Chapter 72

As green petals danced in the wind, Ricardo and the Crown Prince were conversing beside a green cylinder when Monta came and started making a fuss.

"What's the matter?"

"Rica, come. Found it."

"Found what?"

"Found something amazing."

It seemed Monta wanted to show them what he had found, so they decided to follow him.

Ricardo and the Crown Prince began to descend the hill, following Monta as he leaped from branch to branch. Of course, the soldiers and the Silver Ridge Corps followed as well.

"Over here, over here."

They cautiously approached the direction of Monta's voice. Monta was perched on an old tree, calling out proudly.

The old tree, which extended its trunk from the hillside, was a Divine Precious Tree. Thick vines were coiled around it, seemingly trying to strangle the tree.

The old tree bore fruit, as if using its last bit of strength, but the number of fruits was not many.

"Wow, Monta. It's a Divine Precious Tree."

"Amazing, it's a Divine Precious Tree. Good job, Monta."

"Great job, Monta."

Ricardo and the others praised Monta heartily.

Monta, looking delighted, leaped from branch to branch, plucking the tree fruit crystals and dropping them towards Ricardo and the others. Ricardo and the others caught the Divine Precious Tree fruits amidst the commotion.

From this old Divine Precious Tree, they harvested thirty-five Yellow Jade Tree Fruit Crystals, nineteen Red Jade Tree Fruit Crystals, twelve Purple Jade Tree Fruit Crystals, and three Green Jade Tree Fruit Crystals.

The members of the Silver Ridge Corps were still searching the ground, thinking there might be more.

Ricardo asked the Crown Prince about the number of tree fruit crystals harvested. Compared to the size of the tree, the number was small. It was probably due to the influence of the strangling vines.

Ricardo began to peel the vines off the old tree. It might wither and die, but there was a chance it could regain its vitality and bear fruit again.

"Is this Divine Precious Tree beyond saving?"

The Crown Prince asked Ricardo.

"It might be. But if it survives, we can harvest more tree fruit crystals."

Ricardo asked Monta to take a few young branches from the top of the tree. He intended to try grafting them onto a demonic tree.

He then planted the branches in the ground a short distance away, using the technique of cuttings and casting the healing magic. Since healing magic has a weak regenerative effect, he thought roots might grow from the buried parts.

He planted cuttings in three places. If they took root, many tree fruit crystals could be expected.

He planted the cuttings because he intended to come back here again.

Ricardo had a means to return here, the 'Black Plate' map, so he could easily find his way back.

As for the others, this location had no distinctive landmarks, and there were several similar hills in the vicinity. They could search for a long time to find this place, but it would be difficult.

They returned to the container house and had dinner. After that, they decided on the watch schedule and rested.

About six hours after falling asleep, Ricardo was woken up for his watch shift.

As soon as he regained full consciousness from his daze, Ricardo felt a sense of discomfort and tilted his head, wondering what it was.

After sleeping, the agitation in his mind from the examination at the laboratory had calmed down, and changes had appeared in his brain and mind.

Ricardo speculated that the purpose of the examination was to stimulate the brain and observe the mind's reaction to the stimulation. Thanks to this, a part of his mind that was not functioning had been activated.

The changes in Ricardo's mind had a significant impact on his memory and imagination. While there are people who can vividly imagine scenes in their minds like photographs or TV images, Ricardo was different.

No, he used to be different. After the change, Ricardo could now vividly imagine scenes in his mind like photographs or images.

When he went outside the container house, Amadeo was sitting by the campfire, talking to Maribella.

"Finally awake, huh? You're on watch until morning."

In response to Amadeo's words, Ricardo said,

"Yes, I'll take over until morning."

Ricardo sat by the campfire. Maribella turned to Ricardo and asked,

"Hey, was this exploration a success?"

"Yes... We didn't find out the cause of the Cerrato prophecy, but I think it was a success in terms of investigating the magic realm."

"Right, you found out something about the magic realm. It's related to that strange building, isn't it?"

"Yes, but the Crown Prince ordered us to keep it a secret."

"You can't tell us, huh? Well, I understand."

While chatting with them to pass the time, he noticed the sound of something approaching from a distance as the sky began to brighten.

"Isn't this sound dangerous?"

Amadeo's voice was trembling. The sound suggested that a huge magical beast was approaching.

"I'll go wake the others."

Maribella ran towards the container house.

