Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Reborn as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in a Count's Family
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We continued walking deeper into the cave.
At some point, the cave began to widen, and a warmth started to overflow. Feeling the heat rather than mere warmth despite our thick clothing, we took off our outer layers.
I was now in lighter attire, and Yuria had returned to her usual maid outfit.
As we ventured further inside, the surroundings grew brighter. An inexplicable soft glow illuminated the cave.
"Plants... are growing."
Yuria said in surprise. Sure enough, grass was sprouting on the cave floor—inside this completely sealed-off space.
I stepped on the wild grass growing haphazardly and said nonchalantly,
"This is a dragon vein. Even without water or light, the abundant spiritual energy lets them thrive."
"A place mages would love."
"They'd go crazy for it. That's why a dragon nested here long ago."
It's not all upsides, though. The downside is the increased number of monsters. A dragon vein this immense would be hard to manage without an ancient dragon.
We pressed deeper into the cave.
'This doesn't even feel like a cave anymore.'
Grass and trees came into view. And at some point, the ceiling became so high it was imperceptible.
I looked up. The ceiling was at least 100 meters above, a rocky dome that could collapse at any moment without surprise.
'It's clearly an enclosed space, so where's the light coming from?'
It wasn't explained in the original story, so I had no idea. Since this was once a dragon's lair, I could only guess it was the dragon's doing.
"This place is completely different from the outside."
"If the outside is eternal winter, this is spring. Eternal spring."
Colorful flowers bloomed below, and trees were laden with fruit. I plucked a cylindrical fruit from a tree and chewed it. The nameless fruit was sweet and tangy.
"Tasty. How about it, Yuria?"
"Yes. Delicious. I've never heard of fruit like this. Does it only grow here?"
"Might as well take some fruit and saplings since we're here."
She began carefully storing the fruit and saplings in her shadow. I didn't stop her. I quite liked this fruit.
'Hm?'
Something moved inside the tree—it was a squirrel. A cute squirrel stared at us strangers from a branch.
'Not just plants, but animals too. Well, makes sense in a place like this.'
We rested briefly, checked the time, and moved on. The weather here was always the same, so we had to monitor time closely.
'Over seven hours until sunrise. Including buffer time, twelve hours should be fine. Plenty of time.'
That said, we couldn't dawdle. No plan is perfect, and variables can arise anytime.
We headed even deeper.
And there, we discovered a village encircled by stone walls.
The walls, about 3 meters high, surrounded the village, with crossbows mounted at intervals. The entrance was firmly shut. Without scaling the walls, getting inside looked impossible.
"Is this the dwarf village Master mentioned?"
"Yeah. The Frost Hammer Tribe."
Dwarves and elves, being few in number, didn't form kingdoms but lived in tribes. They were known for low reproductive urges—likely due to lifespans four times longer than humans'.
"Should we enslave all the dwarves here?"
"They'll resist, so we'll have to kill about half."
One of our two goals in seeking out the Hughes Snow Mountains was to enslave the Frost Hammer Tribe dwarves.
Dwarves and elves in cities or openly active were hard to enslave, but wild ones without status protections were different.
"I'll sneak in right now and kill any dangerous dwarves."
"Infiltration's tough. Those walls have magic on them. Can't just climb over."
Attempting to scale them would likely trigger the magical traps mounted there.
'In the original, Kyle comes here much later.'
The Frost Hammer dwarves, discovered by yetis, fight them off and earn Kyle's aid, acknowledging him. In gratitude, they forge him a special sword.
'The whole village was on the brink of yeti annihilation, so they accepted Kyle. Normally, they don't acknowledge humans easily. The Frost Hammer Tribe kills humans who stumble here by chance.'
They're not human-friendly—hostile, even. That's why they live in places like this.
'No talking our way in.'
Recreating the original scenario? Too risky. Yetis aren't easy for us either. No need to befriend dwarves—slaves are more useful.
"Master. What then?"
"We make them open the gate."
I raised my hand.
Pzzzt.
Lightning gathered in my palm, forming the shape of Ten-Thunder. I amassed it fully and unleashed a bolt at the entrance.
Rumble! Boom! The lightning struck the gate with deafening thunder, but it didn't even scratch.
I expected that. These walls withstood a yeti horde for over two weeks in the original. If they fell easily, it'd be suspicious.
'My goal's just to draw out the dwarves. Still, no damage at all stings my pride a bit.'
A master dwarf smith hammered it for years—I'll acknowledge it.
About a minute after attacking the gate,
"Another fearless human shows up!"
A dwarf appeared atop the wall and addressed us, brimming with confidence. He didn't consider us a threat.
