Chapter 148
Chapter 148
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: The Alliance's First Goal
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The Ironclad Spider Nest.
The leaders of five races, including humans, had gathered there.
The human leader in attendance was Wang-sik.
The elf, Eldrian.
The dwarf, Doloi.
The beastkin, Aisi.
And the zaimon, Balkan.
The five of them assembled in a room within the spider nest, which had been converted into a meeting hall.
The walls were still made of packed earth, but an ebony table and chairs from Oh Min-jae's workshop had been placed in the center, giving it a respectable appearance.
The five took their seats at the round table and began with some light conversation.
Most of the questions were about their current settlement progress.
The other races had already driven out the surrounding monsters and fully established their territories, finally finding stability.
The dwarves, on the other hand, were in the final stages of constructing their workshop in collaboration with Han Young-im.
They had already blocked the mine entrance and carved a new path, so clearing out nearby monsters wasn't necessary. However, with the grand project of building an underground temple, they were expected to remain busy for the foreseeable future.
"For us, this is stability."
The dwarves numbered around 250 in total.
They were the smallest group among the inhuman races.
Not every one of them was a master craftsman; specific individuals excelled in construction and weapon-making, so their plans were proceeding without a hitch.
"Good. It seems everyone is doing well."
Seeing them find stability faster than he had anticipated, Wang-sik decided it was time to speak.
"I wish to clarify our future objectives."
No prelude was necessary.
"Our first goal is to bring down the Empire. We will use every method at our disposal and will not shy away from war."
Had the inhuman races possessed the power, they would have done so already. Thus, they accepted Wang-sik's declaration as a matter of course.
"Until the Empire is erased from this land, we must cooperate in all aspects. And we will continue to gather the scattered inhuman races."
This required the other leaders' consent.
Just as Koreans and Americans were different, so too were the tribes of the inhuman races. Unconditionally accepting others was no simple matter.
"We will do so."
"We must save every last one we can. I am in favor."
"Understood."
"I agree as well. Let's do that."
All four leaders accepted, and each race agreed to search for their scattered kin.
"And there is something I must make clear beforehand."
Having settled several matters, Wang-sik spoke in the same tone as before. But the words that left his lips were anything but light.
"Once the Empire is gone, you will be the rulers of this land."
This was something that even Aisi had not heard.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I want the other races, not humans, to rule this land."
"I thought you would want to become the new emperor."
"We will demand our rights here as well, but the rulers of this land must be the inhuman races, not humans."
"Why is that?"
"I do not trust the leaders of Earth."
"Then why don't you become the leader?"
To that question, Wang-sik answered without a hint of hesitation.
"If I were to become emperor, I would drive the humans of this land to extinction."
His expression remained unchanged, but his words carried a chilling weight.
Realizing he was sincere, the leaders were momentarily at a loss for words.
‘His anger wasn't just directed at the Empire.’
‘He hates all humans on the Azelan Continent.’
In any case, hearing Wang-sik's true feelings, they became certain of one thing.
‘We won't be betrayed.’
‘This is what he wanted to tell us.’
Though various thoughts crossed their minds, Wang-sik's intention had been conveyed perfectly.
There was no reason for him to betray them. And winning this fight would yield an immense prize.
This was the core of today's meeting.
"We will stand together until the Empire falls."
As Wang-sik spoke with conviction, the leaders responded with matching expressions.
After the meeting ended, they went to the plaza inside the spider nest, where five dwarves were waiting.
Their eyes lit up the moment they saw Wang-sik walking at the head of the group.
The greed in their gazes was so blatant that Wang-sik had to stop in his tracks.
"This sort of thing wasn't included in our cooperation agreement."
"What cooperation are you talking about?"
Doloi said with a smile.
"Come now, don't refuse. Entrust your body to them."
"Sorry, but they're not my type."
"Dwarves transcend such tastes."
Their meeting concluded, their conversation was as comfortable as that between friends.
Doloi, the dwarven chieftain, was not one to stand on ceremony, which made him easy to get along with.
