Shock Therapy for the Dwarf Prince
Shwick-! Slash-!
The battle with the monsters wrapped up in a flash. Ten lizards cleaved apart by wind blades. Kim Jaeha and Avant-garde were cleaning up the rest just as quickly.
“Whoa...!”
Kudran's jaw dropped at the sudden turnaround. It was on a whole different level from their own struggles.
Slash-!
Hanbit's sword kept mowing down the monster packs. The sheer numbers—unheard of around Ifrit—were proof of the anomaly.
Thwack-!
The final blow split the last lizard's neck clean in half. The dwarves, still gripping their weapons in a daze, all turned their gazes at once.
“Who the hell are you guys?”
“Adventurers this strong were around?”
“Kudran, you bring in reinforcements?”
“What? Kudran hired adventurers?”
Any lingering rage toward humans didn't matter. The terror of death had loomed right in their faces, and now that it was gone, the relief was overwhelming.
“I didn't hire them! These folks are...”
“I'm Black Dragon, an acquaintance of Kudran and an adventurer. I stopped by to ensure the village's safety.”
Hanbit cut in and introduced himself smoothly. The dwarves' eyes widened at “acquaintance.”
“For real?”
“You knew adventurers like these?”
“Kudran, you sneaky bastard!”
-Attitude shift incoming;
-???: Total noob.
-People are all the same everywhere.
-If Kudran's that much of a mood-killer, swing that hammer already.
Hanbit's words drew even stronger cheers from the chat.
He stepped up to the elder and asked quietly, “So, what do you think now? Still feel like it's none of your business?”
The monster surge around Ifrit. The elder had brushed it off before, but living through the danger changed everything. They realized staying passive would put them in the crosshairs first.
“...I see.”
His clansmen still buzzing around him, the elder glanced about and nodded.
“First off, thank you for the help. Without you, we'd have taken massive losses.”
He bowed to Kim Jaeha and Avant-garde too. His eyes shifted to the lizard corpses.
“But I'm not sure this ties directly to Ifrit's safety. We live outside these walls, after all.”
“Oh, that's fine. It's a solvable issue. Once this is over, you'll all be true Ifrit residents.”
“Pardon?”
The elder blinked at Hanbit's casual certainty. Could an outsider really fix that?
“Is that even possible?”
“Simple. Just boot out the mayor who built them.”
“That sounds impossible...”
-Straight for the headshot.
-Bares in sight.
-How's hell treating you, JOAT?
-Death row even in hell.
They all looked up at the stunning glass walls. The mayor, Firnen de Artua, was untouchable with her family's backing.
But not invincible.
“You'll see once it's done. Your help would make it even surer.”
“...Messing with the mayor worries me, but yeah, this can't go on. If it protects our kin, we'll lend our strength.”
“Perfect. Let's prep right away.”
“Prep how? Fixing the walls seems priority, but dodging the mayor's eyes won't be easy.”
“Nah, no need to fix the walls.”
“Huh? Then...”
Kudran's question made sense. Walls were the shield; patching them was key to defense.
But Hanbit pivoted.
“Let's start with an evacuation site.”
***
About an hour later.
The three helpers stepped out of the dwarf village for a break. Dusk had fallen, blanketing the outside in faint darkness.
Hanbit checked the message that had popped up earlier.
[Main Quest #3 completed.]
[50,000 gold acquired.]
[2 stat points granted.]
[30,000 EXP gained.]
[Level up by 1.]
[1 stat point granted.]
[Progress increased.]
[Main Quest #4: Evacuation]
The dwarf village faced a monster raid. Useless countermeasures won't cut it. Head inside the walls and find a way.
Objective: Devise an evacuation plan for the dwarves.
Reward: 100,000 gold
*Current progress: 8%
The raid had hammered home the crisis. With dangers ramping up, securing the dwarves' safety ASAP was crucial.
“That raid was a total side event, right? Or does it change the main wave count?”
“Too small for a wave. Probably 'cause almost no one's done the dwarf village story.”
Kim Jaeha and Avant-garde fired off questions about the incident.
The raid had hit right on schedule—today, that hour. The difference? No guild master Jinook crew.
Without Hanbit's interference, they'd have come from the monster corpse site, spotted the forest anomaly, and handled it themselves.
“Raids like that are rare. As known, three big waves are the main event.”
Ifrit's story was straightforward: three monster waves at intervals. Survive them, protect the city, kill the boss—end credits.
Just focusing on kills while letting city damage pile up was failure too.
“Heard the waves are brutal. First one's a cakewalk, though?”
