Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: [Abyss Miner] Butterfly Effect
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A week had passed before I knew it.
During that time, I'd been grinding like a mad dog.
I'd wake up in the morning, head to the mine, and smash monster heads while mining ore until the sun went down.
By now, the 4th floor was practically my front yard.
The venomous lizards or skeleton warriors that showed up there?
I could take them out with a single swing of my club now—no mana needed.
I'd cleared the 5th floor plenty of times already.
I'd even caught a glimpse of the 6th floor entrance.
Monsters like dullahans or gargoyles on the 6th floor were manageable enough once I popped physical enhancement.
'Just a bit more stat growth, and the 6th floor will be a breeze.'
At this rate, I'd punch through to the 7th floor soon.
What was on the 7th floor?
Succubus babes.
"Heh heh heh."
Just thinking about it made my groin feel heavy.
The juicy paradise I'd dreamed of was right around the corner.
But there was one thing I had to take care of first.
The purification herb in the underground lake on the 5th floor.
It was the cure for little Lisa's mine poison disease.
The problem was the guardian protecting that patch of weeds.
A crystal turtle, just like the name said—a crazy bastard with a shell made of crystal.
The real pain was its insane physical defense.
I could handle 6th-floor monsters pretty smoothly now, but this turtle? Damage just wouldn't stick.
'Even coating my club in mana and wailing on it only made it flinch a little.'
In the end, I had to run.
Lucky for me, being a turtle, it was slow on land.
Overwhelming it with raw stats would take forever.
"Gear's the answer in the end."
I had a way.
That weapon hanging in the smithy.
Bleeding curse.
A cheat option that ignored physical defense and ticked DoT damage.
I didn't need to smash the turtle's shell—just nick it and bleed it dry.
Price: 650,000 Lumina.
"Whew."
I recalled my bank balance.
A week of non-stop grinding had netted me about 630,000 Lumina.
Selling the dullahan armor from the 6th floor and some junk today would push it to around 680,000–690,000.
"Finally gonna buy it."
The B-grade weapon of my dreams.
Today was the day.
"Time for a spec check first."
Strength had broken past 30.
Magic power steadily climbing into the high 30s.
With these specs, I'd be around a real-world C-rank hunter.
Plus the traits and skills.
Oh yeah, skill grades had gone up too.
Clubbing and Mining both hit E-rank.
Clubbing (E)
Blunt weapon damage +20%. Strikes have a chance to inflict 'Stun'.
Now it had a chance to stun.
The impact felt worlds apart from those F-rank scrub days.
Physical Enhancement's proficiency was filling up fast too—E-rank soon.
"That's enough for today. Time to rest."
Money was good, but my body ached.
Earth's Blessing cleared fatigue quick, but I needed mental downtime.
Hell, not just this week—the whole time in the Abyss Mine had been pure grind.
I headed down from the mine with light steps.
As I neared the entrance, a familiar silhouette caught my eye in the distance.
Long black hair swaying.
A pure, innocent back view.
It was Erika.
"Hey, Erika."
"Ah! Mr. Lee Jun!"
Her face lit up, and she hurried over with quick steps.
But she looked rough.
Clothes torn here and there, face caked in dirt.
In her hand, a cheap long sword missing a tooth.
"Heading home? How was today?"
"Ahaha... Just took down a few kobolds on the 1st floor. Tried the 2nd floor entrance, but the iron-shell crabs' shells were too tough—sword wouldn't stick."
Erika fiddled awkwardly with her blade.
'...Weird.'
I tilted my head.
By the original story, Erika should've been climbing fast by now.
While Kyle floundered, she was supposed to grab that katana and skyrocket.
What was its name again?
Hakuna?
Hakunakirimaru?
Yeah, that.
A monster weapon that shot slashes like sword beams on air swings.
That thing would've shredded 2nd-floor iron-shell crabs like paper.
But she was still swinging that junk long sword?
"Mr. Lee Jun? Why are you staring like that?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing. Your weapon looks beat up. You should get a new one."
"Ugh, I want to, but money's not coming in easy. Not like you're super talented or anything."
Erika gave a glum smile.
Something was off.
She should've had it by now.
What was the problem?
'Eh, whatever.'
Not like pondering would fix it.
She was the heroine anyway—a protagonist-level talent. She'd figure it out.
Besides, I was itching to buy that Morningstar.
"Keep at it, and you'll score something good. Head in."
"Yes! Thanks. You too, Mr. Lee Jun—get home safe!"
I left Erika behind and headed to the Miners' Guild.
Now my hand gripped a heavy pouch of coin.
Dropped off today's ore haul at the guild, sold monster parts at the general store.
Goal achieved.
With my bank, that made 690,000 Lumina.
Even after the Morningstar, I'd have some left.
Tomorrow, first thing when the smithy opened, I'd snag it.
Then smash that turtle's shell.
"Good work, Luna. See you tomorrow."
