"≡ω≡"
Nanoda didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Why are you here?"
Yuna held her staff, wrapped in white cloth, in a reverse grip, looking aggressive.
"Denken, are these the helpers sent from your hometown?"
Lerne was very surprised. He hadn't expected to see the Mage who had made him suffer a small loss during the exam again.
Denken pushed up his monocle and said, "Yes, they were sent by Lord Glück. I have confirmed it."
Standing before Nanoda were a youthful version of Lerne and a youthful Denken who hadn't yet shrunk.
They were the primary leaders of this operation and could be considered the chief commanders of the Central Lands' army.
Lerne was a Second-Class Mage, and Denken was top-tier among Third-Class Mages.
"Alright, no need to be so tense. It's not a Mage exam anymore. Actually, look at how arrogant I seemed back then; I'm actually quite cowardly. That last move of yours really startled me."
Lerne was telling the truth. The cheek that had been sliced open back then had hurt for several days.
"Hmph."
Yuna snorted coldly; she didn't like Lerne very much.
"I am Denken. And you two are?"
Compared to Lerne, who looked like a rich playboy and acted lazy, Denken next to him seemed much more steady and reliable.
"Second-Class Mage, Yuna."
"Nanoda."
Nanoda wore a black headband to cover her broken horn, a black dress that revealed her fair limbs, and a pair of black cloth shoes on her feet. She looked just like an ordinary, pretty young girl.
Nanoda didn't like fashionable shoes because she always felt her feet would get smelly if she wore them for too long.
She really didn't know how Frieren could stand running around in black tights and boots all the time.
"I'll introduce us again then. I am Lerne, and this one beside me is Denken."
The four of them briefly got to know each other.
"Actually, you didn't need to rush over here. This time, the Central Lands organized a force of one thousand elite knights. However, right now... because of the barrier outside the ruins, we are all blocked outside."
"We've already tried. The Mages' offensive magic has no effect. The Mages Lerne brought from the Continental Magic Association are still analyzing the barrier. We don't know how long it will take."
Denken informed the two of the current situation.
"This is the barrier of the Great Demon, one of the Seven Sages of Destruction, Undying Böse. With humanity's current magic system, it is very difficult to analyze. Of course, if my teacher were here, it would be different, but unfortunately, she isn't interested in these things."
Lerne added from the side, taking the opportunity to brag about Serie.
"I will prepare accommodation for you. Currently, there are only military tents, so you might have to squeeze in a bit. Sorry."
Denken appeared very polite.
"Um..."
Yuna looked at Nanoda beside her.
"You decide."
Nanoda expressed that it didn't matter. In her view, letting Yuna make the choice was also a form of training for her.
"Then... no problem. Sorry to trouble you, Mr. Denken."
"You're welcome. It's my duty."
"By the way, can we also go see what that barrier looks like?" Nanoda suddenly asked.
"That's no problem. Just don't disturb those Mages at work," Lerne answered.
After parting ways with the two, Nanoda and Yuna headed to the barrier.
There were currently two main categories of barrier magic.
One was a barrier formed by relying on the caster's mana. If the caster cut off the mana supply, or if it was attacked by a force greater than the caster's mana, the barrier would vanish or break.
The other type was like the barriers left behind by humanity's greatest Great Mage, Flamme, a thousand years ago. This kind of barrier would absorb mana from nature to sustain itself. Even if the Mage was no longer present, it could maintain its operation for a long time.
Barriers left by Flamme currently existed all over the continent. These barriers were still fulfilling their mission of protecting the Human race and resisting the Demon race to this day, unfailing, like a miracle.
The barrier left by Böse that was discovered here was the latter type.
Many Mages wearing white robes were currently outside the barrier. They all held notebooks in their hands, mumbling something under their breath while writing things down.
Nanoda and Yuna walked over. Those Mages remained immersed in their own worlds, completely ignoring them.
Yuna reached out her hand and touched a layer of solid wall. The jungle before them was enclosed by an invisible screen.
Zzzzt!
Feeling heat transmit through her palm, Yuna immediately retracted her hand. In the next moment, several arcs of electricity emerged on the barrier.
"Are you okay?"
Nanoda hurriedly leaned in.
"I'm fine, but this barrier is indeed formidable."
Yuna glanced at her palm; if she had been a moment later, she would have been burned by the electricity. In the instant she touched the barrier, she had also tried to analyze it, but the massive quantity of incomprehensible Demon formulas inside made her head ache slightly.
These were not formulas that humans could analyze or calculate.
The barrier was rejecting humans.
A thought suddenly occurred to Nanoda, and she also reached out her palm.
"Lady Nanoda, please be careful."
The next moment, Yuna discovered her worry was superfluous.
Nanoda's palm went directly into the barrier, as if it had disappeared.
Hurriedly retracting her hand again, Nanoda did not feel surprised.
"As expected..."
This barrier was the exact opposite of Flamme's; it blocked humans, but the Demon race could pass freely.
Looking around, fortunately, no one had noticed Nanoda's action. Both of them breathed a sigh of relief.
"It really is a Demon's barrier..." Yuna frowned.
"Should I quietly go inside and take a look?"
Nanoda's voice was very soft, drifting into Yuna's ear.
"But... it's said there are many Demons inside. It's dangerous, right?"
Yuna was somewhat worried.
"I think this is a good opportunity to subdue those guys inside before the human army does."
"Is it really okay?"
"I have to try. If we wait for those people to undo the barrier, who knows when that will be."
"Lady Nanoda, is there anything I can do?"
Yuna looked at Nanoda very seriously.
"Just help cover for me. Don't let them find out I went inside. Sorry, Yuna, I can't be with you this time."
From the current look of things, Nanoda felt that solving it herself was the best method. This way, in the best-case scenario, a battle between the two armies could be avoided.
Pursing her lips slightly, Yuna nodded.
"Un, you must definitely come back."
"Are you still worried about my strength?"
That night, Nanoda quietly infiltrated the barrier. Just like the earlier experiment, the barrier did not hinder her as a Demon at all.
There was only a sliver of light from the moon overhead. Aside from the gray-white mist, nothing could be seen all around. It was dead silent.
____
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