"Kyaaah—!!"
A woman burst out of the darkness.
Long black hair cascading down to her waist, porcelain skin, and eyes red-rimmed with terror.
White flesh peeked through her tattered clothes, tears welling up in her frightened eyes.
That's Erika?
I recognized her immediately.
The heroine who first appeared in volume 4 of Abyss Miner.
The ill-fated female swordsman wrongly accused and hunted by the execution squad.
But why's she out here already? This is supposed to be early volume 1.
My confusion was short-lived as I spotted the pursuers hot on her heels.
Dog-headed, fur-tufted bipedal monsters.
"Grrrrowl!"
"Kyak!"
Kobolds.
"...Fucking hell."
The curse slipped out naturally.
Kobolds were definitely monsters from the second underground floor.
So why the fuck were they crawling up to the first floor and causing chaos?
That mutant slime earlier too—the ecosystem on this floor was totally fucked.
I stood there dumbfounded, watching the scene unfold.
Erika was running toward me, sobbing.
My mind raced.
Erika joins the party around volume 4, during the eighth-floor exploration.
She was portrayed as a skilled swordswoman by then, but right now? She looked pathetic.
She reeked of amateur.
Well, yeah. I'm not the protagonist.
She just hadn't appeared in the comic yet, but this world kept turning.
Before the protagonist met her, she'd been rolling around in this shithole mine on her own.
She must've grown enough to reach the eighth floor and start flirting with the protagonist by then.
So where the hell is that protagonist bastard?
He should be spinning his wheels somewhere on the first floor right now.
Maybe I should at least get a look at his face.
Tracking his movements would be essential if I planned to backstab him later or snag some scraps.
"P-Please, save me!! Kyaaak!"
Lost in thought, I watched Erika trip over a rock.
The three pursuing kobolds cackled in their guttural tongue as they surrounded her.
A rusted blade pressed against her neck.
"Please... someone..."
Erika cried out desperately.
Her tear-streaked face was utterly pitiful.
"Shit."
I'd gotten too lost in my head.
A person was about to die, and I was just standing there spacing out.
Had I already been corrupted by the assholes living here?
I went to grab my pickaxe but hesitated.
This was a brand-new 2,500 Lumina pickaxe.
If the handle snapped or the head chipped smashing those filthy mutts' skulls, I'd cry blood.
Put it down, put it down.
I set the pickaxe aside gently and pulled out something else instead.
The pinnacle of modern civilization.
Heavy and sturdy.
Shwick—!
A quick flick of the wrist, and the black telescoping baton extended smoothly.
The baton was perfect for this.
It just looked cool.
"Hey! You fucking mutts! Look at me!"
"Kying? Kyang?"
I gripped the baton tight.
With Earth's Blessing boosting my legs, I closed the distance in an explosive burst.
Power surged through me.
One kobold leaped at me.
"Head's coming off!"
I aimed to shatter its skull, but the baton veered slightly and smashed its muzzle instead.
Thwack!
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡Clubbing (F)
Enhanced strike damage
The baton, empowered by Clubbing (F), rang out with a crisp, satisfying crack that echoed through the cave.
Like husking corn, the kobold slammed into the ground.
"Kyak!"
The other two froze.
Chance.
I charged right in.
"Where you looking, you shitheads!"
Thwack! Thud!
I beat them like dogs.
Literally dogs.
Smashed their skulls, cracked shins, jabbed ribs.
Felt even better than pounding Viper yesterday.
Humans were just too damn tough.
"Kyak! Kyung!"
They screamed and writhed on the floor.
But mercy? Nah.
Confirming the kill was essential.
Crack—!
I brought the baton down on the last one's head, ending it.
Panting roughly, I shook off the baton.
Blood and spit splattered the ground.
Then, a strange sensation enveloped me.
Not from my soles, but a hot energy rising from deep in my chest.
Ding—!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Skill: Clubbing (F) proficiency has slightly increased. The mine's mana seeps into your body.⚔ STATUS ⚔✨ Magic Power: UnlockedMagic Power +1
"Oh, fuck yeah! Finally!"
I clenched my fist.
This was it.
One reason I picked this story in the first place.
According to canon, killing monsters lets the mine's mana seep in, granting magic power.
It builds up until the strong ones transcend humanity.
No pop after a hundred slimes, but three kobolds did it.