“NPCs handle the opener fine, it seems. But us racking up merits directly looks better.”
-First one's easy.
-Fr, they block it themselves.
-Total gimme?
-Came back from dinner, already over. lol
Vets chimed in. But dismissing the first wave? Simple reason.
Half of it—the part everyone knew—was fake.
“Where to now?”
Chatting as they walked, the main gate loomed.
“Into the city... but gotta talk to that guy first.”
Hanbit pointed to the dim base of the walls. Gorik emerged, approaching slowly.
“He's been tailing us since earlier?”
“Means he won't let you slip away.”
As the two bantered, Gorik closed to a few steps. Short stature lowered his gaze, but royal aura lingered.
“Fancy meeting here.”
“Don't play coy. You won't call that earlier stunt a debt.”
“Wasn't planning to bring it up.”
Gorik referenced drawing off Jinook's group—Hanbit's plan intact, plus some goodwill built.
“Coming here means you've reconsidered?”
“...I'll hear you out. You said a deal—what do you want from me?”
Gorik cut to the chase. Probably the villagers' plight softened him.
Hanbit didn't dodge.
“Simple. Teach Dwarf Blacksmithing to my ally.”
“What?”
Gorik's piercing glare snapped to Kim Jaeha beside him.
After a beat of silence, his voice sharpened.
“You want me—a royal—to pass our craft to a non-royal?”
“The token's worth it. Oh, and help guard Ifrit. You don't wanna let your people die, right?”
“You dare speak so lightly...!”
Gorik erupted at the casual tone. Dwarf forging was a guarded treasure.
Gritting his teeth, he reined it in, eyed Jaeha again, and countered.
“Can't give the full art. But I can train him into a decent smith.”
“No dice. Need the real Dwarf Blacksmithing.”
“Fine. Up to top-tier smith level, then...”
“Pass.”
Hanbit shut down the concessions cold. Gorik's face flushed crimson in seconds.
“Your arrogance pierces the heavens.”
“Not arrogance. Your people's—and your own—situation's dire. No need for pointless casualties. Just accept the...”
“Enough! I was the fool for dealing with you!”
Gorik exploded at the needling, stormed off without rebuttal, glaring daggers.
Hanbit called after him.
“Keep watch on the village tonight. Change your mind, come find me.”
“Ridiculous!”
Gorik's shout faded into the dark.
Ding-
[Sub Quest #1 completed.]
[Sub Quest #2 unlocked.]
[Sub Quest #2]
Talked with Gorik first, but deal fell through again. He stormed off pissed—will you meet again?
Objective: Await next encounter with Gorik.
Reward: Sub Quest #3 unlocked
“Huh? Gave me Sub 2 too.”
Kim Jaeha got the quest too, thanks to nailing Edlen. Prior meetup retroactively cleared #1.
“Didn't you poke him too hard? Heard his teeth grinding.”
“Felt intentional. Some reason?”
-Lmao fr
-Level: just leave already.
-Dwarves are more hateable tbh...
-Yeah fair.
The duo's questions and split chat reactions rolled in. Hanbit eyed the dim path ahead.
“Gorik's pride wall is thick. Shock therapy.”
Gorik was proud but not dumb. Hammering home harsh reality would force self-reflection.
And an event loomed to truly sway him.
“You two head back to the village. Finish that task I asked.”
“Underground shelter? That fast?”
“Dwarves, remember? Pumped up, they'll dig it easy.”
“...True. To survive, they'd dig like mad.”
Kim Jaeha marveled at the news. No forging needed—raw labor was elite. Lives on line, full throttle.
“We go alone? What about you?”
“First wave's closing in—where you headed?”
First night wave incoming. Villagers die then, but shelter saves them.
Temporary fix only.
“Can't hole up forever. Best to get 'em inside the city.”
“Whoa, possible?”
“Mayor'll flip hard.”
They gawked. But outside? Death loomed from experience.
“Use those walls, negotiation opens up.”
“The walls?”
“Ooh... scheming something!”
Kim Jaeha peered up at the glass beauty. Avant-garde lit up at the fresh twist.
They'll have no choice but to negotiate.
Mayor's blind spot: broken walls, no fix.
Hanbit would engineer that for leverage.
“Anyway, you two to the village. Watch for issues, more raids.”
“Got it! Heading back to prep! Jaeha, let's go!”
“...Why so hyped again? Fine, we're off to the village.”
They returned. Alone, Hanbit looked up at the walls.
First wave, huh...
Past memories unspooled. Tried every angle—still demanding.
Stepping toward the gate, he said, “Time to head in.”