Rozena, the Underground's Strongest Dwarf

Ah, that adamantite sword of yours? Rozena, the strongest dwarf underground. If she'd lived on the surface, that title would have been "the strongest dwarf on earth." Every dwarf in the Red Anvil Mine agreed on that. She was old enough to be called an elder without raising eyebrows, but people just called her Lady Rozena. And she deserved it. Her muscles bulged like they were about to burst, tougher than any young dwarf's, and both her beard and hair were a vibrant red without a single gray strand. Aside from those muscles, her trademark was that blood-red mane.

Rozena adored her red hair and beard. Sometimes she braided it, but usually she oiled it meticulously. When someone asked why she cherished her red locks so much, she said it was because blood didn't show up on them. Having reached Meister rank in jewelry-making, she even crafted special beard clasps adorned with dangling gems—emeralds, rubies, the works, sparkling and clinking away. She wore those baubles even when swinging a single axe into battle, but in her workshop, she took them off. When hammering. When engraving. Whenever she needed to pour every ounce of focus into her work, the ornaments came off.

Kaang, kaang— The hammer in Rozena's grip wasn't all that big. Even so, using it for precision necklace work was hard to believe. Sparks flew wildly from the anvil. With every strike on the glowing red-hot metal, it mysteriously took shape. Normally, you'd let the metal cool and use small chisels or a jeweler's saw for this step. But that was for those who hadn't reached the master's realm. As Rozena's hammering continued, the pure gold ornament took form. It was nothing short of mystical.

She plunged the heated gold piece into water, and it bubbled furiously—pafgrrr. What emerged was a sun-shaped pendant. Rozena held tiny rubies and sapphires up to it. Any gem looked dazzling and beautiful. But her expression wasn't bright.

"Tch."

She clicked her tongue with a hearty rasp. She placed the still-warm pure gold in her palm and squeezed hard. Wooduk, kkuuk. Pure gold was soft, sure, but it was metal that needed forge-hammering to refine. Yet it bent and compressed so easily. Veins bulged on her forearm, and when she opened her hand, the sun ornament had balled up into a perfect sphere.

"Not to my liking."

She handled the tough metal like kneading dough for hand-pulled noodles, then dropped it in water. Chiiik— Steam hissed out. Meister Rozena had been feeling stifled lately, like something was stuck in her chest. No progress on her thousandth collection piece: the Sun Necklace.

"Not ruby, not sapphire, not emerald. Not even diamond!"

She couldn't decide how to set the jewel in the sun ornament. What gem would best capture the clear, radiant sunlight? Even diamonds fell short of conveying the sun's warmth. Rubies felt too garish and simplistic. She needed something warm, transparent, brimming with life.

'Maybe it's been too long since I last saw sunlight.'

The thought left a bitter taste. The mine lord had sealed the Red Anvil Mine's entrance long ago. Before that, Rozena had lived under the sun too. Those memories still fueled her inspiration. Especially that adventure with the grumpy elf magus... And the surface wine she'd shared with Bluebeard.

"......"

Rozena finally set down her hammer. Nostalgia was holding her back, turning into a trap. Bluebeard wasn't the shining youth of old anymore. He'd aged just like her, his once-clear eyes now flickering with dark flames. This routine would drag on until a new mine lord emerged. Bluebeard had wanted her to join the deep layers, but she'd refused. That's why she holed up in this workshop by the deep-layer gate, lost in her craft.

Today was just another ordinary day. Until Jeremiah headed to the depths and Rozena received ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the letter meant for him.

Helmuth's letter contained cryptic words.

'A snake...?'

She'd have to see it with her own eyes. So she went. And there it was—a snake with perfect scales. Like sunlight carved from crystal.

"Perfect! Utterly beautiful!"

She'd grabbed its body and shouted that, so no wonder the snake recoiled in horror.

* * *

Strong. What the hell is that hand made of?! My scales are razor-sharp, but her callused dwarf palm didn't even scratch. Does that make sense?

-Basic mana manipulation. Dwarves use mana too, apparently. Not like they're knights or anything.

What the—no level visible? You a hero too?! Monsters and "people" are definitely different. Monster strength is intuitive—the higher the class, the bigger, the stronger. But humans, elves, dwarves? Can't judge by looks.

–You're overestimating human heroes. You don't fight them yourself.

Pellelian stayed calm.

-That dwarf lady has feats that wouldn't pale against heroes. Took down ten wyverns with one hammer. That's basically Thor!

Every time I attacked, this Rozena dwarf just blocked with her hand.

"Hahaha! So cute!"

Not even scared of venomous fangs? Infuriating—I tried biting, but kept snapping at air. She wasn't attacking back. Even when I thrashed hard enough to shed scales, nothing. Fine, time to draw my sword.

Then Rozena's hand blurred with speed.

"Oh!"

She pinched a floating scale midair with index and middle finger.

"Pretty. Very pretty."

Pababap! Lightning-fast, she snatched four more.

"Five—that's plenty."

Whoa. Lost the will to fight. Do we really need to battle? We could get along great.

"Before heading to the depths, come with me a sec? Gonna make a necklace from your scales."

That Langrei guy before lusted after my scales too. Crystal scales must be pretty. Even a dwarf artisan wants them.

'Sure.'

I nodded and followed Rozena. She really just wanted my scales.

"Let's whip up a pendant first."

