Seven hundred years ago, a great war was waged as every race fought for supremacy. Many tragedies unfolded and some atrocities still left their marks, like scars on an exhausted body. One of them was the creation of the Dead City, a no man’s land where life ceased to exist. Another terrible tragedy was the eradication of the dwarves as they were hunted down for their superior blacksmithing skills.

Or so it was written in history.

“You guys should be extinct.” [Ryner]

“HUH!? YOU ACTUALLY TRUST YOUR HISTORY BOOKS!? THEY’RE FULL OF LIES!” [Dwarf]

A dwarf yelled incredulously at Ryner.

“You guys should be extinct.” [Ryner]

“Humans got short memory and can’t even live for a hundred years! Of course your historians don’t know a thing about us!” [Dwarf]

The dwarf then grumbled a bit mockingly as he took a swig of his liquor-filled mug.

Currently, Ryner was located deep beneath the earth. It wasn’t a dark, gloomy place with dark caverns that were barely lit using torches. Instead, it was an entire city of stone hidden under the earth. Rectangular houses and wide streets filled his view. The accommodations were built on plateaus of different levels and stairs, slopes as well as elevators led to each one. There were large elevators which were platforms of wood and iron lifted up by chains and boulders as counterweights. These contraptions were used to bring large amounts of materials from one level to another.

Ryner watched as dwarves were bringing big crates of steel ingots to the plateau that was ten meters above him. Others were walking on the streets or driving wagons pulled by huge moles the size of a horse. Every dwarven inhabitant was of short stature and had powerful limbs. The men proudly grew a beard and many walked around with various tools like hammers and tongs hanging from their belt. The women and children were the same. Though short in stature, they were all robustly built.

“Hey, you listening?” [Dwarf]

Since the gruff voice sounded angry, Ryner stopped looking outside the window and returned his gaze to the male dwarf sitting on the other side of the table. Unlike the first one he had seen, this man with a middle-aged face had dark red hair cut short and black eyes, though his beard was just as splendid. He also wasn’t shouting all the time and was speaking in the humankin language, so his human guest could understand him. Incidentally, the dwarf with dark brown hair that had originally led the way had already left after shouting that he needed to go back to the blast furnace.

Curiously, Meirith had also ventured off somewhere, stating that she had some business to attend to.

“By the way, I’d like to ask you something serious.” [Ryner]

“What?” [Dwarf]

“Why aren’t you dead?” [Ryner]

“Get off it! We’re alive, kicking and drinking!” [Dwarf]

“No, but, then, when Itham was talking about you dwarves like you were alive, he really meant it. Damn, I should have noticed.” [Ryner]

“Hmph! Looks like the elves’ High Elder nearly let it slip. Maybe I should go up and complain to him.” [Dwarf]

“Isn’t it a pain going up and down Hossylei Nac? Why don’t you just live there?” [Ryner]

“Like there’s any dwarf that’d want to stay in that place for more than a day! There’s no solid rock under your feet or over your head!” [Dwarf]

“Anyway, Dosum-.” [Ryner]

“IT’S DOGUR!” [Dogur]

Dogur shouted and slammed his fist on the table. It looked like he had a quick temper.

“Right, Dogur, why am I here?” [Ryner]

“Can’t even sit down and drink for a moment? Well, who cares. Follow me.” [Dogur]

The two left the house and walked on the street. The city was built like a giant staircase and the highest level had two noticeable structures. Ryner couldn’t see the base, but they looked like giant asparaguses. The reason why he could even see despite being underground was thanks to the countless magic stones lighting the city and to the light shining from above. The ceiling was a hundred meters above his head and a sort of mineral vein that glowed a silver blue streaked through the solid bedrock.

Just like in Hossylei Nac, Ryner was sticking out like a sore thumb. Although there was a lot more hostile glares from the dwarves compared to the elves, and they didn’t stop glaring.

“Don’t mind the looks, Ryner.” [Dogur]

Dogur said as he led the way to an elevator.

“We spread the word that you were gonna visit, so no one’s overreacting with a human in the city. But we still don’t like humans! Hahahaha!” [Dogur]

The dwarf started laughing, making it unclear if he was trying to reassure Ryner, or just insult him. Thankfully, the sleepy-looking man didn’t take it seriously and just shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s fine. Everyone’s so short, I can’t even see their glares.” [Ryner]

“I’LL KILL YOU!” [Dogur]

The two rode up the elevator and moved to the higher level. They continued to walk while sometimes yelling as they headed towards the towers on the highest platform.

“Well, honestly speaking, even though I said not to mind the looks, you should be careful. It’s only been seven hundred years since my kind was hunted down. My grandfather lived through it and if he was alive, he would have split your head in half. Watch your back, stick close to me and stay away from our folks.” [Dogur]

“Sounds just like my hometown, only with dwarves, giant moles and no trash. I already feel like living here.” [Ryner]

“Haha! Don’t even try it! Your hometown and a dwarven town are completely different! You won’t last a day!” [Dogur]

While Dogur was busy laughing heartily, Ryner was considering various things, mainly the fact that dwarves still existed, unlike what he had read, and the repercussions it could have if it was discovered.

