Traveler: Derek Walker 4
Mislim was Hegrig's wife and a dwarf. Female dwarves were just as tough and strong as their male counterparts, with a natural knack for handling iron and fire. It was extremely common for dwarf couples to run forges together—one would hammer the strong metal into shape, while the other, with their deft hands, did the fine engraving. Opening a forge as a couple was the lifelong dream of many dwarves. It wasn't an exaggeration to call it the ultimate measure of success in dwarf life.
To open a forge, you needed a ton of money, so dwarf couples busted their asses saving up for it. That's why so many dwarves had grabbed their hammers and signed up for the Blue Flame Guild's mithril mine development project. Dwarves weren't just born blacksmiths—they were damn good miners too. Developing a mithril mine was brutal. The mining difficulty was on a whole other level compared to regular mines. That's why humans stubbornly hired dwarves for mithril mine projects.
Dwarves who headed to mithril mines to earn cash usually worked there for one or two years. The labor was grueling, but the pay was fantastic, making it one of the most popular gigs. Mislim's husband, Hegrig, had left for the mithril mine just yesterday to make some money.
With her husband gone, Mislim wasn't about to kick back and relax. On this continent, only merchants, nobles, or royalty lived that leisurely. Naturally, Mislim worked to keep the household running while he was away. Her job was sharpening farm tools and kitchen knives—typical work for dwarf housewives. She'd wander the village like a door-to-door salesman, seeking out homes that needed tool maintenance. Luckily, Coolong had plenty of such requests. Since she could sharpen most metal tools, the earnings weren't bad.
The husband fixed houses or worked the mines, the wife repaired tools. That's how they scraped together the cash to open a forge together.
"Today's take is pretty good~♪ Hubby'll grind it out for a year or so and bring back a fat stack too. At this rate, we could open the forge in two years!"
A smile never left Mislim's lips. It had been five long years since she and Hegrig had started saving after getting together. She was tired of hustling for pennies on foot. But thoughts of the forge they'd open together made her forget the grind. Her steady personality had brought them close to their goal.
As she swung today's earnings pouch in circles on her way home, the greasy aroma of roasted meat wafting from a tavern made her stop dead. It was the place she'd visited with Hegrig yesterday. The black beer and sausages had been delicious. Yesterday was soft opening; today, the sign proudly declared grand opening. Thinking of that meal made her swallow hard.
"Menu's posted. Sausages and black beer that tasty? Gotta be pricey, right?"
Mislim smacked her lips. At home, they had the watery piss Hegrig brewed. Homemade beer was cheap, but no guarantees on taste. Still, penny-pinching dwarves drank it often.
"Mislim~! Heading home after work?"
A familiar face appeared on the tavern terrace—Pokuri, wife of Hegrig's friend Dunbero. They got along great and often drank together.
"Pokuri. What's this? Hubby's barely left to earn, and you're already boozing? Dunbero'd be heartbroken."
"Kyahaha! I drained that bastard dry last night. This is my reward. Plus, the beer's dirt cheap here!"
Pokuri crudely mimed stroking a cock with one hand. At under 150cm tall with a face that looked barely 16, her vulgar gesture made Mislim think, Humans would freak if they saw this.
Unlike Mislim, who hustled on foot in human society, Pokuri sorted minerals thanks to her mineral appraisal skill—a rare talent among dwarves that paid well. But her wild personality meant she hadn't saved much.
"Cheap? Beer that good can't be cheap."
"Kyahaha! That's why I love humans. They're pros at mass production. This must be some magitech brew stamped out factory-style."
"Magitech beer. Sounds gross just hearing it."
"If it tastes good, who cares? C'mon, one round! My treat."
Mislim had been waiting for those words. She slyly plopped down next to Pokuri. What a great friend.
"Whoa! You're right—it's stupid cheap. One copper per beer? They trying to make money here or what?"
"Kyahahaha! Manager seems human. Can't read 'em. But long as we get tasty beer, who cares?"
Pokuri raised her glass. Mislim clinked hers against it.
When two married women got together, the talk followed a script: daily chit-chat leading to family stuff. Especially bed talk—they couldn't skip that. Neither had kids yet.
"Once we scrape together enough for the forge somehow, maybe we can have a kid. If me and Hegrig grit our teeth for two years, we might make it."
"Kyahaha! We're nowhere close. Dunbero's spending is insane."
"Says the one who's no better. Heard him griping to Hegrig."
"Birds of a feather. Kyaha! But clinging to a forge and slaving away? Better to enjoy the moment. What if all our hammering makes a village chief's hoe instead of a hero's sword?"
