The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting a warm golden glow over the cabin. A cool breeze brushed through the open windows as Yoshiya stirred awake. He sat up, stretching his arms until his joints popped, then glanced to the side.
Omina was already up. She sat by the table, tightening the leather straps on one of the boars' new helmets. The two beasts lay outside, snorting softly in the grass, waiting for their morning feed.
"Morning," Yoshiya greeted, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
Omina looked up with a small grin. "You're finally up. I've already prepped the cart. We just need to eat and we can head out."
Breakfast was simple: smoked meat slices from last night, a bit of bread, and clean water. The boars received their share too—torn chunks tossed to them like loyal war hounds. As they ate, Yoshiya ran his fingers along the cart's frame, checking the wheels and ropes they'd fixed days prior. The new bone wheels still looked sturdy.
"We can't keep relying on raids," he muttered, half to himself. "Loot runs are good… but not stable."
Omina leaned back in her chair. "Then we find something that pays well. Something consistent."
Yoshiya smirked. "Exactly."
By mid-morning, they arrived at the bustling guild outpost. Adventurers crowded around the quest board, merchants haggled over materials, and clerks barked out names for scheduled parties. It felt alive—a marketplace of ambition and desperation.
Yoshiya squeezed his way to the board. Omina stood behind, looming like a guard.
"Here," he said, tapping a parchment pinned at eye level.
[Korvath Mining Guild Contract]
Assist in hauling materials and transporting ore from the foothill mining site. Payment per load. Bonus for special minerals found.
"Mining?" Omina tilted her head.
"It's mostly labor work," Yoshiya explained. "But with the cart and the boars, we can haul more than most teams. It's practical."
She gave a mischievous grin. "I can smash rocks too."
They took the quest slip to the guild clerk—Lia, as usual. She scanned the paper and raised a brow. "Didn't expect you two to take a mining contract. Most adventurers avoid these unless they're desperate for coin."
"Consider us practical," Yoshiya replied.
Lia stamped the slip and handed them a guild token. "Foreman at the foothills is expecting haulers today. Payment's at the site. Try not to collapse any tunnels."
Omina just smirked.
They loaded the cart with pickaxes, lanterns, coils of rope, support beams, and empty sacks. The boars stood ready, snorting in anticipation of the road. Omina climbed up, reins in hand, while Yoshiya sat beside her, reading the contract again.
Several other adventuring parties were heading the same way—some in groups, some solo. A few gave them curious looks, probably wondering why the infamous kobold raiders were taking on a hauling job.
The road to Korvath's foothills wound through thick forest and rocky paths. As the cart rolled, Omina hummed while Yoshiya mapped out their work plan aloud. She nodded along but seemed more excited about physical labor than logistics.
By afternoon, the terrain changed. Forest gave way to rocky slopes. Tents, wagons, and smoke from forges dotted the base of the foothills. The sound of hammers, picks, and clattering stone echoed through the air.
"Looks like we're here," Yoshiya said, hopping off the cart.
A burly foreman approached them, wiping sweat from his forehead. "You're the new haulers from the guild?"
"That's us," Yoshiya answered.
"Good. Offload the supplies over there, then we'll need help reinforcing the eastern tunnel. It's been unstable since last week's quake."
While Yoshiya organized the unloading, Omina—never one to stand still—started lifting heavy beams on her own, carrying them like oversized firewood. Miners stopped what they were doing to stare. She flashed them a grin and dropped the beams exactly where they needed to go.
"Show-off," Yoshiya muttered, though he couldn't help but smile.
The rest of the day slipped into rhythm. Omina hauled rubble, shifted ore sacks, and cleared pathways like it was nothing. Her raw strength quickly earned her a few nods of respect from seasoned miners.
Yoshiya, meanwhile, used his Barrier magic in clever ways: creating temporary supports under cracked beams, stabilizing loose stone walls while miners hammered. His precision and calm efficiency earned quiet admiration.
By late afternoon, their clothes were dusty and their muscles sore, but they worked smoothly—almost like they belonged there.
As they wrapped up, the foreman pointed to a dark, half-collapsed tunnel at the far end of the site.
"No one's touched that section in months," he said. "Dangerous as hell. But rumor is, there's untouched silver deeper inside. You two look like you can handle yourselves… if you're looking to make extra coin."
Omina's eyes gleamed. Yoshiya raised a brow.
"Sounds like tomorrow's problem," he said, smirking.
That night, as the sun dipped behind the hills, they returned to their small camp near the site. The boars rested beside the cart. Yoshiya leaned back, watching the stars appear one by one.
For once, it wasn't a fight that waited for them tomorrow—
It was work. Lucrative, dangerous work.