The mine’s abnormalities

 
 I continued my search with the magic excavator.
The iron ore has been considerably spoiled.
Allowing me to only excavate here, isn’t that a difficult condition to place before the test?
 Well, there’s no point in complaining.
At any rate, we’ll have to search all the other places from top to bottom.
 I pushed ahead while driving the magic excavator and disposing of any monsters that came out along the way.
It may be my imagination, but I get the feeling that the monsters are increasing the further in I go.
 Then after pushing ahead steadily, I noticed that the air was stale.
There was no safe iron ore in this area.
The cave’s walls also seemed to be in a rotten state.
I’ve been driving the excavator on these paths, which is why I’m able to keep going on.
The ground was also sodden, it was an extremely bad road.
 However, no monsters seem able to approach in these circumstances.
Even I wouldn’t be safe if I didn’t have my magic excavator, work clothes and helmet.
 Seeing as there was no iron ore to collect, it felt pointless to continue any further, but there was something strangely curious about what lay ahead.
 This bizarre stagnation in the air is evidence of an outbreak of miasma.
Furthermore, the concentration.
If it reaches this level of miasma, then naturally, many objects would rot away, and it would be harmful to living creatures.
It wouldn’t be strange if they died after setting foot in this place even for a short bit.
 In fact, there was a dead creature on the way here.
Its body has turned purple and is so mangled that it has lost its original point, so I have no idea what it originally was.
 And when I went even further in, I hit a dead end.
However, just because it’s a dead end, doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road.
 
 ”I wonder what’s up with these stones.”
 

 In the midst of all this miasma, there was a large, shiny black stone sitting on the ground.
The stone had a magic circle engraved on it.
 However, the stone was partially cracked and the miasma seemed to be leaking from there.
 Hmm, but this stone… I see.
Could that be what’s going on?
 I don’t know, but I’ll have to ask Jay for more details.
 But now I just need to figure out what to do about the iron, huh…
 While I was thinking such, something approached with a clanging sound.
A humanoid monster made of metal? I didn’t know there was a monster that could move around in these circumstances.
 The colour of the metal portion is excessively ominous.
No, it’s not just the colour, but also the appearance that’s sickening and ominous.
 Hmm, it has four arms, huh.
The monster with such an appearance increased its speed and came at me the moment it saw me.
It leaped, just barely grazing the ceiling, then fell and swung the sword extended from its arm.
 I parried it with the magic excavator, then struck it with a counter attack.
However, it’s hard.
It continuously attacked with the swords extended from its remaining three arms.
 As expected, it doesn’t break, as the magic excavator is sturdy.
It won’t break even if it gets somewhat cut.
 
 ”Eat this!”
 

 I sprayed out the freezing gas that had been installed as an option.
The monster immediately recoiled backwards and fell back.
 Alright, the preparations are in place.
Furthermore, the magic excavator’s bucket has been changed into a magic burner gun.
Now to spray that frozen body with flames!
 
 ”— !?”
 
 The armour of the four-armed monster shattered and collapsed.
After cooling it down in one go, it expanded when heat was applied, and was destroyed.
It’s called thermal expansion.
 Now, the monster isn’t moving anymore, but I’m somewhat curious about it.
Alright, let’s retrieve it!
 I gripped it with the excavator’s fork and moved off just like that.
Once I emerged from the miasma, I dropped it and began the dismantling work.
 This guy was almost made entirely of iron ore inside.
And also, it hasn’t corroded.
This can be turned into iron.
And I’ve also managed to get ahold of a fine magic stone.
 Alright, we’ve managed to achieve our goal for the time being.
Let’s head for the exit.
 Various monsters attacked me on the way, but I eliminated them all and left the mine.
 Then I move on to the dwarven town.
 

 ”Oh my, you made it safely back from the mountain!” (Sten)
 
 As soon as I entered the town, I met Sten.
She looked somewhat panicked.
 
 ”Safely?” (Wirk)
 
 I was curious about the way she said it, so I asked her about it.
Then she explained with a troubled look on her face.
 
 ”That place has been overrun by monsters for a while now, and the iron ore can no longer be mined there.
That mine has since been closed and no one has been allowed in.
I heard they sent you to that mine.
But I also complained about it.
Everyone’s also worried about you.
Seriously, I don’t know what Jay’s thinking.” (Sten)
 
 She told me so with her arms folded, seeming displeased.
I guess she’s mad at him for making me go in the mine.
 As Sten said, that mountain had many monsters and the iron ore was pretty much completely destroyed.
It may seem like it was just harassment, but I think that when that king said it was a test, he intended to see if I could overcome such a dangerous mine.
 

 ”However, you did good coming out safely, huh.” (Sten)
 ”Ah, if it’s that much, if I’ve got magi heavy machinery, it’s no problem.” (Wirk)
 ”Sheesh~, magic heavy machinery is such a great thing, huuh.” (Sten)
 
 Sten said so in admiration while nodding her head, going “yeah, yeah”.
I’m simply glad that magic heavy machinery is getting approved.
 
 ”By the way, are you ok? I heard he sent you to get iron ore, but there’s no way you could have gotten any.
If he complains about it, just tell him I’ll take him to task!” (Sten)
 ”Haha, that helps.
But, I’m fine.
I got just a bit of iron ore.” (Wirk)
 ”Is that so, is that so.
You got some in that place—, huh? Y-, you got some?” (Sten)
 
 I gave her a thumbs up.
Sten was quite surprised, but,
 ”Alright! Then go make that guy cry!”
 was how she saw me off.
 Now, well then, let’s go to the workshop where the king is just like this…