Chapter 372: Three Days Left

The village square had become a place of constant activity.

Villagers carried salvaged materials between the damaged houses, while others organized supplies and checked the restored mana pathways. The celebration from the previous evening had left everyone in better spirits, but the work ahead remained considerable.

Arthur was helping Leon move a stack of wooden planks when a familiar voice called from the entrance to the square.

"I’m glad to see that you’re all still alive."

Arthur turned.

Professor Roland approached with Professor Scolding beside him. A few steps behind them walked Cassian, carrying a leather case filled with survey records.

Leon straightened immediately.

"Professor Roland. Professor Scolding. You’re back."

"Unfortunately, yes," Professor Scolding replied. "And judging by the amount of work left in this village, I suspect we’ll be spending the next several hours writing reports."

Cassian placed his case on a nearby table and stretched his shoulders.

"Believe me, you have no idea how much I want to sit down. I’ve been surveying the surrounding area since yesterday."

Arthur glanced at the case.

"Anything interesting?"

"Several things. The corruption damaged more than the visible structures, but the surrounding network is stabilizing. I also found traces of the old pathways extending farther south than our original maps indicated."

Athena, who had been recording the condition of the village’s mana channels, immediately looked up.

"Farther south? How far?"

"Enough that I couldn’t finish mapping them before returning."

Her eyes brightened.

"Then there may be another section of the network we haven’t documented."

Professor Roland chuckled. "That was my conclusion as well. However, before anyone gets excited about another discovery, we need to discuss our schedule."

Arthur slowly lowered the plank he was holding.

Vedas, standing nearby with a bundle of salvaged beams, noticed the movement.

"Why did you stop?"

"No reason."

"You heard the word schedule."

"I hear lots of words."

"And yet that one has made you nervous."

Melo, who was helping a group of villagers sort through recovered supplies, leaned toward Kong.

"Watch him carefully. He’s about to pretend he has become a responsible student."

Kong nodded solemnly.

"I’ll remember this moment."

Arthur looked over his shoulder. "I can hear both of you."

"Good," Melo replied. "Then we won’t have to repeat ourselves."

Leon laughed while setting down the remaining planks.

Professor Roland waited until everyone had gathered before opening his notes.

"The five Mirrors have been restored, and the World Tree’s overall condition is improving. The local network here is still recovering, but the immediate danger has passed. We have enough information to document the major findings, provided we don’t encounter another unexpected complication."

He glanced at the damaged buildings surrounding the square.

"The villagers will need time to rebuild. We can assist with the remaining investigations, but we cannot remain here indefinitely."

Professor Scolding folded her arms.

"Which brings us to the expedition schedule. We have three days remaining."

The words drew several reactions.

Leon looked thoughtful. Cassian immediately began calculating how much work remained on his survey. Athena checked her notes, while Metapholes let out a quiet sigh.

Kong, meanwhile, raised his hand.

"Does that include meals?"

Everyone turned toward him.

"What?" he asked. "Three days is a long time. We need to plan our food."

"I’m relieved that someone is thinking about our priorities," Sun declared, stepping forward with his usual dramatic confidence. "An expedition cannot succeed without adequate nourishment."

Mithra looked at him.

"You ate three portions at yesterday’s celebration."

"A warrior’s body requires sustenance."

"You also took a fourth portion when you thought nobody was watching."

Sun raised his chin.

"I refuse to apologize for appreciating good food."

Professor Scolding cleared her throat.

"As I was saying, the first day is reserved for final exploration and recording our findings. The second will be used to finish any remaining investigations and prepare our reports. On the third day, we return and complete the departure arrangements."

She looked directly at Arthur.

"That means no unnecessary detours."

Arthur gave her his most innocent smile.

"Of course, Professor."

Vedas stared at him.

"That expression doesn’t inspire confidence."

"What expression?"

"The one that says you’ve already found an unnecessary detour."

Arthur chuckled.

"Three days, huh? Is there anywhere we haven’t explored yet?"

Vedas closed his eyes.

"Why would you ask that?"

"I’m asking a reasonable question."

"No. You’re looking for an excuse."

Melo leaned toward Kong again.

"He’s definitely looking for an excuse."

Kong nodded. "I recognize the expression. It’s the same one he gets when he thinks there’s something valuable nearby."

"I’m not looking for treasure," Arthur protested.

"That’s exactly what someone looking for treasure would say," Melo replied.

Athena, apparently unaware that she had just become the center of attention, opened her notebook.

"Well, there is one area we haven’t examined properly."

Arthur turned toward her so quickly that Vedas took a step back.

"Where?"

"The southern region. Most of our investigation focused on the World Tree, the restored Mirrors, and the damaged network connecting the village to the larger system. Cassian’s survey suggests that the southern roots extend into a region we haven’t mapped."

Cassian nodded.

"The terrain becomes more mountainous beyond the old road. There are several warm streams, and I detected unusual mineral deposits in the area. I didn’t have enough time to investigate them thoroughly."

Arthur’s eyes gleamed.

"Interesting."

Vedas pointed at him.

"No."

"I haven’t said anything!"

"You’re about to."

Before Arthur could respond, Luna, who had been speaking with her grandfather near the square, suddenly looked up.

"Wait. The southern region?"

Everyone turned toward her.

She approached the group, looking between Athena and Cassian.

"Is that where the old hot spring is supposed to be?"