When the Crown Prince woke up and came over, the identity of the enemy was revealed.

"Ugh, it's a Megaloceros."

One of the soldiers exclaimed. It was a huge lizard, about five meters tall, walking on two legs.

"Wow, it's like a T-Rex."

Ricardo inadvertently spoke in Japanese. The presence was so imposing.

"Ricardo and Maribella, you are to use fire magic. Do your best to repel it."

The Crown Prince gave the order, disregarding the possibility of a fire. The Megaloceros was that formidable.

Ricardo took out the catalyst for the "Thunder Vortex Steel Bullet" and readied his Death Oprodd.

The Megaloceros stood at the foot of the hill, glaring at them and opening its large mouth. The roar that came from its mouth shook Ricardo and the others.

Maribella cast the intermediate-level magic "Flame Dragon Tornado" at the Megaloceros. The red flame vortex rushed towards the Megaloceros, but the dragon scales on its body deflected the flames.

The dragon scales of the Megaloceros seemed to have the power to repel magical flames.

The Crown Prince and the soldiers began attacking with magic rifles and magic color guns. However, their attacks did little damage.

"Still no good, Ricardo!"

The Crown Prince's shout reached Ricardo's ears, urging him to attack quickly.

Ricardo cast the "Thunder Vortex Steel Bullet" magic.

As usual, steel particles appeared in the air, but each particle seemed larger. They began to rotate at high speed, forming a spindle shape, and sparks flew as the steel particles collided. The Thunder Vortex Steel Bullet was fired forward with a loud impact.

The impact sound was probably due to the bullet exceeding the speed of sound.

The Thunder Vortex Steel Bullet hit the Megaloceros' chest, discharging electricity into its massive body. The high-voltage current seemed to cause some damage, as the Megaloceros paused for a moment.

During this pause, the rapidly rotating Thunder Vortex Steel Bullet gouged into the Megaloceros' chest. However, the thick, strong muscles of the Megaloceros absorbed the attack.

The Megaloceros roared in pain and began to climb the hill.

It seemed to recognize that Ricardo had injured it and was coming towards him.

"It's no good. If it gets close, it's an instant kill."

Ricardo's instinct screamed to run. But the Megaloceros was definitely faster. He hurriedly took out the catalyst for the "Sun Flame Bullet."

He aimed the Death Oprodd at the Megaloceros and released his magic.

The Megaloceros had climbed halfway up the hill.

The Crown Prince and the others were attacking, but their efforts only slowed the Megaloceros' charge slightly.

Ricardo scattered the catalyst.

The sound of the Megaloceros' footsteps was so loud, it was close.

"Fana, Lapise Ravoron, Sperogoma"

The moment he finished the incantation, a dazzling ball of light appeared at the tip of the rod. The hand holding the rod burned from the radiant heat. Then, the ball of light burst and hit the Megaloceros' chest.

It hit the spot where the Thunder Vortex Steel Bullet had injured it. The scorching ball of light, with a temperature of about 6000 degrees, burned and charred the flesh, roasting one of the lungs and piercing through the back, burying itself in the ground.

The Megaloceros began to roll down the hill, spitting blood. It knocked down shrubs along the way and rolled to the bottom of the hill, where it struggled to get up.

It tried to stand up twice, three times, but eventually stopped moving.

Amadeo went down to the bottom of the hill to check if it was dead.

"It's dead."

At this voice, everyone went down to the Megaloceros.

"Excellent magic. Was the magic that defeated the Underworld Wolf the same?"

The Crown Prince praised Ricardo, and the others also expressed their admiration.

The Crown Prince looked around.

"Soldiers, start dissecting the Megaloceros. The rest of you, start putting out the fires."

Following the Crown Prince's orders, the work began.

Ricardo put out the burning leaves and dead branches with water. It was a good decision to bring a large amount of water for the container house.

After the firefighting was over, they returned to the Megaloceros. The Megaloceros, now a mass of flesh with its skin removed, lay on the ground.

The soldiers were about to discard the internal organs.

"Wait, leave the heart and liver."

When Ricardo stopped them, one of the soldiers said,

"But they'll spoil quickly in this weather."

"It's okay, I have something useful."

Ricardo selected the edible parts of the internal organs, washed them with water, and stored them in the freezing storage green crystal he had made earlier.

He also stored as much blood-drained meat as he could. He stored about 60% of the Megaloceros' meat in the freezing storage green crystal and the rest in the Crown Prince's storage green crystal.

