Prologue 5
Everything began on this day.
Miners wake up early in the morning. We are woken up at 6am by the bells, and have to gather at the mine entrance to start work by half past 6. I dipped a hardened bread in the same soup as yesterday and stuffed it in my mouth. You can’t really complain about the food because you can’t last the entire day if you don’t eat.
I left the cafeteria with Lark.
If you look up at the ceiling of the cave, you can see the faint blue sky. In this mine, which is cool in the summer and warm in the winter, only the colour of the sky indicates the season.
It was the spring sky today.
「Hey, little brother.」
「What is it?」I answered, while rubbing my sleepy eyes.
「I like your black hair and black eyes.」
「…Where did that come from?」
She has never said something like that before.
My hair and eyes are black. It seems to be a quite unusual feature – which is said to be an evil omen.
Among my siblings, I alone was hated and sold because of this “black”.
But no one in this mine cared about the color of my hair. They were all bright, cheerful, and carefree.
「Agh!」
「L-Lark? What’s wrong?」
「Uuuuh… I’m gonna run to the toilet for a little bit.」
「What?! The assembly is about to start!」
「Cover for me! I’m going!」
Lark ran, holding her stomach.
「What is up with her?」
That was so not like her. Not the part where she went to the toilet, but the part where she complimented my appearance.
I participated in the morning assembly alone. The miners gathered around and listened to the mine chief who was standing on a slightly elevated platform, just as usual as everyday.
There was a plaza in front of the entrance to the mine, where miners gathered in groups of threes and fives. However, today was a little strange. There were more miners than usual.
It was still dark in the early morning, so the miners were holding torches. Spark flew about in the air.
The mine entrance was a huge hole. Even if all of us miners rush at it, it can swallow us calmly. But the further you go, the narrower it becomes, and you could even end up at a raccoon hole.
Well, let’s leave it aside.
Miners were gathered in one place. At the center of it was the mine chief – a fat man who was hiding his baldness with a silk hat – and another man beside him.
「…Who’s that?」
Although he was as fat as the mine chief, his hair was bushy, running smoothly down his back.
He was overpowering everyone in the surroundings with his slant eyes. Even the domineering mine chief… who doesn’t care to remember our faces nor our names (leaving aside the fact that I don’t have a name) was acting timid in front of the man.
「Everyone, listen up! There is an important announcement from Achenbach-sama, who is the owner of this Six Mine and the Duke of Keith Gran Federation! Kneel down!」
The miners started looking at each other. They were asking each other things like, “what should we do?”, “what the hell is a duke?”. However, when one miner knelt, the rest followed suit and I did too. Kneeling on hard ground hurts the kneecap…
For the first time, I learned that this mine belonged to a federation called the Keith Gran Federation. No one told me that. And frankly, the name of the country doesn’t help me to dive into the mine and brave through the raccoon hole where monsters might appear.
「Hmm… This place is damp and uncomfortable as usual.」
「I apologize, Your Excellency.」
It was the duke who complained loudly, and it was the mine chief acting timid as before. It was only natural that a mine is damp. I wonder what he’s apologizing for.
「Oh, it smells bad. The smell rises up even to this platform.」
「I apologize, Your Excellency. I will tell the slaves to clean their bodies properly.」
「Doesn’t matter. I’ll just never come here again.」
We miners simply watched that exchange absentmindedly. I understand that they are saying unpleasant things about us, but I don’t feel anger whatsoever. Is this also because of the contract magic that was cast on us?
「Let’s get this over with. I heard the other day that a 6-star skill orb was unearthed at this mine. I came to inspect it.」
It must be the 6-star skill orb that Lark found.
To think that even a big-wig of this country would show up. I remember Lark saying that it’s worth an entire country, and old man Hinga also said that it cannot be assigned a price.
「Yes, the orb is over here.」
One mine soldier brought the skill orb placed on a tray and covered by a purple cloth laid over.
The soldier knelt in front of the man and presented the tray respectfully with both hands. Duke Achenbach looked at it for a moment and pulled away the purple cloth in a single motion.
「Wooow…」the miners raised their voices.
The skill orb emitted the same rainbow colour on that day when Lark showed it to me. So it was still inside this mine.
「I see… So this is a skill orb with unique characteristics.」
「Yes, Your Excellency.」
「I’d like to use it right away, but King Geffert, the head of the federation and also my cousin, has stated his wish to see it. So we will consult with King Geffert to decide how to use this skill orb.」
「Yes, Your Excellency.」
It’s kind of awesome. The skill orb found by Lark will be brought to the King! …But the woman of the hour went to the toilet and still hasn’t returned.
「In line with this, the slave who found this skill orb will be released from the slave status and become a commoner.」
Duke Achenbach said self-importantly, but that was already within expectations, so the miners didn’t really raise their voices.
「The one who found this skill orb, come before me!」
As the duke’s voice resounded, all the miners turned towards me.
「EH?」
「Oh, right. It was you. Come here.」
The inspector with a familiar face ran up to me, grabbed my arm and pulled me onto my legs.
「No. You’re mistaken. It wasn’t me. It was Lark who–」
「Never mind that. Just hurry up.」
I was dragged over towards Duke Achenbach. And there was no one who tried to stop it. Because, from the miners perspective, it didn’t really matter whether it was me or Lark who was being freed.
No, please no! Lark is the one who should be freed. Rather than a feeble boy like me, someone who’s positive, active, and strong like Lark is the one who should leave the mine. Isn’t that right?
I wanted to speak up, but no words came out. Although there was nothing around my neck, my neck felt a strange feeling of pressure. I was suffocating.
「I-Is this the one…?」the Duke grimaced, looking at me.「What is this black hair? Isn’t it a symbol of misfortune?! Stay away from me!!」
Everyone was startled by the sudden situation.
「Mine Chief!」
「Y-Yes!」
「Nothing good will come out of keeping this alive! Kill it!」
「…Wha?」
「Did you not hear me?! I told you to kill it!」
「B-But Your Excellency, this boy is the one who found the 6-star skill–」
「Shut up! If you don’t do it, I’ll do it.」
The duke pulled out the sword that was hanging from the waist of a mine soldier standing behind him. I vaguely watched the light from the torch reflected on the silver blade. I knew I’d die if I just stood still like this, but my body wouldn’t move. My mind realised the reason was because of the contract magic, but my body still doesn’t move.
A disgusting look was directed at me. Why? Why is black hair and black eyes so bad? I don’t know. I just don’t know.
「Wait a minute!」
A voice interjected.
「What did my brother do?!」
I don’t even have to look to confirm it – it belonged to my sister.
「Who the hell are you?」
「I’m Lark.」
「Where are all these filthy children coming from? Mine Chief!」
「Y-Yes!」
「Dispose both of them. Right now!」
「B-But…」
「Are you going against me?!!!」
And that’s when it happened. The ground started rumbling and shaking like never before.
