I Refused To Be Reincarnated

"I'm too lacking to find ores of the same tier. So, I'm after their beast cores and bones."

He shrugged, more interested in the party setting than her question.

The reason made a lot of sense. Healers who never landed a hit on beasts and melee fighters covering the mages would indeed suffer without equal experience distribution.

'I don't want to share, though.'

His lips twisted into an unwilling grimace as he fidgeted with the party window.

'Found it.'

His eyes brightened as an experience distribution setting greeted his eyes.

With a few pushes, he changed the general fifty/fifty for everything to one hundred percent for beasts below the third tier for Anya and zero for the rest.

'Not like she can break through to the second tier here, anyway. Lower-tiered creatures are more than enough to reach level ten.'

With a satisfied nod, he turned to Anya, who gazed at her own interface with wide eyes.

"Can I take all the experience points for real?"

Her tone filled with disbelief, and her body heat increasing in excitement, she pressed yes to accept the distribution setting.

Meanwhile, his boots reverberated in the dark tunnel as he stepped onwards.

"I can't get anything from them, anyway. The higher tiered you are, the harder it is to level up."

After his concise explanation, he pointed at his shadow.

"Get in. Don't do anything weird, though."

She turned into a mass of swirling shadows slithering from his back and hid in his. The next second, her voice echoed.

"A landslide blocks the tunnel a few meters ahead. From that point, creatures took control of the area. The further you go, the stronger they become."

Her voice cracked, making him narrow his eyes.

"I spotted five in the fourth tier and there should be one in the fifth. They look like bipedal moles with sharp nails and long teeth. Although they are short, don't underestimate them. I've seen them use shields and weapons. They are intelligent."

He tucked his fingers around his chin, a pensive frown creasing his brows.

"I'll try to communicate with them. If they don't want to... They'll become Xp."

As his voice lingered, the rocks barring the tunnel met his eyes.

He could blast them with pure physical might, but he gazed back, noticing the distant lights. It would alert the miners behind and create unnecessary tension. Worse, the creatures would get access to the poor men's working space.

First, he thought about copying Anya's method before realising he had no idea how she could dissolve into shadows. Therefore, he used his earth affinity to turn the rocks into mud.

After a brief fight against the clinging liquid, he emerged on the brightly lit other side. He took a second to condense a large water bubble around him to clean the dirt. Next, he turned the mud back into rocks and proceeded onward.

Shadows danced on his face as the flickering torches illuminated his steps. Then, loud clinking noises reverberated. Finally, he met the first creature, reeling in disgust.

Rat teeth and dark nails glinted like drills as they collidined with the wall in a furious search. A short snout sniffed the air as minuscule eyes darted left and right. Hideous pustules covered its hairless arms as oversized miner clothes covered its short frame.

"Minus a thousand style points!"

His voice cracked as he grimace and spat on the rocks. Why was each creature he met more repulsive than the last?

Alarmed by his yell, it turned to him, a red glint flashing in its eyes.

SKRIIII

Baring its teeth, it screeched like a banshee and reached for a nearby pickaxe to defend itself.

Yet, its arms trembled, and it stepped back after facing Adam's firm gaze.

*"Siiik, skrii kii kiki kriii!"*

In a flash of light, the grimoire lingua appeared between them. As if the words had texture, it absorbed the sounds into a new page, recording the language. Then, it vanished in a puff of smoke.

"Stay away from me, vile creature. I'll give you a share of the insects I caught in exchange!"

The creature's yells echoed in the tunnel as it reached for its pocket and retrieved a handful of ants, worms, and cockroaches.

"I don't need them. I'm here to find ores of the fourth tier or above... or kill beasts of the same rank."

His words echoed more fluidly than the creature's as a hint of hope brightened his heart. Would he communicate with a monster for the first time?

The creature's short body trembled for a second, his features decomposing in disbelief. The ugly creature could speak his language!

Despite the shock, it spoke again, smelling an opportunity.

"I'm Picket. I can help you get ores. Kill! Kill all the leaders. They have them all."

Its voice cracked with excitement. Were their days of slavery going to end because of the ugly creature?

Surprised by the answer, Adam's eyes narrowed.

"You won't mind if I kill any threat on the way?"

"No! We rebel against tyranny. Help me become the King of the Mountain, and all the ores are yours!"

He tucked his fingers around his chin, taping a finger rhythmically against his cheek.

"Mhh. I can do that if you promise not to attack humans."

"Promise! I promise. The mountain range is wide and deep. No need for conflicts!"

Picket jumped in joy and charged into the tunnel.

"Come. Come meet my friends!"

A wry smile stretched his lips as he followed behind. Helping creatures rebel was the last thing he thought he would do today.

'But why not? After all, he is more reasonable than some humans and dwarves.'

A cold chuckle escaped his lips.

Meanwhile, Picket gathered his friends and met him halfway.

Honestly, besides the clothes, they all looked the same to him. Maybe because he met them for the first time?

Anyway, he counted fifteen of them, probably all in the second or third tier.

"Rest are enemies. Kill. Kill if they resist. We'll help you infiltrate."

Picket's screeches reverberated again. With clenched fists and determined steps, he walked onwards.