Published: July 5, 2025
On the third night of the consecutive posts, it's the final day.
Ryo and Abel moved towards the cave under the guidance of the village chief.
Along the way.
First, they passed a place that looked like a green pond.
"Just as I thought... Trinitite."
Ryo muttered as he looked at the hardened green mineral.
"Trinitite?"
"It's Trinitite. It’s an artificial mineral that is formed when sand melts at extremely high temperatures and then cools down. It must be the result of the salamander's fire attribute magic."
"Sand melts? Is it like a vessel?"
"Yes, it feels like porcelain. But it must have been at an extremely high temperature compared to a furnace."
Trinitite on Earth was created by the Trinity test of the atomic bomb.
It was said to emit strong radiation, but that was different.
This was likely due to pure high temperature and cooling.
"We need to be careful of the salamander."
Ryo's murmur was serious.
Ryo and Abel arrived at the entrance of the cave where the salamander was said to be.
The villagers, including the village chief, were watching from a nearby hill.
"Isn't that cave a bit hot?"
"Maybe there's lava flowing inside."
"Just as expected, salamanders love lava..."
"There were legends saying that salamanders eat lava."
"Didn't you say you don't know about salamanders?"
"I did say that. But as an adventurer, I don't know. Legends are just tales; they don't count as knowledge."
Abel shrugged as he said that.
Even knowing legends wouldn't help in the activities of an adventurer.
"[Active Sonar]"
Ryo chanted.
"About three hundred meters deep inside."
"Is it going to be tough to go in?"
"Yes. The cave is just wide enough for a person to pass through. By the way, I don't know what it's like more than five hundred meters inside."
"Not even with Ryo's magic?"
"[Active Sonar] is by no means omnipotent. The deeper it goes, the hotter it gets, and the movement of the steam is too distorted. It's impossible."
Ryo reported with a hint of regret.
Sonar is like ripples spreading across a calm water surface.
If the water runs out along the way, you can't grasp any more information.
"It would be best to lure it out of the cave."
"Then we attack with water attribute magic... oh..."
"What happened?"
"It seems like it noticed us and is coming this way."
"That's just right."
Abel said, drawing his sword.
"As planned, I will hold it back with [Ice Wall], and you finish it off with your sword, Abel."
"Got it!"
The moment Ryo spoke, Abel answered.
"It's coming!"
The salamander suddenly increased its speed and burst out of the cave.
"[Ice Wall 10 Layers]"
Ryo constructed an ice wall in front of the salamander.
Bang!
With a loud noise, the salamander collided with the invisible ice wall.
It was supposed to go as planned...
Sizzle.
But in an instant, the ice wall melted.
"Magic is melting!"
Is that even possible?
"Even magic is a physical phenomenon."
If that’s the case, it makes sense that it would melt once it exceeds the melting point.
Understanding calmed him down.
"Abel, the salamander is too hot!"
"Yeah, I never thought Ryo's ice would melt."
"Ugh... just pointing out the facts caused me psychological damage."
Abel frowned as he spoke, looking regretful.
Indeed, when they intervened in the battle between the alliance and the Duchy of Inberri, Ryo's ice path had melted by the alliance's artificial golem.
But even then, the ice floor hadn't melted in an instant...
"To evaporate the moment it touches... Abel, be careful."
"Yeah. But is that even a target a swordsman can attack?"
Abel was holding his usual magic sword.
He was prepared, but the monster wrapped in heat that melted even ice like Ryo's... was a bad match for close combat jobs like swordsmen who had to approach to attack.
However, it was also a bad match for a water attribute mage like Ryo.
"Both of us are up against a bad match."
"I should have charged more for the adventurer's fees."
"That's... not quite right."
"Of course, I'm joking."
"You're impressive for being able to joke in this situation."
Abel was exasperated.
They were joking around, but neither of them could come up with an appropriate countermeasure.