CH 240

Rescue operation

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The mine where the accident occurred was not owned by the Dukas Company.

"Then, is the Dukas Company carrying out rescue work for the Robere Company's mine?"(TN:The Robere Company is the one that Angel, the guy Kent saved from the carriage that fell off the cliff, belongs to.)

"No, the rescue work is not only our company but also other companies in cooperation. Because the accident in the mountain is not someone else's problem."

After finishing Sybil-san's treatment, I was told about the mine accident at lunch with Orlean-san, the chairman of the Dukas Company.

The accident happened at a copper mine owned by the Robere Company.

"The Robere Company is one of the oldest companies in Marburg, and the accident occurred in an old mine that had been excavated for years. For that reason, the current excavation point is a place that has been dug quite deeply, and it seems that the tunnel leading to it has collapsed over a wide area."

"I don't have much knowledge about mines, but aren't the tunnels hardened with earth-attribute magic?"

"We apply hardening magic to weak ground and strata that seep a lot of groundwater, but other places are just reinforced with wood etc."

Many earth-attribute magicians were involved in mines, but most of them were said to be mainly involved in refining ore, searching for veins, and destroying bedrock at excavation sites.

Because it was a mine, instead of simply digging a hole, it was necessary to destroy the bedrock, break it into pieces that could be carried, and carry it out.

For that reason, even if there were many earth-attribute magicians enrolled, it seemed that the current situation was that they couldn't get around to hardening the tunnels.

"Is there any prospect of rescue?"

"Nope, there really isn't. The accident happened at the end of last year, so I've already heard voices despairing their survival, but as I said earlier, the mine accident is not someone else's problem. Considering the time of when the accident happened, I can't give up or throw it away halfway through."

"Last year ... Has it been more than ten days already?"

"Right. How much space is left inside, is there a place where underground water is gushing out, and the food on hand ... It depends on the conditions, but it's pretty tough."

[ Fred, do you know what's going on inside? ]

[ Unfortunately, I don't know ... The range of the collapse is too wide ... ]

I and all of my genus could move through the shadow space, but it wasn't without restrictions.

You could move to places you have visited in the past without any problems, but there were restrictions on moving to places you didn't know or couldn't see.

For example, it was possible to move between rooms separated by a wall, but it was not possible to move several tens of meters underground.

If the collapsed area was a short distance this time as well, Fred would probably have been able to dive in and see what was going on, but the collapse seemed to have occurred over a long range and would make it difficult to move.

"I don't think you can stop the rescue work, but in the meantime, the excavation work of the Dukas Company has stopped, right?"

"Right. But, I've said it many times, but as someone involved in the mine, it's not someone else's problem."

"What about compensation from the Robere Company"

"Nope, we don't ask for compensation in the first place, and even if we were able to make a claim, there is no way that Robere would pay for it."

"Is it some sort of business with a story?"

"So to speak ... Robere is an old firm after all."

It seemed that there was a saying among mining workers that they should take care of their own lunch and accidents.

To put it in modern Japanese terms, it was all about your own responsibility.

Wages were paid according to the amount of ore transported and the amount of iron and copper contained therein, so the more you dug, the more income you would earn.

It seemed that it was a long-standing Marburg tradition that the firm provided no compensation for accidents or injuries during excavation in exchange for providing the mines it owned as a place to earn money.

"However, with the old methods, it is difficult for miners to earn a stable living. That's what makes it interesting when you hit a vein, but it's not uncommon that you don't earn much while you're there. Besides, if they lose their lives in an accident like this, the lives of the remaining family will not be able to survive. So I started a new way of doing things."

The method that Orlean-san started was to hire people working in the mines as employees of the Dukas Company.

A fixed wage was paid instead of being based on the amount of ore mined, and a temporary bonus was paid when a vein was hit.

To put it simply, the people working in the mines had become salaried workers.

