Chapter 67

★ Six Heavens Mine ★

The "Six Heavens Mine" in the Aachenbach Duchy of the Keithsgran Federation had collapsed four years ago due to a slave uprising and a dragon attack. However, within a year, it was back in operation with new slaves and new adventurers. This was largely due to the lord's decision to raise the buyback price for天赋珠玉 (tianfu zhuyu, a type of precious gem). Adventurers and merchants, smelling the potential for profit, gathered, and now the mining of these gems was more active than ever.

"Delicious, so delicious, you can't even find such tasty skewers in the capital!"

"Any adventurers free to go down tomorrow for ten days?"

"Slaves, over here. Don't dawdle."

In the past, the entrance to the mine had a large hollow space with a hole at the top, but now it was completely collapsed. In this wide space, there were several dormitories, general stores, restaurants, taverns, and blacksmiths and craftsmen had set up their shops. However, the sheer cliffs on either side remained.

"It's like a fish drive...," one slave thought, looking up at the sky. This slave had grown up in a fishing village and had experience with the method of driving fish into a net by creating a "V" shape with the nets and splashing from the outside. To him, the people being drawn into the mine felt like they were being driven in.

Looking around, he saw many young male and female slaves with blank expressions. He had heard that in the past, a large number of these young slaves were mobilized to discover the "tanuki hole" where many high-star 天賦珠玉 were found.

"I've never even seen a three-star one..."

The slave, who had only recently come to the "Six Heavens Mine," thought this. Despite his short time there, his once sun-tanned skin from the fishing village had already turned pale. He only saw sunlight at dawn and dusk, as the rest of the time was spent underground in the mine.

"Is that true?"

"Yeah. Long-distance communication doesn't spread false information."

"But... a monster large enough to destroy a country..."

A miner with a pointed helmet was talking, and the slave could hear the conversation.

"Even if it's a country, the Lev Magic Empire is a small nation, and it's only half-destroyed. Didn't you know it was a small country? Well, a country that builds airships is usually considered a major power."

"But it's not related to the 天賦珠玉, right?"

"No, the incident four years ago was caused by the 天賦珠玉 and the dragon. They're just warning us to be on guard."

The slave didn't understand most of the words, but he could sense the uneasy atmosphere.

"I want to see the sea..."

His fellow slaves seemed to enjoy this environment, where the risk of death was low and food was provided regularly. They were even given pocket money and allowed to buy snacks from the stalls. For young people who had lived in poverty, this was considered a "blessed" situation.

"I miss the smell of the sea... I used to find it annoying every day."

But this slave longed for the sea he had once dived in. The "Six Heavens Mine" passed another peaceful day.

★ Keithsgran Federation, Capital Valhalla ★

A gaunt old man in a heavy red mantle and a silver-tipped staff. This was Gephert, the ruler of the vast Keithsgran Federation. Four years ago, he experienced a free fall from heaven to hell, from the discovery of a six-star 天賦珠玉 to the collapse of the "Six Heavens Mine" and the loss of the gem. Since then, Gephert had become even thinner, with his white beard and eyebrows grown long. Many wished for his death, especially his son, the crown prince, who was already over 70 and had grandchildren and great-grandchildren, with a great-great-grandchild on the way. The line of succession was long, but:

"Fool!"

Gephert, as usual, was energetically scolding his subordinates.

"Invading and subjugating the half-destroyed Lev is a ridiculous suggestion. Understand, the importance of that country lies not in its land but in its knowledge and the hero weapons discovered in the dungeon."

"Hai..."

The reprimanded subordinate bowed his head and withdrew. The conference room, bathed in summer sunlight, was comfortably cool thanks to the air conditioning magic device. The representatives of the federation sat on either side of the long table, staring at the withered king in the birthday seat. Early in the morning, a report came in about the appearance of a giant monster in the Lev Magic Empire, and detailed reports were now pouring in. The Keithsgran Federation, being a federal state, was not a monolithic entity, but with Gephert in control of the member states, it was solid as long as he was alive. Therefore:

"I'm not ready to die yet."

It was understandable that Gephert thought this.

"So, it seems almost certain that it's connected to the 'Underworld,' right?"

"That's correct. There doesn't seem to be a 'Mediator,' so it's an unexpected event outside the 'Covenant.'"

Sitting to the right of the king was another old man, but he was muscular. He wore a purple robe like a mage, had no beard, and a completely bald head. His eyes, like polished gemstones, scanned the room.

"Minister, is such a thing possible?"

"It's not impossible. The 'Covenant' governs everything related to the 天賦珠玉, but not everything in the world. There have been confirmed cases of individuals crossing over from the 'Underworld' to our world."

"Like La-Feitsa, who created the 'Nine Emotions Dungeon'?"

"Whether it was planned or accidental, the situation suggests that. We have no interest in the 'Underworld.' Ha ha ha ha."

The minister laughed, but no one else in the room joined in. Information about the 'Covenant' was hidden—many didn't even know what it was, and trying to find out was not allowed. Thus, the king and his close advisors monopolized the information. The federation representatives only knew that it was related to the 天賦珠玉, but nothing more. They didn't know when or with whom the 'Covenant' was made.

"What do you think about the reports of a large number of monsters descending from the sky over Lev?"

The reports stated that after repelling the giant monster, the red sky remained, and monsters continued to pour down.

"That's simple, Your Majesty. The 'Underworld' is in a state of crisis."

"Is it possible to seal it?"

"It's difficult but not impossible. If the 'Nine Emotions Dungeon' created a 'hole' between the two worlds, studying it might reveal a way to 'seal' the hole."

"Hmm... I want that knowledge."

"Ha ha, I thought you would say that, Your Majesty. Knowledge is power."

Gephert turned to his left.

"Minister of Military Affairs. As the supreme commander of the federation, how long would it take to gather 100,000 cavalry without using airships?"

This was a well-built man with a Kaiser beard and a noble title, a man of distinguished lineage.

"Hmm... Even with urgency, it would take more than three months. We are entering the harvest season..."

"What if we use airships?"

"One month."

"Very well. Let's do it."

On that day, Gephert decided to provide military support to the Lev Magic Empire.