Deep underground in the mining town of Alvis.
In the dimly lit cavern, the sound of ice axes continued without pause. What is being mined is a reddish-black vein of ore. Its color, similar to hot charcoal, stood out in the dim light. Everything except the vein was covered in ice, resembling a frozen tunnel.
Ganis, the magician, observes the work with dry eyes.
The workers were breathing out white breath as they swing their ice axes down without a pause. The magic stone lantern is dim and has no warmth.
It’s a total hard work in the extreme cold.
“……Uu-.”
One person fell.
Then a large shadow approached him.
It is a three-meter-tall humanoid with one blue eye shining on its head. The magical creature—a golem—picked up the fallen person, put him on its shoulder, and disappeared somewhere.
“It looks like things are going well today.”
Ganis spoke.
The sound of the ice axes hitting the vein stopped.
“G-Ganis……sama.”
“Hey, keep going. We’re going to attract the golem.”
They hurriedly resumed the movement of their ice axes.
Ganis was a middle-aged man with a pale complexion. He is a little over 40 years old. His blond hair was a little sparse, but his facial features were well-proportioned, befitting an aristocrat.
However, his wide, bulging eyes gave him the impression of a frog. When he glared at people, his eyes were especially gloomy. He wears a magician robe, but he doesn’t carry a staff. Two golems are behind him, holding his equipment.
“I-, I need to take a short break….…”
Ganis glanced at the pile of reddish-black ore. The buyer calls it “ashes”.
“……It’s not enough, not enough yet.”
“N-no way…”
“I’m at my limit.”
Ganis laughed.
The golem has returned. The person before was no longer on its shoulder.
“This is not good…… Hmm, I need to get some more workers. Whose family should I use…..?”
The workers turned pale.
“You are slaves, your lives have been bought with money. Commoners can be easily replaced you see.”
The slaves plead with Ganis, who mercilessly dismissed them.
“At least give us a rest, even if it’s just for an hour!”
“Why don’t you let that golem work too?”
Ganis raised his eyebrows.
“Don’t be stupid, this golem is my creation. Besides, you guys are better suited crawling into those tiny holes.”
“Y-you damn bastard! Odis-sama is watching!”
One of the workers finally cursed.
The use of slaves. Too harsh environment. Unauthorized golems. All of them were in violation of the laws of the Kingdom of Asgard.
But Ganis just shrugged his shoulders.
“Huh? Hahaha, with you underground like this, who would notice?”
The lord has little interest in politics. As a brilliant magician, Ganis had long been respected. Even more so now that he has gained new powers. Geographically, and in terms of power, no one can do anything about him.
“Punishment time.”
Ganis casts a somber glance at the rebellious slave.
“Come on, my golems.”
When he called, golems came running towards Ganis from all directions. All the magical creatures knelt at the same time.
The workers retreated seeing the power of their Lord.
The golems carried up the rebellious slave. Then he was eventually slammed into the wall.
“Kuku…… Commoners have a worse memory than golems.”
Tossing his robe, Ganis made his way to the elevator.
The sense of versatility stimulated his memory.
It was the “slave traders” whispered among the aristocracy who gave Ganis these slaves and taught him this secret vein.
—But the real blessing lies elsewhere.
“What a great skill……”
Ganis mutters in fascination.
Slave traders were able to impart skills to humans. What Ganis received was a 『Skill: Puppet Master』. He had never heard of it before, so he thought it was an “outlier skill”. However, the moment Ganis accepted it, the ability of “Golem Master” came to fruition.
His ability is to control golems. Using his experience as a magician, Ganis had built an efficient mine with magical creatures and slaves. The magically powered elevator that Ganis boarded is also an application of golem technology.
“But……”
As he was rocked by the diagonal elevator, Ganis took out a letter from his pocket. The slave trader that he had once been grateful to was now a source of headache for him.
“Another increase in production……”
Because of his position, he can no longer go against the slave traders. But recently, their demands have become stricter.
He clicked his tongue.
“I won’t be able to smuggle golems for a while.”
Thanks to his skills, the Golem of Ganis is tremendously powerful. If he could devote the time to smuggling, it would eventually become a side business that could rival the secret mine.
Just the other day, he had a carriage set off for the border territory of Varis. He also conducts various experiments in the dungeon. He needs as much time as he could. However, he was still hiding the golem smuggling and some of his experiments from the slave trader.
“I’ll have to get some more slaves. I need an excuse…..”
With a frown, he descended the elevator. In the upper layers, the ice is gone. A passage hollowed out through the rock led to the exit.
The usual sound, similar to a growl, comes.
——Oooh.
“……Again?”
It’s an unpleasant place for Ganis. Every time he comes here, a wind passes by that sounds like the roar of a giant.
A certain concern crosses Ganis’ mind.
――Is it really a mineral deposit?
The wall is illuminated by magic stone lanterns. A huge face appeared in front of it, with its eyes closed and teeth clenched. If the position of the ore deposit was the foot, then this would be the head.
“N-no. That’s impossible……right?”
Right —it just happens to look like a human face. Giant being is too ridiculous to be real.
He thought to himself.
There seemed to be a general message informing adventurers of “the end” and “powerful monsters” or something like that. But in the end, seven days later, nothing of note had come of it.
Ganis dismissed that concern with, “There were plenty of other things to think about, and plenty of fun things to do.”
Then he chuckled.
“Well, I wonder what happened to the golems I sent to the Varis. It should fetch a lot of money……!”
Ganis doesn’t know yet. But all the golems that he secretly sent to the Varis territory were found by a certain boy. And that boy is approaching Alvis, accompanied by the gods.
There is no way he would know.
“Kuku……”
Suppressing his laughter, Ganis leaves the mine.
――Oooooh!
The sound of the roaring wind came again. But now it had an intonation like that of a laughter of a giant.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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