The next morning was engulfed in a relentless downpour, and Nigel knew it was time for his mining day. He couldn't afford to waste a moment, despite the rain sparing him the chore of watering his crops. However, he still needed to ensure the waterway was clear to prevent flooding in his patch.

With focused determination, Nigel approached his potato patch and was delighted to see the vibrant green foliage emerging from the nourished soil. He carefully inspected each plant, running his fingers gently over the leaves to check for any signs of pests or disease. Satisfied with their progress, he moved on to the next task.

The parsnip field beckoned with its golden promise glistening in the sunlight. Nigel knew he needed five gold star parsnips for the community center bundles, so he spared no effort in ensuring their quality. He meticulously weeded around each plant, giving them ample space to grow and flourish. To Nigel, every detail mattered if he wanted to achieve the desired results.

He then made his way to the ancient fruit seed he had planted a few days ago. This was a crucial crop for his future farmlife, and he created a small barricade around it to protect it from potential threats like Hunter or other creatures. The plant looked healthy, and Nigel carefully examined it to make sure there were no bugs around.

"Let's try not to die. Both you, and me," he muttered to the plant, a hint of determination in his voice.

Satisfied that everything was in order, Nigel checked his pockets to ensure he had all the necessary tools for his mining expedition. With a determined stride, he set off up the road that led straight to the mountains.

The road was murky and wet, and it gave him that weird, disturbing feeling everytime he walked on it. He hated this. he missed the clean pavement in the city, the refreshing air conditioner in his office, and the black, dusty smog. He fitted that place. Not here.

Stability was important for sure, and being a Joja company employee was in many means quite stable. Normally, most of the company employees weren't fired unless they were useless or acting weird..His case was excpetional.

Anyways, Nigel knew best that it was meaningless to fret about it now. He walked through the muddy road without any loss of speed. Raindrops trickled on his rain coat...and it made sounds of gun shots.

"...Finally."

Finally reaching the entrance of the mine, Nigel removed his raincoat and hung it on a nearby post. He was greeted by the damp darkness of the mine's interior. The air felt thick and musty, but at least the floor was not muddy like the road outside.

Steeling himself, Nigel climbed onto the old elevator, gripping the guardrails tightly as it descended with a sharp alarm noise. It felt like an eternity, but finally, the elevator reached floor 30.

Unlike the upper levels of the mine, floor 30 was pitch black with no source of light. Nigel had learned from his previous visit that the darkness was a significant challenge, but this time, he was prepared. He took out a match and carefully lit a torch, illuminating the area around him.

As he moved deeper into the mine, he heard a faint rattling noise that made him instinctively back off. It was an eerie sound that hinted at the presence of something unknown and possibly dangerous. Nigel scanned the darkness with his torch, but the limited light made it hard to see everything clearly.

With no other option, he closed his eyes, relying on his other senses to guide him. Suddenly, he heard a thud, followed by the distinct sound of something moving. His body tensed as he swung his steel broadsword towards the source of the noise.

The impact sent a jolt of pain through his wrist as he struck a moving humanoid made of stone – a Golem. Nigel had only seen such creatures in books, and this encounter caught him off guard. The Golem's fist hit the wall, effortlessly breaking it, a reminder of the power behind its stone exterior.

Knowing that he couldn't withstand another hit, Nigel quickly switched to his copper pickaxe and swung it with all his might, creating a large hole in the Golem's arm. The creature's attack halted, but it attempted to use its leg to finish Nigel off.

Using his knowledge of the Golem's speed and weakness, Nigel launched a series of precise strikes, breaking the creature down into pieces. The adrenaline rush subsided, leaving him feeling relieved but also aware of the pain in his wrist.

He carefully wrapped a strap of bandage around his injured wrist, silently thankful that it wasn't more serious. Nigel picked up the remains of the Golem, noticing the absence of any magical wire system – it appeared to be a natural creation, not engineered.

Inside the Golem's body, he found a small scroll with a yellow ribbon tied to it. Curious about its significance, Nigel decided to keep it, thinking that Gunther at the museum might appreciate the discovery.

With the danger seemingly averted for now, Nigel dropped his torch on the floor and switched back to his pickaxe. He mined the copper nodes scattered around the floor, knowing that he needed to smelt more tools for his farm.

After exhausting the resources, a small ladder appeared, leading him to a lower level. Nigel climbed down, plunging deeper into the darkness, not knowing what challenges awaited him next.

The darkness seemed to stretch on endlessly, and the solitude was unnerving. Nigel's heart raced with every sound he heard, even the slightest rustling. By the time he reached the 39th floor, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, and his nerves were on edge.

Suddenly, a loud screech echoed through the mine, and a huge bat emerged from the darkness, its fangs glistening menacingly. Acting on instinct, Nigel shoved the burning torch into the bat's mouth, crushing its head under his boots. This situation was now quite normal, as these bats were literally everywhere in the cave. They used to stick to his arms or legs and try to bite his flesh, but thankfully, Nigel's leather-patched clothes provided some protection.

He tore off the bat's wings, knowing the remains would be useful for crafting and completing the adventurer's bundle in the boiler room. These events were stressful, and not being able to see anything was really giving him anxiety issues. But he needed to go on, so he searched meticulously for the ladder that led to the next floor. A few minutes later, he found it hidden under a rock without any sign.

Exhausted, Nigel climbed down the ladder and finally faced a bright floor. Confused, he looked around and noticed ice particles reflecting the light from the lamp on the wall. He felt chilly and shivered as he turned on the switch of the elevator.

"Weird...Definitely weird," he muttered to himself.

Something was not right about this place. Every time he returned to this mine, all the rocks and monsters refilled, and the climate and ecosystem changed rapidly. And the chests that occasionally appeared on floors ending with the number 0...someone was definitely watching him and leaving these rewards for some purpose.

This time, the chest contained a wooden slingshot, capable of shooting rocks. While a ranged weapon was needed and could be a safe way to attack a monster, Nigel found the slingshot underwhelming.

"Maybe Maru can make me a functioning gun or something," he pondered aloud, tucking the slingshot into his pocket.

Nigel glanced at the ladder leading down to level 41. The air was cold, and his body was freezing, but he still needed more copper and iron, which were rarely found in the mines above. He suspected that every time the mine's theme changed, it provided different loots. While he wasn't sure about anything, there was only one way to find out.

Turning on his torch, this time to warm himself, Nigel took another step deeper into the cold mines.