—We're not even the same race, so why bother with age? Let's just all be friends.
In a way, he had a point, so Wang-sik had accepted.
But it wasn't simply their racial traits that had brought them closer. There had been a decisive catalyst for their friendship.
"Alright, take it off."
Doloi, too, surrounded Wang-sik, his eyes gleaming with desire.
"Here?"
At his question, all six dwarves, including Doloi, nodded, their eyes sparkling.
"Alright, my new friends. I guess I should make my preferences perfectly clear."
"Stop holding out and show it to us. We even made a bet on whether it's a real Peradora."
"Ah, the Peradora?"
"What were you thinking of?"
Wang-sik didn't refuse and took out the armor, Peradora. But the dwarves wanted to see more than just one item.
Another mythic-grade item.
Wang-sik placed his shield before them as well.
"Oh! The Holidom!"
The mythic shield, Holidom.
The dwarves exclaimed in admiration.
"So this is Chieftain Dubara's final work."
This was why they wanted to see the Peradora and the Holidom.
Five hundred years ago, during the dwarves' most prosperous era, the final works of their chieftain, Dubara, were none other than the Holidom and the Peradora.
The sacred shield and the sacred armor.
Coincidentally, both items, crafted by the greatest artisan of five centuries past, were in Wang-sik's possession. Once the dwarves learned this, they took a keen interest in him, which became the catalyst for their rapidly growing friendship.
"Ooh! So this is Bless Dust!"
An ultra-fine powder imbued with divine power.
The sacred magic circle etched into the Peradora was made by carving grooves into the mithril and filling them with molten Bless Dust.
The method was still known today, but no one could replicate it.
‘Because they no longer cooperate.’
In essence, the Peradora and the Holidom were symbolic works created when the dwarves interacted with all other races.
"Hmm, this part is a bit disappointing."
"Here, too."
That said, the Peradora wasn't the greatest work in dwarven history.
"Well, the Volta Forging Method was created two hundred years ago, so they would have used the old ways back then."
"There was no Egur Coating, either. If this had been treated with Egur Coating, its divine power manifestation would have been twice as strong."
Over five hundred years, dwarven technology had also advanced.
The Peradora was undoubtedly a masterpiece of its time, but better manufacturing methods had since been invented.
Dwarves were not a race that clung to the past and upheld tradition.
They were a race that loved to create and research anything and everything.
They placed great value on creativity in particular.
"Chieftain, are we repairing this or upgrading it?"
Having finished their evaluation, the dwarves looked to Doloi.
Doloi shrugged and shifted his gaze to Wang-sik.
"What's the difference?"
"Repairing means restoring its former power, plain and simple. Upgrading means improving it where possible."
"Then shouldn't we obviously go with an upgrade?"
"But there's a chance of failure. Its performance could even decrease."
A chill ran down Wang-sik's spine. His unease must have been visible, as the dwarves chuckled.
"Of course, the probability is extremely low."
"Us, fail? No way!"
"As long as we don't doze off and break it... though that has happened before."
"Trust us, friend!"
"He looks scared. Wow! So there is something that human fears!"
As they each threw in a comment, Wang-sik replied.
"Do as you wish."
"Oh! Spoken like a true man!"
"Should we completely disassemble it and rebuild it from scratch, then?"
one of the dwarves asked teasingly. Wang-sik replied.
"If that's what you want, go ahead."
The dwarf who had spoken, not expecting such a response, fell silent.
But Wang-sik hadn't said it out of anger.
"If it breaks, you'll just make me something better, won't you?"
"There's no beating this human!"
Just as Wang-sik said, if the dwarves were to ruin these items, they would likely stake everything they had to craft him something even better.
Wang-sik fully entrusted the two items that were like a second skin to him to the dwarves and asked.
"How are the item designs coming along? Chairwoman Han said things are progressing well."
The inhuman races and Mad Castle had already come to an agreement.
—We will craft equipment for the combat personnel of Mad Castle.
This was why he had been interested in the inhuman races in the first place. Although he now had grander plans, item creation remained one of his major objectives.
