WebNovels

Chapter 15 - 15. A New Party Member

Finn starts to think a good answer to get Isolde's trust, but he can't really think a single point that can make her to trust her. Pebble looking at him as like he's got nothing to say either for the host because he want him to say it independently.

"I live in the caves," Finn replied honestly. "The Crimson Depths specifically."

"I have been there for nearly a month establishing a base and mining operation. Aria wandered into my territory while being chased by a Stalker."

"It really sounds crazy, but you know, the timing was coincidence. I can hear her scream at the top of her own lungs."

"He dropped a ceiling on it," Aria added with a grin. "Collapsed an entire section of cave right on top of the monster. It was terrifying and brilliant."

"And also I didn't scream that loud!"

Isolde studied them both for a long moment, then seemed to come to some internal decision. Her posture relaxed slightly, though her soldier's wariness did not completely disappear. "Alright, alright, I get it."

"I can see you two have established something functional here, even if it's unusual. But I'm going to be staying in town for the next two weeks, which means I will be keeping an eye on things."

"That's fine," Aria said quickly. "Actually, it might be helpful."

"We could use someone with combat experience for when we go back to the Crimson Depths. The deeper areas are dangerous, and having another warrior or even a knight would make exploration safer."

"You want me to join your mining expeditions?" Isolde raised an eyebrow.

"Why not? You said you needed a break from border patrol."

"What's more relaxing than fighting cave monsters and watching Finn obsessively dig tunnels?" Aria's tone was teasing, but there was genuine hope in her expression.

Finn watched this exchange with interest. Another party member would indeed be useful, especially one with formal combat training.

"Yeah, we needed all the help we can get. Besides, I will also give you some of my finest collection!" Finn thumbs up.

Isolde clearly had reservations about him, but she also clearly cared about Aria's safety. That made her potentially trustworthy, even if she was suspicious.

"I suppose it would be better than sitting around town doing nothing," Isolde said slowly.

"And if you're going into dangerous areas, someone should be there to keep you both from doing anything too reckless." She looked at Finn. "But I want to see what you can actually do first."

"This Excavation skill you mentioned. Show me."

Finn glanced at his quest notification, which was still waiting for him to claim the reward. "Oh yeah, perfect timing!"

"I just unlocked it, so I have not actually tested it yet. But I can show you once I activate the skill."

He focused on the notification and mentally selected to claim the reward. The system window flashed brightly, and suddenly information flooded into Finn's mind. He understood instinctively how to channel his mining power into devastating strikes, how to control the force and direction, how to shape tunnels with precision despite the massive power involved.

[Quest Complete: Depths Delver]

[Reward Claimed!]

[New Skill Unlocked: Excavation (Rank 1)]

[Description: Channel mining power into single devastating strikes that can carve through solid rock. Tunnel creation speed increased by 500%. Precision and control improve with skill rank.]

[Experience Gained: 2,000 points]

[Level Up! You are now Level 27!]

Finn felt the familiar surge of a level-up, his body strengthening slightly. But more importantly, he could feel the new skill settling into place, ready to be used. It was like having a new tool that he instinctively knew how to wield.

"Let's go to the basement tunnel," Finn said, looking at Aria. "I can demonstrate there without risking damage to the workshop."

...

...

The three of them, plus Pebble and Guardian following at Aria's command, made their way down to the basement. Isolde's armor clinked softly as they descended, and Finn noticed she kept her hand near her sword despite the casual atmosphere. Old habits from a soldier's life, probably.

They stood at the tunnel entrance, the fifty meters of carefully excavated passage extending into darkness behind them. Finn walked a few meters in and selected a section of wall that would be safe to expand.

"Watch this," he said, gripping his pickaxe.

He activated Excavation, feeling power flow through his arms and into the tool. The pickaxe began to glow with faint blue light, and when Finn swung it at the wall, the result was spectacular.

"Ora!!!"

The impact sounded like thunder in the confined space. The pickaxe carved through solid rock like it was wet sand, and an entire section of wall simply disappeared, creating a perfectly smooth tunnel extension three meters long in a single strike. Dust and small debris scattered, but the tunnel remained structurally sound, the power somehow shaping the rock rather than just destroying it.

[Rock excavated! Tunnel extended 3 meters]

[Iron Ore obtained! Quantity: 15]

[Experience Gained: 300 points]

The three of them stared at the newly created tunnel section. Aria's face showed excited understanding, Pebble's eyes glowed with pride, and Isolde's expression had shifted from skepticism to genuine shock.

"By the gods," Isolde whispered. "That should not be possible. You just removed three meters of solid rock in a single swing."

"That is what SSS-Rank means," Pebble said smugly. "My host is not an ordinary miner. He is the best miner in this entire world, and he is only getting started."

Finn lowered his pickaxe, slightly exhausted from the power expenditure but grinning at the result. "So, Isolde. Still think I'm just someone who digs holes and collects rocks?"

The knight looked at him with new respect, though the wariness had not entirely left her eyes. "No. I think you are someone who could reshape the underground of this entire region if you wanted to. That is either very useful or very dangerous."

"Why not both?" Aria suggested cheerfully.

Isolde sighed. "This is going to be an interesting two weeks."

"Okay, I'm in. Let's go do something fun in the mines!"

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