Northern Lands.
Saum Marshes.
Beside the abandoned carriage.
Frieren and Fern had already used the spell to create a cabin.
Set up a small temporary camp.
Stark, on the other hand, said he would take on the role of a vanguard.
He was already patrolling around the camp while the two were cooking.
"Mistress Frieren..." "Did you feel it?"
Fern extended her hand.
Mana surged in her hand.
But the mana that was usually as calm as a mirror's surface was now slightly trembling.
"Mm-hmm~"
=ω=
Frieren nodded happily.
This familiar feeling must be that thing!
"Frieren, Fern!"
Stark's loud shout came.
Without the slightest hesitation!
Frieren and Fern instantly summoned their staffs, activated Flight Magic, and flew rapidly towards the direction of the sound!
It was a pit not far from the camp.
The pit was very deep, about ten meters.
Because it was evening.
The afterglow of the setting sun could no longer illuminate the depths of the cave.
It looked pitch black.
"What's wrong, Stark."
Seeing that Stark was fine.
Just lying at the mouth of the pit and looking down.
The two breathed a sigh of relief.
"I feel something strange down there."
Stark said seriously.
"There's the aura of a demon coming from inside."
"A demon!"
Fern's purple eyes widened slightly.
She looked at Frieren somewhat uneasily.
She didn't know what was around that was weakening her Magic.
Even her Magic sense seemed to be blocked.
This uneasiness was like Stark suddenly patting her back from behind Fern.
Fear of the unknown...
"There's the presence of Magic-Nullifying Crystal nearby..."
"Stark."
"Our mana and mana sense have both been affected."
"If there really is a demon, we'll rely on you."
Frieren stepped forward and gently patted Stark.
Looking at Stark, who had stood up from the ground, looking a bit dusty.
Frieren pursed her lips and smiled faintly.
Unknowingly, Stark also had the semblance of a vanguard in the team.
Not only did he know to stay vigilant at all times.
He would also check for danger in advance.
Stark had matured a lot.
Frieren felt very reassured.
"Magic-Nullifying Crystal?"
Fern asked Frieren somewhat doubtfully.
"A special ore, incredibly hard..."
"It has the ability to absorb Magic and negate Magic."
Frieren nodded gently.
As she spoke, she blushed slightly and took out a small piece of golden-yellow transparent crystal-like object from her pocket.
"It's this."
Very beautiful ore.
Even if it was just a rough small fragment.
It looked very nice.
But.
Fern's face darkened, and she clenched her small fists.
Said angrily.
"That's why I said I felt like my Magic was only slightly affected originally."
"But now that slight effect feels so intense!"
"Is it because of you, Mistress Frieren!"
Wahhh Wahhh Wahhh...
＜(ˊωˋ)＞
As expected, she was scolded...
Frieren drooped her head, looking like life wasn't worth living.
This was something she had just picked up in the grass after landing with Fern, when she suddenly felt her Magic stagnate.
Found in the grass.
She had originally planned to collect it and sell it for money...
But looking at Fern's angry appearance.
Frieren didn't dare to speak loudly anymore...
"Really, how could Mistress Frieren carry such a dangerous thing on her?"
Stark also crossed his arms.
Showing an angry expression.
It didn't matter that he was a warrior.
But Frieren and Fern were both fragile Mages!
How dangerous it would be in the wilderness after losing Magic!
"I'll throw it away right now..."
Seeing herself become the target of the two's reprimands.
Frieren no longer hesitated, immediately lowered her head, pouted, and walked to the edge of the pit.
"I was originally thinking of selling it for money, it's worth several gold coins..."
Gold coins!
Stark was originally quite happy to see Frieren about to throw away the Magic-Nullifying Crystal.
But when he heard it was worth several gold coins.
Stark blinked his eyes a few times.
His strong large hand involuntarily pulled back Frieren's small hand, which was already preparing to swing it out.
"Is this... thing very valuable?"
Stark stared at the Magic-Nullifying Crystal in Frieren's hand.
Swallowed his saliva.
He knew deeply what a few gold coins meant.
You know, when he was working at the Texas Tavern before.
He endured the loneliness, wiping wine glasses by himself, looking after the shop by himself.
He worked for almost a day or two just to get a dozen silver coins in reward...
"It should be worth four or five gold coins!"
Seeing Stark ask her.
Frieren nodded very confidently.
With an excited expression.
"Mistress Frieren, Mister Stark!"
Fern puffed out her cheeks.
Standing behind the two with her arms crossed.
The sense of pressure was simply maximized.
"Mm..."
Frieren helplessly drooped her two pointed little ears again.
That's right.
The world is vast.
Fern is the most important.
It was useless even if Stark wanted to keep it.
"However..." Frieren licked her dry lips.
Smiled slightly with pursed lips.
She still wanted to try again.
"Fern..." Frieren softly called Fern's name.
She smiled slightly, under Fern's puzzled gaze.
Injected Magic into the Magic-Nullifying Crystal.
In an instant!
Dazzling golden light illuminated the dimness of this place!
"This is..."
Fern's eyes widened slightly, and she was completely stunned.
It looked so amazing.
"Isn't it amazing..." "It can glow and illuminate just by injecting Magic!"
Frieren put her hands on her hips.
Looking proud.
Now she wouldn't be told to throw it away, right?
"Throw it away..."
Fern put away the surprise on her face.
Showing a helpless expression.
"Mistress Frieren, keeping this with you is too dangerous."
"Besides, if you need illumination, I remember you know at least seven types of Illumination Magic, right?"
Ah!
Ruthlessly rejected!
Frieren wanted to cry but had no tears.
After nodding gently, she finally steeled herself and threw the glowing Magic-Nullifying Crystal in her hand into the cave.
The golden light illuminated the mine cave.
Frieren didn't pay attention.
She turned around to go back to Fern's side.
But Stark's exclamation attracted the two to come over.
"Frieren, Fern!"
Stark shouted loudly in surprise.
"I know why there's an abandoned carriage there!"
Fern and Frieren both leaned over.
Following Stark's gaze into the cave.
Saw the corpse of a horse that was no longer moving.
It was currently lying quietly in the center of the cave.
There were also many Magic-Nullifying Crystal scattered throughout the cave.
"Is this a mine chamber?"
Frieren's eyes became slightly serious.
Mining Magic-Nullifying Crystal?
Seriously?
She had never heard of Magic-Nullifying Crystal being something that could be mined.
After all, without being able to use Magic.
Given the hardness of Magic-Nullifying Crystal.
Frieren had never seen anyone or any organization capable of mining it.
But upon closer thought.
Frieren actually felt that the fragment of Magic-Nullifying Crystal she had just held in her hand had signs of being artificially damaged.
If that were true.
Then someone must be plotting a plan targeting Mages.
Frieren's eyes were serious.
She sensed an ominous aura.