Chapter 177
“What, what?”
Pavel looked incredulously at Sloytle and the dwarf warriors alternately.
‘How dare re ground beetles revolt?’
But it was hard to laugh it off when the grueso reality of the soldiers lying around him was all too real. Pavel took a step back and shouted.
“D-Don’t move! With a re flick of my hand, all of their heads will fly off!”
Pavel raised his hand, drawing upon his magical power. He planned to imdiately recite the incantation if there was even the slightest sign of movent.
‘Hmph! If I behead about ten of them, they won’t dare to challenge !’
Sloytle nodded and replied.
“I know. That’s why we didn’t act recklessly before.”
“What?”
Pavel frowned at Sloytle’s overly nonchalant response. He felt an ominous sensation. At that mont, he noticed another group of dwarves appearing behind Sloytle. Unlike the warriors, these five dwarves had short, stout bodies covered by robes.
The newly appeared dwarves extended their hands forward and began to chant.
“Pnia Arlhaide Egast…”
“Clear flow…”
“Co to my hand, follow my will…”
“Block the openings…”
“Seal the unbound once more!”
Pavel’s eyes widened.
“D-Dwarves using magic?”
In the past, when Repenhardt had stayed at the Grand Forge, he had picked out promising dwarves and taught them the basics of magic. This was the Grand Forge’s magical battalion.
Since then, they had occasionally visited the Duchy of Antares to study under Repenhardt, gradually improving their skills. Though dwarves were slow learners, they had all reached the level of 2nd circle thanks to their excellent teacher.
The dwarves chanted their incantation in unison.
“Rune Oppression!”
Suppressive magic shot towards Pavel. He tried to activate the magic imbued in his collar, but the dwarves had already suppressed his magical field, preventing him from casting the spell. Though Pavel was only a 4th circle rural mage, the combined power of the five dwarves was enough to overpower his magical field.
“Ugh!”
Pavel groaned as his magic was suppressed. Sloytle swiftly leaped forward.
Thwack!
Sloytle’s thick fist struck Pavel’s solar plexus, causing him to lose consciousness instantly. As the unconscious Pavel was thrown to the ground, Sloytle shouted towards the mine.
“We are the warriors of the Grand Forge! We have co to rescue you, Steelhamr Clan!”
The oppressed dwarves began to erge, their expressions filled with disbelief. The dwarf mages gestured to them.
“Co forward one by one! We will release the magical shackles around your necks!”
The n of the Steelhamr Clan lined up, their faces bright with hope. The dwarf mages, holding small pieces of parchnt, began to unfasten the collars in order, occasionally glancing at the parchnt.
“Ah, so this is how it’s done. Harun Baide Takara…”
“I am the one who unbinds the flow…”
“Let it flow unbound…”
The parchnts contained a specific dispelling spell prepared by Repenhardt. Though the shackles’ magic was of the 4th circle, knowing the solution allowed them to dispel it with their 2nd circle abilities.
Clink! Clink! Clink clink!
All around, the collars fell to the ground with tallic sounds. As they saw the cursed shackles finally released, the Steelhamr Clan burst into cheers.
“Oooooh!”
“At last!”
Everyone wore expressions of deep emotion. So even shed tears. Among them, a dwarf man nad Rataik spoke to Sloytle in a worried voice.
“But we have hostages! If they find out we’ve dealt with these people…”
Sloytle responded softly.
“Do not worry, brethren. Our comrades have already gone to the other side.”
* * *
About one kiloter away from Kelberen Castle, there was the entrance to a large underground cave.
A small girl was swinging a giant axe that was disproportionate to her small fra.
“Taah!”
The thick axe blade struck the cheeks of two soldiers in quick succession. The soldiers, as if slapped by steel, spat out their teeth and fainted instantly. The girl then swung her axe and lunged at the other soldiers. With each swing of the axe through the air, a storm seed to blow, and the soldiers fell one after another.
