Chapter 41
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Dwarf: Fortune or Disaster? (1)
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I wasn't unaware that non-humans like dwarves, elves, and even beastkin existed.
'But what does that have to do with me?'
From the start, very few non-humans revealed their identities to humans and lived among them.
Besides, those non-humans often lived under the protection or favor of high-ranking nobles thanks to their special abilities and talents, making them the stuff of legends for a country bumpkin like Dominic.
"What are you staring at so intently? Sit down, sit."
"Ah, yes. So the guest the Old Lord mentioned is this dwarf here...?"
"Stonehammer. Call me that."
Stonehammer. What a powerful name. Even as those thoughts raced through his mind, Dominic couldn't tear his eyes away from the dwarf's stocky build, bushy beard, and sturdy forearms, all so novel and fascinating.
"Ian, come here for a moment."
"Yes."
"Hmm... Seeing you like this confirms it. Your body's been a bit itchy lately, hasn't it?"
The Old Lord ignored Dominic's gaping, wide-eyed wonder and spoke to Ian first.
"Yes, a little... But it's bearable."
"Tsk tsk. So stubborn. It must have been more than bearable. Starting tomorrow, come to the beach in front of the resort at dawn. We need to resume your training."
"Yes."
Ian simply nodded without any questions.
"Is this like the moment right before breaking through to the next realm or something?"
Dominic chimed in.
It would have warranted a reprimand from other nobles, but after sharing meals every day, such minor formalities had been set aside.
'This is straight out of a cliché.'
A master swordsman sensing his disciple's condition and urging training? Classic.
"Does that mean you're becoming a Swordmaster too, Sir Knight?"
"Come on, you fool. You think Swordmasters grow on trees like orcs in the hills?"
"No? Aw, man."
"He's just entered the realm of properly handling mana. Achieving this at his age is prodigious talent— not quite on my level as an unparalleled genius, but standout among his peers."
"Huh? But Sir Knight, didn't you already know how to handle mana?"
In Dominic's memory, Ian had definitely unleashed pure white mana during the fight with the praying mantises.
"Manifesting it simply and controlling it at will are worlds apart."
"...?"
Dominic made a puzzled face at Ian's reply, so the Old Lord chimed in.
"Exactly! Let me explain it in terms the village chief can grasp. Anyone with some effort can make decent bread, right? Excluding those utterly talentless at cooking, that is."
"Sure."
"But how many can develop their own recipes and produce unique bread no one else can make?"
"Ah!"
"That's the difference between simply manifesting mana and reaching the stage where you wield it freely."
"What about Swordmasters, then?"
"Hahaha! Swordmasters transcend even mana itself. Getting the sense of it?"
"...Not at all."
"That's why you could never become a master, village chief. Hahaha!"
"Ah, yes."
In conclusion, Ian was more talented than expected but no legend-in-the-making hero.
'I thought he had some destiny, like the protagonist of this world, but apparently not?'
Dominic sorted it out in his mind.
"So why did you call me here? It wasn't just to greet Stonehammer, was it...?"
"Oh, right. I have a favor to ask of my village chief."
"Go ahead. I'll do what I can."
The Old Lord's spending power was no joke.
Thankfully, he kept that thought to himself.
"It's nothing much. Let this friend stay in Evergreen for a while."
"In our village?"
"Yes."
"Vacation...?"
"Residence."
People wanting to relocate to Evergreen had surged lately. But without recommendations from existing residents, all were rejected to curb chaos from rapid population growth.
"Residency requires a recommendation from the villagers, you see."
"You vouch for him. What's the problem?"
The Old Lord asked as if it were obvious.
He couldn't fathom Dominic's reluctance because normally, nobles nearby would flock and welcome a dwarf with open arms.
"Is there some issue?"
"Honestly, I don't get why Stonehammer wants to come to our village. From the vibes, it's not like you're here for fun like the Old Lord."
Dominic hated troublesome affairs.
To reiterate, his dream was simply making jajangmyeon or thick-battered fried chicken, eating it hassle-free, and living a quiet life without incidents.
"Our village has no mines or forges. No famous breweries either. I can't see anything that would interest a dwarf. That's why I'm puzzled about settling here."
"Huh? No mine in this village? No forge?"
The dwarf startled with an odd noise.
'See? If he didn't even know that and came anyway, something's definitely up.'
Dominic was convinced by the reaction.
Something was afoot.
"Truth is, this friend's on the run right now."
"Ah, then no dice. Travel's fine, but residency? Out of the question."
Dominic refused outright without a second thought, even to the Old Lord's words.
"Don't be like that..."
"If we shelter a criminal—er, dwarf—who fled after committing a crime, what if it turns the village upside down? I might get slapped with harboring charges or something, even if others don't."
A dwarf settling would bring immense benefits. But a fugitive dwarf?
