Chapter 81: Chapter 81 – Digging
Kyle looked at the small Essence Crystal in his hand.
With his sense of smell, he had tracked down the crystal that was used to create the Tar Golem.
"Beyond crude," Theodor commented with an arrogant snort. "This nobody really is an idiot."
"Yes, you’ve been saying that countless times," Kyle said with some annoyance. "Is there a way we can track the creator?"
"Patience is a virtue, foolish inheritor," Theodor said. "Just take it with you for now."
Kyle nodded and pocketed the crystal.
Luckily, Nervon was too exhausted to continue training Kyle for the day.
That meant Kyle had the remainder of the day for himself.
"We need Basic Mage Stone, and it has to be unrefined," Theodor said.
"Where am I going to get that? I just threw my last piece at the Tar Golem," Kyle asked.
"Do not refer to that thing as a golem. It is disrespectful to Golemancy," Theodor spoke with annoyance.
Kyle just rolled his eyes.
"As for its procurement..."
"You are going to mine it."
Kyle scratched the back of his head. "Eh, sure, but where do I find it?"
"You passed my trial. You should know where to find it," Theodor spoke with disgust. "Try to use your dwarf brain for once."
Kyle just ignored the insult and thought back to what he had learned during the trial.
"Basic Mage Stone is found at a depth of at least 20 meters," he repeated. "Many strong plants use it to become stronger, which is why there is no Mage Stone near their roots, right?"
"Correct," Theodor answered. "Now, start digging."
"But where?" Kyle asked.
"Are you sure you are only half-dwarf?" Theodor asked with annoyance. "Look around you, foolish inheritor! Do you see all of these iron trees? Do you think this many trees can become this tall and resilient by just feeding on dirt and water?"
"I mean, they also need sunlight, right?" Kyle asked with a small smirk.
"If you don’t want my help, you can just say so," Theodor said.
"Yes, yes, I’m sorry, okay?" Kyle said. "Thank you for the help, Boss."
Theodor just snorted.
’Seriously, why do I have to be stuck with the anti-social schizo? Can’t I have a friendly grandpa in a ring or something? Something like a nice teacher?’
’Nooooo, it has to be the fucking crazy megalomaniac! Yes, I know what that word means!’
’...I think.’
Kyle looked around for a suitable spot to start digging.
Then, he remembered a certain place.
"I know where to start digging!" Kyle said as he walked towards the southwest.
"The ground," Theodor commented. "You have to dig into the ground."
"Why must you be an ass?" Kyle asked. "Can’t you just be nice for once?"
"When you deserve it, foolish inheritor," Theodor commented arrogantly. "Right now, you aren’t even fit to empty my toilet. Show me some of your character and strength, and then, maybe, I will treat you a bit better."
Kyle just droned out Theodor’s voice.
His failed marriage had honed that skill to perfection.
After some minutes of walking, Kyle arrived at the spot he had picked.
’The holey shell is gone,’ Kyle thought as he looked at the big hole.
This was the spot where he had killed Old Betty.
There was already a hole there, right?
Might as well make use of it!
Kyle walked over to the hole and looked inside.
’Quite deep, but I survived worse falls.’
The next moment, he jumped in.
BANG!
He landed after falling for about 20 meters without any injuries.
’All the turtle shit is also gone,’ Kyle thought. ’Makes sense. I mean, that shit is worth a fortune.’
As Kyle looked around, he didn’t find any ore.
"Where do I start digging?" Kyle asked.
"What? You think the ore will just give you a sign?" Theodor asked sarcastically. "The ore wants to stay hidden, foolish inheritor. You just have to dig and find it."
"Alright," Kyle said with a shrug before he pulled out his hammer.
BANG!
He hit the walls of the hole with his hammer, and they crumbled.
As he continued hitting the walls, the big hole started to fill with debris.
"What do I do with the debris?" Kyle asked.
"You carry it out," Theodor answered.
Kyle looked up at the hole.
"How?" he asked.
"You pick up a stone. Hands are the best tool for that. If you curl your fingers around a stone, you can hold it, and if you also manage to walk while holding-"
"I get it!" Kyle shouted.
Theodor just snorted again.
Kyle looked at all the debris with a grimace.
This sucked!
If he had to carry all of the debris out by hand, he would be spending 95% of his time dealing with the debris instead of digging.
"How do advanced mines deal with the debris?" Kyle asked.
"Cheap ones use mine carts and tracks," Theodor answered. "Valuable ones use an anti-gravity lift."
"Anti-gravity lift?" Kyle asked.
"It’s a wide beam in the middle of the mine that uses Ether to reverse the gravity for that area. Miners throw the debris into the lift, and the debris flies up, where it is caught by machines that refine stone into bricks and other usable resources," Theodor explained.
"And no, you can’t use that. I know how to make one, but you don’t even have enough money to afford the smallest part."
"You are poor. So, like a good little peasant, you will carry the debris out by hand."
Kyle looked at the debris again.
Then, he got an idea.
He grabbed one of the stones and looked at it.
’Well, here it goes.’
Finally, he threw it into his mouth.
Theodor didn’t comment.
He was too stunned by what he saw.
His inheritor was literally eating dirt and stone.
After swallowing the stone, Kyle waited.
Nothing happened.
He didn’t feel ill, but he also didn’t feel energized.
It was like he had eaten nothing.
"See? I don’t have to carry it out!" Kyle shouted with a smug smile. "I can just eat it."
Theodor didn’t say anything.