/
Vol 3: Epilogue 1
** Sixth Mine **
The Sixth Mine in the Achenbach Dudedom, Keith Gran Federation, was destroyed by a riot of slaves and a dragon attack four years ago. But just a year after, it was restarted with new slaves and new adventurers.
This is largely due to the fact that the Duke raised the purchase price of skill orbs. Adventurers and merchants who sniffed the scent of gold gathered in the dukedom, and now the excavation of skill orbs is more active than ever before.
「It’s so delicious! You can’t find such delicious skewers even in the capital city.」
「Are there any free adventurers?! We’ll be diving for 10 days starting tomorrow!」
「Slaves, come over here. Don’t dally around.」
There used to be a huge cavern at the entrance of the mine in the past, and only the top part had a hole in the ceiling, but now it has completely collapsed. In this vast space, there were several lodgings, several general stores, restaurants, taverns, and blacksmiths and manufacturing craftsmen.
However, the left and right cliffs remained, so–
(It’s like a dolphin drive hunt
)
One of the slaves looked up at the sky and thought so. The slave grew up in a fishing village, so he had experienced fishing by stretching nets in a wide semi-circle shape and driving the fish into a corner by kicking up splashes of water from the outside.
The people who came here were sucked into the hole called the mine, and it felt like those people were “driven into” it, just like dolphins.
Looking around, there were many slave boys and slave girls with absentminded expressions. He heard that a skill orb with high stars was discovered in a “Racoon hole”, which caused the mobilization of a large number of child slaves.
(I’ve never seen more than 3-stars though
)
This slave, who arrived at the Sixth Mine not so long ago, thought so. Even though it has only been a short period, his skin which was black in the fishing village had already turned pale. Since he only comes in contact with sunlight at dawn and dusk, and the rest of the time diving into the mine, it may only be natural.
「——Is that true?」
「——Yeah. They wouldn’t be sending fake information over long-distance communication, right?」
「——But
A huge monster which destroyed an entire country, huh
」
The slave overheard the conversation between pointy-helmet wearing mine soldiers.
「——But the Lev Magic Empire is a small country. So it would only be partial destruction when compared to our country. Nn, you didn’t know that it was a small country? Well, I guess you would naturally think the country which builds airships would be a big country.」
「——But it has no connections to skill orbs, right?」
「——Oh, you mean the incident from four years ago about a dragon and a skill orb, huh
 They’re collecting all sorts of information just to be on the safe side.」
The words were all unknown to the slave, but he knew quite well that it was unsettling news.
(I want to see the sea
)
His fellow slaves seemed to enjoy this environment, where the risk of death is not zero, but food is well-prepared.
Pocket money is also given, and they are allowed to buy and eat at the store.
For boys and girls who have lived hand to mouth, this environment was “blessed” enough.
(I miss the salty air of the sea
 I miss it so much even though I thought it was annoying back then.)
This slave from elsewhere was yearning for the sea he had once grown tired of.
The Sixth Mine was still in peace today.
** Valhalla, the capital of the Keith Gran Federation **
A skinny old man donned a red cloak that seemed so heavy that it may crush him under and carried a Mithril cane.
That was King Geffert, the leader of the vast Keith Gran Federation.
It was four years ago that he experienced being in cloud nine to free falling to the ground; from good news of the discovery of a 6-star skill orb to the collapse of the Sixth Mine and subsequently losing the very 6-star skill orb. From then on, King Geffert became even skinnier. His beard and eyebrows grew white at a rapid pace.
Many were hoping for his death. Because his son, the crown prince, was already over 70 years old. He has grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even soon-to-be-born great-great-grandchildren. The successors to the throne were queued up like a long line. However–
「FOOL!」
King Geffert still energetically scolded his men today.
「How dare you even propose the foolish idea of attacking and subordinating the half-destroyed Lev country. Listen up. That country’s importance lies not in its land, but its knowledge and the Heroic Gear that is discovered from the labyrinths.」
「Yes, sir
」
The scolded vassal hung down his head and backed down.
The conference room, where the summer sun shone, was very comfortable because the air-conditioning magic tools were in operation.
Federation representatives line up to the left and right of a long, long table, staring at the withered tree-like king sitting at the head of the table. Early in the morning, the first report that a huge monster appeared in the Lev Magic Empire came in, and now detailed reports were being received successively one after another.
The Keith Gran Federation is a federation, so it is not a complete monolith. But under the control of King Geffert, the unity of the federation was rock solid.
Therefore,
(I won’t die so easily.)
It’s no wonder King Geffert thinks that way.
「And that’s why it’s almost certain that it’s connected to the “Other World”, right?」King Geffert asked.
「Indeed. There seems to be no “mediator”, so it’s an unexpected event outside the “Covenant”.」
The person sitting to the right of the king was also an old man, but he was muscular. He donned a purple robe usually worn by mages. He was beardless and his bald head was clean and shiny. His goggle eyes, which look like inlaid polished gems, shot judging glances to the surroundings.
King Geffert has trusted him and kept him by his side since they were young, and his title is the “Minister of Skills”. He has no aristocratic status, but he is placed as the head of the organization that oversees all matters regarding skill orbs which is the core of this country.
「Minister, is something like that even possible?」
「It is not impossible. When it comes to skill orbs, the “Covenant” is everything, but not everything in this world is limited to skill orbs. Those who come over here from the “Other World”, very rarely, have also been confirmed.」
「Isn’t it the same with La-Fisa, who built the “Labyrinth of 9 Emotions”?」
「I don’t know if it was planned or accidental, but that’s what the situation looks like. But we’re not really interested in the “Other World”, after all. Ha Ha Ha Ha
」
The minister laughed with his goggle-eyes wide open, but no one at the table laughed.
In the first place, the information about the “Covenant” was hidden. Many people didn’t know what it was, and they weren’t even allowed to know it.
Thus, only the king and his aides monopolized the information.
The federation representatives think it’s related to skill orbs, but they don’t know any more than that. They don’t even know when and with whom the “Covenant” was made.
「What about the large number of monsters said to be falling from the sky above Lev country?」
According to the report, although the giant monster was repelled, the red sky above was still maintained and the monsters were still overflowing out.
「Regarding that, my king. It’s very simple. The “Other World” is in danger of perishing.」
「Is it possible to blockade the hole?」
「It would be difficult. But not impossible. If the “Labyrinth of 9 Emotions” was devised to “open up a hole” between the 2 worlds, studying them should reveal a way to “close the hole”.」
「Hmm
 I want that knowledge.」
「Ha Ha Ha
 I expected that you would wish for that, my king. Knowledge is power, after all.」
King Geffert turned to the left.
「Lord of Military. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Federation, how many days would it take to assemble 100,000 cavalrymen without using an airship.」
The king regarded a well-built venerable man with a handlebar mustache who possessed aristocratic rank.
「Hmm
 it will take more than three months even if we rush it. Since the crop harvest season is just around the corner.」
「If we use an airship?」
「Should be possible within a month.」
「Alright. Let’s proceed with that.」
King Geffert decided to provide military assistance to the Lev Magic Empire on this day without delay.