Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Pavane for a Dead Dwarf (3)
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***
Back to the present, aboard the rattling military truck.
Darulma watched Yeomyeong, who had fully digested the elixir in just three days, feeling both awe and bewilderment.
It wasn't just a matter of carrying the elixir inside him. This mercenary named Cheon Yeomyeong had properly absorbed it—no doubt about that.
The duel right before departure proved it.
For a rookie who faked his resume to cleanly sever the arms of a veteran mercenary with over a decade of experience? It was unbelievable, even as an eyewitness.
'Well, he has to be at that level for the Saintess to take an interest.'
Darulma smacked his lips as he glanced at the Saintess chattering away next to Yeomyeong.
According to the original plan, the World Tree Crystal was meant to flow naturally to the higher-ups in the Holy Kingdom through the Saintess as a bribe.
That was the intended use devised by the elders of the Dun family. Things had only gone awry due to Darulma's unilateral decision.
But...
Watching the Saintess chat amiably with Yeomyeong, it didn't seem like a bad choice.
At least he felt confident he'd given it to someone far better than the crusty old fogies in the Holy Kingdom.
If the family elders found out, they'd mutter about a "yellow winter" and toss him into the pepper gas chamber, but he didn't care.
Above all, he had something to rely on.
What if, by some slim chance, that guy actually became the Saintess's lover...?
'That would be a massive jackpot.'
It wasn't an impossible scenario.
Just like her father, the Saintess might choose love over duty.
Plus, unlike the Holy Sword, no priest in the Holy Kingdom could steal away her blessing.
Perhaps giving the World Tree Crystal to that guy would turn out to be the best investment of his life...?
'That is, if this expedition succeeds.'
Darulma snapped out of his pleasant fantasies with a sigh and faced reality.
The expedition had only just begun, and the road to success was still long.
He brushed off his seat and stood, checking the truck's tail end. Vultures eyeing the dragon's ribs were visible on the horizon, but the Manchu base was no longer in sight.
This should be far enough. Time to get started.
"Alright, everyone, listen up!"
Darulma gathered the attention inside the truck with his characteristically gruff dwarven voice. Kwon Captain and Kim Mansu led the mercenaries, while the Saintess and Yeomyeong all turned to him.
"First off, my apologies. This mission isn't just about hunting for treasure, as I originally said."
Darulma took a short breath and spoke in a meaningful tone.
"We're going to prevent the fall of Manchuria."
A few mercenaries snickered, thinking it was a joke, but they fell silent upon seeing Kwon Captain's grave expression.
Only then, confirming all eyes on him, did Darulma clear his throat and continue.
"You all remember how Stalin invaded dwarven territory in the past. Spraying poison gas, massacring those who wouldn't surrender, dragging survivors off to the Gulags... that inhumane war."
Some wore expressions of confusion at the sudden history lesson, but Yeomyeong was different. He listened intently to Darulma's words.
"One dwarf who witnessed that war sought revenge against Stalin. Blood for blood. Hatred for hatred. It was a foolish notion, but he put it into action."
When Darulma reached that point, Tianlin raised his hand.
The only local from Manchuria among the mercenaries, he spoke with an incredulous look.
"If he wanted revenge on Stalin, why would Manchuria fall?"
"...Back then, dwarves thought all Earthlings were the same. The UN turned a blind eye, and some communist nations allied with the Soviets to plunder our lands, so it was a reasonable view in its own way."
"Ha."
Reasonable? Tianlin let out a disbelieving scoff, but Darulma added,
"Anyway, his revenge ultimately failed. The Soviet Union had already collapsed, and Stalin had vanished."
Darulma stroked his chin, recalling the time the Soviet Union fell. The moment countless dwarves gaped at the news.
Why had dwarves endured all sorts of contempt on Earth while building their companies? Revenge was the dwarves' one and only long-cherished wish.
But the Soviet Union crumbled on its own, and Stalin disappeared.
Deprived of their purpose, countless dwarves despaired in an empty victory. Darulma's father had been one of them—no need to say more...
"...So, how exactly is he going to destroy Manchuria?"
Yeomyeong cut through Darulma's reverie.
"Dwarves don't have nukes, after all."
"That guy didn't have so much as a napalm bomb. But he did have something like a nuke."
"...Something like a nuke?"
"The Golden Imperial Seal."
Yeomyeong crossed his arms, demanding an explanation. Darulma spoke in a serious tone.
"...It's the symbol of the ancient dwarven royal family. Proof of the leader of all dwarves, and one of the powerful magic artifacts they possessed."
Magic artifact. The moment that term hit, the mercenaries furrowed their brows in unison. One of the three great taboos of the mercenary world flashed in their minds.
Don't touch sealed magic artifacts.
