'This is ...... awesome. It looks a bit like a castle. ......
Well, a plant like this has all the equipment it needs. They're so big.

　As I looked down at the valley from the car window and spoke my frank opinion, Ivaldi in the passenger seat added some additional information.

　The entire building itself is comparable to a castle in size, but it looks nothing like a castle.

　It was shaped like several large rectangular bodies connected side-by-side, and there seemed to be little thought given to habitability.

'Alfazul and Fraxinus seem to be at the front of the plant. Let's keep going down.

　Gandalf swerved and continued downhill to the valley floor, entering the grounds through the front gate of the plant.

　Then, perhaps sensing our arrival, a pair of humans and tree people (dryads) - Alfazul and Flaxinus - emerged from the building.

　I'm not sure if it's the same as the previous recreation, but Alfazul has become a young man whose boyishness has faded further, reflecting the passage of five years.

　The large leather eye patch that hides the demon's eye and the hair on the right side of his head that has turned white are still there, but he seems to have more of an air of being the leader of the group.

''Too late, the Dragon Nesters beat us to it.
I don't care if he's in there or not.

　Gandalf brushed off Alfazul's light-hearted remark and urged us to get out of the car and join him.

'Explain the situation first. You had good reason to be ahead of us.
'Yeah. I had a feeling that the observation data brought back by another hunter's team on standby was not quite right. However, it wasn't enough to make a definitive statement, so I thought me and Fraxinus would check it out on our own.

　Then Flaxinus received a look from Alfazul and began to explain the results of his prior research on behalf of the leader.

'To put it simply, it's the unnatural concentration of magic power in the soil. This magic plant was closed down because of the facility's age, not because of the depletion of magic power. In this case, the concentration of magic power in the land should normally increase after the plant's closure: ......
'Well, the ...... plant is a facility that sucks up the magic of the land and sends it into the city, and when it's shut down, the amount that was being siphoned off should be overflowing ......?'
Yes, I'm sure that's the theory.

　To use a metaphor, it's like pumping water from a well or spring all the time.

　As long as it keeps pumping, the water won't be stored, but if that pump stops, it will overflow.

　However, Alphasul and Fraxinus said that this kind of natural increase did not happen.

''Compared to the magic plant in operation, there has been a slight increase. However, it can be said to be unnatural for it to be settled with a slight increase.''
'Wait a minute. It's not unusual for the plants around you to suck up the magical power of the soil(s) and the soil(s) to not increase their magical power.

　To Eil's statement, which focused on plants like an elf, Fraxinus, the plant's demon race, replied with a half denial and half affirmation.

''Yes, it's possible. That's why I took the initiative to investigate. But as you can see, the surrounding area was still a rocky mountain, and the few plants that were there didn't have much magical power.''
Mu...... I'm sure you're chilling out, but ......

　It would have been better if the area around the plant had become lush and green - Flaxinus added that and shook his head.

　If the land's magic power hadn't been depleted, then once the magic plant closed down, the surrounding land would regain its former magic-rich environment.

　At this time, if the land's plants and trees were sucking up the overflowing magic power, then the concentration of magic power detected from the soil (...) loam (...) would not be high.

　However - this place was neither of those.

　It remained a wasteland that was still lacking in plants and trees, and the amount of magic power flowing through the land had not increased much either.

''There's no point in wasting ...... far and wide at all, is there?

　Kaga-hime interrupted in a dumbfounded manner as she carried a large sword on her back that was loaded in the back of the cart.

''If it's not a plant, it's an animal. There are demons sucking up magic power that is comparable to the amount of money the city has spent on the city - this is the only possibility if there is a slight increase in the amount of money.
That's what I'm thinking. But I couldn't make a judgment without seeing the scene, and if I did, I shouldn't go in at random.
The guys at the Dragon Nest didn't stop you, did they?
You've been warned.

　Alfazul gave a light shoulder cower to the Ssangyin woman.

　Judging from the attitudes of the lizardmen earlier, I can guess that they didn't listen to her even if she said it was dangerous.

'While I had Fraxinus analyze the plants, I also observed the surroundings with my magic eye. At the very least, there are no signs of magic power flowing out around the building. It's probably being collected and stored somewhere in the facility.
''It doesn't look like I need to use my magic to figure it out with my magic eye alone. It looks like I'm going to be a liability again.

　Ail, who looked disappointed or relieved, lightly tapped him on the shoulder and laughed at him.

''What are you talking about? We're going to be looking for the Lord of the Plant (Nushi) now, so you're going to have to be there.
...... I can't help it.

　Ail's mouth breaks out in happiness at being told that.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

'When the Lord is found, then take care of it. I'm counting on you when the big one comes out.
'I don't blame you. ...... I'll cut you to pieces.

　In an instant, the two girls were in a good mood, and I was looking at Alfazul, who was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Gandalf and Eavaldi, with an indescribable look in my eyes.

'...... Hey, hey, guys. Why don't we make a bet on who will win?
No. If it's exposed, I'll be forced to risk my life.
On the right is ...... as well.

　Alpha Zulu may or may not have known about our reaction, but he announced the start of the operation as if nothing had happened.

''Well then, I'd like to say that we're going to start exploring the ruins right away ......, but there's actually another team that's entering the area that's separate from the Dragon Nest. I didn't hold them back too hard since it was before we finished our perimeter search, but ...... if you find them in the facility, tell them to break off or accompany us.