“Heading to Meet the Dwarf Craftsmen?”
“Are you heading off to meet the dwarf craftsmen?”
[Motram (NPC) regards you with curiosity and suspicion at the same time.]
[Affinity may change.]
Unlike the usual status alerts, two emotions appeared simultaneously this time.
“A lot of people who come to the duchy dream of just catching a glimpse of those three dwarf craftsmen.”
“Haha, true enough. No place on the continent has magitech this advanced.”
Vrooooom—!
As if responding to Motram's words, a massive airship roared overhead with a deafening engine blast.
“I see.”
After meeting him at the outskirts, we'd entered Lisal together. I'd stuck with him in case some new quest tied to him popped up, but disappointingly, nothing happened.
'I figured since I knew about his existence, it might trigger a memory fragment... but maybe because I hadn't seen him directly?'
For someone like me who needed to raise his affinity, it was regrettable but unavoidable.
'Guess I'll have to watch a bit longer. The Castle Muhar event is guaranteed to happen. To get involved, I'll need to build affinity with him.'
Unlike quests that triggered only under specific conditions, events were inevitable occurrences woven into history itself, regardless of one's choices.
Like the descent of the Calamity.
Squeeze—
“You alright?”
“Hm? Oh... yeah, I'm fine.”
Motram, sharp-eyed as ever, had noticed my subtle shift. Thinking of that thing had made me clench my fist without realizing it.
I relaxed my hand and glanced back.
“...”
Norpa Jeran, face shrouded, walked with furtive peeks at the surroundings, as if waves of nostalgia washed over him. With so many displaced dwarves living in the duchy, his short stature didn't stand out at all.
Though the presence of all those dwarves around him was probably stirring up his turmoil even more.
“Let me ask you something. Is Modo's workshop still operating?”
“As expected! Adventurers always ask about that place. Sadly, it closed down ages ago. It's from the days of King Guljiwang, but it's far from here. Folks still visit now and then to sightsee... but you can't get too close. Oh, and if you do go, watch out. From what I know, one of the three craftsmen, Master Mytos, rigged the area with magitech traps.”
Motram said it jokingly, but disappointment shadowed Norpa's face at the reply.
“If it's shut down, we won't even need permission to check it out. Might be for the best.”
“Yeah, well... it's become a sort of historic ruin thanks to the dwarf craftsmen.”
Norpa caught my implication instantly and looked up at me.
“We'll have to pay it a visit when we get the chance.”
“Haha, sounds good. The duchy's got plenty of ruins worth seeing. Besides the workshop, there's the Warlord's Cliff or the Legion Battlefield.”
“I'll keep that in mind.”
I nodded at his words.
'Hmm, was Motram of Muhar always this chatty? Not at all like I imagined.'
Had I been too fixated on his title as the hero who saved Castle Muhar?
I gave a wry smile.
“Well, looks like this is where we part. My shop's down this road—look for the small sign that says [Kasar]. Thanks for making the trip fun. If you need any help, come find me.”
“I had a good time too.”
I let out a small sigh of relief at finally escaping the talkative fellow. Building affinity with him from here on out felt like it might turn into an exhausting journey.
'The report described Muhar's hero as a pretty taciturn guy...'
I wondered what exactly had happened in that castle to change him so much.
“What now?”
Once he was gone, Red Sickle asked quietly.
“We head to Modo's workshop. It was our land before the duchy was even founded. We need one of King Guljiwang's tools to fix the compass.”
“Won't be easy getting in. There'll be guards for sure. Maybe hit it at night...?”
Red Sickle's eyes gleamed, but killing sentries would just create pointless trouble.
“It's fine. Find us a place to stay first. I've got somewhere to be.”
“Where to?”
“Just trust me. Outsiders have their own ways.”
The Kal Duchy.
Unlike the kingdom system of the Eltia Iron Kingdom or the alliance of minor states in the Deus Union, it was formed around the central city of Lisal, with the duke's territories converging from three directions.
To the north lay the Drake Duke's house with their wyvern riders; southwest boasted a massive harbor for the Black Fleet under the Zahal Duke; and southeast housed the Sword Demon Cavalry of the Leo Ric Duke.
It was hard to rank the dukes' powers, but combined with dwarven magitech, the duchy had rocketed into the ranks of great powers.
Built atop the old dwarf kingdom's lands, it controlled vast mines—and thus, enormous rail lines crisscrossed its entire territory.
Seemingly minor, but those rails held massive significance.
'Barely mentioned early game, but once things progressed, even the community went nuts. 'Start in the duchy no matter what.'
That shifted popularity from the Iron Kingdom—chosen by Los Clan early on—to parity with the duchy's players overnight.
