Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: The Grumpy Dwarf
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When Jae-in said he would share even the manufacturing method for the cooling technology, Marcelo's eyes widened.
"Is it really okay to give us such technology?"
"Master Pa-chem went off to find the Dragon Heart processing method without asking for any compensation, didn't he?"
"Thank you. I gratefully accept Jae-in's kindness."
Marcelo bowed his head politely.
Marcelo knew Pa-chem had rushed off without discussing payment out of curiosity for the Dragon Heart, but he quietly accepted Jae-in's generosity. Until now, he had endured the heat out of passion to become a craftsman, but he really hated the heat.
They continued touring the workshop. Perhaps because Jae-in had agreed to provide the air conditioning technology, Marcelo showed them every nook and cranny with even more enthusiasm.
Jae-in crammed every new technology and idea he discovered into his head.
"Hmm...."
"Is something wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing."
The individual skills of the artisans were far superior to the average Earth technician. However, efficiency was terribly low. Tasks weren't specialized, so each artisan handled an item from start to finish.
Making good items was great, but production speed mattered too. Jae-in now understood why they couldn't produce enough items despite being so busy.
But as an outsider poking his nose into someone else's workplace, Jae-in held his tongue to avoid straining relations.
"What about that one over there?"
Jae-in pointed to a workshop in the corner. Judging by the firmly shut door on what seemed like a large space, the interior must be spacious too.
"Ah, it's best not to go there."
Marcelo's ever-smiling face twisted.
"Ah, okay."
Jae-in didn't press further.
After touring for several hours, they returned to Pa-chem's workshop.
"Did you have a good time?"
"What were you up to, Chairman?"
"I was thinking of ways to contact Eres. Carlton suggested prayer, so I tried it, but I have no idea if it's working."
"Does praying anywhere work?"
"I was thinking of visiting the Temple of Darkness. It's far away with no gate connection, so it'll take a few days. Are you okay here without me?"
"I like it. There's a lot to learn here."
"Na-young, can you watch over Jae-in for me?"
Knowing how the Telus people went crazy over the Dragon Heart, she was uneasy leaving Jae-in alone.
"Sure. Go ahead."
"It's an honor to be protected by the goddess."
Smack!
Jae-in teased her, and Na-young smacked his back.
"Argh!"
Jae-in's large frame shuddered from the S-Rank Hunter's backhand.
After Ji-seok left, Jae-in pulled out his laptop and began designing the air conditioner.
"Wh.... what is that? Projection magic?"
"It's a computer. Making one here would be impossible. Since this is one of the things for tech exchange, it'd be faster to ask them about it."
"Hoo...."
Marcelo stared intently at Jae-in's laptop, which produced a 3D model in an instant.
Until now, everything had been drawn by hand in 2D, which was incredibly complex and labor-intensive. Creating it in 3D like this would make blueprints easier to produce and read.
As Marcelo watched, Jae-in designed the air conditioner using only the materials and techniques he had seen while touring the workshops.
Pa-chem-like qualities of a craft master shone through in Jae-in, who memorized everything after one look around and applied it to design the machine.
"Marcelo, if you have any magic books, could you give me one?"
Na-young, bored from sitting idly, asked.
"What kind are you looking for?"
"Anything you have."
"Pardon? Anything? How about this one? It's about magic engraving...."
"Yes. I'll take it."
Na-young began reading right there.
Marcelo thought to himself that the goddess truly wasn't an ordinary person.
Several hours passed with everyone focused on their tasks when Pa-chem returned.
His whole body was covered in dust, and he carried a book as thick as his torso under his arm.
"Marcelo, you bastard! Can't you get the underlings to clean the archive?!"
"Master, no one goes there normally, right? There aren't even people around now. I'll have it cleaned after the war ends."
"Damn it!"
Pa-chem shook the dust off his head and body.
"Did you find it?"
Jae-in approached excitedly.
"Yeah, I found it. Processing methods for Dragon Hearts, especially Ice Dragon ones, aren't common."
Pa-chem opened the book.
"But it requires a lot of materials and a complex process. I can't guarantee it'll work."
"Let's gather them first and decide."
"And there's the biggest problem."
"What is it?"
"We need a dwarf."
Crunch.
"Damn it."
Marcelo's brow furrowed deeply, and a curse slipped from the lips of the ever-polite and gentle man.
"Yeah. Damn it indeed."
Pa-chem agreed with Marcelo's curse.
"Are there no dwarves on the Western Continent?"
"Not many. And among them, there's only one skilled artisan."
"Who is that?"
"Jae-in, did you see that large workshop with the closed door earlier?"
"Ah, that's his?"
"Don't call him 'that one.' He's trash."
"You two.... don't get along, I see."
"He's a racial supremacist. Thinks he's all that. He's trash at his core."
"Would it.... be hard to get his help?"
"....Let's go see. Processing a Dragon Heart would be a challenge for him too, so if he's a true artisan, he might not refuse.... Honestly, I don't know. Don't get your hopes up."
