Chapter 148
Chapter 148
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Windfall
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"You've gotten even cuter since we last saw you."
"But that doesn't mean we'll go easy on you."
"Come, let's have a match! Do you accept our challenge?"
"Of course. I've been waiting. Bring it on!"
"..."
I had no choice but to admit it. The most welcome person in the dwarf village wasn't me, the Hero, but our little cutie.
They were determined to settle who could drink more beer. Perhaps remembering their crushing defeat last time, the dwarves weren't underestimating the legendary drinker, the fox beastkin.
Soon, they were eating and drinking nonstop. I saw this as a good thing. They were basically wearing Aruru out for me.
It looked like I'd be able to conserve my energy today. In any case, the dwarves showed me a fair bit of attention as well.
"That's a young lady I haven't seen before. Could she be..."
"Yes. She's my fiancée."
"I knew it. I thought you two looked good together."
They laughed heartily, saying they were a perfect match. Just as Ceria was about to offer her thanks, one of the dwarves muttered tactlessly.
"Hmm, that other young lady who came last time was quite nice, too..."
"..."
It couldn't be Ilensia... he must have meant Esterize. Why would he say something so unnecessary? Naturally, Ceria's hackles were raised.
The dwarf who received her sharp glare flinched and scurried away. Another dwarf took his place. He was a middle-aged man I recognized, and he wore a lecherous smile.
"So, have you been putting that strength to good use? You must have seen some impressive results..."
"What do you mean by that...?"
"You drank that brew for virility last time, didn't you?"
"—!"
If I'd been alone, I would have brushed it off, but Ceria happened to be right there. The implication was so obvious there was no way she wouldn't understand. And just as I expected, she lowered her head, looking as shy as a maiden from a noble house.
"Hm? Your reaction is a bit strange. Don't tell me you still haven't...?"
"We've had a lot of company..."
"Tsk. You're the heir to your family, and what's more, you're the Hero, aren't you? If you're going to have children, you should do it as soon as possible."
"..."
Several other dwarves chimed in, agreeing that the Hero's superior genes needed to be passed on. I could understand and overlook it, given how free-spirited their race was, but... it was so embarrassing I could barely stand it.
I snuck a glance at Ceria. She looked flustered, but she didn't seem to dislike the topic.
In fact, her eyes were sparkling as if she'd made a decision. It seemed the conversation had spurred her on. Was a major incident about to unfold?
Between the fox beastkin, whose 'time' was approaching, and now Ceria, the chances of an impulsive incident had just shot up. At this point, it felt like an unavoidable fate. Well, if you can't avoid it, you might as well enjoy it, right?
The dwarves weren't wrong. If the world were at peace, we would have been married long ago.
We were holding back to prepare for the threat of the Demon King's army... but did we really have to? I wanted to enjoy a heart-pounding event, too!
"Then again, the timing is a bit awkward."
"If you do the deed now, you'll be leaving your wife alone to roam the battlefields, won't you?"
"And you won't be able to focus, thinking about your unborn child."
"..."
There were realistic problems like these. It wasn't the time to act recklessly. I was grateful for the reminder, but I wished they'd stop meddling. I adopted a serious tone and changed the subject.
"Actually, I came to check on your progress. How are things coming along?"
"Very smoothly. Every dwarf has been swinging their hammer day and night to fill your order. We've probably finished about half of it already."
By working day and night, they had already crafted enough equipment to arm two entire knight orders. That was incredibly fast. I couldn't help but smile at the better-than-expected results. Should I take it with me now? I could cover part of the payment with the gems I'd picked up in the dungeon.
"Where is the chieftain? I'd like to pay my respects..."
"Hmm, that might be difficult right now."
"—?"
"He's completely absorbed in his work, as if burning his last flame. He'd come out if we told him you were here, but in my opinion..."
The chieftain was old and frail. He wasn't on his deathbed, but it seemed this would be his last project as a blacksmith.
"Then I shouldn't disturb him."
"Thank you for understanding."
"Of course not. As someone who respects him, I can only hope he completes a masterpiece."
All the dwarves nodded in satisfaction. Praises followed, saying I had the manners befitting a Hero.
It was a little disappointing not to meet the chieftain, but it didn't seem to be a problem. I could discuss the transaction with one of the elder dwarves. I cautiously broached the subject.
"Would it be all right if I took the completed half with me?"
"Right now?"
"Yes."
"I don't see why not... but how do you plan to transport it all?"
"I have a dimensional pouch I received from the Sage."
"Oho, what a curious item. Well, that changes things."
Commenting on how the Hero was truly different, they readily gave their permission.
"For now, I'd like to make a down payment..."
"Don't bother with all that. We'll take payment when the whole order is finished."
What was with this boundless magnanimity? It was refreshingly straightforward. It seemed they trusted me completely because I was the Hero. Or so I thought, but the dwarves had an ulterior motive.
"Ahem, there is one favor we'd like to ask..."
"—?"
"We'd like to observe the Holy Sword."
"Ah, if it's that..."
"Please! It's our lifelong wish!"
"..."
They looked ready to grab my pant legs. A group of bushy-bearded men, all pleading desperately. The horrifying sight made me understand how that elf girl must have felt.
