Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Dwarf's Hammer
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Even so, I was concerned about the side effects of using the holy water, so I made some adjustments.
The pain Brans felt was due to the undiluted poison, so halving that should do the trick.
After grinding in a bit more of the remaining Valterus's Tears and remaking it, I finally left the production facility.
‘I still have one extra Valterus's Tear left, so I should try cultivating some when I have time.’
Plant it in the right spot and meet the ‘specific conditions,’ and it should take root.
“Where’s Dexter?”
“I-In the workshop, sir.”
“Hm.”
Brans had come to his senses and kept tilting his head at his chest, shooting me uneasy glances.
“Did I, perhaps, say something rude...? I don’t remember well...”
“You spat curses at me, telling me not to touch your body.”
“S-Sorry!”
“It’s understandable, so it’s fine.”
He was my test subject, after all. No big deal.
Brans’s wound had healed cleanly, without a single scar.
I’d confirmed the effects properly, so I could overlook a little cursing.
Kaang! Kaang!
Heading straight to the workshop where Dexter was, hammer strikes echoed loudly.
It was a forge built deep underground in the casino.
Cedric must have put some thought into it.
He kept saying he didn’t trust me, but he handled the details meticulously.
A cute personality, in his own way.
“I’m coming in.”
Hwaaak!
Kaang! Kaang!
A blast of scorching heat hit me the moment I opened the door, along with the metallic clamor assaulting my eardrums.
Dexter, holding a hammer as huge as his own head, paused and clicked his tongue at the sight of me. Cheeky bastard.
“Tch. Right in the middle of a good swing.”
Brans bristled at his dissatisfied look, as if I’d interrupted.
“You bastard! How dare you speak to your master like that!”
“My only master is the Hammer God, Tundra. Not some ugly mug.”
“What? What’s ugly about me, you dwarf-sized shit sack...? Wait, you are a dwarf, so just shit sack, heh heh heh!”
Whirlik! Thwack!
“Gyaak! Grgh...”
He’d grabbed a nearby chunk of metal and chucked it.
Brans, fresh from healing, had done something stupid and now grimaced at the blood trickling from his forehead.
“You little shit!”
Brans charged at Dexter like a moth to a flame, but the outcome was clear.
Pwoof!
One punch from Dexter, and Brans crumpled like a straw doll.
“Weakling pup.”
For all his rough actions, the dwarf had surprisingly cute banter.
“Dexter. Have you thought about my proposal?”
“Hmph, if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here, would I?”
He picked up his hammer again.
Kaang! Kaang!
“I forge hammers!”
Taang!
“And you take my hammer strikes whenever I need you. That about right?”
“Simply put, yeah.”
I provide support.
He helps me occasionally.
Simple and clear.
“You’re the one who’ll miss out. But I’ve got one condition.”
“What?”
“Three years.”
Three years, huh.
“After three years, let me go.”
I activated Triad Vision.
Dexter was still gold.
Depending on my answer, he could turn blue or red.
“Make it four.”
“...Fine.”
I extended my hand, and Dexter’s pupils dilated slightly.
“Don’t know how to shake?”
“I do.”
Clack.
Quite the rough hand.
Dexter’s mouth twitched.
I smiled.
He gave a slight grin back.
“Kallias von Jerban.”
“Dexter. Dexter Boltert.”
A hint of distrust faded from his eyes.
A bit embarrassing, man-to-man like this. I flicked the cloak draped over me.
“Dexter. What do you think of my cloak?”
“Fine piece. But isn’t it lacking on its own?”
“Hm. So you’re saying you could do something with it.”
“Well, some accessories to support it, sure. I know a thing or two about artifacts.”
But.
“Still, best not to touch this cloak. Ahem.”
Was he joking? Or messing around?
I pondered how to respond.
“If I mess it up after someone else touched it, that’d be trouble. So give me a sword instead.”
I handed over Arsando.
“Nice blade.”
The blue aura was chillingly sharp.
Dexter nodded instinctively at Arsando.
“Moment’s all I need.”
“What’re you doing?”
“Drawing out its potential.”
Soon, light gathered on his hammer.
“Tundra, infuse this hammer! May the aspirations you desire dwell within!”
Kwaang!!
A blinding flash, and tinnitus rang in Kallias’s ears.
Beeee—
My bard-blessed ears made it hurt more. I furrowed my brow, and Dexter chuckled, lifting the sword. Then he grabbed my hand and made me grip Arsando.
‘Ah.’
I realized immediately.
Silver light flickered along Arsando’s blade, starting to suck in Dexter’s and my holy power.
The gluttonous sword devoured holy power until its glow faded.
[Arsando]
Grade – Named.
Soul Dwelling – Arsando Mirinae.
Potential Unlocked.
Potential unlocked. Blade’s strength and sharpness increased.
Grip.
I knew right away.
‘Between Named and Spirit.’
Better than a Named Sword, but not quite a Spirit Sword. Even so, Kallias couldn’t hide his thrill.
“Even against a Spirit Sword user, it won’t break.”
No unique ability like a Spirit Sword, but the boosted strength and sharpness were blessing enough.
Strange wave patterns now adorned the blue blade, making it look even more authentic.
Heretic Inquisitor Laivern—he recalled—was the owner of a poison-laced Spirit Sword.
Even clashing with him wouldn’t snap it easily.
