Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

“By now, I assume everyone knows that Manulite is a mineral with extraordinarily high mana conductivity. And right now, a high-purity vein of it stretches beneath this entire area.”

Having stepped outside the tent, Morris Balthasar walked forward with a small bag slung over his shoulder, gesturing to the surrounding terrain as he spoke.

“For a very long time, I’ve been experimenting with a certain idea. I kept wondering, wouldn’t it be possible to excavate only the specific mineral you want directly from underground?”

Behind Morris trailed Nosori and Seiwashi, along with Seiwashi’s assistant, Joseline Josran, who looked as though she had been dragged into this against her will. The knights, including Cedric and the others, followed behind them until they reached the outer perimeter of the barricades. Around them, members of the Heavy Shield Corps led by Cornell advanced in step, maintaining vigilance against the surrounding undead.

“Well, it didn’t work out quite that conveniently, of course!” Morris laughed. “Even so, I eventually figured out how to influence the target mineral itself! The rest is merely an application of Earth Wall!”

About five or six meters beyond the barricade, Morris wandered about, placing his hands on the ground at various spots while muttering things like, “No, not here.” “A little farther…” Eventually, he stopped. “Mm. This is the place!”

Opening his bag, he pulled out something resembling a compact folding survival shovel. Grasping the thick handle and rear grip, he gave it a sharp tug. The shovel extended with a mechanical snap. Without hesitation, he drove its sharply pointed blade deep into the ground all the way to the base.

“The beauty of this thing,” Morris declared proudly, “is that its effect extends as far as the target mineral vein continues! I call it the Earth Knocker! I brought it along just in case something like this happened! With this, I’ll raise a magnificent wall! Though naturally, once I run out of mana, that’s the end of it. So then, Seiwashi! Out with it! You’ve got your trump card too, don’t you?”

Seiwashi Melchior raised one eyebrow. He took a large cylindrical carrying case from Joseline and opened it. From within, he withdrew a brass-colored rod about thirty centimeters long. Its end was connected by a thin chain to several identical rods, and they emerged together with a metallic rattling sound.

“Hm. You mean this Mana Gathering System? I also brought it along just in case. It’s only useful in places like this, where both mana pressure and mana flow are extraordinarily high. Furthermore, it can only be operated by someone highly proficient in mana control. A terribly impractical device. Extremely situational and highly dependent on the user. Now then, Joseline. Are you ready?”
“Ehhhh?! M-Me?! I have to do this tooooo?!”
“Hm. Naturally. Come now. Let’s get everything prepared.”
“Hyohyoho! No time to dawdle, then!” Nosori laughed.
“Of course not!” Morris barked, “Nosori, you’ve got something too, don’t you? Come on! Out with it! Show us!”
“Hyohyohyohyo! You mean this? This is the Anti-Astral Coating, secretly developed for just such an occasion!” Nosori Kasbar rummaged inside his lab coat and produced a small vial.

“Originally, I designed it to repel the stagnant, corrupted mana produced by mana-generating creatures and miasma. But against the undead, I expect it to be exceptionally effective!”

Without warning, he tossed the vial toward Cedric.

“Knight-Commander! When the wall rises, throw that bottle at it! If you do, Morris’s cheap dirt wall will instantly transform into a magnificent silver wall!”
“What did you say?!” Morris exploded, “The only thing cheap and flimsy around here is your skull!”
“I never called it flimsy!” Nosori protested, “And I wasn’t even talking about your head! It seems old age has finally reached your ears, too, Morris!”
“It seems those two are good to go. Let’s begin.”

Seiwashi ignored both of them and, together with Joseline, he arranged the brass rods around Morris’s position. One by one, they were placed into the ground until they formed what appeared to be a giant semicircular magical array resembling a spider’s web. As she worked, Joseline hesitantly voiced a question that had clearly been bothering her.

“U-Um… Why is it that all of you just happen to have these incredibly convenient items prepared?”

Silence. Nosori, Morris, and Seiwashi. All three slowly turned toward her. Their mouths hung slightly open. Their brows drooped in exasperation. And they stared at her with such overwhelming disappointment that she visibly recoiled.

“W-What is it?! Why are all of you looking at me like I’m some kind of strange creature?!”
“What an astonishingly foolish child…” Morris sighed.
“Truly lamentable…” Nosori agreed.
“Hm. As your mentor, Joseline, I find this deeply embarrassing.”
“W-What?! What did I even doooo?!”

The three scholars answered simultaneously.
“””That’s what theory is.”””
“I STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS!!”
“Hm. Well then,” Seiwashi said, “Enough playing around. Let’s begin.”
“I was being toyed with?!” Joseline cried.

The spider-web-like magical formation created from Seiwashi’s rods spread outward in a fan shape, with Morris standing at its center.