'With walls like these, naturally.'
I eyed the dwarf curiously. World dwarves matched cartoon and movie depictions: short, muscular, bearded. He wore steel helmet and armor, shield in left hand, axe in right.
Seeing a dwarf in person for the first time, after only media, was refreshing.
"Your fate is sealed, coming to our paradise!"
"We stumbled here by chance. Let's talk calmly."
I'd try dialogue. Maybe a 1% chance to resolve peacefully.
"Talk? No interest in chatting with you!"
"Why so hostile? If you really hate it, we'll leave."
"You think we don't know humans' treachery?! You'll return with soldiers! This paradise is your grave!"
Recalculating—less than 1% chance.
"Are you the village leader?"
"No! I'm the Frost Hammer Tribe's Warrior Captain, Phurex Gladiata!"
I shook my head with a sigh. His boldness made me think he was chief, but no.
"What? Just a lackey. Go fetch the chief."
"Insolent human!"
A green aura coated the dwarf's axe. He hurled it at me, aura blazing.
Yuria, watching intently, moved swiftly. She snatched the flying axe midair and flung it back at Phurex.
But it couldn't harm him. An invisible barrier blocked it—the wall's defense magic.
"Gasp!"
Phurex flinched in shock, face flushing with shame.
"Y-You humans!"
Phurex descended the wall.
Clank. Clunk. Machinery sounds echoed, and a white magic circle appeared atop the wall. I knew what it was.
"Dodge, Yuria. Air Blast magic."
A mass of compressed air shoots from the circle's center. We dashed opposite ways, evading.
The wind mass exploded on impact.
'Straight shot, circle visible—easy to dodge.'
Designed to kill monsters, not agile humans.
"Tch! Dodged them all! Quick ones!"
Phurex climbed back up, no longer alone. Over ten armed dwarves glared down, weapons ready.
"Try this! All crossbows, fire!"
Dwarves raised crossbows and shot.
We ducked behind trees. Thwip thwip thwip! Bolts embedded in trunks.
'Frost Hammer has over a hundred dwarves. Those are all the warriors.'
Elves and dwarves live long, lack breeding drive, so populations stagnate. They don't feel the need to grow numbers.
'Kill them all, few resistors left.'
Thwip thwip!
Bolts couldn't pierce trees. Even dwarven craftsmanship has limits.
When the volley stopped, I peeked out. Not much they could do from the wall.
"What now? Your attacks can't touch us. Want to kill us? Come down. Oh, can't you, Frost Hammer cowards? Makes sense—coward dwarves hole up here."
I plucked and crunched a fruit casually. Warrior Captain Phurex's face reddened at my leisure.
"Y-You! I'll crush you now!"
"Captain! Calm down! Simple human provocation! Humans are treacherous—could be a trap!"
"Won't come down? Fine then."
The taunt meant little anyway.
Because...
"We're leaving. Stay safe, you little runts."
Dwarves couldn't let us go.
As Yuria and I turned to leave, the dwarves panicked.
"Catch them! Now! They'll bring soldiers back! Kill them! Open the gate!"
"Yes! Open the entrance! Hunt the humans!"
Rumble!
The gate opened. I smirked triumphantly.
'Dwarf warriors match knights in strength... but not these.'
Only the captain wielded aura properly. Peaceful lair—no training or hunting warriors usually.
'Above all, they trust walls and siege weapons more than personal skill.'
I stopped fleeing and ordered Yuria,
"Yuria. Prioritize entering the village over killing them."
"Yes. Circling around would be best."
We moved quickly.
"Humans! Accept your fate!"
Dwarves pursued, firing crossbows.
"Ten-Thunder. This'll sting."
I blasted lightning at them. They startled, raising shields too slowly.
"...!"
Three dwarves got hit, electrocuted, convulsed, and died.
"L-Lightning? Magic?!"
"Captain! Their goal's our village! They're heading in!"
"What?! No! Stop them! Wait—close the gate! No one inside?!"
"Uh... everyone rushed out!"
"Damn it all!"
Dwarves chased frantically.
"These short-legged runts are slow as hell."
We entered the gate. Dodging bolts, I pulled an item from inventory and aimed.
"What's that?!"
"Mr. Thompson! Die, you primitives!"
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
The Thompson spewed bullets. Ignorant of guns, dwarves didn't even raise shields.
"Aaaargh!"
Phurex and others screamed, collapsing.
Phurex was mid-tier aura expert at best. Bullets shredded; his small shield covered half his body at most.
"Whew. Good work, Mr. Thompson."