Chapter 217: Dwarf (2)
Chapter 217: Dwarf (2)
“……Could you repeat that?”
Dwight couldn't believe his ears for a moment.
“So, you’re saying you’ve already killed a dragon.”
“Yes.”
“No, that makes no sense. How on earth…?”
Dwight’s voice quickened with agitation.
“If I had brought the carcass, I could have proven it. Unfortunately, I don’t happen to have a dragon’s corpse on hand to show you right now.”
“……Good heavens.”
Seeing my nonchalant attitude, Dwight seemed to accept that it was the truth, not a lie or an empty boast. His eyes were shaking violently.
“Was the Caravan’s armor truly that formidable? Was the legendary state of immortality—the true steel—really that powerful…?”
Dwight’s voice trembled.
Why? This Dwarf General should be a sufficiently powerful Sword Expert himself. Someone of his caliber should be a match for a dragon. He might perceive one as a ‘difficult foe,’ but was there a reason to be this terrified?
「Because he is a dwarf.」
Master explained the reason to me.
「It is because of their history.」
History?
「A fear etched into their very blood.」
“…….”
「You could say they are facing their natural enemy.」
A natural enemy.
It was a primal yet definitive term.
Soon, Dwight approached me.
“Will you follow me for a moment, Descendant of Steel?”
* * *
Dwight led me outside.
The streets were filled with nothing but dwarves. Unlike the Steel City of the Iron Kingdom, Chervil, where dwarves and humans mingled, there were only dwarves here. It was a nation whose location wasn't even specified—a country as ‘reclusive’ as the Great Forest where the elves lived. It was a sight befitting a dwarf kingdom.
「It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this.」
The scenery of the dwarf kingdom could be summarized briefly: Fire and iron.
It was a country forged from those two things. Dwarves, born with a natural resistance to flames, became either blacksmiths or cooks. On the streets, blacksmiths hammered iron while cooks prepared mouth-watering food with blazing flames dancing in their hands. There were also dwarves chatting away, drunk on beer. It was a peculiar, vibrant sight.
“This way.”
Dwight walked straight through the streets.
Following him, we arrived at a muddy training ground. The training dummies set up there were all made of solid steel. Wood is not used in the dwarf kingdom. In some ways, one could say the dwarf kingdom, not Chervil, was the true kingdom of steel.
“Would you care to swing a sword?”
“Sure.”
“Ah. Not with the blade you carry, but with this.”
Dwight briefly took Gaia’s Sword from me.
I took the training iron sword he handed me and did as he asked. Since this wasn't a demonstration of technique, I simply swung the sword at the steel dummy. A thrust, then a slash.
And then—
“……!”
“As I thought.”
With a sharp clack, the dummy was cleaved in two.
But despite only cutting through a single steel dummy, the blade in my hand shattered like glass. As ashen dust scattered, it wasn't just the sword that was destroyed. The temporary armor, boots, and gauntlets Dwight had lent me were also crumbling. Why?
“You truly have attained the state of immortality.”
Immortality.
That was what Dwight called it.
“According to legend, the Caravan who forged the armor was described as having reached the realm of true steel. And it is said that the Caravan’s armor fills not just the exterior, but the very interior of the wearer. That one gains a tremendous power… far beyond that of a superhuman.”
I’ve become stronger, but there’s a side effect like this?
‘Do I have to fight without equipment now?’
That wasn't an option. No matter how much natural defense I had gained, equipment was always vital on the battlefield. They say a master doesn't blame his tools? That’s nonsense. True masters are actually more particular about their tools than anyone else.
“Descendant of Steel.”
“Yes.”
“I, Dwight, told you once: if the moment came when even a slight movement caused you to lose all your equipment, you should seek out the dwarf kingdom. I suppose you remembered those words.”
No. I didn't.
“Is there equipment here that can withstand my movements?”
Dwarves are the race that possesses the most outstanding ‘master craftsmen’ among the seven races. They are blacksmiths born with innate dexterity. If they didn't have equipment that suited me, it meant I wouldn't be able to use any equipment existing on the continent.
“Of course there is,” Dwight nodded.
However.
