Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Dwarves Have Dull Senses (1)
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"I have something to look into, so let's postpone today's training until tomorrow."
I still hadn't shaken off the awkwardness from the massage, but after sleeping one night, Alensia suddenly chased me out of the mansion.
She said something came up with her and pushed back today's training to tomorrow, then asked me to step out for a bit... She wasn't kicking me out in anger, was she?
Anyway, I'd planned to train non-stop for a week without rest, but unexpectedly, I had some free time. I'd thought about swinging my sword alone to practice swordsmanship, but Alensia had warned me not to—my basics weren't solid yet, and practicing alone could ingrain bad habits. She insisted I only train when she was teaching.
Hmm... What now?
I'd lived in Labyrinth City for three years, but I'd been so desperate to save money that I rarely strayed far from the clinic. Even during breaks at work, I'd constantly experiment with my skills to see if they'd grow... Nothing came to mind right away.
Fortunately, I had money... but just 1 gold.
'Here, take this.'
'Pardon? Instructor, isn't this 1 gold? What's this all of a sudden...?'
'Just take it. We'll figure out the exact value later, but for now, you deserve it.'
Before kicking me out of the mansion, Alensia had suddenly handed me 1 gold.
I freaked out at the unexpected windfall and tried to give it back, but she insisted it was proper payment and forced it into my hands. It reminded me of my mom back home, slipping me pocket money during family gatherings on holidays and shooing me away while the adults talked...
Anyway, if it was payment... I could guess it was for the damage from that gatekeeper's antics at the library and the massage last night...
She'd already compensated for the gatekeeper incident with a recommendation to the library's second floor, so maybe this was for the massage? I'd heard there were massage parlors in Labyrinth City, but I had no idea about prices, so it was hard to judge.
Who knows. Maybe massages cost 1 gold everywhere? I should wander the city today and check prices if I spot one.
Anyway, with money in hand, I headed to the commercial district. It was full of sights, and following Alensia's training advice, I could buy a helmet or accessories. While I'm at it, I should stop by Gram's shop.
Before checking other shops, I stopped by Gram's place first, where I'd bought my armor last time.
Weaving through the bustling shopping streets and past dingy-looking stores, I spotted the equipment shop—no frills, not even a sign.
Honestly, if I hadn't seen Miranda hammering away last time, I wouldn't have gone in. I'd been admiring her, discovered a great shop, and even got acquainted with Gram thanks to it.
Gram wasn't around when I looked. He probably left the shop mostly to Miranda anyway.
Sure enough, no Gram, but inside, amid scorching heat, Miranda was half-undressed, pounding away at her hammer.
I'd thought it last time too, but even if it's hot, was it okay to strip down like that? Sparks flew with every swing, but she didn't flinch—either numb to the heat or insanely focused, repeating the motion flawlessly.
I stepped further inside and watched her hammer in silence. She was so absorbed, she hadn't noticed me yet.
Her well-tanned brown skin and compact, healthy muscles glistened with sweat droplets everywhere. Was this the image people had of a "healthy beauty"? A beautiful woman immersed in her work had an intoxicating charm all its own.
Last time, I'd been browsing armor when she snuck up and startled me...
Seeing her oblivious now sparked a mischievous urge.
Nothing big—just wanted to scare her the same way she'd scared me. Honestly, if we're talking desires, curiosity about how this carefree half-dwarf would react when startled outweighed any revenge.
Of course, startling her mid-swing could cause injury, so I waited until she paused, shoving the ingot back into the furnace.
[Sensory Block]
Skill cast successful
I cast Sensory Block on Miranda first. Not sure if it'd work, but if it did, great; if not, no big deal—just a shame. Honestly, I figured it had a low chance.
Against my expectations, the skill cast perfectly on the first try. Was her status ailment resistance low? I thought a skilled blacksmith—even if not a Labyrinth adventurer—would have high resistance... Maybe not? Or had reaching level 3 made my skill surprisingly potent?
Truth be told, I wasn't sure. My skills had been level 1 for three years, and they'd only leveled up recently, so I hadn't tested them much on people since.
I'd sneakily tried on passersby, but whether they resisted or not, I had no way to gauge their resistance levels.
Anyway, positive thoughts for now. It worked fine—no complaints.
'Block the target's hearing.'
Her eyes were fixed on the metal in the furnace, so vision didn't matter. I needed to block hearing now. She wasn't hammering, and the furnace wasn't noisy—perfect quiet surroundings. Well within skill range.
With hearing blocked, I approached from an angle out of her sight, casual steps. I couldn't feel it much, but my Stealth skill was helping too.
I sidled right up beside her and glanced sideways. Whether from Stealth Block or focus, she hadn't noticed her hearing was cut off—staring intently at the furnace.
With that concentration, she'd probably miss me even without Sensory Block.
Impressed by her focus, I poked her nape with a finger. I wanted to touch elsewhere, but for startling, the nape promised instant reaction.
"........?"
Even after the poke, her gaze stayed on the furnace. Hadn't noticed? Or noticed but ignored for focus?
A spark of stubbornness hit; I poked a more sensitive spot—her exposed belly.
".....?"
What? Had I blocked touch instead of hearing?
Getting oddly competitive, I poked her belly repeatedly: poke. poke. poke. poke. Still, eyes on furnace, no reaction.
She must've noticed by now but ignored for work. Frustrated, I released Sensory Block and called out.
"Miranda? It's me, Ian."
"........!"
Finally, a reaction—but not what I expected.
No words to me; she grabbed the metal with tongs and resumed hammering.
I gave up on more reactions, left her to it, and browsed the shop's wares. Skipping Gram's pricey masterpieces, I eyed Miranda's simpler, cheaper pieces.
After a bit, she finished quenching the metal and finally spotted me.
"What, the newbie adventurer from a few days ago? Ian, right? When'd you get here?"
"A while ago... Didn't you notice? I figured you'd seen me come in and ignored me to focus."
"Ah, when I'm working, I don't notice much else. Even if someone talks, I barely register it."
Artisan spirit? I got it—sometimes I zone out so hard I miss people talking to me.
"Um, sorry if it's rude, but I even touched your shoulder."
No matter what, how do you miss physical touch?
"Ah, that's 'cause I'm half-dwarf."
"....? What does being half-dwarf have to do with it?"
"Huh? Don't you know dwarf traits? Dwarves have dull senses overall. Resistant to heat, numb to pain. Helps them endure harsh forges, and in Labyrinths, they tank frontline. Anyway, I'm half but inherited the dwarf blood, so duller senses than humans. Though we dwarves—me included—have sharp touch in our hands."
"Dull senses sound kinda dangerous..."
"Nah, not really. Lets me focus on work."
No, it still sounded risky. Pain's a body's danger signal—if you can't feel it properly... Was that why Sensory Block worked so well?
"Work's done anyway, so like I said last time, I'll show you basic gear maintenance. Watching might clue you into acquiring Dexterity."
Miranda brushed off my worry like it was nothing and headed to the forge's back. If she wasn't concerned...
Following her, curiosity struck—I cast a skill.
[Sensory Block]
Block sense of touch.
The skill cast successfully again. Sticking close as we walked, I touched her body.
"~~"
Miranda didn't notice my touch until we reached the inner room.