"Still, thinking of the future makes me wanna open that forge."
"No more headachy talk~ Anyway, how's your hubby's bedroom game? Still a quick-shot getting devoured by you?"
"Don't even. Looks like he could eat ten tigers, but in bed? Fades in five minutes flat. Am I not sexy enough?"
"Opposite! You're the hottest in the village. Hegrig's a secret romantic—weak for a woman like you. Kyahaha! If I'd fucked him, I'd turn him into a stamina monster."
"In your dreams."
Perfectly raunchy banter flew between them. This was standard for dwarves.
Five empty glasses littered the table. This cheap? Way too cheap.
"Enjoying your meal?"
A waitress in uniform approached with a sales smile. A human, head and shoulders taller than them. Not huge by human standards. Humans were rare in the dwarf district.
"Drinking great. But miss—not my place as a customer, but you turning a profit selling like this? Love the cheap beer, and I'd hate for the place to fold."
Pokuri chatted her up boldly. The waitress beamed.
"Of course. We're here to make money too."
"Good to hear. Mislim, one more beer each then head out? Grab some sausages too."
"Sounds good."
"One beer each and sausages? Please wait a sec. Lots of orders, might take a bit. Oh, how about a quick game while you wait?"
""Game?""
Mislim and Pokuri cocked their heads in unison.
Taverns and games weren't strangers. Men often played cards or dice while drinking. Some even stocked simple game setups for it.
"Ah! That dangly thing over there?"
"Yes. It's called pachinko—a special game. Custom-ordered from the magic tower."
"Whoa~! Commissioned the magic tower for a game machine? Manager's desperate to lose money."
Mislim silently agreed. Their idea of game machines topped out at cards, dice, or boards. Ordering from the magic tower? Pure extravagance—they knew it well.
The waitress led them to the machines. Plenty of folks already sat at the wall-mounted ones—mostly wives like her who'd sent husbands to the mines. A few male dwarves who'd skipped the mithril gig too.
Flashy videos played on the screens. Mislim realized they used thinly engraved video playback crystals. Dozens of precisely crafted steel balls danced around the display edges. Players stared at the flowing balls like zombies.
"This thing's gotta cost a fortune. One gold easy…."
One gold could open a small tavern. Mislim and Hegrig aimed for five gold for their forge. Five machines equaled her dream.
"Here, sit. Normally you'd insert coppers or silvers here to start, but first-timers get it free."
"What, it's paid? Figures."
Pokuri lost interest at "paid." She wasn't into games or gambling—couldn't get guys hooked on it. If you've got that cash, buy more booze.
"First one's free—no pressure. Here's beginner coins."
The waitress handed them two small coins each. They slotted them in as instructed.
"Inserting coins fills this counter. One copper per point. Points equal 100 balls—so 10 means 1,000 balls."
"Balls?"
"Balls you use in the game. See the little lever bottom right?"
"Yeah."
Mislim gripped it.
"Adjust the lever to launch balls from the top hole. Hard pull for fast, soft for slow. Wanna try?"
"Oho. Like this?"
Pokuri yanked hard. Balls pinged out the top. Just watching was fun. First time for such a machine.
"Feed them into the bottom chute. See 'starter'?"
"Oho! I get it! Angle it like…."
Pokuri's ball slotted perfectly into starter. A fanfare blared; the bland video shifted to epic blue and red golems clashing. Grand music, flashy animation. Pokuri was hooked.
"Whoa…! Magitech power? How do they make video this real? Alchemists are freaks!"
Three roulettes spun below. First two slowed—both 7s.
"See the three spinning roulettes? Each starter hit stops one. Three matching numbers? Jackpot."
Unfamiliar words piled up.
"Three same numbers? Jackpot?"
"Yes~! Jackpot opens another chute above starter. Drop one ball in, get 10 new ones. Keep playing~!"
"Oho! So beyond the initial 1,000, you earn more?"
"Exactly! To quit, hit 'ball payout.' Balls dispense here. Bring to counter—100 balls for 1 copper."
"Payout" lit their eyes. Mislim double-checked.
"So… win 3,000 balls, cash out for 30 coppers?"
"Yep! You got it!"
Money to be made. Their eyes sharpened. Pokuri swallowed, calmly levered. Ball hit starter; final roulette slowed. Golems neared climax.
Please 7… please 7… please 7….
-GRRRROOOAR! Blue golem won. Final roulette: 7.
"Wooaaah! Jackpot!"
"Congratulations!"
The waitress clapped with a smile. Pokuri punched the air, whooping. Unaware the beginner coin was rigged for jackpot. Unaware her life was plummeting into the abyss.