Chapter 192: Extraction of Ore
“Is it around here?”
We arrived at the ore excavation point for E-rank adventurers, as informed by the Guild staff. The area was fairly spacious, with a few other adventurers scattered about, diligently working on their own excavations. While iron ore was the primary find, it was said that mithril ore could occasionally be unearthed. This spot was popular among E-rank adventurers hoping to strike it rich.
“By the way, what were you doing earlier, Shuu?”
Just as Ivan swung his pickaxe down into an open space, Rio curiously inquired.
“Oh, I was practicing a bit after getting some hints from Phonia.”
“Hints?”
With that, I decided to put into practice what I had just learned.
“This area seems to have more ore.”
As expected of a popular spot, the metal deposits here appeared to be more abundant.
“And by extracting directly like this, we can skip the hassle of digging.”
“Oh wow, this could be really convenient…”
Rio knelt down, placing her hands on the ground to channel her Magic Power, beginning her search for nearby ores.
“…There are plenty around here.”
“Mostly iron, though.”
“Yeah. Mithril and… what is this?”
It seemed Rio had discovered a reaction different from mithril and Taur Steel. I wasn’t sure if it was the same as what I had found earlier, but I decided to extract it and bring it along.
“Could this be it?”
“…Ah.”
Adamantite, huh?
To avoid drawing attention, the appraisal result of the metal I extracted was conveyed through Telepathic Communication.
“I can’t tell if it’s the same reaction, but if you extract it too, Rio, you’ll find out.”
While I was busy conversing with Rio, Phonia seemed to have nothing to do and was playing with Nil. Since she wasn’t running around, I hoped everything was fine. There were other adventurers around, and it was unlikely that we would suddenly be attacked by a monster. This was an E-rank adventurer’s gathering point, so it should be relatively safe. Still, I remained vigilant.
“Okay… so like this? …Ah, I think I did it!”
Before I knew it, a spot on the ground was gleaming with metallic luster. When I appraised it, it indeed confirmed to be adamantite.
“Success!”
“I can’t believe it was this easy…”
“This could be used for regular vein searching.”
“Right? If we find veins that no one else has discovered, we could gather ores to our heart’s content!”
Rio’s expression seemed to light up with excitement. Although she excelled in magic, she surprisingly had a fondness for katanas. She had even made a few that were stored in the Dimensional Box. It might be a good idea to visit some blacksmiths later.
“Haha, that’s true. For now, let’s try making one.”
“Exactly! Then we need to gather as much as we can!”
I extended my Magic Power deep into the ground, wondering if there might be better ores near the Dragon Vein.
“Just don’t take too much. …The riverbanks might actually be a hidden gem.”
Since we were closest to the valley where the Dragon Vein flowed, it seemed worth a try.
“That could be it. We should also check out the mountaintop where the Magic Power is said to be erupting later.”
As we immersed ourselves in collecting metals, it was clear that Rio was faster. The ores piled up rapidly. Since she was storing them in the Dimensional Box before anyone noticed, I wouldn’t know how much we had gathered until later.
“Tch… what are you guys doing here…?”
After a while of focused work, I was suddenly addressed by a voice. Looking up, I saw an adventurer standing with a scowl, a pickaxe slung over his shoulder.
“This isn’t a place for kids to come and play…!”
As he finished his sentence, he swung his leg toward me in a kick. In the moment of contact, I used Earth Magic to raise the ground, creating a small protrusion that acted as a barrier between his foot and myself.
“Ugh!?”
To onlookers, it might have appeared as though he had tripped clumsily. Even though the magical lights were lit, the mine tunnel remained dim.
“Are you okay? Please be careful; it’s dark here.”
As I spoke to the adventurer who was crouched down, holding his foot, Phonia, curious about the commotion, approached with Nil.
“Are you alright, mister?”
“…Huh?”
The adventurer glared at Phonia, who tilted her head in confusion, but his intimidating presence was somewhat diminished by the fact that he was crouched down nursing his foot. Even an E-rank adventurer couldn’t scare Phonia.
“Sorry for bringing a child here.”
Just then, Ivan appeared, carrying a bag filled with the ores we had collected, his muscular build making him more imposing than the crouching adventurer.
“Hmph… don’t bring kids to such a dangerous place.”
Perhaps intimidated, the adventurer quickly retreated while still favoring his injured foot.
“…What was that about?”
Ivan seemed taken aback by the swift exit of the adventurer, his mouth agape in surprise.
“Well, at least it didn’t turn into a troublesome situation.”
“That just means Ivan has developed quite the presence.”
“No, no…”
For some reason, Ivan was being modest, but I genuinely believed he had grown stronger, just as his Status indicated.
“Presence…? Ivan-nii is cool too, you know?”
“R-Really?”
Phonia, who didn’t quite understand, complimented Ivan, and he accepted it with sincerity. It was a bit perplexing.