Published: August 2, 2025
Today, five chapters are updated simultaneously.
This is the fifth chapter.
The Next Day
We left the campsite where we had spent the night early in the morning, and by the time the sun reached its peak, we arrived at our destination: the Poison Insect Plain.
“Is everyone here? …Alright! For the next three days, this place will be our base of operations. First, just like yesterday, everyone prepare your own campsites! After that, I’ll explain the schedule here. That’s all! Get started!”
The participants dispersed in small groups.
This is the Poison Insect Plain… A vast grassland stretches out here, along with gentle rolling hills. A short walk away, there’s a forest where the trees have started to change color, and a cool breeze carries the scent of grass over this peaceful land. There are no powerful magical beasts living here. Recently, the sunlight has also softened considerably; it would be quite pleasant to have a picnic here.
However… the main thing to watch out for here is the “poisonous insects.” True to its name, the Poison Insect Plain is home to an extremely large number of insects that sting people with venom.
Exposing as little skin as possible is essential. Prepare insect repellent and apply it before entering. Maintain thorough insect prevention measures throughout your stay. These three points are the basics for operating here. Neglect them and…
“Something’s itching…”
“Did you get bitten by a bug?”
“Probably…”
“What a rough start.”
It seems some students have already been stung by this point.
According to prior information we purchased, none of the insects here have venom potent enough to be life-threatening with a single sting. However, without insect prevention, the next morning you will suffer from unbearable itching and pain. Also, depending on the type of insect and the victim’s constitution, some cases could become severe or even life-threatening, so caution is necessary.
…Alright, that should do it.
“Sleeping spots are secured for now.”
Just like yesterday, we set up beds using earth magic. Today, to prevent ground-crawling poisonous insects from getting in, we built elevated beds. The windows we installed have insect screens firmly fixed so they won’t come loose.
“Also… ah, Roche!”
“Need something?”
“I’m planning to burn insect repellent, but it produces quite a bit of smoke, so I wanted to give you a heads-up just in case. I happened to see you on patrol.”
“I see, understood. But I have to say, I was amazed yesterday too—how do you build something like this? It’s basically a cabin.”
“Haha…”
Indeed. While almost everyone else only has tents, I’m the only one who built a sturdy stone-walled structure. And since it’s elevated today, it sticks out even more, towering above the others.
“Hm? Did you get hurt?”
Hurt? Oh, maybe because I took out bandages from my pack.
“This is insect repellent. It’s bandages soaked in a specially prepared medicinal liquid and then dried, making them easy to carry. I also brought liquid types that you apply directly to the skin and some herbal incense types, but for use on buildings or large areas, this is best. The materials are cheap, the effect is strong, and since it produces lots of smoke, it’s convenient.”
While explaining, I cut about a meter of the bandage and used magic to scorch the tip. Though cotton normally catches fire quickly, once soaked in this medicinal liquid, the bandage burns slowly like an incense stick, releasing thick white smoke that obscures vision.
After confirming it was properly lit, I tossed it inside the entrance and closed the door. Waiting about ten minutes for it to burn out would make the interior insect-free. While waiting, I stuck the remainder of the insect repellent bandage onto a triple-pronged iron skewer with a wooden handle, then set the whole thing alight.
I went under the elevated building, smudging the entire structure with smoke rising from the burning tips, paying special attention to the areas beneath windows and doors.