Chapter 122: Miasma Contamination
Getting a hint from my conversation with Prime Minister Simon, I immediately went into the development of the new magic device.
First of all, what is miasma?
「I only know it to be something that feels unpleasant.」
「In the first place, as a Rabbitkin, I am not able to sense the magic power affected by miasma.」
「Even so, I think Marnie-san can probably understand the unpleasant feeling if it’s strong miasma.」
Even Sophia, an elf proficient in magic, said she didn’t know it that well. To Marnie, a Beastkin weak in magic, even sensing it is difficult. However, Laeva said that, since Beastkin have a keen intuition, they’ll be able to sense it if the miasma is strong.
「In the end, monsters possess magic power more or less affected by miasma. And strong monsters appear in monster nests dense in miasma.」
「Yes, on the other hand, since towns and villages are built on purified lands, there are no occurrences of monsters in those settlements even if the density of magic power is slightly high.」
One might ask “If the land of the monster nest is purified, would the threat of monsters decrease?”, but to purify the land of the magic power and miasma clinging to it, strong purifying magic is necessary. and that method is already more than a man can bear.
「So, I was thinking, if the zealots have a miniscule amount of miasma in their magic power, can’t that be sensed?」
「Sensing not the wavelength of the magic power but the miasma?」
Laeva pondered over it with a difficult expression. That, too, can’t be helped. We don’t understand miasma itself, and yet we’re talking about making a magic device that can sense it.
「It’s no good until we can detect even the weak miasma, so we’ll have to purify the settlements before that, huh.」
「Let’s finish this request quickly and return to Volton.」
Laeva’s eyes gleamed at the development of a new magic device. Yep, doing new things is fun, isn’t it?
Sounds of training spears cutting through air swooshed.
Then a series of clanging from spears colliding resounded on the grasslands.
「Then I will accompany Laeva as her escort.」
Saying so, Laeva and Akane headed to the Papeck Company to make a delivery. Kaede had also disappeared to check the grounds of the mansion.
「Now then, maybe I should prepare for the development in the workshop. 」
Entering the workshop and heading to the table, I thought of a mechanism to sense miasma.
First of all, miniscule amounts of miasma are actually pretty much everywhere. After monsters pass by, an undetectably small trace of magic power is left behind. Of course, that magic power is encroached by a little bit of miasma. However, that amount is too minute to be sensed. There’s also no meaning in making a magic device that detects that. What I must definitely make is a magic device that senses the extremely small levels of miasma that zealots are enveloped by.
「In the first place, to afflict people with miasma, just what is Sydnia doing?」
It was so absurd I ended up muttering to myself.
In the settlements that have churches, that tiny bit of miasma is purified at the heart of the church. Even without the purification, the miasma would disperse if it’s very little, so it has no effect on people.
For the magic power of those guys called the Kamui unit of the religious state to have traces of miasma, I ended up doubting whether or not the Light God Church has the ability to purify miasma.
「I have returned!」
「Welcome back, Laeva.」
「How about the two of us try to come up with a miasma sensing magic device then?」
「Yes, let’s do our best!」
Laeva, who went to deliver potions in bulk to the Papeck Company, had come to the workshop.
First we did repeated trial and error on the table in order to find a breakthrough on each point.
Yet to grasp a clue, we tackled a project that I couldn’t see the completed form of for the first time in a while.
***