The Artificer's Pride (Part 3)
Or maybe it wasn't a craftsman at all.
After finishing his analysis, Do-hyun saw straight through the lie, yet the smoke was so convincing that even the onlookers fell for it.
Even some of the dwarves behind him wore expressions of disbelief.
Watching that, Do-hyun felt a bit stunned, but he stayed quiet, determined to hear the rest.
Instead, the surroundings erupted in chaos.
Hana Rin and Ji Yu-chan were no different.
“Isn't that curse dangerous?”
“...If it's a curse, then it's definitely dangerous.”
Seeing the reactions of his two party members, Thalgrin seized the moment and shouted.
“This amulet carries a blood curse that grows more and more lethal as the senses sharpen!!!”
With that bold declaration, Hana Rin and Ji Yu-chan stared at Do-hyun in utter disbelief, while Do-hyun had no choice but to meet their bewildered gaze.
What did they think he was?
It wasn't that bad, right? Do-hyun thought, but the way they reacted still stung his heart with a trace of sorrow.
Ignoring that, Thalgrin shouted again at Do-hyun.
“I will reclaim that amulet. Of course, if I just take it, I'll feel robbed, so how about exchanging it for the sword I forged? As a master, I'll craft it myself.”
As Thalgrin displayed his ornate longsword with such polished flair, Do-hyun's eyes stayed blank, but Ji Yu-chan's lit up instantly.
A dwarf-crafted longsword? Anyone holding a sword would envy it.
And the crowd's reactions proved it.
“Whoa? A dwarf-made longsword?”
“I want that guy!”
“When I get the dwarf sword, I'll attack first!”
“Sigh... It's tempting.”
They had no intention of attacking the dwarves, but seeing a human wielding a dwarf sword, several mixed-race hunters grew bold enough to say they would attack Do-hyun the moment he accepted it.
Do-hyun overlooked the absurdity and focused on Thalgrin's overly generous offer. No flicker of doubt shone in his eyes.
The flawless act left Do-hyun stunned. Even with his analysis, he had nearly fallen for it.
Staying silent, Thalgrin turned the longsword in various angles, proudly displaying it as if he were being generous once more.
“Let me say this again. Finding an item of this quality is impossible outside our kind. As a master craftsman, I made it. Honestly, I've lost out on this deal.”
Do-hyun shook his head at the shamelessness while answering just as bluntly.
“Oh dear, you shouldn't suffer any loss, Master. I won't put on the amulet. I'll have a healer remove the curse later. Thank you for telling me.”
As he spoke, Do-hyun casually removed the amulet and slipped it into his pocket, his eyes sharp.
A greedy light gleamed in Thalgrin's gaze as he watched.
Just as I thought.
Grateful, Do-hyun bowed repeatedly and added, “Oh, and this sword looks far too good for someone like me to handle. I appreciate the thought, but accepting such an item brings trouble. I'll take it anyway. Thank you.”
“...”
“Hmph. A humble human, aren't you?”
“Of course. If it had been a dwarf sword, we'd be targets now.”
“Wise human.”
“It's been a while since we've seen such a warm scene. This human and the dwarves are both kind.”
Do-hyun's words made Thalgrin glance sharply.
Should he continue? The surrounding reactions suggested it would be unwise.
The warm atmosphere had already settled, and the other mixed-race hunters were smiling, rubbing their chins in satisfaction.
Disaster.
Feeling his scheme had backfired, Thalgrin had no choice but to retreat a step.
“If that is your wish, then so be it.”
“Thank you very much. If we meet again, I will repay you.”
The party members bowed and left the safe zone. Once the commotion died down, the other mixed-race hunters quickly dispersed to their own tasks.
Only Thalgrin stood there, grinding his teeth as he watched Do-hyun depart. His four dwarf companions asked him,
“Aren't you going to chase them?”
“Humans thinking they can scheme like that?”
“He seemed fooled by the elf leader's lie, didn't he? Just a dumb human.”
“Yeah, I fell for it too.”
As the dwarves chattered on, Thalgrin shot them a glare, making all four jolt at once.
Even as companions, Thalgrin was the party's real leader and the strongest fighter, so they had no choice but to watch his mood.
Then, watching his companions, Thalgrin muttered low.
“The deal failed, so there's nothing to be done. We'll have to kill them to take the amulet.”
“Heh, that's faster.”
“Rejecting the lord and drinking poison instead?”
“Now the humans have become fools.”
“If we can get the amulet, who cares if we kill a couple of humans?”
The dwarves turned toward the direction Do-hyun's party had vanished, then followed at a leisurely pace.
Chasing humans was far too easy for them anyway.
As the dwarves moved, Do-hyun had already exited the safe zone and was explaining the dwarves' scheme to Hana Rin and Ji Yu-chan.
