The Secret of the Moving Mana Ore
After a long journey, we finally arrived at the mana ore mountain.
Using Amira’s detection magic, we proceeded through the tunnel, and at last, we discovered what we believed to be a new mana ore vein—only to find that the mana ore was freely moving about.
There’s no way mana ore is alive.
So then, why was it moving like that?
I asked Amira to strengthen the illumination spell. She immediately followed my instructions.
Thanks to that, we figured out what it really was.
"That’s... a Jewel Lizard!?"
What had been clinging to the ceiling was a massive, five-meter-long lizard-type monster. Its back was covered in countless pieces of mana ore, glimmering ominously.
So this guy was the cause of the changes in the amount of mana Amira detected earlier.
"A Jewel Lizard, huh... that takes me back, Justin."
"Yeah... come to think of it, it was the first thing we fought after joining the Knights Order."
The memory of that day flashes through my mind—when Gary, Miracca, and I took on a subjugation request from the owner of a mana ore mine.
Since these creatures tend to move in groups, we didn’t give it much thought back then and just went around taking them out one after another...
Still, this one seems smaller than the ones we fought back then. It might still be a juvenile.
"The mana ore on its back is definitely something it’s eaten around here... but it looks like it’s the only one for now."
I agreed with Gary’s assessment.
These creatures call for their kin when they sense danger.
But this one showed no signs of doing that.
Which likely meant it wasn’t acting as part of a group, but rather on its own.
"If we’re going to kill it, now’s the time! Before it starts seeing this place as a feeding ground and forms a pack!"
"Right on! Everyone, follow our lead!"
"""Ooooooooooooooooh!!"""
At Gary’s signal, the knights all charged toward the Jewel Lizard.
But since it was still stuck to the ceiling, there wasn’t much they could do.
While we were scrambling, the creature seemed to sense the danger and began quickly moving deeper into the tunnel to escape.
"Not good!"
If it gets away like this, we’ll have to rely on detection magic to search for it all over again.
If it calls others in the meantime and their numbers grow, the time and effort needed for subjugation will increase dramatically.
We absolutely had to take it down here and now.
"If we don’t kill the Jewel Lizard now, it’ll be a serious problem later..."
"B-But how are we supposed to bring down an enemy stuck to the ceiling...?"
Just like Elina said, that was the real issue.
—Then,
"Leave it to me!"
A sweet voice rang out from among the rugged knights.
The one who raised her hand was the magician, Amira.
What do you think about this chapter?
Thanks for the chapters