Fireworks of Vengeance
“Ohoho! As expected, the blood of my enemies smells sweet even from afar!”
The next afternoon. Our living room. The day of Elma's video conference with the Dwarf Elders.
Elma opened her laptop and waited. I stood in her blind spot, holding my breath. I anxiously peered down at the top of my wife's head.
Last conference. Elma had been verbally torn apart. Her freakish appearance. Her painful complex ripped to shreds. It was something she'd endured long before I came into the picture.
'What if she breaks down again.' I clenched my fists, swallowing my worry.
A moment later.
Connected.
The monitor lit up. Old dwarves appeared on the screen beyond. The Elders.
"Connection's late again today, Elma."
“Yes, sorry. Interdimensional comms take time to sync.”
The elder in the center of the screen spoke arrogantly. Elma bowed her head hesitantly.
As expected. It didn't take long for the abuse to start.
"A disgrace to dwarves who can't even hammer metal, but at least you're earning your keep for once."
Crack. A vein bulged on my forehead. I wanted to hurl curses through the screen right then. But I held back. We had a plan.
"......"
Elma's shoulders twitched in her chair. Her head hung low.
…?
Suddenly, the tips of Elma's hair squirmed. She picked up a pen from the table corner and scribbled something on paper.
'Don't worry, darling. It's acting.'
Her tiny frame began to tremble pitifully. Anyone would see her as pathetic and heartbreaking.
“Kuh…” A choked sob leaked out. Almond eyes struggling to hold back tears. Face drained pale.
'Wow.' I swallowed my admiration inwardly. She could debut as an actress right now.
"I-I sent the mana reactor improvement docs for this quarter too..." Her voice quivered in fear, barely a whisper.
"S-So... please approve the allocation as planned..." Desperate pleading.
The elders smirked at her submission.
"That's right. Gotta repay your homeland for keeping a worthless freak like you fed."
"I'll keep that in mind..." Elma bowed hastily.
"Data just transmitted to the lab server."
"Good work. Disconnect."
Beep! The screen went dark. Conference over.
Right after the screen went black.
"......"
The trembling vanished from Elma's face. She lifted her head smoothly.
The tears welling in her eyes. Gone like a lie.
Soon.
Sneer. A cold smile curled her tiny lips.
"They fell for it?"
A chilling voice from the floor.
"Those retarded old fuckers."
How could her expression flip like that in an instant? It was like transformation magic. I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Wow..." I applauded sincerely.
"That was award-worthy acting. I almost got fooled too."
Beneath that innocent face. Hundreds of sly foxes coiled up, no doubt.
"Hehe."
Elma hopped down from her chair. She toddled over and hugged my thigh tightly.
"Who am I? The great, renowned, esteemed Dr. Elma Bronzebeer!"
The little queen puffed out her chest proudly. Her face screamed for praise.
"Alright, it's planted on their server now."
"What's next?"
Elma checked her watch at my question. Then grinned wickedly.
"Darling. Grab the popcorn."
"Huh?"
"Time for fireworks."
“…”
What the hell had this little devil done to her homeland? Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
A moment later. Dwarf Union capital. Lab top floor, Elders' conference room.
Thud.Thud.Thud.
Mana pulses echoed from underground.
"Hahaha! Excellent!"
The Grand Elder stroked his beard, bursting into laughter.
The control monitor in the conference room center. The new mana reactor formula was running.
They'd thrown Elma's code straight into testing. Without a shred of doubt.
"That freak bitch can't handle metal, but her brain's useful enough."
"Indeed."
The other elders chimed in fawningly.
Contempt and mockery for Elma. Arrogance from those who cherry-picked her talents.
"This efficiency will triple production, right?"
"Gotta keep her strung along with ore handouts for now."
"Suck her dry to the marrow 'til she drops dead. Heh."
The old geezers' black greed.
Just as they gazed at the monitor smugly.
Woooong! Elma's 'gift' stretched awake.
The monitor gauges spiked wildly. To levels they should never reach.
"Huh? What's going on?"
"These readings are impossible."
“Isn't something wrong?”
“No way! The safeties are triple-redundant...!”
Confusion spread through the room.
A few seconds later.
Deceleration Device Activated
Reactor Deceleration Failed
Emergency Cooling Failed
Auxiliary Controls Destroyed
Reactor Output Exceeded Limits
Thud! The lights went out.
A few seconds of blackout. Then emergency red lights flickered on.
Reactor Collapse Imminent!
Evacuate Lab Immediately!
Alarms blared deafeningly.
"Temperature exceeded limits!”
"Cut the mana supply now!"
"Can't! All control systems are down!"
Elma’s ‘gift’. It had long seized every corner of the lab.
Reactor destruction was just the start. Every single ‘safety pin’ shattered.
