Home/I Saved the Villain and Fell Asleep/ch 85

Chapter 85

"It's a dog! A ghost-eating dog!"

"It looks bigger than last time, doesn't it?"

"Eek! Scary teeth!!"

The ghosts fluttered their white sheets, darting around frantically. Having seen them before, they were less scary this time.

I was at Colton's mansion—no, the mansion on Mt. Rüyer now registered under my name.

After returning from the palace that day, I'd revealed my teleportation ability to Father, sending him into a dramatic collapse, and requested Kaze as my personal shadow.

I'd thought Father might suggest killing Kaze to silence him, but instead, he placed a second binding seal on Kaze without a word. Later, Aisa told me Father had been the one who brought young Kaze in—no wonder he was so fiercely loyal.

"So... all the miners ran away?"

Before I could ask about the former Emperor, Father was called back to the palace. That's why I'd come to this mansion with just Kali, leaving Kaze behind to recover from the seal's aftereffects.

"Yeah, as long as there's a snake nest there, everyone refuses to go in. What should we do?"

There was a problem with the mine—a big one.

The mine on Mt. Rüyer wasn't ordinary ore. Not diamonds, not magic stones—it was floating stones. And massive ones, rare on the market!

Small floating stones were relatively easy to find, but large ones were priceless. So we'd hired skilled miners to extract them safely—but snakes had started appearing in the mine. Highly venomous ones.

"What happened to the bitten miners?"

"The venom's been treated, but they say there might be lasting damage... unfortunately, they were bitten on the arms."

For a miner, their body is their asset. If they can't use their arms, they can't work.

"Young lady, it's been a while."

It was Zen, a ducal servant sent to learn from Kaelen and report on the mine's progress.

"Zen, I heard those bitten might have lasting effects. Would a potion of life fully heal them?"

"An intermediate potion of life should do it."

"An intermediate potion of life?! Do you know how much that costs!"

Kaelen, who'd been listening, gasped in shock.

"What's with you? I'm an Algenprina. Zen, distribute intermediate potions to the miners. And once they're better, ask if they can take on the floating stone extraction again. Oh, and the snakes will be dealt with."

"Understood, young lady. We brought in those miners specifically for their unique magic specialized in extracting large floating stones, so it's unfortunate."

"Right? I'm offering generous pay too."

"Yes."

As Zen left to attend to his duties, I stood up.

"Colton."

"Y-yes?"

Sensing something ominous, Colton trembled.

"What are you doing? Get up."

"Wh-why?"

Pressed against the sofa back, Colton shrunk his neck.

"You need some sunlight. Come on, let's go to the mine."

"What?! Didn't you hear?! It's a snake den! Venomous snakes!"

"Who said you're going in? Send your ghosts to scout. They won't get bitten. Check where the snakes are, if there are other people, how many snakes, etc."

"B-but..."

"But, nothing! If this works, who knows—I might give you the deed to this mansion."

"Let's go!!"

Colton's eyes lit up as he shot up. Angela, standing quietly behind him, shook her head.

"Hariella."

"Huh?"

"You're not thinking of going into the mine, are you?"

"To get rid of the snakes... I might have to."

If I didn't clear the snakes, no one would enter. The massive floating stones were practically in my grasp—snakes? How dare they stand in my way?!

"Let's go and see!"

Kali's expression cursed me, but I took the lead. I'd packed plenty of high-grade potions in my Goblin Club just in case, along with mana bombs and flash bombs Father had wrung out of Uncle Joseph—I mean, His Majesty. That should be enough.

Snakes in a cave... If it's ventilated, I could burn them all out, but if not, fire in an enclosed space would suffocate us.

"There are really snakes there?"

"What?"

Colton, wrapped in a black robe, muttered in disbelief. We were greeted by ghosts returning from scouting the cave entrance.

"It's swarming!"

"There are small snakes and big snakes!"

"Real snakes!"

"Were there any humans? Living people? And the snakes—are they real, not magical constructs?"

"There is a person!"

"Someone talking to himself! Friends with the snakes!"

"Talking to snakes!"

"Idiot! How can a person talk to snakes?"

