Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Azgal Rock
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A well-crafted road was a work of art in its own right. The stone structure that enabled smooth passage through rugged mountain terrain called to mind the Great Wall of China from back on Earth.
"The more I see it, the more impressive it gets..."
How much manpower and time must have gone into carving out this path? Even after passing the border checkpoint and traveling for quite some time, the road stretched endlessly toward the peaks beyond, with no end in sight.
The flow of mana visible amid the natural landscape felt different from that of ordinary mountains. It moved with a deep, weighty presence, as solid and heavy as the surrounding rock faces.
The atmosphere was pleasant too. Though blades of grass were nowhere to be found amid these sheer cliffs, the scene didn't feel barren. A cool, damp breeze wafted slowly through the misty ravines.
Magic was defined as granting firm belief, mana, and laws based on personal imagination to manifest something in this world—what was called the arcane, or sorcery. In that sense, couldn't everything in nature be deemed magic as well?
'The arcane is not far away.'
A peculiar spark of inspiration. The question tossed into her mind rippled outward.
'I want to see untouched nature.'
The moment she resolved to do so, the turtle golem veered off course. Abandoning the smooth road, it lunged wildly toward the treacherous rock mountains, legs stomping haphazardly.
Boom boom boom-!
As the golem's steady center of gravity shifted toward the slope, Durel—who had been reading a book—and the dozing Simo tumbled toward the corner.
"M-Master! The golem's suddenly...!"
"Wh-whoa!"
"There's a spot I want to check out for a bit."
She spoke calmly while peering outside the golem. Her gaze followed the shaking scenery, filling her vision with jagged peaks. The mana flow felt sharp. The view from up there would surely offer a different flavor.
Of course, this impulsive detour wasn't purely selfish. Following the road would be safe, but it wound around far more than expected. The path to the capital wasn't a straight shot.
The turtle golem pressed onward undaunted toward the sturdy rock mountains.
On the fifth day of nonstop travel southwest from the borderlands, they finally reached the Crag Spear mountain range.
True to its name, Crag Spear's peak resembled a spear thrust skyward. The towering summit pierced the clouds, and the snow blanketing its slopes made the tip gleam like it was forged from silver.
Seeing it up close, the description fell short of the reality.
"Planning to climb it?"
"Nah. We couldn't even if we wanted to."
"Fair point."
She shook her head at Durel's question. She did crave diverse vistas, but she had no desire to pick fights with dwarves at a site they held sacred.
According to the guidebook Durel carried, the mountain's name stemmed from dwarf lore.
It was the spot where Krag—the god the dwarves revered—had plunged his spear to birth the peak. Entry was forbidden to outsiders from midway up, making it inaccessible.
"Just looking is enough."
Her starlit gaze fixed on the lofty summit. She'd held some expectation due to the legend, but nothing extraordinary stood out in the immediate view.
"The wind's biting. Best bundle up in something thicker, no?"
Simo spoke up as he rummaged through his bag. As he said, the ambient energy had chilled considerably. Having left the red desert region not long ago, they were still in their lightweight attire from there.
She nodded and pulled a heavy garment from her bag, draping it over her shoulders.
"I'll... need to buy new clothes. Not sure if the Karadun Kingdom even sells human sizes."
Durel muttered softly as he changed. His previously bought outfit didn't fit anymore—his arms and legs poked out a bit. He was hitting his growth spurt, shooting up day by day, so the clothes tailored in Ailsnor had shrunk on him.
"Are you alright, Master?"
No issue there. She answered with silence instead.
That was when it happened. From a high ridge shrouded in thick gray mist, a small shadow shot out like an arrow.
"Wooooaaargh!"
A shout that tore at the ears echoed thunderously across the entire range. Bursting from a crevice in the rocky slopes was a dwarf clad in leather armor and iron chains. Amid his flushed face, his unwavering eyes blazed fiercely—right before impact.
Thud-!
The shock hit from the golem's front. Before the three could react, the golem's body crumpled to the ground.
A sudden assault. As Durel and Simo began channeling mana, she was already leaping outside.
Whoosh-!
She cloaked herself in fierce winds and scaled the golem's shell. Atop it stood a dwarf, his bulging muscles heaving with ragged breaths.
He glared at the golem, hoisting a hammer the size of his head high, poised for the next strike.
"Hold."
"Huh?"
The hyped-up dwarf's eyes turned to her. As if baffled by the situation, his face went blank.
Just then, Simo and Durel appeared belatedly. Dozens of floating swords encircled the dwarf in an instant, and blood-red spikes surged around Simo's arms, aimed squarely at him.
"Want to die?"
"Move a muscle, and my blood'll pierce you clean through..."
As Durel and Simo snarled viciously, bewilderment colored the dwarf's gaze. He blinked his large eyes, as if unable to fathom their hostility.
"Wh-what's the meaning of this?"
"That's what I'd like to know. What the hell was that?"
"What do you mean, what..."
In that instant, realization dawned on the dwarf—he widened his eyes. He gingerly lowered his hammer, then crouched to lightly tap the golem's head.
Durel and Simo tensed to act, so she raised a hand to halt them.
"This... is a golem...? Oh no!"
"Master. Seems like..."
She nodded at Durel's words. No hostility. He'd dropped his weapon the moment he saw them. Evidently, this dwarf had mistaken the turtle golem for a monster and attacked.
"I-I messed up. Mages, I'm truly sorry!"
The dwarf apologized profusely, bowing so low his head nearly scraped the ground.
She signaled Durel and Simo with a glance before speaking.
"It's fine. Lift your head. Just a misunderstanding... no one got hurt."
"B-but the golem's all sprawled out... Isn't it broken?"
"Broken? Hardly."
With a light stamp of her foot, the slumped turtle golem rose. It wasn't damaged—just paused briefly to reveal the intruder's identity.
The dwarf nodded in a daze.
As the turtle golem resumed moving, the dwarf—watching cautiously—retrieved his hammer, slung it over his back, and hesitantly spoke.
"Y-you said it's okay, but... I'm still sorry."
She'd said it was fine, yet he kept apologizing. About to send him off, she finally took a proper look at his gear. Serious armor, but his pack was tiny—unsuited for long journeys.
High chance he was from the Karadun Kingdom.
"If you're that sorry, how about granting a small favor?"
"What favor?"
"You're from the Karadun Kingdom, right?"
"Aye..."
"It's our first time here, so we don't know the lay of the land. Mind showing us around?"
"Th-that's no trouble at all! Happy to!"
A local guide acquired in seconds. She returned inside the golem with the two and addressed the dwarf.
"Nothing else to grab? We can head out together then. We're bound for the Karadun Kingdom."
"Nothing to fetch. Came alone. But... never seen a golem used like this. Who...?"
The dwarf trailed in, marveling at the interior. Then, snapping to, he shook his head and spoke.
"Name's Mangor. Run a small forge in the Karadun Kingdom. And you folks...?"
"Lumi."
"Durel."
"Simo."
Brief introductions done. Mangor, who'd been eyeing from the corner, plopped down. His gaze was on Durel—specifically, the sword he held.
Sensing the discomfort, Durel frowned.
"Something you need?"
"Ah, nothing. Just drawn to the sword naturally... My trade's forging blades, see."
"Hmph."
Mangor, still glancing, spoke up again.
"If it's not rude, mind if I ask something?"
"What?"
"Why carry a sword like that? Poorly forged ones dull fast... Center of balance doesn't suit your arm either..."
Durel glanced at her.
"Master. Once we reach the Karadun Kingdom..."
"Get one."
"Yes...!"