Published: August 15, 2025
“The lumber merchant is the source of the fire?! What is the caretaker doing?!”
“The fire is spreading fast! This place is lost!”
“Don’t give up! At least, let’s stop the fire from spreading further!”
“Damn it, the snow is making it hard to move!”
Ryoma used his mana to run through the town, fighting the fires.
New fires kept igniting one after another.
No matter how extraordinary the magic was, designed to take advantage of a slime’s traits, Ryoma alone couldn’t handle multiple widespread fires all at once.
At that moment, a horse-drawn carriage rushed over.
“We’ll lend a hand too!”
“Oh! Are you adventurers?”
“Water! Is there anyone who can use water magic!?”
“Everyone! No need to worry! Reipin!”
“As you say! This is the wind magic team’s Plan B!”
Next to the driver, the a-rank adventurer Asagi raised her voice. From the back of the carriage, eight mages including Reipin jumped down and dispersed. They started casting spells at the buildings where the flames roared fiercely, arriving one after another from all directions.
“Hey! Did you just say ‘wind magic’!? Are you kidding?! Using wind magic now will just make the fire spread—ugh!”
“Your point makes sense, but please watch quietly. We won’t let anything bad happen.”
Asagi quickly circled around and stopped a man who was trying to approach Reipin.
Meanwhile, the mages completed their task.
“Become a wall that separates the air!”
“Become a shield that prevents fire disasters!”
A double-layered barrier magic was deployed around the fire site. It blocked the inflow of air, cutting off oxygen needed for the fire. It also stopped rising flames and smoke, as well as flying embers, preventing the fire from spreading.
“How can you just watch quietly!? This isn’t the time to play around!”
The man stopped by Asagi tried to protest, but his voice gradually quieted.
Of course, because the fire in front of him was losing its intensity.
Everyone nearby clearly saw it and stared in amazement at the dying flames.
“W-why is that huge fire going out so fast?”
“I don’t know the details, but apparently this is possible by applying barrier magic.”
Asagi explained plainly that it was simply a magical application.
As this information spread from one person to another, cheers began to rise.
“What the heck are you guys! Amazing!”
“Thank you!”
“The fire is dying down, but it’s not out yet! There are other fires too! We’ll thank you later!”
“Exactly! Leave this place to us, and everyone else please head to other fire sites for support! We’ll join as soon as we’re done here!”
“All right! Let’s do this!”
“We’re coming too!”
“Please! Just a little—‘Heat Conduction’!”
Reipin cast a spell toward the energized crowd.
Immediately, the snow piled on their feet melted away, revealing the stone road.
“This should make it easier to walk.”
“Oh!? Alright, let’s go!”
With their spirits raised even higher, the people scattered in small groups, running along the cleared roads.
Only Reipin and the others remained at the scene.
“Was that last spell really necessary?”
“Since someone is trying to stir up anxiety and chaos, it’s better to give them even a small psychological pillar to lean on.”
“That may be true, but mana is limited.”
“No need to worry. Ryoma supplied us with a large amount of these.”
Reipin lightly opened the thick coat she wore to show Asagi five test-tube-like containers fixed inside the lining.
“Mana Recovery Medicine?”
“They’re made using expensive running mushrooms. Very effective, but pricey. Ryoma told us to use them without hesitation if necessary. Though research is our main duty, I’m also an a-rank adventurer and know when to conserve mana.
The recent magic didn’t generate heat to melt the snow, but instead channeled the heat accumulated from the fire through mana onto the road. So, it hardly used any mana at all. In fact, it probably helped weaken the fire.”
“That too came from Ryoma?”