“Here··· this is it, right?”

  Monero stared at the sigil carved into the bark the day before.

  On the worn surface, the mark—tinged with a spirit’s presence—remained clear.

  “Yeah. I carved it.”

  Aira answered quietly.

  Beside them, Kruster lifted his head and spoke.

  “Everyone, gather.”

  Using a branch, he sketched a simple layout on the ground as he continued.

  “Based on what we’ve confirmed so far,

  this abandoned mine has only one entrance—this one.

  Every report from other parties handling goblin-related requests says the same.”

  He took a short breath, then went on.

  “It’s suspicious that the goblins who were standing guard yesterday

  aren’t even leaving a shadow today.”

  “Not a natural situation.”

  Midas replied low.

  “Did they know we were coming?”

  Namia’s lips tightened.

  Nenya scanned the area once and let out a small breath.

  “Are they luring us···?”

  “We have to assume it could be a trap.”

  Rynel said quietly.

  “But we can’t stop.”

  Kruster cut in, firm.

  “We accepted the mine exploration request. We have to bring back results.”

  He looked around the group, confirming once more.

  “This operation will focus on exploration, like yesterday.

  But we don’t know what will happen,

  so we must secure a retreat route.”

  The party nodded without speaking.

  Kruster raised a hand and split them into two groups.

  “Exploration team: all four of Silvermoon Shield.

  Me, Namia, Midas, Nenya.

  And Rynel—five of us will go inside.”

  “And the other two will wait at the entrance.”

  His gaze moved to Aira and Monero.

  “Aira—spirit defense and recovery.

  Monero—fast response to ambushes.

  You two stay outside.”

  “Fine.”

  Monero answered shortly.

  “If anything jumps us from outside, I’ll put it down.”

  Aira nodded as well.

  “I’ll borrow the spirits’ senses and keep a close watch.”

  Kruster spoke with finality.

  “Then the exploration team begins entry now.”

  Namia nodded once, lowered her body, and stepped into the mine first.

  Kruster, Midas, Nenya—and Rynel followed, disappearing into the dark.

  The inside was deeper than expected.

  Damp soil pressed underfoot.

  The walls on both sides were split with old pickaxe scars.

  Pebbles rolled across the ground—each step threatening a sound, yet barely making one.

  Up front, Namia raised a hand and halted them.

  “Stop.”

  A short silence.

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Something’s wrong.”

  She lowered her voice, crouching.

  “No presence. And no echo coming back from deeper in.”

  Kruster spoke low.

  “Something is in here. And it’s waiting for us···”

  That was when—

  Ssk···

  “Did you hear that?”

  Nenya whispered, looking around.

  “I did.”

  Midas answered shortly.

  And then—without warning—

  A single red flame streaked through the darkness.

  “Dodge!!”

  Before Namia’s shout even finished,

  the fireball dropped into the middle of the passage.

  BOOM!!

  An explosion.

  A burst of flame, scorching heat, spitting smoke.

  In an instant, the tunnel was stained red.

  “Namia, get back—now!!”

  Kruster raised his shield, blocking the front, and shoved Namia behind him.

  “Set-Up Guard.”

  Midas whispered the spell fast.

  A silver barrier rose and wrapped around the party.

  “It’s coming again!”

  Nenya shouted.

  A second fireball—

  But this wasn’t a simple lump of flame.

  Like a red smoke bomb,

  it detonated into thick, powdery smoke that coiled through the air.

  “Tch···!”

  They lost sight.

  “I can’t see—!”

  In that moment, Rynel’s eyes turned blue, and he swept his hand.

  Paaah···

  Telekinetic force surged outward and shoved the smoke away in one sweep.

  The haze was blown aside, and their view opened again.

  But···

  Only Nenya was there.

  “Huh?”

  Rynel turned around.

  Kruster, Namia, Midas··· all gone.

  The mine entrance behind them was sealed shut by a dull stone pillar, completely blocked—

  as if there had never been a path there to begin with.

  Rynel muttered, as if stating a fact.

