Chapter 25

When they reached the entrance of the mine, the sound of water could be heard splashing.

A large amount of water was flowing through the ditch next to the entrance.

"That's a lot of water, isn't it? Is it a spring?"

"……"

"Mr. Tien?"

"This isn't a spring. It's water being discharged from the mine..."

"Really? So much water comes out of the mine? That's amazing."

"No, it's not usually this much."

"Huh?"

Tien caught a nearby miner.

He seemed to recognize Tien immediately, but was surprised by the change in his appearance.

"The amount of water being discharged is too much. Why is that?"

"Ah, ah... There was a heavy rain in the mountains last night. Water is also coming out inside the mine."

At that moment, Tien remembered something from yesterday.

The smell of water he had detected in a place where it usually wasn't.

"Water is dangerous. Did you check if there are any problems?"

"No... We have a lot of quotas to meet today. The foreman is in a hurry. There's no time for extra work."

"But!"

The man placed his rough hand on Tien's head.

"We're professionals. We know when it's dangerous. You're bringing visitors today, right? Don't go too deep."

The man then walked deeper into the mine.

"Hey, Tien? What's up? You look lively."

"Yeah, kids should be lively like that."

"I thought you were sick. I was worried."

The passing miners called out to him one by one.

"……"

Tien didn't realize they cared so much about him.

They must have been calling out to him before too.

He just hadn't noticed because he was too focused on himself.

Their words were often gruff or rough, but they were warm inside.

These men, who were heading into the mine with much more water than usual, were no exception.

(Are they going to be okay...?)

Tien thought—his current healthy self could surely help meet the quota.

If he had been able to work properly earlier, today's quota might have been the same as usual.

"Mr. Tien, what's wrong? Should we cancel the tour today?"

"……"

Tien approached a cart that had derailed nearby.

He grabbed the steel cart, which could easily fit five adults,

"Mu"

Where did Tien, with his slender body, get such strength? He lifted it and put it back on the track.

"…We will go on the tour. But we'll finish early."

Tien thought he would join the mining to help meet the quota.

Even inside the mine, Tien was greeted by many workers.

Not just men, but women too.

Not just humans, but dwarves and lizardfolk as well.

While mining was a profitable job in this town, if people had a comfortable life, they would stop working in the mines.

The people working now were here for various reasons, such as debt or the need for a large sum of money.

It was natural for them to have no spare time.

In a life where drinking after work was the only enjoyment, they still cared about Tien.

"This vertical shaft is incredibly large..."

Nina was looking around with great interest.

"Do you go into such narrow places too? Ah, I see... To check for veins of ore."

Visitors weren't rare, but a young girl like Nina was certainly unusual, especially in a maid's uniform.

The workers watched the maid, who was moving around in her helmet, with a smile.

"Wow, that's an amazing machine."

Nina was impressed by the giant magical excavator, but Astrid was looking at it with a "hmm" expression.

"You... seem a lot more energetic than yesterday."

A burly red-haired worker approached.

He was the one who had encouraged Tien to rest yesterday.

"Ah, yes, I'm fine now."

"That's good—don't go to Zone 4. The foreman today seems to be in a bad mood. He's yelling at everyone."

"Huh?"

Tien was surprised.

Not by the foreman's anger, but by the fact that Zone 4, which had always had water issues, was the direction the red-haired man was heading.

"Today, the water..."

"I know. We'll finish as soon as possible. See you."

The man left.

After about an hour of touring, they had seen most of the places.

The final part was a "mining experience" near the entrance.

Emiri picked up a pickaxe but couldn't lift it.

"Whoa!? This is heavy! I can't lift it!"

"Tsk, you're so weak."

Astrid took the pickaxe instead.

"……"

After staring at it for a while,

"I'm better at thinking, anyway."

"Astrid, if you can't do it, just say so..."

"Me too! I want to try!"

"No, Nina. Your small body—"

But when Nina took the pickaxe,

"Muun!"

She lifted it.

"Whaaat!?"

"Wow, Nina. Where did you get such strength?"

"It's heavy... but"

Nina swung the pickaxe at the wall.

With a screech, sparks flew and a part of the wall crumbled.

"Phew... That's all I can do."

Tien clapped.

"Nina is amazing. This pickaxe is a special model that only the strongest miners can handle."

But Tien picked up the pickaxe Nina had dropped with one hand and put it on his shoulder.

"Mr. Tien is amazing!"

"Whaaat!? With one hand!?"

"Interesting."

"Stand back a bit."

After confirming that the surprised Nina and the others had moved back,

"——Mu!"

He swung the pickaxe at the wall with one hand.

With a loud thud, the pickaxe embedded itself deeply into the wall and stopped.

The miners, who had been passing by, dropped their handkerchiefs and gloves and stared in amazement.

This was the true strength of the Moon Wolf race.