021. One-Legged Blacksmith Ront
The starfish's eyes rolled back as it charged at the red knight.
Tadak-tadak!
Its massive eyes held nothing but the knight—no, just the color red.
As the enormous body loomed before him, the red knight subtly twisted his body aside.
Yet the area around the right arm of his red armor tore open, dangling loosely.
It must have been pain enough to shred flesh to ribbons.
But the knight in red armor showed no sign of distress whatsoever. Not even the slightest flinch.
He seemed utterly incapable of feeling pain.
"Uwoooo!"
Enraged by the knight's calm demeanor, the starfish let out a guttural roar and shook its head wildly.
It was furious that its attack had elicited no reaction.
"……."
The remaining Black Wolf knights eyed the knight facing off against the starfish intently.
Is it nerves? The guy who even cut off the starfish's horn—why does his stance look so unsteady…?
He looked like he'd crumble at the slightest breath from the starfish.
Trust in the unstable Red Lion knight began to wane.
Thinking he can take on the elites like that? No chance.
His courage was admirable, but reckless.
In that moment, an idea flashed through the Black Wolf knights' minds.
Now's our chance…
They glanced left and right, scanning the surroundings.
Young Master Bin must have escaped too. Yeah, this is the perfect opportunity.
Right, this isn't running away. Reporting back to the Bascon family comes first.
They consoled their powerless selves.
The Black Wolf knights exchanged glances and nodded.
Then they bolted without a backward look.
Tadak.
Even as the remaining Black Wolf knights fled, the red knight didn't spare them a glance.
His focus was solely on the colossal beast before him—the starfish.
Before the red knight could steady himself, the starfish charged again.
"Uwoooo!"
A reckless rush. Getting hit by this headbutt would send you straight to the afterlife.
"……."
The red knight crouched and staggered back a few steps, his stance wobbling badly.
Then came the sound of armor shattering.
Puk!
As expected, an unsteady posture couldn't evade the starfish's assault.
Its horn had pierced right through his upper body.
The red knight hung limply impaled on the starfish's horn.
He wouldn't escape without serious injury, at minimum.
Satisfied with the knight's slack form, the starfish curled its mouth upward.
"Uwoooo!"
Trrk.
With the starfish's roar, fragments of red armor clattered to the ground.
But the starfish tilted its head at the debris.
There was no blood as expected—only monster bones.
At that moment, the red knight smirked as he faced it.
Clack! Clack!
"Look at that dumb expression. What a sight."
A frivolous tone.
The red knight's true identity was none other than Codic.
Bin's plan had been simple: unleash a sword gale, then have Codic in red armor buy time.
In the meantime, rescue the children trapped behind the small iron door.
"A splendid strategy, my lord. Though my body has been utterly shattered…."
Codic pulled a deeply mournful expression.
His one-and-only body, crafted by Bin, had been destroyed.
He recalled that touching moment.
A body made of bones had appeared before his eyes.
Yeti bones, no less.
Bewildered by the incomprehensible situation, Codic had stared blankly.
"……."
Seeing Codic's expression, Bin spoke up.
"Hey, skullhead. Consider that debt from before paid."
Remembering that glorious(?) occasion, Codic's eyes welled up.
"Sniff, ugh… Even now, the tears won't stop, my lord!"
He sniffled dramatically and broke into fresh sobs.
"Ugh, sniffl… The body my lord crafted stitch by stitch with a master's spirit… It's all my fault for being careless."
Just then—as the skull who couldn't even shed tears scrunched his eye sockets—
Kiiik.
The small iron door had swung open.
An iron key was jammed in the lock, bent multiple times—undoubtedly Bin's handiwork.
Confirming the door open, a smile crept across Codic's mouth.
He figured Bin had bought plenty of time to rescue the kids.
Now, I trust in my lord alone.
Bin emerged from the small iron cage.
And beside him stood the one-legged dwarf, Ront.
Ront had come here for one reason: to rescue Mia, the younger sister of his beloved woman.
"Uwoooo!"
As the small iron cage opened, the enraged starfish lunged at Bin.
Dadadak!
Ront handed Bin something as the excited starfish closed in.
"Gleipnir, they call it. A Bascon should be able to slip it around that thing's neck, right?"
A dignified tone that belied his thirty-something appearance.
Bin, who knew this about him, replied confidently without missing a beat.
"Not a problem."
Gleipnir.
A chain forged by ancient dwarves—indestructible by any weapon.
Bin took the golden chain boldly and charged at the starfish.
Dadak.
Bin and the starfish clashed head-on.
The instant the starfish's body touched Bin—
Swoosh.
Layers of shadows erupted from Bin's body.
The starfish flailed in confusion as Bin vanished.
