Chapter 30: The Floating Island’s Hidden Treasures

“I’ll be back.”  

The underground was deep. 

It took a while to reach the bottom of the staircase.  

Ding.  

[You have entered the 1st underground level.]  

So this is the inside of the Floating Island?  

I expected a cramped, low cave, but contrary to my assumptions, it was a wide, open space.  

The surroundings were all gray rock, illuminated by glowing stones scattered here and there, making it far from dark.  

Let’s see. What are these contaminated ores?  

I scanned the area as I moved forward.  

“Is that it?”  

I spotted distinct black patches on the rock surface. Up close, they looked strikingly similar to coal.  

“Let’s get to work!”  

I rolled up my sleeves and started mining the black rocks.  

Clang! Clang!  

Moving around the underground, I extracted black lumps ranging from fist-sized to as large as watermelons.  

Ting!  

Slip.  

The rocks were tougher than expected. The iron pickaxe I brought dulled in no time.  

“Ugh…”  

No choice, then. Time to head back for today.  

I filled a sack I’d brought with the black lumps and climbed the stairs.  

Emerging from the underground, the lush greenery welcomed me back.  

“You mined quite a lot.”  

“What are these minerals? At first, I thought they were coal, but they’re much harder.”  

“They are coal, but not like the coal on the ground. It’s pollution-free coal with high heat and no smoke.”  

“Pollution-free coal? That’s incredible!”  

I’d been worrying about what to do with all this debris, but it was a pointless concern. 

This was something to celebrate with both arms raised!  

No need to worry about firewood anymore. 

Storing this coal would keep us warm through winter.  

The real problem was something else: the rocks were so hard that the iron pickaxe broke quickly.  

Grrrr.  

All that work made me hungry.  

Let’s eat first, then figure it out.  

I went to the well and washed my blackened hands.  

In the field, golden rice stalks bowed their heads.  

Today’s the day I finally cook rice.  

I grabbed a handful of rice stalks, cut them with a sickle, scraped the grains off with a stick, and ground them in a mortar to remove the husks.  

After rinsing the grains in water to wash away the chaff, white rice emerged.  

“Rice takes a lot of effort to prepare.”  

“It’s worth it for how delicious it is.”  

I’d learned that the amount of water is key when cooking rice. 

Too much water makes it mushy; too little makes it dry.  

Following Yujin’s mother’s instructions, I measured the water carefully, then looked around to start a fire.  

Why not try the coal?  

I placed coal in the stove instead of firewood and lit it with small twigs as kindling.  

Whoosh.  

“Wow, it catches fire so easily! No smoke either. This is amazing!”  

Every time I lit a fire, the stinging smoke was a hassle.  

But the coal from the Floating Island produced no smoke, and even a small piece burned strong and long.  

Crackle crackle. Bubble bubble.  

The sound of the fire and the simmering rice pot was pleasant to hear.  

No time to just admire it.  

While the rice cooked, I needed to make side dishes.  

I checked the ingredients stored in the Ice Cave and spotted eggs I’d bought earlier. 

Time for rolled omelets.  

I diced onions and carrots and put them in a bowl.  

Crack crack.  

I broke fresh eggs, mixed them with the chopped vegetables, and stirred well.  

I set the rice pot aside to steam, took out a pan, and lightly coated it with oil.  

Sizzle.  

I poured the egg mixture into the pan and cooked it over medium heat.  

“Now I’ll roll it up.”  

“You’re not flipping it?”  

Elenia tilted her head.  

Instead of answering, I folded one side of the egg and rolled it tightly.  

“Oh! It’s folded like a blanket!”  

I sliced it with a knife, and a thick rolled omelet was complete.  

Opening the rice pot, glossy white rice appeared, its savory aroma sparking my appetite.  

“Wow, for my first try, it turned out great. Is it because of the quality rice?”  

I scooped a bowl full of rice and set it on the table. Elenia scooped a big spoonful and stuffed it in her mouth.  

Chomp chomp.  

“Mmm! This rice is like honey!”  

“Honey? That’s the highest praise, isn’t it?”  

I picked up a piece of rolled omelet. 

The cross-section showed orange carrots and white onions studded throughout, looking appetizing.  

Elenia took a big bite of the omelet.  

Munch munch.  

“The fluffy eggs and crisp vegetables are perfectly balanced! So delicious!”  

“Piiit!”  

Dorori chirped loudly, rice grains stuck to its beak. It seemed quite satisfied with the meal.  

We devoured the freshly cooked rice, finishing every grain, even scraping up the crispy nurungji at the bottom of the pot.  

The nurungji was a crunchy delicacy.  

After a filling meal and cleanup, my next tasks came to mind.  

I turned to Elenia.  

“By the way, when I entered the underground, it said ‘1st underground level.’ Are there more levels below?”  

“Good observation. You’re right. The deeper you go, the more complex the structure, and the byproducts get more varied. Sometimes strange things pop up too.”  

“Strange things?”  

“Just as the surface has lush forests, the underground has its own ecosystem with various creatures. But it’s been neglected for so long, who knows what’s down there now.”  

“That’s fascinating. I want to explore deeper!”  

“Go for it. Exploring the underground will help you grow, and the byproducts deeper down are even more valuable. Plus, the Floating Island would appreciate a thorough cleaning. That’ll help normalize its functions.”  

