Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: [Abyss Miner] I Absolutely Hate Lingering Unease
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My stomach was practically glued to my backbone.
Meat. I need meat.
In my head, the roast pig from Orc's Belly was already floating around.
Crispy skin, juices bursting out, and a cool mug of beer on the side.
Just thinking about it made my gut do a happy dance.
"Orc's Belly? Or the new skewer joint?"
I quickened my steps, lost in happy deliberation.
Suddenly, something caught my eye.
Hans's granddaughter, Lisa.
Her stick-thin arms, whittled down to bones.
Her face turning pitch-black from the mine poison disease.
Her scrawny legs looked skinnier than chopsticks.
"...Fuck."
Lisa's face flashed in my mind, and my appetite vanished.
'I gave them money.'
1,200 Lumina.
In that slum, that's enough to eat like a king for months.
They could buy medicine, food—plenty.
I did my part.
Dropped a fat stack of cash coolly, no bragging, and bounced. Job done, right?
But.
'What can they even do in that state?'
The old man's out cold like a corpse, and the girl's crawling around sick as a dog.
Money's useless if they can't buy food. Who's gonna bring it to them?
No one.
Not a soul in that shack can move.
Leave 'em like that, and in a few days, they'd turn up starved side by side.
"Argh, seriously!"
I ruffled my hair roughly.
I tried to walk away.
I'm no volunteer.
But my feet stuck like they'd been super-glued to the ground.
It felt sticky.
Like taking a shit, reaching for TP, finding none, and just pulling up your pants.
Think I could swallow meat feeling like this?
"Fine, fuck it. One meal ain't hard."
I turned around.
Passed the tavern alley thick with grilling meat smells and ducked into a dingy diner still open.
"Welcome! What'll ya have?"
The owner greeted me, wiping the table with a rag.
"To go."
"Right, right. What? Boar stew? Fries? Bread?"
"Nah, not that."
I shook my head.
Starved folks for days? That'd shock their stomachs—no digestion, just the runs.
Needed something soft, easy on the gut.
"Got anything easy to digest? For patients. Veggie soup. Mashed to porridge is better."
"Ah, got stew—veggies and meat chopped fine, simmered soft. Dunks in bread, slides right down."
"Two of those. Soft bread."
Paid up, sat at a table, waited.
Soon, two bowls of steaming soup came packed hot.
"Careful, it's hot."
"Thanks."
Bag in hand, back to District 5.
"What the hell am I doing?"
Should be plotting to bang a succubus, not playing maid for a kid and geezer.
Grumbled, but my pace picked up anyway.
Worried the old fart might've croaked in the meantime.
District 5's shantytown got even more miserable at night.
Alleys pitch-black, not a streetlamp in sight.
Coughs echoing somewhere, drunks hollering, rotting trash stench, rats swarming the piles.
Total shitshow.
District 4 was a chicken coop—this was a pigsty.
Quick march through the alleys to Hans's place.
Rusty hinges screamed as the door swung open.
Revealed a pitch-dark room.
"Yo, food's here."
The sight inside shut me up.
The two who should've been in bed? Sprawled on the floor.
Right by the door, on the cold dirt.
"What the? Why by the entrance?"
Hans flopped anyhow, Lisa curled up beside him, clutching his shirt in sleep.
"Why out here?"
Staring baffled, my earlier move replayed.
Carried him in, plopped him down rough.
Tossed the money pouch, peaced out.
Lisa must've tried dragging him to bed with those twig arms, gave up, crashed beside.
"...Ah."
I scratched my head.
My bad.
Half-assed it, caused this mess.
Dropped the bag rough, hurried over.
Cold seeped from the floor.
Sleep here? Forget crippled—you're dead.
Gently scooped Lisa first.
So frail, bit of pressure and snap.
Laid her deep in the bed, comfy pose.
Blanket over—her furrowed brow eased a tad.
Then hauled Hans beside her.
"Whew."
Tiny bed packed tight now.
Miracle how a sick kid and old coot survived this hole.
Thought to bail.
