Chapter 56
Prime Minister Richman was looking through a single report.
It was rare enough for Hughes, who disliked writing, to send a report, but its contents were also surprising.
He had thought the delivery would take much more time, but this was a pleasant miscalculation.
Richman rang a bell to summon his secretary, intending to consult with the Minister of Military Affairs about which units should be deployed first.
Claude was wondering if he could improve the quality of their weapons and was contemplating whether he could obtain Mithril or Orichalcum.
“Hmm. When it comes to obtaining ores, it’s got to be that dungeon, right?”
He arrived at the optimal solution using his knowledge from his gaming days.
He could obtain them alone, but considering the number of enemies he’d have to face, he consulted Netzal-san, and it turned out Netzal-san also wanted to secure them as materials for alchemy.
Now, the two of them had come to the mining city of Gloria.
“Speaking of minerals, this is indeed the place,” Netzal-san said, “but all they seem to produce are common things like iron and copper. Can we really get our hands on Mithril or Orichalcum here, I wonder?”
“That’s true for the upper levels,” Claude replied, “but if you delve deeper, you can find valuable ores.”
“I’m rather curious where you got that information from, but shall we go?”
Learning from their previous experience, they went to the dungeon’s management unit and reported in advance approximately how many days they planned to be inside.
The soldier in charge, upon hearing that just the two of them would be delving, expressed concern, but they assured him it wasn’t a problem and quickly stepped into the dungeon.
The monsters that appear here are ants called Worker Ants.
They primarily feed on minerals, generating ore within their bodies, and drop the minerals they’ve eaten when defeated.
In the upper levels, they saw large adventurer parties fighting hordes of Worker Ants, but Claude and Netzal-san passed by them so as not to get in their way.
“It was easy up to this point because other adventurers were around,” Claude said, “but the real challenge starts from here, doesn’t it?”
Because one could earn a decent amount even in the upper levels, the number of adventurers who delved deeper than this point drastically decreased.
Claude served as the vanguard, with Netzal-san in the rearguard.
With well-coordinated teamwork, the two of them hunted down one Worker Ant after another that blocked their path.
“They just keep swarming, don’t they?” Netzal-san remarked. “It’s quite tough for an old man like me, but it’s all for the sake of materials!”
Despite his lighthearted remarks, Netzal-san mercilessly unleashed his magic.
Claude and Netzal-san reached a Safe Zone and were taking a break.
“So far, all we’ve secured is common stuff like iron and copper, eh?” Netzal-san commented.
“From here on, Worker Ants that drop gold and silver will appear,” Claude explained. “The ones we’re aiming for should be one level deeper than that.”
“Gold and silver, you say?” Netzal-san mused. “I’m not particularly short on money, so that just sounds like a bother, doesn’t it?”
“Ahaha. That’s very like you, Netzal-san.”