Chapter 433 – Exit
At the appearance of Gharun, silence descended.
For a dwarf who should have been locked away in the prison floor to be here meant he had escaped.
Moreover, seeing that he held Markuab──his symbolic hammer, whose name in the ancient tongue meant to pound...
"The tremor from earlier, was that the aftermath of forcibly opening Vigo's Gate...!"
Arkul furrowed his brow.
His expression was stained with panic and shock, yet more than anything, it was filled with doubt.
'It isn't strange that he came out of the prison floor, nor that he opened Vigo's Gate. After all, Gharun designed all of it. But how could he escape without being discovered?'
The entrance to the prison floor was a single gate, which also served as the exit, and in detail, it was directly connected to the fortress like a barrier.
Even for Gharun, opening the door barehanded, without sounding the alarm or using any tool, was impossible.
That was because Arkul had designed it that way.
...For reference, the gate leading to the prison floor had already been completely broken by Alpha's scan and Verden's Mado, but there was no way a dwarf could know that.
Arkul exhaled roughly, clearing away his thoughts.
"Not only did you escape the prison floor on your own, but you also plundered Vigo. Are you out of your mind?"
"Plunder? Don't make me out to be some thief dwarf. I simply took back what you stole. And, while I was at it, I went to collect a few things I'd left with the Clan long ago. Ah, and I did a little barter as well."
Gharun rummaged through his pack.
In his large hand, reminiscent of a plated gauntlet, he held a small vial, inside which was filled two-thirds with bright red liquid.
Refined dragon blood.
One of the supreme treasures held by the Red Volcano Clan.
"T-That is..."
"It was a material I received as payment back when I created a great artifact with the Clan. I'd always wondered when I might get to use it, and as it happens, now's the perfect time."
Gharun slowly rolled the vial in his hand, lost in memories of the past.
Arkul drew in a deep breath.
What he really wanted was to grab him by the collar, but with dwarves watching, he had to show at least the minimum respect for a legend.
Suppressing his emotions, he spoke.
"I have long heard of your contributions back then. But ownership of that item lies not with you, Gharun, but with the Clan...! It is not something you can just take at will."
"I know. Do you think I'd take back something I gave away? Instead, I'll relinquish my rights to the property remaining in Vigo. Whether you or the Clan takes it, do as you please. In any case, I paid extra, so the terms of the exchange are fair enough. No complaints, yes?"
"Oh, how very fair of you."
The face of Arkul, who had been smiling kindly, flushed red like his beard.
He could endure no longer.
"Damn it all, fair my ass!! They call you senile as a joke, but have you truly gone senile?! Colluding with an intruder to open the Clan's vault without permission!! This, this is betrayal against the Red Volcano Clan, no, against all dwarves!!"
This was unprecedented in the history of the Clan.
As Clan Chief, it was a crime he could never forgive.
Yet the Hammer of Integrity remained unfazed.
"I told you before, didn't I. What it means to be a dwarf."
"Gharun...!!"
"I am a dwarf. At any rate, it's come to this, so I'll be on my way."
"I forbid it. You and the intruder will never leave this place."
Dozens of dwarf elites dropped their crossbows and gripped their warhammers in both hands. Armored in high-resistance plate, they were like golems forged of metal.
When they marched onto the battlefield, armies collapsed, and when they went to subjugate, it became a one-sided hunt.
As Arkul's dwarves formed ranks, the Sword Saint, Fribalt, the Oath-bound Knight, Solia, and Bender each gripped their swords tightly.
The outsiders fixed their eyes on Verden.
An overwhelming numerical disadvantage.
As Arkul had said, escaping the encirclement and pursuit seemed impossible.
That is, if the opponent had been one bound by common sense.
Gharun let out a booming laugh.
"Ha! Did you think I pounded the floor with Markuab just to show off? Did you think I wouldn't have prepared a retreat after drawing all this attention, Arkul?"
"What do you mean...."
"I know everything about this fortress. There isn't a single thing here I don't know... and I know how to paralyze its functions as well."
He stomped lightly.
"This passage is free now."
When dwarves build a fortress, they hold the concept of inviolability sacred.
Not only must it absorb and withstand physical shocks, but embedding special devices throughout the fortress to block external interference of magic power is the most basic of basics.
But the devices struck by Gharun had all been smashed, and in this passage alone, magical interference became possible.
Nearly perfect control of strength.
Only Gharun, who had hammered away for over 200 years, could have done it.
Thanks to that, Verden could now use certain spells without causing unnecessary damage to the fortress overall.
The moment Gharun finished speaking, Verden thrust an earth spear into the crevice of the floor.
The goal was achieved.
Now it was time to exit.
Crraaaaaaack!
One fissure split into thousands of branches, and soon the weight could not be borne, and the passage began to collapse.
Earth and sand poured down like a landslide, unstoppable.
By
"Y-You crazy...!!"
"Everyone fall back! If you're buried, you're done for! Clan Chief, you too, quickly!"
"Damn you, Gharun─!!!"
As soil, rocks, and chunks of metal fell from the ceiling, those who witnessed it immediately retreated.
Even Solia and Bender, deciding it would be wasteful to pursue Verden and Gharun, hurried outside the range.
Only the Sword Saint refused to give up.
Wave Rend.
From the slash swung with both hands burst a keen shockwave that warped the air.
It pierced through every obstacle in its path, surging straight for Verden, but then the collapse of the passage accelerated, cutting off all sight.