“Argh…”
The last soldier couldn’t even let out a scream before collapsing to the ground. Finally, the small girl, Tilla, wiped the sweat from her forehead as she put away her axe.
“Alright, all taken care of.”
With that, all the surveillance forces in the vicinity were dealt with. Tilla hurriedly ran inside the cave.
Descending the stairs, she soon ca upon a massive cavern, 40 ters high. This was her ho, the residence of the Steelhamr Clan.
Suddenly, Tilla’s eyes welled up with tears.
“Ah…”
It had been less than a year since she left, but it felt like a long ti since she had returned. As she stood there, filled with emotion, an old voice reached her ears.
“What is all this commotion about?”
It was a familiar voice. Tilla shouted.
“Grandpa Hetos!”
A white-haired dwarf elder saw her and exclaid in surprise.
“Tilla? How are you here?”
“Lord Repenhardt sent . He told to co and save everyone.”
“Oh! The savior!”
Tears glistened in the old dwarf’s brown eyes.
“The ti has finally co to leave this place.”
Hetos turned hurriedly.
“Right, I must contact Priest Gelfide.”
Following behind him, Tilla nodded.
“Yes, please gather everyone quickly.”
“Understood!”
Priest Gelfide, upon eting Tilla, quickly spread the word throughout the village. The village wasn’t very large, so soon all the elders, won, and children were gathered in one place. They carried only a few basic necessities.
Tilla gestured to the clan.
“To the river.”
The village of the Steelhamr Clan had a secret tunnel leading to the river. It was the very tunnel through which Repenhardt had floated down. Following Tilla’s lead, the sixty-odd villagers made their way through the tunnel to the riverbank.
By the riverbank, over a hundred dwarves were already gathered. They were the dwarves from the Grand Forge and the n of the Steelhamr Clan whom they had rescued. Those reunited with their families cried tears of joy as they ran to each other.
“Oh! Pala!”
“Honey!”
“Primo!”
“Dad!”
Tears and laughter of reunion flowed everywhere, and Tilla was no exception in sharing this joy.
“Tilla!”
One of the rescued dwarf n saw her and exclaid in surprise. Tilla’s face lit up, and she ran towards him, throwing herself into his arms.
“Dad!”
“Hahaha!”
Rataik laughed heartily, holding his beloved daughter tightly. Looking at Tilla’s ample chest, he spoke contentedly.
“My daughter, you’ve grown so much. You could get married now.”
If a human father had said such a thing while looking at his daughter’s particular body part, he would be locked up imdiately, but among the dwarves, this was normal. Wiping away her tears, Tilla nodded.
“Yeah, yeah!”
anwhile, Sloytle watched the entire scene with a pleased smile. His heart was full. The scene he had dread of was now unfolding before his eyes. An old dwarf priest approached him.
“I am Gelfide. You said you are a warrior from the Grand Forge?”
“Yes, Priest. I am Sloytle.”
While the others were overwheld with the joy of reunion, Gelfide, as befitted a priest, remained calm. He looked around with concern and asked.
“What will you do now? This area is full of human villages. If such a large number of us move, we will be caught soon.”
“Don’t worry. It’s almost ti.”
“Ti?”
Sloytle walked towards the river, leaving the puzzled Gelfide behind. He raised his hamr and began to draw upon his aura.
Wuuung!
A pale green aura rose, illuminating the night sky. Sloytle swung his hamr a few tis. Then, from the darkness across the river, a faint light flickered.
Gelfide, squinting his old eyes in curiosity, asked.
“What is that?”
The light gradually approached the riverbank, revealing the silhouette of a large vessel. Several riverboats were moving up and down the river, heading towards the bank.
“How did the Grand Forge prepare even the ships?”
To Gelfide’s question, Sloytle shook his head.
“They weren’t prepared by the Grand Forge.”
As the boats drew closer, the dwarves could see they were manned by a mixture of humans and dwarves, working together to guide the vessels to shore. Sloytle continued explaining.
“These ships were arranged by Lord Repenhardt’s allies. They’ve been coordinating with us for this rescue operation.”
