The Dwarf's Vow
Elbridge let out a sigh of admiration.
"Rombel. What an utterly remarkable personality you have. Just what in the world did you do to get yourself abandoned by the God of the Iron Anvil when you're a dwarf?"
Marcus hadn't spoken a word, but his expression made it perfectly clear he agreed with every syllable.
The God of the Iron Anvil was the very identity of the dwarf race. It was no empty rumor that over 99.8 percent of all dwarves worshipped him.
Thanks to the ironclad support of the dwarves, the God of the Iron Anvil was famous for holding three unassailable seats in the Heavenly Assembly. It had been that way two hundred years ago, it was that way now, and it would remain that way forever.
To be cast out by such a god—making up that 0.2 percent—was not something that happened through ordinary behavior.
And yet, in the most shameless manner possible, Rombel wore the face of the most wronged man in existence.
"Just so we're clear, none of what got me excommunicated was my fault. I can explain everything."
"Go on, then. Let's hear this excuse."
"Where should I even start... Right. Elbridge, remember when we talked about my faith back at the Magic Tower not long ago?"
Elbridge recalled the conversation he'd had with Rombel.
'Rombel. You already know the problem isn't your skill. The problem isn't you—it's your order.'
'I know your faith was never particularly deep. I also remember how you secretly admired the holy knights of the combat orders.'
In the past, Elbridge had thought it a shame to waste Rombel's talent.
Rombel's ability stood at the very peak among dwarf warriors. Had he belonged to a combat order, he surely would have joined the expedition to seal the Great Demon.
Yet Rombel had been unable to participate in that fateful battle. His faith had held him back. The powers granted by the God of the Iron Anvil were not particularly useful in combat.
Rombel continued.
"Truth is, every dwarf warrior has thought at some point that the order was holding them back. It's just that very few ever said it out loud, and even fewer actually switched orders."
The Goddess of the Rusty Shield quietly slipped into the conversation.
Elbridge. If it is what my most cherished holy knight desires, your goddess will not be disappointed even if the order gains a second holy knight.
Elbridge shared the same thought.
If an unskilled holy knight joined and received divine power, it might weaken the order's overall strength. But if someone of Rombel's caliber entered, it would be an enormous boon.
That was why Elbridge had told him:
"Rombel. For someone who once admired the combat orders, there is no finer order than the Rusty Shield. The benefits I mentioned last time still stand. Upon joining, you would immediately be appointed as a cardinal..."
But Rombel hadn't listened to a single word.
"Of course, I never intended to worship any god other than the God of the Iron Anvil. I believed dwarves should naturally serve him. But not every dwarf warrior thought the same way I did."
"Hmm. And?"
"When your life hangs in the balance a few times, and you watch the person next to you die because you weren't strong enough, you start craving more power. Naturally, the first thing that comes to mind is the divine power granted by the gods. Most only think about it, but... one dwarf maiden actually joined the Chain and Axe Order."
Elbridge had also heard stories of that dwarf maiden through the grapevine.
There was a dwarf maiden in the Chain and Axe Order who wielded an axe with terrifying skill despite her small stature.
"I fought alongside her, fell in love, and married her with another holy knight as our witness. Then the God of the Iron Anvil expelled me from the order. That's the end of it."
Both Elbridge and Marcus looked stunned.
The story that had seemed ready to go on for a long time had ended so abruptly.
"Mister Rombel. It feels like a lot was left out. Didn't you join the Chain and Axe Order to follow your wife?"
At Marcus's question, Rombel answered curtly.
"I told you I didn't."
"They kicked out their greatest warrior just because his wife worshipped a different god?"
"That's right."
Rombel spat on the ground.
"You know what? In all my years in the Red Mountains, I've never once seen a dwarf who didn't worship the God of the Iron Anvil."
"But everyone knows dwarves worship the God of the Iron Anvil."
"Like you said, over 99.8 percent of dwarves worship him. But if you flip that around, it means one or two out of every thousand dwarves worship someone else. It's not a large number, but you should have run into a few by now."
"I... suppose so."
"Yet I've never once seen a dwarf in the Red Mountains who worshipped another god. Why do you think that is?"
Marcus glanced at the mangled corpse.
"The God of the Iron Anvil stopped it."
"Exactly. The God of the Iron Anvil strictly forbids his followers from associating with dwarves who worship other gods."
Elbridge, who had been listening quietly, interjected.
"I still don't quite understand. The other gods don't seem to care about such things."
"The situation is different with him."
"In what way?"
"The God of the Iron Anvil maintains his three seats solely through the overwhelming support of the dwarves. There's almost no room to expand his influence, so maintaining the status quo is the best he can do. What do you think he needs to do to keep things that way?"
Elbridge thought for a moment before answering.
"He would have to keep a tight rein on the inside. Prevent any apostates from appearing."
"Correct. Next question. What is the most powerful way to control a group from within?"
This time Marcus answered.
"Punishing dwarves who worship other gods, right?"
It was a reasonable answer, but Rombel shook his head.
"No."
"Then what?"
"The most powerful form of control is to make sure they never see a dwarf who worships another god. Prevent them from even realizing such dwarves exist. Make sure they never learn that the right to choose a god even exists."
Elbridge and Marcus were impressed.
If Rombel's story was true, the God of the Iron Anvil treated dwarves who worshipped other gods like rotten fruit. The kind that would spoil everything else in the box if left inside.
In the god's eyes, Rombel's wife was already rotten fruit, and Rombel was fruit that would soon rot as well.
The god had decided it was right to throw such fruit out of the box.
