First Dive into the Mines

This was my first time ever going to a mine. My overall stats totaled 21, and my entire fortune was 99 GP and 420 SP. All I had were a knife and a memorize book. For starters, Larirure had meticulously checked everything and helped me get new gear. I got a new shortsword and buckler set, and picked up two extra knives. After outfitting me with fresh armor, she pondered what else to buy with careful thought.

"Magic items are useful too, but..."

Buying five pages for the memorize book slashed my funds. Factoring in the 25 GP management fee, I needed to start keeping a ledger. The booze I'd brewed yesterday? Larirure took it with her, saying she could sell it for more to the dwarves. The guild only bought at standard rates, after all. Looked like direct deals were the way to go for real business. I swung by the alchemy guild and grabbed two potions just in case. She said I probably wouldn't need to use many.

Shortsword. Buckler. Three knives. Memorize spellbook (5 pages). Two potions. Three antidotes. Pretty minimalist loadout. I thought about grabbing sturdy rope or something, but... even if it was for emergencies, I didn't have the strength to carry it.

Our ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠next stop was the mine. An old one in the rocky mountains near Trust Forest, apparently. The forest itself was massive, so the ore veins were vast too—supposedly one of the biggest and oldest mines around. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Shouldn't we bring pickaxes or something? Larirure snapped that she could swing one just fine and scolded me not to even think about risking her future husband's back.

"What about Po'runga and receptionist Rokuka?"

"Rokuka's on paid leave and headed down already. Po'runga's out in the field investigating that ant nest portal discovered in the forest."

Probably the one linked to the Mongrel Kingdom... Maybe a plot by hostile demons? Sounded like the person in charge had called her in. So in the end, it was just the two of us on this quest? When would they be back? The receptionist said at least five days.

"Perfect."

"What is?"

"That woman's hitting on you. Now I don't have to worry about anyone but our party."

"...Thanks for being honest, but your face turns beet red every time."

"Don't mock a dwarf girl's pure heart!"

Larirure exploded in anger, her tsundere nature shining through—she couldn't hold back from blurting it out, even if it embarrassed her. Afterward, she turned red as heated iron, steam practically rising.

"Grab a newspaper from the Adventurer's Union to stay informed."

Cheap way to catch all the news from Trust Union kingdoms at once. She handed me a rolled-up paper, and I scanned it. Worried there might be unreadable script, but thanks to the goddess, no issues.

"..."

Was this that ant? It shrugged off my Fireball like nothing. I was worried, but apparently its hatred for elves ran deeper. The photo showed elves scattered everywhere, a four-armed ancient ant clutching aura swords, roaring in fury.

The rest covered the Mongrel Kingdom's Anomalies. Recent surge in insect-type monsters... White ents counted as bugs too—linked to the portal? The back page detailed the portal: first discoverers, how it was found. Po'runga's name was there, with the epithet Trust Union's Ball-Crusher Lizard. First I'd heard of it. Larirure whistled from behind—she'd skimmed it earlier and spotted that part.

Another article: Human-Type Appears in Trust Union? Photo of me at the guild, lightning strike scar. ...No privacy laws here? Staring at my boldly printed face, I was speechless.

"Check the paper daily—easiest info source. Covers only Trust Union kingdoms, though. For details, buy from log guilds or the union."

"Got it."

"Alright, our next quest: Iron Ore Mining. Not too hard, sell any extra ore."

Easiest money-maker among F-rank quests. She'd mine, I'd haul. Better build stamina quick—start with pushing the cart. More ordinary than expected... no grandeur. She said monster hunts were for those confident in their skills from the get-go.

With that, we left the city, following the road to the rocky mountains. Grass vanished, replaced by sand and stones rolling about. Fitting for a well-developed mine: barren rock ranges greeted me. Landscape flipped so hard, felt like we'd warped somewhere else.

Miners bustled, hauling ore. Girls in magical girl outfits like Larirure mixed with bearded dwarves at ore auctions. Others dragged giant centipede-like things from the mine or butchered beast-worm monsters. Nearby woods supplied logs for smelting fires.

Way more developed than I thought... Not the rough setup I'd imagined.

"Humans are fragile—wear this mask," Larirure said, handing over a gas mask-like thing.

"Made by Hero Park Chun-sik: Purification Mask. For mines or plague zones."

"You don't just go in bare?"

"Wanna catch lung disease? Here, hard hat and magic item Mine Canary too."

Thorough from the entrance. Mask on, hard hat over it, then bracelet-form Mine Canary. Changes color if pollution spikes.

"Gotta go deep. Been ages since I was here—dunno how far it's developed."

She handed a flashlight: mana battery lasts a day.

Why not lanterns...?

"Wanna explode in a mine?"

Safety rules first: crouch, read warnings. Toxic gas zones—beware. Goblins, kobolds, worms, centipedes possible. Miners own dug ore, but union/alliance not liable for deaths/injuries.

"Flashlight but lanterns too?"

"Mana-attracted monsters abound. Mana-eaters kill lights in dark. Carry both usually."

This world was brutally harsh. No imps here, so safe-ish. With that, we entered the dark mine.

"Fried chicken, water, booze anytime—light load's great."

"Made me the weirdo at the guild."

"Who cares!"

Gave her wet wipes; saw her munch one in line—thought she was a goat. Now I was the guy force-feeding tissue to the husband-hunting dwarf, dropping her to F-rank slave-driver status.

"Booze tastes good, reputation be damned!" But public pitied her, trashed mine.

"Gotta do that much or women stick. Plenty wag tails even leashed—more than ground pebbles!"

"And you get rated like that?!"

"Dwarves don't yield to such!"

She bellowed Come at me! Miners eyed us like a messed-up couple.

"Elevator time—ridden one?"

"Yeah, similar."

Everything here. Down/up buttons, chain-link sides for views. Entry-level dev: glowing orbs everywhere. Like our base.

Vast cavern, dozens of tunnels like ant nest.

"No pickaxe?"

"My shovel's better."

Following her shovel-love, we stepped into darkness. Hard hat light revealed narrow, stuffy passage. Claustrophobia from underground or me?

Ding-dong, deng—♪

Park Chun-sik, what the... Daegomgei too, but Captain Eagle? What screw-up traps a teammate a year in Magic Palace? Warp trap to bottom?

Luckily, infinite food/water. No biggie. Tore the ticket.

Constellation Cha■Dragon. Wanted your luck to snag this once.

(Skill - Help for the Frail)

Oh... Finally useful?

Damn...

...At ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠least one guaranteed? Eyes sparkling, hopeful. Come on, Dice constellation—your time to shine! Trust me, trust you!

Awesome... better than expected! Eagerly opened skill window.

"...?"

Oh. I'm the elixir. News to me.