Toypus Mine (3)
The entrance to the Toypus Mine itself was pretty ordinary. But peering inside, the ceiling had collapsed, blocking the way with massive boulders.
"That part looks a bit dug out," Tecus said, eyeing the blockage intently. Sure enough, there was a small gap—just big enough for one or two people to squeeze through.
"Probably my father who dug that," I replied.
"Ah..." Tecus hesitated, like he wasn't sure what to say next.
I cut in right away. "Don't worry about it. Once we sort this place out, my old man up in heaven can smile with Mom and make me a little sibling or something."
"......"
He seemed even more at a loss for words after that, but now wasn't the time to coddle him. I'd spotted something odd earlier near the entrance—a deep line in the sand.
"Judging by the tracks at the entrance, looks like Dad dug this hole without any monster attacks back then."
"I agree," Tecus said.
"So why the hell did the first attack happen?"
"...Hmm. Something must've provoked the monsters... but we won't know for sure until we explore inside."
"Yeah, guess we'll find out once we're in there." I headed toward the entrance.
"My lord?"
"Yeah, just gonna dig at the entrance a bit. If we're going in later, we'll probably need to keep clearing it, so might as well start now."
I scooped at the sand in front of the collapsed ceiling by hand. The other Holy Knights saw me and came over to help.
It was a bit deep, but after carefully digging down to about waist height, red sand appeared.
"Shallow sand at the entrance... Once we're inside, we gotta find the deep sand zones. That's where the monsters are holed up."
"Understood. We'll bring plenty of torches next time—and a map of the mine interior."
Tecus. Sharp guy, quick on the uptake. No wonder he was married with a kid and leading the Holy Knights.
"You got children, Tecus?"
"Haha, just had a son recently."
"Doesn't fighting monsters scare you then?"
"I'd be lying if I said it didn't. But I believe my actions are building a better world for him. Can't have some monster I missed or ignored going after my family."
"......"
Wait, what? This small talk started 'cause I figured a married family man like him wouldn't be reckless. But his answer felt... ominous.
"Still, I always make a vow."
"W-Wait a sec."
"To come back alive. And when I do, return to my wife and child... and tell them I love them..."
"Hold up!"
"...Why, my lord? I was in the middle of sharing my convictions and resolve."
"This... let's save this kinda talk for after everything's done."
"Ah, you're right. Not fitting talk right in front of a monster-infested mine."
Thankfully, Tecus shut up and focused on the job. Good man.
Too damn clichéd—got me panicking without thinking.
With his experience and rank, he was a veteran. Odds were high that ominous vow was just empty words. But...
It's a novel world... better safe than sorry.
Especially in a fantasy novel setting like this. No way I wanted to hear that right before the big push—especially next to a teammate.
"Let's eat here and head back. Before the desert heats up more."
"Agreed. Gaban, plant the poles and hang the cloth."
"We call that a parasol."
"Parasol? Fancy name for something like this."
One thing I'd noticed living in this world: the lore was a total mess. Like, why the hell were there hanja characters? Some English words everyone knew innately, others didn't exist. Coffee? Yep. Okay? Nope. Hell, even "sex" was a word here. Academy mandatory elective: "Proper Sex Between Men and Women." The one class where I actually did decent.
Of course, it was some Confucian drudgery like "boys and girls sit separately at seven"—boring, pretentious sex ed.
Emperor had over five concubines, so what were nobles supposed to learn from that? I envied the guy but wondered if the class was even useful. Would've been fun with practical demos, but nope—pure snoozefest. So I sat next to this one commoner girl, groped her waist and ass to kill time.
Still pisses me off thinking about it. Right, buddy?
-Kyek!
My little guy down there was pissed too. But my annoyance didn't last. Turns out the commoner I messed with was the Hero's childhood friend. Gave the Hero his tiny excuse to challenge me to a duel, and boom—I became the extra villain for his protagonist awakening.
"Tch..."
Even after getting my ass handed to me by the Hero, I kept groping her on the sly. Noble title or not, she was a commoner from the capital—far from my territory—and too timid to fight back.
"Slurp..."
Under the parasol Gaban set up, I slurped down scorpion stew while reminiscing. Even this tasteless slop went down smooth thinking of that soft skin.
"...My lord."
Someone interrupted my sweet memory. Tecus, the family-man Holy Knight.
"...What?" My tone came out sharp. I'd just been feeding my buddy down there after ages, and he ruined it. Mood soured.
Did he think my edge was from the stew?
"Care for some of our food?" He offered theirs first.
I glanced at what they had: smoked beef, corn glazed with sweet sauce, nutty bread, and clean water in jugs.
Objectively? Not fancy or rare. But to me... to my territory... those were priceless. Hell, I hadn't seen stuff like that in over a month.
Saliva flooded my mouth. My tongue twitched back to life from its death throes. My eyes locked on.
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm good."
"Really, join us. One more mouth just means smaller portions."
"Yeah, eat up, my lord."
Not just Tecus—the other Holy Knights urged me too. Gaban, though? Silent, scarfing his down faster, like he was scared I'd snatch it. Tempted to spite him by taking his just to fuck with him, but I held back.
"My people endure on this stew and bitter cactus water. How can I, their lord, eat that while they suffer?"
"My lord..."
"I'm fine, really. I've already decided: my folk eat that stuff first, then me."
I rejected them again, recalling when I'd disciplined my tongue. Shortly after arriving in this territory post-reincarnation, I'd chomped live scorpions and cactus peels raw. Without that, I'd have starved.
Even now, those foods tempted me; I still craved capital cuisine. Loosen my tongue's discipline for one moment, and I'd doom myself to hardship. At least half a year of this shit ahead—I had to endure.
Bonus: racks up goodwill with the Holy Knights.
Not thrilled about affection from dudes, but smart play. They might put in a good word with the Pope, score my territory regular aid.
-Kyeeeek... My tongue wailed in betrayal.
Hey, behave. I nipped it with my teeth. My dick was holding out fine—why couldn't this tongue learn?
Tsk tsk.
"...Ahh, oh god... forgive me."
Tecus suddenly prayed. Reminded me of someone.
"...Kinda like the Saintess."
"Ah, haha... As a churchman, that's higher praise than any compliment. Though I can't agree—she's too exceptional. She's the light of our church."
I'd blurted it out thinking of her weird habits, but he took it as praise. And cue Gaban—finished eating—glaring daggers the second the Saintess came up.
His eyes screamed: How dare a punk like you mention the Saintess?! Comparing her to others? Blasphemer. I'll get you later.
Gaban, Gaban... why don't you see this just seals your tragic fate?
This world's lit scene must suck—no romance novels developed enough. If writers' imaginations and libidos had run wild, he'd know what a Geumtaeyang blonde tanned thug like me really meant.
Ignorant Gaban? Straight-up doomed, no prep, no warning.