After pushing the miner who had fainted from working in the cold up to the surface, the old miner carried him into the tavern and let the heat from the fireplace warm his body.
Roland still felt uneasy about this.
“That’s it? Is that really enough?”
“That’s it. Once his body warms up, he’ll gradually recover.”
“Will he need to work again today?”
“If he doesn’t mind the lash, then he can skip work.”
The working environment was crude, life and safety weren’t guaranteed, and not even the most basic protective measures were in place.
It was hard to imagine that something like this was actually happening within her own territory.
Roland grew ever more curious as to what her father had been thinking when he took Vance in.
As for her, she would never keep someone like that under her command.
Seeing Roland’s expression, the old miner said calmly, “You see now, don’t you? This is no good place.
From the moment we signed the contract, it meant we’d be tied to this job for the next ten years.”
“Haven’t you ever thought of fighting for your rights? Like striking, to resist the overseer or the nobles?”
“Some people tried that, and they were whipped to death.
One-Hand used to be an adventurer, but even with just one hand, none of us can beat him—let alone the fact that there are invasions here from time to time.
Everyone’s spirit has long since been worn away.”
“Invasions? By whom?”
“The orc tribes nearby.
They often come to snatch supplies and indulge in the pleasure of hunting humans.”
Now Roland finally understood why the workers at the magic mine were all slacking off.
There was the overseer, backed by nobles, squeezing them from the front; the orc tribes invading from behind; and the working conditions were worse than any hovel.
Who wouldn’t slack off in such a situation?
The fact that they hadn’t revolted yet was a miracle in itself.
“You all… have it really tough.”
The old miner didn’t understand why Roland suddenly said this, but he couldn’t be bothered to ask.
“Hurry up and go.
If One-Hand wakes up and finds you here, he’ll definitely extort you.”
“It’s fine. He wouldn’t dare.”
Another mysterious answer. The old miner looked Roland up and down—thin and small, and a woman to boot—he really didn’t think she could take on Vance, who was armed.
“Suit yourself.
I’m going back to sleep.”
Watching the hunched back of the old miner, Roland couldn’t help but think of Mia, who was still at home.
The workers here had their own reasons for putting up with all this.
Wasn’t she the same?
Only by truly empathizing could people learn to understand one another.
Even if it was just to keep herself from feeling guilty, she had to improve everything here.
“It’s time to meet the stray dog my father took in. I want to see if you’ll end up biting your master.”
Vance Pearce was still lying atop the watchtower, sound asleep, and had even changed positions.
As the overseer, he wasn’t supervising at all.
Standing at the base of the tower, Roland pondered what noise she could make to wake him up.
After coming up with an idea, she wrapped her feet in magic and kicked one of the wooden pillars supporting the watchtower.
Although she didn’t kick through the pillar, the tower shook violently, startling Vance awake.
He thought it was an earthquake.
When he realized it wasn’t, he started looking for the reason the watchtower was shaking—and unsurprisingly, he found Roland below.
Vance stuck his head out and bellowed, “Hey! Down there! You! What the hell are you doing?!”
Roland looked up at him with pitiful eyes and defended herself innocently, “What’s wrong? I didn’t do anything just now.”
“You take me for a fool? Who else could it be if not you?”
“Maybe the Goddess of Hope got angry?
There was quite a strong wind just now.”
Seeing how sincere she looked, Vance was completely confused.
Had he really blamed the wrong person?
But then he realized something was off. “Wait a minute, who the hell are you? Why are you on my turf?”
Roland explained, “Sir, I’m a traveling chronicler, gathering stories from different regions.
If possible, could you tell me about this place?”
“This place doesn’t welcome you. Get lost!” Vance issued the order to leave without hesitation.
He knew better than anyone how things were run here.
If he actually told the truth, he’d only embarrass himself—let alone the fact that he’d just taken money from others recently.
If anything got exposed, there’d be hell to pay.
“Please, don’t be like that.
I can pay you.”
“No amount of money will work!”
“Thirty crystal pounds.”
“Thir… thir—how much?” Vance thought he’d misheard. Thirty crystal pounds was enough to cover six months of his wages.
Roland confirmed again, “Thirty crystal pounds.
My father is a craftsman in the capital and sends me a large sum every month.”
Hearing there was money to be made, Vance’s attitude changed in a flash.
“Ah, why didn’t you say so earlier? A guest is a guest!
Wait there for a moment, I’ll come down right away.
Please, just turn around for a bit.”
“No problem.” Roland pretended to comply, then deliberately dropped the charcoal pencil from her bag.
As she bent down to pick it up, she clearly saw what Vance was doing.
He was using his remaining hand and both legs to crawl down the stairs in a rather bizarre—and honestly, comical—fashion, much like a pogo zombie from Pvz.
Roland couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
When Vance finally made it down from the watchtower and saw that Roland hadn’t turned her back, he actually admired her as a person of virtue.
“All right, you can turn around now.”
Roland suppressed her grin and turned to him, acting as if nothing had happened. “Now, could you tell me what kind of place this is? If you think the money’s not enough, I can always add more.”
“Let’s not talk about money, makes me sound greedy.
Mainly, I just want to share the beauty and harmony of the Ackerman Magic Mine with you.
The workers here are some of the most diligent you’ll find, all thanks to my excellent guidance.”
Excellent guidance? Teaching them how to sleep and climb down stairs one-handed?
That’s quite the talent.
Roland mocked him silently, but on the surface, she feigned shock. “Really?
Then why do the miners all look so listless?”
“Who looks listless? Tell me, I’ll go over there and liven him up right now.”
Vance even shook the whip in his hand for show as he spoke.
“Is supervising work with a whip really appropriate?”
“Rest assured, supervising is just like herding cattle or sheep.
If you don’t crack the whip, they won’t move.
It’s not like I’m a knight of the Tribunal, I won’t actually do anything to them.”
“Your way of talking is quite amusing.”
Roland thought she’d made her double meaning obvious, but Vance seemed oblivious and just laughed along.
“Can you show me around the mine?”
“Of course, no problem.
But, well… this is extra work, after all.
If there’s some reward, that’d be best.”
“Another ten crystal pounds.”
Roland took out a coin pouch and tossed it to Vance.
Vance opened it and counted the coins—forty crystal pounds, not one more or less.
At first he’d thought this shabby-looking girl was only pretending to be rich, but now his doubts were completely dispelled.
This young lady really was not only beautiful and kind, but generous too.