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Miners' Fixation
Green peaks spread before my eyes. The depression on the ground and the slopes were casting shadows there. There were thin white clouds in the distance. The blue sky above me was dazzling.
I had become a bird so many times and flown in the sky until now, but I had never flown such a long distance as this time. I tightly tied the worn-out undershirt and pants on my body first thing in the morning. After that, I moved completely naked to the top of the bay-side warehouse. That was the most dangerous stage. Then, I flew out through the open window. I also made sure to hook my clothes securely onto my leg, so I wouldn't forget. All that was left was to kinda fly to the northeast.
I felt uneasy since I didn’t know the precise location, but then I realized there was a man-made road beneath me. Besides, the sun was out, so I could roughly tell the general direction. I had no clock, and the distance was unclear, so there was a possibility I would arrive in a different city, but that couldn't be helped.
I had already passed through 3 settlement villages. But I did not consider them my destination. There were no defensive walls on those villages, and no magnificent mansion could be found. There was no way Gruvy would live in such places.
The road was still as straight as ever, but I’m starting to get worried. This, I was completely in the middle of a mountain, wasn't I? I didn't know whether I was already close to my destination or I had made a mistake somewhere.....
Once I crossed a peak, I could see a square block of stone in the distance that was clearly man-made. No, it might be premature joy anyway. There were other ruins of buildings in this mountain. Apparently, there were remains of the distant past scattered around.
But, as I got closer and closer, I realized that it was a structure that was still being well-maintained. There were no decorations, with unrefined, gray walls. In contrast with the pure white buildings in Pyris that give a feminine impression, the buildings here look like tanned men.
It was not ruins or anything like that. When I reached directly above the place, countless shadows of people came into view. So this was Korapt.
The appearance of the people walking down the road looked just like the appearance of the city. Although it was currently the height of summer, this place was slightly higher in elevation than the plain. The temperature was lower as a result, and maybe because of that, I noticed men walking around bare-chested. If it became hotter and the sunlight was stronger, you would not be able to endure it without putting on outerwear.
The inside of the city was completely different from Pyris. How should I put it, the city feels lifeless. There were no trees by the roadsides, and not many houses had flowers on their verandas. But perhaps they pay attention to practicality, the gray cobblestones were built solidly. Thanks to this, there were a few blind spots on the roads, but this was inconvenient to me. I wanted to go down there to a place hidden from view, if possible, and quickly get changed.
Finally, a square came into view. This was one particularly impressive building but it was probably the city hall or something. In the surrounding area, shorter buildings lined the street, with chairs and tables set here and there. It was something like a small open bar.
「Kiiーkiiiー……」
Suddenly, I heard a sharp cry right next to me. From a little distance away. Turning in that direction, there was a large, black bird about the same size as me. I clearly felt hostility from the bird.
I didn't really understand it, but it was probably claiming this territory. Suddenly, I looked around and saw the same kind of bird far away. Apparently, there were plenty of large birds like me around here.
Well, in this situation, I could not keep on choosing locations to land forever. A death match with the local birds was no joke. Not to mention my claws - which serve as weapons - were tied up carrying the clothes I needed when I turned back into a human.
I was a little worried, but I made a sharp descent to the back of a restaurant facing the square. The sound of flapping wings passed above me. It looked like it chose not to chase any further. Since they claim the territory above the city as their own, they were probably also fed on humans’ leftovers as well. But that was precisely why humans could see them as a target to be eliminated. To them, land was a place of food and danger.
Then I quickly look left and right. As long as there were no decisive witnesses, then everything’s fine. As long as no one saw the moment I transformed back. At this point, it was unavoidable if I was being seen as a naked pervert boy. Yosh, it’s fine.
Returning to my boy’s form, I quickly tried to unpack my belongings. It seemed I tied it too tightly. Things were not going well, and it’s frustrating. Finally, tearing off the string, I took out my pants first. I forced myself to put them on while glancing around at the surroundings. I also quickly put on my shirt and used the towel I had prepared to cover my head. Black hair should stand out in this place. If possible, I would like to not leave much of an impression. I wrapped it around my head with a cord.
Then I picked up the silver coin I brought with me as an expense for this survey. Unlike the 10 gold coins Khan entrusted me with, this was my own money.
Passing through the slightly dirty and narrow alley, I came out to the square. The whole area was paved with dull-colored cobblestone. Cleaning and repair were probably carried out regularly, but not all with the same frequency and attention to detail. The cobblestones in front of what looked to be the city hall were neatly set, with large stone slabs, but here, outside of the restaurant, it just looked like a rough patch of bricks. The gaps between stones had worn down and eroded, and it had become uneven underfoot. There was not enough room to bring shoes, so the soles of my feet hurt a bit.
I looked up at the sky. It’s just a little longer until the sun reaches its zenith. It was just before noon.
When it came to the price of salt, where should I start checking around? The quickest way was if the restaurant right in front of me provided information. They must have been stocking up on salt from a salt broker around here. Thinking like that, I turned toward the open bar in front of me.
