I Grabbed the Tyrant’s Heart - Chapter 175
“Could you lend me a hand digging this mineral, Mister Tolby?”
“That’s impossible. You mentioned it’s imbued with magic. How could we break it with a pickaxe?”
“I was under the impression that dwarves could easily handle such tasks. You do manage magic stones, don’t you?”
Tolby seemed at a loss for words. Dwarves are renowned for their exceptional skills in mining and processing minerals.
“This one contains a higher concentration of magic than other magic stones, making it indestructible.”
I stepped in, hoping to preserve the mineral.
“Besides, unlike magic stones that can be held in two hands, this one is too large. It looks like we’ll need to extract it whole from the cave wall. Don’t you think, Mister Tolby?”
“Hmm hmm, you’re right.”
The researchers turned back to the white mineral, looking visibly disappointed.
“It’s Tolby, not Mister Tolby, half-elf.”
“Please, call me Euel or Euseniel, not half-elf, Tolby.”
“Puhaha, I understand.”
The normally stoic dwarf was surprisingly engaging, causing Ruby’s eyes to widen.
“Tolby, you’re not falling for Euel, are you? That would be problematic.”
“What are you talking about?”
Tolby, who seemed familiar with Ruby, snorted, and his brown mustache bristled.
“Do you think I fall for just anyone?”
“No. But Euel is quite popular, you know.”
Ruby’s unwavering statement made me feel a bit embarrassed.
“That’s not true, Ruby.”
“What do you mean? Even I find Euel attractive.”
“Uh… thanks.”
“Gael explicitly asked me to ensure no one gets too close to Euel.”
After selling me out to Tess?
I had to come without having the time to ask Gael what exactly she had discussed with Tess. I’ll have to deal with her when I get back.
In reality, Ruby and I had nothing particular to do, so we stood on the edge of the cave.
“Euel, you look the same whether you’re being kind or indifferent, which confuses people.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Euel doesn’t show any expression whether you like someone or want to ignore them.”
“Is that so?”
It was news to me.
“So people who don’t know you well might think you’re interested in them. Try to show a bit of dislike.”
“That would just stir up gossip.”
When I asked if managing expressions is part of a noble’s skill set, Ruby sighed lightly.
Despite arriving at dawn, the researchers showed no signs of leaving until dusk. Those who came to see the diamond ore had already left with the family members Ruby had brought.
Ruby, Tolby and I sat outside the cave, chatting side by side.
“Have you heard rumors about dragons living in the Kirik mountains? Are they true?”
“It’s true.”
Tolby, who was fifty-two years old this year, surprisingly knew my mother. He had been helped by her when he was a child being chased by monsters. Perhaps that’s why he was particularly kind to me.
“I heard dragons don’t like intruders in their territory, but is it safe for us here?”
“They set up barriers around their territories, so the space we occupy is effectively separated from theirs. We’re not really invading their territory.”
He seemed to know a lot about dragons.
“It’s difficult to break through a dragon’s barrier. Unless intentionally breached, it’s almost impossible to accidentally enter.”
“That’s why if someone enters the barrier, they are considered an intruder?”
“Right. Unless you’re really unlucky, there’s almost no chance of getting in there accidentally.”
The night in the forest, with tall trees obscuring the sky, was more serene than expected.
“It reminds me of Guana Mountain.”
“You’ve been there too?”
“Yes.”
“It’s hard to get out once you’re in there. You’re lucky to have survived.”
Tolby shook his head and shivered, which seemed to be a signal for Weathering to emerge from the cave.
“We’re pulling out for today.”
His brown eyes twinkled behind his glasses.
“It seems impossible to mine that mineral.”
His voice was full of regret, and I felt relieved.
“It looks like we’ll need to continue observing, but we’re under-equipped for that. I underestimated the situation. We’ll need to come down first and then come back.”
“Since it’s dark now, shall we rest for a bit before leaving?”
“Sounds good.”
The cave was comfortable and spacious, making it a good resting spot, and the imperial guards took turns keeping watch.
Time passed smoothly, and the faint morning light was welcome.
Since I had nothing to do here, I considered returning to the capital. I wouldn’t stop Weathering and the others from finding out about the mineral, but I wouldn’t reveal anything either.
I was worried about Tess.
“Everyone, get back into the cave!”
Before we could take a few steps, a sinister sound of rustling trees began.
Whiiiingg! A fierce sound, as if being cut with a saw blade.
The cave’s entrance that had been hidden by towering trees, seemed to wait for our group to enter before starting to fall.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“The cave isn’t collapsing, is it?”
One of the researchers muttered in fear.
“It won’t collapse.”
Ruby responded with a reassuring tone.
“There was a landslide above us before, and nothing happened.”
Her explanation seemed to increase the researcher’s fear instead. They huddled closer to their colleague.
Whvvooo!
The world outside the cave blurred into an opaque whiteness, making it impossible to see even what was right in front of us.
“What’s this?”
“A magic storm.”
The wind created by the storm roared towards the cave entrance, so we had to retreat further inside.
Ruby, Tolby, and the County’s knights were not particularly startled as they had seen it before, whereas the researchers shivered with fear. The imperial guards appeared tense but composed.
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