"However, since the method of paying wages will change significantly, won't the workers be dissatisfied?"

"In that respect, they can get a proper wage even when the profit is low. On the other hand, before they started working at my place, I explained to them at length that it would be a little less profitable when they were able to make a lot of money, so it's fine for now."

Those who dreamed of getting rich quickly went to the firm with the traditional wage system, and those who seek stability flocked to the Dukas Company.

The fact that the Dukas Company was developing probably meant that the people working in the mines were becoming more stable.

Even so, the old way of working at the Robere Company was the so-called freelance way of working, and the new way of working at the Dukas Company was the salaried worker method.

"Orlean-san, how many people are left behind in the tunnel?"

"According to the Robere Company, more than 40 people have been left behind."

"I wish there was some way I could help."

"Miners belonging to other companies have also gathered and are taking turns drilling, but it seems that there are places that are prone to collapse along the way and they are having difficulty."

Even Orlean-san, who could be said to be a mining professional, seemed to be unable to do anything and wrinkles appeared between his brows.

[ Kent-sama, how about using star-attribute magic? ]

"Ah!, I see! There was that option ..."

"What's wrong, Kent-san."

"Yes, I just came up with something, and if it goes well, I might be able to help the people who are left behind in the tunnel."

"Is that true? If it's really possible, please do it. I will pay 30,000 ... No, 50,000 Helts for every person rescued."

"No, something like that ... In the first place, it's not a mine of the Dukas Company, is it?"

"It doesn't matter whose mine it is. In the first place, as long as the matter of this accident is not settled, the excavation work at our mine will remain stopped, so somehow, I'm begging you."

"I understand, I don't know if I can do it well, and I will discuss the reward later, but I will try anyway."

I accepted Orlean-san's request and dived into the shadow world for the time being.

"Fred, take me to the mine."

[ Roger ... This way ... ]

First, I asked Fred to guide me to the mine of the Robere Company.

Peeking out of the shadows, I could see many people gathered at the entrance of the tunnel, including a woman staring into the tunnel with teary eyes.

Then, let's search for the people who were left behind with only my consciousness moving from here.

"Then, I'll be going for a while, so please take care of my body."

"Wafuu, leave it to me, Goshujin-sama."

"You should lean against Nero, nya."

It was rare for Nero to be aggressive, but isn't it that you want to use it as an excuse not to move?

Maa, even so, I leaned against Nero's belly, which was the most comfortable to sleep on, and sent my consciousness into the tunnel.

The mine of the Robere Company had the atmosphere of an old-fashioned mine.

A two-meter-square tunnel was dug through the bare rock surface, and was reinforced with wooden structures in places.

Here and there in the tunnel, there were large spaces that doubled as branches, and strong men carrying stones on wheelbarrows were coming up one after another from the ground.

The tunnel formed a spiral slope that stretched downward and was blocked by a collapse about 100 meters down.

I dived to where the men, with sweat dripping from their bulging muscles, were digging to find those left behind.

Because only my consciousness was moved with star-attribute magic, it was possible to freely enter into the hard bedrock.

However, as soon as I dived in, I lost all sense of direction.

It was the same as being trapped in bedrock, so no matter where I turned, front and back, up and down, left and right, it was pitch black and I couldn't see anything.

When I went a little further, I didn't even know where I should go, or even what direction the ground was, and I panicked a little.

Of course, if I tried to summon my body in such a state, it would be a big problem.

My heart was pounding ... but it wasn't here, even so, I imagined calming down with deep breaths and returning my consciousness to my body.

"Fuah! That's good, I came back. Haa haa ..."

[ Kent-sama, what happened? ]

"When I dived into the bedrock, I completely lost my sense of direction, I didn't know what would happen."

[ I see ... Certainly, unlike in an open place, visibility is not good. But, that's troublesome. ]

"Yeah, it might be difficult if I don't think of a way."

