***
Noel wiped away his sweat as he finished testing the mana injection.
The members of the investigation team voiced their admiration as they gazed at the completed teleportation magic circle.
While applause broke out across the room, Mona rubbed her tired eyes with a gaunt expression.
She had stayed up until dawn waiting in the cave just to save the Twin Head Drake, only to be drafted into grueling manual labor as soon as day broke; she felt half-dead.
Mona, who had just been stifling a yawn, flinched in surprise as her name was called.
At the same time, Parmin glared at her with fierce jealousy in his eyes.
As she awkwardly clasped her hands together amid the scattered applause, Noel approached her.
This was already her second internship offer this year.
Was offering internships the latest social fad, right after double majors?
Whose life were they trying to ruin by making such things popular?
It took everything one had just to scrape by and earn a single degree.
Mona nearly frowned outright, but she forced the corners of her mouth upward.
Unable to endure it any longer, Parmin, who had been standing nearby, broke in.
There was a limit to playing hard to get. That presumption of a monster scholar…!
People were naturally far more tempted when those around them sang high praises than when an offer was pressed directly.
Having coaxed Parmin in a gentle tone, Noel slowly clasped his hands behind his back and looked around.
“Hmm.”
Even though the magic circle was finished, Rihart—the very man who had conceived this bold operation—was nowhere to be seen.
‘I heard that quite a major incident occurred yesterday.’
He had been told that the lord was currently detained in the dungeon after his concealment of the monster was brought to light.
‘…I understood that the monster had been dealt with, so perhaps another problem has arisen.’
Noel’s suspicion was not unfounded.
Shortly after, an official dispatched from the imperial court to support the base camp appeared, his face pale.
***
Osbella Roswin nodded with a grave expression.
She was an alchemist from the Imperial Alchemy Institute and an authority in the field of contamination detection.
While officials in imperial institutions usually avoided perilous projects, Osbella had volunteered for the demonic realm expedition out of devotion to the empire and a sense of duty.
Displaying a flask filled with a murky liquid, she spoke.
A murmur rippled through the investigation team at her words.
Watching the agitated team members, Mona swallowed a sigh.
If only the mercenaries hadn’t rashly attacked the beast, it wouldn't have bled, and the water source wouldn't have been contaminated.
As Mona grew downcast, Osbella presented a clear flask held in her left hand.
Mona felt inwardly relieved at Osbella’s words.
At least the innocent locals were unharmed.
Still, for the expedition that needed to establish its base camp in the vicinity, this came as a bolt from the blue.
The issue went beyond merely disrupting the team’s drinking supply.
Whenever a stone-slab magic circle powered by vast quantities of mana was activated, intense heat accumulated within its circuitry.
Unless it was cooled with water immediately after use, cracks could develop across the conduits.
That was why a water source was always situated near a teleportation gate.
Yet cooling the circle with water contaminated by demonic energy?
Mere cracks would be a fortunate outcome.
‘The stone slab would probably shatter entirely.’
As if sharing Mona’s thought, Noel spoke with a sober expression.
Osbella chewed her lip for a moment before replying.
Priests, especially those belonging to the New Faith, were notorious for dragging their feet even in the face of imperial decrees.
Noel pressed his temples in frustration.
The moment Parmin offered his suggestion, the spiritist Morde’s expression stiffened.
As Noel clicked his tongue, the imperial official who had scouted the location interjected.
“There is another issue. The further down we go, the more marshland there is, making it even harder to find a site suitable for installing the magic circle.”
The team members’ faces darkened, caught off guard by the fact that their smoothly progressing plan had been thwarted by a contaminated water source.
‘Hmm.’
Having kept quiet throughout the silence, Mona spoke up hesitantly.
Noel questioned her with a doubtful look.
“Ahem!”
Before Mona could finish, Parmin cut her off with a solemn clearing of his throat.
At Mona’s bold claim, which ran counter to official confidential imperial records, Osbella—staunchly loyal to the empire—scowled.
It was at that moment.
Rihart, who had not shown himself all day, spoke as he strode toward the investigation team.
The moment he appeared, an abrupt chill fell over the surroundings, plunging everyone into silence.
The man’s appearance was utterly shocking.
His bangs were swept back carelessly across his forehead, and his soaked shirt clung tightly to his frame, starkly outlining his broad chest and lean, sculpted physique.
His attire was disheveled, yet that very sight held everyone's gaze captive.
‘Good heavens.’
Feeling as though looking at him was practically a sin, Mona hastily lowered her eyes.
When Osbella, barely clinging to her composure, managed to ask in disbelief, Rihart gave a curt reply.
Raking a hand through his damp hair a few times, he glanced sideways toward Mona.
Mona nearly hiccuped at the sound of her name.
She had no idea why he had suddenly appeared in such a state, but a drenched Rihart was difficult to look at and even worse for her heart.
He spoke in his characteristically indifferent tone.
At Rihart’s definitive statement, everyone present turned to stare at Mona in disbelief.
Just how had that monster scholar deduced such a thing?
“Mona Bellose, explain it yourself. Tell them how you figured out there was an error in the imperial report.”