But regardless of the mercenaries' thoughts, Darulma's explanation continued.
"The Golden Imperial Seal is a magic artifact embodying the legend of the first dwarven king who carved out mountains to build underground highways. Infuse it with mana, and it automatically digs through the earth with magic."
Digging through the earth? How could digging destroy Manchuria?
The mercenaries tilted their heads, but the next words made them grimace.
"What do you think happens if you tunnel under a volcano? Or connect one volcano to another?"
"...."
"The vengeful dwarf planned to bore a massive passageway linking every volcano in Manchuria. From the Greater Khingan Range to Mount Paektu. Preparing a colossal chain reaction explosion."
Only then did the mercenaries grasp the gravity, their faces stiffening.
"...Is that even feasible?"
"It might be possible, or it might not. No matter how incredible the Golden Imperial Seal is, no one's ever attempted anything like it."
"Then..."
We can just leave it alone, right? Before the mercenary could finish, Darulma cut in.
"What if it is possible? That dwarf brought the Golden Imperial Seal here decades ago. Even Mount Paektu and the Xing'an Ranges erupting tomorrow wouldn't be surprising."
It sounded unrealistic, which made it all the easier to imagine.
What if every dormant volcano in Manchuria and its vicinity erupted simultaneously?
Everyone in the truck fell silent as if by agreement.
***
"It won't erupt tomorrow."
In the heavy silence of the truck, the Saintess whispered. It was the conviction of the girl blessed with foresight.
Yeomyeong frowned unconsciously and replied.
"...Sounds like it will erupt, though."
"Of course it will. But it won't be total destruction. Just a few million dead in Manchuria, and astronomical economic damage to Korea and Japan from the ash?"
"...."
"After that, Korea loses control over Manchuria and seals off the Yalu River. Manchuria becomes a hunting ground for superhumans."
It was a blatant display of her precognition. Yeomyeong narrowed his eyes and scanned the other mercenaries.
Fortunately, no one seemed to have heard her whisper.
"...Sounds plausible. Did the gods tell you that?"
Yeomyeong feigned ignorance of her foresight ability, replying indifferently.
Was it a simple slip? He had no idea why she'd revealed her precognition to him, but pretending not to know seemed the polite response in this case.
But...
"Something like that. I can see the future. Fragments, though."
"...."
This girl, seriously.
"...You're not surprised? You must've figured it out."
Yeomyeong barely restrained the urge to flick her broad forehead. Why did she live so thoughtlessly?
"No. I'm too shocked to speak."
"...Really? Doesn't seem like it."
As their pointless banter continued, Darulma Dun and Kwon Captain unrolled a map and called the mercenaries over.
Yeomyeong started to follow but realized he didn't know topography and sat back down.
Watching him, the Saintess tilted her head.
"No smartphone, using a map?"
Feeling awkward, Yeomyeong rummaged through his gear bag unnecessarily as he answered.
"GPS doesn't work around northern Manchuria, our destination, so we need to memorize the map."
"Oh, right. But Yeomyeong, why aren't you looking at it?"
Because I can't read maps, obviously. Yeomyeong didn't bother replying.
Perhaps bummed by the sudden lull in conversation, the Saintess turned and fixed her gaze on him. She whispered again, too quietly for the mercenaries to hear.
"You're not illiterate, are you?"
"...I just can't read maps."
"Pfft, worse than illiterate. A mercenary who doesn't know that?"
Yeomyeong unconsciously curled his fingers into a circle. That finger snap Kahal Magdu had shown him.
One good flick to the forehead might shut this mouth.
As he raised his hand with that thought, the Saintess giggled.
"Don't sweat it. If we really get lost, I'll use foresight to find the way."
"...Use foresight instead of a map? How many times a day can you do it?"
"Twice normally? If I squeeze every drop of mana from my body, up to five."
"...."
Not as often as he'd thought. Then again, it made sense. Powerful abilities always came with massive mana costs.
While Yeomyeong pondered, the Saintess stared holes through him.
Even with the blindfold on, her gaze felt intensely direct, like eye contact.
Don't tell me...
"You just used foresight?"
"Uh...."
"Hey, why waste a daily limited ability on something like this..."
As he began to scold her, the Saintess cut him off.
"Yeomyeong, weapons up."
She quietly drew her assault rifle and chambered a round.
Wondering what was happening, Yeomyeong grabbed his Remington MH750 and iron sword from the bag.
"...What did you foresee?"
"Ambush. Weird guys wearing pig heads..."
Pig Head? No further explanation needed. Yeomyeong grabbed his grenades too and asked,
"Time left?"
"5...."
"Damn it."
"4..."
Yeomyeong jumped up and yelled at the mercenaries.
"Ambush! Incoming! Weapons up!"
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