NOTICE: Many of the novels have been removed because they might cause violations, which we were not aware of earlier.
Episode 429: The Eye of the Typhoon (2)
The Knights of the Oath and the Swordmasters of the Arnak Empire are coming to the Red Volcano.
The former will continue to use the Second Prince as an excuse to hound Gharun and try to undermine the connection between the Empire and the Dwarves, while the latter will focus on blocking such external intervention.
As long as the objectives of both sides are clear, the possibility of a physical conflict cannot be ruled out.
Gharun raised an eyebrow at the words of the Red Volcano Clan Leader.
“So the pledger is planning to use the fact that the second prince, whom his daughter likes, has been attacked to establish a trade with the dwarves, and on the other hand, the empire is acting as a guard because they don’t want to lose their rice bowl? Even protecting me, who swung a hammer at the second prince.”
“I finally understand how serious the situation is───”
“Hahahahahahahaha!”
Gharun's loud laughter echoed throughout the prison floor.
“……What’s so funny?”
"entire."
The hammer with the incision looked straight at the clan leader.
“As you know from your experience in human society, even though the Arnak Empire is so great, only one emperor stands at the top. The rest who do not sit on the throne are reduced to ashes. Some are purged, and some bow their heads.”
“…….”
“The second prince, who didn’t like that, seemed to have turned his gaze outside the empire to solidify his own position, but in the end, he was used by the Transcendent One and gave the empire an opening. Oh, of course, if the second prince was genuinely in love with the daughter of the pledge, then there’s a fair amount of room to look at him again… But no matter what, the current reality won’t change.”
“You talk at length, which is unusual for you. So what are you trying to say?”
“Allies are unnecessary for dwarves.”
Gharun was determined.
“Look, what happened when you let other races into your own home? Didn’t you end up causing chaos within your clan by being swayed by their political circumstances and desires?”
“Aren’t you the one who caused that chaos?”
“It was squeezed out before the festering wound could rot. You must have learned it from your mother when you were young. The history of a small number of dwarves becoming slaves to humans.”
“It’s a long past, where even the paper has worn away and the words have been damaged. Even to you, who has lived for over 200 years… I am making a judgment with sufficient caution.”
“Warning? You’ve become arrogant after spending so much time with humans.”
The atmosphere became heavy.
The more this happened, the more the clan leader forced himself to hold his head up straight.
“As you said, interaction with humans is inevitable.”
“Of course, receiving orders from humans has always been a common occurrence, both in the past and present. However, other than that, the line was drawn strictly and ruthlessly. Maintaining such relationships was in the best interest of the dwarves. However, I could somehow understand your decision to build a city and use it as a trading platform with humans…….”
Gharun clenched his fist.
The restraints screamed as the muscles and tendons swelled in an instant.
“As a dwarf, I can’t say anything about mass-producing products even if my head explodes.”
All dwarves, regardless of skill level, put their heart into creating.
This is a belief.
That's why, except for unavoidable circumstances, I don't present a finished product if I'm not satisfied with the result.
widely.
The clan leader took a sip of the strong liquor contained in a small bottle at his waist.
“Huh…… That unavoidable circumstance is, ‘When your own people are in danger, mass production of tools is permitted.’ I have not forgotten the rule. Of course, I have never broken it.”
“Oh, you’re so confident, so why did you suddenly conspire with the Empire and do something while I was away?”
“Then I had to just wait for you, who might not even show up at any time? And even if I tried to ask you for your opinion, you’d just swing that barbaric hammer at me instead of telling me not to talk nonsense.”
“That’s true.”
The eccentric dwarf did not deny it.
“By the way, you didn’t break the rules? Are you saying that a dwarf has encountered an unprecedented danger? One that I don’t even know about?”
"exactly."
“What is that?”
“The flow of the times.”
The clan leader revealed his intentions.
“The weakest humans have changed dramatically over time. It is no exaggeration to say that they now rule the continent. Of course, they have not been able to unite as one and have split into countless forces, but the potential danger is growing by the day.”
