Matapju meticulously searched through his memories, but unfortunately, he couldn’t recall the face of that noble.

“He had a high rank. Was he a duke?”

Matapju, typically indifferent to the power dynamics within Newton, was the only noble who had piqued his interest.

At most, he was introduced as an uncommon swordsman, and his gaze lingered on him more than other nobles. However, due to the shading of his face caused by backlighting, only a vague impression of his bear-like figure with a strong presence remained.

“But he’s not a swordsman.”

No aura could be felt from the large figure that disappeared from Matapju’s sight.

Apart from the commonality of an unusual physique, he seemed ordinary.

Matapju, who wasn’t particularly interested in others, quickly lost interest and turned his head.

“These are the residents who collapsed due to mana addiction.”

Following the guidance of the village chief, Matapju entered the cabin.

Surprised by Matapju’s sudden visit, the mages from the Croffle Mercenary Corps quickly scattered.

“Holding on pretty well.”

If accumulated mana wasn’t circulated as magical power, it would eventually become a burden on the heart, leading to death. Hmmm. After briefly checking the patients, Matapju’s gaze turned to the medicine bottles on the floor.

Inside were herbal concoctions, not potions used by mages.

“Seems like there’s a skilled doctor. Is it this serious?”

When Matapju asked while shaking the medicine bottle, the village chief nodded.

“It’s medicine prescribed by a doctor who came from outside to provide treatment.”

“Outsiders coming for field treatment to a hidden village?”

Matapju expressed a short admiration. There was undoubtedly a skilled and benevolent doctor. The herbal mixture used for the patients indicated careful consideration of mana addiction, creating a prescription to help patients endure somehow.

“Ah, could it be the doctor mentioned by the chief, the outsider with a broad-minded attitude who made this?”

Matapju revised his evaluation of the outsider doctor. Rather than having a broad mind, the doctor possessed both skill and compassion.

But that was it. Matapju no longer harbored further curiosity.

There wasn’t much interaction between mages and doctors.

“After treating mana addiction, rehabilitation shouldn’t be a concern.”

Matapju immediately flicked his fingers.

Magic circles spread beneath his feet, and the magic stones that hung on Matapju’s body like accessories floated up in unison.

Dazzling light, incomparable to the mercenaries’ mages, flashed before their eyes.

“Haah… It’s been a while since I felt this exhilarating.”

Matapju couldn’t control the rising corners of his mouth and spread his arms wide.

Whoosh! The magic circles expanded to the patients and the surroundings of the cabin.

“Hey, hey!”

“Magic circle…!!”
Cheers erupted from the cabins within the magic circle’s range. The fluorescent stains that had been infiltrating the patients’ bodies began to resonate with Matapju’s magic. The massive mana stored in the patients’ bodies flowed out slowly through the stains, melting away like a trickle.

“Step back!”

“Don’t get too close!”

The mercenaries hastily ushered people out of the cabins.

Whether reluctantly or not, Matapju snapped his fingers, gathering a large amount of mana in one place.

“It might be too much to consume all at once.”

Regaining his appetite with a hint of regret, Matapju reached out towards the ceiling.

Zap! The cabin’s ceiling cleanly pierced through, instantly revealing the evening sky above. Matapju’s long hair fluttered in the cool evening breeze and magical power.

“Now that it’s soon going to be a well-known village, should we decorate it in advance?”

Matapju twinkled his eyes and sent the massive mana cluster flying into the sky. The entire village watched as the massive mana soared into the sky.

Moving his fingers and controlling the magic, Matapju clapped his hands.

Roarrrrrr!

A tremendous sound, as if stones were breaking, echoed through the sky.

“It, it broke…!”

Members of the magical squad, whose legs had given out due to Matapju’s strength, opened their eyes wide.

As the massive mana shattered, it created a breathtaking scene of shooting stars. Amid the overwhelming beauty, while people were momentarily awestruck, the shattered mana stars began to fall from the sky to the village.

Mercenary mages quickly raised their staffs to create protective shields.

“What…!”

However, the falling mana fragments exploded in mid-air before touching the shields.

With no time to escape, the entire village was engulfed in a flash of light. People, overwhelmed by fear, reflexively shut their eyes.

“…….”

After a while, during the heavy and tense silence.

“Wow, this is insane…”

“…Oh my.”

The muttering of the mercenary mages broke the silence.

One by one, people in the village subtly opened their eyes. Then, everyone’s mouths gaped open.

Especially the village chief, who was near Matapju, looked as if his eyes were about to pop out.