V55C5P3 – The Dream of Dwarves

“Pant, pant.”

“Let’s keep going. Only a little more left.”

The dwarves pushed the wagon out from the narrow and dark mine tunnel.

The warm sunlight welcomed them outside, but there was no time to relax.

“Load up quickly and go!”

Under Padon’s command, the wagons, pulled by bulls, and with dwarves as bullwhackers left hurriedly, out of the lair.

“I will feed you a lot when we get to a safe place. So run!”

“Mooo!”

The hundreds of wagons split up down the mountain.

It was the last step of the dragon lair robbery, the escape!

Weed kept on walking through the mine tunnel and the thick dust.

Beside him was the dwarf warrior Oberon, guarding him all the way.

“You have done so much for me. If it weren’t for Oberon-nim, we wouldn’t have pulled it off this successfully.”

“It’s not like that. I only did my part in Weed-nim’s plan.

Oberon was a commander with outstanding leaders.h.i.+p and he had a devoted personality.

Weed acknowledged that he accomplished the biggest role and sacrificed a great deal for this robbery plan.

‘Truthfully, I did not trust him.’

Even when they exited the mine tunnel, he put his guard up whenever Oberon got close.

‘Is he going to strike me from behind? This is all on broadcast, but it’s more than possible.

A kind person like me getting duped by the villain, in the end, is all too common. I wouldn’t be this worried normally, but right now he is probably the most powerful user because he activated the Brazier of Sacrifice… No way! Could he have activated the brazier for this opportunity? Yeah, it’s feasible. Such a foul dwarf…’

Suspicion after suspicion. In his mind, Oberon became a villain that must be killed in the future.

‘The thing is that he’s a warrior with his attack damage not too high… I can stop him. If it comes down to it, I will use Time sculpting and strike back.’

Asking to share the load definitely made him a thief, causing Weed to be on alert.

Now that they exited the mine, his suspicion went down to about 50%, putting Oberon back in the good person category.

Weed would never be able to put away his suspicions on people until his death bed.

‘They say the only people you can trust are your family… Even that isn’t always true. The scammers commit their first crime on their very own family.’

In this world, even the words from professionals such as doctors and lawyers must go through suspicion, as well as the confirmation of severa; trades or real estate transactions.

Used goods markets were as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than dungeons.

“I am so rea.s.sured to have Oberon-nim here.”

“What I did is small. Thanks to Weed-nim, the Versailles Continent has become a peaceful place.”

Weed exchanged warm compliments even with glaring eyes!

– Swift Coldwind: Kaybern will arrive in approximately 10 minutes.

“Let us hurry to Debrado village.”

“Yes, understood.”

Weed planned on exploiting Oberon for a very long time after wrapping up the current mission.

‘In the right places, he has the potential to become a real a.s.set.’

His combat, connections and accomplishments as a lord were far better than Pale.

He was capable, diligent and selfless; the perfect talent.

I think I understand why businessmen are so thirsty for talents. If what I see is true, this man can be exploited for a long time.’

Weed overly smacked his lips, not to lie this time, but instead, to flatter Oberon.

“Ha-ha-ha. I was observant of your usual accomplishments.”

“You’re just saying that. My accomplishments are not even a tenth of yours.”

“I looked up a lot of videos about Oberon-nim since the start of Royal Road.”

“Really?”

“It sure helped me a lot.”

He most definitely did check them out to a.n.a.lyze and take reference.

He did consider choosing the dwarf as his race, as it was the best cla.s.s for crafting and selling.

Combat was also formidable, but there was a huge reason that turned him away.

‘They’re too short. Such a big head too…’

A problem of bodily proportions!

Unflattering looks weren’t a problem, but sword techniques were well incorporated with an acceptable length of arms and legs, so in the end, he did not choose this race.

Despite the bland flattery, Oberon’s face blushed.

“For Weed-nim of all people to watch my video, it is such an honor.”

“I watched your dungeon clear of Malinsa 3 times.”

“Oh, even those? My level wasn’t that high around that time.”

“It was when you were training your axe throwing skill, was it not? I’m sure it was a great help for novice players.”

Weed engaged in a friendly conversation with Oberon as he arrived in Debrado village.

Nide and the dwarven users, along with the Brazier of Sacrifice, were waiting at the village entrance.

“Hyung! Apparently, Kaybern is going to arrive at the lair very soon.”

“Yeah, let’s turn in the quest first.”

Weed led the dwarves and the brazier to the elder.

The dwarven elder who was sharpening his axe with a beer at his side, saw the brazier and sprang to his feet.

“This is the Brazier of Sacrifice that you mentioned.”

“This, this… The dwarven treasure!”

The elder wiped a tear and stroked the brazier.

Blink!

< Dwarves’ Desire for Robbery Complete.