An EX-class weapon that easily surpassed S-class. The undisputed Tier 0 artifact, the greatest of the goddess's holy relics.
Before the magnificence of the Holy Sword, Duplexion, even the proudest dwarves were reduced to meek lambs.
It was because they were true artisans. They sought to gain inspiration by observing the Holy Sword. For that, it seemed they would sell the deeds to their own homes without a moment's hesitation.
Hmm, maybe I could get a discount? The thought crossed my mind, but I immediately discarded it. I was the Hero, after all. That would be too petty.
It wasn't as if I was short on money. Well, as a consolation, I could probably get my hands on the B-class weapons gathering dust in their storehouse.
"Alright, alright, calm down. I'll show it to you right now."
Spurred on by the dwarves' fervent cheers, I summoned the Holy Sword. As I did, I felt a faint warmth from the hilt. It seemed the princess had been wielding it.
The girl worked hard even when I wasn't around. I'd thought she'd been corrupted by the ever-lounging elf and the Saintess, but that had been a ridiculous misunderstanding.
In any case, from the princess's perspective, the Holy Sword had vanished right in the middle of her training, just after she had steeled her resolve.
I didn't think she would be annoyed, but... I could just picture her thinking, *'Huh? Looks like Jace needed it, so he took it. Well, since things turned out this way, maybe I'll go play with the others?'* and then proceeding to slack off.
Well, what's done is done. If I praise her later, she'll get motivated and start training again.
"Ooh, so this is the Holy Sword..."
"Such a great and beautiful radiance... The word 'magnificent' doesn't even begin to cover it!"
The dwarves were ecstatic at the sight of the Holy Sword. They were completely mesmerized, like men seeing a woman they'd fallen for at first sight.
As natural-born artisans, they practically deified the Holy Sword. Of course, there were a few oddballs among them.
"What in the world is this metal?"
"Hmm, it makes me want to melt it down."
"..."
I completely ignored that nonsense. I mean, how was I supposed to defeat the Demon King without the Holy Sword? A moment later, when I dismissed the sword, sighs of disappointment echoed around me.
They seemed deeply disappointed, but they forced themselves to look motivated, as if grateful for having observed the ultimate weapon, even for a moment.
"Hmm, it wasn't nearly enough, but..."
"With this, we'll be able to get ahead of the other dwarf tribes!"
"I feel inspiration striking. I need to calmly gather my thoughts."
Most of them seemed to have gained something from the experience. In that case, it should be fine to ask for a little favor, right? I asked casually, as if it were just a passing thought.
"Do you happen to have any spare weapons? Like stock left neglected in a storehouse..."
"We do, but they're all flawed pieces. Weapons we can't sell."
Weapons with minor defects. They said they were just piling them up because melting them down was a hassle. Even if they were flawed, they were still crafted by dwarves, so their quality would be close to A-class. They were undoubtedly far superior to the B-class weapons sold on the market.
Despite that, they added that their artisan's pride would never allow them to sell such items. Of course, that was just how dwarves thought. Humans would kill to own even their "flawed" pieces.
"Why? Are you interested?"
"Yes. If you don't mind, I'd be happy to take them off your hands."
"—?"
*Huh? You have the Holy Sword, and you have that custom weapon the elder made for you, don't you? With masterpieces like those, why are you eyeing such shoddy weapons?* They looked at me with complete incomprehension. Of course, I had no intention of using them myself.
"I was thinking of giving them to my friends at the academy. You see..."
Most of the students at the academy, aside from a few main and supporting characters, were just extras.
They had no real importance, so I could have just ignored them, but doing so felt wrong. We didn't have any deep connections, but we all lived in the same place. Wouldn't it be alright to help them out a little?
Soon, the event where one of the Four Heavenly Kings attacks the academy would occur. It would be better to raise the students' overall combat strength in preparation for that time.
They wouldn't be much help, but my calculation was that having better weapons would at least make it easier for them to survive the crisis.
I would be busy fighting the Heavenly King with my party, so I couldn't protect every single student. In other words, they would have to protect themselves. I just hoped none of them would die in front of me...
"I understand the situation. Still, giving away our flawed pieces is a bit..."
"Is there any way you could reconsider?"
"Hmm, it's not as if we can flatly refuse a request from the Hero. And you did show us the Holy Sword, so we should repay you for that, but..."
The dwarves were a conservative bunch. The idea of making an exception clearly troubled them. Then, one dwarf stepped forward as if he'd had a brilliant idea.
"How about we do this?"
He pointed to one spot and laughed heartily. Our little cutie was still in the middle of a drinking party with several other dwarves.
The fox beastkin's cheeks were flushed red, and she looked like she was having a wonderful time. She'd probably cling to me later, reeking of alcohol, right? Still, I'd welcome her with open arms.
"Let's decide based on the outcome of that contest."
The corners of my mouth lifted as I nodded. It seemed they'd learned from their crushing defeat last time and prepared thoroughly, but they still wouldn't be a match for Aruru.
Her rate of growth was incredibly fast. Not only was she getting stronger, but even her capacity for consumption was constantly evolving.
Our little cutie.
You've got this, right? I'm counting on you. For the sake of your friends, you have to win.
Aruru is invincible.
She was even wearing her special 'skin'. I had no doubt she would come through.