The night had passed as normal, and with the path to the entrance being as dangerous as it is, another wolf passing by was almost a non-issue.
It was a good night’s rest.
"Let’s go."
The two of them continued on their path, with Maria trying her absolute best to delay their departure. She didn’t want to continue down the path, but of course, there was no negotiating with Justinian as they continued.
And it was a good thing they did.
Because just a few minutes after they left, they had finally arrived at their destination.
The statue of Mithral, and just as expected, was broken and ruined, its foundation chipped away by constant snowstorms.
But... the statue itself didn’t matter; what was important was the power that still resided in it.
The two of them took another step forward.
But they were promptly stopped when an arrow struck just in front of them.
A simple warning shot.
"Pilgrims, lay down your weapons."
It was a tribesman, the ones who guard Mithral’s center of worship.
That was the first condition completed, now... next would be the gold.
Justinian tossed his bag on the ground, allowing the other tribesn to take his bag and inspect it for dangerous items.
Next was him and Maria herself, but a quick inspection proved that they were harmless, well... at this state, they were harmless.
"You may pass."
The tribesn returned to their camp; their entire civilization was based on the statue itself, their entire culture favoring hard work and labour.
And from their camp, there were also other pilgrims, so were even rchants who ca to pray to Mithral for good graces.
It was a bustling civilization despite being at the literal peak of a dangerous mountain.
"Is this... it?"
Maria approached the foot of the huge statue of the god, admiring its craftsmanship, still finding beauty despite its damage.
"I’ve never seen Mithral be portrayed like this before..."
"You can’t exactly portray a god accurately."
Justinian laughed, looking around.
"What should we do first?"
"Gold, we need gold."
"Like money?"
"No, gold earned through hard labor, mining."
"Eh?"
***
Just behind the statue was a huge gold mine, its contents refilling every start of the new year due to Mithral’s influence.
It was a guaranteed way to get rich... at least, if the tribesn won’t kill you if you even try to get near it.
By its entrance were two tribesn, each one currently trying to be smooth-talked by a rchant, which, of course, failed horrendously.
"I’ll offer you food, treasure, weapons!"
The rchant shouted, trying to tempt the tribesn to allow him and his n access to the mine.
"No, you are unfit to receive Mithral’s favor."
Justinian laughed at the tribesn’s blunt reply. He couldn’t bla them; the rchant himself looked like he had already spent enough gold to last a lifeti.
"How are you planning to convince them to let you in?"
"Mithral values labour above all else; shouldn’t be hard to prove."
As the rchant left in disappointnt, Justinian and Maria replaced his presence, sothing that the tribesn did not enjoy at all.
They had enough of people trying to take advantage of their mine.
"Before you ask... no, we are not going to give you permission to mine."
The tribesn on the left answered before Justinian even got to ask.
"And no... showing off your muscles to prove that you know hard labour won’t be enough." The one on the right was added.
’Drat...’
Justinian thought to himself that was literally his only plan; he didn’t expect that soone else had already tried that thod before him.
But he had a plan B, a completely unintentional plan B.
Because just beside him was considered to be the novel’s best negotiator and warr of hearts, Maria.
"It’s your turn."
Justinian nudged her forward, with Maria looking back in confusion.
"What!? What am I supposed to do?"
"Improvise."
Justinian smirked, crossing his arms. It was her expertise, not his. he couldn’t give any good advice even if he wanted to.
Maria took a shaky breath.
Negotiating with nobles? Fine. Tavern keepers? Doable.
But two mountain n with axes bigger than her head and pride heavier than iron?
Not ideal.
She swallowed, stepping forward anyway.
"U-Um... Excuse ."
Both tribesn stared at her.
Not hostile.
But not welcoming either.
Simply... asuring her worth.
"I know you’ve probably heard a hundred promises," Maria began, voice small, but steadying. "Gold, trade, fa, blessings... but..."
She looked down at her hands.
Calloused from travel. Frost-burned from the mountains. Bruised from fire practice.
She slowly curled them into fists.
"I don’t have anything like that."
She lifted her head.
"But I am willing to work."
That made one of the tribesn blink.
"I don’t an showing off," she continued, glancing at Justinian’s flexed arms behind her. "I an actual labor. Real labor. The kind that hurts. The kind that breaks your back... and builds sothing else in return."
"...What do you offer?" the tribesman finally spoke, arms crossed.
"Work, faith, and effort," Maria said simply. "And unlike rchants... we won’t quit when it gets cold."
A quiet pause.
The tribesn looked at each other.
One finally stepped forward, eyeing her amulet.
"Faith... in Mithral?"
Maria hesitated.
"I don’t worship Mithral," she admitted.
Justinian’s eyebrow twitched.
The tribesn’s expressions hardened, dangerously close to offense.
"But," Maria continued, stepping forward, "I respect him."
That changed everything.
She looked directly at the statue.
"At the god who carved this land with patience, labor, and ti. At the deity who values sweat more than gold. Effort more than prayer."
Her voice was firr now.
"Mithral does not want worshippers."
The tribesn leaned closer.
"He wants workers."
Silence.
A breath.
Then the left tribesman did sothing Justinian did not expect.
He smiled.
"You speak like a laborer," he said.
"I’m learning," Maria answered, smiling nervously.
The other tribesman placed the butt of his axe onto the ground.
"You will not be allowed to mine," he said.
Maria deflated until he added:
"You will be required to."
Maria blinked. "Huh?"
"You, your companion. You will work. One full day in the mines. If Mithral acknowledges your efforts... You will be allowed to keep what you earn."
"...And if he doesn’t?" Justinian asked.
The tribesman smiled.
"You will leave empty-handed."
Maria bead.
"That’s fair!"
Justinian nodded.
"That’s perfect."
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