First time watching a dwarf artisan at work. Her workshop was right by the deep-layer gate. She drew out gold thread super thin for the chain.

-Impressive craftsmanship, even on second look.

Pellelian acknowledged her skill. It happened in a flash. A bracelet was done. Gold thread woven with my scales in a flower pattern.

"Oh, ho, oh...!"

She admired her own work. But she said pendant—why bracelet now?

"Nice necklace. With this material, I can finish the collection."

Then she clasped it around my neck. It was a necklace after all!

"Saaak!"

Shocked into awe. It fit perfectly, like made for me from the start. Scary-looking, barbaric moves, but a good dwarf.

"You're off to see Bluebeard, right?"

'Yes.'

I pulled out notepad and pen to write. Like other dwarves, Rozena was stunned.

"What a mystical snake. Mind if I ask why?"

I glanced at Pellelian—he knew ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠both Rozena and Bluebeard. He shook his head reluctantly. Better not say.

-Their relationship was... complicated.

'What does that mean?'

I stayed quiet, so Rozena shrugged.

"Whatever. Kill him or not, your call."

Cool lady.

"But he might not listen well."

'Why?'

"Bluebeard's... obsessed with fire."

Fire-obsessed? What? Pellelian muttered, 'Firestruck?'

'What's that mean?'

"Why do you think underground dwarves dig?"

'...Good question?'

Humans mine for ore to sell—money. But these dwarves didn't seem money-driven. Like digging itself was the obsession.

"Instinct. Elves crave forests, humans power. Dwarves dig for the ultimate materials and flames."

Made sense. But flames underground?

"Dig deep into mountains, and flames appear."

Flames in the earth? They couldn't reach magma, right? Modern bias, maybe.

"Not in every mountain. But Kalea might have one. The mountain's heart..."

-Mountain's heart!

Pellelian gasped. What was that?

"One of the purest flames in the world. Melts any metal, refines everything—birth of supreme alloys."

'Better than adamantite?'

"Celestium?"

Yeah, the adamantite Bluebeard stole!

"Different kind, but similar. And way more volume."

Sounds epic.

"But those flames enchant dwarves. That's firestruck."

Rozena's face soured a bit. Had they found it?

"Who knows. Not my thing."

Rozena was kinder than she seemed. I plucked a few scales for her. She petted my head, then led me to the deep-layer gate.

"It's scorching down there."

"Saaak!"

No worries. My heat resistance is level 12.

"Be careful."

She opened the iron door to the depths.

Fwoooong—

The blasting hot wind made me flinch. Scales gonna peel?

"Come back safe. Uhahaha!"

Didn't want to look weak before her booming laugh. Screw it! I plunged into the depths.

* * *

Global warming? Can't explain this otherwise. Or maybe dwarves dug so deep they pierced the crust to the mantle. Anything else, and this heat defies logic. Not hot—scorching. At least 50°C, unlivable for creatures.

Just standing here levels up heat resistance. Stay longer, maybe gain levels too.

The depths were the mine's bedrock layer. Bigger than expected. No real infrastructure or housing. Spiral ramp down the walls, wells tapping groundwater everywhere. That cool well water must make it bearable for dwarves.

"What, a snake?"

"Eww, isn't that Lady Rozena's necklace?"

Dwarves eyed me curiously but didn't block. Shockingly, they recognized Rozena's necklace instantly. Wearing it kept them at bay. How infamous is she? These deep dwarves looked scary too—all wrapped in white cloth like mummies. Protecting from heat, probably. First time here, so I asked directions.

'Excuse me, where's Bluebeard?'

"A snake... writing?!"

Reaction I'd seen dozens of times. Then I froze in shock. A dwarf unwrapped his face bandage—lips stained crimson. Grinning, mouth a bloody mess.

"Kehok, keoluk!"

I backed away coughing. Contagious?

"Head to the innermost depths. He'll be out soon."

'Thanks, bye.'

I hurried past. Heard Red Anvil dwarves had some illness spreading. Worse in the depths. First time seeing it.

"Innermost depths" was obvious: the very bottom. Another massive iron door. Nearby dwarves splashed it periodically.

Chiiiiiik! Water evaporated in huge steam clouds. How hot below?

Waiting there, dwarves glanced but didn't stop me. Bored, I asked Pellelian,

'Bluebeard strong?'

-Weaker than Rozena back then, but still strong. Mine lord, after all.

Probably why. Dwarves trusted their leader. A lone snake couldn't take the dwarf king and retinue. So why stand here confidently?

'Just say what the old man said, right?'

-Don't worry.

Pellelian guaranteed it.

-He broke his pact with the magus. Say the vow phrase, and he's your slave.

Their contract was terrifying: break it, become the other's slave. I didn't need a dwarf slave—just get my celestium back for a sword.

'Writing it counts, right?'

-Yes!

Can't speak, so double-checked.

Kwang!

Knock from the innermost door. From inside.

"Open the door—!"

The door was floor-mounted, opened by chains and pulleys. Strong dwarves ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pulled, and it creaked open slowly.

Grgrgrkung.

Stairs ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠revealed. And the dwarves inside. Which was Bluebeard? All faces and bodies cloth-wrapped.

-Probably the one with a celestium item!

Adamantite's black. My eyes locked on one dwarf holding a pitch-black metal object.

-That one!

He was Bluebeard. And my scales bristled. Unbearable rage surged through me.