Munchkin of the Summoning Academy

Maiden of Ice and Fire (6)

Today’s dinner was held in a much lighter and warmer atmosphere than yesterday.

Maria and Christine are slightly excited when they think that the meat on the table is a prey caught during the day.

Me and Sylvia exchanged glances without saying a word, then shut their mouths.

In fact, freshly slaughtered meat is rarely cooked right away.

Usually, it goes through some aging and processing process, so it is difficult to use it right away.

Of course, I wasn’t stupid enough to point it out.

In the beginning, Medusha, who was sitting next to her, had a similar misunderstanding.

After cleaning up even the internal dishes that might be a little different, we go for tea time.

When they heard about tomorrow’s schedule, they were slightly surprised.

After all, isn’t it strange that the owner of the house leaves first after being invited at the most?

As I’m sweating profusely, Maria asks with a little concern.

“Callingwood is Mr. Elfriede’s mother, isn’t he? I don’t think he’ll welcome Louise…”

Collingwood’s Elemental Stone Mine is supposed to be mined by outsiders, but…

Of course, you must identify yourself before entering.

And it’s up to Collingwood to grant admission.

I opened the Summoner’s Book even though I thought it made sense.

Maria’s face hardens when she shows Elfriede’s communication card, which was inserted at the very back.

“Still, I think it will work somehow if I use this.”

“ah…”

“Okay. Get it done right away. I’m tired of taking a nap here…”

As Christine waved and jokingly said, Maria, who was beside her, declared impulsively.

“We’ll go too.”

“What?”

“Collingwood may refuse to cooperate by giving strange reasons. In the first place, mining the spirit stone itself is a very dangerous task… we can help.”

Christine opened her eyes slightly, as if she had fallen in love with the mansion in just one day, but…

In the end, he nodded his head helplessly and joined in.

As a result, the two heirs of the great family also accompany them.

Collingwood will no longer be rude to us.

After expressing gratitude for being overly cooperative, go to bed early for tomorrow.

We left the mansion early the next morning.

Uncle Henry brings out horses as well as carriages as the number of people increases compared to when he came.

Heading to the train station, I got off my horse before I even reached the city.

Entering the city on a young horse was forbidden by the mayor.

Medusha showed a slightly dissatisfied expression, but the destination was not too far away, so she stayed calm.

As we got on the train as it was, a gloomy forest appeared before long.

Collingwood, a haunted forest that has long been known as a suicide spot.

However, it is now crowded with people thanks to the Spirit Stone Mine.

Persia, who was sticking her nose in the window, asked, unable to overcome her curiosity.

“Master. But why is mining spirit stone dangerous?”

“That’s because it’s a place where monsters are summoned besides the Spirit Stone.”

Elemental stone mines in Collingwood are similar to Ice and Snow Hell.

Like Ice and Snow Hell, not all parts of the other world were summoned, but geographically, it is an easy place to summon.

For that reason, spirit stones, which are crystals of pure nature, are mined.

Of course, not only the Spirit Stones are summoned, but other monsters are also summoned simultaneously, so it is not very safe.

“I didn’t know that there was a spiritstone mine in this forest back in the day? But the name Collingwood came from the fact that monsters kept coming out of the basement and even screaming at night. I thought it was literally a forest possessed by ghosts.”

“Aha.”

While Persia nodded eagerly, the train stopped.

We hurried down to the platform and inspected the mining town.

The Collingwood mansion is a bit far from here, but…

After all, there is no need to go there as mine-related work is exclusively here.

The maid, who wore a hat to cover her elven ears, tilted her head slightly.

I, who was tightly locked between her and Medusha, asks quietly.

“what’s the matter?”

“It’s a bit crowded. It’s only around lunchtime yet…”

“That’s because this is the only spirit stone mine in Korea.”

“No. That’s too many to take into account. Look. Don’t you think it’s close to the city’s capacity?”

“yes?”

I turned around and followed the handmaiden’s fingertips.

It’s a restaurant bursting with people, and the miners sitting on the streets helplessly.

It’s like a big city in its own way, but it’s a mining town, so the infrastructure isn’t very good…

The insufficient infrastructure is being utilized at 200%.

As the waitress said, there are too many people walking around even when it’s time to work.

It was as if he had been kicked out of the mine.

I first went to the city hall to get a mining permit.

As we entered the city hall while enjoying the suffocating air characteristic of a mining town, we saw miners lining up in a long line.

Sylvia, who found a window dedicated to the nobles, quickly led me there… but the line there too is quite long.

But not all nobles are equal.

The passengers who recognized me, Christine, and Maria from afar took care of giving up their seats.

“Ugh, from El Cloud to White and Westwall…”

“Try the work first, Sir Earl.”

To say that he was a noble enough to come directly to a mine like this, he would be a baron or a viscount.

Maria and Christine, as well as myself, are of such a low level that I have to look out for them.

But it wasn’t that they just left me out of fear.

The eyes of the aristocrats who had left their seats contained a subdued anticipation.

It seems that the staff at the window did not come out very cooperatively.

Since nobles of a higher rank than them came, the mine intends to see how it will come out.

‘what?’

As I approached the window with a puzzled feeling, the staff inside jumped up.

I asked her quickly.

“I want to get permission to mine the spirit stone…”

“Sorry, I’m sorry, Count. Currently, the mine is completely off-limits.”

“What? Why?”

When Medusha, who had her back straight, asked the question, a clear excuse flowed out of her mouth.

The current summoning cycle is getting faster, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah…

It’s obvious that they don’t want to bring it in with various reasons.

Thanks to that, the nobles in the back looked slightly disappointed.

I approached them and asked.

“Since when was the Elemental Stone Mine banned?”

