With just a few swings of the pickaxe, Shigeo's body began to heat up again.
Seeing him stagger, Fūka Koyuki quickly rushed over, snatched the pickaxe from his hands, and said:
"You're not well yet, go rest to the side. I'll do it…"
Despite her crying and trembling outside the mine earlier, now she was unbelievably brave, grabbing the tool from Shigeo and working with determination.
But she was still only a young girl, unaccustomed to hardship. After just a few swings, she was already gasping for breath.
Shigeo stepped forward again, took the pickaxe back, and said:
"Better let me handle it."
He resumed digging slowly, but his sharp senses were scanning the surroundings at the same time. He could feel the five small tailed beasts following closely nearby.
Even though his body was weak, he could still mold chakra—but with the Cursed Seal of Heaven still in the process of fusing, he wasn't sure what consequences using chakra would bring.
But he didn't care. There was no way he'd let Koyuki spend her days breaking rocks in a mine like this.
Through his sensing technique, he discovered that in a back cave used as a living quarters, there was a vault filled with dozens of chests of gold refined from the mined ore.
"Little Kyūbi, Little Rokubi…" Shigeo used the Mirror System to speak with the tailed beasts.
"Tonight, when the cave is empty, blow this place up, understood?"
"Awoo!" the two little beasts replied, and scampered off toward the back tunnels.
For creatures so small, their power was anything but insignificant. Launching a Bijūdama to collapse a mine was nothing but child's play for them.
Shigeo finally felt more at ease, quietly resuming his "work." But even after half a day, he and Koyuki hadn't managed to fill a single basket of ore.
One of the black-cloaked overseers nearly lashed them with a whip in anger, but someone stopped him:
"They're different. Do what you want with the others, but those two—especially that girl—are prime ransom goods. Don't damage them."
It was the very same slaver who had brought them here on his cart. His eyes gleamed greedily as he looked at Shigeo.
"What good are ransom goods if they can't even walk out of here alive?" one overseer sneered.
"They'll live long enough. You don't kill ransom stock on the first day. And that girl—she's the princess of the Land of Snow. Who knows what kind of muscle might come sniffing around? Best to keep her intact. As for that blind brat, who cares? His father's just a castle lord—might cough up some money, but that's it. Beat him as much as you want."
The slaver sneered at Shigeo. "Should've given me that gold bar earlier. Thought you could hide it from me? I'll make you pay for that mistake."
"You want revenge, don't you?" Shigeo retorted coldly.
"You couldn't find my gold when you searched me, and now you want to settle the score? Joke's on you. I don't have any left to give."
The man's face stiffened, then he forced a laugh and waved his hands.
"Don't talk nonsense. I'm loyal to the Kurotsuchi clan! Besides, my boss already gave me my cut. Why would I need scraps from you? Impossible, impossible…"
Still, before leaving the cave, he cast Shigeo a venomous glare. The kid was his ticket to riches. If he played this right, he could ransom him off and live comfortably for the rest of his days, free of the Kurotsuchi clan's bloody shadow.
That night, when rations were distributed, Shigeo and Koyuki received none—the punishment for failing to fill a single basket.
Watching the other miners devour their pitiful portions, Koyuki swallowed hard.
"Are you hungry? Too bad they took my water pouch. At least we could've had some water."
Her face was smeared with dirt, but her eyes still shone brightly as she forced a smile.
Shigeo wiped her cheek gently and slipped a piece of candy into her mouth.
Her eyes widened in shock. The sweetness spread across her tongue, and she broke into a delighted smile, looking as radiant as a peach blossom.
"Shh, don't say anything," Shigeo whispered.
He had plenty of food stored away in his extradimensional scrolls—military rations, snacks, fruit. Starving them was impossible.
"Mm!" she nodded, munching happily. After the candy, came a cookie, then chips, then fruit. Koyuki's spirits lifted, her cheeks glowing with childish joy.
That night, the captives slept on crude mats in the dining cave. The girls were placed at the outer edges. Shigeo lay beside Koyuki.
But in the dead of night—
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion rocked the mine. The mountainside shook violently as the tunnels collapsed in on themselves.
The Kurotsuchi henchmen panicked, while several of the captives seized the chance to flee.
"Big brother, wake up!" Koyuki pushed Shigeo urgently.
"Everyone's escaping—please, wake up!"
But Shigeo, feigning unconsciousness, didn't move an inch. Tears welled in Koyuki's eyes, but she refused to abandon him.
Just then, the slaver walked in.
He strode straight to Shigeo, hoisted him over his shoulder, and started for the exit.
Koyuki rushed after him. "What are you doing? Put him down!"
"Hah! If not for your Snow Country ties, I'd take you too. Get lost, brat!" He kicked Koyuki in the stomach, sending her sprawling, then carried Shigeo out of the cave.
(End of Chapter)
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