“So you’re saying that you joined hands in advance because you were afraid that humans might invade? It’s regrettable that the clan leader, of all people, would make such excuses. As a dwarf, it’s so embarrassing…….”
“Don’t be so dichotomous───!”
He raised his voice.
“The beastmen rule the continent with the ‘Beast King’ at the helm, and the elves are united under the ‘World Tree’ and use the impregnable great forest as their shelter and shield! The humans worshipped the ‘God of Light, Luas’ and grew in power! On the other hand, what do the dwarves have! They are always standing still!”
There is no faith for dwarves.
Just like the original dwarf, they just keep creating and creating.
Without any cause.
The clan leader who leads the group is not like a king, but rather like a shepherd on a ranch.
“We can’t waste any more time like this. We too must think about the future and act! Before we are swallowed up by the times, blending in with the changing times and becoming a part of them is the only way───to ultimately protect the dwarves!!!”
This was the clan leader's belief.
Although his thoughts were completely different from those of a typical dwarf, he was still the clan leader.
It is being recognized.
It was true that cooperation with humans brought many benefits to the Red Volcano Clan, satisfying the dwarves' selfish desires.
The clan leader's passionate speech was firm enough to break the dwarves' stubbornness. In fact, he was able to persuade several orthodox dwarves.
However, the clan leader is currently facing a different breed of dwarves.
“The cause, the ambition, the prospects… they’re all uncharacteristic of a dwarf. It seems that you’ve become too immersed in human society after leaving the volcanic zone. So I’ll just say this once to get you to come to your senses.”
My spirit has grown stronger.
“Dwarves are a race of creation and metal. We are neither invaders nor rulers, but natural craftsmen. We are selfish and selfish dwarves who will make tools for anyone who pleases us. Sometimes we act as a counterweight by giving good things to good beings and evil things to evil beings.”
The veins on Gharun's neck stood out.
“We don’t need anything else……! Our heads, hands, and hearts are faith and God himself! Protect the orthodoxy───Arkul!!!!!”
——————
faqwiki.xyz
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
The atmosphere is churning.
Blood flowed from the clan leader's ears at the scream that erupted right in front of him.
The vibrations in his voice made the metal of the prison floors shake.
… … A space enveloped in silence.
The Red Volcano Clan Leader, who had his eyes closed, raised his body, staggering.
I was in a state of confusion.
But his eyes were not discouraged and were shining brightly.
“The Hammer of Incision, Gharun. I recognize your accomplishments. They are worthy of being called legends. You are the epitome of a dwarf. But that is why… you will never understand me. You have never been a clan leader.”
“…….”
“I’m going to go now.”
Arkuli turned his back.
As I walked on my short, stubby legs, I felt a sharp pain in my ear.
Blood was gushing on his palm.
“Damn, your voice got louder as you got older.”
“I can hear you all, you punk.”
“I told you to listen.”
Their beliefs are like two sides of a coin.
Still, he was a dwarf.
* * *
Linus gave a candid account of what he knew about Gharun.
Especially about that personality.
Verden, who had been listening quietly, nodded.
“I understand what a strange and stubborn dwarf your master is. After hearing this, I think I would like to meet him more.”
“The Master may refuse to produce it, but…….”
“It is my sole responsibility to persuade him. Of course, I have no intention of using force, so don’t worry.”
Linus felt a pang inside.
No matter how great the master is, he cannot deal with the transcendent being by brute force. He is also a stubborn dwarf who would rather die than submit.
If you're not careful, it can be irreversible.
Linus Baltimog, whose concerns were immediately apparent, was once again struck by the reality of being face to face with a transcendent being.
“So when do you think Gharun will be released?”
“I don’t know about that either. When I was imprisoned in the Red Volcano prison floor before, I was released after about 40 days, and before that, I was released after 20 days…….”
It is irregular.
It doesn't seem like the period of punishment varies depending on the severity of the crime.
However, since he was caught on an issue related to the Empire, it is likely that he will be locked up for a long time.
“It’s an endless wait. Then it would be faster if I went and met you in person.”