Having been given a new home, the inhuman races had readily accepted the proposal.
And during their first joint meeting, the four members of Mad Castle had stated their requirements.
It was decided that each person would receive two custom-made items.
Wang-sik: a helmet and a warhammer.
Sa Seon-gi: leather armor and a dagger.
Min Ha-na: a robe and a ring.
Gong Yeong-ji: a robe and an earring.
They could have made full sets if they wanted, but there was no need.
—The blessings we can bestow can be fully imbued into two items.
Since the two items would be enchanted with the maximum possible blessings, wearing anything more would just be cumbersome.
Besides, anything more was practically meaningless.
—Making these will take at least a year.
They were, after all, mythic-grade.
They couldn't be mass-produced like they were coming out of a factory.
When asked if the time could be shortened, Doloi had replied.
—It took five years to make the Peradora.
What could one say to that?
He had no choice but to be grateful for a one-year timeline.
—Thankfully, the areas of work are different, so you should be able to receive them after a year.
The dwarves would make the helmet, hammer, dagger, and earring.
The beastkin would make the leather armor.
The zaimon would make the ring.
The elves would make the two robes.
Although they would cooperate, the primary race responsible for each item was different, allowing for simultaneous production.
—We'll be sure to give each one a distinct character, so look forward to it.
When artisans capable of crafting mythic-grade items said so, there was no need to argue.
Once the decision was made, Han Young-im took charge of the item production aspect.
As the one responsible for building the dwarven workshop and having made preparations up to this point, her request was naturally accepted.
—I'll first share Earth's technology with you, so you can incorporate anything you find useful.
From that point on, Wang-sik's friend from the Mad Castle headquarters began teaching them.
He had wanted to hand over organized documents, but since the dwarves couldn't understand Earth's language, someone had to explain it verbally. That's why his friend, who had been involved in this project from the very beginning, had stepped up.
The lessons proved to be quite useful.
In particular, the methods for creating alloys, measurement techniques, and metal refinement and processing greatly stimulated the dwarves' desire to create.
As the workshop was completed, they began designing the items, and it was then that Han Young-im became actively involved.
"Hooo."
But Doloi, who was always so cheerful, suddenly let out a long sigh.
"Is there a problem?"
"It's because of that Merchant Lord from Earth."
He understood the term "Merchant Lord" but felt it was inadequate, though he didn't point it out.
"I just can't figure her out. One moment she's so kind, and the next her expression changes and she's disappointed. Sometimes she approaches us like family, and other times she acts like a ruthless merchant."
Wang-sik barely suppressed a laugh.
"Do you know what the biggest problem is?"
Doloi frowned as if his pride was wounded.
"By the time I come to my senses, everything has already gone the way the Merchant Lord wanted."
He understood the situation perfectly.
Han Young-im, the businesswoman, was using various methods to reach agreements with the dwarves. The dwarves were a stubborn race, so pushing them too hard would only create resistance.
"She asked for another meeting today. I wonder what she'll demand this time..."
"Hang in there. I don't know if this is any comfort, but I can't win against her either. It's easier if you just give up."
Wang-sik gave his support to Han Young-im.
"Still, she's not someone who just takes without giving anything back."
"Well, that's true. In fact, we've received far more. Isn't that why we can't win? They say nothing free from a human comes cheap."
"That saying is wrong."
"What's wrong about it?"
"If you give her something, you'll get back even more in return. Right now, you're just in the process of giving. Later, the time will come when you get it all back, several times over."
As Wang-sik spoke with confidence, Doloi nodded.
"I'm counting on you. To be honest, I'm really looking forward to it myself."
Although Han Young-im was leading the charge, the ones who were most excited were the combat personnel.
After all, they were the ones who would be using the items.
"You have nothing to worry about. Thanks to that ruthless Merchant Lord from Earth, we're about to push our skills to their absolute limits."
"Weren't you going to do that anyway?"
"I mean we're going to push them even further than that."
Wang-sik couldn't hide the smile spreading across his face.