In the next moment, Bin was astride its neck, fastening the golden chain around it.
The astonishing speed born of pure Bascon blood.
At that instant—
Shwaa!
Shwaaak!
Shwaaaak!
Golden chains sliced across the starfish's body.
Like a spiderweb.
The chains swiftly bound its head, legs, and body in multiple places.
"Uwooooooo!"
The starfish thrashed and roared, trying to break free.
But Gleipnir showed no sign of snapping.
An obvious outcome.
It was the dwarves' handiwork—tougher than any shackle.
Seizing the opening, Bin escaped Shobe Cave with the children.
* * *
At the entrance to Shobe Cave.
Bin stood with the children at the narrow mouth.
Breathing fresh outdoor air for the first time in ages, the children beamed through their tears.
"Sun… sunlight. Sob… sob…."
One spoke up, and the others followed.
"It, it was so scary…."
"M-Mommy…!"
Tears of sorrow streamed from the children.
Their voices trembled, still laced with fear.
Though the plan had succeeded, Bin's heart wasn't at ease.
It was due to the brutality of Red Lion Corps' Third Company Centurion 'Gangble'.
The children's bodies were covered in countless wounds.
Bruises like their knees had been smashed with hammers, spines deformed or protruding from physical force.
And ropes binding every joint.
Now he understood why the space inside the iron door had been so cramped.
All to twist the children into dwarves and sell them at a premium.
Bin ground his teeth unwittingly.
Gangble… I'll claim your head myself.
Having been one-armed in his previous life, the children's pain struck him deeply.
Unaware of Bin's inner turmoil, the children began wandering about upon reaching the outside.
Confined so long in the cave, even trivial actions delighted them.
Girls plucked grass to make rings.
Boys dug dirt for worms or climbed trees for fruit.
Seeing their innocent joy, a smile naturally spread across Bin's face.
Then the one-legged Ront limped over.
With a beard on his chin, knee-height stature, and thick arms.
The dwarf, leaning on a fine staff, hesitated before speaking to Bin.
"Thanks for the help, young friend. Of course, this body of mine was just biding its time to handle it."
Even after receiving aid, Ront clung to his pride till the end.
Bin smiled at the sight, as if reuniting with an old acquaintance.
"That pride of yours hasn't changed."
"Hm? Do you know me?"
Ront tilted his head at Bin's words.
Bin, maintaining his calm expression, replied smoothly.
"Of course I do."
"You do? Well, this body is somewhat famous, I suppose."
Ront glanced around, eyeing Bin up and down.
Then he furrowed his brow in confusion.
Bin's smile faded into disappointment.
As if wondering, Why doesn't he recognize me?
"One-Legged Blacksmith Ront. Have you forgotten already?"
Ront rubbed his chin, racking his brains, but nothing came up.
"Hmm… When did we meet?"
He scowled, straining his memory.
"At a tavern? …Did you commission a weapon from me? Or did we chase women together… No, best not say that."
Unnecessary words slipped out amid his guesses, and he shook his head hastily.
Scratching the back of his head, he asked—but Bin was firm.
"No."
"Hmm… Did I ever visit the Bascon family? Damn, am I getting senile? Memories are fuzzy."
Bin found himself enjoying Ront's reactions more than expected.
"No. It's okay to forget."
"This body meets too many folks. But where did we cross paths?"
Before Bin could answer—
Ront's eyes flashed as he stared at Bin.
"Wait. That sword at your waist…!"
He sensed a familiar aura from the sword on Bin's belt.
A blade wrapped in white bandages.
Shabest.
Ront gaped at Bin for a moment.
Why is a sword I forged myself with this kid…? And wielding a superior weapon at that age?
Stunned, Ront spoke haltingly.
"You… that sword…."
"I know. You made it, Ront."
"……How do you know that!"
His eyes pierced like he could see right through Ront.
Ront could scarcely believe the situation.
Me, Ront, dancing in the palm of this young pup's hand…
He had more questions for Bin, but pride kept him from asking.
Bin, of course, knew Ront's thoughts—and found them endearing.
As Bin studied Ront—
His tone shifted to earnest seriousness.
"Ront, I have a favor to ask."
"Hmm… What is it?"
"Could you lend me the Gleipnir from earlier?"
"……!"
Ront's eyes widened at the sudden request.
It was an item he wouldn't casually hand even to fellow dwarf acquaintances.
First one to demand Gleipnir so boldly…
Startled, Ront inquired about the reason.
"Gleipnir isn't something to lend lightly. What's your reason for needing it specifically?"
"I'll use its power to take Gangble's head."
"Gangble, of pure Grander blood…!"
Ront—and even the surrounding children—gaped in shock at his resolute vow.
"……!!"