Mine

Mine

Demon County was only a small county town. The strongest people there were merely Level One, while Hellhound had originally been Level Seven. Though he was badly wounded now, he was still not something a Level One knight, warrior, or wizard could handle. Here, he could slowly recover without rushing. The only thing that gave him any sense of urgency was that the Magic Crystals absolutely could not be discovered too early. Otherwise, there would be nothing left for him.

If he could confirm the location tonight, then tomorrow he would absorb all the Magic Crystals from the ore they could dig up, without letting them notice.

Magic Crystals were concentrated masses of energy from heaven and earth. Higher life forms could absorb them directly, and they were immensely significant to his recovery.

The little bit of Magic Crystal he had absorbed that afternoon was not even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth, but at least it had helped him recover a little.

Hellhound leaped through the mountains, quickly making his way from the riverbank to the vicinity of the mining site. With his spiritual power, he easily sensed the faint fluctuations of demonic energy hidden among the mountains.

He circled the area and observed it for a long time before selecting several spots. He stood there without moving, but his spiritual power had already penetrated underground, probing the trace Magic Crystal impurities beneath the surface and absorbing all the elements within them.

He was a Level Seven creature. Although his strength had now fallen to around Level One, this sort of thing was still effortless for him.

After working at it for most of the night, he still had not finished. But dawn was approaching, and he did not dare continue. He could only pray that they would not discover it too soon, so he could absorb more for a few more days.

As Hellhound headed out, he remained excited. What he had gained over the night was enough to match three months of recovery outside. It was practically a windfall. That Dole really was a lucky star—no, a super lucky star.

The return trip did not take much time. By the time he climbed over the city wall and quietly slipped back into the room, Dole had not even woken up.

Watching the sleeping Dole, Hellhound Aoduo lay in his filthy dog bed and slowly refined the elemental energy. He wondered whether he should help Dole with something. What future could there be in a mine? Dole's aptitude was not bad. Perhaps he could guide him into the world of the professions?

At that thought, Aoduo hesitated.

The world of the professions was good. One could pursue truth, gain powerful strength, and rule over everything. But it was also a world filled with terror, slaughter, and intrigue. One careless mistake could lead to eternal damnation. Just like himself, one could die at any time, anywhere.

If he led Dole down this path, the consequences might be beyond measure.

Humans were a hardworking and gifted race. Most humans had aptitude, yet only a small number could become lofty practitioners. Even fewer could become respected warriors or feared wizards. This was the result of the human upper class keeping control. The world was like this; it never bent to human will.

Given the life Dole lived now, becoming a practitioner should make things much better for him.

Aoduo was no longer the Hellhound he had once been. He had learned to think like a human, to consider more things. After dying once, he finally understood what those old elders had said before.

This world was one where big fish ate little fish.

Just then, he saw Dole's body twitch. He quickly pretended to sleep. Dole was about to wake up.

A moment later, Dole woke, washed up, and headed out.

Another day had begun.

Dole felt full of strength again today. The muscles on his body seemed to have grown another size, and he felt as though he had endless energy. That had been unimaginable before.

Dole's greatest wish was the same as that of most young people: to become a warrior, or a knight, wielding a sharp longsword, carrying a thick shield, and riding a tall, imposing white horse. It all looked so magnificent.

Of course, that was only wishful thinking. Only the children of wealthy families and nobles could become people like that. It was impossible for him, and unlikely for anyone around him. Even a child like Aoduo could hardly become a lofty knight.

Dole normally did not think about such things. But as he left the city, he saw two knights at the gate and could not help feeling envious.

Knights were different from ordinary soldiers. Knights possessed special powers, while soldiers were just like ordinary people such as them, with only a few fighting skills. Knights, warriors, and wizards were all the same in that regard. They were people far above him, beyond Dole's reach.

The two knights wore gleaming silver-white full-body armor that covered them completely. They sat atop enormous horses, seeming to be waiting for someone.

Dole only looked a few more times before withdrawing his gaze, his heart full of envy.

By then, large streams of people had begun leaving through the city gate. They poured toward the various mines around the area to begin another day's work.

Passing through the market, Dole spent one copper coin on three vegetable buns. He ate as he walked, and soon spotted Big Brother Dodu. The two exchanged smiles and easily entered the mine together.

It was the same as usual today: breaking down ore and sifting for gold. That made Dole happy, because it meant another two copper coins in earnings.

But as his strength grew, another feeling began to rise within him. Why did he have to let Aoduo and the others rob him? What gave them the right? They had attended a few martial arts classes, but they were not as strong as him. As long as he caught them off guard, he could easily knock them down. Why did he have to be robbed every day and starve like Dog Aoduo? Was it just because their fathers were supervisors?

A strange emotion had arisen in Dole's heart, and it slowly fermented there.

Breaking rocks and sifting gold ore, the morning passed quickly. But Dole noticed that there were far fewer of those little white sparkling stones today. After an entire morning, he had found only three or four, nowhere near as many as yesterday. Each stone was about the size of a little fingernail. What were three or four worth?

Still, he felt that these little stones were becoming increasingly close to him, as though they had some great use.

The feeling was strange and wondrous. Thinking of how Dog Aoduo had eaten several hundred of these stones yesterday afternoon, Dole felt unsettled.

Could Dog Aoduo be no ordinary dog? At that thought, countless fantasies filled Dole's mind. The books he had read and the stories he had heard gave rise to one magical idea after another in his heart.

His hands, however, did not slow down. Following his usual pace, he finished his work.

By the time work ended, he had only a dozen or so white crystalline ores in his pocket.

There were many things on his mind, but he still followed their agreement and gave the extra two copper coins to Dodu to take out. Otherwise, Aoduo would come rob him again later.

Aoduo did not only rob him. There were several other children like Dole, alone and without anyone to rely on, and he robbed them all. He did it every day. Whoever resisted, he beat. Those children did not dare resist too much, fearing injury. If they could not come to work the next day, it would not simply be a matter of being hurt—they would starve to death.

Someone had resisted before. He had been beaten half to death, then missed work for several days and starved to death. That was a typical example.