[ Well then, Kent-sama, why don't you use earth-attribute magic to try underground probing? ]

"Underground probing?"

[ Yes, Orlean-dono was talking about it, but there are some earth-attribute magicians who explore underground veins. If you use that principle, you can find the position of the buried tunnel. ]

"I see, it's worth trying."

I opened the entrance from the shadow world into the bedrock, put my hands on it and probed inside.

As an image, it felt like I was searching inside the other party's body when I took the attributes during the return work.

Apparently, in this world, the soil and stones contained magic essence, and when I traced it and spread it out, I found the front of the collapsed tunnel.

"I found it. It seems that the tunnel continues beyond what is buried, and it feels like there is space."

[ What about those left behind? ]

"I know the shape of the tunnel, but I don't know if there are people there. So, I'll dive in again. As long as I know the general direction, I should be able to get there somehow."

In my head, I memorized the structure of the tunnel I probed, and once again, I used star-attribute magic to send my consciousness away.

It had been a long time since I acquired the dark-attribute aptitude and became able to see at night.

I was afraid that I would panic, but I knew that I would be able to return to my body properly, so I slowly and steadily headed for the tunnel.

Perceptually, I was walking at a walking speed, and it took about five minutes to reach the buried tunnel.

In the tunnel I arrived at, there was a miserable sight.

There were several people who were dead after being crushed by falling rocks, and there were several people who were covered in blood and weren't even twitching, lying near the site of the cave-in.

When I went further, the people who were left behind were huddled together.

All their faces looked exhausted under the light of magic tools.

Fortunately, groundwater seemed to be dripping from the nearby bedrock, and it seemed that the water was secured, but it didn't look like there was food.

For the time being, I was able to confirm the situation and that they were still alive, so I returned to my body.

"I'm back, I found them. I have confirmed the survivors, so let's go back to the Dukas Company."

[ To the Dukas Company ... is it? ]

"Yup, the people left behind in the tunnel will be sent to the surface with the repatriation technique, so it's necessary to secure a place for that."

[ I see, that's certainly true. ]

I hurried back to the Dukas Company and explained the situation to Orlean-san.

"Send them here? Is that even possible?"

"I don't mind sending them near the tunnel, but it may not be possible repatriate everyone at once, and in that case, if people gather, it will be impossible to repatriate the next group ..."

"I understand. Well then, please use our courtyard. This is ..."

The courtyard that Orlean-san guided me to was as large as a basketball court.

It looked like I could safely repatriate them here.

I set up the dark attribute golems that were in the shadow space and prepared for repatriation.

"Orlean-san, please do not enter inside of there these golems are lined up. If you do, I can't guarantee your life."

"U, understood. I'll be responsible for keeping an eye on it so that no one enters."

"Please."

Maa, I actually had my genus watching over it, but if they showed themselves to the public, it would cause a commotion, so I asked Orlean-san.

Now that they were ready to accept them, I used shadow movement to move to the people who were left behind.

It was possible to move through the shadows to places visited using star-attribute magic without any problems.

When I put out a shield of darkness about two meters away from the people who were left behind and stepped into the tunnel, the stagnant air with a terrible odor surrounded me.

"Everyone, hello ... Aahh, please don't stand."

"Wh, who are you, where did you come from."

"My name is Kent, I'm an S-rank adventurer from Volzard. In a moment, I will send you all back to the surface using the repatriation technique."

"Really! Can you help us?"

"Oooohhhh ... We're saved, we're saved!"

"Be quiet! Excuse me, please listen to me."

I raised my voice to the people who were trying to stand up and raised voices of joy.

"Excuse me, but please wait until you return to the surface before you rejoice. Repatriation is dangerous, so please listen to what I have to say."

"A, alright. What should we do?"

"Repatriation magic is a magic that sends objects within a specific range that I recognize to another place. If, by chance you go out of that range, your hands, feet, or even your body will be completely cut off."

