The mine stretched itself further into darkness, only a gem-like stone and a lamp lighting our way as we trudged along, our footsteps echoed like water dripping on a pond. The ground was soft, probably due to the moist. The air stung but not as much that would cause any illness.

“It’s so hot in here…” Elird pulled the collar of his fancy obsidian suit. An expensive-looking sword hanged on his waist, I feared that his sword was more for display rather than for actual combat. He was wearing something you would absolutely never see in a wanderer and personally, it felt like I was being mocked more than anything.

“Don’t complain now, Elird.” While not so ladylike, Fiss wore his uniform with an utmost pride. The uniform was made with extravagant silk and leather that only affluent people could afford and with designs that were so intricate, it could make you dizzy. The bow and quiver on her back somehow gave her an air of status. A befitting woman, indeed.

“Hey, Terrin,” Takana called out. “We should just ditch them. Those kids, they don’t know anything about what our life looks like. Look at the way they dress! We’re in a mine, not some rich people’s party.” he whispered emphatically.

“I get where you’re coming from but we can’t just leave them.” I sighed. “Let’s just finish this and hopefully, we won’t see them again.”

The mine had holes here and there that lead to a ventilation shaft. The mine was about thirty meters wide and the height was about twelve meters high. The support pillars were placed on the sides, to prevent caveins. Overall, the state of the mine looked relatively safe for the workers.

The mine was big and it was easy to get lost. On the upper floors, there were signs but on the lower floors, they must have been removed because we didn’t see any.

As we descend deeper on the mine, thanks to the lamp and the gem-like stone, we were able to somehow see through the dark mine. Scattered broken equipment and carts littered the ground and with each every step, dust was there to say hello to us.

“Woah, this place is beautiful!” Fuyuki exclaimed as she gazed her eyes on the shining green crystals. We were in a big open dome inside the mine, with the green crystals devouring the darkness that surrounded us before. They were some of the crystals that inhabited this mine. They were practically the same size as Takana and by the looks of it, they could be pretty valuable.

As we wandered around looking at the crystals, it looked like someone wasn’t too keen in being here.

“Hey,” Elird scowled as he looked at me. “I’m tired of waiting. Where are the monsters!?” his angry shout made me step back a bit. I wasn’t scared, just surprised.

“Don’t shout at him. You’re not his boss.” Merry quickly grabbed the collar of Elird, causing it to crumple. I wasn’t blaming Merry but the suit looked so well that now it looked like it was just a waste.

“Yeah, don’t shout at him!” Risa backed Merry up as she rode on the back of her. Even though I was glad that they stood up for me, they didn’t have to.

Elird slapped Merry’s hand away. “I am his boss,” he looked at me with a condescending glare. It looked so natural that for a second I thought his face before was just a façade. “I compensated you, have I not? We do what we want and then there would be no issue.”

“Elird,” a stern look blasted on Elird’s face. She then slapped Elird with her two hands, causing him to flinch from the pain. “You’re becoming like your father again. We’re here for a reason, remember?” Fiss’ words broke through as Elird arched his brows and took deep breaths.

Reason?

“Better?”

“Better.”

“Enough drama!” Takana shouted, the gem on his kite shield glowed while holding his colossal claymore. “I hear enemies coming!”

The noise earlier must have attracted them.

Merry put Risa down and draw her sword from the scabbard. The rest of the party took Risa and went to the rear, including the two newcomers. I took out my dagger from my sheath.

In the darkness, inside a tunnel, where the green crystals couldn’t reach, silhouettes could be seen, making the two newcomers gulped. As the silhouettes slowly to move forward, my hand tightened on the grip, the humidity of the mine made me sweaty as I feel them slowly falling through my cheeks.

Here we go again.

“GYAAAA!” Takana fearlessly charged forward. The deafening roar and heavy thud made by Takana occupied the dome. In a few moments, Merry and I would be following him. But then the sounds stopped. “What the heck!?”

Suddenly, Takana was swarmed by small beings. I’d seen a rough sketch of them earlier at the guild, one of the monsters that we hadn’t encountered before. Their long, thin and fragile-looking eight legs crawled forward and their strange body looked relatively similar to a spider.

“Wow!” as usual, Fuyuki looked at it with admiration. “What are they!? They look so weird and cute!”

“What the hell is wrong with you, woman!?” Takana shouted as he kicked one of them. “They look like aliens!”

“Well, we are from, you know, so everything is aliens to us. Tee-hee.” Fuyuki let out her tongue. Well, she was right albeit it looked a bit like spiders.

“You dumb woman! Now’s no time for joke!”

