God only knew how they had spent the last three days. To prevent themselves from freezing like others in the area, they had set up a rotation system. Every two hours, someone would stand guard while the rest rested—a schedule so taxing that a good night's sleep seemed impossible.
"Wait, Captain Smith, this room is too small. Can all of us even fit in here?" someone asked, confusion lining their voice.
"Of course not," Smith replied, his tone calm. "But we'll sleep in two shifts. For now, everyone must make do."
Smith had already prepared for this.
"If we sleep in shifts, will the fuel last?" another voice asked.
"It'll last. And if we run out, we can always ask Roy for more. But remember, the amount we need to gather each day cannot decrease," Smith answered seriously, scanning the room.
Although they could rely on Roy for supplies, the catch was clear—they had to work in return. Essentially, Smith and his team had become part of Roy's gathering network. Leisure was a luxury; efficiency and obedience ensured survival.
To understand why Smith and John were here, one must mention a certain giant named Mickey. Mickey had previously threatened Arya, and in his attempt to expand, he absorbed many people from nearby areas. His actions prompted others to band together for safety. It was during this time that Smith and John started forming their own group. Yet Smith, ever cautious, absorbed people selectively, keeping their number around twenty.
Fortunately, Smith had connected with Roy, becoming part of his gathering team, which guaranteed them a stable supply chain. This alliance had been critical in surviving the sudden Mana Tide.
"All right," Smith said, addressing the group. "Cam, Otto, John, and I will take the first shift. Everyone else, get some rest."
At his command, seven or eight people stepped forward. The others dragged their bedding from neighboring cubicles, collapsed onto the floor, and quickly fell asleep. The old taboo against men and women sharing space seemed laughably trivial now—a full night's sleep was far more important.
Smith's plan was simple: divide the team into two groups. One group slept while the other stood guard, rotating every six hours. When morning came, everyone would go out to gather materials and return together in the evening. With only about ten hours available for gathering each day, six hours of rest was sufficient.
Smith had already asked Roy for an additional heater, but the shrewd businessman refused. Unless they gathered more materials or found a new mine, he couldn't supply extra warmth. Smith understood—Roy supported many teams like theirs, and he had to manage resources efficiently. In this system, Smith was effectively a project manager, working tirelessly in a foreign land even before finishing his studies on Blue Star.
Roy did mention that the severe cold might be temporary. If the frost persisted after the Mana Turbulence ended, he would consider providing another heater. The night passed without incident.
By sunrise, Smith and his team were energized, armed with somewhat worn axes, pickaxes, and saw blades. The sudden cold had prevented them from gathering the previous days, so today's work was crucial—not just to repay Roy for the heater but also to help him achieve his goal of releasing a new product.
Heaters sold only about a hundred units daily, and fuel was limited. Receiving one for free, along with unlimited fuel, meant their diligence was more than necessary.
Clink! Clink! Thump! Thump!
Even though the Mana Turbulence prevented the use of their Gathering Arts, they could still gather the old-fashioned way. Fortunately, the forest was rich with resources—trees, stones, and vines were abundant. With their current tools, cutting down branches alone yielded thousands of units of basic wood.
"With all this snow, the herbs haven't withered. The magic world is amazing," a little girl, assigned to herb gathering, said.
"It's probably because of mana," a boy replied. "As long as mana exists, plants won't die."
In a world full of unknowns, any unexplained phenomenon was automatically attributed to mana—a coping mechanism everyone had quickly adopted since arriving on Karim.
"Logging is so exhausting…" John complained, dropping his axe and shaking his wrists.
"Because logging is tiring," Brook, the team manager, replied dryly. "And in this cold, jokes like that just make it worse."
John shivered, checking his personal information. The potion timing was nearly up.
"Time for the next potion. Prepare to take it."
"Understood!"
"Heard it!"
At Brook's prompt, the team put down their tools, uncorked anti-freeze potions supplied by Arya, tilted their heads back, and drank. Then, refreshed, they resumed work. These were the second batch of potions Arya had produced, and Roy had given them all to the gathering team—sales were secondary to keeping his teams operational.
In freezing weather, gathering materials was difficult. Who else would collect herbs for a single potion? The gathering team's value was evident—they ensured resources were collected efficiently for both Roy's and Arya's needs.
"Captain, we found a cave ahead!" shouted one of the stone-gathering team members.
"What is it?" Brook asked.
The miner looked back, bewildered. "We dug it out while working on the stone deposits."
Smith walked over to inspect the discovery. The opening was modest but unmistakably artificial. Carefully carved, it hinted at intent rather than random erosion.
"This could be a shelter… or something more," Smith murmured.
The team clustered around the entrance, curiosity replacing fatigue. The cave's walls were smooth, carefully reinforced, suggesting it had been dug intentionally. It wasn't just a random tunnel—it was a proper structure.
"What do you think it was for?" John asked, peering into the dim interior.
"Either it's a mine or a hideout," Smith speculated. "We should check inside. There could be supplies—or danger."
Brook nodded. "Agreed. We'll need to approach cautiously. No one goes in alone."
The team quickly organized themselves. Each member carried a basic weapon or tool, and Smith led the way, with Brook and John flanking him. The rest remained outside, ready to assist if needed.
Inside, the cave extended further than it appeared from the entrance. Its walls bore faint markings—perhaps warnings, perhaps records. The floor was swept clean, and in the corner, remnants of old supplies suggested previous occupants.
"Looks like someone lived here," Smith observed, crouching to examine a bundle of decayed cloth. "Could have been temporary, or maybe they were hiding."
Arya's potions had kept their spirits high, but the cave brought a new tension. Each shadow seemed to move in the flickering light, and the temperature dropped noticeably.
"We should secure it first," Brook suggested. "Then we can decide if it's worth using as a secondary base."
Smith agreed. "Right now, our priority is gathering. But having a place like this could be invaluable if the cold persists or if the Mana Turbulence intensifies again."
The team worked efficiently, marking the cave's boundaries, clearing debris, and noting potential hazards. The discovery injected a renewed sense of purpose—they weren't just surviving anymore; they were establishing a foothold in this harsh, magical world.
Hours passed. The sun began to dip low, casting long shadows across the snowy landscape. Smith and his team returned to their primary base, exhausted but satisfied. Their axes and saws were heavier with gathered resources, and their hearts lighter with the promise of the newly discovered cave.
At dinner, warmed by the heater Roy had provided, the team exchanged glances. The cave would be a boon, but only if used wisely. It was a reminder that in this world, foresight, resourcefulness, and cooperation were as valuable as strength or skill.
Smith stared into the flickering flames, thinking ahead. Tomorrow, they would continue gathering, and the day after, they might explore the cave further. Each decision mattered, each action carried weight. In Karim, survival demanded more than courage—it required strategy, patience, and trust.
And with that, the night passed uneventfully, the team readying themselves for another day of hard labor, careful planning, and quiet hope in a world ruled by mana, snow, and unseen forces.
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