Overlord (Light Novel) Chapter 79

Prologue

They were a set of coarsely-designed coveralls, stitched together from sturdy cloth. They stretched poorly and did not feel comfortable when worn. They were a poor choice for everyday wear. However, they were exceptionally suited for working in the mine tunnels, where conditions were poor. Putting it on might not have seemed like a big deal, but being able to wear such gear was revolutionary when one looked back on the history of the Dwarven people and how they had first worked the tunnels while practically naked.

Finally, he put on a set of dog tags around his neck. The number 5 was inscribed onto the metal plate. It implied that he was on the final day of his five-day-on, five-day-off work regime.

After his preparations were complete, Gondo emerged from the changing room and headed straight to the usual place, the waiting room.

Finding one's colleagues, the people with whom he would share his toil, was a piece of cake in this cramped waiting room. It would seem Gondo was the last to arrive, because his buddies had already noticed him before he could rush over.

“Ho! Gagaiz! I'm fortunate to have you as shift leader. It'll be good to work with you. Same goes for the others!”

“Mm, mm. Today's the fifth day! The last day. I'll give it all I've got!”

They chattered on like this as they left the waiting room and signed out pickaxes, shovels, and other mining tools. Then, they drew rations and refreshments — lunchboxes and two liters of water, stored in a magic item which maintained a steady temperature.

That said—

One of the dwarves took a swig from a flask at his waist, which had not been issued to him.

The air he exhaled was redolent with the scent of alcohol.

Of course, he did not have alcohol with him. However, he had flasks of water, soup, five sticks of boiled sweets, and dwarven bread to supplement his rations.

After finishing all their preparations, they stepped up before the Dwarf who was in charge of this state-run mining tunnel.

He muttered quietly when he came to the humming Dwarf who reeked of alcohol, but in the end he did not say anything. He might have been their manager, but he was still a Dwarf, and he understood these things. Or rather, it was because Gagaiz made the first move and spoke up.

The creepy-looking Dwarf snorted, and then turned his attention from the group to the map he was holding. Although their view was blocked by the counter, it was reasonable to assume that it was a chart which held the assignments for all the dig sites.

Dwarves were a race of the earth. For the most part, they lived underground. When they used coal or firewood to produce the heat needed for warmth, cooking and smithing, it would pollute the air and make life difficult for them.

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Therefore, they used the metal called heatstones as a replacement for those things.

Heatstones were a special kind of metal. If one struck them with a very hard metal — mithril, at the barest minimum — they would produce intense heat. The Dwarves used this curious metal like coal, and their refineries and smithies consumed vast quantities of them. Thus, one could say that heatstones were a central part of Dwarven life.

A set of metal plates hit the counter; they were permits which allowed passage in and out of the tunnels. Gagaiz threaded them onto his necklace with a dexterity one would not have expected of his stubby fingers.

Soon, the paper reached Gondo's hands. As always it contained the route leading to their dig site. Gondo imprinted the location of several critical junctions into his mind. They would come in handy if they had to flee due to an emergency. After all, monsters might show up even in a Dwarven mine, so it paid to be careful about these things.

“Got it. Then, let's go!”

Perhaps the races from the outside world would not be able to bear the sense of pressure which the tunnels imposed on its occupants. However, it had no effect at all on the underground-dwelling Dwarves. The tunnels might have seemed narrow, but they were quite spacious to the Dwarves. Given that the average height of a Dwarf was around 130cm, a tunnel of around 180cm across was broad enough for them.

If they were miners like Gondo and the others, they should have heard the sound of a minecart as well. However, there was nothing of the sort. What was this, then? If it was the patapata of bare feet on the ground, they would have dumped everything and fled back to where they came. However, that was not the case; the footsteps sounded like they had been made with boots.

Soon, they saw a squad of Dwarves.

“—Heading up? There's nothing there now, but be careful anyway.”

After that brief exchange, they parted ways with Gondo's crew.

