Chapter 429 - Eye of the Typhoon (2)
The Oathkeeper's knight and the Sword Saint of the Arnak Empire were coming toward the Red Volcano.
The former, using the Second Prince as a pretext, would persistently cling to Gharun, attempting to sever the Empire's link with the dwarves, while the latter would focus on blocking such external interference.
With both sides' intentions so clear, the possibility of physical conflict could not be ruled out.
At the words of the Red Volcano clan chief, Gharun raised an eyebrow.
"So, the Oathkeeper wants to use the fact that her daughter's beloved Second Prince was attacked to forge trade with the dwarves, while the Empire, unwilling to lose its rice bowl, plays the role of guardian? Even to the point of protecting me, the one who swung the hammer at the Second Prince."
"Only now do you realize how grave the situation is───"
"Khahahahahahaha!"
Gharun's booming laughter echoed through the prison floor.
"... What's so funny?"
"Everything."
The Hammer of Integrity glared straight at the clan chief.
"You've experienced human society, so you know, even if the Arnak Empire is so great, in the end only one sits at the pinnacle—the Emperor. Those who fail to seize the throne become husks. Some are purged, others bow their heads."
"..."
"The Second Prince, despising that, must have tried to secure his footing by looking outside the Empire, but in the end, he was used by a Transcendent and left a gap for the Empire to exploit, wasn't he? Ah, of course, if the Second Prince truly loves the Oathkeeper's daughter with all sincerity, then perhaps I might see him differently... but whatever the case, reality does not change."
"You are uncharacteristically talkative. So what are you trying to say?"
"Dwarves have no need of alliances."
Gharun declared flatly.
"Think about it, when you brought other races into your very own house, what happened? Their political circumstances and ambitions tossed our clan into turmoil."
"And the decisive factor in causing that turmoil was you, Gharun, was it not?"
"I squeezed out the festering wound before it rotted through. Didn't your mother teach you when you were a child? The history of those few dwarves who became slaves of humans."
"That's a faded past, the writings themselves rotted away, and even to someone like you, who has lived more than two hundred years... I have judged with ample caution."
"Caution? You've grown arrogant after living too close to humans."
The air grew heavy.
All the more, the clan chief forced himself to hold his head high.
"As you well know, interaction with humans is inevitable."
"Of course, receiving commissions from humans has always been the case, past and present. But beyond that, I drew the line sharply and coldly. For dwarves, that was the best course. Even so, I could grudgingly accept your decision to build a city as a trade window with humans...."
Gharun clenched his fist.
The restraints screamed as swollen muscles and tendons surged.
"For a dwarf to mass-produce shoddy goods, there's no excuse even if your head bursts."
All dwarves, regardless of skill, devote their full heart to creation.
This is their creed.
Thus, except under unavoidable circumstances, they never present something unsatisfactory as a finished product.
Tak.
The clan chief took a swig of strong liquor from the small bottle at his belt.
"Huu... Those unavoidable circumstances are precisely this, 'When one's kin are in grave peril, mass production of tools is permitted'. I have not forgotten the code. I certainly never broke it."
"Ho, so confident, then why did you scheme with the Empire behind my back while I was gone?"
"Was I supposed to wait endlessly for you, who might never return? And even if I asked your opinion, wouldn't you have just told me to shut up and swung that barbaric hammer?"
"That's true."
This cantankerous dwarf did not deny it.
"But you claim you did not break the code. Are you saying the dwarves faced an unprecedented threat? One even I do not know of?"
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"The flow of the era."
The clan chief revealed his intent.
"Humans, once the weakest, have utterly changed over the ages. Now, it's no exaggeration to say they dominate the continent. Of course, they are fractured into countless factions instead of being united, but their potential threat grows by the day."
"So, out of fear they might invade, you joined hands with them first? To hear that excuse from none other than the clan chief, it is lamentable. Shameful as a dwarf..."
"Don't judge everything in such simple dichotomies───!"
He raised his voice.
"The beastkin are led by the 'Beast King' and reign over the continent, the elves are united by the 'World Tree' and shielded by their impregnable great forest! Humans grew in power by worshipping the 'God of Light, Luas!' And what of the dwarves! We remain stagnant!"
Dwarves know no faith.
As is their nature, they only craft, and craft again.
With no greater cause.
The clan chief is not a king but more akin to a shepherd.
"We can't waste time like this any longer. We too must think of the future and act! Before we are swallowed by the era, we must blend into its change and become part of it───only that will, ultimately, preserve the dwarves!!!"
This was the clan chief's conviction.
It was an ideology utterly unlike the average dwarf, yet he was still the clan chief.
He was recognized.
Cooperation with humans had indeed brought many benefits to the Red Volcano clan, fulfilling the dwarves' private desires.
The chief's fervent words were strong enough to break dwarven stubbornness. He had even convinced a few traditionalists.
However, before him now stood a dwarf of a different breed.
"Grand ideals, ambition, vision... none of it is dwarven. Seems you were too tainted by human society outside the volcanic lands. So, I'll say this once, to snap you back to your senses."
His spirit grew fierce.
"Dwarves are the race of creation and metal. Not invaders, not rulers, but born artisans. As long as it pleases us, we craft for anyone, be they good or evil. By doing so, we sometimes serve as the balance of the scales."
The veins in Gharun's neck bulged.
"We need nothing else...! Our heads, our hands, our hearts, they are our faith, our god itself! Uphold tradition───Arkul!!!!!"
The atmosphere trembled.
The roar, blasted right in front of him, made blood run from the clan chief's ears.
The vibration in his voice made the prison's metal shake.