They followed Pa-chem to the dwarf's workshop.
Thud thud thud.
He knocked on the firmly shut door, but there was no answer.
Irritation built on Pa-chem's face as he waited.
"Jereks! Everyone in this sleeping Fire Mountains knows you have nowhere else to go! Quit pretending and come out!"
Pa-chem pounded on the door as if to break it. It was unbelievable strength for a goblin of small stature, but the door was sturdy and didn't budge.
"Get lost! You stinking goblin!"
The door didn't open, but a raspy voice came from inside.
"What the hell, you fat furry bastard! Today I'll end you...."
"Ma.... Master.... we're here to ask for a favor."
Marcelo stopped Pa-chem from starting a fight.
"Grk...."
Pa-chem took a breath.
"Open up. Guests from Earth are here."
"What do I care if Earthlings come or not?!"
"You think I came because I wanted to?! Open up unless you want your forge fire to go out!"
Pa-chem's threat worked, and the door that seemed unyielding slowly creaked open.
"For an artisan to threaten with fire.... you barbarian...."
A dwarf with a neatly braided beard reaching his chest opened the door.
"Shut up and let us in. I have something to say quietly."
Pa-chem shoved past the dwarf Jereks and entered.
"Hello."
Jereks ignored Jae-in's greeting. He glanced once at Na-young standing behind, then turned away abruptly.
"What is it, all of you crowding in?"
Pa-chem gave Marcelo a look, and he closed the door.
"Are you here to bury me?"
"You lunatic. If I wanted to kill you, I'd have done it ages ago. Jae-in, show him."
Jae-in took the Dragon Heart out of his bag.
Jereks watched Jae-in with an expression full of annoyance, wondering what they were up to.
As the Dragon Heart fully emerged, Jereks's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. His mind blanked for a moment, leaving him frozen without reaction.
"Wha?! Wha?! That! Is it.... real?!"
Then he began to get extremely excited.
"It's real. An Ice Dragon Heart."
"Wh.... why is that here? In Earthlings' hands?"
"We caught it."
"....Was there an Ice Dragon on Earth?"
"Came out of a gate, apparently."
"Urgh.... Why don't we get luck like that...."
"You madman. Do you know how many would die if an Ice Dragon came out of a gate?"
"For an incompetent like you, thousands dying is worth it for one of those."
"Damn it, keep talking and I'll burst."
"Earthling, sell this to me!"
"You mad bastard! How do you plan to buy it?! You know its value!"
"Urgh.... Then why are you here?"
"Found the processing method. But I need your help."
".....What's the price?"
"You damn bastard! I've sheltered a homeless wretch like you all this time, how are you still like this?!"
"I have no intention of helping."
"Jereks, think carefully. Will you get another chance to process a Dragon Heart before you die?"
"......"
"I don't expect you to act human. But if you're an artisan, you won't pass this up."
"Tch.... Fine."
"Whew.... At least the minimum condition is met. Now we just need the materials."
"You came without materials?! You stupid green monkey!"
"Shut it!"
Pa-chem and Jereks argued heatedly.
"You two really don't get along, huh?"
"Jereks is a dwarf who fled from the Eastern Continent. He's skilled, but because he's an exile, we can't kick him out and have to keep him."
"His personality seems.... pretty bad."
"Bad? He's trash."
They waited for the fight to end while listening to Marcelo's sharp words.
"I'll gather the materials, so get ready!"
Pa-chem slammed the door shut.
"You damn bastard!"
Unable to contain his anger, Pa-chem stomped the floor with his heel.
"Whew! Marcelo, go gather all the items on the list."
"Yes, Master."
* * *
Jae-in unrolled the scroll Marcelo had written.
"......We have to get all this?"
The parchment scroll, at least 5 meters long, was densely packed with hundreds of types of ores and unheard-of materials.
"Did you think processing a Dragon Heart was easy?"
"No.... but.... do we really need all this?"
"Don't know."
"Pardon?"
"I don't know if we need them all. Some could be substituted, or maybe not needed at all. But do you have the guts to leave even one out?"
"......"
"Fail because of one missing, and the Dragon Heart's gone."
"......."
"Go help Marcelo. Luckily, all the continent's top artisans are gathered in these mountains. Artisans always have one or two hidden premium materials stashed away, so with luck, we might get everything. In the meantime, I'll store this here."
Pa-chem opened a massive safe door and placed the Dragon Heart in the center.
"Even the master can't break this."
Pa-chem closed the door again.
"Put your hand here."
"Like this?"
Pa-chem and Jae-in placed their hands on the door.
An orange light spread across it.
"Now it won't open unless both of us come together. Go on."
"Whew...."
Jae-in headed outside with Marcelo after hearing Pa-chem.
"Marcelo, how do we find these materials?"
"We have no choice but to visit one by one."
".....One by one? How many are there?"
"Over a thousand if you include the junior artisans."
Jae-in's head spun at the thought of visiting that many people one by one.