  “They split us on purpose.”

  “Yeah. I think so too.”

  Nenya said, breathing hard.

  Ahead—

  at the end of the dark corridor—one red light blinked, then another.

  “Let’s move forward.”

  Rynel said quietly.

  He stepped without hesitation.

  After a brief wobble, Nenya followed.

  The corridor reflected a reddish glow,

  casting an oddly warm light.

  Thin veins of red ore were embedded across the walls.

  And then they reached an open space.

  A rounded excavation chamber.

  The ceiling was high.

  Red murals were painted across the walls.

  “This is···”

  Nenya’s eyes widened.

  Four scenes.

  Figures mining ore with pickaxes.

  A scene of handing the ore to a being with bat-like wings.

  A moment where red ore turned into jewels.

  And lastly—someone holding the jewel, staring up at something draped across the heavens.

  “Who painted this···”

  Nenya murmured.

  That was when—

  A figure in a worn robe approached the murals, slowly.

  “You’ve found your way here.”

  A goblin.

  But his skin carried the weight of age,

  and his gaze was deep and heavy.

  “I’ve been waiting.”

  Nenya stepped back quietly.

  Rynel narrowed his eyes, leaving no gap.

  “What are you?”

  “Will it explain enough if I call myself the owner of this mine?”

  The goblin pointed to the mural.

  “And··· the successor to the power depicted here.”

  “Successor···?”

  Nenya muttered, glaring at the goblin elder.

  The elder moved closer to the first panel and extended a hand.

  His fingertips brushed the image of a miner.

  “The first to dig this land were humans.

  Humans full of greed—

  unaware of what they were unearthing.”

  He traced the next scenes in order.

  “Then they learned.

  This ore—

  reacts strongly to beings who possess ‘mana.’”

  At the final panel, where a red jewel floated above a hand,

  the elder stared as if drilling through it.

  “They tested each other. They failed.

  And in the end, they destroyed each other.”

  “You’re saying goblins can wield that power?”

  Rynel asked, short.

  The elder nodded.

  “We are not like humans.

  Humans clawed at the ore to gain mana,

  but we are becoming one with its essence.”

  His eyes flashed.

  “Still, for efficient mana absorption, we need humans.

  And among them—those who can handle mana.”

  “Why?”

  Nenya asked, biting her lip.

  “The ore doesn’t react by itself.”

  The elder laughed softly.

  “Mana··· began as the power of demons.

  Humans who imitate it are perfect to resonate with it.”

  His gaze settled on Rynel and Nenya in turn.

  “So what are you going to do?”

  Nenya demanded.

  “With that power—what are you planning?”

  The goblin elder answered.

  “We will bring human villages to ruin.”

  Nenya stepped forward.

  “That’s insane!

  Using power for that purpose—there’s no way I can allow it.”

  The elder curled his lip.

  “Allow?

  We didn’t come to ask your permission, human.”

  He turned fully to face her.

  “Do you know how many times humans trampled our tribe?

  We were always ‘targets for subjugation.’

  We had to hide,

  and our throats were cut before we could even speak.”

  “That’s···”

  Nenya tried to speak, but her voice caught.

  “That line you said—‘I can’t allow it’—

  from our side, we’ve heard it hundreds of times.

  From humans. Aimed at us.”

  A brief pause.

  Nenya’s fingers trembled slightly.

  Rynel spoke, quiet.

  “So to repay it, you’ll spill the same blood.”

  The elder replied.

  “More precisely—

  we will restore balance.”

  Nenya clenched her teeth and shouted.

  “Even so, using power like that···

  you’re just making more hatred!”

  The elder shook his head.

  “Not hatred. Exchange.

  Power always demands a price.

  We’re only paying it.”

  Rynel looked at him for a moment—then concluded, short.

  “I’ve heard enough.”

  His tone held iron.

  “Just from this conversation, I can tell

  humans and your goblins can’t coexist.”

  The elder laughed lightly.

  “A perceptive human is convenient.

  Less useless talk.”

