Chapter 18: Mine Inspection
As planned, the mine inspection began.
The day after the betrayal of the person in charge of guarding was discovered, the original plans were completely revised, and the bodyguards’ vigilance was also strengthened. Tsuyoshi’s meetings with local officials were held at multiple, dispersed locations, and the travel routes were changed each time.
Perhaps thanks to that, there were no further attacks, and the meetings proceeded smoothly.
As they visited various facilities around the mine and meeting places with negotiation partners, the expressions of the bodyguards gradually grew heavy with fatigue. The local environment, different from Japan, and the constant tension wore them down. The leader, who felt a deep responsibility for the betrayal from within their ranks, took little rest, always staying by Tsuyoshi’s side. With the resolve to protect him no matter what happened.
“At this rate, they’ll collapse eventually.”
When Josuke whispered this to Hayato in a low voice, Hayato could only nod in agreement. Their eyes were bloodshot, and the collars of their uniforms showed the marks of constantly dripping sweat.
On the afternoon of the fourth day, the first casualty finally emerged.
“I apologize, could I please rest for a bit?”
On the way back from a meeting place, one of the bodyguards suddenly stopped, leaning against a wall, covered in a cold sweat. His face was pale, and his lips were trembling. The extreme tension and fatigue had finally pushed him to his limit.
“Take him to a hospital.”
On Tsuyoshi’s orders, he was taken to the hotel’s infirmary. The diagnosis was overwork and dehydration. The doctor ordered at least a week of rest.
“It’s not a problem. The remaining members will continue the security detail.”
The leader tried to appear calm, but his voice was tinged with anxiety. It was clear that his subordinates were also nearing their breaking point from exhaustion.
Over the next two days, several more bodyguards fell ill. The toll of the unsustainable high-alert status was significant, and their faces showed a mixture of anxiety and fear. Then, on the morning of the seventh day, the leader himself finally collapsed.
“Again and again, I am truly sorry.”
Lying down in a hotel room, the leader, his face pale, repeatedly apologized to Tsuyoshi. A cold sweat born from exhaustion beaded on his forehead, and his eyes held not only fatigue but also a deep sense of disappointment in himself.
“First, we had a traitor, and now I’ve fallen ill and can’t complete my duties. We… No, I have completely failed.”
His voice trembled, overflowing with self-reproach.
“I’m sorry too. I pushed you all too hard.”
Tsuyoshi also apologized, feeling regretful. The leader, who had an excessive sense of crisis, and Tsuyoshi, who didn’t feel much of a crisis. The difference in their awareness was significant.
“At this rate, the security posture is completely…”
“Hayato and Josuke are here, so it’ll be fine.”
Tsuyoshi said this, looking at the two who were waiting quietly in the corner of the room.
For the first time, the leader observed them carefully. Indeed, despite having gone through such tense days, the two of them showed no signs of fatigue whatsoever. If anything, they seemed to be calmly watching over the situation.
“Um… you two are…”
The leader voiced his question, choosing his words carefully. Tsuyoshi was asked, but of course, he couldn’t speak about the other world.
Josuke shrugged, and answered as if it were nothing.
“We’ve always been confident in our stamina, you see.”
The leader wore an unconvinced expression at that answer. Various speculations floated in his mind. Could these two be special guards Tsuyoshi had secretly hired? Perhaps their backgrounds themselves were fabricated. People with titles like former office worker or real estate company manager couldn’t possibly be this calm and resilient.
“You can trust them. Besides, your recovery is the top priority right now.”
At Tsuyoshi’s words, the leader sighed deeply. There was nothing he could do to be useful in the current situation. He should follow his employer’s instructions. That’s what he thought.
“Understood. Then… I entrust the guarding duties to you two.”
The absence of the bodyguards unexpectedly freed up the trio’s range of movement. The official inspection schedule was progressing smoothly, but Tsuyoshi had something he wanted to check.
“There’s a place I’d like to check out. Would you come with me?”
In a hotel room, Tsuyoshi asked Hayato and Josuke. There was a glint in his eyes, somewhat like that of an adventurer.
“Of course, that’s fine.”
Hayato replied immediately.
“Let’s go. Where are we heading?”
Josuke also asked, looking intrigued.
“Look at the map.”
Tsuyoshi spread a map on the table and marked a spot on it. It was a location a little ways off from the currently developing mine, situated at the foot of a small mountain.
“I checked the geological survey data, and I suspect there’s a high probability of an undiscovered mineral vein around here. Since we have the chance, I want to check it out.”
“Got it. Let’s go.”
And so, the three of them decided to conduct an unscheduled investigation.
