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Reincarnated as a coal miner
Chap 7- The proposal/ The freedom

Chap 7- The proposal/ The freedom

That same night as I return home, I saw my dad standing at the front door. Was he waiting for me? That’s the first time in ages.

"Doing your daily routine again, huh, son?"

"Calling me 'son'? It’s been a while since I heard that from you."

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Don’t be like that."

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "I guess I deserve that indifference. But I did it to make you stronger. Now look at you... a real man."

"What a strange way to show your appreciation—beating me senseless."

"Well, I had to. That idea of yours was dumb. And I promised your mother... you won’t be an adventurer. I’ll keep that promise."

"You’ll keep it until I beat you."

"The sad thing is, I know you will." He sighed, like the wind had been knocked out of him.

"It’s hard to believe... but I’m proud of you, son."

I stood there, frozen. Those words... they resonated in me more than anything he’d said before. A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it.

"Don’t cry, boy. I didn’t raise no baby." He gave me a slap on the back.

"Haha, you’re right." I wiped my face quickly and squared my shoulders, ready to defend myself, just in case.

"Not tonight," he muttered, but there was something different in his voice. "I want you to hear me out first."

I raised an eyebrow. My dad never acted like this. Always the tough one, the silent one. I was on guard, ready for anything.

He continued, his voice softer now. "Rika’s changed too. She’s not the spoiled princess she used to be."

Rika changed? maybe only one percent of her behavior.

"I bet it was the yogurt." I cracked a grin, and my dad laughed.

"That leaves us only you," he said, pulling out a pamphlet from his pocket.

I blinked. "What’s this, Dad?"

He handed it to me. "It’s an offer from a coal mining company. You can work as a coal miner."

I stared at him, dumbfounded. "You’re kidding, right? From construction to... caves? Are you more insane than I thought?"

"It’s not just any company. This one is the best in the capital. More than that, it's the best in the kingdom."

Was he serious? I thought about it, but doubt crept in. If I applied, they'd probably reject me. I don’t have experience... I'm just the son of a construction worker.

He noticed my hesitation. "Why the long face? I know it’s a tough environment, but listen—"

He paused, taking a deep breath, as though this conversation was awkward for him too. But he pressed on, almost like he was forcing himself to speak his thoughts. "This company contacted me because of a guy named Walle. He was huge—like two meters tall. They saw his potential, and the guy was eager to get paid, so he took the job. In the end, he didn’t just stay as a worker—he became a boss. A manager, in fact."

"Two meters? Sounds like quite the guy." I couldn’t help but snicker.

"Yeah, but that’s the thing. This Walle... He was so grateful for all those years of hard work with me that he promised to help me. He’s offered to hire you to work as a coal miner."

I frowned. "You know I don’t know anything about coal or being a miner."

He shook his head, the edge of a smile forming on his lips. "You didn’t know anything about construction either. But look at you now—a machine made of sweat and muscle. You’ve come a long way, son."

"But 20 gold coins for four days of work? That’s... that’s not enough."

He raised an eyebrow, catching my disbelief. "Boy, 1 gold coin is equal to 10 silver coins. So you’ll be making 200 silver coins every four days."

My eyes widened at the sum. 200 silver coins was a fortune. I had never even seen a gold coin before, let alone been paid one.

"Still," I muttered, "it sounds like a lot for so little effort."

"Ah, the gold coin is more than just value," he said with a knowing look. "It’s how they see you. In the capital, only the wealthy use gold coins regularly. The more gold you have, the more respect you get. It’s not just about wealth—it’s about status. Silver coins? Everyone has them. But gold? Gold means something."

His explanation made sense, more than I thought. I took a moment to let it sink in.

"And here’s the best part," he added. "If you prove yourself, Walle can promote you. He’ll move you up the ranks faster than you can imagine, with a pay increase to match."

"I don’t know," I muttered, uncertainty creeping in. "It sounds... too good to be true."

"But it's not," Dad replied, the urgency in his voice growing. "This is your shot. Don’t let it slip through your fingers."

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“Let me think, I will tell you tomorrow”

“Fine. And I will send you money. I almost paid all the debt I had because of Julian’s documents. Then you can live without worrying about the food. But only the first couple of months, don't get used to”

“Haha, Let’s see “ I enter to the house

“I will tell you tomorrow, bye dad”

I went to the sofa and I slept.

In the dead of night, I felt something soft and light bouncing off my face, brushing against my nose. My eyes flickered open.

"Pachesko, what are you doing here?" I whispered, barely able to make out his silhouette in the dark.

"Come on, let's talk outside," he urged, his voice low.

I frowned, confusion mixing with a hint of annoyance. "I heard that conversation. Why don’t you just take the offer, Daryn?"

"Because I want to be an adventurer, not a coal miner," I replied, my voice quieter now.

He was quiet for a moment, but then his words cut through the silence. "Just go. Like you meant to. Do the whole adventurer thing and then hit the dungeons. They don’t need to know. Get paid through guild missions, and live these months by your dad money, is a lie but he will be happy."

Lying to my dad? After all he’d done for me? After tonight, seeing that softer side of him...

I hesitated, torn. "Yeah, that makes sense... but I want to beat him first."

