Chapter 554: Infinite Mine 3

Before entering the contaminated mine, Ian visited the magic shop that was in the spirit village and sold off all the attribute essences that he had.

The attribute essences that he got from breaking the dungeon weren't that small, but it wasn't enough to accumulate three hours' worth of time.

'Uh, isn't it a waste to use medium essences?'

The lowest essences gave 6 seconds.

The lesser ones gave around 42 seconds.

If a medium essence was placed, it would give 294 seconds.

That would be five minutes.

'I have around 7 medium attribute essences... if I use them, then I can earn another 35 minutes at max.'

Ian checked the time limit.

If he placed the lowest and the lesser essences in there, it would give him around 30 minutes. Even then, it still wasn't enough to accumulate three hours' worth of time.

Far from the needed 3 hours, Ian could only accumulate 1 hour.

The quest would definitely fail.

Fortunately, 77 wasn't the kind of guy who would give an impossible task.

"77!"

"Huh?"

"How can I place all of the attribute essences?"

Ian, who had been busy using medium quality essences, asked 77.

It seemed like there was a way.

After a moment, 77 entered the control room without saying anything to Ian.

'What is he going to do?'

A few seconds later, 77 came out and gave something to Ian.

Tring-!

[Obtained the 'Spirit Pickaxe' item from P-77.]

"...?"

77 spoke to Ian as soon as the system message appeared.

"Ian, do you see the small cave out there?"

"Huh?"

"Go inside and mine there."

"Mine?"

"Yeah. If you can enter there, you will be able to mine attribute essences."

Ian looked at 77, then shifted his gaze toward the mine.

He felt a bit dissatisfied.

'Is this bastard ordering me around?'

After a while...

Tring-!

[You have entered the spirit mine A-12 zone.]

[You have entered the mine for the first time.]

[For the next 12 hours, the mining's success rate is increased by 15%.]

[For the next 12 hours, the chances of obtaining high-grade minerals have been increased.]

[Fame increased by 100,000.]

[Instant map.]

[This area is accessible only during the quest of 'P-77 Request (Hidden)'.]

Ian, who found the reward and the buff, couldn't help but be happy.

The dissatisfaction he felt toward 77 a while ago had disappeared.

* * *

"Uh, Chesk. Did you find anything on your end?"

"Yeah. The content that can be done right away is over."

"I don't get it. What kind of Middle-Earth content is this? Does the content end here?"

After Ian swept through the content, Ralph's group arrived late to the spirit village and was completely filled with displeasure.

The Abyss Valley Quest which they had found after numerous trials had been snatched away, and it was impossible for them. When they proceeded to the next map, the sanctuary that came after the valley was in a twist.

However, if they had any other quest, the situation would have been different.

'I shouldn't have given up on the expedition of the Underworld to come here.'

Ralph was grinding his teeth.

To be honest, even if he did go to the Underworld, there wasn't great content there either.

They were going to be blocked at the Acheron river, so no further progress could be made.

However, if he went to the Underworld, the guild would get more support with its expansion.

There was no other party that could be as efficient as a guild party hunting.

'I could have at least leveled up by an additional 6 transcendence...'

Ralph was in a bad mood as he sighed.

On the other hand, the other members of the party who had entered the Spirit Dimension didn't have expressions.

Ralph, whose head was filled with millions of thoughts, spoke to Chesk.

"By the way, Chesk."

"Huh?"

"Inisco, why isn't that guy coming?"

"Yeah. It has been quite a while. Maybe he found some kind of content?"

At those words from Chesk, the expression of Ralph became nastier.

"Hmm.. he isn't trying to take in the content all for himself, right?"

"Ah, there is no way..."

However, both the faces of Ralph and Chesk were filled with anxiety.

After a while, their anxiety was cleared because they saw Insico approaching the from the distance.

Ralph gulped.

Insico was the last person to come back after searching for quests.

If he came back without any information, it was like coming back empty-handed.

As Insico got near them, Ralph, who was restless, asked him.

"Insico, have you found anything?"

The moment Ralph had asked, all the eyes of the party members turned toward Inisco.

Inisco's mouth dried up.

"What? No one other than me has found any content?"

"...!"

Everyone couldn't help but feel shocked at what they heard from Insico.

It was like Insico was trying to tell them that he had found something.

"Don't twist your words and tell me what you've found out quickly, Insico. Did you find anything? Is that what you are trying to say?"

Insico nodded and responded, "Hyungs, we are a bit too stupid."

"...?"

"What do you mean?"

"The quests always start from the village."

"...?"

At the words of Insico which seemed to be endless, Ralph was rather puzzled.

He already talked with NPCs in the spirit village.

