Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: [Abyssal Miner] Reunion, and...
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Opening the door to the mining guild brought a familiar stench assaulting my nose.
The smell of sweat, dirt dust, and cheap ale beer.
"Kahaha! So I just went crack right on that monster's head!"
"Bullshit. You tripped while running away and busted your nose."
The lobby on the first floor was already packed with miners setting up a drinking party.
Looking closer, their faces were familiar.
I didn't know their names, but they were the guys always yapping away in that same spot every time I came to the guild.
Day or night, they always seemed to be there.
They didn't look like they made much money, yet somehow they always had booze money. It was a total mystery.
Or maybe they couldn't make money, so they drowned their sorrows in drink to keep going?
The kind of guys who say life is bitter, so they drink to cope.
'Lucky bastards, really.'
They might kick the bucket from that lifestyle—that's mining life for you—but it had nothing to do with me.
As I passed by, one of them shook his beer bottle and called out to me.
"Hey, you there! Have a drink before you go!"
"Not really into booze."
"Heh, you're missing out on life, man. See, booze is like..."
He launched into some rambling speech, but I just ignored him.
Like I'd waste my time drinking cheap swill with stinky drunks.
Better use that time to get another look at Luna's face.
There she was at the reception desk today, as always.
The flower of Lumina Mine.
The blonde, blue-eyed beauty, Luna.
The first day we met, she'd been rude and dismissive, but deep down, she had a caring heart.
Back then, when I was a scrawny anchovy-lookin' fool who barged into the mine cluelessly, she'd chewed me out because she thought I'd die.
It was her way of giving tough love to keep me from going in.
Today, her tight uniform was bursting with voluptuous curves as usual, with just a hint of cleavage peeking out above.
Always a sight to behold.
I headed toward the counter.
"Welcome... Oh? Lee Jun? What brings you here? You're early today."
Luna now greeted me with a bright smile.
"Just had some business."
"Business? You're empty-handed, so it's not settlement, I guess?"
"Yeah, didn't mine much today."
Today's mine trip was mainly to hand Erika the knife.
I'd only picked up a few random ores that caught my eye on the way.
Unlike reality, in [Abyssal Miner], money wasn't urgent, so no need to lug around heavy stuff.
"Hmm... What business? You always came in chased by someone, hauling ores. So what's up?"
"Do you know someone named Erika? Long black hair, carries a sword, a female miner."
"Erika? Yeah, I know her. She's pretty popular because she's gorgeous. Works hard every day. The guild thinks highly of her too."
"Any idea where she's staying?"
The moment I asked, the smile vanished from Luna's face, replaced by a stiff expression.
"...Why do you want to know that?"
"Huh?"
Her voice was shockingly cold, catching me off guard.
"Asking out of the blue where a woman lives alone. Lee Jun, you're one of those guys?"
Oh crap.
Memories from my notebook flashed back.
About a week and change ago in local time.
When I ran into Luna drinking alone at that fancy restaurant [Le Mans Secret], she'd said something like:
[These miners are getting ruder by the day. I just want to yell at them to stop staring at my chest.]
Back then, Luna despised the sleazy miners hitting on women and throwing cheesy lines.
After I dealt with some mercenaries bothering her, her favorability shot up because she felt relieved.
So now, asking straight-up for Erika's lodging made her lump me in with those creeps.
Gotta clear this up fast or I'm in trouble.
"No, misunderstanding! It's not like that."
"Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? Asking for a woman's address at this hour—what else could it be?"
Her tone was sharp, like she'd shred me for one wrong word.
I carefully chose my words before speaking.
"I'm friends with Erika."
"Friends with Erika?"
"Yeah, really good friends. We went into the mine together just this morning. We were together until a bit ago, then split up. I forgot to give her something important, so I'm rushing to find her..."
She seemed skeptical about the "friends" part, so I mixed a little truth with the fib.
When lying, always weave in a bit of fact.
"Hmmm..."
"Yeah. If you don't believe me, ask Erika. We're really close."
"Well, you're not the type anyway. Like at the bar last time."
Luna eyed me suspiciously but soon softened her expression.
"Right? I'm a total gentleman."
"Gentleman might be a stretch, but you're no thug. Skilled, hardworking too."
Nice, crisis averted.
Not that I ignored women, but my diligent work without causing trouble helped.
That's why credit matters.
Me, Lee Jun—a man who's nothing without his conscience and reputation.
"Still, I can't tell you where Erika stays."
"What? But you said the misunderstanding's cleared."
"It's the rules. Privacy protection, and she's a woman. Even if you're friends, I can't just hand out her address to a guy. What if something happens? I'd be responsible."
True. Security here was trash.
All the miners were pervy bastards.
Made sense from Luna's position.
Though anyone worth stalking wouldn't need to ask the guild.
"Yeah, fair enough. Makes sense."
"Why not just give it to her tomorrow? You'll hit the mine anyway. That urgent?"
"Yeah, needs to be today. Any rough guess?"
"I really shouldn't... But since it's you, I'll tell you the restaurants she frequents."
"Oh?"
Not the lodging, but this was gold.
She's probably eating now, so high chance of running into her.
"Where?"
"Yeah. Probably Rose & Marina, Hearth-Baking Cat, or Moonlight Table—one of those three."
[Rose & Marina], [Hearth-Baking Cat], [Moonlight Table].
