I Will Fulfill the Role of the Villain

Chapter 67

“A hideout in a mine, huh... But isn’t it possible Angela’s brother and the smugglers were just putting on a show, dressing up and carrying equipment to avoid drawing suspicion from the locals?”

Theo raised a valid point. The smugglers could have disguised themselves as miners to blend in, not necessarily heading to a mine. They might have gone elsewhere entirely.

“Theo, do you remember the monsters we found trapped when we raided the smuggling operation in Conenium?”

Theo nodded slowly.

“Some of them were barely alive, teetering on the brink of death.”

“Of course. Monsters that can’t be sold would have to burn through their mana just to survive in such harsh conditions.”

Luke smirked, snapping his fingers with a gleam in his eyes that made Theo involuntarily flinch. That mischievous smile—it was disarming even now.

“That’s exactly the point. When I first found this little guy...”

Luke grabbed Theo’s collar lightly and tugged. The small, furry creature nestled inside, the Turfush, darted its eyes around as if asking, “Did you call me?”

“I noticed its mana state was in excellent condition. How should I put it...?”

“The flow of its mana was stable?”

“Exactly. That’s it.”

Magicians who used mana knew that once their reserves were depleted, they couldn’t perform at full strength. Much like how exhaustion and stress affected ordinary people, magicians would become irritable and fatigued without sufficient mana. However, receiving a steady supply of high-quality mana could completely reverse these negative effects. Magicians often referred to this as having their mana flow “stabilized” or “improved.”

Monsters, being mana-based creatures, operated on a similar principle. It stood to reason that this little one had likely benefited from the same dynamic.

“In other words, before I found it, this guy had been supplied with an incredibly pure and abundant source of mana. And the cleanest, most untainted medium for that kind of mana is...”

“...Mana stones.”

“Exactly. Only mana stones.”

And not just any mana stones, but raw, unrefined ones untouched by human hands. Such stones held exceptionally pure mana.

“So, putting it all together, the smugglers are using a section of the mine as a base, where they’re keeping the smuggled monsters near those abundant mana stones, right?”

Luke nodded in agreement with Theo’s summary. While the idea of smugglers operating out of a mine might sound far-fetched, it wasn’t entirely implausible. After all, miners were human, and unless disturbed, mana stones were harmless rocks.

“What do you think?” Luke asked, watching Theo stroke his chin, deep in thought.

Theo considered the evidence: the newly emerged smuggling ring, the undeveloped mines scattered throughout Podina, and Angela’s missing brother. When pieced together, Luke’s theory seemed highly credible.

“I’m glad I brought you along.”

Luke flinched. He had expected Theo to throw in a few more challenges or sharp remarks. Back in their military days, Theo had always started with counterarguments whenever Luke presented an idea. Not that Luke had been any different, of course.

“Uh, yeah?”

That was why Theo’s straightforward acknowledgment felt so unfamiliar to Luke.

Luke had always known Theo well, but he’d never considered whether the reverse was true. In his efforts to ensure the protagonist’s happy ending, he had never sought validation or recognition for himself. As long as the story ended well and Luke could live a quiet, ordinary life afterward, that was enough.

A green flag indicated a mine that was fully explored, developed, and stable for mana stone extraction. Blue flags were for mines still in the process of exploration and development, meaning they were riskier and typically restricted to experienced miners.

“And a red flag means the mine is so dangerous that exploration and development aren’t feasible,” the miner concluded.

“Does the village officially restrict access to red-flagged mines?” Luke asked, leaning into the conversation.

“Not exactly. It’s more of a warning, you know? Like saying, ‘Go in, and you’ll probably die.’ Occasionally, some overly adventurous idiots try their luck and never come back, but there aren’t any strict regulations against it.”

The reasoning seemed straightforward. The mere presence of a red flag was enough to deter most miners, so the village didn’t see the need to enforce a strict ban. After all, Podina already had an abundance of fully operational mines producing the major mana stones needed.

“So basically, unless someone has a specific reason or purpose, no one in their right mind would enter a red-flagged mine.”

At the miner’s words, Theo and Luke exchanged a silent glance.

“A specific reason or purpose.” That phrase hung heavily in the air between them.

***

“Wow, every time I come here, I can’t help but think, isn’t it way too cold in here?”

“It’s because of the mana stones buried in this mine, or so they say.”

Two men, bundled up in thick clothing, rubbed their arms briskly as they trudged deeper into the dark, cavernous tunnel. The mine, untouched by human hands for years, lacked any signs of development—no lighting, no tracks—only the raw power of nature and mana lingering in the stillness.

“Let’s just check on things and head back quickly. Standing near the boss makes this godforsaken cold a little more bearable.”

“Speaking of the boss, what do you think they’re really up to?”

“...Who knows? Thinking about it too much isn’t worth the trouble. We just do what we’re told.”

“True, as long as we get paid.”

Their idle chatter echoed off the stone walls as they arrived at a small side passage branching off from the main corridor. One of the men grabbed a torch hanging from the wall, lighting it with a candle that had been left nearby. The flame illuminated their surroundings, casting flickering light onto the narrow path ahead.

“Hey, still alive, huh?”

The other man squatted down in front of a dead-end wall, his voice laced with mockery. As the firelight spread, it revealed the bars of a makeshift prison, their blackened iron poles radiating an ominous aura. Inside the cage, another man shivered violently, clutching himself for warmth in nothing but thin clothing.

“Can’t we just finish him off ourselves?”

“No way. The boss said it has to look like he froze to death naturally. Apparently, this guy has family or something.”

“P-please... let me live...”

A weak, cracked voice emerged from the cage. It was pitiful, but the two men remained unmoved, their sole purpose seemingly to confirm whether he was alive or dead. Satisfied with their observation, they stood up slowly.

“See? This is what happens when you mess up, Bruce. If you’d just done what you were told, none of this would’ve happened.”

“Yeah, if you hadn’t gotten the bright idea to report us to the Imperial Army, you wouldn’t be in this mess.”

Ignoring the man inside, who was desperately clinging to what little life he had left, the two smugglers turned and walked away, their voices fading into the distance.

“Sniff... Sis... Sis...”

From within the cage, faint sobs echoed, the man’s trembling voice barely audible in the frigid silence.