His job was to cast spells which would reinforce the ceiling and prevent chunks from falling out of it, keeping the miners from being hurt by sharp edges in the rocks they were excavating, and so on.

In addition, they could tell if they were digging too close to water or gas. With them around, the miners could work in peace, without having to worry about collapse and the like.

Tunnel doctors were not common, which was why they were escorted by four men.

Much like other Dwarven cities, the city of Fio Kula sat at the heart of several ore veins which it worked. Only the west remained unexcavated for some reason. It lay beneath the earth, under the steep slopes of several sheer peaks.

Due to their size, there was no way to fully man them with guards. Even guarding every single shift of miners was beyond them. Therefore, if a monster showed up, the miners had no choice but to drop everything and flee back to the nearest critical juncture, where guards would be stationed.

Gondo and the others halted their minecart in the middle of the passage and activated their magical lanterns. They then proceeded into a side passage with their mining tools in hand. Their destination lay at the end of the tunnel ahead — their dig site for the day.

“All right, let's start.”

***

They stripped off their work clothes and headed to the miners-only bathhouse.

Gondo filled a ladle with hot, brownish water from a basin, and then dumped it on himself with no reservation.

This hot water cleansed Gondo's body of the dirt which clung to it.

“Oi, Gondo! How about getting a drink after this!” Gagaiz shouted as he scrubbed at himself with a towel from a stool opposite of him.

“Afraid I'll have to decline! I've work later on which can't be put off! Another time, perhaps!”

“Oh! I'll look forward to it!”

After towelling himself dry and putting on his clean everyday clothes, Gondo walked up to the counter with the sinister-looking Dwarf manager. He took off the necklace he was wearing and handed it over.

This was five days' worth of wages. Due to the fairly high mortality rate in the mines, wages were calculated on a weekly basis. Apparently they had paid a daily rate in the past, but that led to situations where the workers did not have enough to drink at taverns. One could say that the present system was designed to cater to that sad state of affairs. While the pouch before him did contain a sizable sum, Gagaiz and the others would probably spend half of that on beer.

“It's fine. There's no problem with my breathing.”

He picked up a handlight from the counter, and shone it at Gondo.

Inhaling dust particles over long durations degraded the functional capacity of one's lungs. This caused the skin to gradually turn pale. That condition was called Whitesnow Sickness, and this examination was to see if he was showing any signs of it.

“That disease causes strange sounds while breathing. If there are no sounds, then it's fine, right?”

“Perish the thought. Experience is vital.”

“Allow me to beg off on that, for I cannot… I will need to leave after this, and I have already accumulated the funds for my travels.”

“…And where will you be headed now?”

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The sinister-looking Dwarf manager's eyes went wide as he heard this.

“To the former question: I am abundantly aware of that. To the latter, my answer is no.”

“…Did you leave something behind there?”

“It is the nature of that digging which baffles me. Can you not do enough digging here?”

“It pays better than regular work.”

“Not enough for my aims. That is why I intend to go digging around in the abandoned city. None may gainsay my claim, no matter what kind of metal I excavate.”

Gondo's words might have been quite extreme, but he was also correct.

“Yes, exactly. After all, nobody will quibble with me if I recover it from there.”

“…Would you sell it to me? I'll pay well, of course.”

However, Gondo knew that the Dwarf before him was not making that proposal out of self-interest. He was doing so purely out of the kindness of his heart.

“How shall I say this… I have already decided what to use it for. It will all be going to my research.”

“Are you still saying that sort of thing… Well, I cannot say I do not understand how you feel, but should you not face reality and settle down here as a crew leader? What would your father think?”

While the other man had said what he had out of goodwill, Gondo could not bring himself to accept those words.

In the end, he could not hold back his wrath completely. As he vented the dregs of his rancor with those words, Gondo turned and strode away without looking back.

Yes.

That was what he lived for, as someone who could not be compared to his outstanding father.

Gondo bit his lip, and looked forward.

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Chapter end