Dexter delivered, as expected.
Buying him was the perfect call.
“Ahem, you like it? Then take this too.”
“This is...”
“Had some spare time, so I made it.”
[Dexter’s Half Gauntlet]
Grade – Rare.
-Gloves made by the dwarf Dexter.
Infused with holy power, tougher and harder than normal leather.
Protects the hand.
“Ran out of time for a pair... but better than nothing.”
Kallias slipped the glove onto his right hand.
It clung perfectly, like a second skin.
Thin leather, yet stretchy like spandex, sticking snug to his palm.
“I like it.”
“Good to hear.”
Ahem.
Dexter coughed awkwardly and started hammering again, feigning nonchalance.
His way of showing thanks, I suppose.
Not bad.
“I’ll be leaving Trista for a while.”
“Music to my ears.”
“See you around.”
“Whatever.”
Kaang! Kaang!
Hammer strikes filled the forge once more.
Kallias left him behind, cloak billowing as he ascended to the surface.
* * *
Cedric’s office.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yeah.”
“You could stay longer. As you know, Heretic Inquisitors are after you.”
“Can’t stop now. Things are moving fast.”
Even at this moment.
The world’s wheel turns.
Kallias felt impatience in a world spinning three years faster than expected.
To survive the raging storm, he had to head to its eye.
Trying to skirt it halfway would get him swept up and torn apart.
To survive, more than now.
‘I need to grow stronger.’
The flow wouldn’t wait for him.
“Kallias. What’s your goal?”
Cedric’s gaze darkened.
His beastly eyes turned grave, shifting the mood entirely.
A serious question, no doubt.
‘Goal...’
Survival? No, just a basic necessity.
Then what was his goal?
Just to survive?
No.
What did he want?
He pondered, but no answer came.
So, for now, one thing.
“The Empire.”
Destroy the Empire to live.
His goal was personal prosperity. So he had to shatter the Empire.
No future without dealing with the Holy Empire that worships one god, denies others, and slaughters.
Topple the Empire.
What came after was for later.
“The Empire, huh. The Empire...! Kuhahaha!!”
Cedric laughed until his stomach hurt, pounding the table, then closed his eyes, savoring Kallias’s words.
He grinned.
“A count family wastrel wants to topple the Empire. Heh, hilarious.”
Clack. He pulled a bracelet from his pocket.
“What’s this?”
“Farewell gift for a wastrel.”
A simple leaf-patterned band with a green gem in the center—not ordinary.
“An artifact?”
“From the Shaking Forest. They gave it as a token of friendship when we got close. Said it was too flashy for me.”
Shaking Forest.
Kallias’s eyes narrowed.
“Anyway, you’ll need it. Seems like plenty chasing your tail.”
[Vivi’s Bracelet]
Grade - Epic
-Bracelet gifted by elves of the Shaking Forest. Minimizes holy power and stores reduced holy power.
Stored Holy Power: 0
Epic-grade artifact.
‘Absorbs possessed holy power to erase presence.’
For lowering detectability.
Plus, stored holy power could be drawn in emergencies—versatile.
Useful for mana control or holy power manipulation too.
Originally for high paladins to stockpile excess power.
No reason to refuse.
And he needed it.
With Kallias using it, his presence would drop to commoner levels.
Click.
It resized automatically to fit his wrist.
Then it clung, sucking in holy power.
Moments later.
“Not bad.”
“Good.”
[Holy Power – 354/3621]
[Stored Holy Power – 3267]
Natural holy power limit was fixed.
But Vivi’s Bracelet let him exceed it.
Couldn’t improve quality, but quantity edge was insurance.
No way he’d refuse.
“Leaving right now?”
“Yeah.”
No reason to stay in Trista longer.
No time, either.
“North, as planned?”
“Got something to find.”
North, as scheduled.
Arsando was good, but too many powerhouses around.
He was still too weak for this world.
He needed more swords, and Kallias needed to grow through them.
The Spirit Sword left with Bernard.
Time to retrieve Rakhan of the Thunderclap.
“Oh, right. Heard you got something from Count Altemion.”
“Ah, that.”
“Something about Oliorro... Better steer clear if you can.”
Kallias replied to Cedric’s advice with an odd smile.
* * *
Twilight as the sun dipped.
The sun’s head slipping behind mountains painted the dusk and gloom.
When darkness’s veil blanketed the sky.
An unexpected letter arrived at Count Altemion’s residence.
Kwaang!
His staff slammed the table, trembling with rage.
“Jerban, you bastard... How dare you. How dare you insult me like this!”
The letter read:
[Dearest Count Altemion.]
Count Altemion read Jerban’s letter aloud in disbelief.
“I’ll make good use of the Spirit Stone. But due to personal circumstances, I can’t join the escort... I’ll pay for the advance next time. Looking forward to meeting again...?”
“Your Excellency! This punk... writes like a scholar. No, screw that—did Jerban’s wastrel take the Spirit Stone and bolt!?”
Tremble.
Count Altemion’s jowls quivered with boiling fury.
He bolted.
The punk bolted clean!
“Shameless wastrel!! To take a Spirit Stone using Jerban’s name!! Gack! Hack!!”
“Y-Your Excellency! Calm down!!”
“C-Call the physician! The physician!!”
Altemion roared in fury.
“Search!! Find that bastard now!!”