The determined dwarves recovered the treasure that was stolen by Kaybern.

Their long-awaited wish has been achieved.

The dwarven elder will reward the hero of their kind.

Honor increased by 32,000.

A deep affiliation with the dwarves has been established. >

“It is old and aged, but I can feel a great aura of fire. Countless weapons that changed history were born from this brazier.”

“This is the real artefact that we recovered from Kaybern’s lair. It was the most precious treasure hidden well by the dragon.”

In a conversation, a bit of exaggeration was essential for an exciting story.

The dwarven elder bit the hook.

“Yes, the dragon would have been kept warm with our brazier.”

“For sure. It was a treasure that even Kaybern held dear.”

Weed, while talking to the elder, was still concerned about the whereabouts of Kaybern.

– Swift Coldwind: Kaybern has returned to the lair.

Finally, the owner was home.

Until now, he tried not to think about the Kaybern’s reaction to the robbery.

– Swift Coldwind: I can hear the dragon’s screams. ‘How dare they steal my treasure…’ He is swearing to kill us all.

The dragon was narrow-minded, and its reaction was to be expected.

Weed decided to be bold about it.

‘It isn’t my fault. It was a quest about the long-held wish of the dwarves. It asked me to rescue the Half-elf Vishur too.’

All he did was just carry out a quest.

Though including the Brazier of Sacrifice, he did swipe as many things as he could from the lair. It wasn’t just himself, but he mobilized a thousand dwarves and an a.s.sault team to steal.

‘You have to get the biggest bite possible. Dying after just a lick of the dish is so unfortunate. There’s a problem with the quest itself, really. Coming out without grabbing any treasure from a trip into a lair? That is so harmful to your mental state.’

The elder wiped his tears with his dusty sleeves.

“I knew if I waited, this day would come eventually. You need to be rewarded since you recovered the Brazier of Sacrifice.”

“A reward… What kind?”

Weed smiled.

He did grab lots of treasure, but his greed knew no end!

“You are qualified to learn our village’s skill.”

“A skill?”

“The secret technique of working with fire and metal. I will teach you. I think about ten days with the Brazier of Sacrifice will do.”

Blink!

< You can acquire the secret technique of the dwarven blacksmiths, ‘Method to start and maintain the fire’.

Mastering this technique will increase affinity with fire by 30%.

Blacksmithing skill is enhanced along with Shamanism and magic efficiency. >

< You can acquire the secret technique of the dwarven blacksmiths, ‘Iron Melding Practice’.

You can obtain the dwarven secrets of working with metal.

You can also earn knowledge about alloys that will a.s.sist you in the production of specialized metals. It increases the worth of the blacksmithing products. >

Weed had advanced blacksmithing level 3, so he knew the worth of the skill.

‘The skill in itself is awesome, and the more I craft, the faster the training speed of the blacksmithing skill. I could master blacksmithing more conveniently now.’

He expected to be rewarded with some equipment already crafted by the dwarves, but this was a chance to gain something more.

“Us dwarves are beings that overcome the intense flames. Now that we have the brazier back, we have the power to resist the dragon.”

“You’re going to resist against the dragon?”

“Mmm, maybe not complete independence from the dragon’s influence… But in the least, we have to stand up against something like the Black Dragon Kaybern. As long as it is alive, the dwarves will never be able to live freely.”

Weed groomed his beard and nodded.

“You are right. Kaybern is indeed one evil dragon.”

“I am going to open a general meeting for the dwarves and announce that the brazier has been recovered. We will borrow from its power and fight against Kaybern.”

“Will you be able to win against Kaybern?”

“I know it will be difficult, but we dwarves must follow through with it. Please take the brazier to Stump village of the Norn mountain pa.s.s.

“Stump village?”

“It’s the location where dwarves gather for important decisions. They will all welcome you since you recovered the brazier. I will provide you with a map, so please take it there. Kaybern might try to chase you down, but we will divert him away as much as possible. You will be in danger as well, so do not let your guard down.”

Blink!

< Dwarf General Meeting

The dwarven meeting that will decide the fate of the race will be held in Stump village of Norn Mountain pa.s.s, in ten days. Countless dwarves will be expecting you.

On the other hand, Kaybern might trace the tracks leading from the lair, but the dwarves of the Debrado village are prepared.

They will crumble down the mine completely and erase the tracks left on Ulta mountain pa.s.s.

Difficulty: S

Quest Requirement: Dwarf.>

< The long-awaited wish of the dwarves is completed.

Quest can proceed because you are in perfect dwarf form through Sculptural Transformation.

If the quest is declined, the relations.h.i.+p with the dwarves will turn hostile. >

“I will get to Stump village no matter what.”

< Quest has been accepted. >

< You have obtained the map of Grutegy village. >

(To be continued…)