Game Transmigration: Saving the World Again 1000 Years Later (ON-HOLD)

Chapter 34: Sage of Scorching Scars

Translator: CKtalon

The dim light, the turbid air, and the quiet environment where only his footsteps could be heard…

Every time he came to the mine, Vincent would recall something from a long time ago.

“Look at them, Vincent. Take a good look at them.”

At that time, Simon Walde, who hadn’t become the Duke of Thorn, stood on a high spot and pointed at the miners working below as he spoke to him, who was still an Expert mage back then.

“They toil in the dark mines for more than ten hours a day with no safety measures. What can such hard work be exchanged for? Is it only enough for a living, one that plagues them with illnesses?”

Simon’s eyes seemed to be burning with fire.

“As they breathe the air in the mine, most of the miners who have worked here for more than 20 years will suffer from Silver Lung Disease because they inhale too much Elementium Silver dust. It’s said that their chests will feel as if they’re burning painfully every time they breathe. But guess what they call this?”

There was no trace of a smile on Simon’s face.

“Inheritance. This is because after they die, their family members can sell the lungs to the black market’s alchemists at a high price. They can extract crystallized Elementium Silver from them. Even so, the Thieves’ Guild that controls the black market still takes a considerable commission. What’s their mantra? There’s a moral code among thieves?”

With that said, Simon Walde covered his face and laughed maniacally.

“Why are you telling me this?”

Vincent waited until Simon was out of breath from laughing until he started a fit of coughs before slowly asking, “Help me.”

Simon suddenly calmed down and extended his hand to Vincent.

“Help me become the next Duke of Thorn; help me regain the Elementium Silver industry from the Empire, and help me make the Blackwater Province eternally free from the restraints of the royal family, the Astral Council, and the Church.”

Even today, he didn’t regret his decision that day.

He cursed the duke’s heir, barged into the Holy Sepulchre where his ancestors rested to seek strength, expelled the Empire’s envoy, and fought a Platinum Ring Battle Mage…

Even though he violated the Astral Laws because of this, causing him to never advance to the Legendary domain in his life, and even though his methods were too tyrannical, causing his wife to be assassinated by the Conservatives, he never regretted it at all.

“All of this is a necessary sacrifice.”

The man sitting on the Thorn throne who was becoming colder and colder had said this to him.

He took back the Elementium Silver industry, but he squeezed the miners even harder than the Empire. He expelled the Thieves’ Guild, but he created an even crueler underground black market.

In order to fulfill his ideals, he had almost gone in the opposite direction of his former ideals.

In order to resist the Empire, he had to firmly hold power in his hands and squeeze out the last bit of power in Blackwater Province.

But compared to the Empire’s 800-year heritage, that strength was still insufficient…

He could understand Vincent.

However, even he began to wonder if the price he had to pay for that dream was too heavy.

Holy Sepulchre…