chnut

Isn't that one of those cheap knock-offs made by Siestan hawkers to trick tourists?

They told you this was obsidian?

Uhh... Actually, I knew all along that it was a fake.

The man leans over and picks up the black rock that had fallen onto the ground, pinches it between his thumb and index finger, then taps it against the wall to produce another clinking sound.

Please don't mess with it any more...

What's the big deal? Isn't this just a piece of black glass? Completely worthless.

Here, take it.

Yes, but even if it isn't obsidian, it still counts as a beautiful stone.

Every stone has its own value.

What a strange little fella.

How about I show you something actually worth something?

The man takes off the cloth bag fastened to his waist and unties the rope. It's filled to the brim with black rocks.

Here, all of this obsidian is yours.

Whoa! This is... it's all real obsidian! But...

You're giving all these to me? Why...?

As thanks for the treatment you just gave me.

Oh... But I don't need all that. I just wanted a little chunk to study in my collection. Just this one's fine.

You came all the way into this mine just for a tiny little chunk of obsidian... for your collection? To study? You sure?

One piece is enough. Combined with the lava markings left in the cave, I have a pretty good idea of where the obsidian veins are.

What do you need the veins for? Is a whole bag of the stuff not enough for you?

Just take it before I change my mind. Won't get a deal this good anywhere.

But... isn't all this more valuable to <i>you</i>? I mean, you took a whole lot of risks just to come dig it up.

Oh! I, um... Yeah, I won't tell anyone! Especially not anyone on the lookout for obsidian smugglers.

Also... I won't be in Siesta much longer, now that I've got my hands on the real deal.

What, you think I'm a smuggler just 'cause of this bag here?

Lots of people come here looking for obsidian. Volcanologists, environmental workers, government employers... and folks like you, surveyors who are 'just interested.'

If you really were some kind of researcher here to monitor volcanic activity, why wouldn't you shout for help when you saw someone coming?

You hurt your leg and couldn't move, plus it looks like you've been down here without food for quite some time now...

But even after I found you, you were more worried about who I might be, rather than how I could help you.

So what else could explain all that, other than being an obsidian smuggler?

Smuggling? What the hell are you talking about? ...My old man was an obsidian miner, so's my brother, and so am I.

This is how we make a living. How does that add up to 'smuggling'?

Sir... I meant no offense. I'm not qualified to judge Siesta's policies or your actions, nor am I in any position to do so, but...

Doesn't matter anyway.

Even if you go running off to tell the police or the people at City Hall or whatever, this is what I gotta do to support my family.

But what if the volcano suddenly erupts early?

Who cares? That's way off in the future. How could that happen all of a sudden?

Besides, the Siestans have already started moving, so there's still plenty of time.

...But wouldn't it be way too late by the time disaster actually struck?

My old hometown was destroyed in a sudden disaster. Everything we had worked so hard to build was just gone overnight.

In order to find out what caused it, my people and I started studying geology. Afterwards, I came to the surface to see how various other people handle their crises.

Seeing Catastrophe Messengers warning people of danger, nomadic cities moving people away from high-risk areas... I really admire that kind of resilience.

Resilience? What do you mean by that?

Hmm... I mean being able to bounce back after facing a sudden crisis?

Just like a huge lake. Not only can it store the runoff from a flooding river after a rainy season, but it can also nourish that same river during droughts.

In that case, why don't you people move to a nomadic city like Siesta, too?

If they're all as observant as you, I'm sure you could easily pick out a few capable people to be Catastrophe Messengers.

Well... Um, there are actually a lot of things we don't quite understand.

Compared to my hometown, Siesta's a pretty lucky city. After all, the volcano hasn't erupted yet, and there's still plenty of time to avoid the brunt of the disaster.

But...

I don't have any obsidian here, so run along back to your mommy now!

Maybe this is the unavoidable fate of the Siestans... What could possibly be more important than getting outta here before the whole volcano blows?

That so-called 'preparation' is nothing more than a false sense of security, a coping mechanism... Heeheeheheh.

Even knowing about the disaster doesn't seem to be making life any easier for the Siestans...

So what do we do...? What <i>can</i> we do when faced with these sudden natural disasters?

Wh-What's going on? It's shaking so much... Don't tell me the volcano's actually about to blow...?

I just had to jinx it... There's no way our timing's actually this bad, is there?

No, I don't think it should erupt just yet...

But the structure of this cave is already extremely unstable, and even the slightest volcanic activity could cause it to collapse.

We need to get out of here, now.

...Hah, I reckon that's easier said than done.

A swarm of Originium slugs starts approaching from the cave's entrance.

If we head over there, they'll pick our bones clean!

Head down! Follow me!

Well, what now? There are slugs down there too. Stop going down and take that higher passage up there!

I'm familiar with that area. Mined obsidian up there a few times! Besides, didn't you say you wanted to check out the obsidian veins? Well, now's your chance!

Let's keep going this way.

Is that some kinda sick joke? I ain't dying down here with you!

I'm going that way.

Before the miner finishes his words, the wall above that cave passage cracks open, and an Originium slug squeezes out from it.

This way! Over here! What are you even doing?

Oh... Coming...

Could you tell it was dangerous that way?

I know it looks like we're going deeper right now, but I can tell from the lines on the wall that it'll climb back up as we go forward. Plus... the Originium slugs aren't coming this way.

As for the path up there... Didn't you just say that you mined obsidian from there?

Long-term excavation will absolutely destroy the stability of the rock formation, and it could easily collapse if things start shaking again. Also, after the ore gets dug out, the cavity left behind is the perfect place for a slug nest.

Heh. You've got a little bit of that magic in you, little man.

Treating the wounded, observing the environment, guiding an escape, slug-related disasters... Do you do this all the time?

I see light ahead! That should be our way out!

After escaping from the mines, Chestnut says goodbye to the obsidian miner.

'Do you do this all the time?'

But disaster still struck... when nobody was ready for it.

The short man cannot help but think: what else can he do? For now, he still can't come up with an answer.

However, he now welcomes two new guests to his specimen box — two pieces of beautiful 'obsidian.' That was enough to make him feel at peace.

On his last day in Siesta, Chestnut went to the beach, drank ice-cold soda from a street vendor, felt the sea breeze, and listened to the sound of the waves.

Sitting on the stone steps, he opens up his booklet and starts detailing the hard-earned ore in his hand, recording this unique holiday in the way he's accustomed to.

This time, though, the sound of crying suddenly pierces through the momentary calm of the receding waves.

Is that a little kid?

Is it coming from the beach?

Uwaaaaah—

Hey! Stop crying! What's the big deal anyway?!

...Excuse me, what's wrong?

Waaaaah—

A big wave just came and messed up our drawing of our big brother!

A drawing of your big brother? Where is it?

Right under your foot.

Chestnut looks down and sees that he's stepping on a drawing in the sand.

Even though it had been washed away by the waves, he can vaguely see the outline of a large head.

Um... How about we draw another one? I can help you out.

Uwaaaaaaaaaah!