But food first.
Shook Lisa awake.
"Up. Eat."
"Ung..."
She pried her eyes open with effort.
Saw me, jolted, curled up.
"U-Uncle...?"
"Oppa. Not uncle."
Still in my twenties—uncle? Kids here need schoolin'.
Popped the soup lids—savory steam filled the room.
"W-what's this?"
"Blind? Food. For you and gramps."
Her gut roared loud.
"Eat. No poison."
Handed spoon—her hands shook wild, couldn't grip.
Trembling bad, nearly dropped it.
"Argh, c'mon."
Snatched it, scooped deep.
Blew cool, pressed to her lips.
"Ah~"
"Y-yes...?"
"Feeding you. Spill and die."
She blinked wide, parted lips cautious.
Soup hit tongue—eyes welled instant.
"Delicious..."
"Damn right—cost a fortune. Chew slow, no choking."
She chewed and gulped like a baby bird.
Good she's taking it.
Few spoons in, she scarfed faster.
"Tsk. Slow I said."
Three days starved—figures.
Dunked bread in, gone in seconds.
How long she go hungry?
Fed her enough, eyed Hans.
No signs of stirring.
"Gramps gonna sleep eternal? Up and pay for chow."
Forced his mouth, trickled broth slow.
Throat gulped reflex—down it went.
Survival drive even out cold.
Fed him rough.
Cleared bowls—drained dry.
Monster hunts easier.
"Th-thank you..."
Lisa rubbed her belly, bowed sleepy.
Looked human now.
"Yeah. You're alive—good."
Stood to split.
No point lingering, just awkward.
"Um... th-that..."
"Lee Jun."
"Lee Jun-nim."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you so much. This kindness... I'll never forget. Grow up and repay you."
Teary eyes gazed up, pure earnest.
Trustworthy person.
Shot up from acquaintance.
But kid favorability? What for?
Loli con?
Too sketchy.
Wait till she grows? N-Platform M-Corp agents'd have my ass.
"Repay shit. Just don't die."
Grunted curt, pulled away.
Not my vibe.
Lisa drifted off smooth.
Full belly, warm—sleep hit hard.
Soft snores soon.
I gazed at her sleeping face.
Black spots blooming on skin, limbs.
Mine poison proof.
'Left alone, she's toast.'
Original lore: incurable with standard meds.
Poison hardens the body slow, heart last—dead.
Rare, pricey as hell.
Bet they skipped meals for doses.
Why Hans slaved skinny— for her meds.
Kid's wasting? Disease plus starvation.
Not hopeless.
I know the manga inside out.
'Floor 5.'
Abyss Mine Floor 5.
Answer's there.
Luminous herb in the underground lake's center.
Purification Herb.
Find and feed—cures mine poison instant.
Protagonist fetched it to save a comrade.
Issue: the grind.
My build shaky even on 3-4F—trial by fire.
5F? Whole other beast.
Monster hellhole.
Steel Body or not, solo push risky.
Crystal Turtle guarding the lake? Physical immune basically.
I'm no god—current gear won't scratch.
'Need magic-damage weapon minimum.'
Doable.
Grind mine, pump stats, stack cash for gear—eventual win.
Time's the killer.
Will the kid hold out?
It's advanced bad.
Any day now...
"Fuck it, whatever."
Why am I stressing?
Ignore and done.
Survival's my jam—no room for extras.
But.
'Feels sticky.'
Lisa's pained sleep-face stuck.
Curled tight, brow knit in agony—even dreaming hurt.
She'll go soon.
Then Hans? Fought to save granddaughter, left solo—crack city.
"Gonna check it out."
Could be prime opportunity.
Smash to 5F, stat gains, loot haul.
Bonus: snag herb.
Self-rationalize locked in.
"Going down anyway."
Succubus on 7F—5F's pit stop.
Scoop herb en route.
Tomorrow's plan set.
"Now for real chow."
Turned toward the bright streets.
This time, roast pig and every sausage—gonna demolish.
Helped folks—deserve the feast, right?