Aldo continues mining for ore in the mines today. If only this pickaxe were made from dark spirit materials, it would enhance my physical abilities and make the work easier, he thought briefly.
However, bringing such a dangerous item to work would be out of the question. If someone accidentally used a pickaxe imbued with dark spirit power, it could lead to a catastrophe.
So, he resigned himself to working with an ordinary pickaxe and his usual physical strength. While he toiled, his thoughts drifted to his daughter. After all, today was the first day Clara would be coming to their home. Aldo swung his pickaxe, hoping that Iris and Clara would get along well.
โClara-san! Teach me magic!โ
Iris looked at Clara, who had just arrived at their house, with an eager and admiring gaze. Even though Clara wasnโt actively using light magic, her eyes seemed to shine brilliantly.
โAlright, alright, donโt rush. Before actually casting magic, you need to get used to the power of mana. If you donโt, you might end up getting mana-sick and wobbling around like last time,โ Clara said gently.
โUghโฆโ
Iris flinched at the comment. She knew she had caused Aldo trouble by suddenly passing out in public after overexerting herself.
โBut donโt worry, Iris-chan. They say that mages who experience mana sickness tend to grow stronger in the future!โ
โWho says that?โ
Iris tilted her head in curiosity, and Clara did the same.
โUmโฆ some great mage from the past?โ
โOh, I see,โ Iris replied, her words as airy as Claraโs explanation.
โWell, putting that asideโฆ Focus on the energy around your lower abdomen again,โ Clara instructed.
โYes, Master Clara!โ
Iris saluted and then concentrated her efforts, tightening her focus on the area below her navel.
โHold that state. Even if you feel a little wobbly, try to endure it.โ
โE-Endure it? Uh-ohโฆโ
Iris swayed on her feet before collapsing to the ground.
โAre you okay, Iris-chan?โ
โIโm fineโฆ Just felt a bit lightheaded.โ
โYouโre already holding out longer than last time! Keep it up, and youโll be able to use magic in no time!โ Clara clenched her fist encouragingly. Iris blushed, fidgeting shyly behind her back.
โHey, Clara-san, do you think I can become a mage if I keep practicing like this?โ
โOf course, Iris-chan! Youโll become an amazing mage!โ
Iris fidgeted even more. Clara couldnโt quite understand why Iris was acting this way, but she found the girlโs behavior endearing.
โUmโฆ If I became a Digger, could I go into dungeons with Dad?โ
โHuh?โ
Clara scratched her head, caught off guard by Irisโs sudden statement, unsure how to respond.
โWell, umโฆ To become a Digger, you have to join the Diggerโs Guild first!โ
โThen Iโll join!โ
Iris declared without hesitation. Clara let out a sigh.
โWell, hereโs the thing, Iris-chan. While there isnโt an age limit to becoming a Digger, you need to be strong enough to be recognized. Even Aldo-san was only accepted because he had the skills to defeat dark spirits.โ
Though Aldoโs combat skills barely passed the bar, his aptitude for excavation had significantly boosted his evaluation, allowing him to qualify as a Digger.
Iris, on the other hand, was an ordinary girl with no combat abilities and no natural aptitude for excavation like Aldo. Realistically, it would be a tough path for her.
โThen Iโll just sneak into a dungeon!โ
โNo way! If someone without Digger certification goes into a dungeon, the guards will arrest them!โ
โUghโฆโ
Iris pouted in frustration but didnโt seem ready to give up.
โSo, if I get stronger, I can become a Digger, right?โ
โUhโฆ Wellโฆโ
Clara realized sheโd made a mistake. Aldo hadnโt explicitly said anything, but he was almost certainly against Iris becoming a Digger. It wasnโt something Iris should aspire to, but now that she knew there was no age restriction, her determination was unstoppable.
Clara wasnโt good at lying. She couldnโt bring herself to falsely claim there was an age limit to dissuade Iris.
โRightโฆ First, you need to overcome your mana sickness. Letโs start there!โ Clara deflected the conversation.
It was true that no Digger suffered from mana sickness. Most Diggers could use magic, and while it wasnโt a strict requirement, being able to wield magic significantly boosted combat capability.
In other words, the ability to use magic was vital for Diggers. No one foolish enough to attempt the role while dealing with mana sickness had ever succeeded.
โOkay, Iโll try harder!โ
Iris leaped to her feet and resumed focusing on drawing energy from below her navel.
The mana stored there coursed through her body, helping her attune to the magical capacity she possessed.
โKeep that state for an hour. If you canโt manage that, becoming a Digger will be tough.โ
โGot it! Iโll do my best!โ
In reality, being ready to cast magic at any moment was an essential skill for dungeon survival, where combat could break out at any time. A mage who couldnโt maintain their focus for even an hour would struggle to succeed as a Digger.
Fifteen minutes later, another change occurred in Irisโs bodyโฆ
โAh, I canโt do it anymoreโฆโ
Iris wobbled and staggered, finally collapsing to the floor.
โIris-chan, how about we take a break? If you push yourself too hard, it could backfire.โ
โYeah.โ
After a bit of recovery, Iris sat down on the floor, staring intently at Clara.
โHey, Clara-san, why did you decide to become a Digger?โ
โWhyโฆ well, I guess it was because there werenโt many other jobs available. You see, Iโm strong, after all.โ
Clara awkwardly tried to dodge the question, a bit flustered.
โIโve heard from my dad that youโre strong, Clara-san, but if thatโs the case, there should be other jobs you could do.โ
In fact, there were many other jobs where strength could be useful, like being a guard or an exorcist, who defeats the evil spirits that the spirits couldnโt seal away in dungeons.
โI felt like the spirits were crying.โ
โHuh?โ
โIโve been inside a dungeon before. Of course, at the time, I didnโt have the qualifications to be a Digger, so I really shouldnโt have gone in.โ
Clara began to calmly talk about her past. Iris gulped nervously as she listened.
โLuckily, I didnโt encounter any evil spirits, butโฆ I got lost in the dungeon and couldnโt get out.โ
โEh? Isnโt that a big deal?โ
โYeah, it was. It was tough. I wanted to cry, but if I did, the evil spirits might find me, so I couldnโt. I had to hold in my cries and waited, hoping the time would pass.โ
Iris felt like she could understand Claraโs feelings. Clara had essentially been trapped in the dungeon. Iris herself had once been confined to her house by Aldo. And both had faced fear, not knowing when that source of fear might appear.
โIn the end, a Digger rescued me. It felt like I was in the dungeon for about 10 hours, but it was only an hour in reality. Thatโs how terrifying it was insideโฆโ
โWhy did you want to become a Digger, even though you have such trauma?โ
โYeahโฆ Itโs because of the scary experience. I know that the spirits donโt want to be sealed away in dungeons, but theyโre sacrificing themselves to protect humans from evil spirits. But being alone in a dungeon must be lonely and frightening. Thatโs why I want to free the spirits with my own hands.โ
Claraโs words carried weight, and Iris felt the contrast. Iris had planned to become a Digger just because she wanted to be with Aldo, a much lighter reason. Compared to Claraโs deep resolve, Iris felt a little ashamed of her own childish motivation.
โClara-sanโฆ I also want to help the spirits. So, Iโll try even harder!โ
โHehe, thatโs a good attitude!โ
Having experienced the loneliness and fear of being alone, Iris too felt the desire to help the spirits.