Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Karadun Kingdom
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The Karadun Kingdom, reached after traversing treacherous mountain paths, looked less like a vast city and more like a single massive fortress. The enormous iron walls, built to repel external invaders, exuded both grandeur and unyielding strength. Inside those walls, it belched plumes of white steam, as if connected to roaring flames.
"This is the Karadun Kingdom! The frontline fortress defending Azgal Rock!"
Mangor, stepping out of the golem, explained with pride. A deep sense of accomplishment shone on his face, his stiff beard twitching faintly in the hazy wind.
"I can feel the heat... Is there fire inside?"
"Close enough. Hot lava pumped up from beneath the mountains flows through the entire fortress. Like blood coursing through veins under the skin!"
Passing through the entrance of the massive black fortress didn't take long, thanks to Mangor who had come with us. After exchanging a few words with the guards he knew well, we received permission to enter with surprising ease.
Of course, we couldn't just stroll right through. A nearby guard spoke up.
"Golem use is prohibited inside the city. There's a small maintenance shed next to the main gate—park it there..."
Indeed, visitors wandering around with such a massive golem would cause quite a stir. I nodded and moved the tortoise golem to a spot on the roadside a short distance from the main gate.
"That's not the direction..."
Saak-!
As I shut down the core, the tortoise golem's body began to collapse. Amid the rumbling cascade of falling stones, a small orb floated out and dropped into my hand.
"Can we go now?"
"Uh... Yes, please proceed."
As I nodded and passed the guards, Mangor, who had been watching cautiously, approached and said,
"That golem seems awfully portable. Do you happen to have any spares?"
"No, this is the only one I have."
"Oh... What a shame... I really liked its design..."
He must have been thinking of buying one if I had extras. Of course, I had no intention of selling. A mana circle was embedded inside this golem. I glanced at the core briefly before tucking it into my pocket and quickening my pace.
Passing through the grand main gate revealed the fortress's imposing interior. Towering stone structures were supported by massive iron beams. And the claim that lava flowed inside the fortress was no exaggeration.
In the center stood a colossal black iron smelter, where orange liquid endlessly poured. The lava spread out from there throughout the city, making the smelter a fitting "heart" of the fortress.
"As promised, I'll guide you for the day. If there's anywhere you want to go, just say the word. I'll take you right there."
Thump thump—Mangor pounded his chest. The impact from his heavy hand was impressive. After a moment's thought, I spoke.
"Take us to an inn first. We'll unpack and then head out."
"Price doesn't matter?"
Normally, I'd say yes. But today, I anticipated heavy spending. Dwarven craftsmanship was renowned, so I planned to replace not just my miscellaneous tools but my clothes entirely.
"Somewhere cheap but good."
"I know just the place!"
"Before that..."
"Before that?"
"The exchange first."
The first thing to do upon arriving in a new country: obtain its currency. Mangor blinked before chuckling lightly and nodding.
"Almost forgot. Let's go."
Having a local guide was truly convenient. Thanks to Mangor, I exchanged money at a fair rate and secured a cheap, quality inn. With money in hand and heavy luggage dropped off, it was time for proper city sightseeing.
"Anywhere you like. I'll do my absolute best to guide you!"
"Then I'd like to buy some clothes..."
"Clothes... Human clothes, I assume?"
"Is there a place that sells them?"
"Of course. We'll head to a shop for other races. Follow me."
Mangor kept his word faithfully. At the clothing shop he recommended, I bought several affordable, high-quality outfits. At a smithy, I even picked up a sword suitable for Durel.
Obviously, we didn't just buy for me and Durel. Shimo, the new Golden Wind School member who'd just joined us, was loaded up with a pile of new clothes too.
"Durel... Do human magic schools usually provide clothes like this?"
"We get a standard stipend, but nothing this generous. It's all thanks to Master."
"Indeed...!"
Ignoring my disciples' chatter, I checked my pouch. The hefty pouch, stuffed with massive reward money, had lightened considerably. It was fine for now, but maintaining this spending pace would lead to bankruptcy soon enough.
"Alright! Name your next destination. Personally, I'd recommend wetting your throat with a cool beer and then visiting the Hall of History..."
"Beer sounds good, but I'd like to see the engraving magic dwarves use."
"Tch... Got it. Engraving magic... I know a guy. I'll introduce you. Follow me."
The place Mangor led us to had a different atmosphere from before. The clamor of hammering faded, and the searing heat from the smelters grew distant.
Few people were around.
At that moment, Mangor spoke up.
"Just to be clear, I'm not taking you somewhere shady. You mages should understand... Magic research requires a quiet space... Got it?"
"No suspicions here."
To my casual reply, Mangor scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
We stopped in front of a fairly large mansion, isolated from the other buildings. Unlike the rest, traces of magic were evident all over it.
'Runes...'
Mana flowed along runes of a form I'd never seen. The mana traced the runes to manifest magic. It wasn't active now, but restoring the faded runes and infusing mana would make it shine brightly once more.
"Kaidrak! You in there?"
Bang bang bang-!
Mangor's sturdy hand pounded the thick door repeatedly. Despite the racket, no response came from inside.
"Sigh... Looks like he's out..."
"Hold on."
I brushed past Mangor retreating and approached the door. He wasn't out. Through the Mystic Eye, Arcana, I could peer clearly into the mansion.
'He's moving around...'
What was he doing? A small dwarf inside bustled about without rest.
"What is Master up to?"
"Watch closely. Now behold Master's greatness..."
"Greatness?"
"Anyway, something great."
Ignoring Durel and Shimo, I placed my hand on the door handle. Made for dwarves, its height suited me perfectly.
'Severance and absorption... No outside sounds can get in.'
Mana from my hand flowed into the runes carved inside the door. I'd reverse-engineered the internal structure. I didn't know how the runes were inscribed, but I could alter the structure.
I'd done similar things before. Modifying the Warden Stick and golem core wasn't much different.
'Absorption to emission, severance to amplification.'
Woooong-
As the infused mana rewrote the structure, something unexpected happened. Part of the rune was damaged. As if it couldn't contain that power. The rune itself followed specific rules.
But it didn't matter. Even partial magic would achieve my goal.
I pulled my hand away and knocked lightly.
Bang bang-!
Unlike my gentle tap, the sound exploded massively, like hammering the door with a giant mallet. The grand knock echoed through the mansion, and soon a response came.
[Hey, who the hell is it!]
Thud thud thud—heavy footsteps accompanied a shout from inside. I glanced back and stepped aside casually.
Naturally, Mangor ended up at the front.
Clunk-!
"What the...! Mangor?"
The one who appeared was a dwarf with an extremely irritated expression. He looked comically absurd, with several small ribbons tied to the ends of his long, drooping orange beard.
But I knew better than to find it amusing. Each ribbon held immense mana and various spells.
'Unfurl to use, huh?'
"Hmm? Kaidrak. You were inside?"
"Yeah, Mangor. I was. But who made that knock just now?"
"Well... I did once, and then this young lady here did..."
Kaidrak's irritated gaze turned to me.
They say you can't spit in a smiling face. I smiled lightly and waved.