'That's no timed bomb. This is the real deal. If it blows, let it blow alone—don't drag me down with it.'
No matter how tempting, this dish was off-limits.
Best not even look.
"I didn't commit any crime."
The dwarf scratched his belly, speaking as if it were absurd.
"Pardon? But you said you were fleeing?"
"Yeah."
"Why flee without a crime? Being chased by someone? That's a problem too."
"Huh? Who's chasing me?"
"...But you fled?"
"Yeah. I figured annoying stuff might happen, so I asked Theo for a quiet spot recommendation, and he suggested here."
Stonehammer shuddered, adding, 'I hate getting tangled in humans' messy business.'
Saliva gathered in Dominic's mouth again at the sight.
'Wait, so the dwarf rolled right in, vines and all?'
No crime, no pursuit? No reason to refuse.
He had to grab those pant legs before changing his mind.
"Welcome to Evergreen citizenship, Stonehammer!"
Grinning ear to ear, Dominic whipped up a residency permit on the table paper, signed it, and hugged the dwarf.
"That's it? So I can live here?"
"Of course! You'll build your own house, right? Stay at the resort meantime—treat it like home and make yourself comfy."
"Quite the quick pivot."
"Flexibility's my thing."
He'd already made and pocketed a spare permit, beaming as he asked lightly.
"So, what did you mean by 'annoying stuff might happen'?"
"Oh, that? I stumbled on a secret."
"War breaking out somewhere?"
"Who knows. With humans, maybe? Not my business. I'm a dwarf."
The dwarf tilted his head.
The Old Lord chuckled at his old friend's antics.
"Hasn't changed a bit. But could it really spark a war?"
"I said I don't know. I'm no human—how should I know your politics?"
"Heh, fair enough."
"But one thing's sure: something ridiculously annoying is brewing. That's why I won't go near the capital for years."
Finishing up, the dwarf began sketching his house on the paper.
"Village chief. Saw a hill on the way—mind if I build there?"
"Go ahead. I'd even give you my house foundation if you wanted."
"Tsk tsk. Polite human. I like it. Throw in a forge spot too?"
"Naturally. Pick wherever you like."
Stonehammer clapped delightedly.
Unlike the capital's stingy nobles demanding commissions, he praised Dominic as a "human I like."
'Why sour a treasure with conditions? Rich customers will flock to buy his wares, flooding our village with cash.'
Dominic barely kept his grin from splitting his face, figuring the crumbs alone would be a fortune.
A dwarf was a wealth god, drawing money just by existing.
"Got myself a drinking buddy. A blessing in my twilight years, heh heh."
The Old Lord was purely joyful too.
"A secret big enough to upend the capital, eh? How'd you come by it?"
"Ah. Passed out in an alley after drinking. A kind human covered me with a mat, so no morning dew. I'd gift him something if I found him..."
"Off-topic again."
"Right."
Dwarf artisans were said to be hot-tempered and taciturn, but this one seemed an outlier. As chatty as Uncle Kallon in mini form.
"Got up to head home, and some humans nearby were whispering. Wasn't eavesdropping on purpose—my ears are sharp. So I heard."
"Heard what?"
The Old Lord leaned in eagerly.
"The crown prince isn't the emperor's son. Theo, that's big trouble for humans, right?"
"...What?"
"That arrogant punk's kid isn't the emperor's real blood. No wonder he doesn't look like him."
Thud.
Dominic's legs gave out, and he collapsed unknowingly.
A bomb had dropped.
Not a cute timed one—a nuke.
"Let's pretend we didn't hear that."
Snapping back, Dominic shot up decisively.
"We didn't hear it. Forget it. Listeners: me, Sir Knight, Old Lord. Lips sealed tight!"
"......"
"Yeah, pretend it never happened. Village chief, how's this spot for my forge?"
While the Old Lord and Ian remained frozen in shock, the dwarf—utterly indifferent to human politics—beamed over his map.
"You didn't tell anyone else, right?"
"I said so."
"For real?"
"Village chief. Humans can't be trusted—too good at lying. But dwarves? Reliable. We don't lie."
The next day.
Dominic, dragging the dwarf out to see the festival prep, nagged just in case.
"Absolutely don't say a word, got it?"
"Why?"
"Or we'll get dragged into trouble. Moving again would suck for you."
"True."
"Keep it secret. Old Lord asked too."
"Fine, fine. Not hard. Ooh! Buy me that sausage, village chief! Beer too!"
"Yes, yes."
The dwarf, bomb dropped and blissfully sunny.
Dominic and Ian trailing him both looked half-dead after a sleepless night.
"You didn't sleep either, Sir Knight?"
"...Yeah."
"Me neither."
For the first time in ages, Dominic felt a bond with Ian.
'You were shocked too, huh, kid.'