Gelfide’s eyes widened in understanding and relief. The ships docked, and the mixed crews began helping the dwarves onto the boats. The sight of humans and dwarves working together was a testant to the alliances and friendships that had been forged.
“Everyone, get on the boats! We need to move quickly before we’re discovered!”
With a renewed sense of urgency, the Steelhamr Clan and their rescuers boarded the boats. Families huddled together, and friends supported each other, ready to embark on the next stage of their journey.
As the boats drew closer, the shape of the ships beca clearer. Seeing the rowers on the boats, the dwarves began to murmur. Hetos asked in astonishnt.
“Are those humans?”
A voice called out from the ship.
“Minister! We’ve docked the boats by the river!”
“Well done.”
With a cheerful voice, a man jumped off the deck. He was a human man with a thick, black beard covering his face. Standing on the riverbank, he shouted to the dwarves.
“Rest assured! We are your allies! We’ve brought these boats to help you leave this place!”
The dwarves’ murmurs grew louder. They looked at each other in confusion.
“Allies?”
“A human, our ally?”
Though it was hard to believe, it was clear that this man had co to help the dwarves. Gradually, the dwarves began to look at him with cautious goodwill.
Leaving Rataik’s side, Tilla ran towards the human man. In a lodious voice, she called out.
“Karl!”
“Tilla!”
Karl bead and reached out for Tilla. She leapt into his arms. Despite the 40-centiter difference in their heights, he lifted her, holding her close so their eyes t.
Karl smiled gently as he looked into Tilla’s eyes.
“I was worried about you.”
With a bashful smile, Tilla kissed Karl on the lips. After the kiss, she whispered with an emotional expression.
“You could have sent your subordinates, given how busy you are.”
“Haha, how could I miss eting your family?”
anwhile, Rataik stood with his mouth agape, stunned.
“Wha-wha-what is that?”
Who was that human? And what was with that affectionate atmosphere?
In the short ti he hadn’t seen her, his precious daughter had gotten attached to so man!
Tilla approached Rataik and introduced them.
“Karl, this is my father. Father, this is my beloved Karl.”
Of course, Rataik was still in shock. Karl bowed politely and greeted him.
“Nice to et you, father-in-law.”
The words snapped Rataik out of his stupor, and he bellowed.
“Wh-who said you’re my son-in-law?!”
* * *
Diallo, the largest city in the western part of the Hallein Kingdom.
Diallo was an industrial city focused on paper and textiles. The city produced paper and Hallein fabric, two of the kingdom’s main exports. The production of the most important chemicals for making paper and fabric was handled by alchemists, so naturally, the city had a branch of alchemists.
In the city center stood the Diallo branch of “Santa’s Tears.”
The enormous building was currently engulfed in smoke and explosions.
“Ivory Tusk is over there!”
“Throw the firebombs!”
Alchemists lined up in the front yard threw ceramic jars simultaneously. Explosions erupted in the front yard.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A shadow quickly moved through the thick smoke. A blue-skinned troll erged from the smoke, charging at the alchemists. More than thirty warriors stood in its way, all mbers of the guild.
“You monstrous fiend!”
“You shall not pass!”
The warriors brandished their spears and swords, pushing back against the troll. The troll began to move as if dancing, singing a strange song as it fought them.
“A Tumhui Raba Forinchi Mundo Namantachi…”
It bared its eerie tusks, spinning like a windmill, kicking the warriors and slashing at them with its sharp claws. Groans of pain echoed around.
“Ugh!”
“Argh!”
However, none of the warriors died. Thanks to their expensive full plate mail armor, they were able to withstand the troll’s attacks. Despite being thrown around, they effectively blocked the troll’s movents.
Seizing an opportunity, one warrior shouted.
“Firebombs again!”
Nurous ceramic jars were thrown at the troll once more. Explosions erupted throughout the garden, with flas lighting up the night sky. Fearful of the flas, the troll began to retreat. One of the alchemists shouted triumphantly.
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