Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Elf-Dwarf War
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Two days after solidifying our resolve in the tavern.
Just as I'd planned out in my head ahead of time, the preparations wrapped up quickly.
Consumables we'd stripped from the general store, plus all sorts of artifacts from our war contribution rewards.
On top of that, even exclusive currency usable in Alvheim.
It was the most perfect preparation we'd ever made.
"Having this much sure lets us pack all this stuff."
"Yeah."
Last night, we'd finally received our long-awaited war participation rewards.
And in huge amounts.
Thompson, Kayla, and Barundel had all been recognized for 3-star merits, while I'd been awarded 4-star merit for personally taking down Dershion and shifting the war's tide in various ways.
Thanks to that, we were filthy rich right now.
Just the gold converted to Alvheim currency came out to a whopping 10,000 pieces.
And the artifacts handed out alongside overflowed.
We didn't even have enough space to hang them all on our bodies, so we'd packed the extras in bags.
'Participating in one war really pays off big.'
War rewards were definitely generous.
Just one participation, and we'd scored this much wealth and artifacts.
'Well, that's because we racked up merits so well.'
Luck had been on our side too.
I'd heard our commander, Elbert, had been extremely generous in his evaluations.
Without that, none of us would've gotten 3-star merits or higher.
Anyway.
"Shall we head out?"
"Let's gooo!"
With our preparations rock-solid, we finally set off.
Our destination: Alvheim.
The moment we'd first set foot on foreign soil.
***
Clunk!
The train leaving Asteron suddenly ground to a halt.
We'd finally reached the end of the line.
But when we stepped off, a vast plain stretched out before us.
Not a sign of anything related to Alvheim anywhere.
Which made sense.
"Whew... It really doesn't show up. Alvheim or whatever."
We still had a long way to go to reach Alvheim.
This was the farthest the Asteron train could take us.
From here on, we'd have to go on foot.
Asteron didn't trade directly with Alvheim, so there was no road connecting straight through.
"Let's take it slow. No rush."
"Okay."
Just as he said, we proceeded on foot at a leisurely pace.
Of course, with our guards fully up.
This was outside the national borders, after all.
Danger could strike from anywhere, anytime.
No sooner had that thought crossed my mind.
Screeeeech!
A bizarre noise started up out of nowhere.
"What the—?"
Looking toward the sound, a swarm of cockroach-like demons was crawling straight for us.
[Wheel Demons].
Exactly as they looked, that was their name.
"Grotesque..."
Kayla grimaced and thrust out her staff.
Whoosh!
A crimson spiral pillar of flame erupted where the demons were.
It was a spell I'd learned from the secret magic tome and diligently taught her over the past few days.
With her heroic trait [Desperate Wish], Kayla picked it up fast.
Sizzle!
The [Wheel Demons] writhed under her magic before flopping over belly-up.
A sticky fluid oozed from around them.
'This level's a breeze now.'
[Wheel Demons] were low-grade demons.
They looked creepy and came in swarms, but they weren't much once you faced them.
Especially not for our party, which had long outgrown weakling status.
"Let's keep moving."
Having safely dispatched the [Wheel Demons], we pressed on.
Demons popped out here and there along the way, but nothing posed a real threat.
"Hamburger!"
Boom!
"[Blaze Field]."
Whoosh!
We dispatched the demons swiftly, each casting appropriate spells for the situation.
How far had we gone like that?
Just when things had been smooth sailing.
Swoosh!
An arrow came flying at us out of the blue.
"[Barrier]."
Clang!
I blocked it with magic right away, but honestly, it threw me off.
'...An arrow?'
As far as I knew, no demons used bows.
And Alvheim was just a short distance away.
Only one possibility came to mind.
'Elves.'
The moment I reached that conclusion.
Swish!
A swift figure landed lightly in front of us.
We immediately went on alert and scanned the newcomer.
Pointed ears, slender build, pale skin. And a massive bow gripped in one hand.
Just as I'd predicted, it was unmistakably an elf.
Swoosh.
I dropped the [Barrier] magic, glanced at the deflected arrow, and asked.
"What was that?"
"Hah, that's what I want to ask you."
He let out a hollow laugh, as if he were the one more baffled.
"...You're heading to Alvheim, right?"
"Yeah, and?"
"You know outsiders aren't allowed in right now?"
"What?"
My companions flinched in surprise.
I was shocked too.
'Can't go in?'
