Before long, the three of them arrived at the mining area, where the miners had stopped to retrieve tools from wooden carts loaded with crates of stones, shovels, and pickaxes.
The air around them grew eerily quiet, broken only by the clinking of pickaxes against stone and the occasional sharp sound of metal striking hard rock, sending shards scattering.
A light breeze rose from the depths below, carrying with it the damp scent of earth and stone, blending with the constant rhythm of labor.
The glow from crystal lamps mounted on wooden posts along the trail shimmered faintly against the rocky walls, casting a surreal veil over the surroundings.
Though the area seemed well-lit, the atmosphere still carried a sense of gloom, as if danger could be lurking in every hidden corner.
Ren paused briefly, his eyes scanning the cracks along the stone wall, as if searching for something concealed.
His hands tightened around the hilt of his sword. Although nothing seemed immediately dangerous, a sense of unease stirred within him.
"This is the main mining area, where we're supposed to be," Ren said, his voice calm yet sharp, like a quiet reminder to himself to stay alert.
"The miners will be extracting copper, iron, and coal here. From what I've heard, this area is relatively safer than others, but we can't afford to lower our guard. Even a small mistake could be dangerous."
Nautilus nodded, his gaze fixed on the miners diligently working. "As long as we avoid the deeper sections, we should be fine, right? Still… I can't shake the feeling that we're going to run into something more than just ore." He paused, a wordless anxiety crossing his expression.
Ren turned to look at Nautilus, his eyes steady. "Your instincts aren't wrong. Even though this area is relatively safe, monsters can still show up if we're not careful.
Mine kobolds, cave bats… they won't hesitate to attack if they feel threatened. Any dark corner or odd rock could be their hiding place."
Yuna, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "We just need to work quickly and carefully. Don't draw attention. As long as we do things right, we should be fine."
The three continued walking, each step taken with caution.
For them, this wasn't just about protecting the miners, it was a real test of their readiness and their ability to handle the unexpected.
They didn't know what awaited ahead, but they all understood that in the darkness of the mine, every decision, every movement, could lead to a greater challenge.
They moved along the narrow mining path, their feet crunching over loose stones, as the glow of the crystal lights slowly faded behind them.
The tunnel narrowed as they went deeper, with tall stone walls rising on either side, some areas eroded, revealing long cracks, possibly remnants of old tremors.
They passed through several mining zones, where miners were still hard at work, showing no signs of any nearby monsters.
Rounding a wide bend, they continued their patrol along a narrow corridor that led deeper underground.
The further they ventured, the quieter it became. The sound of mining tools gradually faded, swallowed by the suffocating silence of the deep.
Ren glanced at his two companions, realizing all three were highly focused, eyes scanning every detail along the path, as if one careless step could spell disaster.
"Still nothing. Seems like we won't run into trouble today," Ren sighed, though his voice retained a trace of tension. "Looks like today just isn't a monster kind of day."
Nautilus didn't reply immediately. Instead, he raised an eyebrow, scanning the air around them. "Maybe… but I still find it hard to believe we'd get through a place like this without encountering something."
"Yeah," Yuna added, a hint of worry in her tone. "It just feels too peaceful. Maybe that's what's making me uneasy?"
The three of them paused for a moment, glancing around. The path ahead remained quiet, showing no signs of monsters or any lurking threat.
The silence was so thick they could almost hear the beating of their own hearts. But after a few more seconds, Ren spoke again.
"Let's head back. There's no reason to go deeper. We've covered a lot of ground and haven't seen anything. Maybe the monsters are avoiding us… or they're simply not here."
They turned back toward the mining zone, the sense of unease still lingering in the air despite the absence of danger.
On the way back, they didn't encounter a single monster. Yet none of them could fully relax.
The thought that the mine's darkness might be hiding something dangerous still clung to their minds.
