Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Haap!

With a spirited shout, a bright yellow light surged forth, ceasing even the faint intermittent vibrations that had been trembling through the tunnels.

Good. I will sustain the tunnel. Use the golems.

Upon Claytons command, the disciples standing behind him stepped forward in unison, each taking out a fist-sized blue crystal from within their clothes.

Magic crystals!

Logans eyes gleamed as he saw them.

As they chanted incantations with eyes wide open, they threw the magic crystals at the collapsed pile of rocks at once.

Grrr-grrr-grrr.

Accompanied by a grating noise, a significant part of the rock pile before their eyes was reborn into ten stone giants, each over 2 meters tall.

Ooh!

Truly magic!

The astonished voices of the onlooking miners could be heard.

Logan watched the magicians with a similar sense of awe.

Just creating golems has cleared out several meters worth of rock pile.

Moreover.

We dont know the condition of the people. Hurry!

Yes!

As soon as the disciples responded robustly to Claytons order, the stone giants, the golems, began to move forward, lifting the rock pile one after another.

Thud. Thud. Grrr-grrr-grrrr.

The stone giants moved much faster than the miners, and they possessed the monstrous strength to easily lift boulders as big as a human body.

As they exhibited their incredible strength without worrying about a secondary collapse, the work naturally progressed much faster than it would have with dozens of human miners involved.

Oh!

Logan, who had only seen battlefield mages in his past life, was newly impressed by the usefulness of the golem school magicians.

As if responding to his admiration, the golems swiftly cleared the collapsed rock pile, and within not even two hours, Logan was able to face the survivors.

Were alive!

Ivan! Pomarov!

Robel, youre alive too!

When the survivors embraced other miners with cheers.

Logan, too, checked on the fallen Hammers condition and sighed in relief.

Just some bruises and minor internal injuries. He must have passed out from the shock. How fortunate.

Once his primary concern faded, Logan was freshly astounded by the scene before him.

A mining collapse of significant scale had been swiftly resolved within five hours.

Considering that over three hours of that time were spent on Logan being informed, and on Clayton and the mages coming to the mine for support, the actual time spent on the work was less than two hours.

Definitely impressive.

As the work of lifting the rocks was completed and he saw the golems aiding the victims, Logan couldnt help but express his admiration over and over.

I want it.

Being a mage of the earth, others might not know, but surely Clayton must have realized that this was a gold mine.

When Clayton had momentarily flinched while using the magic to stabilize the earth and locked eyes with Logan, he realized that Clayton had caught onto the mines true identity.

An employed individual with extraordinary skills was aware of his secret.

The best way to mitigate that was to make him a full ally.

But how can I deal with a tower elder from the Mage Tower

Despite racking his brain, Logan couldnt find an answer immediately.

All he could do was hope that Clayton would keep the secret to himself.

As Logan was chewing on his lips, lost in thought.

Young Master Logan, by any chance, would you happen to need a tower for your domain?

What?!

To Logans astonishment, Clayton, who seemingly didnt fit his fierce appearance, threw out an unexpected suggestion.

What do you mean by that?

Caught off guard by the subject of his concerns approaching him first, Logan couldnt help but feel perplexed.

I feel it is about time to become independent. As youve seen, my relationship with the current tower master isnt good. And for Young Master Logan, or rather this domain, it seems to have ample resources to nurture a small tower.

Claytons eyes, sweeping the surroundings, radiated both greed and hope.

Own a tower?

Not many domains within the kingdom had their own Mage Tower.

At first glance, having a Mage Tower seemed beneficial to the domain, but in reality, there were many difficulties.

Normally, mages from towers wouldnt get involved unless there was a war; typically, they were no more than a money-consuming entity. Thats why, when mages were absolutely necessary, most domains would request assistance from other towers.

But now, with war looming next year?

Its definitely a benefit.

Logan recalled the giant golems that Clayton had demonstrated at the dam construction site.

While they may not be suitable for combata premise he thought applied when facing knightsthere were indeed countless ways to utilize such monsters in war.

If we have magic crystals, they become much stronger, right?

Turning his head slightly, Logan saw golems still carrying exhausted and shocked victims in each arm.

* * *

When did you secretly start developing a mine without telling me! Even the workers there didnt know what kind of mine it was?!

Dwayne blocked Logans path, his eyes blazing with fire.

The key miners were acquired from the Teslon Palace, and the main house was not informed.

Thinking it better they didnt know, he had deliberately kept it a secret.

Aha!

Logan pretended to remember only then, smacking his palm with an oh.

Sorry. I forgot.

How could you forget such a thing!

It happens. Ive been busy, you know.

Grrr. Fine, fine. Then just answer this: What kind of mine required so much attention? Are the deposits large? Iron? Copper?

Dwayne ground his teeth, yet Logan was struck with a sudden playful impulse.

Why do you think its one of those? Take another guess.

Grrr. Young Master, as the steward in charge of finances, I have a duty to inspect the income for the future of the domain. Please stop joking and just tell me.

It could be a silver or gold mine, you know. Who can say? Maybe even diamonds or mithril.

Thats impossible! With our standing

Ah Whats wrong with us, man!

Logan, momentarily angered, managed to maintain his composure and casually replied.

It could be.

Dont kid me. Really? Could such fortune befall this cursed family?

Seeing the demoralized steward, Logan felt a further urge to tease.

In truth, its just a copper mine. Might last for three years of mining?

Grrr. I knew it! I knew thats what it was! Damn, whats the expected profit?

What about one billion gold a year?

Huh? Ah, one million gold a year. But why bother mining for that?

Not a million, a billion. One billion gold.

Hah. Are you still joking around! What copper mine

Its a gold mine, sorry.

Logan watched expectantly for a reaction, but Dwayne just pursed his lips and glared at him.

Why are you looking at me like that? Its true this time.

Really?

Yes.

Really, really?

Yes, really.

Truly, really, really?

Yeah, really!

Finally, Logans loud affirmation convinced Dwayne, who seemed to have snapped back to reality.

Heugh.

Dwayne?

Waaahhhhhh!

Woah!

The dazed Dwayne suddenly screamed.

Young Master! Youre not lying, right? If this is a lie, I swear Ill just grab a knife and end it! Youre telling me its really a gold mine?

Yes, thats right

Waaahhhhhh! Were saved! Praise the ancestors! Praise Maclaine! How can such fortune come to this cursed family!

There you go, cursing us again.

But Dwayne seemed oblivious as he went on shouting.

Thank you! Thank you! Young Master, I bow to you! No, double bowing isnt polite, is it? What does it matter? Accept my bow!

Amidst his raucous joy, Logan looked at him with delight.

I shouldve told him earlier.

A vassal so joyful over the improvement of the familys finances, which wasnt even his own money.

He couldnt help but feel pleased as a high-ranking noble of the family.

There was just one thing that bothered him.

The gold mine is on my private land, right? It belongs to me, not the family.

And he had no intention of giving the entirety of the profits to the family.

However

Now I dont have to wrack my brain over nonexistent budgets! Funding from Kyrios? Toss it to the dogs! You wretched beasts! Waaahhhhhh! I offer my thanks to the nine supreme gods who watch over the world! I will live honorably from now on!

Watching the administrator, calling upon gods seldom invoked, roaring out loud, Logan found it difficult to break the news to him.

Well, Ill tell him later. Hes so happy like that.

With Logans smile, a complex and turbulent day came to a gentle close.