It was, of course, Thalgrin's trick, and they would most likely pursue them.
Both accepted it, knowing the plan, yet their eyes lingered strangely on the amulet Do-hyun still wore.
“...Why?”
“Y-yes? Ah, no.”
“Ahem, never mind.”
Do-hyun shot them a sharp glance at their suspicious eyes. Hana Rin whispered to Ji Yu-chan,
“He seems a little violent...?”
“...It's just normal Do-hyun. It's fine.”
“Right?”
Do-hyun pretended not to hear their exchange and turned toward the rapid approaching presence he sensed from afar.
“Then I'll catch the dwarves who used the scheme. The two of you handle the rest.”
“Eh? For real?”
“Why so sudden?”
He expected Do-hyun to take three and let each of them have one, but the reaction was unexpected. Do-hyun wondered if he had misjudged himself.
After all, whenever he met villains for quests, he always killed more than others. Was this karma?
Letting his killing intent settle, Do-hyun shook his head.
Of course he wanted to face three, but it seemed too risky.
Thalgrin was stronger than the Jerpael he had seen before.
“That fake dwarves, he's stronger than the elf leader that time.”
“...Then it's certain.”
“...Understood.”
Hana Rin and Ji Yu-chan nodded seriously at Do-hyun's words. Soon, all three could feel the dwarves' approaching presence.
Do-hyun stepped forward first, scattering their formation as the dwarves closed in.
Thalgrin, running from the center, moved toward Do-hyun and shouted.
“I'll face that one. The remaining two, handle them yourselves!”
The battle stance made Thalgrin's voice harsh. The remaining four dwarves shifted toward Hana Rin and Ji Yu-chan with familiar movements.
The split into two fronts allowed Hana Rin and Ji Yu-chan to quickly assess their attackers.
They looked stronger than the elves from last time.
Strictly speaking, a bit stronger than Park In-su.
Quite respectable opponents for them.
Do-hyun had left, but they focused on the fight without concern.
“I'll block the four. You two guard the rear.”
“Understood.”
Ji Yu-chan drew his sword and charged, while three dwarves closed in from the front.
The rear dwarf was neither a mage nor a buffer; he was a healer. Green light swirled as he strengthened the bodies of the charging three.
Fwaaah—
The green aura made the already bulky dwarves' muscles denser and their joints more flexible, allowing them to close the distance on Ji Yu-chan in a flash.
They swung like they held longswords, but it was more of a short sword, letting them slash in fast. Ji Yu-chan countered with sweeping cuts.
Combined with mana manipulation, the sword arts reached their peak. The cuts were faster and calmer than when he had faced the blind guide.
A silver and blue blade sliced through, forming a crescent like a full moon. The mana-infused sword scattered mana along its path, shaping the qi and shooting toward the enemies.
Shuuuung——
The dwarves raised their short swords and blocked with both hands like longswords. Two were pushed back.
Yet they only retreated; no real damage.
Thanks to the one who didn't get pushed, who blocked the other two, he leaped high and charged right in front of Ji Yu-chan.
The dwarves' craft, born from their race as both master craftsmen and warriors, was so agile it startled even Ji Yu-chan.
One thing he had forgotten.
A slender, high-speed spinning projectile raced toward the charging dwarf. The sound rang out, and the dwarf raised his sword to block it.
Siiing——
Kwaaang!
Sparks flew wildly. The short sword vibrated violently in the dwarf's hand.
It wasn't the massive stone arrow from before. This time it was a small stone bolt. The dwarf blocking it scowled at his throbbing wrist and the bleeding palm.
Even blocking it was this powerful.
If he had taken it directly, he might have died. The rear buffer dwarf created protective barriers for each of the three.
Do-hyun watched and felt a deeper respect for their strength compared to the elves, his brow furrowed. Hana Rin, equally irritated, prepared more bullets and fired them at the buffer behind.
Siiiing——
Bang! Chaeng!
Three bullets were launched. The first hit the buffer's barrier. The next two were blocked by the palm that had torn on the first.
Exploiting that opening, Ji Yu-chan charged, but the two dwarves he had pushed back now stood in his way.
Kkagakagaga.
Ji Yu-chan's blade clashed with theirs.
Two against one meant he couldn't use his full strength and was forced back.
As Ji Yu-chan was pushed and Hana Rin began preparing another spell, the buffer waved his hand at the torn palm dwarf, and the wound closed instantly.
Do-hyun and Hana Rin realized these were no ordinary foes and watched with twisted expressions. The dwarves smirked and muttered,
“Let's see how long you can last.”
“Khhkhh.”
“...”
“...”
Ji Yu-chan and Hana Rin said nothing, yet the tension was palpable as they faced them.