Book 19 Chapter 9

Episode 154

"It's a Sand Anaconda."

A presence of 'something' swimming hugely through the quicksand is felt.

Unless one possesses the dynamic vision of a warrior or an archer, it's impossible to know its location simply from the trajectory of shifting sand.

Even 'Silver' ranked mercenaries would flee in dismay from this monster, but Rin showed enough composure to even yawn.

"What's the detection magic?"

"Th-the inequality using the quadratic formula is, i-is the easiest…!"

"Good, I won't do the detection. You find it with that. Then I'll cast magic there. If you can't do it on time? We both die."

Beastkin magic fundamentally relies on coordinate abbreviation, making it unsuitable for such delicate magic.

However, close-range detection isn't impossible. For now, that's sufficient.

Most importantly, it's about cultivating the experience of finding a way even when facing such an enemy without succumbing to fear.

"Uhm… oh… Hey, over there!"

Later generations of Beastkin mages would make a name for themselves with their rapid magic use, but no one ever matched Rin's speed.

Against an enemy of this caliber, Rin's Beastkin spell was truly super-fast, just two hand signs… that was enough.

Rin was capable of manifesting 2-star magic, considered the realm of genius, in about one second.

"Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiik!"

Suddenly, the hardened, surging crust of the earth instantly pulled out the enormous body of the Sand Anaconda, which had been hiding and approaching in the sand.

"Rune Carving Alteration."

The magic didn't end there. The risen crust stretched out rocky spikes in all directions. Like a cactus!

"─────────!"

The earth's crust, which originally solidly supported the ground, instantly transformed into an instrument of slaughter.

As the ground surged upward, sand was sucked into the empty, cavern-like spaces created.

The Sand Anaconda, writhing painfully with its entire body impaled by rock, soon went limp after a final death throe.

'As expected…!'

Magic that affects the ground itself is 3-star and above! To use such a thing so casually!

'Master is so cool…!'

As Tureina's eyes sparkled and she cautiously glanced at Rin, Rin was intently staring at the Sand Anaconda's corpse. Was she checking if it was playing dead?

"Hmm… I wonder if that's edible? It'd probably be delicious if I cooked it. I've heard snake meat tastes like chicken."

"Eh?"

"Yesssssssssss!"

"Are you that excited? Haha, you little glutton. I'll quickly extract the juice from its eyeballs and make it delicious for you. In the meantime, you practice your detection magic more. Aim to expand it to a 15-meter radius first."

Rin, who fleetingly watched Tureina immediately perform hand signs, wore a satisfied smile.

'She's growing day by day. She grasps whatever I teach her immediately, it's a feeling I never experienced in the Magic Tower.'

By the way, Riki, he must be smaller than Tureina right now, or just about this size… I wonder how he's doing.

'Osarius Magic Tower…'

While teaching Tureina, Rin was surprised anew at his own heart missing the Magic Tower.

Perhaps he was seeing the shadows of his Magic Tower family through Tureina.

And through himself, watching Tureina's growth, the shadow of the Dean…

'The hero party's journey is fun, but I hope I can return soon.'