"Are you okay?" [Neloufa]
"I am" [Diana]
"You don't look so good" [Kara]
"Compared to other forms of training or Genesis Magic, this is actually still bearable" [Diana]
"That doesn't mean you shouldn't rest. Health comes first" [Mara].
"Agreed. I couldn't do much, but let me know if you need anything. None of us want to see you in a mana deficiency" [Tio]
"I will" [Diana].
It's noon and we've made quite a bit of progress. Maybe because it is only the first day, everyone is still energetic and full of mana to spare.
The labor is divided into a few different groups. Those who will dig the ground, those who will place the mana core, those who will stand guard, those who will clean and cook, and those who will do other tasks.
Of course, the Vars family is assigned to guard duty, except for me. I can still do guard duty, but I know how to install the mana core, as well as how to set up the barrier around it, and as such, I am one who will help with the installation of the core.
Citizens from Emas or Amleth or other countries look at us while we work hard. So far, nothing bad has happened.
The researcher and the students take turns. Of course, the researcher does the job faster and more efficiently, and the other students slowly but surely catch up. There have been a few mishaps here and there, but nothing significant enough to slow us all down.
"Meow" [Fie]
"Thank you Fie" [Marianne].
"The breeze is soft" [Adnan].
"Fie really is the best cat" [Diana]
On this hot noon, Fie transforms, covers himself with ice mana, and begins to blow a gentle breeze toward us all. This naturally makes us cling to him. Of course, I am the one favored by Fie.
"Ahh... Fie is so cold. I could hug him all day long" [Merlin].
"Master Merlin, you're crushing me" [Diana].
"Hugging the cold Fie while using my apprentice as a pillow is the best" [Merlin]
Just as I am about to be crushed by her weight.
"Diana, we are done here" [Liya].
"Coming..." [Diana]
Liya's group has done a good job. Since I am in charge of setting up a barrier to prevent the Core from being stolen, I need to make sure that my mana is always enough to do so.
"And done" [Diana].
"Hmm... O Goddess who watches over us all, please, lend us your strength.Heal" [Saintess Rumia].
"Thank you so much. It really feels refreshing. Thank you Goddess and Saintess Rumia" [Diana]
"You are welcome" [Saintess Rumia].
"You can really talk to the Goddess when Saintess Rumia is around..." [Veronica]
"It's nothing strange, Grandmother Farhah can do that too" [Diana].
"That doesn't make what you did any less amazing. You're a Vars family, your lineage is that of the Aru Village, you're the only one who can perform Genesis Magic in the entire world, and you can talk to the Goddess. Everyone, from the Empire to the villains, will surely want you. Fortunately, there's no one who wants to harm you yet. At least not today" [Princess Siti].
"Hey! Watch your mouth!" [Dana]
"That's not what I want to say... You do know that the rumor might be true. Although now that I think of it, I did say a terrible thing. I apologize" [Princess Siti]
"It's okay. I know you didn't mean any harm" [Diana].
"But I really hope that nothing will happen. Surely, even they aren't brazen enough to do harm, especially since they know the Vars family is around. Even my sister and the S-rank adventurer Sir Randy are here" [Liya].
A little chat while we bury the mana core once it's in place. This is the rumor Rosaria mentioned the other day.
The extremist group of Beastmen, The True Beastmen Group, is said to be planning to raid this project, as they want to steal all the treasures we get, whether it be from the mana core or kidnapping the nobles and royalty present here, so that they can get a large amount of ransom. Who started the rumor is still unknown, but there's no smoke without fire, and as such, necessary precautions are a must.
The last time I interacted with them was during the Salin Event, where they weren't happy that a mother from a Beastman clan was sharing a hospital with mothers from other races, so they spread nasty rumors and even kidnapped a mother from the Lizardman tribe to prevent her from attending the Salin Event.
"If they really show their faces here, I hope they're ready to be pierced by my Gungnir" [Dana].
"Still... How strange..." [Princess Siti]
"What is it?" [Veronica]
"Since it is publicly known that this project is funded by the new Duchess, Duchess Akela of the fox tribe, a fox duchess in a predominantly human country, why would they do something so heinous? They are a group that wanted to show the supremacy of the Beastman, so wouldn't raiding this project just make Duchess Akela look bad" [Princess Siti].
"Perhaps the prize is just too lucrative?" [Diana]
"Or maybe they held a grudge against her when she was a noble of a beastman country or during her time as an adventuring guild master?" [Dana]
"That is also possible" [Princess Siti].
Let's just be careful for now.