“This can't be…”
The elders finally grasped the severity.
KABOOOM---!!! A world-shaking quake and roar. Explosion from deep underground.
"Aaaagh!"
“Evacuate!”
The elders scrambled for the emergency exit. But Elma's gift was tenacious.
From the explosion's heart, it surged.
Whoosh! Black-red flames. Writhing like a living beast.
The fire crawled madly across walls and ceilings. Hunting prey.
Finally.
It turned toward the elders.
"Wh-what is this...!!"
The Grand Elder froze, collapsing to the floor.
Whoosh!
"Aaaaagh!!!”
Flames engulfed him. Acrid smoke of burning flesh. Screams tore the air.
“Ugh… ah.. u…”
The fire roasted his lungs and vocal cords in seconds. Only agony remained.
"S-someone! Put this out!!!”
The elder rolled on the floor, a human torch. Nearby dwarves desperately conjured water.
Hiss!
Useless.
"Aaaaagh!!!”
The flames only grew, mocking them.
"Save meee!! The fire's chasing me!!!”
“Use magic or something!”
“Please!! It hurts!! So hot!!!”
The inferno swallowed the elders. Then the other dwarves.
Pure pandemonium.
"My legs! Fire on my legs!!"
"Doors won't open! They're locked!!"
“Why isn't the fire suppression working!”
"Kaaaaagh!!"
The death toll rose from 10 to 100, exponentially.
Tongues that mocked Elma's looks burned away.
Fingers that pointed at her as a freak charred to coal.
Onlookers turned to ash.
All reduced to handfuls of cinders.
Same time. Korea University underground. Our living room.
"Whoaaa..."
I gaped, popcorn tub in hand.
Living room TV. A blockbuster worthy of popcorn played live.
Or was it a real-time documentary?
Elma had hacked the CCTV feed.
Hellscape filled the screen. Flames turning dwarves well-done.
Speakers shredded by screams and wails. Living hell.
"Elma. This is no joke."
"Of course! I'm the world's greatest, most renowned Dr. Elma Bronzebeer!"
Elma, munching popcorn in my lap, nose held high proudly.
“Ohoho! As expected, the blood of my enemies smells sweet even from afar!”
Frivolous laugh included.
“Nah, is this just old meat burning? Whatever.”
Even savage jokes.
Her tiny finger tapped the tablet lightly.
Tap.
"Alright, shall we start, darling?"
Whirr! Blue flash from the living room corner. Space warped, a gate opening.
Destination: Lab basement level 45. The deepest heart of what was now scream-filled chaos. 'Archive of Truth'.
"Here, darling. Use this!"
Elma pulled out two gas masks from somewhere.
"I blocked the smoke, but better safe than sorry, right?”
I wordlessly donned mine. The little queen fiddled her tiny hands onto hers too.
Hop. Her small body leaped to my waist.
"Hupcha."
Cute grunt. I caught her butt. Soft, chewy feel in my palm. Short legs hooked over my arms, body plastered to my chest.
"Let's gooo!"
Muffled shout through the mask. I hugged Elma tight and plunged through the gate.
Flash! Vision whited out. Stale air and chill brushed my skin.
Archive of Truth. Dwarf Union's secret repository, millennia old.
"Whoa..."
Awe escaped me. Looming ceiling lost in shadows. Endless shelves crammed with tomes.
Thud!Rumble!!
Vibration hit. Powdery dust sifted from above.
"Let's go!"
Elma tapped her tablet furiously.
Whirr!Whirrr!
Golem squad waiting beyond the gate. Hundreds poured in orderly.
Clank!Click!
Mechanical arms danced. Vacuuming docs like a frenzy.
Golems stuffed with files sprinted back through the gate.
Theft on another scale.
"......"
Sweat beaded under my mask. Heart pounded with tension.
Felt like a crime thriller lead. Though I wasn't doing much.
Slide.
Elma stuck to my chest squirmed.
Smooch.
"......?"
Mask bottom lifted slightly. Pale jawline. Plump lips peeked.
Seductively curved smile.
Mwah.Smack.Smooch.
"Ah."
Under the mask, on my nape. Wet lips landed repeatedly.
Light pecks turned deep, sucking kisses.
"E-Elma...?"
"Hehet."
Peeking almond eyes curved prettily.
"Super thrilling, right?"
"Not the time for games."
"Darling's heart's pounding so loud. Thump-thump, super fast.”
Mwah. Lips stamped my nape again. Arms around my neck, she giggled.
"Look so reliable, but my darling's got a cute side?"
Leisure. Upstairs: explosions, screams. But the little queen lounged like on a picnic.
Heavy, chewy breasts pressing. Toasty scent in her heated breath.
"Stop messing around and hurry."
I forced reason, lowering my voice.