Even though it was such an hour, there were men holding a wooden cup in one hand and making a lot of noise. It seemed that their drinks contained alcohol.
Honestly, I was not good at dealing with drunkards. I worked in the food service industry in my previous life, so I often had the opportunity to encounter this kind of situation, but I just couldn’t bring myself to like them. How could they be so impulsive? In the first place, you wouldn't be able to even taste the food if you got drunk.
No. Perhaps, they might unexpectedly be the key to my breakthrough. After all. Why would a restaurant owner give information to a dirty kid they had not seen before? Even if I tried to talk to them, I would just be mistaken for a beggar and chased away. But what if they were men who were in a good mood from drinking?
It wouldn't hurt to try. I made up my mind and started walking toward them.
「……no, I told you, the feeling is different」
「That’s exactly why I’m saying it’s for beginners, you know?」
「You won’t feel the reaction if you’re perfectly ready, y’know」
They were in a heated discussion about something. I wonder what it is?
「The tip is sharp and solid, so it should smoothly go through」
「Naーh, what I’m saying is, depending solely on that doesn’t work. The real thing is when going up against something you can’t possibly break, that really excites you」
Half of those men were topless. Moreover, the way their muscles were built was extraordinary. Their work clothes - which were originally white - were slightly grayish, probably stained with sweat and dirt. They looked like manual laborers at a glance.
「It won’t even be called work if it doesn’t break!」
「The fact that you’re calling that ‘work’ means that you’re still far from being a true pickaxist!」
Hm?
Pickaxist (Pickaxe Master)? What, was that?
As I tilted my head in confusion, my eyes met with one of the men in that group.
「Oh, you boy, come here for a second, just a while」
Uuh.....wasn’t this kinda bad pattern? But I didn't know what they would do if I went against them. I obediently approached their table. As soon as I came near, a strong smell of alcohol hit my nose.
「This. Try holding it. How is it, it’s a good tool, right」
The young man who was about to lose the argument handed me a pickaxe. It was a well-crafted wooden handle, paired with a metal part gleaming with black luster. It was quite heavy for a child like me.
「Yosh, now try swinging it」
「Eh? This?」
It’s a pickaxe, y’know? Where are you expecting me to dig in this city?
「I can be at your feet or anything. Try it」
Was that okay? Fine then. I’m just a kid anyway. These guys should take responsibility. I raised the pickaxe at that spot and drove it into the ground at my feet *saku*, it felt like gouging a cheesecake with a spoon. But the cobblestone at my feet was neatly shaved.
「Amazing」
What’s going on with this pickaxe? Wasn’t this quite sharp? If you were not careful, you could probably even cut through metal armor with it, couldn’t you?
「Right? It’s good, right?」
The young man who had made me hold the pickaxe said that with a self-satisfied look on his face.
But, the slightly older man sitting opposite him did not seem to like it.
「Normally, you shouldn’t let other people touch your partner you have used for many years that easily.....」
He pointed his own pickaxe with his chin. It seemed that he wanted me to try his pickaxe this time. Was it really okay to scrape off the stones in the square like this?
I took it.....and almost cried out.
What a feel from the pickaxe. The handle of the pickaxe - which has been used many times for a long time - feels like it was sticking to the palm of my hand. It’s not beautiful or anything but how should I describe this feeling?
Then, I raise the pickaxe up. At this point, there was another little surprise. My back suddenly straightens up. And, for some reason, I couldn't feel the pickaxe’s weight. This was.
I swung it down. It stopped at my feet with a thump. It would not even dig into the cobblestone, just like it did earlier. But the shock that reverberated through my entire body wasn’t unpleasant at all. And, the cobblestones at my feet were cracked in a neat circle. Even though I didn’t plan to put in that much strength when swinging.
「Hou」
The middle-aged man who had given me his pickaxe let out a soft murmur of amazement.
「You’ve got some skills there」
「Ha, haa」
What do you mean, I’ve 'got some skills'? I really didn't understand what he meant by that.
「So」
The young man asked with a desperate look on his face.
「Which one was better?」
「Eh?」
「The pickaxe! Which was better?」
Eh.....what should I do?
All that I knew was that both of them seemed to be amazing tools. The pickaxe earlier was a little too heavy, but that was probably because I was a kid. The sharpness was terrific. In contrast, while the pickaxe I just used after the first one was not that sharp, I naturally straightened my back when using it. It was probably a well-balanced tool.
Now, the problem was not that. No matter how I answered, I’d ended up getting involved in a quarrel.
Just as I began to let my eyes wander around with that thought, I heard the sound of someone clapping.
「Okay okay, that’s enough, let it be. Don’t bother the kid」
A large, imposing middle-aged man beside me came to my aid. I’m glad.
But still, who were these people?
「U, umm」
「Ou」
「Everyone, who might you all be?」
「Who? Who might we be! Hahaha!」
The atmosphere eased up a little. It felt like the argument from before was put aside.
