Chapter 91
Chapter 91
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Chapter 27: The Third Core
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Oh…….”
The Dwarf Lord let out a sigh of admiration at the majestic sight of the Dryad he had summoned before him.
“What nonsense is this? You really made a contract with a tree spirit. Does that mean I should think of you as an Elf?”
“That’s up to how you see it, isn’t it? Though I’m human, of course.”
“Right. You’re human. Claude, prince of the Payud Empire. Our eyes are at the same level, so you feel more approachable.”
The Dwarf Lord facing me was just a touch shorter than me.
But his arms were ridiculously long and thick. I’d thought it before, but wasn’t the balance all wrong? It must take quite a bit of strength just to handle them.
“The liquor you sent last time was great. And look, you’ve brought a whole load again this time.”
“The quality’s not the best this round. Most of the precious reserves from the Emperor’s collection are gone.”
Even now, supply wagons were arriving one after another at the Dwarf encampment. Dwarf Lord Gale smacked his lips and burst into hearty laughter.
“Ha! If you’re nitpicking quality on a gift, that’s just theft. We don’t fuss over the details, so don’t worry. Unless it’s barley liquor, maybe.”
“Beer?”
“That’s right. Barley’s rare, so we don’t get it often.”
“I was actually planning to plant a ton of barley on newly cleared land. But with the one-year limit, that’s all gone up in smoke for now.”
With the one-year deadline, all my plans using Berit Territory had fallen through. Of course, if we repelled the Otherworld invasion, they’d gain new meaning afterward.
“Otherworld monsters…… I heard what happened on the Guiness Plains. Quite a few Elves fled this way.”
Gale stared into my eyes with a serious expression.
“You’re saying those monsters will invade again in a year? On a scale even bigger than now?”
“On a scale too vast to even compare. My sponsor said that much before dying.”
“Sponsor? Did you just say your sponsor died?”
“Huh?”
Sudden silence fell, accompanied by the shouts of Dwarves unloading cargo all around. At some point, Gale raised both his arms and confessed.
“Truth is, these two arms of mine are a gift from that guy too.”
“Huh?”
“The sponsor. You’re talking about the same one, right? The creepy fellow wrapped head to toe in bandages?”
“Yeah. That’s him, but…….”
The Dwarf Lord was also a betrayer of humanity?
He’d never shown even a hint of it before.
Sure, Dwarves joined the Anti-Imperial War, but…… Lord Gale had never acted on his own or attacked the Empire!
“When I was young, the sponsor came and asked my wish. I wanted arms strong enough to hammer iron all day. That’s how I got these. Later, everyone started calling me the Blacksmith Lord.”
“I…… see. Did you only make one wish?”
“Yeah. Just the once.”
That was a relief. Usually, things started going really wrong from the second wish onward.
“Have you met the sponsor recently?”
“Yeah. He visited my forge not long ago. Asked me to make some armor, then vanished without taking it.”
“Armor?”
“The magic armor humans talk about. He commissioned one huge enough for an Ogre to wear.”
“Why?”
“How should I know? He kept rambling nonsense about some Fear Lord or whatever.”
What? Dressing the Fear Lord in magic armor?
“Is that even possible? The four that came through the gate this time didn’t have any…… Oh, right, he never picked it up?”
“It’s still sitting here. Seems he meant it for some monster he’d summon, but to think his goal was destroying our world…….”
“Yeah. Destroying this side was the aim.”
“Honestly, it gives me chills. To think I was helping a guy like that. Yeah, that explains all his weird talk.”
“What did he say?”
“He kept hinting that I wished my personality would twist. Said a warped mind was needed for stronger wishes? Makes sense—no one unhinged would help destroy their own world.”
“I agree. But you seem to have come out fine?”
“I didn’t need anything more. As long as I can hammer iron and craft armor and weapons, I’m content.”
With that, he demonstratively hefted the massive hammer beside him.
I see. I nodded quietly, piecing together what I’d heard from Tolari with Gale’s story.
“To grant stronger wishes, you probably need a twisted personality. The kind unsatisfied with life.”
“Seems that way. Anyway, my mind’s fine, so no worries. We only fought humans because our Elf allies made a strong request. No direct grudge against humanity.”
“I thought as much. Dwarves are trustworthy.”
It was a fact confirmed across my nine past regressions. If only we could improve relations, the Dwarves would always be the Empire’s steadfast allies.
“Now that I know the truth, I’ll help with anything I can. The tree spirit keeps whispering in my head to aid you too.”
“The Dryad’s talking to you?”
“Not clearly, but sort of. Dwarves revere spirits, but sadly, we lack affinity for them.”
Gale looked wistfully at the Dryad and spoke.
“So, what do we Dwarves need to do? Pull out of the outpost and head back to the Dark Mountains right now? Or join the Empire’s army? Just say the word, you generous liquor-bringing human.”
“Not yet.”
I shook my head and outlined the plan.
“You can stay here or return home—it doesn’t matter. Just send your army in one year. When the Empire starts its war against the Otherworld invasion. I’ll contact you ahead of time.”
“Got it. What scale should we prepare?”
“As many as possible. It’s do-or-die for our survival either way.”
“Straightforward—I like it.”
