Otaku Translation: The Amber Sword V3C45

Please support the translation by reading the translation and commenting on otakutl official site.

Thank you.

Everyone from Otaku Translation

Chapter 45: The Silver Mine, Part 6

The morning in arrived with a faint purple-blue hue stretching across the eastern horizon, gradually dissolving into white as the stars faded behind the curtain of dawn. Silhouettes of forests atop the hills formed unique shapes against the dim light. However, life in the mining district began even earlier. While the sky was still pitch black, the shrill whistle of wooden horns echoed through the camp.

Under the flickering glow of oil lamps, deep shadows stretched across the ground as and the others were summoned out of their quarters. In the chilly predawn air, he stood holding an object that left him momentarily at a loss—a pickaxe. Its rough wooden handle, nearly four feet long, had been smoothed by countless hands over time, devoid of any splinters. The grayish, slightly dulled tip bore the marks of heavy use.

It wasn’t the tool itself that stirred his thoughts but rather the realization that he, someone who had spent years immersed in virtual worlds, was now wielding it once again. For those who had experienced the early days of online gaming, mining often carried a nostalgic charm. Brandon was no exception. He had spent countless hours in dark mineshafts, extracting ore, sorting minerals, and selling high-quality stones on the market.

Though tedious in hindsight, back then, it had been a source of endless excitement—the thrill of watching his in-game character grow stronger with every coin earned. Of course, these achievements belonged to a virtual realm.

Weighing the pickaxe in his hand, Brandon couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony. But as he looked around, his gaze quickly found familiar figures among the crowd—, , and . They had seen the markers he left in the forest the previous night and now blended seamlessly into the workforce, disguised as miners. Their headscarves weren’t unusual for mountain folk, though their dirty clothes were ones Brandon had purchased from the youths, leveraging their connections to facilitate their infiltration.

Yet, the most valuable insight came from the frail youth named —the rumors linking to the . When Koven first mentioned it, Brandon felt a vague idea forming, which later crystallized into a plan. Whether this plan would succeed depended on today’s developments.

Even Brandon hadn’t anticipated such a swift opportunity.

As he mulled over these thoughts, he felt an elbow nudge him from behind. Turning sharply, he saw standing there.

Seeing Brandon lost in thought, Joka had come to warn him: "Be careful. Once you get your tools, move inside quickly—laggards get whipped." With that, the boy slipped past him, whispering softly.

First, Brandon checked his pouch to ensure it was still secure. Then, glancing ahead, he noticed Koven nodding discreetly from afar—it seemed the frail youth had sent Joka to remind him.

After a brief period of interaction yesterday, these youths were less wary of him. Yet, Koven’s willingness to assist stemmed from gratitude, likely motivated by a desire not to owe Brandon anything. This aligned with Brandon’s expectations, though he hadn’t expected Koven to hold significant sway within the group.

Nodding to himself, Brandon quickened his pace to catch up, asking quietly, "Where should I go?"

Joka, aware that Brandon’s presence here was merely a cover, wasn’t surprised by the question. "If you don’t know, just follow us. I’ll show you where the richest veins are."

"Thank you."

"This isn’t free service," Joka quipped, rubbing his fingers together in a gesture for payment. "You’ve got money, right?"

"Naturally." Brandon smiled faintly.

As they descended deeper into the mine, the light softened and dimmed. After exhausting the shallow veins, humans had dug deep shafts to access richer deposits beneath Shafrend. Below the rugged layers of Graharl Mountain, tunnels snaked through the rock, illuminated only by scattered oil lamps casting stark contrasts between light and shadow.

But Brandon and Joka weren’t alone in venturing underground. Workers streamed into the tunnels from various entrances, dispersing rapidly. Brandon scanned the area, spotting Yuta, Metissa, and Cinnabar blending effortlessly into the throng. Reassured, he turned his attention forward, following Joka silently.