'The mines at the rail ends. They're all dungeons. Sure, you could say teleporters make it irrelevant, but they're not interchangeable.'
Unlike teleport circles limited to once a day, rails could be used endlessly. With few having learned Riding skills for mounts like horses or desert panthers, most travel was on foot.
Open dungeons took time to reset, and distances between them were vast—walking was near impossible.
Thus, while other kingdoms' players hunted dungeons once daily, duchy starters could leverage rails for two, even three runs.
Dungeon clears meant item farming and levels—direct growth fuel. No wonder duchy players outleveled others overall.
“Hmm...”
Parting from Red Sickle and Norpa Jeran, I finally took in the streets properly.
'With all three ducal houses' forces gathered, the tension's palpable, subtle or not.'
Dukes weren't mere nobles; they checked each other constantly. Naturally, players split under the three houses too.
'Two of the eight great clans here—before the continental war, you could call it the hottest battlefield.'
One was Kingdom Clan under Diena Hazel of England; the other, Owner Clan led by Rashad of Egypt.
'Community info says Kingdom took Leo Ric, Owner went Drake.'
Even allied, the eight clans competed like the duchy's own structure. Land of Savages had China's ANA and Russia's Shaveliger, but its vast south lacked real kingdoms—just tribal federations, no immediate growth clashes.
'Duchy’s different. Pick a house, and you're growing in the same zone.'
Three clans in one region? Bound to strain them.
'Leaves one spot open.'
My target was set.
'Zahal Duke of the Black Fleet.'
The one house no players had chosen. Without great clans, it drew little player interest either.
'They must be desperate. NPCs know outsider power well. Time drags, and they'll fear being the first house to fall among the three.'
I began preparations without hesitation, heading southwest Lisal to the Black Harbor Castle under Zahal Duke.
'To do that...'
Step—step—step—
Walking the city streets, I stopped before the massive Travelers' Guild building.
Creeeak—
Inside bustled with people. NPCs and players mingled, sharing info like in Iron Kingdom taverns or mage tower seminars.
“Another round here!”
“Any new commissions?”
“Saw the board? New dungeon southeast—total goldmine. We hitting it?”
Programmed folk and real humans blended so seamlessly it felt off.
I wove through the crowd straight to the staff. The attached tavern kept them frantic.
All but one.
“Underdog, one.”
“Strength?”
“Two-shot.”
The server poured deftly into the shaker.
“New face... First time in the duchy? Adventurer?”
He slid the blood-red drink my way.
“Heard an interesting rumor among travelers lately.”
“Who knows... Rumors spread like footprints of the aimless. What's trustworthy?”
“That so? Guess I misheard. Talk of people vanishing in Muhar.”
“...”
[Server Sawa (NPC) looks at you.]
“You from Muhar by any chance?”
“Nah. Just overheard passing through. Thought the guild might know something.”
Sawa resumed wiping dishes, gaze shifting away.
“If it's Castle Muhar, best drop interest. Even the ducal houses abandoned it. Den of vagrants, right?”
“Pioneers' castle too.”
Crunch—
His cloth paused mid-wipe.
'As expected... Guild knows something.'
His reaction confirmed it.
'Not public yet, but soon Castle Muhar's event will explode across the continent. To claim it, two preps needed.'
First: Motram affinity.
Second: Commission from the guild master.
'Key is they know about Muhar happenings. That unlocks the truth investigation quest.'
Problem: Meeting the guild master.
And the man to handle that was right here.
“Whoa, you actually showed.”
A man clapped my shoulder in greeting. Slicked-back hair, impeccably neat look. His bright smile charmed strangers, but our nickname for him was far grimmer.
“Mad Dog.”
I eyed him.
“What's the occasion? You contacting me?”
He sat; the server whipped up his usual without asking.
“Got a commission.”
“The great Kim Do-hyun needs me? Sweet, lay it on me.”
His canine tooth flashed mockingly as he smirked.
Mysterious Transporter Baek Yiheon.
In Dimension World 1, he'd snagged the legendary item Geon-gon-po—a bag holding anything—for his third job change hidden class.
Shockingly, up to his second change, he'd been a Berserker.
He preferred mercenary gigs in clan mega-battles over arenas, just to sweep hordes.
Issue: No distinguishing friend from foe—anything in sight got shredded.
Hence, “Mad Dog.”
'Everyone was stunned when that guy got Geon-gon-po and switched to non-combat.'
Like a kid with a new toy, he ditched berserking to haul everything—from battleships to items, even dungeon sites, or so rumors went.
'But that's DW1. New server—who knows if he still has it.'
“Still in transport?”
“Depends on the job. What you hauling?”
I leaned in, voice low.
“A person.”