They didn’t attack or do anything to Takana. Actually, they just passed by him and instead went to the crystals. They attached themselves to the crystals and using their legs, they started hammering at the bottom of the crystals.

“Guys,” I shouted, my voice sounded hectic. “They’re trying to get these crystals! Don’t let them!” as I stabbed one of the slane, their black blood painted my face.

“Hey!” Takana called out to the two newcomers as he hit one of the slane. “What are you standing there for? Kill them!”

“No.” Elird shook his head. “I refuse to do menial tasks.”

“Menial!? Why, you little —“

As Takana was about to say something, we heard a familiar sound. The growl of kasaks appeared before Takana. Just like the miners here, these kasaks were carrying pickaxes and pushing minecarts. There were probably about a dozen of them. They didn’t run, probably because they thought we were outnumbered or because their boss was with them.

“That was too close!” Takana said as he blocked the claw of kasaks. He then used Pound to attract two other kasaks and proceeded to swiftly cut their body in half. “You’re big, but not as big as me!” then a huge kasak appeared before him. This one must be either an overseer or a guard. Takana found his match.

“Sal, Femel, Mo, Rak. Ice Shard!” Fuyuki casted Ice Shard. Three shards went flying and managing to take down two of the kasaks, one an instant death while the other one lying on the floor, shrieking.

Kasaks passed by as Takana handled the big one. Merry intercepted them with her new sword and managed to take three down without even taking a sweat. Well, that was why they were called the weakest.

One swung his claws at me and I dodged it by twisting to the left and then slicing on his left leg. The kasak shriek as he fell facing the ground and leaving his neck exposed for me to stab it. Another one attacked me but it didn’t take long for me to kill him.

Two kasaks passed by me and attacked the rear. Kihana readied her staff in order to protect Risa and Fuyuki but before the kasaks could make their way there, they were stopped by the newcomers.

“I-I’ll take you on!” Elird held his sword. I took back what I said. It was a fine piece of sword. It looked beautiful and elegant that I felt bad using it just to slay a mere kasak. But it didn’t matter if the weapon was great when the holder was visibly shaking.

The kasaks roared aggressively at Elird. Fiss was behind him, pulling the string of her bow as natural as breathing and fired it away. The arrow hit one on the kasaks on the shoulder. As impressive as it was, it only made the kasaks more aggressive as it decided to attack Elird.

The kasak swung his hand and its menacingly sharp claws dawned on Elird. With a clash, Elird blocked it but made him lose a few grounds.

“How’s that?” Elird celebrated but it was too soon. The kasak then threw a barrage of attack that Elird couldn’t block nor dodge. In an instant, the boy who wore elegant clothes looked like a vagabond as his clothes were shredded to pieces and his body painted with his own blood as he screamed painfully.

“Elird!” Fiss fired another arrow, this time hitting the head of the kasak that was practically killing Elird. As the other kasak was going to attack Elird in its friend’s place, Kihana defended Elird and smacked the kasaks on his head, making it easier for me to kill it.

“Elird, are you okay!?” Fiss went on his four as he looked Elird as blood gushed out from his wounds.

The looked on Elird face was pure horror as he knew this could kill him. “I don’t want to die! Help me!” he screamed, the pain on his voice was palpable.

“Get out of the way!” Kihana put her hands together. ““May Shaina's sacred mercies envelop you…Heal!” Kihana repeatedly used her healing spell to cure Elird since Heal could only be used on small and mostly non-lethal wounds.

“Did you guys see me!? Men, I killed that one so easy, look at what I — what the heck happened to him?” Takana said.

“Can’t you read the room, you damn monkey?”

You need to read the room, too, Risa. Stop smiling already.

*

We pulled out the claws of the kasaks and took the slane with us. According to the guild, the slane’s legs could be smelted into a pickaxe due to their strong and tough durability while their flesh could be fed to the Norjis, although I’d heard that it could be also cooked in a delicious meal. They sure knew how to use every part of them.

“We’ll be going out first. If things turn out okay tomorrow, we’ll see you here again.” Fiss bowed while the expressionless Elird just started walking. The face he made looked so familiar.

“Damn, he sure got the scare of his life.” Takana said. “But wait a minute, did she just say we’ll meet again!? I don’t want to work for those rich people anymore, it makes me miserable!”

“Yeah, I thought we’re done already. I guess five gold coins is a lot for one trip.” I looked at Kihana. “You okay?”

“…Yes, I just used a lot to heal him.” Kihana’s drained face and ragged breaths made her looked sleepy.

“All right. You three go back to the inn. We’ll take this and sell it.”

“Men, I wanted to go to the tavern but of course, Kihana’s more important!”

“Roger that!”