The destination Joka led them to lay far belowground, though not at the mine’s deepest point. According to Koven, the lowest levels connected to Yhaggoroth. Brandon suspected it might link to the uppermost layer—the so-called "." This labyrinthine expanse, riddled with interconnected paths, posed a formidable barrier between Yhaggoroth and the surface world. Moreover, the Great Hive teemed with monsters, making it anything but peaceful.

Mining operations primarily occurred in the mid-upper levels. After descending via a rudimentary lift, Brandon and Joka trudged along low-ceilinged tunnels for about ten minutes before reaching their designated work area.

What happened next startled Joka.

The boy had assumed Brandon would struggle with the cramped, oppressive environment, preparing to slow down to accommodate him. These lower tunnels were narrower than the upper ones, prone to causing injuries if one wasn’t careful. But contrary to his expectations, Brandon moved with ease, navigating the space like a seasoned veteran. His techniques surpassed even Joka’s own, some of which the youth had never encountered.

Joka was dumbfounded. Far from being a novice, Brandon displayed skills rivaling those of miners with decades of experience. Progressing at nearly double the usual speed, Joka struggled to keep up, sweat pouring down his face as they finally stopped.

Panting heavily, Joka wiped his brow. He hadn’t felt this winded since his apprentice days.

Brandon then activated a light source. Given the thin air underground, open flames were impossible. Instead, he produced a fluorescent crystal—cheap and dim, barely brighter than a weak candle. Its pale gray glow outlined jagged shadows on the surrounding walls.

Still, Brandon had to admit the spot Joka chose was promising. The rock gleamed faintly purple—not the natural color of silver ore but likely indicative of magic-infused minerals. Such occurrences weren’t rare; often hosted various magical byproducts. Based on his extensive experience, Brandon deduced a rich vein lay behind this layer, potentially yielding high-quality ore or valuable byproducts.

Confident in his judgment, Brandon heard approaching footsteps. Turning, he saw Koven, , and the others. They appeared astonished. "Joka, how did you two get here so fast?"

Joka glanced at Brandon, still catching his breath, and nodded toward his companions.

"This is a good spot," Brandon remarked, studying the rock face.

"Hmph," Mahler sneered. "You can tell?"

"The purplish tint suggests traces of —a rare byproduct." Brandon gestured to the slanted streaks on the rock. "Have you ever found here?"

"Striated what?" Mahler frowned.

"Striated quartz, also known as ." Brandon replied.

"Isn't that just fake crystal? How could something like that be found in a silver mine?" Mahler shook his head dismissively. "If that's what you're after, you've definitely come to the wrong place."

"Not exactly," Brandon corrected. Striated quartz was not truly quartz at all, but rather a rare micro-magical mineral, known for its soft, shimmering glow reminiscent of moonlight. In truth, it belonged more rightly among the , sharing their ethereal beauty and arcane potential. These stones were scattered generously across the great mineral veins of the world, though most were dull, brittle things, barely worth the trouble of extraction.

Yet among them, there existed a rarer kind—a kind spoken of with reverence by enchanters and jewelwrights alike. The finest striated quartz, flawless and thrumming with latent power, was called the . It was these rare specimens that were sought after for the crafting of magical rings, serving as the core reservoir of mana, the silent heart from which spells might one day be drawn.

In the silver mines, striated quartz appeared often, though seldom in any worthy form. What emerged there was cloudy, cracked, and largely useless. Still, its presence was not without meaning—for wherever striated quartz threaded through silver-veined rock, cold iron was never far behind, as if the two had been born of the same deep, forgotten fire.

"You’re digging in the wrong direction," Brandon continued, pointing to the glowing wall. "Follow this path, and you might uncover cold iron."

Mahler exchanged glances with the others. "Why are you telling us this? Are you sure you’re not pulling our legs?"

Had it been yesterday, they wouldn’t have believed him. But now, skepticism waned. Besides, Brandon had no reason to deceive them.

Indeed, Brandon spoke from pure experience, offering advice without ulterior motives.

"So, how do we dig?" the girl behind Koven asked.

Please vote for this novel at

https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-amber-sword/

If you would like to support this translation, you may choose any one of the options below.