"Why did you stop?"
Gauss glanced back and saw Alya standing still, her face shifting from green to purple. He asked in confusion.
"Just so we're clear, I'm definitely not eating dirt."
"Neither am I." Gauss shook his head with a laugh. "What do you think about all day?"
The two of them walked up to the mound of earth.
Up close, the little hill of dirt didn't smell particularly bad. It gave off only the faintly sour scent of fresh soil. The earth was dark brown, almost black, and looked exceptionally fertile.
"This soil seems perfect for growing vegetables. Too bad we're not farmers."
As he spoke, Gauss took two Small Shovels from the tool kit in his Storage Bag.
There was nothing valuable to see on the surface, but it had been an Elite Monster, so they had to dig around and see if there was anything special.
The two of them immediately began searching through the little hill.
After just a few shovelfuls, a crystal split in two emerged from the dirt.
It was clear and translucent, with a faint blue sheen, like a gemstone or a piece of crystal.
"That should sell for a good price."
Gauss cast Identify on it.
[Cracked Mud Statue Demon Core] Level: Common Magic Item (White-grade) Description: This demon core was once the Mud Statue's heart and power source. Though it is now a remnant, it still holds some value for magical research. It contains a faint trace of Earth Elemental magic and can serve as an auxiliary material for certain minor magical rituals or alchemy, especially for spells and applications involving earth, defense, or shaping. A skilled craftsman could also polish it into a common magical accessory. Its value might have been higher if it were still intact.