"Yep yep, get home safe, Lee Jun."
Left the guild and headed straight to District 5.
On my way to check on old man Hans and Lisa.
This had become routine now.
Started as a guilty pit stop, now it was just my post-work ritual.
Fun watching the kid eat, and the old man's tales were entertaining.
Plus.
Affinity was grinding nicely.
About to hit the next stage after 'Trustworthy Person'.
She was just a kid, no real use, but watching the numbers climb felt good.
"You home?"
Opened the door to a savory smell.
Lisa had stewed the meat I'd brought yesterday.
"Whoa! Big bro!"
She'd plumped up nicely now—cheeks all chubby.
Went from 'mister' to 'Mr. Lee Jun' as affinity rose, now straight to 'big bro'.
The spots from mine poison disease lingered, but with good food and meds, she looked healthier.
"How's the old man?"
"You're here, lad."
Hans propped himself up in bed.
Couldn't walk yet, but sitting was fine.
"How you feeling?"
"Much better. All thanks to you."
"Let's eat."
I sat naturally at the table.
Lisa ladled stew for me too.
Mid-meal, Hans brought it up again.
"Listen, Lee Jun. Hear me out."
"Ah, that again? The 1st-floor honey pot?"
"Exactly! You don't believe me, but it's real. Saw it with my own two eyes."
This for days now.
He'd found a massive honey pot in a 1st-floor corner.
Full of mid-grade iron ore, he said.
I didn't buy it.
Mid-grade iron ore on the 1st floor?
Spawn rate was abysmal.
I only got it occasionally with Mining skill—'full of it'?
Then why'd he go to the 2nd floor? Stay on 1st.
"Grandpa's telling the truth! I heard it too!"
Lisa chimed in.
"He kept talking about it. Said we could pay off all our debts if we went. But he was too sick to check..."
With both insisting, curiosity piqued.
What the hell was it?
Fine, I'd bite.
"So where is it?"
"Well, there's a sealed tunnel at the far east end of the 1st floor. Entrance caved in, so folks avoid it. But crawl through the dog hole, and there's a big open space."
His eyes sparkled.
"Right in the center... there's this weird rusty sword stabbed into a rock. All the stones around it? Mid-grade iron ore."
"...A sword?"
Spoon paused.
"Yeah, sword. Looks like scrap, all rusted, but unique shape. Single-edged, kinda curved..."
Hold up.
Single-edged and curved?
A blade?
Katana?
Puzzle pieces clicked in my head.
Erika.
The missing katana.
Hans's rusty sword.
"..."
No way.
"Where exactly?"
Next morning.
Before hitting the smithy for the Morningstar, I squeezed in a quick run to the far east of the 1st floor.
Hans's sealed tunnel.
Long abandoned—entrance blocked by rocks.
But like he said, a crawlspace at the bottom.
"Here."
Squeezed through.
Inside was surprisingly spacious.
And.
"Whoa, it's real."
Old man was right.
Ores embedded in the walls glowed faint red.
Mid-grade iron ore, clear as day.
On the 1st floor, no less.
But that wasn't what grabbed me.
Cave center.
A rusty sword stabbed into a rock.
Red with rust, spiderwebs wrapped tight—looked like trash at a glance.
But the shape was unmistakable.
Cherry blossom engraving on the hilt.
The sword Erika wielded in the original.
Hakunakirimaru.
Definite.
The cheat item she was supposed to have.
So that's where it ended up.
"Fuck, it's because of me."
I scratched my head furiously.
Situation sorted.
In the original, no me in this world.
So Hans dies mummified, sucked dry by siren spiders on 2nd floor.
Little Lisa starves with her disease.
Enter angelic volunteer heroine Erika.
She'd find and help Lisa.
Honestly, Lisa's state back then? Few more days, she'd be gone.
Erika could barely fend for herself now.
Dying Lisa's last words: the location info to Erika.
Erika comes to farm cash, stumbles on the sword.
Recognized as worthy owner, awakens.
Then skyrockets.
That was probably the original script.
But I saved Hans.
Brought food and money.
Lisa didn't starve, no need for Erika's help.
So Erika never learns the spot, stuck swinging junk sword.
"She missed out because of me?"
Why Erika was still struggling on 2nd floor.
I'd unintentionally blocked her god-tier gear.
My good deed had fucked up the heroine's growth path.
I looked down at the rusty sword, grabbed the hilt.
Gave it a yank.
"...Ah."
Strength left my hand.
Wouldn't budge even if I tried.
Not mine anyway—couldn't use it.
"What to do with this."
Bring Erika?
Too suspicious outta nowhere.
Leave it?
Too bad for her.
Yesterday's pitiful sight—grubby, smiling with that junk sword—stuck with me.
"Argh, such a hassle."
Sighed deeply.
I knew the spot now.
Ponder later, slip her the info naturally.
Say I heard rumors or whatever.
Alright, mystery solved.
Next up: time to stomp that turtle bastard.