The Monster Chief was undeniably stronger than its underlings, yet Luke and Reina stepped forward without hesitation.
The moment the slowed Monster Chief moved, both of them struck simultaneously. Their swords, infused with powerful magic, landed with crushing force. The monster’s body convulsed violently from the damage.
“Don’t stop now—press the attack!”
Elias’s command rang out. Sensing an opportunity, Luke and Reina pushed forward with relentless strikes, further carving into the monster’s massive form.
And then—the final blow came from Reina.
With a single, decisive slash, she poured even more magic into her blade than before.
Elias instinctively knew—it was over.
Her sword struck deep, and as she completed the motion, the Monster Chief’s body began to crumble. Luke and Reina stepped back, watching as the massive creature collapsed into dust before their eyes.
“…It’s over, right?”
Luke’s cautious voice broke the silence.
Elias nodded.
“Yeah, it’s completely destroyed… I just checked the cave—there are no remaining hostiles. The extermination is complete.”
He paused before adding,
“But just to be thorough, let’s investigate the cave one last time.”
Both Luke and Reina nodded.
It was then that Jemmy, who had been quietly observing, spoke up.
“Now that the monsters are gone, I can sense something else inside the cave.”
“Something else?” Elias turned to her, frowning.
“Yes. It’s not a monster, but I’d say… it’s the reason they were in this cave to begin with.”
Elias exhaled.
“I see… That makes sense.”
Luke, who still looked puzzled, glanced at Elias.
“Wait—what do you mean?”
“Ah, right. I should explain. Let’s head inside. There’s nothing dangerous left, but stay alert just in case.”
The interior of the cave was shrouded in darkness, but Elias and Jemmy quickly cast light spells to illuminate their surroundings. Their footsteps echoed as they ventured deeper inside.
Although the cave extended further than expected, it didn’t take long before they found what they were looking for.
“…What is this?”
Reina murmured as she stared at something embedded in the cave wall.
It was a pulsing red vein-like pattern, writhing across the rock like a living entity.
Elias narrowed his eyes.
“That’s what’s known as a ‘Root of Miasma.’”
He stepped closer and continued his explanation.
“Miasma, when it lingers above ground, eventually manifests as monsters. But when it accumulates underground, it seeps into surfaces, transforming them over time. This phenomenon is what you’re seeing now—miasma that has taken root in the stone.”
“So this is… miasma?” Luke asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
“Yeah. It doesn’t look like the usual swirling mist you might imagine, does it? But this is something I’ve seen many times in the eastern territories. When left unchecked, these roots absorb underground magical energy, slowly increasing the overall level of miasma in the area.”
Jemmy, who had been analyzing the root with sharp eyes, added,
“The cave was sealed off, and there wasn’t an abundance of magical energy here. That’s probably why this root never spread too far. However, when a monster was born by chance, its presence gradually fed the root, strengthening the miasma concentration over time.”
“So if the root had been bigger, the monsters would have been stronger?” Reina mused.
Elias nodded.
“Exactly. If this cave had been overrun with miasma roots, we’d have encountered far more—and much stronger—monsters. The fact that there were no prior casualties in the area means the root’s influence was still relatively minor.”
Luke furrowed his brows.
“But if we had left it alone, it could’ve gotten worse over time.”
“Absolutely. Given enough time, this miasma would’ve started affecting the entire Nanan Mountain region. In that sense, this extermination had significant value. We prevented a potential disaster before it could happen.”
Reina nodded, a newfound understanding settling over her.
Elias, meanwhile, turned his gaze back to the pulsating root.
“Leaving this thing alone would be a mistake. If we don’t destroy it now, more monsters could emerge in the future.”
He then glanced at Luke and Reina.
“Want to give it a try?”
Luke hesitated.
“Could you show us how first?”
Elias smiled slightly.
“Fair enough. I’ll handle this one. Jemmy, do you sense any other roots?”
She shook her head.
“No. This is the only one. Which explains why the monsters weren’t too powerful.”
“Got it. Then watch carefully, Luke, Reina.”
Elias drew his sword. With a practiced motion, he channeled his magic into the blade before swiftly slashing the air.
In an instant—
The miasma root shattered.
Its eerie glow flickered before disappearing entirely, as if the corruption had been erased from existence.
“And that’s that.”
Luke and Reina stared in awe at the now-purified stone wall.
“That was… fast,” Reina muttered.
“It’s all about delivering magic efficiently to the weak points of the root. With enough force, you can purge it instantly,” Elias explained.
Jemmy placed a hand on the now-clean rock.
“Caves are enclosed spaces, so over time, miasma may still accumulate again. But it would take decades before reaching a dangerous level again.”
“That’s something the kingdom can deal with later,” Jemmy added.
Elias exhaled.
“Yeah… That’s beyond our job. All we need to do now is report back to Lord Nork and wrap this up.”
He turned to his team.
“Luke, Reina, Jemmy—you all did well. We’re heading back to camp.”
His words were met with satisfied nods.
The battle was over.
And the land was safe.
For now.