“But I cannot give it to you right now.”
“Is it because it’s too precious?”
“It’s not that. If it’s for the Descendant of Steel, I would give you any number of treasures. Descendant of Steel, the items you just broke—those were all made of Winter Steel and Sky Steel. They are materials classified as the highest grade on this continent.”
“……!”
They weren't just ordinary materials made for training?
‘This is insane.’
Dwight handed back Gaia’s Sword.
“Normally, after gaining that power, you wouldn't even be able to swing a sword properly. Legend says the First Caravan used one sword for every single swing. It is said that whatever he swung, the thing in his hand would shatter.”
What a waste.
“Fortunately, you have obtained a treasure through a stroke of luck. No dwarf in the dwarf kingdom could forge a blade as hard as that one. No, no one could. That wasn't a ‘forged sword’ to begin with, was it?”
“That’s correct.”
“It is truly mysterious. A sword inhabited by the Earth Spirit King, the symbol of solidity. Fortunately, you don't need to change your weapon. At least, not until you become a Swordmaster.”
There was a part that caught my attention.
“Then do I have to change my weapon once I become a Swordmaster?”
“No. Swordmasters do not use weapons of the Mortal Realm.”
“What does that mean?”
“It is said that the first Swordmaster was the most powerful swordsman and, at the same time, the most outstanding blacksmith. Realizing that no weapon in the Mortal Realm could withstand his power, he forged and tempered his own soul to complete a sword. That is the origin of the sword, the exclusive property of a Swordmaster. It was possible because the first Swordmaster was of dwarf blood.”
Is that true?
「He wasn't the most outstanding, but he was quite skilled. Of course, from the perspective of this era, I would seem like the greatest blacksmith on the continent. Though the blacksmiths of my era would scoff if they heard that.」
It was a useful bit of trivia. Live information from someone who actually lived through that era.
“Of course, the wall of a Swordmaster is incredibly high. You will reach it someday, Descendant of Steel. Until that time comes, this will serve you well. But a sword isn't the only thing you need.”
“That’s true.”
“The strong are drawn to the strong. To a Descendant of Steel who has achieved immortality, individuals as powerful as yourself will flock—especially in chaotic times like these. To fight and defeat such beings, you will need excellent equipment.”
So. Can he give it to me?
“The First Caravan resided in the Iron Kingdom, but he kept the armaments he used during his lifetime in the dwarf kingdom. Because throughout the entire continent, our kingdom was the only place that was safe enough and possessed the technology to maintain them like new, even after hundreds of years.”
“…….”
“Is it only the First Caravan? We have the artifacts of all the Caravans who wrote new legends. Though history was erased and the era was cut away, even they could not seize the swords.”
The swords of successive Caravans. The words alone made my heart race.
“According to legend, the Caravan’s armaments must be made by a Caravan, the bloodline of the most outstanding blacksmiths. And we hold the priceless treasures they left behind.”
A Caravan must only use things made by a Caravan. Is that also true?
「No. I had them made by paying an enormous price to the best blacksmith of the war era. My children probably did the same. A strange rumor has spread.」
I see. But there seemed to be no need to correct him. Why?
“Then I am simply taking back what was originally meant to be mine.”
Because that sounds much more impressive.
“So, where are they? The pieces of equipment that suit me?”
At my question, Dwight soon answered.
“The Golden Treasury.”
“That’s the place you mentioned before. The warehouse of the dwarf kingdom where weapons used by legendary figures are gathered and various treasures are stored.”
“You remember. Then you must also remember why I cannot easily open it for you.”
I remembered.
“Because the greedy Master of the Sky is watching.”
“Correct. The dragons.”
Dwight’s eyes sparkled.
“Descendant of Steel, since the birth of the continent, the dwarves were slaves to dragons for a very long time. Those creatures, who covet every precious thing in the world, wanted the treasures they possessed to be polished even more beautifully and valuably. So they took innocent dwarves and threw them into the deepest depths of the Sky Mountain Range to use them as servants for eternity.”
Dwight closed his eyes softly.