"…Hey, Ren," Nautilus spoke up, "you mentioned this place was divided into three main zones. We've talked about the main area, and the Abandoned Zone…"
He paused slightly, as if trying to gauge Ren's reaction. "What about the Collapsed Zone?"
All Nautilus got in return was a subtle shake of the head. "I'm not too sure about that place. The people who gave me information… they only made it as far as the Abandoned Zone."
"But apparently, it used to be part of the main mining area before it collapsed and was left behind. Best if we stay away from there. No telling what might be waiting."
Nautilus paused for a moment, his eyes gazing toward the darkness that cloaked the deeper areas of the mine.
A growing unease crept into his every movement. "Really? An abandoned zone like that… there's definitely something off. Especially since it used to be part of the Mining Area."
Ren looked at Nautilus. His expression remained calm, but there was a trace of concern in his eyes. "That's right. And from what I've heard, very few people ever dare venture into the collapsed zone, not even the miners. It might be due to unstable terrain or something dangerous lurking inside."
Yuna quietly listened to Ren and Nautilus's exchange, her eyes briefly flickering once more toward the distant area where the crystal lamps barely lit up a small portion of the space.
"But if there's a hidden danger in the collapsed zone, could it be a hiding place for powerful monsters? A place like that might be where they hide or live."
Ren nodded, realizing Yuna had voiced a thought he himself had considered.
"Quite possibly. If monsters do dwell there, it's no wonder no one wants to face them.
The miners clearly have no intention of checking it out. And I doubt anyone's brave..or foolish, enough to risk going in."
Nautilus sighed and looked once more toward the distant abandoned area, his eyes filled with hesitation. "So what do we do? Weren't we supposed to investigate this place?"
Ren looked at Nautilus, thoughtful. "We can't rush into the collapsed zone right now.
Without solid information about what's waiting in there, we can't afford to be reckless just out of curiosity.
Let's focus on the current task, protecting the miners and getting familiar with the mining area.
When we're better informed and more prepared, then we can think about exploring deeper."
Yuna didn't say anything, she simply nodded in quiet agreement with Ren's decision.
Nautilus thought for a moment, then shrugged without further comment, though the sparkle of unshakable curiosity still lingered in his eyes.
The three of them moved on, each step growing heavier, as if they had reached a threshold where caution and curiosity began to intertwine.
The mine ahead remained silent, but they all knew that the darkness could be hiding anything.
They continued walking through dim corridors, the light from the crystal lamps just enough to illuminate the rough stone walls, each crack and fissure like scars etched by time.
The steady rhythm of pickaxes and shovels striking rock echoed around them, but even that couldn't dispel the vague tension in the air.
Ren glanced at Yuna and Nautilus. They walked side by side, silent, yet the tension in their steps was unmistakable.
The mining operation proceeded as usual, but deep underground, no one could predict what might await.
A while later, they stopped near a bend in the path, where miners were gathered, extracting ore.
Ren felt something odd in the air, a strange stillness that made him glance around, searching for any change.
But perhaps… it was just a fleeting feeling in his mind.
Though that vague sense of foreboding lingered within, throughout the entire patrol, they hadn't encountered a single monster.
Everything passed with an eerie tranquility, no growls, no sign of Kobolds or Cave Bats, only the steady clinking of pickaxes echoing in the depths and the flickering of crystal lamps like the tired breath of the mine itself.
Were they truly lucky?
Ren cast a brief glance at his two companions, then looked ahead again.
Even though nothing unusual had occurred, he didn't allow himself to relax. His hand remained close to the hilt of his sword, his body alert.
Too quiet… far too quiet.
Time was still on their side, and the task of protecting the miners wasn't yet over.
That prolonged silence felt like a thin veil, one that could tear at any moment under the claws lurking in the dark.
Ren said nothing, but his eyes held a quiet vigilance. In the heart of Aincrad, peace was often just the calm before the storm.
And even if they didn't face danger today, that didn't mean it wasn't there.