Chapter 18

"There's a cave over here."

After several days of travel, we finally arrived at the base of the mountain range we had been aiming for, having passed through the forest. The exposed rock face stretched out to either side.

These treacherous mountains lead to other countries, but only a few merchants attempt to cross such perilous terrain.

"A cave? Where?"

"It's in the depths of that patch of grass."

At first glance, it looked like just a thicket. Thanks to Reifan's guidance, we finally discovered it. It was no wonder, given his earth gnome heritage.

"Can we go inside?"

"Yeah, it looks spacious. Want to explore it?"

"That's the whole point."

If there were minerals, there was no way we wouldn't go in. I informed Raidock and the others, and we formed a narrow formation.

"Floating Light Ball"

Bardack and I chanted simultaneously. Two glowing orbs appeared and floated above us. The priest Bepp and the hunter Jitaro lit their torches, providing ample light.

"We'll go to the back of the cave and investigate the geology."

"Alright, count on me."

It's incredibly helpful to have dwarves or gnomes around at times like this. It's difficult for ordinary people to distinguish iron ore in the dark. Reifan took out his dowsing teardrop and began searching for minerals. The combination of his gnome blood and dowsing skills was highly effective.

"Let's proceed carefully, keeping an eye out for monsters."

Caves of this kind, especially those large enough for humans to pass through, are often frequented by monsters over long periods. Whether the monsters expanded the cave or simply took up residence in an already spacious one is unknown.

"I hope it hasn't turned into a dungeon."

"Judging by the entrance, I think we're safe."

"Yeah..."

A dungeon is a region or place that has become a kind of otherworld where monsters are born. Powerful monsters often roam these areas, and valuable items are frequently found deeper inside, which is why adventurers seek to strike it rich by exploring them. Additionally, ancient magical civilization ruins are sometimes referred to as dungeons.

This cave is likely natural. As we cautiously moved forward, we spotted the shadow of a monster in the distance.

"Left ahead! Three Rock Lizards!"

"Alright! Morda, you take the front! Sollar, provide support! If you can't take them down, we'll back you up!"

"Got it!"

Only the ranger Sollar responded, but the taciturn Morda had already started moving. It's a good party.

Thinking back, I remember the days when I dreamed of being an adventurer and traveled to various regions as one. It feels like so long ago now.

"Huh!"

"Don't worry! We can take them down on our own!"

"Alright! The rest of you, keep a full perimeter watch! Be careful because it's narrow!"

"Got it!"

"Right."

It doesn't seem like I'll be needed. Shrugging, I follow their lead.

"There's no serious threat here."

"That's because it's you guys."

Rock Lizards look like giant lizards with rock-like skin, making them very tough enemies. They're the kind of foe that would make a novice adventurer run away at first sight. The fact that they can take them down so easily shows how skilled they are.

"Thanks to the Sharpening Oil. Look, Morda's axe is slicing through them like paper."

Indeed, despite being more of a blunt weapon, Morda's axe was cutting through the Rock Lizards as if using a knife.

"Alright, we're good. Once we strip the materials, we'll move on."

"Understood!"

This is how Raidock's party efficiently took down all the monsters that appeared.

"The geology is changing."

"How so?"

"Rock with iron mixed in is starting to appear, and the way it feels... there might be mithril too."

"Wow!"

Raidock and I exclaimed simultaneously. For adventurers, mithril weapons and armor are the ultimate dream. Reifan, who had been dowsing, looked up.

"But the concentration here is low, so I want to go deeper."

"Alright, let's go."

As we moved deeper, Reifan suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?"

"Beyond here... there's a large open space."

"Really?"

"Let's check it out."

We emerged into a high-ceilinged, spacious area. It wasn't a stalactite cave, so it was strange how such a large space had formed.

"Ah! Over there!"

In the direction Reifan pointed, there was a spot faintly reflecting green light.

"Of course! Mithril ore!"

"Wow! You found it! Congratulations... Get back, Reifan!"

Grrrraaaaaah!

"!?!"

"Chii!"

Raidock dashed to Reifan's side.

"What the hell!? What's that sound!?"

"Idiot! Stay back, Jitaro!"

Raidock sent a light ball at the source of the sound, a large rock to the side. The strong shadow revealed a massive figure.

"Cyclops..."

It was a giant, a one-eyed giant. Standing three times the height of a human, with bulging muscles and a massive club made from a tree trunk. Known as a "killer of adventurers," it was a Cyclops.

"Morda, join me! Sollar, fall back! Bardack, full magical attack! Bepp, support magic!"

"Got it!!!"

They immediately reorganized, but the enemy was too formidable. Even if we tried to retreat, we'd risk being attacked from behind unless we inflicted some damage.

"Ugh!"

Warrior Morda struck the Cyclops's shin with his axe, but the Cyclops, more agile than expected, dodged.

"What!?"

Raidock exclaimed at the unexpected movement.

Grrrraaaaaah!!!

Despite its large size, the Cyclops swung its massive club with agility, colliding with Morda's shield and echoing through the cave.

"Ugh!?"

Morda was thrown back, tumbling several times.

"Morda!"

Bepp, the priest, rushed to help but was stopped by a hand.

"I'm fine! I'll use a potion! Bepp, keep casting support magic!"

"Got it!"

Pouring a healing potion from a leather bag over Morda, smoke rose from his body, and his wounds healed instantly. The effect was so strong it was almost unsettling.

"Are you okay!?"

"...Yeah!"

Morda stood up forcefully and ran to Raidock's side.