Slimes were too low-tier, probably didn't count as XP.
Or maybe it needed a certain combat threshold.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Reward 1: All Stats +10 effect applied. Current Magic Power: 11
Oh, fuck.
The second I got magic power, the F-Rank Miner Apprentice reward kicked in retroactively.
Makes sense—gotta apply it after the stat unlocks or early birds lose out.
My trait was goddamn reasonable.
"Nice."
I was buzzing.
With magic power, I could now body-enhance or cast magic-like stuff.
I rummaged through the kobold corpses.
Their sack-like bags yielded a few red ores.
Darker hue than my usual hauls, faintly glowing.
High-Grade Iron Ore
"Kya~ sweet jackpot."
Didn't matter if they mined it or stole it—just mine now.
High-grade fetched top dollar at the guild.
I stuffed the loot into one kobold's bag and turned around.
Erika sat on the ground, staring up at me blankly.
Tear-streaked face, disheveled hair, flesh peeking through rips.
She was a mess, but her beauty shone through.
Eastern features with an innocent, fragile vibe.
If Luna was a flashy Western bombshell, Erika stirred protective instincts—delicate and pure.
Her figure couldn't compete with Luna's, but those firm B-cups looked packed.
Not the inflated titillation of modern media, but small-chested Eastern beauties were canon anyway.
"Th-Thank you for saving me..."
She sniffled her gratitude.
Shoulders still trembling, fear lingering.
"No injuries? Can you stand?"
I offered a hand, trying to sound gentle.
She grabbed it and rose.
Whoa, so damn soft.
This was a woman's hand?
Just holding it got me hard.
Her legs buckled on standing, and she stumbled into my arms.
I caught her on reflex.
Sweat and dirt mixed with a faint feminine scent.
"Huaang! I really thought I was dead!"
Erika clutched my clothes, bursting into sobs.
Soft pressure against my chest.
Urgh, fuck.
Small but springy tits.
Different charm from Luna's violent wrecking balls.
Touchable B-cups beat untouchable monsters any day.
"It's okay, you're safe now."
I patted her back soothingly—or so I pretended.
My palm stroked her lower back.
Whoa, skin's insane.
Even over clothes, it felt silky.
Waist so slim.
Fragile frame that'd snap in a tight hug.
Up close, her girly aroma hit hard.
I quieted my breathing, inhaling her hair scent discreetly.
Fuck... driving me crazy.
Wanna fuck her raw.
But not now.
Fresh savior status—ruin it by acting like a horny dog, and it's game over.
I suppressed my beastly urges, stroking her back.
Bra strap snagged my finger; fought the urge to snap it.
Arin did this unknowingly when she first wore a bra.
Childhood memories flooded back.
My little sis, all "Oppa" and clingy.
So fucking cute.
I stroked her silky hair like satin, subtly patting her ass too.
My raging hard-on pressed her lower belly; she was oblivious, but it felt great.
"I-I think I'm okay now."
"Calmed down?"
"Y-Yes..."
After ages of crying, she pulled away slightly.
Regrettable, but pushing it meant pervert alert.
I let go.
"S-Sorry. I got scared and..."
Blushing, head down—adorably shy.
Ding—!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Heroine 'Erika's affection has increased. Current Affection: 25/100 (Status: Disgust → Acquaintance) Previous Affection: -15
"...?"
I doubted my eyes.
25?
Jumped 40 points in one go.
Saving her life warranted a big bump, but the starting point?
No, fuck. Why?
Weren't we strangers?
First time meeting today.
Why start negative?
No way...
Charm? My charm again?
Current charm stat: -2.
Unlikable, but not disgust-level, I thought.
Erika must be even shallower than Luna.
Docked points just for my face.
You fucking bitch. Are there no kind, pretty, devoted girls who look past faces in this world?
Betrayal surged, but I kept cool.
Acquaintance stage now.
Not bad.
Higher than Luna's after two days of grinding.
"I'll walk you back. Too dangerous alone."
"Huh? No, I don't want to hold up your work..."
"Already done. Was heading out anyway—no worries."
I grinned and led the way.
Erika followed hesitantly.
At the village entrance, she bowed repeatedly.
"Thank you so much. I'll repay this kindness. What's... your name?"
"Lee Jun. E-Rank miner."
"Lee Jun... I'll remember. I'm Erika."