"Ah, this is frustrating. Tell us already!"

At the urging of Chesk, Insico smiled and spoke.

"You all remember the 'Spirit Seal' that was in the village, right?"

At the words of Insico, all the party members nodded their heads.

"I know. You are talking about the shabby building at the entrance of the village?"

"Right."

All the party members looked at Inisco once again.

"Then, by any chance, has anyone of you went in?"

"...?"

All the party members shook their head with blank expressions, and Chesk who was shaking his head asked, "We couldn't get inside... Were you able to enter?"

"You couldn't go in, so why is it that no one can enter that place?"

"Hmm?"

"If we pay 500 asters, we could get in."

At the words from Inisco, Ralph asked, "Aster? What is that?"

"I think it is some kind of currency in the Spirit dimension."

"How did you know that?"

"How d'you get it?"

Taking a moment, Inisco took out a small attribute essence from his hand and spoke again.

"Everybody will probably have this in their inventory. We can go over to the magic shop and then get some aster, kay?"

"Oh!"

Honestly, the idea of selling something at a store and getting the currency needed was something that anyone could think of.

The only reason why Inisco was able to be in the party was because he was the only summoner who could be contacted.

The shops in the spirit dimension sold items that were only related to the spirit content, so the users of the other classes had nothing to buy there.

On the other hand, Inisco, like Ian, tried to purchase a skill book that was related to the spirit magic, and in the process, he was able to obtain information about the aster.

Inisco continued, "Somehow, I paid 500 aster and was able to get inside. And after clearing the first stage, I came here."

"The first stage?"

"Uh, yeah, the first stage has been cleared by me, and I got these."

Inisco proudly shared the item information in the party window.

-Lowest Enhancement Stone (Transcendence): Miscellaneous item

The party members who had checked the item information window were very surprised.

"...!"

None of them knew what it was and how it would work, but it was the very first time for them to see such an item.

What Inisco said next surprised everyone even more.

"Once the 500 hundred aster has been paid, until one fails or decides to give up, the stages will continue."

"Uh, this is interesting, right?"

"And since I am doing the content with you guys, I did exactly one stage and then got out of there."

Chesk rubbed the hair of Inisco and exclaimed in joy.

"Keu, you are indeed our junior!"

"Haha, right?"

However, Ralph wasn't deceived by Inisco.

"Tell me everything clearly and honestly."

"What?"

"The first stage was hard to break, right?"

"What?"

"The first stage was too hard for you to break, so you came to get us for the second stage?"

"...!"

"You needed the party's help."

"No, that isn't it!"

At the keen insight of Ralph, Inisco could feel cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

* * *

Kang- Kang- Kang-!

Inside the dimly lit mine, a bleak sound of something breaking could be heard.

[You have successfully mined out minerals!]

[High mining technology maintains the grade of the minerals.]

[Obtained 'Lesser Fire attribute Essence' item.]

Each time he saw the system message pop up, Ian couldn't help but grin.

His ability and mining skills were entirely different from the time when he first mined in the mines of Devildom.

He overcame his lack of talent in mining with effort.

'Keu, great! Before I get out of here, I need to rip this mine off.'

Ian was being greedy.

At least in the game, he was greedier compared to anyone else.

That was why he had a ton of quests. He wanted to get as much reward as possible.

'With an average of 10 seconds of mining, the lowest essence... and with 20 seconds, the lesser essence, the medium level is taking 40 seconds...'

Even while mining there, the mind of Ian wasn't calm. His mind was constantly working.

'If I dig like crazy without stopping, I will be able to keep a whole lot of minerals with me even after accumulating enough time for the time limit.'

While using the lowest attribute essence, the quest time would be increased by 6 seconds.

On the other hand, the mining time was about 10 seconds, so he was going to lose around 4 seconds.

However, the lesser essence had a different story.

The lesser essence took around 14 to 15 seconds and would extend the time limit by 42 seconds.

The medium essences could be mined from time to time. It could extend the duration of the time limit for an additional 5 minutes.

Ian hadn't mined a higher grade essence yet, but he was certain that it would add a lot of time to the quest's time limit.

'I'm going to try for the lesser and the medium attribute essences. I won't be getting out of here until the discovery buff is over.'

Ian's eyes were shining in the dark.

Ian picked up the axe and hit the ground...

[You have successfully mined the minerals!]

[Due to your high mining technology, mineral grade has been maintained.]

[You have obtained the 'Higher Wind essence' item.]

[You have mined an attribute essence of a higher grade for the first time!]

[Transcendence experience has been increased by 300.]

[Fame has been increased by 50,000!]

Ian was filled with greed as he read the system messages that appeared.