When Ricardo and the others returned to the container house, they decided to grill dragon meat steaks for breakfast.

The soldiers moved large stones around the campfire to create a makeshift stove, and the Crown Prince placed a large iron plate from his storage green crystal.

Although they thought it was strange to have steaks for breakfast, they were all hungry from the battle with the Megaloceros. By the time the steaks were done, everyone was waiting.

First, Bruno, the spear wielder of the Silver Ridge Corps, tasted the steaks as a poison tester.

"What is this? It's just salted, but it's incredibly delicious."

Bruno exclaimed in a rough voice. He then started eating voraciously, and the others followed suit.

Ricardo also cut a piece with his knife and put it in his mouth. When he chewed, the unique flavor and sweetness of the Megaloceros' meat filled his mouth, and he started eating enthusiastically.

Monta, who had been hiding in the trees during the battle, came to Ricardo's side, looking hungry.

"Is it delicious?"

"Do you want to try?"

Monta nodded, so Ricardo cut a small piece of dragon meat steak and gave it to him. Monta seemed to like it and asked for more.

Later, when Ricardo confirmed with the Crown Prince, he learned that Megaloceros meat was known as a high-end ingredient.

After breakfast, they packed up the container house.

"Let's go."

The Crown Prince gave the order.

On the way, they met up with the four Wind Slash Hunters safely. The two injured mages had recovered somewhat but were not able to walk.

The Crown Prince ordered that stretchers be made for the two and that they be carried.

On the way, they encountered a few magical beasts, and Ricardo cast the "Thunder Vortex Steel Bullet" magic. Each magical beast was defeated with one hit.

"This is strange. The power of my magic has increased."

The rotation speed and flight speed of the Thunder Vortex Steel Bullet had increased. In particular, the flight speed exceeded the speed of sound, causing a loud impact sound and increasing its penetration power.

The only possible cause was the enhancement of his imagination from the examination at the Point 4 Laboratory, which had also affected his magic.

Perhaps the enhancement of his imagination was influencing his magic.

After returning from the magic realm, Ricardo and the others stayed at the Yorgul Fortress to rest from the fatigue of the exploration.

The next day, they received their rewards from the Crown Prince and disbanded. According to the contract they had made before the exploration, the discoverer or slayer of the materials would take 30% of the materials, and the rest would be distributed among everyone. This was followed accordingly.

As a result, Ricardo obtained many tree fruit crystals and materials.

In particular, he requested and received twelve Purple Jade Tree Fruit Crystals and two Green Jade Tree Fruit Crystals from the Crown Prince. He also received the belly skin and two fangs of the Megaloceros, as well as a large amount of meat.

The Megaloceros was estimated to weigh about five tons. Ricardo received about 800 kilograms of dragon meat as his reward, which was about 40% of the total.

The others received gold coins based on the market value of the materials.

"What are you going to do with the dragon meat?"

The Crown Prince, curious, asked Ricardo.

"I'm thinking of holding a charity steak festival in the capital."

"Charity? What does that mean?"

"I'm thinking of using the proceeds from the sale of the steaks to support the reconstruction of the capital."

There were areas in the capital where reconstruction was lagging. These were areas where originally less affluent residents lived and were being neglected by the administration. Ricardo's idea was to use the funds to support these areas.

Bernardo and other merchants, who felt that the people of the capital were losing their energy, had asked Ricardo to come up with something to revitalize them.

After unexpectedly tasting the delicious Megaloceros meat, Ricardo thought that eating it might boost people's energy. Additionally, if funds could be raised, it would help the capital's reconstruction.

"That's a good idea. I'll contribute some of my share of the dragon meat. Use it."

"Thank you."

Ricardo received an additional 100 kilograms of dragon meat from the Crown Prince.

When Ricardo returned to the capital, he went to Bernardo to discuss where to hold the charity steak festival.

After thinking for a moment, Bernardo said,

"How about the central square of the capital?"

The central square of the capital was a large square near the Vizel Castle.

"It's too big. I think a tenth of that size would be enough."

"No, no, this is a chance to eat Megaloceros meat. At least a thousand people will come."

From that point on, the scale of the charity steak festival expanded. Ricardo, who had initially planned a smaller festival, was left behind as Bernardo called on his fellow merchants and gathered supporters.

Before he knew it, the festival had grown to involve the entire capital.