「We are, pickaxist」
「Pi, pickaxi……?」
「You, the kid won’t understand if you put it like that」
The middle-aged man turned toward me and actually gave me an easy-to-understand explanation.
「We are, you see, the miners of this city」
I see. That made sense.
But, why were you all drinking during the day?
Seemed like that question showed on my face.
「Oh, we’re not just miners, y’know. You might say that we are first-rate miners」
「First-rate, is it」
「Coz we know the best place to dig, where should we go to avoid collapse」
Was that so? They were not low-ranking worker slaves. Of course, manual laborers probably did not have a high social status, but even so, they were a group of people with special occupational skills.
At that moment, the young man from earlier cut in.
「And above all, I have this pickaxe」
Right. It was awfully sharp. But what about it then?
「Come to think of it, that, you called yourself pickax.....ist, right?」
「Yeah. We won’t falter no matter how solid the bedrock is. We will definitely dig them up, wherever it is as long as we have our partner with us. That’s a pickaxist」
「Is, is that so」
The middle-aged man also nodded, arms crossed.
「The pickaxe is, so to speak, our pride. We can’t help getting worked up」
Was that how it was? They could just normally say they were miners, but instead they intentionally called themselves some nonsensical title like pickaxist, I guess they had their fixations.
The middle-aged man said, patting my shoulder.
「From the way I see it, you have the talent to become a pickaxist」
「Heh? Ha?」
「If you ever happen to go to Seripasia's direction, it might be a good idea to visit our sacred place」
「Ye, yes」
You’re kidding. My goal was everlasting youth and longevity. It was unthinkable for me to spend most of my life digging holes.
……things were developing so suddenly, I nearly forgot my goal of coming here.
「Ah, umm」
「Hm? What’s the matter?」
「Everyone, so, you’re mining here in Korapt, right?」
「That’s right」
「What kind of things are you digging?」
Were they mining rock salt, for example? If so, then it was an out.
「It’s lukewarm here. So it’s just a normal iron vein here」
「Apparently, there used to be a mythril ore vein here. But it seems to have dried up」
「Is there anything else? Like, rock salt」
「Rock salt?」
When I said ‘rock salt’, the men’s expression darkened.
「Do you think we could dig something so weak!」
「Hii!?」
Why were you getting angry? I don’t understand what’s going on.
「Now now, it’s just a kid. Calm down」
Jiisan, thank you.
「You, where are you from, kid? You’re probably not from around here, huh」
「Ah, yes」
As expected, it got exposed. I asked whether they mined rock salt in a place where there was no rock salt, after all.
「I’m a merchant apprentice. I came to Korapt with my master」
「I see. This is your first time?」
「Yes」
Yosh, they were convinced. Well, it was true this was my first time coming here, as for my master coming to Korapt, it was soon. No problem.
「Well, I, I mean. Umm.....an adult told me before. People who do tiring work, love salt, they said. So, that’s why」
「Hoho.....I see」
Looking closely, there were small plates with salt on the table. They were manual laborers after all, so they often sweat. Naturally, they would need to replenish not just water, but also salt.
「It is true that we all like salty food. But, salt is not cheap around here」
「Is that so?」
「It is. But the taverns around here are so stingy, they charge you 2 copper coins just to serve a little plate of salt.....it’s not even a good quality rock salt」
Well. I wondered how much that would weigh. And the price.....
「Hahha! What a strange kid!」
The large, imposing middle-aged man spoke up.
「Ah」
That’s right. My appearance looked like a 6-year-old kid. People would think of it as weird if I said something adult-like.
But, I just needed to get information out of them.
「Umm, that is. Actually, I’m learning and was told to go out to check on the prices」
「You’re already a proper merchant despite being so small, huh! That’s tough!」
「I see now, so that’s why you came to taverns that have salt. What a clever kid」
The miners were looking at - the currently-small - me with lukewarm eyes.
The young spoke, a little reserved.
「As for price....isn’t it better to look at it wholesale?」
Would they give me that information, I wonder? I vigorously turned around.
「There should be a counter for the brokers in the north of the city. We bring our ores there, but they also have a food vendor over there」
「That’s right」
I’m glad.
It would be better if I could ask around the market price from the broker properly after this.
At that moment, the middle-aged man cut in.
「You should be able to find it going straight north from the square. But, you’ll end up in some strange places if you stray off the road. It would be better to have an adult accompany you」
「Yes」
They were people I didn’t know, but in the end, they told me what I wanted to know. I bowed my head to them and left straight to the north.
Still, it was a mistake not to prepare shoes with me just because they were heavy. The cobblestones at my feet were basking in the sun, gradually warming them up. With such weather, won’t it become unbearable before long?
After walking for a bit, I thought it was really impossible to walk barefoot there, so I decided to turn onto a side street to find a store that sells sandals or something. But this might be a bad decision.
After I received 5 copper coins for the change and looked around my surroundings, I realized I had lost track of my exact location. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
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