The next morning, the three of them gathered the necessary equipment and set out. Normally, they should have hired a local guide, but they had no need for one. Josuke had thoroughly researched the maps and topographical data beforehand and planned the necessary route.
They headed towards a cave that quietly opened up deep within a small hilly area. Abandoned, its entrance was covered with plants, and it seemed to be a place even local residents rarely visited.
“We can get in from here.”
Tsuyoshi turned on his headlamp and illuminated the cave entrance. Dark, damp air greeted them.
“Let’s go.”
Hayato took the lead, stepping forward, and the other two followed. The inside of the cave was more complex than expected, with narrow passages and wide spaces connected irregularly. The three of them advanced cautiously, relying on the light from their headlamps.
“This is nostalgic.”
Hayato murmured suddenly. As he moved through the dim cave, he was reminded of his adventures in the other world. The days spent exploring countless caves and labyrinths. That time, always side-by-side with danger, now felt strangely precious.
“Reminds me of those times.”
Josuke responded. He, too, was immersed in past memories.
“Though they were deeper, more dangerous, and the floors were larger.”
“Come to think of it, Lilia cast a huge spell in a cave like this, and it was quite something.”
Tsuyoshi also spoke nostalgically.
“Ah, I was surprised back then. The ceiling suddenly came crashing down.”
“And then Celestia did her best to protect all of us.”
“Thanks to that, we were able to annihilate the enemy in one go, though.”
The three of them proceeded deeper into the cave, reminiscing animatedly. A strange sense of exhilaration filled their chests, making them forget their fatigue. It was as if their past adventures were being reenacted.
The cave gradually sloped downwards, and the temperature began to rise. Water seeped from the rock face, and the air grew more humid.
“It’s just ahead.”
Tsuyoshi stopped and looked around. They had reached a small chamber. The light from their headlamps reflected off the rock walls, creating irregular shadows.
And then, they finally found something. A faintly glowing vein of mineral embedded in the rock face. Tsuyoshi approached to examine it.
“Ooh! Just as I thought, it’s here!”
His voice was filled with satisfaction.
“What’s this?”
Hayato asked with curiosity. To him, it looked like a mere stone, but in Tsuyoshi’s eyes, it clearly appeared to be something valuable.
“It’s an ore deposit. A blessing from the volcano.”
Tsuyoshi stroked the rock face like an expert and began to explain.
“This area once had active volcanic activity. Various metallic elements dissolved into groundwater heated by magma, and this mineral vein here is what formed when it cooled and solidified.”
He took out a small hammer and carefully chipped at the rock to collect a sample.
“My prediction is that there’s a high probability of a promising, undiscovered gold deposit extending northeast from around here. I wanted to see it with my own eyes to confirm it.”
Tsuyoshi’s eyes shone like they did when he was a blacksmith. He carefully placed the collected sample into a bag and nodded with satisfaction.
“Thanks. The job’s a success. I’ll pay you both well, Hayato, Josuke.”
“Let’s talk about that after we get back, shall we?”
Hayato said with a laugh. He was genuinely happy for his companion Tsuyoshi’s joy.
“If you’re done checking, let’s head back quickly. I’m craving a cold beer.”
Josuke said with a shrug, and the three of them laughed together.
When they exited the cave, the sun was already beginning to set. They returned safely to the hotel and regrouped with the bodyguards who were waiting. Tsuyoshi, stating that he had confirmed everything he wanted to, decided to return to Japan the next day.
“We’ll continue the negotiations once things have settled down. The purpose this time was just to confirm things.”
Tsuyoshi said, smiling contentedly. Although there had been unexpected trouble, for him, the inspection had ended as a great success.
The week after returning to Japan, Tsuyoshi visited Hayato’s apartment.
While drinking the coffee Hayato had brewed for him in the living room, Tsuyoshi handed him an envelope he had brought along.
“This is your payment. Please accept it.”
The moment Hayato opened the envelope and checked the documents inside, his eyes widened.
“Wha— Is it really okay for me to receive this much!?”
The success fee for the job. It was an amount that far exceeded his expectations—enough that he wouldn’t have to work for two or three years.
“Please accept it,” Tsuyoshi said with a serious expression. “I ended up getting you involved in something unexpected, so I’ve included compensation for the trouble. Besides, thanks to you, the inspection was a great success.”
“No, but, this much…”
“Your strength was necessary. And I want to pay you what you deserve for it. That’s all.”
“…I see. If you insist, then I’ll gratefully accept it.”
Hayato replied, filled with gratitude. With this reward, his immediate livelihood would become quite stable. Freed from the anxiety of job hunting, he could now take his time to carefully consider his future.