Athena blinked.

"Hot spring?"

Luna nodded enthusiastically.

"I remember hearing stories about it when I was younger. The elders used to talk about a broad natural spring beneath the southern hills. They said the water stayed warm even during the coldest seasons, and travelers would visit it to rest after long journeys."

Sun’s expression immediately became serious.

"A natural hot spring?"

Mithra glanced at him. "Why do you sound as though you’ve discovered a legendary battlefield?"

"Because a warrior must understand the importance of recovery! After enduring countless trials, a proper spring is an ideal place to restore one’s body and spirit."

"How many trials have you endured recently?"

"Many."

"Name three."

Sun paused.

"Three particularly memorable ones?"

Mithra smiled sweetly. "That’s what I thought."

Kong had already abandoned his interest in the survey records.

"Does the spring have fish?"

Luna hesitated. "I don’t know."

"Can we cook there?"

"I don’t know that either."

"Then we’ll have to investigate!"

Melo placed a hand over her face.

"It’s incredible. Arthur hears about a new place and thinks about exploring. Kong hears about it and thinks about dinner."

"Both are important," Kong insisted.

Athy, who had been reading through one of the surviving records nearby, joined the conversation.

"There are references to a southern resting place in the old village documents. The descriptions are incomplete, but one record mentions warm water flowing through natural stone basins beneath the roots."

She looked at Luna.

"Your stories might be referring to the same location."

Luna’s face brightened.

"Then it really exists?"

"It’s possible. We would need to inspect the route to be certain."

Arthur rose from the low wall where he had been sitting.

"Then let’s go!"

Professor Scolding stared at him.

"Excuse me?"

Arthur pointed toward the southern hills, as though the destination had already been settled.

"We have three days left, and we’ve found an unexplored region with unusual mana activity and a possible natural hot spring. It would be irresponsible not to investigate."

Vedas slowly turned toward Melo.

"He’s using the professors’ own reasoning against them."

Melo nodded. "He’s learning. I’m almost proud."

"You should be concerned," Vedas replied.

Professor Roland rubbed his forehead, though the corners of his mouth twitched.

"The southern region is worth investigating. Cassian’s findings support that much. But we still need to evaluate the route and make sure the network is stable enough to explore safely."

"Of course," Arthur said immediately.

Professor Scolding narrowed her eyes.

"And you will follow the established safety procedures."

"Absolutely."

"You will not wander off because you see something interesting."

Arthur hesitated for half a second.

Vedas noticed.

"Professor, I recommend assigning someone to watch him."

"I recommend assigning several people," Professor Scolding replied.

Sun placed a hand against his chest.

"I volunteer to lead this expedition into the southern wilderness!"

Mithra looked at him. "You just want to reach the hot spring first."

"A leader must scout the destination!"

"You don’t even know which direction it is."

"I possess an excellent sense of direction."

"You got lost returning from the communal kitchen yesterday."

"That building was poorly marked!"

Kong burst out laughing.

Even Cassian couldn’t hide his amusement.

As the discussion continued, Eden approached from the nearby path. She had been resting after helping restore the village’s root connection, and although she looked better than before, Arthur immediately noticed the faint tiredness in her expression.

"We’re discussing the southern region," he explained. "There might be a natural hot spring connected to the World Tree’s roots."

Eden looked interested.

"That could be worth seeing. If the roots extend beneath the area, we might learn something about how the southern network recovered."

"Only if you feel up to it," Arthur added. "You don’t need to push yourself just because the rest of us are going."

Eden smiled.

"I know. I’ll join the investigation if I’m feeling well enough. I won’t use Future Manifestation just to make the journey easier."

"Good."

Melo watched them with a knowing expression but wisely decided not to comment.

Luna, meanwhile, was already thinking about the destination. The southern hills had been part of her childhood stories, a place she had never visited herself. Before the village fell, she had assumed there would always be time to explore them.

Now, after everything that had happened, the thought of discovering another part of her homeland filled her with excitement.

"I’d like to go," she said. "If the spring is really there, I want to see it for myself."

Her grandfather, who had approached quietly during the conversation, smiled at her.

"Then go. Just make sure you return before you wear yourself out."

Luna hugged him briefly.

"I will."

Professor Roland finally closed his notes.

"Very well. We’ll examine the route tomorrow morning. If the terrain is safe, we’ll visit the southern region and document the spring if we find it. That will be our final major exploration before departure."

Arthur nodded with exaggerated seriousness.

"Understood. A focused, efficient investigation."

Vedas muttered, "I’m going to hold you to that."

Professor Scolding gave Arthur one final warning look.

"This is still an expedition, not a vacation."

"Of course, Professor. We’ll investigate the hot spring thoroughly."

Vedas stared at him.

"That’s somehow worse."

Kong raised both hands.

"Can we investigate the food first?"

"No," said Vedas, Melo, and Athy together.

The group broke into laughter, and even Professor Scolding allowed herself a reluctant smile.

As evening approached, they began organizing supplies, checking equipment, and deciding who would accompany the southern survey. The villagers who were still recovering would remain behind, while those healthy enough could join the outing if they wished.

Arthur looked toward the distant southern hills.

Three days remained before the expedition ended.

There was still a region they had never explored, a mysterious network waiting to be mapped, and, if Luna’s stories were correct, a magnificent hot spring hidden among the roots.

He grinned.

This expedition wasn’t over yet.