Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Golem's Core and the Dream of the Airship
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Olbern called that place the underground market. It had come into being because, to avoid marring the city's exterior, they'd shoved all the miscellaneous shops underground.
Getting in wasn't tricky either. A light greeting with the soldiers standing guard at the entrance, and permission was granted right away. We passed through the entrance of the massive building and descended the stairs to find another city sprawling beneath the city.
"Ooh..."
"Cool place... the ceiling won't collapse or anything, right?"
"Of course! Our dwarven engineering is the best in the world!"
The sight of a vast infrastructure built underground beneath the city was pretty familiar to me. But it seemed different for Durel and Simo. The two of them were too busy gaping slack-jawed at their surroundings.
"It's underground, but... awfully bright."
"Isn't that glowstone...? They embed something that pricey right in the streets?"
Brushing past my disciples' astonishment, I walked calmly through the city. The broad streets were paved with stone blocks, not a speck of dirt in sight. And impeccably clean too, which spoke volumes about the dwarves' hygiene here.
'Nice...'
Way better than with humans, isn't it?
"Master doesn't seem surprised at all?"
"I am surprised."
I answered Olbern's question with a light laugh. His wide-eyed stare was downright cute. He must have been puzzled that I wasn't showing the reaction he'd hoped for. As we took in the market scenery, I asked Olbern,
"No sign of the shipyard. Where do we head?"
"One floor further down."
"...There's more underground?"
This time, even I was taken aback. Underground beneath the underground. With all that weight bearing down, I'd known dwarven architecture was top-notch, but I hadn't imagined it was this good. Olbern finally cracked a satisfied smile.
He'd really wanted to see me surprised, it seemed. With a smug look of pride, he strode ahead confidently.
"See there at the end? Stairs leading underground right under that building."
Thanks to the orderly row of shop buildings, the view was unobstructed. I could spot exactly the direction Olbern was pointing. I set off straight down the road.
My excitement set my mana churning. The urge to arrive sooner whipped up a wind that pushed at the party's backs, naturally quickening our pace. Durel and Simo leaned into the tailwind like old pros, but Olbern flailed his arms in shock.
"Just lean into it comfortably. You won't fall."
"T-This is Master's magic too...? I didn't even sense the mana flow. Manipulation this precise...!"
Gentle Wind had its roots elsewhere. The Golden Wind School's signature style shone through naturally. With the wind at our backs as we walked, the Erkamon of the Golden Wind School drifted to mind.
'The weary sage on a long journey wished for respite. The wind gladly offered its embrace...'
Raymond and Ayner's faces followed. I hoped the two of them were doing well. No word in this foreign land, so I worried needlessly.
What about now? I pictured the two mages, then shook my head. Still too far off. To be of any help to them, I needed to elevate my realm even further. Ayner had said the one who bent nature to his will alone was a dangerous sort—the leader of the Blazing Saturation School, no less. He was even pulling strings in the mages' association. Going now would just get in the way.
The stairs to the second underground level stretched on forever. Even descending while lost in thought, the end stayed out of sight. It felt like about ten minutes before we finally reached bottom.
"This is..."
Suddenly, the thick stench of iron, fire, and sulfur wafted over. The dwarves' deep-underground shipyard dwarfed my expectations in scale.
Cleanly finished walls and floors weren't surprising. What seized my attention was the massive canal flowing alongside the road. And not just that—right beside it flowed lava on the same grand scale.
Ships lined up along the jet-black stone piers gleamed as they bobbed indifferently on water and lava alike. The temperature had been creeping up as we descended the stairs, and here was the reason.
Clang-!
Rattle-!
The deafening clamor of hammers and dragging chains filled the empty space in an instant. The sound reached us delayed. Runes carved around the stairs sealed off any leakage of the racket.
"Olbern. Where does that water lead?"
"Out to the sea beyond Azgal Rock. They sail along that waterway. Of course, coming back requires magic unlike outbound, but even so..."
The enormous canal cutting across the port linked up with caves at both ends. A quick glance around told me they'd widened them artificially. They hadn't always looked like that.
How much manpower? How much time? I was too awestruck to speak.
'And what's with the lava flowing next to the water...'
How did they manage lava right beside water? The lava headed off to a different cave, so it wasn't for ordinary navigation.
"Ships floating on the lava too."
"Those navigate under Azgal Rock. They ride the lava to harvest all sorts of minerals."
"...Impressive."
"Right?"
I drank in the surroundings as we walked the path naturally. Countless dwarves dashed about on the black piers. Massive carts brimmed with ore. Crates unloaded from giant ships stacked neatly in one spot on the pier.
We slipped through without getting in the way and arrived before a colossal shipyard. The spot teemed with sweltering heat, bellowed orders, hammer strikes, and the thunder of dragging chains.
"Hmm? Rare outsider. What brings you?"
A dwarf approached and asked. Unlike the hardworking ones, he cut a relatively tidy figure. His oil-scented hands gave him away, though.
"Looking to buy a ship."
"A ship...?"
He cocked his head at my unexpected reply. Stroking his grimy beard, he responded.
"Well, nothing we can't sell. No rule against humans either. What size do you need? Purpose?"
"One moment..."
Showing with magic beat describing in words. I swept my hand through the air and loosed my mana. It quickly sketched a hazy outline. No need for precision—just an illusion.
"T-This... you're a mage?"
"Need something about this size... sturdiest you can make it. Sails don't matter... if possible, set it up on land."
For levitation magic, it'd handle around fifteen meters. It needed maximum durability, so it'd weigh far more than a standard ship. The dwarf nodded at my rundown, then said to hold on.
"Give me a minute. Can't decide solo. I'll fetch someone quick."
With that, the dwarf vanished in a flash. Moments later, he returned with another dwarf in tow.
"Pleased to meet you. Drevik, shipyard overseer. So, here for a ship...?"
"Laid out the specs earlier... got anything suitable?"
"Sails irrelevant... toughest build. Length around fifteen meters... on land means ornamental?"
"Practical use. Multi-purpose."
"Hmm... this way, then."
Drevik led us to the shipyard's docks. Ships lined along the long canal drew the eye. He strolled the docks slowly, pointing out one floating in the water.
"Black Feather Hawk. Sixteen meters. Wrapped in black iron plating—very sturdy. Built for lava cave delving, so no crow's nest, sails woven with witchweed. Not the fastest. Thoughts?"
I looked up at the massive vessel. A stylish eagle figurehead on the prow caught my fancy. It fit the bill perfectly—no need to shop around further.
"Mind if I check the top?"
"Be my guest."
I kicked off the ground lightly and alighted atop the Black Feather Hawk. Deck was broad and solid. The well-kept rigging gleamed, and the wheelhouse looked spacious. I poked around inside.
'Seven small rooms. One big one. Not bad.'
Everything checked out. Its modest size vaguely evoked a pirate ship.
I liked it. Leaning on the rail at the deck's edge, I called down,
"This one! What's the price?"
"Five hundred gold!"
"What..."
Way pricier than expected. Even pooling all my funds, I'd fall a bit short. Just then, my eyes met Olbern's below. The grinning dwarf girl fished a coin pouch from her bosom and dangled it.
The shortfall was filled in that instant.