"yes?"
Linus, who understood the meaning of the words too late, waved his arm and tried to dissuade Verden.
“Yes, Your Majesty. The clan’s defenses are the epitome of dwarven technology. They completely block the penetration of magic and spatial distortion, making it impossible to detect the inside, and they even have the durability to withstand siege magic.”
Linus moistened his throat with saliva.
“And even if we succeed in forcibly destroying the barrier, the entire clan will be on high alert as the device reacts. If that happens, even your Master, who is a natural born dwarf, may… feel hostility towards you. Probably definitely.”
Each clan of dwarves uses a volcano as their home.
It is to utilize the geothermal heat boiling underground in various ways as a driving force.
As they risked the destruction of the entire clan even in the unlikely event of one fatality, their defenses and countermeasures for various situations were thorough and without loopholes.
Verden said.
“It goes without saying that I have no intention of destroying the walls head-on. My business is strictly a production request. It’s not a war with the dwarves. I’ve already thought of a way to get in.”
Verden cast his gaze beyond the window.
In the distance, smoke could be seen rising regularly from the crater of a red volcano.
“What I need now is the clan blueprint. I need to know where the prison floor where Gharun is supposedly located is so that I can shorten the time. So can you help me with that?”
“Hmm. The original and copies of the drawings are all stored within the clan, so I can’t get them right away… but I can draw them briefly. I’ve been in clans myself before.”
“If only I could distinguish the location, that would be enough. How long would it take?”
“It’ll probably take about half a day, but since this is my first time drawing the internal diagram of a clan, it’s hard to say for sure. The structure is a bit complicated.”
“Then come back in three days. There’s not that much time left. You must be tired for various reasons, so get some rest today.”
Verden raised his body.
Linus tried to see him off, but he was already out of the building.
A belated emptiness settled over the room.
Linus let out a deep breath without paying attention and laid his head on the table.
“No, shit… what did I do?”
Linus became an aide in the transcendent's smuggling.
It wasn't my intention.
All that remained was the sensation of caressing the dragon's skull at the tip of my fingers.
* * *
Time passed quickly.
Verden, who received the blueprint from Linus, was positioned far above.
“We will now enter the dwarven dwelling. I will handle the magical aspects, but I will leave the external obstacles to you, Alpha.”
A device as elaborate and mechanical as the door to the cell where Linus was locked up would be difficult for Verden to unlock without destroying it.
But he is not alone.
Alpha's one eye sparkled as he finished analyzing some of the dwarf technology.
[No problem. Leave it to me, Your Majesty Verden.]
Overflowing confidence.
By the way, Alpha's reasoning power came from the Demon King himself.
“Okay, let’s go. Just in case, don’t come out until I give the signal.”
[Keep in mind.]
Alpha hid inside [Einver].
Verden, who checked the overall condition once again, activated the magic circuit.
Immediately afterwards, he surrendered to gravity and fell vertically, accelerating.
Smoke obscuring the view.
The hot heat that gradually creeps in.
with a plop.
A shielded Verden infiltrates a lava lake within the crater.
* * *
Space is distorted.
At the same time, a huge flying machine appeared with a purple flash. A national flag with two dragons holding up a crown was fluttering.
The flying craft hovered in the sky, approaching the red volcano. Soon, someone jumped from the deck.
Knock knock.
Even from that height, the man landed on the ground without any injuries.
At that moment, Arkul, the leader of the Red Volcano Clan who had been waiting nearby, appeared leading the dwarven elite.
“Welcome to the Red Volcano, Black Star.”
A man wearing only a sword and an old light armor───Geomseong looked down at him.
“What about the knights of the oath-giver?”
“I sent a messenger to pick you up, so he’ll be here soon. You don’t have to wait too long. I’ll guide you to the clan.”
Arkull took the lead.
The black dragon following him turned its head for a moment and stared at the red volcano.
It's quiet.
No matter how hard I tried to focus my senses, I couldn't feel anything.
“……Is it because of my mood?”
After muttering briefly, Geomseong started walking again.