  He raised a hand—

  and a presence stirred in the darkness behind him.

  Goblin breathing. Footsteps.

  And the scrape of metal··· drawing closer.

  “Then our talk ends here.”

  In that instant, the elder slammed his hand down.

  “All of you—crush them.”

  Nenya lifted her hand to form a magic circle.

  Rynel had already closed his eyes, reading the flow of air.

  Footsteps filled the mine—

  short, fast, and coordinated. Too coordinated.

  “That’s··· a lot.”

  Nenya breathed out and raised her hand.

  A small red flame bloomed at her fingertips.

  “I’ll use fire magic—buy me a moment.”

  “Wait.”

  Rynel said quietly.

  “Save your mana for now.”

  As soon as the words ended,

  a goblin in front launched itself forward.

  “Kreeeek!”

  Rynel sliced his hand down.

  BOOM!

  An invisible force slammed the goblin straight into the ground.

  Crack!

  It spat blood and collapsed.

  The next two or three didn’t even reach him—

  they were simply lifted and thrown into the cave wall.

  Thud.

  Smack.

  Thud.

  Blood sprayed.

  Rynel’s expression didn’t change.

  “Numbers alone won’t do it.”

  That was when—

  Thud. Thud.

  Heavier footsteps approached.

  Beyond the passage,

  a massive shape cast its shadow.

  A goblin wearing a huge skull like a helmet.

  Arms knotted with muscle.

  In its hands—a club as tall as a man.

  “What is that.”

  Nenya narrowed her eyes.

  The goblin elder stepped forward.

  “One of the many powers our tribe holds.”

  He raised a slow hand toward the warrior goblin with the club.

  “Now, show them.

  The potential of this red ore.”

  The warrior goblin didn’t speak.

  It kicked off the ground and leapt.

  “Careful!”

  Nenya shouted.

  The massive club fell from above—

  aimed straight at Rynel’s head.

  But—

  Clack.

  The club stopped.

  In midair,

  as if it had met an unseen hook,

  the motion froze.

  Rynel didn’t move.

  He had only lifted his right hand—lightly.

  “You.”

  He said quietly.

  “Heavier than I expected.”

  In the next instant, the club snapped away from the goblin’s grip.

  It spun through the air—then slammed into the ground with a heavy crash.

  The warrior goblin’s eyes went wide.

  Rynel didn’t waste the opening.

  He reached out—and drove his hand down again.

  Fwoosh···

  Invisible force crushed down on the goblin’s entire body.

  “Ghk··· grrrr···!”

  It resisted.

  Tendons bulged. The whole body shook.

  But slowly—

  its knees began to bend.

  Rynel inhaled—

  then lifted the club into the air again.

  “This time, it’s my turn.”

  The club cut through the air

  and shot into the goblin’s abdomen.

  BOOM!!

  A brutal impact.

  The warrior goblin slammed into the tunnel wall,

  vomiting stone dust and blood together.

  Nenya’s eyes widened.

  “No way··· this is···”

  Rynel didn’t turn his head.

  Blue energy rippled softly at the corner of his eyes.

  The goblin elder ground his teeth.

  “Blue··· mana?”

  For the first time, surprise crossed his face.

  “Then this time···”

  The elder said.

  “I’ll show you the power of more concentrated ore.”

  He pulled something from inside his cloak.

  Small, refined red gems—several of them.

  Their shapes were irregular, but a strong presence poured off them.

  “These are what we mined and refined ourselves.”

  He took one or two into his hand and murmured.

  “Mana that reaches deep, beneath the heart.

  Power that keeps you alive even as you bleed.”

  Without hesitation,

  he put several gems into his mouth—and swallowed.

  “···!”

  A short stillness.

  Then, red energy burst out from his entire body.

  Vivid crimson lines spread beneath his skin.

  Veins rose. His breath thrashed, rough and violent.

  He lifted his head slowly and said,

  “Now··· I’m ready.”

  Deep in his eyes,

  a clear red pattern glowed faintly.