Volume 5 Chapter 64 When You're Bored, Strange Topics Get Exciting
After enjoying skiing a lot, the group arrived at their destination, the mine town, before noon.
Further north from Blankfurt.
The town lies almost at the foot of the Raumstark mountains, which are also the border with the Empire.
Forgeville.
Behind the town, there is a mountain path leading to the copper mine.
It's a town where not only miners responsible for excavation live but also many artisans engaged in refining work.
Though it's smaller than Blankfurt, the splendid castle walls make it clear that this town is an important stronghold for Waldner.
"A long time ago, it seems the hero of the Empire crossed over those Raumstark."
Hearing this from Airen, Randy and Catherine shared the same thought, "Is it Hannibal?" as they looked up at the snowy slopes towering beyond the walls.
"Anyway, shall we go inside?"
The local experts had already been contacted, and with Airen's face card, everyone passed through the gate.
"Wow. It feels lively here."
As Catherine observed the town, unlike the quiet silver world outside, the inside was surprisingly full of life.
Smoke from the refinery and the unique smell of sulfur and iron enveloped the town, creating an atmosphere where passersby were cheerful and smiling.
"In winter, there are more days when the mines are closed. Work like refining takes precedence, so there are many people around."
As Airen said, among the people walking the streets, sturdy men who appeared to be miners were noticeable.
"If the mines are closed, the investigation should go smoothly."
"Yeah. We will meet the investigators at the foot of the mountain path. Let's go quickly."
Prompted by Airen, the group decided to part ways for now with Yamada and Ice Wolf, who had brought them here, and head towards the mountain path behind the town.
Walking for a while, opposite the entrance, through the lively town center... suddenly, the town became quiet, causing everyone to glance around.
The north wind howled, and there was a slight uphill.
The buildings lined up beside it had no signs of people at all.
"... when the mine is open, does it feel lively around here?"
Airen, answering Randy's musing, said, "Yeah."
"From spring to autumn, this area becomes a tavern for miners and a simple lodging for those who come to work."
"If they could mine around here, that would be the best."
Just as Randy said, even if they dug for hot springs, no one could use them in the mountains.
The intention of the Marquis Waldner family was to allow as many people as possible to utilize them...
"Right. Before the mine investigation, let's have this area investigated first."
There was a small waiting-like building in the direction Airen pointed.
It seems that experts for the investigation were arranged to be there.
When they actually knocked on the building's door, several men and women came out in a group.
"Everyone, sorry for the inconvenience at this time."
The man, who seemed to be the representative, shook his head and said to Airen, who raised his hand, "No problem."
"It's supposed to be an urgent matter..."
"Let's talk about the details on the way. But first, before the mine investigation──"
Airen began to briefly explain this area's investigation and its purpose.
At first, the investigation team wondered with a "?," but...
"A hot spring in this town..."
"His Excellency is saying he will reward us?"
...the mere mention of a hot spring in this cold land seemed more than enough motivation.
By the way, both Rolf and Airen have their motives to enjoy themselves, but more than that, their true desire is to bring a hot spring to this town that symbolizes the Marquis territory.
Fully motivated, the investigation team quickly began to split up and got started on their research around the area.
In this quiet area, surrounded by large castle walls, there are plenty of lands that can be used as hot springs.
Each person, holding a copy of the previous survey reports, is removing snow in their chosen spots to place strange tools on the ground.
The tools they've never seen seem to be used for geological surveying.
They look like mirrors placed on pedestals...
Each person began to channel magical power into those mirrors.
"Hmm. Interesting idea."
According to Ellie, who appeared suddenly, magical power resonates through the ground like waves via that pedestal, reflecting the underground's condition in real-time as waveforms on those mirror-like places.
"You figured it out at a glance."
Randy, impressed, heard Ellie smugly say, "My research is a similar kind of magic."
Thinking back, Ellie had been probing something with her hand on the ground.
The tools are doing something similar.
While the survey continued, Catherine, perhaps bored, asked Randy and the others.
"You said we're digging for hot springs, but how are we supposed to dig?"
In response to such a reasonable question, Randy and Ellie exchanged glances.
"Well, I guess with a *scoop*?"
Catherine frowned deeply at Randy, who tilted his head and boldly lied, saying, "Are you stupid?"
"Hot springs are more than a thousand meters underground, you know?"
"I know. That's why I thought maybe I should dig with a Dragon Scoop."
Randy pretended to be clueless, and Catherine tilted her head, asking, "Dragon Scoop?"
Originally, he was supposed to reveal that they would actually use magic here, but Catherine was surprisingly interested in the Dragon Scoop.
Thus, the conversation shifted from hot springs to dragons...
"I happened to smash a dragon before. I've got plenty of materials left from that time."
"A dragon, huh?"
"The dragon... that dragon?"
Randy shakes his head at the interested Leon and completely shocked Catherine, saying, "You're not going alone, right?"
After all, in the game, dragons are super strong monsters, and back in the early days, there was a thread on some bulletin board about 'the developers messing up their adjustments.'
"Dragon Slayer, huh... I see why you're so strong."
"So it was a real beast... No wonder I'm not worried."
Catherine, coming to terms with this, likely recalls the time she was bathing in [Waldner Castle].
"So? Where's the dragon material?"
It's understandable that Catherine tilts her head.
Both are completely empty-handed, and Catherine has no idea that Liz and Ellie have item boxes.
The item box, originally small, is now massive thanks to [Ellie's magical modification].
"Dragon materials, huh..."
The truly monstrous Ellie peeks a huge claw from the void, saying, "Here."
Catherine and Leon are momentarily surprised, but captivated by its size and texture, they are now gently stroking the claw with a "Wow."
By the way, Airen, who seems most interested, is currently engaged in an important conversation with the town manager who just appeared.
"Do you have scales too?"
Ellie rummages through the void, responding to the interested Leon, "Scales, huh."
"Of course... Ah──this isn't right."
What Ellie briefly shows is a thin tube cloaked in dark purple aura.
It instantly retracts into the void, but its dreadfulness causes Catherine to step back, mumbling, "No, no, no."
"Did I just see something strange?"
"Was it just a misunderstanding?"
"I definitely saw something. It looked clearly like a weapon."
Catherine, surprisingly hitting the mark, gets Ellie to look away, saying, "Well, I don't know..."
By the way, it was something Liz had kept as a warning, but Ellie mistakenly pulled it out.
In the chaotic scene filled with dread, Randy again made a silly comment.
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