None from the original story.
But I knew where [Hearth-Baking Cat] was.
Heard about it in passing—a cat beastkin couple running it with their daughter, pretty tasty food?
Meant to check it out later.
"Thanks! Luna's the best."
"Sis? Gross. I'm not that old."
Luna chuckled and waved me off.
Fact check: true.
We never talked ages, but by lore, I was older than Luna.
Just her huge chest and mature vibe made her "sis" material.
Wonder if she'd freak if I told her my age.
Oh, favorability up.
Only 2 points, but hey, progress.
Been grinding ores non-stop for [Bloodcalling Morningstar], barely interacting outside settlements, so it'd stalled.
Nice to see movement after ages.
Show your face often, chat a bit—that's how favorability rises.
While we're talking, one more check.
"Hey, Luna."
"Yeah? More questions?"
"Don't I look a bit different?"
"Huh?"
She gave me a baffled look, like what outta nowhere?
"Y'know, skin or something. My looks."
Check out my glow-up from Charm -2 to 23.
Mostly from down there, sure, but confidence boost and all that.
Face probably improved too.
Maybe.
What would Luna say?
"Now that you mention it... yeah, you do look different."
"Right? Handsomer, yeah?"
"Not sure about handsome."
"..."
Savage.
Throw me a bone, even if it's empty flattery.
"Compared to when you first came, you're like a different person. Back then... you looked sick. Skinny as hell, like you'd collapse any second, and the smell was... rough."
"Ahem."
Undeniable facts—hurts deep.
"But now your body's looking solid. Even over clothes, you can tell it's toned. Magic adaptation or whatever, but how'd you change this much in under a month?"
Maybe because I prompted her, she scrutinized me and tilted her head, realizing the changes.
People close to you don't notice gradual shifts.
You think you ballooned overnight after gaining weight, but most don't notice daily mirror checks—it's slow accumulation.
Like me.
"Skin looks better too. Wow, it's wild. You really transformed. What's your secret?"
"Just sweating it out at work, eating well, sleeping soundly."
"Jealous. My skin's been dry lately."
Dry?
Doesn't show.
Her flawless, pale skin looked perfect even to my hunter eyes.
"Anyway, you look good. Way more reliable than before."
Bleh... Guess that's something.
No "handsome," but positive recognition? Good enough.
Favorability up too—better than expected.
Think positive.
"Thanks for the praise. And the tip. I'll bring something tasty next time."
"Even empty words are welcome. You're in a rush—go before Erika finishes eating."
"Got it, take care!"
I waved to Luna and left the guild.
I hit the restaurants Luna mentioned, one by one.
First, [Rose & Marina]—no dice.
Second, [Hearth-Baking Cat]—nope.
Didn't see the daughter, but the cat beastkin owner couple was kinda cute.
Beastkin are people too, so I shouldn't think that way, but cute enough I'd want one back in reality.
Of course, interspecies rights laws would nix that.
'Last one.'
The third, [Moonlight Table], was a block off the main street.
A quiet, serene spot tucked away.
Peeking inside, not many customers.
'Let's see...'
If she's not here, it'll get annoying, I thought, scanning the place—then a familiar silhouette caught my eye.
A woman with long straight hair, sitting alone by the window.
Jet-black hair like a slice of night sky.
Erika.
'Found her.'
But something's off?
Her table had stew, bread, and salad laid out.
Untouched, steam still rising faintly.
Erika just stared out the window.
Deep in thought.
I approached quietly and called her.
"Erika."
"Kyaa!?"
She jumped like a startled cat.
If she weren't seated, she'd have leaped up.
"L-Lee Jun?"
"What're you doing here? Eating?"
"Ah, yeah. But... how'd you...?"
Erika trailed off, glancing at me cautiously.
Like she had something to say but couldn't, or just flustered.
'She remembers?'
Her conflicted expression suggested it.
"Saw you passing by, so I came in. But you're not eating? It'll get cold."
"Ah... Well... Stomach's not feeling great. Suddenly lost my appetite."
"Yeah? You look a bit pale."
"Yeah... Probably just tired."
"Then skip forcing it. Wanna take a short walk with me? Fresh air might help."
"Yes! Sounds good."
Erika stood up eagerly, like she'd been waiting.
She went to the counter to pay, and the owner asked worriedly if the food didn't suit her taste.
She panicked, insisting it wasn't that.
'Hmm...'
Inadvertently hurt the owner's culinary pride because of me.
With the owner's plea to come back soon, we left the restaurant.
Then strolled side by side toward the square.
Bustling crowds—people heading somewhere, meeting on schedule.
Amid them, a lanky guy with a pole was lighting the streetlamps.
Quaint how people did it manually here.
Could use magic tools or sustaining spells, but apparently not cost-effective.
Cheapest with manpower.
Erika stayed silent the whole walk.
I matched her quiet pace.
I could feel her sneaking glances at my face now and then.
"Um..."
"Yeah?"
"Never mind..."
She started to speak but clammed up.
Erika was confused right now.
I could tell, so I just walked silently beside her.
She needed time to sort her thoughts.
We walked a good while until a quiet bench came into view.
"Lee Jun, shall we sit there a bit?"
Erika spotted it at the same moment and suggested.
"Sure."
We sat side by side on the bench.
After a short silence, Erika, who'd been fidgeting with her fingers nonstop, finally spoke.