“And could you make some magic armor? We’ll cover all materials and costs.”
“Leave it to me. How many?”
“At least 500 sets.”
“500?”
“For the knight order. They’re half-baked, not even real knights, but…….”
“But you want top performance anyway?”
Exactly. Of course, compared to my original plan, it was laughable, but with no time, this was the best I could ask for.
I nodded and specified the details.
“You know what the Empire’s standard low-grade magic armor is, right?”
“Of course. It’s our Dwarf standard. We can wear and fight in low-grade without special training.”
“So, make the wearing conditions lower than low-grade, but performance higher. Shameless request, but possible?”
Of course it was—I was asking because I knew. For powering up Kyle’s Guardian Knight Order.
Gale pondered briefly, then nodded firmly.
“Possible. But it’ll cost a fortune. Needs high-grade gems.”
“You mean raw gemstones? We’ll handle all that—no worries.”
I had twenty pouches of gems swiped from Count Talisman’s underground vault alone. Gale nodded with a pleased expression.
“Then leave it to me. I’ll rally every smith and start the forges immediately.”
“Thanks. And one last request…….”
I thought of the Elf Lord who’d gone mad days ago and asked in a low voice.
“Tell me everything you discussed with the sponsor so far. Leave nothing out.”
“The sponsor? But you said he’s dead.”
“That’s why I need the info. Even the smallest details are fine. Tell me everything you remember. Right now.”
* * *
Leaving the brief meeting at the Dwarf outpost behind, I flew straight to the Elves’ sanctuary deep in the Eternal Forest.
“You’ve returned, Prince Claude.”
The Elf who called himself the Elder bowed politely. Having contracted with the Dryad had completely changed their attitude. Last time, they’d freaked out and tried to chase me from the sanctuary on sight.
“Last time, I wasn’t fully in my right mind, so I left quickly. Things sorted out since? The survivors?”
“Most warriors who survived the eclipse have returned. But they’re broken in body and spirit, barely able to move. Please withdraw your request.”
“Request? What request?”
“Before you left, the spirit spoke of the final war in one year. You’ve come to mobilize warriors ahead of time, haven’t you?”
They were jumping to conclusions out of fear. I shook my head and stated my purpose.
“That’s not why I’m here. You Elves can use enchantment magic, right?”
“Pardon? What did you say?”
“Enchantment magic.”
“That’s…… Where did you hear that?”
“The Dryad.”
“Ah…….”
The Elder trailed off with a troubled look. Of course, it was from the 7th-cycle Dryad, not this 10th-cycle one.
“I know it’s a secret that you handle enchantment magic. But with the world ending any day, what good is hiding it?”
“It’s an ancient custom…… I have no excuse. We’ll follow the words of the spirit’s contractor. Prince. So, what do you ask of us?”
“Select those specializing in cold enchantment magic and send them to the Empire.”
“But so many warriors died…….”
“Even non-warriors can use magic, right? Enchantment magic too?”
“That’s true, but…… Cold-affinity Elves are rare. Why that attribute?”
“We’ll enchant knights’ armor with cold magic. Got intel that Otherworld enemies use fire.”
“I see.”
The Elder sighed with a displeased face.
“To be honest, our situation is dire. The Eternal Forest Elves number just under 3,000 at most.”
“And?”
“Of them, over a thousand trained warriors suffered a massacre this time. Survivors are barely a hundred.”
“That’s regrettable.”
It was—practically wiping out the Elf warriors we’d need for the Otherworld invasion.
“Even counting the remaining 2,000…… Fewer than 30 can do cold-affinity enchantment magic. And they’re limited to two or three enchantments a day at best. But the Empire’s knights number thousands at least…….”
“It’s fine. We’ll supply unlimited sugar bars.”
“Pardon?”
“Open your mouth.”
I pulled a sugar bar from my pocket and popped it into the Elder’s mouth.
“We’ll feed and care for you well. So you don’t overheat and collapse mid-cast.”
“Mmm. This is delicious. But even so, that many enchantments in a short time…….”
“It won’t be short. Start now.”
“Now? Not in a year when the monsters return?”
“Enchantments don’t have time limits, right? Make it cold enchantment that activates only on magic. In about six months, every knight should withstand at least one hit.”
One hit meaning a single flame burst from an enemy armored unit.
Magic armor had basic anti-magic properties, we’d issue Flame Resistance Elixirs to all before battle, and top it with cold enchantments on every set?
“……Understood.”
The Elf Elder closed his eyes and nodded.
“The guardian spirit commands us to aid you. We’ll obey your orders, Prince.”
“Thanks. I know this hit the Elves hard, so I won’t ask for warriors when war breaks. Just handle the armor enchantments well.”
“Understood. Is that all?”
“Do you know about Ancient Bears?”
At the sudden question, the Elder blinked his blue eyes repeatedly and exchanged glances with the surrounding Elves.
“Ancient Bear—you mean the mana beast in the Dark Mountains?”
“Yeah. Spirits call them ancient species. Anyway, any exchanges with them? Gale said Dwarves and Ancient Bears don’t get along.”
“Gale…… You mean Dwarf Lord Gale.”
“Spoke with him on the way here.”
Most was about the sponsor, but some included info on my next target, the Ancient Bears.