When I put a knife hand to my neck and made a gesture of cutting it off, the people who were left behind swallowed sharply.

"First of all, let me check before I send you back. Are the people here all the people who were left behind?"

"That's right, I checked the excavation site from where the cave-in was, but it's just the 38 of us here. The others ... Unfortunately, they're under the rocks."

"Understood. Then, I will divide you into two groups and send you to the surface. Could you divide yourselves into 20 people from here and 18 people behind them?"

"Okay. One, two ... 20 people up to Jose. Please split up there."

"Hey, you're going to leave us behind ..."

"I won't do that. I'll send you right away, so don't worry. As I said earlier, please don't move until the repatriation is over. Then, once you've confirmed that you're on the surface, please move from that spot. Please make room for the next 18 people. Got it?"

"A, alright. Okay, everyone sit down, don't move, absolutely don't move."

Everyone sat down on the spot, I confirmed that they had stopped moving, and activated the repatriation technique.

"Repatriation!"

"Ooooohhhhh ..."

As the twenty people disappeared along with a small part of the floor and walls of the tunnel, there was a cry of surprise.

"Mart, Mirt, Murt, please check if the golems are properly placed and if everyone has left the range."

"Wafuu, understood, Goshujin-sama."

Mart and the others who suddenly showed their faces quickly disappeared into the shadows, and the remaining 18 people had their eyes wide open.

"I'm sorry, what was that just now?"

"They're Kobolds of my genus. Right now, I asked them to confirm the situation on the other side. I'll send you as soon as the place becomes available."

"I see, thank you. To be honest, I was about to give up."

"That, you can thank me after returning to the surface."

"That's right, that's for sure ..."

Still, the person who talked to me seemed to be unable to suppress his joy and smiled.

"Wau, Goshujin-sama, it's ready."

"Thank you. Then, I will repatriate the rest of you. Please don't move ... Repatriation!"

The second group of 18 people also disappeared from the tunnel, just like the first 20 people.

"It's fine with this ... Now, let's go back."

[ Kent-sama, wouldn't it be better if you also called out to the people who are doing the rescue work? ]

"True, that's true as well."

Since I went to see the front line of the rescue work using star-attribute magic just now, it was possible to move through the shadow space.

At the forefront of the excavation, the same strong men as before continued to struggle with the bedrock.

I put out a shield of darkness on the side that wouldn't get in the way of their work.

"I know you're busy, but excuse me."

"Uwaa, what are you! Who are you!"

"My name is Kent, I'm an S-rank adventurer from Volzard. At the request of Orlean-san of the Dukas Company, I send the 38 people who were left behind in the tunnel to the surface."

"What! Really!"

"Yes, i sent them to the courtyard of the Dukas Company for the convenience of using the repatriation technique, so you can stop working here."

"Is it okay to trust that story? Is it not a lie?"

"Maa, if you think it's a lie, you can keep digging. I properly told you. Then ..."

"H, hey, wa, wait a minute ..."

No, no, even if I wait, it was going to be an argument, and that would be troublesome, so I won't wait.

When I returned to the courtyard of the Dukas Company, the men who I had sent away were hugging each other and exploding with joy.

"It's the surface! No mistake, there's the sky!"

"We're saved, we were saved!"

Hearing the men's shouts, a large number of people gathered from inside the firm.

Then, it's time for me ...

[ Wait a moment, Kent-sama. ]

"Ehh, what's wrong, Reinhardt."

[ Are you going to join that circle? ]

"Uuh ... True."

In the courtyard, the men who were dirty with sweat, grease, and dust, were shouting and throwing their bodies at each other.

Uwaa, Orlean-san is getting mobbed ... It looked like I should wait a little longer.

The excited men moved from the courtyard with Racole-san's guidance, and Orlean-san, who was finally released, rewarded me with 10,000 Helts per person who was saved, and I returned to Volzard after promising to return for Sybil-san's treatment two days later.