Chuan Wenwu spent some time giving Elhart a brief account of what he had encountered after heading to Rude Village.
When he learned that a new vein of ore had been discovered in Rude Village's mining area, which had nearly exhausted its reserves, Elhart froze for a moment before smiling in relief. "So they can still make a living off that mountain? That's good, that's good..."
"What's wrong? You don't look all that keen on the villagers continuing to mine for a living," Chuan Wenwu asked curiously.
Elhart shook his head. "Just feeling a little sentimental. Having seen what's out there, I don't really want the village's young people to stay cooped up underground, mining without ever seeing daylight. I want them to be bold enough to venture out."
"I actually have something to say about that. When I went down into the mine with them, I chatted with them about why they didn't become adventurers, see the wider world, and build up their strength... Most of the villagers were content with things as they were. They didn't want to face unknown risks or potentially life-threatening monsters. They just wanted to stay in the village and live out their lives in peace and safety, far away from those dangerous monsters."
Chuan Wenwu continued, "In a peaceful, prosperous age, that would naturally be a wonderful wish. But given the situation right now... Boss, do you know when the next Calamity Wave will arrive?"
"Soon. In about a week, I'd say," Elhart replied.
"Seven days? Then we really don't have much time. That's exactly the problem: this world has somehow fallen under the threat of a disaster, and simply seeking peace in some secluded corner is probably going to be very difficult. If this so-called 'Calamity Wave' really has the power to