Whether it reached or not could not be known.
"..."
Fribalt, the Sword Saint, only bit his lip in frustration.
Ruuuuuuumble───!
A thick cloud of dust surged up.
The very center of the passage was completely sealed, cutting off the Clan.
In other words, those inside the fortress could no longer get out.
Meanwhile, Verden, following Gharun's lead, leisurely escaped from the Red Volcano.
***
Step, step, step, step, step, step, step, step, step...
Linus paced nervously around the house all day.
Whether he ate, lay down to sleep, or did anything at all, nothing changed, but he simply could not sit still.
Every so often he wet his dry lips or rubbed his face with his right hand as he gazed at the Red Volcano beyond the window.
"...It won't, explode or anything, will it?"
The Red Volcano remained silent, as if to say such a thing could never happen, yet hadn't they also said that the sea before a storm was always calm?
What if some accident occurred.
What if something went wrong inside the fortress.
Linus himself had been the one who smuggled a Transcendent into the Clan, so just the thought of it made his stomach churn.
"Damn it, if only I could at least know what's happening right now..."
He let out a deep sigh and once more paced circles around the room like a trapped rat.
At that moment.
Bang.
The door suddenly swung open.
Startled, Linus turned his head, only to see Verden and Gharun strolling in leisurely, as though from a casual walk.
"M-My lord? Master?"
"That vacant look, judging from your sorry state you must have been restless indeed. I've told you time and again, boy, your timidity is the problem. If you had the boldness of a dwarf, you would have simply enjoyed it."
"I'm not a dwarf, I'm human... No, more importantly! The Clan, what happened to the Clan? It all ended without incident, right? Right?"
Linus asked Verden in desperation, his hopeful smile strained.
"It got a little damaged."
Considering the fortress as a whole, it was an insignificant part, so in that sense he wasn't lying. But, since the central structure had been touched, traveling to and fro would be impossible for a while.
"Aaaaaaaaaargh!"
Linus screamed and collapsed to the floor.
Fortunately, Verden had already set up a magic circle, so the sound did not leak outside.
Gharun brushed aside a chair that was in his way and sat down against the wall.
"Hmph, just a little damaged, that's all. I swear not a single dwarf was injured or killed. Do you think I wouldn't calculate at least that much? In less than a few days they'll dig out the blocked passage and crawl out just fine, so don't worry."
Given the fortress's structure, further collapses would not occur, and with dwarven construction skills, the debris would soon be cleared and the structure restored.
Afterwards, Arkul would come chasing, grinding his teeth in fury... but the aftermath was a problem for later.
From within Verden's robe, Alpha suddenly revealed its form.
[Insufficient materials secured. Exclusive hammer recovered. Thus the first problem is solved. However, the elements required for weapon forging are still unmet.]
Most of the preparations were complete, but the most crucial requirement──massive firepower──was missing.
An ordinary forge would not suffice.
To melt the highest-grade metals and dragon bones in sufficient quantity, they needed a state-of-the-art facility on par with that of the Clan, the very crystallization of dwarven craft.
Even possessing a great hammer could not resolve that issue.
Gharun blinked at Alpha.
"...A golem that talks? No, it's far too small to be a golem. Hah, as expected of a Transcendent, you keep strange pets indeed. But what it says is true. Lacking facilities and manpower──that is the second problem. But, there is a way."
Stroking his beard, Gharun jerked his chin toward Linus.
"Gather the disciples."
***
A closed, small mineshaft a few hours' walk from Waystone.
It had long since dried up of ore, after merciless mining ages ago, and in that dark space more than a dozen dwarves assembled.
"The Hammer of Integrity has returned!!!!!!"
That cry sparked an uproar of voices.
"The Clan Chief said nothing, when did you come out?!"
"Escaped."
"Oooooh! As expected of the legendary dwarf, Gharun! That pride-less runt of a Clan Chief could never have stopped you! Not even the fortress could contain you!"
"And that's not all! None can stand in the way of the Hammer of Integrity! We are true dwarves!"
"True──dwarves! True──dwarves!"
Their self-proclaimed "true dwarf" chants shook dust loose from the ceiling. The echoes bouncing off the walls made the place deafening.
Linus clamped his ears shut to protect his eardrums.
"Quiet!"
With a sharp bark, Gharun forced the disciples' excitement down.
"The reason I gathered you all here is because I have something to say. You could call it persuasion, perhaps."
"Persuasion or not, we will follow without question..."
"Listen first──!"
In an instant, silence.
After a light cough, Gharun closed his eyes and spoke.
"I intend to create yet another weapon that will leave its name in history."
"Oh...!"
"But, we cannot use the facilities in the Red Volcano. Arkul will never permit it. As much as I dislike it, ignoring the Clan Chief and using the fortress at will would not be true."
Thud!
Gharun slammed the ground with the head of the massive hammer, Markuab.
"But we are dwarves. Do you think such obstacles could deter us? There is nothing in this world that can stop our creation. Therefore, we shall go to where another facility lies."
"Yes...! Yes! None can stop the true dwarves!"
"I, Iron Beard, will follow wherever Master goes!"
"Burning Fist as well!"
"Me too!"
"Agreed!"
Each disciple declared their resolve.
The mineshaft grew hot with fervor.
Opening his eyes, Gharun solemnly declared.
"We go, to the Cursed Land───the Black Volcano."
"As expected of Gharun... huh? Wait, what, the Black Volcano?"
The mineshaft fell into silence.
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