... The space fell into silence.
Eyes closed, the Red Volcano clan chief, Arkul, staggered to his feet.
His mind was hazy.
Yet his gaze burned strong, unbowed.
"Hammer of Integrity, Gharun. I acknowledge the great feats you have achieved. You are worthy of being called a legend. Truly, the epitome of a dwarf. But because of that... you will never understand me. For you have never borne the mantle of clan chief."
"..."
"I will take my leave."
Arkul turned his back.
As he walked forward on his short, stumpy legs, he touched his ear at the sting of pain.
His palm was wet with blood.
"Damn it, has his voice gotten louder with age and senility."
"I can hear you, brat."
"I said it so you would hear."
Their convictions were like two sides of the same coin.
Yet, they were still dwarves.
***
Linus explained everything he knew about Gharun, without omission.
Especially about his personality.
Verden, who had listened in silence, nodded.
"I understand now how peculiar and stubborn your master is. Hearing this makes me want to meet him all the more."
"My master may refuse the commission, however...."
"Convincing him is solely my task. Of course, I have no intention of using force, so rest assured."
Linus felt a chill inside.
No matter how great his master was, he could not stand against a Transcendent by force. And besides, he was the kind of dwarf who would choose death over yielding.
If mishandled, there would be no turning back.
Linus Voltimoog realized all over again the reality of standing before a Transcendent who could see through his fears so clearly.
"So, when do you think Gharun will be released?"
"That, I do not know for certain. The last time he was imprisoned in the Red Volcano's dungeon, he was freed after about forty days, and before that, after twenty...."
It was irregular.
It did not seem to depend on the severity of the offense.
But since this time he had been caught up in an issue involving the Empire, it was likely he would be confined longer.
"An indefinite wait, then. It would be faster if I simply went to meet him myself."
"Pardon?"
Realizing the meaning belatedly, Linus waved his single arm in a fluster, trying to dissuade Verden.
"M-My lord. The clan's barrier is the culmination of dwarven technology. It completely blocks spatial distortion and prevents magic power from penetrating, making it impossible to sense inside, and it has durability enough to withstand siege magic."
Linus wetted his throat with saliva.
"And even if you did manage to break through the barrier by force, the devices would react and put the entire clan on alert. In that case, even my master, a true-born dwarf, would... bear hostility toward you. Almost certainly."
Each dwarven clan made its home in a volcano.
They harnessed the underground geothermal energy in countless ways as their power source.
Since the risk of the entire clan being annihilated was always possible, their defenses and countermeasures were flawless, leaving no gaps.
Verden said.
"Of course, I have no intention of smashing through the walls head-on. My business is a commission, nothing more. Not war with the dwarves. And I already have a way to enter in mind."
He cast his gaze beyond the window.
In the distance, smoke rose rhythmically from the crater of the Red Volcano.
"What I need now is the blueprint of the clan. I must know where the prison level, where Gharun is likely held, is located, to shorten the time. So, can you help me with that?"
"Hmm. The originals and copies of the blueprints are all stored inside the clan, so I can't fetch them, but... I could still draw a rough outline. I have been inside the clan a few times."
"If you can at least mark the locations, that's enough. How long would it take?"
"Maybe half a day, but, as this would be my first time drawing the interior, I can't guarantee it. The structure is rather complicated."
"Then I'll come back in three days. It isn't so urgent. You must be tired too, so rest well today."
Verden rose to his feet.
Linus tried to see him off, but he was already outside the building.
An emptiness belatedly sank into the room.
Free of anyone's gaze, Linus exhaled loudly and dropped his head onto the table.
"Damn it... what have I done?"
Linus had become an accomplice in a Transcendent's infiltration.
It was not intentional.
All that lingered was the memory of the sensation of brushing his fingertips across a dragon's skull.
***
Time passed quickly.
Having received the blueprint from Linus, Verden now stood high in the sky.
"From here on, I will enter the dwarves' dwelling. I will handle the magical matters, but the other obstacles, I leave to you, Alpha."
Intricate mechanical devices like the solitary cell door that had confined Linus, Verden could not deactivate without breaking them.
But he was not alone.
Having analyzed part of dwarven technology, Alpha's single eye gleamed.
[No problem. Leave it to me, Lord Verden.]
Brimming with confidence.
For reference, Alpha's intelligence derived from the Demon King himself.
"Good. Then let's depart. Stay hidden until I signal, just in case."
[Understood.]
Alpha concealed itself inside [Ainber].
After checking everything once more, Verden activated his mana circuits.
Immediately, he surrendered his body to gravity, accelerating downward.
Smoke filled his vision.
The heat grew more intense as he neared.
Splash.
Protected by a barrier, Verden plunged into the lava lake within the crater.
***
Space twisted.
At the same time, with a violet flash, a massive airship revealed itself. A flag fluttered, two dragons supporting a crown.
The airship glided closer to the Red Volcano. Soon, someone leapt down from its deck.
Thud.
Even from that height, the man landed without injury.
Waiting nearby, the Red Volcano clan chief, Arkul, appeared, leading a group of dwarven elites.
"Welcome to the Red Volcano, Sword Saint."
A man clad only in worn light armor with a single sword at his hip───the Sword Saint looked down at him.
"And the Oathkeeper's knights?"
"I've sent a party to meet them, they will arrive shortly. No need to wait. I'll lead you to the clan."
Arkul took the lead.
Following him, the Sword Saint turned his head and glanced at the Red Volcano.
It was quiet.
Even when he stretched out his senses, he felt nothing.
"... A trick of the mind, perhaps."
He muttered briefly, then moved on.
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