uses. Come to think of it, Frederica can use it too?"
"I can only use low-level appraisal magic, so I can't do much."
"Even low-level appraisal magic is valuable. You could be in high demand from guilds and merchants."
"True. It's quite useful. I'll ask for your help if I need it."
"Me too."
Frederica, despite her lack of confidence, has a valuable magical aptitude.
With renewed hope, we returned to our routine, eagerly awaiting the day when we could use magic again.