“Alright! I’ll clear the first level and work my way down.”  

I was fired up.  

“But I’ll need a sturdy pickaxe.”  

“Visit the dwarf village. They have skilled blacksmiths, so you’ll find a good pickaxe there.”  

“The dwarf village…”  

I’d heard dwarves have fiery tempers, like elves. Hopefully, nothing goes wrong.  

***

“You’re heading to the dwarf village today, right?”  

Elenia asked as I tidied my bedding.  

“Yeah, but I’m a bit worried. I heard dwarves have rough personalities.”  

I’d never met one, but picturing them hammering iron by a blazing furnace brought rugged faces to mind.  

“If you’re worried, bring a gift. They’ll love the coal from the Floating Island.”  

“Good idea.”  

I packed some coal in my bag.  

“I’m off!”  

“Be careful!”  

I rode Dorori to the southern mountains where the dwarf village was located.  

The rocky mountains, rich in minerals, naturally fostered a thriving mining industry.  

Unlike elves, who avoid human contact, dwarves actively traded with cities. However, their fiery tempers meant only a few merchant groups dealt with them.  

“Stop there. What’s your business in the dwarf village?”  

A stout dwarf with a long beard, exactly as I’d imagined, stood before me.  

His thick eyebrows and sharp features made him look angry even with a slight frown.  

“I heard there are skilled blacksmiths here.”  

“You came to the right place. The dwarf village is full of talented craftsmen.”  

He seemed pleased by the compliment.  

“Go on in.”  

Perhaps because they trade with humans, entering the village was easier than expected.  

Ting! Ting!  

Inside, the sound of hammers rang out everywhere. 

One dwarf hammered iron on an anvil, while another planed wood.  

Dwarven goods were renowned for their quality, sought after across the continent. 

Surely, I could find a tool to mine the Floating Island’s underground.  

Let’s find a sturdy pickaxe.  

As I wandered the village looking for one, my eyes stopped at a shop.  

“Dwarf Crafting Competition: Blacksmith of the Year”  

A plaque proudly declaring “This Year’s Winner” hung above the door, a clear sign of the blacksmith’s skill.  

This is the place.  

“Anyone here?”  

Ting! Ting!  

No one was in the shop, but the sound of hammering came from the back.  

I followed the noise. 

A middle-aged dwarf was meticulously hammering red-hot iron.  

I watched, mesmerized.  

Ting! Ting!  

Each strike of his hammer made my heart pound.  

Sizzle.  

He dipped the iron in water, then returned it to the furnace, repeating the process dozens of times until the work was done.  

“Phew!”  

“That was impressive.”  

“Whoa! Who are you?”  

“I came to buy something but got caught up watching you work.”  

“You’ve got a good eye for a youngster. So, what do you want to buy?”  

“I’m looking for a sturdy pickaxe.”  

“A pickaxe?”  

The dwarf raised an eyebrow.  

“Didn’t you see the plaque out front? I beat every skilled dwarf to become this year’s blacksmith.”  

He thumped his chest proudly.  

“I only get requests for high-end equipment. And you want me to make a mere pickaxe?”  

His words and actions radiated pride.  

That only made me want his work more.  

“That’s why I need one from you. A regular iron pickaxe won’t do—it’ll dull in less than a day.”  

“Dull? What are you mining that an iron pickaxe can’t handle?”  

I pulled the coal from my bag.  

“Look at this.”  

“That’s coal. You joking with me?”  

“Not just any coal. It’s from the Floating Island!”  

“What did you say?”  

His eyes widened.  

“You said the Floating Island?”  

I nodded.  

“So this is coal mined from the Floating Island?”  

The dwarf held the coal, examining it like it was a gold nugget.  

Sniff sniff.  

He sniffed it intensely, even licking it.  

“Hahaha! This smell! This hardness! This taste! It’s the real deal! I never thought I’d see ore from the Floating Island again!”  

Dwarves can smile?  

I thought they were all grumpy, but he let out a hearty, neighborly laugh.  

“Young man! Where did you find this?”  

“I mined it myself.”  

“What? You? How?”  

“I manage the Floating Island. The rocks there are so tough, I came here looking for a sturdy pickaxe.”  

The dwarf gave me a skeptical look, still doubting I was from the Floating Island.  

Suddenly, he grabbed my hand and inspected my palm.  

“Your hands are smooth, not a single callus! How can a miner have hands this soft?”  

“I grow herbs on the Floating Island too. They have great skin-regenerating effects, so my hands stay smooth.”  

“Even so, you mined the Floating Island’s tough rocks with hands like these?”  

“I’m stronger than I look. If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you.”  

“Fine. Go to the anvil and hammer some iron.”  

I stood at the anvil and grabbed the hammer.  

“Like this, right?”  

“Yeah. Hold the iron with tongs and strike it hard.”  

“Here I go!”  

I swung the hammer with all my strength.  

TIIIIING!  

The anvil let out a thunderous cry and vibrated, while the iron flattened like paper.  

“Argh!”  

The dwarf screamed and fell backward.  

“Sorry! Did I startle you? I got excited and used too much force.”  

“Excited?”  

“Your hammering looked so cool earlier.”  

The dwarf stared at me, blinking for a while.  

“You!”  

He shouted suddenly.  

“Be my apprentice!”  

“…What?!”  

His eyes sparkled like a starry-eyed maiden.