"I know."
"Pardon?"
Oh, fuck, slip-up.
"Uh, no, just slipped out. Pretty name. Anyway, take care."
I brushed it off and turned.
Felt her gaze lingering.
Acquaintance meant more interest than indifference.
Easier than Luna.
Whistling, I headed to the guild.
"Welcome... uwaack!"
Luna recoiled at the sight of me.
Rightly so—covered head to toe in kobold blood, looking like a slasher flick.
"Again! Covered in blood again? What now? You didn't kill someone, right?"
"No injuries today. Not my blood. Monster blood."
"What monster sprays blood on the first floor? Slime goo's a different color. Bats again?"
I pulled high-grade iron ore from the kobold bag and set it on the counter.
"See for yourself."
"...Huh?"
Luna's eyes widened.
Lustrous red ore.
"High-grade iron ore? Not on the first floor. And these marks... from a monster?"
"Yeah, three kobolds came up. Took 'em out."
"Kobolds? First floor? Impossible."
"Don't believe me? Check the bodies. Side path in sector 2."
My confidence shut her up.
Evidence right there.
Ding—!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Heroine 'Luna's affection has increased. Current Affection: 15/100 (Status: Indifferent) Previous Affection: 10
What? Viper didn't bump it yesterday, but this does?
Proof?
She probably thought yesterday was all bluff.
Women need results.
Materialistic, but easy to conquer that way.
"Seriously... impressive. Kobolds on day three?"
I set the sack of ore on the counter too.
"Appraise this as well."
"...You mined all this? Again?"
Today: 578 low-to-mid iron ore from floor 1, plus 3 high-grade.
Huge haul, and slightly more mids than yesterday.
During mining:
Skill: Mining (F) increases iron ore grade.
About 30 bumped from low to mid.
No mids to high, sadly.
Low skill grade, probably.
Insane for a day-three newbie.
After tallying, Luna said,
"You... really a monster?"
"I'll take it as a compliment."
"Saying that makes you annoying."
Why?
So unfair.
Ding—!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Heroine 'Luna's affection has increased. Current Affection: 20/100 (Status: Indifferent → Acquaintance) Previous Affection: 15
Up again.
Performance boost.
Same stage as Erika now.
Rescue events were OP.
Grinding took forever for this.
Good.
As I turned to leave post-tally, a question hit me.
"Hey, anyone register same day as me?"
"Huh? A few. Who?"
"Around my age. Blonde."
"Oh, that guy?"
Luna's face lit up.
Irritated look gone, blooming like a flower.
"I know him! So diligent. Lacks finesse now, but guys like that improve fast."
Tone totally different.
Dripping honey.
"Kyle, right? Handsome face, polite too..."
"..."
Gut twisted.
Kyle.
Canon protagonist.
Remember him flailing empty-handed early on.
And she loves that?
Me, killing kobolds and working hard: 'annoying.'
Flailing fuck: 'diligent'?
Fucking protagonist halo.
Jealousy flared at the face favoritism.
My hard-earned gains felt invalidated.
But spite ignited too.
Watch me.
Pre-timeskip, at floor 15, Luna and Kyle were just flirting.
No commitment yet.
Window open.
Get stronger, richer, climb higher.
Would she still pine for that rice-boy then?
I'll steal her for sure.
Twist that pretty face, make her moan under me.
"Why him?"
"Run into him in the mines sometimes. Seems hardworking."
"Right?"
Praising him lit her eyes like she got the compliment.
"See ya."
Irked, I grumbled and left.
Back at the inn, crashed on the bed.
Made bank—sticking to luxury inns.
Shitty vs. nice: fatigue difference on waking.
Closed my eyes.
Dreamed of Luna and Erika.
They knelt naked before me.
"I'm sorry, Master Lee Jun. Won't even glance at Kyle or whoever. Pretty face, no talent—total loser."
"I love you, Jun. Mwah, smooch, slurrrp. Kiss, muah. Muaaaah."
Haughty Luna begged ass-up; pure Erika licked and kissed my thighs.
Even my dick: 18cm monster.
Curse lifted, normalized.
I ravaged them like a beast.
Kyle?
Let that fucker finger-suck in the corner.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Fuck.
Next morning, I washed my underwear in the inn room's bathroom.
You can read more of this novel at novelshub.org