“It’s been about a month or two.”

“There have been times when a ban has been issued due to tunnel maintenance, etc., but it has never been banned for so long…”

“Callingwood didn’t give me a proper answer, so I’m pounding my feet like this.”

1 or 2 months. Severe.

Elemental stone mines are a staple in Collingwood.

It wasn’t for a day or two that the mining operation was dangerous…

If they were banned for such a long time, would they suffer the most than anyone else?

It’s weird because it’s not weird.

Everyone’s complexion darkened due to unexpected difficulties.

The door to the city hall opened wide behind my back, and a loud shout flew in.

“Everyone, get down on your knees! Her Majesty, Princess Elena Dracor, enters!”

“What?”

My body moved first before my head could comprehend it.

When the nobles as well as the commoners bowed down on one knee to pay their respects, a woman in a simple outfit entered from the entrance.

If it’s Elena, it’s the same royal family I met in the last assassination attempt.

Why did the first in line of succession to the throne suddenly come to this mine?

I’m trembling slightly because the scale seems to be getting bigger without a chin…

The sound of soft footsteps stopped in front of me.

Then, a voice filled with astonishment from the top of his slightly bowed head.

Elena leaned over and clasped my hands together.

“Count Elcloud? How did the count get here…”

“Eh, His Majesty Elena. It’s an honor to see you again.”

Without being embarrassed by the soft touch, she quickly woke me up.

Others have been ordered to stand up, but all eyes are on this side.

A feeling of suffocation in excessive attention.

Literally, she didn’t know where to put her body, but Elena, who felt like a horseman, expressed her pleasure.

“How have you been? I don’t think I’ve been able to properly reward you last time due to the circumstances of the royal family. What are you doing here?”

That’s what I want to ask.

I endured that kind of pin-zan and meekly confessed.

“I stopped by to mine a spirit stone for my use.”

“Okay. Then please wait a moment.”

Of course, I did not dare ask the purpose of the princess’s visit.

Still, since the princess appeared in person, what would happen?

I was expecting similar expectations to the aristocrats who were lining up in front of the window. She nodded slightly and walked with her escorts.

The princess’s exclusive escort unit seemed to have a lot of sharp edges.

It seems that not only me but everyone in this place did not visit for a very pleasant purpose.

As we raised our expectations again, the staff at the window looked like they were about to cry.

Although it is clear that the governor has commanded no one to go into the mines.

Even in front of the royal family, he couldn’t dare stand.

Princess Elena received the permit in the blink of an eye and presented it to me.

“I also have business to do with the mine. Can I get help from the Count again this time?”

“of course.”

This means that you will take me as a companion and bring you into the mines.

I trembled at the offer that I had not even expected and accepted it.

God, the first in line to the throne would go directly to the mine.

Apparently, it’s not as simple as mine.

We left the city hall and headed for the entrance of the mine, receiving jealous glances.

The entrance, where numerous guards were stationed, opened automatically as soon as the princess approached.

A crack nestled in the crevice of a huge rocky mountain.

We use the Light Summon spell and step into it.

Unlike the outside, the air is chilly enough to be creepy.

The temperature rises again after a long ride in a man-controlled lorry in Collingwood.

The maidservant drooled slightly from behind, as if she had noticed something.

I wanted to turn around right away and ask what was going on… Unfortunately, Princess Elena did not let me go.

I am locked up by the guards with her.

So that the excuse that entry is prohibited because it is dangerous is useless.

Nothing happened until we reached the end of the long rail.

Passing the intermediate base used by miners, move further down.

It is too quiet even though the tunnel where full-scale mining begins soon appears.

I’ve heard that you should usually see the spirit stone at this point…

The walls are so clean and empty.

Ersa, who had asked to come here, also opened her mouth with difficulty as if she noticed a sense of incongruity.

“Why don’t you have anything? The mine’s spirit stones will be replenished periodically… There are no wild summons, let alone spirit stones, right?”

“…”

The moment when the maid shed a strange gaze.

Elena, who was accompanied by Collingwood’s guide, sighed and muttered.

A low voice resounds like a death sentence.

“The rumors are true. The veins are dry.”

“yes?”

Elemental stone mines are a staple in Collingwood.

If such a mine is really dry, you can’t just get over it.

A large-scale event that can greatly affect the power struggle between kingdoms.

Clearly, this is enough for Princess Elena to go out on her own.

Everyone except the handmaiden and the guards were startled, and Collingwood’s guide hurriedly made excuses.

“Oh no! It just seems like illegal mining is taking place…”

“Didn’t you say that the tunnel was buried before? You don’t seem to know how perjury against the royal family is punished.”

Sreung!

Elena’s escorts drew their weapons with a cold iron sound.

Thanks to the completely frozen guide.

At the moment Elena was about to start the interrogation.

The maid whispered quietly, who took advantage of the gap she had fallen and restored the distance with me.

“Master. Do you really need that spirit stone?”

“Huh? I wish it wasn’t all that far. I might be able to get a new summoned beast…”

Recalling the spirit’s voice I had heard last time, and responding, the maid nodded her head without saying a word.

As she moved to the middle of the tunnel, she lightly stomped her feet.

“Ah, my foot slipped…”

A roaring sound is generated along with a voice with an insincere smoke tone.

The hard floor cracked open, and a brilliant brilliance erupted from the deep cracks.

A collapse that spreads rapidly from the blast core.

When everyone, including the handmaiden, hastily fled, the floor crumbles down, revealing the space below.

“I, that’s…”

“It’s not that the spirit stone veins have dried up. It’s just been moved downwards.”

Ersa, who understood the situation only then, widened her eyes and admired it.

The princess turned away from the brightly colored guide and stared at the maid.