Only then did Elbridge realize why Rombel's situation felt so strange.
Rombel had accomplished feats worthy of becoming a hero of his race.
Was there any reason for such a dwarf not to return to his homeland?
None.
If Rombel had not returned home, it could only have been because he was forced to stay away.
Elbridge asked.
"Rombel. You knew we couldn't cross that valley, didn't you?"
"I had my suspicions."
"Then why did you come all the way here?"
Rombel crossed his arms, closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
"First. To show the dwarves that an unbeliever like me can solve a problem the God of the Iron Anvil couldn't."
This was no simple desire for show or recognition.
Rombel wanted to shake dwarf society to its core. He wanted to create cracks in the Iron Anvil Order and bring it crumbling down.
A follower abandoned by their god was supposed to fall into despair and torment.
But instead of suffering, Rombel had chosen to raise his axe against that god. Because he was a warrior.
"Is there a second reason?"
"I came to see my wife after two hundred years."
Elbridge shook his head in disbelief.
But Marcus still didn't understand.
"Mister Rombel. You said your wife worshipped another god. How did she enter the valley?"
"Anyone can enter. That's not the problem."
"But earlier you said the valley—"
"It's just that no one can leave."
Rombel planted his axe in the ground like a staff and pointed into the valley with a stubby finger.
A spot slightly deeper than where the corpse had been crushed.
"That valley is my wife's grave."
Rombel's circumstances were now clear. But the most important problem remained.
Elbridge asked him.
"Rombel. What are you going to do now? You can't even enter the valley. Were you planning to climb the cliff?"
Marcus looked at the sheer cliff beside the valley.
Someone as abnormal as Elbridge or Rombel might be able to scale it.
But Marcus couldn't even imagine attempting it. Even after gaining a bit of divine power these past few days by hunting monsters with their help.
Rombel answered.
"No. I'm going to walk into that valley with my head held high."
"I'll respect your opinion. But only if you go first."
"That's exactly what I intend to do, so don't worry."
"Oh? And when do you plan on going in?"
"If we just wait a little..."
Rombel stopped mid-sentence and looked to the side.
"...Perfect. Right on time."
A mixed group of human knights and mercenaries was approaching their party.
"You two stay put and watch."
Rombel walked toward the approaching men and called out.
"Greetings. Where have you come from?"
A knight answered confidently.
"We come from the County of Hugen. We received a request to assist the dwarves of the Red Mountains."
Elbridge didn't know where the County of Hugen was, but judging by their direction, they seemed to have come from the southern part of the continent.
That made sense. With the fate of an entire race on the line, they wouldn't have asked only the Holy City of Soleneon for help.
"Where is the dwarf who came to request the commission?"
"He suddenly collapsed and died."
"Ah, I see. As expected."
Rombel scratched the back of his head with an awkward expression.
"Sir Knight, thank you for coming to help. However, an unexpected problem has arisen."
"A problem?"
"Have you heard about the valley in the Red Mountains?"
"Of course. They say you die if you pass through it without a dwarf. They told us to set off these fireworks in front of the valley and a guide would come."
The knight pulled out a long firework and showed it to Rombel. So that was a thing.
Rombel put on an innocent face and lied smoothly.
"I am that guide. Given the situation, I was waiting here in advance."
"What kind of situation?"
"I'll show you directly."
Rombel crept cautiously toward the valley.
And the moment he arrived beside the corpse—
Rumble.
As expected, the valley began to move.
Rombel leaped back out of the valley with lightning speed. The innocent corpse, however, was crushed once more.
The knight looked considerably shaken.
"What is this? I was told it would be fine as long as we passed with a dwarf?"
"The valley has become unstable. It seems the God of the Hammer and Anvil is having some issues."
The knight looked skeptical.
"Problems with a god who resides in the lofty heavens above?"
"It's true. For some time now, the God of the Hammer and Anvil has stopped answering the dwarves' prayers."
Rombel looked up at the sky and shouted loudly.
"O God of the Iron Anvil! Open the valley for us!"
Rombel crept toward the valley once again.
Rumble—
Sure enough, the moment he reached that same spot, the valley moved as if it had been waiting and blocked the path.
Rombel shook his fist at the sky and cursed.
"God of the Iron Anvil, you son of a bitch—! Manage your damn valley properly!"
The knight's eyes widened.
Could there be more direct blasphemy than this? This was the clearest proof that something had gone wrong with the God of the Iron Anvil.
Rombel bowed obsequiously and said.
"As you can see, the god isn't responding at all. It would almost be better if he showed some anger..."
"Hmm. I see."
"In any case, we cannot enter the valley. The reward for the commission has also become uncertain. I apologize for making you come all this way for nothing. Here, please take this small sum for your travel expenses..."
When Rombel reached into his pocket, the knight waved his hands.
"How could I take travel money when none of this is your fault? On the contrary, thank you for warning us before anything happened. We nearly ended up like that corpse over there."
"It was only my duty."
"What a shame. May the gods' protection be with the dwarves."
The knight left with his mercenaries.
The moment their figures disappeared, Rombel's previously servile attitude instantly became bold and confident.
Elbridge narrowed his eyes.
"...Rombel. Aren't you afraid of the consequences?"
Rombel snorted.
"Consequences? There isn't a single person here who worships the God of the Iron Anvil. No matter what happens, that god has no way of learning about this situation."
Then Rombel gave a meaningful smile.
"I'm going to send back every single person who comes to help. Let's see how long that bastard can keep me out."
Rombel had begun the first gate-blocking operation in the history of the Red Mountains.