“We spent a long time in disgrace. In the midst of that, it was the First Caravan who liberated us. He drove the dragons away and gifted us freedom. But a single hero cannot last forever. The hero left this world and became a myth, and the world cut away and erased the steel and the bloodline of steel from history.”
“…….”
“As the era was forgotten, the dragons even forgot the initial promise and tried to enslave the dwarves once again. What protected our freedom then was the Golden Treasury.”
It protected their freedom. How?
“There are various treasures inside the Golden Treasury. Treasures that dragons would go mad for. However, it is only the young dragons who desire such treasures. The ancient dragons who have lived for eternity have no interest in such baubles. The treasures held by the old dragons would be incomparably greater than our works.”
“Then?”
“The old dragons fear the last remaining traces of the Caravan. They believe that if those small traces do not completely disappear, the Caravan will one day return. Because they remember the Age of Iron. They know what those with the blood of steel are capable of.”
Dwight’s eyes burned.
“Because they know that the Descendant of Steel, who has devoured the swords of the Caravans who enjoyed that era of glory… can transcend time and bring back the Age of Iron once more. The Authority of Steel possessed by the Caravan. The power to summon the souls of those who have vanished into the passage of time. The power of true ‘immortality.’”
“…….”
“The dragons desire the Golden Treasury, yet they fear it. But they can do nothing. They do not know the location of the Golden Treasury, and even if they did, they could never open the lock.”
Dwight smirked.
“If an unworthy being seeks to open the Golden Treasury, its master will appear. It is a very famous legend.”
“Who is the master of the Golden Treasury?”
“No one knows. No one has approached the Golden Treasury for the past several hundred years, and no one has sought to open it. Only the kings of the dwarves, the rightful monarchs, have shared the truth.”
A fact passed down to only one person per generation. They were thorough.
“The dragons believe the master of the Golden Treasury is the First Caravan. To be precise, the ancient dragons believe so. The old dragons still fear the First Steel, and because of that, dragon interference in the dwarf kingdom has been minimal over the years. Only the young dragons, who have forgotten the distant past, occasionally visit us and treat us like slaves. Even the raids of those young dragons were fatal to us, though.”
Dwight let out a long sigh.
I spoke up. “Why didn't you defeat them?”
“How could we?”
“Dwight, aren't you a Sword Expert? At your level, I feel like you could somehow handle a single dragon.”
“I cannot.”
He couldn't?
“A dragon’s breath pierces through armor and burns even the soul of a living creature. Furthermore, if a dragon, who rules over all elements, were to go on a rampage, this kingdom would collapse in an instant. And what about their language, the Dragon Tongue, which can cause any phenomenon to occur?”
Described that way, they certainly sounded threatening. But to me?
‘Elemental control doesn't work. I ignore the Dragon Tongue. Breath? Even if it pierces the armor, my armor regenerates. In less than a second.’
They weren't threatening. Not at all.
“Descendant of Steel, I am glad you came. Even without this, the dragons have been leaving their nests and rampaging lately. Some dragons have even come directly to the royal palace and threatened us to open the Golden Treasury. They are no longer listening to the old dragons. The dragons are returning to the world. Before long, the Masters of the Sky will set the world ablaze once more.”
“…….”
“I hear the dragons are aiding the Great Land. It seems they intend to help them cross the sea and burn the entire land, deciding to ignore the promises of the distant past. We cannot stay still. When the full-scale war begins, they will come for us first to use us as slaves again.”
Dwight’s eyes shone with determination.
“Fortunately, we have been preparing for a long time. Weaponry that can face dragons, strategies to oppose them, and soldiers we have raised with all our might! With this, we can face a single dragon with a mere five hundred troops. Descendant of Steel, if you help us, we might even be able to face two—”
“……Dwight.”
“What is it? Haha, do you think two is too many after all—”
“Let’s go open the Golden Treasury.”
At my words, he froze instantly. I continued without giving him a chance to speak.
“Dragons are no match for me.”
“……Uh.”
“It doesn't matter how many winged lizards show up; they are no longer my equals. So, let’s go open the Golden Treasury. As long as I am here, there is no need to fear them.”
Yes, there was no need to fear. Why?
“Because the time has come for the dragons to pay the price for forgetting the steel.”