"Again with that?" Pachesko sounded exasperated, like he’d had this conversation with me a dozen times. "Think about the waifus, Daryn."

Waifus? The words hit me, and for a moment, I almost forgot why I was in this mess in the first place.

"Yeah, the elves..." Pachesko continued, his tone now laced with a mischievous grin. "Imagine them in your bed."

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I groaned, rolling my eyes. "Wait—you can’t tempt me like that! Piece of junk!" I kicked him, but this time, he actually rebounded in mid-air, flipping effortlessly as if gravity had no power over him.

I stood there, frozen. I couldn't believe it, but then again, he was a type of god. Guess it was justified.

"I’m not wrong, but if you want to keep doing your pity show, good luck!" Pachesko said, grinning down at me from where he had landed effortlessly on his feet.

I kick him again but this time, he did not bounce.

"Good luck finding your way back!"

I decided to sleep right away after that conversation, since I knew what is coming tomorrow.

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The Freedom:

The next day, I stood before my father, the weight of the conversation hanging heavy in the air. I didn’t hesitate.

“Dad, I want to become an adventurer.”

He didn’t flinch, didn’t look disappointed. Instead, he sighed, his gaze steady.

“I guess we’re doing this again.” His voice was calm, but there was a sharpness in it that cut through the tension. “But this is your last chance, Daryn.”

We headed out to the backyard, and this time, I could see Rika, Lucian, and Carol sitting off to the side, watching us with expectant eyes. Carol had her chair, eating popcorn as though a beating was about to unfold.

“We can avoid all of this if you just accept the job,” my father said, his tone softer but firm. “It’s a good life, and you’ll be set for life.”

“I don’t think so, Dad.” I squared up, planting my feet firmly in the grass.

Without warning, my father moved. Fast. His jabs came at me like a storm, quick and precise. I slid, ducking under the first, then the second.

One. Two. Three.

I saw the rhythm of his breathing, a brief moment of rest. It was enough. I countered, throwing a hook to his ribs. He stumbled back, wiping blood from his mouth with a smirk that made me realize just how much I was underestimating him.

"Not bad, boy," he muttered, but the moment his leg shot out to sweep me, I was already dodging.

“That trick won’t work again, Dad,” I said, leaning back, poised and ready.

The fight was a dance. Every time I jabbed, he was there to weave, his instinct sharper than a blade. He was fast, almost too fast. And I was relentless, my stamina never wavering, each punch only setting me up for the next.

But my dad wasn’t just fast—he was unpredictable. His strikes were like a wall, unyielding, relentless. Suddenly, his hands were on my legs, and before I could react, he threw me to the ground with the kind of power only a man of his years could possess.

My back hit the dirt with a sharp thud. The air was knocked out of me, and my head swam. I could feel him moving to pin me down, and I knew what that meant. It was over. If he got on top of me again, I’d lose. I couldn’t let it happen.

Adrenaline flooded my body, turning every muscle to steel. I kicked my legs out, using the momentum to spring back to my feet in a fluid rush.

"You’ve got a lot under your sleeves, Dad," I said through gritted teeth.

"Haha," he chuckled, wiping sweat from his brow. But I could sense the fatigue in his movements now. He was tired. The edge was gone.

"But this is over," I added, my eyes narrowing.

He lunged at me again, like a beast, his mind set on taking me down. His size and strength were unmatched, but I couldn’t afford to hesitate. This wasn’t just about physicality—it was mental. And I wasn’t going to let him break me, not now.

“Thanks, calisthenics,” I muttered under my breath.

In the split second before he reached me, I leaped—using his body as leverage. My legs pushed off his back, and with a burst of speed, I vaulted over him. My dad, too focused on his charge, lost his balance. He stumbled, and I saw the opening. With a sickening crash, he hit the ground face-first, dirt and blood splattering around him.

“What the hell was that?” he yelled, his face covered in grime and blood.

“I’m like an acrobat now,” I smirked, stepping back and wiping my hands on my pants.

“Do you think you’re some kind of hotshot now, boy?” His voice was rough, but I could hear the respect buried underneath.

“Come on, Dorion! Kick his ass!” Carol yelled from the sidelines, laughing.

My dad, though, wasn’t backing down. I could see the fire still burning in his eyes, and I knew this wasn’t over.

"Thanks for everything, Dad," I said, my tone sincere for the first time. "You’ve taught me well."

His face was a mix of confusion and worry. He didn’t understand. Not yet.

He lunged again, throwing a jab, but I could see it coming a mile away. I always saved something for the end. I had to—no one followed the rules in a fight.

Three seconds.

Two seconds.

In that moment, I moved with everything I had, planting my feet and propelling myself into a vicious road kick. The impact hit his face with a sickening crack just a split second before his jab reached me.

My dad collapsed to the ground, out cold, his body crumpling beneath him like a ragdoll. Silence hung in the air for a moment, and then the weight of the fight settled in.

I stood over him, breathing hard. The fight was over. I’d won.

The others rushed forward, expressions of shock and awe plastered across their faces. Carol and Rika helped my dad to his feet, each of them looking just as stunned as I was.

No response was given for any of the family members, a silence for thirty second perhaps and then.

“You did well, boy,” Dad said, his voice soft but filled with pride. "You can do anything you want now."