Chương 3: My Summon Knows How to Use a Sword

Arthur and his skeleton, Coburn, walked for another half an hour before reaching the old mining district. Although this location was not as popular as the new mining district, Arthur could see a large number of torches and movements before he even reached the entrance. Upon seeing the crowd, Arthur stood slightly away from the light. He was uncertain if he could publicly display his skeleton worker.

Such an action would unquestionably create an issue for him, as he had yet to register his awakening at the Awakening Head Office. Hence, Arthur planned to send Coburn away for now, summoning it again once he reached the inside. Arthur gave the matter some thought, wondering how to send the skeleton away. He tried to replicate the method he used to summon it initially. He focused his intent on its disappearance within his heart.

Soon after, a similar diagram of strange symbols appeared, and the skeleton sank inside, taking the pickaxe along with it. Seeing this, Arthur only hoped it would bring the pickaxe back when summoned again. Otherwise, it would be an absolute waste of money. Following which, Arthur walked towards the entrance with his own pickaxe in hand. As he walked, his gaze scrutinized the surroundings, discovering at least ten people sitting scattered about.

Just as he was about to cross the old and tattered gate, a coarse voice suddenly sounded from the right side of the entrance.

"Who goes there?" the man asked, hoisting the torch towards Arthur's face. Arthur did not walk away. He immediately stopped and turned around. Although he had never visited this place before, he had heard rumors regarding terrifying occurrences, such as deaths happening often. Since Arthur did not possess the strength to fight back and did not know how strong the person calling out to him was, it was better to resolve the issue through smooth talking.

"Hello, sir," Arthur greeted. He took a few steps towards the man, allowing his face to be revealed.

"What are you doing here, kid?" the man asked after noticing Arthur's young age. Arthur could also see the person's face; he was a rugged-looking, middle-aged man with long, unkempt hair and a beard.

"I am here to try my luck, sir," Arthur said in a neutral tone.

"Trying your luck…" A strange reaction appeared on the man's face.

"How old are you, kid? Do you even know what kind of place this is? Have you even gone through your Awakening yet?" the man asked, stacking his questions.

"Yes, sir, I am Awakened. I am currently in need of money, so if you do not mind, I will be going to my work," Arthur replied. He could not afford to perform a greeting ceremony here. Three hours had already passed, and the timer was ticking by the minute. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Kid, you should have found work somewhere else. This is not a place for a freshly awakened person." The man's tone indicated he had no intentions of rushing his interrogation.

"Sir, it is a do-or-die situation. If such options were available, I would not be here." Arthur changed his tone to one of urgency, hoping the man would let him in.

"Lena, come and take a look at this kid," the man called out to someone from a group of four, who were currently sitting on an elevated platform not far from the main gate.

"Sir, I am in a race against time, and I must enter the mine. Lives are on the line, so I cannot afford to waste any time," Arthur firmly requested. He wanted to finish the conversation before someone else arrived and created further delays.

"Look at this kid. He wants to enter the mine, and it is a life and death situation," the man said as a woman entered the torch's view. Currently, Arthur could clearly see the woman named Lena. She was a young woman in her early thirties, possessing a tall stature and a bulky physique. She did not speak a word after finishing her measurement of Arthur. Meanwhile, Arthur stood his ground, not turning around to walk away. He felt such an action would only place him in a difficult position.

Hence, he remained where he was to see how the situation would play out.

"When did you awaken, kid? Don't tell me it was just today," the lady asked. Arthur remained silent, not answering her question.

"I am in a great hurry, so I will take my leave."

"Don't stop the kid. Let's use him as bait, since he is brave enough to die." Another voice entered the torch's view. Arthur's legs suddenly came to a halt. It was not because he was afraid of the threat to use him as bait; rather, he remembered that voice. He had heard it before, and it felt extremely familiar. Arthur slowly turned around. Under the torchlight, there stood a man who was exceptionally famous throughout all of the Lower Sector districts.

'Iron Hand' Edgar Bergen. He was a famous Awakener who ruled the Outer Sector, opposing the Inner Sector People. Arthur had seen him several times since his childhood. A majority of those times were when Edgar beat someone to the core. At this moment, a familiar feeling arose within Arthur's heart. It was dread. Arthur looked back at the gloomy darkness of the old mining district. The dread told him it would certainly result in death if he were to enter after receiving these people's warnings.

However, when he thought about the penalty of his debt in forty-five hours, an even greater fear completely overwhelmed him.

"Come here, kid. Don't die on the very same day of your Awakening," the lady, Lena, called out to Arthur. Arthur reluctantly took his steps. With every step he took, the 10, 000 Credit debt struck at his heart like thunder.

"How much would you pay me if I become a bait for your hunt?" Arthur asked, looking straight at Edgar. The man looked exactly as he always did, a tall figure with a longsword hung at his hip. However, he never used this weapon. There was a famous story widely spoken among the people regarding why he only ever used his fists and never his sword. Suddenly, a loud laughter erupted at the entrance gate of the old mining district. It came from Edgar.

"How much do you need, kid?" Edgar asked in an amusing tone.

"I want 1, 500 Credits," Arthur stated his demand. Since he did not know how much the ore would cost, he asked for 500 more; the more he had, the better.

"Done," Edgar agreed.

"Also, I want to borrow your sword temporarily," Arthur announced before Edgar could make any further comments. Suddenly, a chilling silence permeated the already freezing night. Edgar looked at his sword, then shifted his gaze back to Arthur.

"So, you awakened as a Swordsman?" Lena asked.

"No, my summon knows how to use a sword," Arthur declared as he willed the summoning of Coburn. The summoning process repeated itself. Within an instant, a skeleton stood in front of the group. Suddenly, Edgar started laughing menacingly once again.