"...That one-eyed bastard... I can't forgive him!"

I chanted a magical formula, fueled by anger. Fire was strictly forbidden in caves. Wind was also risky due to potential gas pockets. Earth magic was undertrained, and area spells were too dangerous.

Then!

"Ice Fang Frost Strike Lance!!!"

A massive ice spear, trailing ice dust, flew at high speed toward the Cyclops, changing direction sharply to hit its target. The ice spear pierced the Cyclops's chest and began to freeze its body rapidly.

"What!? That magic!?"

"Think about it later, Sollar! Aim for the eye! Morda, finish it!"

"Got it!"

Despite the massive hole in its chest, the Cyclops showed no signs of dying. We launched a full assault.

"Take this! Gale Sword Strike! Wolf Rush Collapse! Rock Slash Collapse!!!"

"Roar!!!"

Raidock and Morda, using numerous techniques and powerful axe attacks, respectively, along with Sollar's arrows and Bardack's spells, finally brought the Cyclops down.

"Ha! Ha! Did we get it!?"

"Yes! It's dead!"

"Great! We did it!"

"Wow, everyone!"

"Phew! We took down that scary thing!"

"Nice work, Raidock."

To nearly completely defeat a Cyclops, known as a "killer of adventurers," in such a short time is impressive.

"What are you talking about!? You practically did all the work, Craft!"

"Yeah, we just finished it off."

"Your magic was incredible. Are you sure you can't use magic anymore?"

"Craft, you've finally regained your power."

They patted my shoulders and waist.

"...I hope so."

I never thought using magic that was previously useless would be so satisfying. On the other hand, I have the alchemist's emblem, and getting stronger through magic feels a bit off.

I'm now part of the production guild. I'll improve my skills as an alchemist without getting too full of myself.

"Well, well. This should be safe now, right? Can we start mining the ore?"

"Yeah, that's the priority. Sollar, gather as many materials as you can from the Cyclops."

"Leave it to me."

"I'll help too."

"Wait a moment. I want to try something first."

"What? Craft."

I touched the massive Cyclops corpse and chanted.

"Storage Space"

With a slight consumption of magic, the Cyclops's body vanished without a trace.

"What!?"

"Can you really store something that large!?"

"Seems so. I've never tried it before, but I had a feeling it would work."

"Unbelievable..."

Raidock's party members were stunned. I realized Raidock was the only one who had seen me use it before.

"You're as unpredictable as ever."

"You're a great asset."

"I'm so jealous... Oh, materials, materials."

I returned the Cyclops to its original spot. We could dismember it back in the village, but we wanted to discard the unusable organs and blood on the spot. I had plenty of odor-eliminating potions ready. Unfortunately, the Cyclops's organs and blood were not very useful for alchemy.

Raidock and the others, licking their lips, quickly stripped the materials. The Sharpening Oil on their knives helped speed up the process.

Soon, Reifan called out.

"Hey, Craft! Over here! Store the ore!"

"Got it!"

Running to Reifan, who was using a pickaxe, I found two barrels' worth of ore already piled up.

"Keep it coming!"

"Got it."

Reifan was enthusiastic about mining. The rumor that gnomes are obsessed with minerals is true. Yes.

"Hmm. I think I've dug out most of this area."

"Four barrels. Not bad, but are we done?"

Considering it's mithril, it's a significant amount, but four barrels of raw ore won't yield much when refined.

"Probably if we dig through that wall, there's more, but the rock is thick, and it'll be tough with just a pickaxe."

"Got it. Then let's use the item I prepared."

I took out what looked like a large candle from my storage space, with a small magic stone attached to the tip.

"What's that?"

"A magic bomb."

"A bomb?"

"In simple terms, it's a device that explodes due to a magical surge."

"Is that safe?"

"It's safe unless you turn and push the magic stone. It doesn't generate heat, so it won't ignite."

"That's not what I meant... What are you going to do?"

"Try it out. Everyone, hide behind the large rock!"

"Huh? Got it. What are you going to do?"

"I've never used it before. I'm just being cautious. I'm about to blast the rock."

"The rock? Okay, everyone, evacuate!"

"Got it!"

"Understood!"

After confirming everyone was hidden, I set the magic bomb and dove behind the rock.

"3! 2! 1! Boom—"

At that moment, a deafening explosion echoed through the cave, sending a shockwave and dust cloud.

"Ah!"

"Kyaa!"

"Whoa!?"

"What!?"

"Whaaat!?"

The ringing in our ears subsided, and the dust slowly settled. We cautiously stood up. Everyone seemed unharmed, except for one thing: they were covered in dust.

"Hmm. Good call not using it on the Cyclops."

"You went overboard, Craft!"

Yeah, the explosion was powerful. The immediate scolding was put on hold as Reifan, impressed by the explosion, devised a new mining method: bore and blast. By drilling a hole in the rock and inserting the magic bomb, the blast would efficiently break the rock.

Reifan, who came up with this method instantly, might be incredibly talented.

The blast wave was significantly reduced, and we successfully shattered the hard rock.

Thus, we obtained a large amount of mithril ore and headed back.

"You can't just clean up like that!?"

That night, I was forced to sit in seiza and listen to a two-hour lecture from Reifan. Sigh.

I've read all the comments, but I haven't replied to them. It's impossible to reply to everyone, and replying to just a few seems unfair...

Among them, I laughed when someone recognized the Golden Dawn reference.

I appreciate all the typo reports and comments. Thank you for your continued support!