The ghosts, relaying information chaotically, started bickering among themselves. Colton scrambled to calm them, but they wouldn't listen.

"Talking to snakes—a mage, then."

"So they're real snakes... If they were magical, Father's magic could dispel them instantly. But real snakes are different."

How do we deal with real snakes?

"Just a lot of snakes."

"Didn't you hear?! They're venomous!"

"Just a lot of venomous snakes."

Kali replied nonchalantly, and Colton clutched his chest in frustration.

"You'll die if you're bitten!!"

Probably. But you can cure it before dying.

"Hey, it's not instant death. One drop of high-grade potion should neutralize it."

"Do you think high-grade potions are child's play?!"

In response, I showed him three bottles of high-grade potion.

"Ta-da!"

"Huff!!"

Three bottles of high-grade potion—enough to not worry about snake venom.

"Whew, then let's go clear it out now."

"Huh?"

Did Kali just say that?

"Why?"

"Nothing—I thought you'd try to stop me."

"A mage, and just snakes in a cave? We'll just wipe them out. Even if I told you not to go, you'd find a way—so better to go in together."

Kali had given up on stopping me. Or maybe it's "if you're going to do something reckless, at least do it where I can see you"?

Black mana rippled in Kali's hand. He wouldn't need fire—he could use his corrosion magic. The ability to corrode everything—perfect for enclosed spaces.

"Let's go now! Whoever it is, daring to squat in my mine!"

"Huh?! You're really going in?!"

"Would I pretend to?"

"I-it's too dangerous! You're a ducal princess. Get more people—a knight order or something."

"No, they'd just slow us down."

More people would mean more to protect and more to use potions on. Better to go in just Kali and me and clear it out.

"Colton, guard the entrance. Make sure no one comes in. If I'm not out in three hours, send the ghosts to find us. Got it?"

"Is this really okay? Really?"

Colton fidgeted with worry, so I used the magic word to calm him.

"If I come back safely, who knows—the deed to the mansion might become yours."

"Come back safely, young lady!!"

"Will do."

I was swinging my club to warm up when—

"The path is complicated!"

"You'll get lost!"

"Hmm, it's a cave, so that makes sense."

"Young lady, want to take one with you? It'll guide you to where the snakes are."

"Really? Anyone want to come?"

"No, I'm scared of that club!"

"Me! I'll go! I know the way!"

A ghost volunteered, fluttering its translucent sheet.

"Colton, how long can you maintain a ghost away from you?"

"Uh... I've never tried—never sent one off before."

"Then this is a good chance to find your limit! Let's go!"

Entering the cave with Kali and one ghost.

"Kali, how are you feeling? Okay?"

"Not bad."

"I brought mana potions too—tell me if you run low, though that's unlikely."

The deeper we went, the darker it became. I infused a magical lantern from my club with a bit of mana—it floated in the air, illuminating the surroundings.

"How much further?"

"Further inside!"

After passing several forks, the narrow path opened into a massive cavern.

"Is this all floating stone?"

Miners' tools and supplies were scattered everywhere.

"Wow... at this size, you could lift a mansion with ease."

"Incredible."

I felt a bit sorry for Lewena—this mine should have been hers originally.

"We need to go further! It's swarming!"

"Just ahead?"

"Don't leave my side, Hari."

"Yeah, I'll stick tight. Real tight!"

I linked arms with Kali and pressed close—he flinched noticeably.

I'd said I didn't mind snakes, but getting bitten hurts just the same. Better not to get bitten at all.

Passing the floating stone chamber, the path narrowed again. After walking a while, a dark dead-end space appeared beyond the light.

"Hey, ghost. Is this it?"

"Huh? It is? There were tons of snakes here!"

The moment the ghost finished speaking, the ground began to shake, and pebbles rained down from the ceiling.

"Wh-what?"

The vibrations were ominous—like the cave was about to collapse. Despite knowing it was a snake den, I stepped forward.

"I didn't plan for a buried-alive ending! Hey! Ghost!!"

"It's here! It's here! Over there!"

A white sheet—presumably the ghost's hand—pointed frantically in one direction.

'What? It's here?'

Before I could shine a light into the dark space, a thunderous roar echoed from the ceiling.

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