First I'd heard of it.
Which made sense—Asteron had almost zero info on Alvheim.
The only way to get news was through request offices.
But I'd judged it unnecessary and skipped them.
No entry?
The elf tilted his head, puzzled by our stunned faces.
"Alvheim's at war right now."
"...War?"
"Yeah, war."
"Did demons invade or something?"
The elf shook his head at my question.
Then he suddenly looked at Barundel and continued.
"It's war with Kazandur."
Kazandur.
That single word explained everything.
Why outsiders were barred.
Why he'd shot an arrow at us out of nowhere.
Why his gaze had fixed on Barundel.
'Kazandur...'
No doubt about it.
The dwarven lands.
It seemed elves and dwarves were currently at war.
***
"Damn it, what the hell is going on?"
Blocked by a single elf, we decided to camp here for the night.
No other choice with nowhere else to go right now.
More importantly, we had other priorities.
"Hmm..."
We huddled together, deep in thought.
About what to do next.
But no matter how we racked our brains, nothing came up.
"You really don't know anything? Why the war started?"
Grasping at straws, I asked Barundel.
"...I told you. I don't know a thing. Haven't been in touch with those dwarves for ages."
"Urgh."
Barundel shook his head, claiming ignorance.
If Barundel, whose homeland was Kazandur, didn't know, how could we?
'Troubling.'
We pondered for a good while longer.
'Turn back?'
Two options surfaced.
Regrettably turn around here, or find some way to sneak into Alvheim.
Neither appealed.
'Both are bad.'
The first wasted time; the second was risky.
Above all, what was the point of infiltrating a warring nation?
Excluding Barundel, the three of us were all humans—we couldn't operate properly even if we slipped in, and there was no reason to.
That's when a good idea hit me.
If circumstances didn't allow Alvheim, then just don't go to Alvheim.
"Change course."
Conveniently, there was a perfect spot nearby given the situation.
"What? Where to?"
I glanced at Barundel and continued.
"We're going to Kazandur."
That was the moment our destination shifted from elven lands to dwarven lands.
***
The dwarven lands of Kazandur.
Chaos reigned there now.
Understandably—they'd been dragged into an unwanted war.
"Damn elf bastards."
Dwarf leader Bagran spat in an angry voice.
"I explained it all to them!"
Honestly, the dwarves had sparked this war.
They'd encroached on elven territory, after all.
But there'd been unavoidable reasons, and they'd tried to explain fully to the elves.
Complete with apologies, of course.
But typical haughty elves.
No matter how much they tried talking, the elves wouldn't listen.
Focused solely on the territory violation.
Hence the war.
Swoosh!
"Ar, arrows!"
"Shields up—!"
Thud thud thud!
Bagran watched his soldiers barely block the volley of arrows, lost in thought.
They couldn't keep suffering these meaningless losses.
He had to find a way to end this war ASAP.
How much time passed?
He finally came up with one idea.
Born from the question of why communication had failed.
"It's because we're dwarves. Dwarves."
Elves viewed dwarves as utterly insignificant.
Other races weren't much different... but dwarves got it worse.
They flat-out refused to talk.
And in Bagran's view, that was the main reason for this war.
Lack of communication.
The solution was simple.
Have a non-dwarf convey their side to the elves.
They'd at least hear him out then, and the war could end here.
However.
'But how...? Everyone around here's dwarves.'
No way to find such a person.
Kazandur had cut off all contact with the outside continent.
Only dwarves remained in Kazandur.
No other races in sight.
In the end.
'I'll fetch one myself.'
Bagran made his decision.
He'd go out personally and bring back someone suitable.
Just as he started to rise.
"Bagran!"
A dwarf came rushing up to him in a panic.
"What is it?"
When Bagran asked, the dwarf panted out.
"B-Barundel's here."
"...What?"
Barundel.
His body stiffened at the name.
Barundel—his nephew, who'd completely cut ties and left Kazandur years ago!
"...Barundel for sure?"
The dwarf nodded vigorously in confirmation.
"No doubt! It's Barundel Damaskus!"
"Yeah?"
Just then, as questions swirled.
The subordinate dwarf added more info.
"He was with three human mages I'd never seen!"
And.
Drip.
Bagran froze.
"...Human mages?"
Bagran had a gut feeling.
Whatever the coincidence, this might be their last chance.
"Bring him in now."
Bagran's face was resolute like never before.