As the miasma pool dissipated, the three mages who had barely been standing collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.
The knights began moving to tend to the three when Martina, Lambert, and Laforet, who had been staring intently at the place where the miasma pool had been, also sprang into action.
“Is this really a success?”
The first to speak was Lambert, who still seemed skeptical about the disappearance.
“I believe it is… but we should monitor it for a while. For now, at least, the miasma pool is gone.”
“…The magic of the light attribute truly is astonishing. The effects far surpassed anything we had tested before. As the records indicated, this may indeed be the only method to destroy a miasma pool.”
The three continued their conversation, then silently stared at the now-empty space again. Only after confirming the miasma pool did not reappear did they finally relax, letting smiles grace their faces.
“I’m truly glad it worked. Could this be the end of the miasma pool turmoil?”
“Let’s hope so… For now, let us rejoice in this success. If this had failed, the consequences would have been disastrous.”
“We owe a great debt of gratitude to the ten heroes. Their valiant efforts must be immortalized in literature.”
As Laforet spoke, he pulled a bundle of papers and a pen from his pocket and began documenting the events he had just witnessed. Watching Laforet out of the corner of his eye, Lambert turned his gaze to Martina.
“Martina, let’s return to the royal palace ahead of the others. We need to report this result as soon as possible.”
“Understood. The mages likely won’t be able to walk back, so let’s arrange for stretchers. Staying here is dangerous with the threat of monsters, and recovery would be difficult.”
“Agreed. I’ll inform the knights about this, so please wait for a moment.”
Martina and Lambert then returned to the royal palace to deliver the joyous news of the miasma pool’s destruction. The announcement spread through the palace like wildfire, filling the halls with a long-missing sense of lightness and hope.
In the king’s study, the monarch and the Minister of War discussed the report delivered by Martina and Lambert. Once heavy with despair, the room now felt as though a refreshing breeze had swept through it.
“The successful eradication of the miasma pool is truly a joyous event.”
“Indeed. Just knowing that light-attribute magic is effective against miasma pools brightens the future significantly.”
“Yes… but this doesn’t mean all is resolved.”
The king’s expression grew serious, and the Minister of War immediately nodded, his gaze firm.
“There’s a significant possibility that another miasma pool might appear elsewhere.”
“Exactly. And if the next miasma pool is larger than this one, it may be beyond the capabilities of ten mages. After all, this mission left them completely drained of magic.”
Rereading the report detailing the miasma pool’s destruction, the king looked up to discuss future measures.
“Minister of War, I want to increase patrols across the kingdom. If miasma pools grow over time, early detection is crucial. We must also continue studying their nature and expand our pool of light-attribute mages. They should be recruited with excellent compensation to prepare for any eventualities.”
“Understood. I had the same thoughts. The knights will lead the patrols and mage recruitment efforts. For research, I’ll need to coordinate with the Minister of the Interior.”
“Very well. I’ll issue the necessary orders. The details can be handled by the administrative department.”
The Minister of War paused his note-taking and raised his head as if remembering something.
“Your Majesty, what about summoning the saint?”
“For now, I believe it can wait. With the revelation that light-attribute magic works, our priority should be reinforcing that strength.”
“As you wish. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Thus, their meeting ended on an optimistic note. Yet outside the palace windows, dark clouds gathered, hinting at the approach of another crisis.