“(So dwarves are still alive… Hmm, maybe I can use them.)” [Ryner]

But, also, if the dwarves of this world truly were skilled blacksmiths and what they could create with what materials.

“I’m guessing the elves are sheltering you like with the amazons.” [Ryner]

“Damn right. If it wasn’t for them, we might really have returned to the earth. Every race was trying to kill each other and they wanted us to forge the weapons and armors they needed to do so. Well, it’s understandable since dwarves are the best. But, instead of paying us, they wanted our obedience, and if not, killed us out of fear that we’d work for their enemies! Idiots! The lot of them!” [Dogur]

“What if some of your kind got enslaved and are forced to make weapons even now?” [Ryner]

“Ha! Fat chance! If they are, then they’re probably dead after seven hundred years, but we’d rather die than be kept as pets! On that, we’re the same as those wild amazons!” [Dogur]

“So dwarves and amazons both commit suicide upon capture. Good to know.” [Ryner]

“That’s one way to put it. Amazons die flashily. If you’re lucky, you’ll never get to see it.” [Dogur]

“Damn, that sounds awesome. I kind of want to now.” [Ryner]

Led by Dogur, the two reached the highest level of the city and stood in front of one of the two towers. Upon closer look, the structure was about fifty meters high. Its top was made of multiple parts that resembled thin, sharp leaves.

“This here one of our only two blast furnaces.” [Dogur]

Dogur told Ryner with pride in his voice. The human stared at the asparagus-like tower and tilted his head.

“Doesn’t look like a blast furnace.” [Ryner]

“It’s dwarven. Built to heat up even the hardest of ores. Not like your inferior human contraptions.” [Dogur]

“Oh… You guys compensating for something else?” [Ryner]

“Huh…? I’LL KILL YOU, DAMN IT!!!” [Dogur]

“What are you imagining? Come on, tell me. I promise I won’t laugh.” [Ryner]

“YA PICKING A FIGHT, HUMAN BRAT?!” [Dogur]

“Who are you calling a brat, bearded brat?!” [Ryner]

As they entered through the rather short door and into the circular room, a roaring heat and cacophony assaulted Ryner. Set in the middle was a big furnace connected to a chimney that went all the way straight to the top. A bit of light from the intense flames leaked out despite the thick, heavy lid blocking the furnace’s opening.

The room itself, though spacious, became crammed and messy because of all of the tools and objects that it contained. Tables, tongs, anvils, barrels and hammers were amongst the many things that filled the place. The ten or so dwarves that were working stopped what they were doing and stared at the two new faces. Because of the heat, most of them were bare-chested.

Ryner didn’t feel trapped even underground because of the city’s well-designed layout and the high ceiling glowing faintly. However, inside the hot room, he was now feeling confined, mainly because of the sweaty, topless and bearded men that were full of muscles.

Seeming to have been informed of their visit, no one appeared surprised at seeing a human, though a few did shoot out hostile glares.

“DOGUR, YOU’RE LATE!” [Dwarf]

One of the dwarves loudly shouted at Dogur to which he angrily countered.

“Shut it, Galur! We never set a time to meet!” [Dogur]

“YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO SHOW UP RIGHT AWAY!” [Galur]

“I’m here, aren’t I?! Now stop screaming! I can hear you fine!” [Dogur]

After that short exchanged that served as a greeting, Dogur guided Ryner to one of the tables and placed something on it.

“You recognize it?” [Dogur]

It was a lump the size of a baseball that glowed a silver blue light.

“A power stone?” [Ryner]

“What the hell are you spewing? It’s mithril. You humans still call it that, don’t ya?” [Dogur]

“Mithril…?! Oh yeah, I remember now! That stuff’s delicious. I used to eat it all the time-.” [Ryner]

“If you don’t know, then just say so! I’ll bash your head in!” [Dogur]

“… You’d have to reach my head first.” [Ryner]

“What’d you say?!” [Dogur]

“Nothing.” [Ryner]

Dogur didn’t look too happy with Ryner’s joke. He then exasperatedly told him about the ore as he knocked on it twice. According to him, the city was built under a mithril vein, which was the streak of silver blue light that was over their heads. The dwarf explained how mithril was good at conducting mana, which made it much more effective than regular steel for crafting weapons. It was ideal for those who fought using magic to enhance their equipment.

“DOGUR, IS IT REALLY ALRIGHT TO SHOW IT TO HIM?!” [Dwarf]

In the middle of his explanations, someone interrupted him.

“HE’S A HUMAN! HE’LL GO CRAZY FOR MITHRIL AND KILL US ALL!!” [Dwarf]

The culprit was a dwarf with short black hair and a beard. He was constantly glaring at Ryner and seemed just about ready to swing his hammer. However, Dogur just sighed loudly at his rudeness as if he expected it.

“I keep telling you all to stop screaming! Ryner, this guy’s just a fledging. Not even eighty years old. You mind turning a blind eye to his attitude… HEY WAIT A MINUTE, MALUR!” [Dogur]

Suddenly, Dogur roared and hit the shouting dwarf, Malur, on the head. It was a merciless strike that caused the fledging, who was eighty years old and looked like a middle-aged man, to yell in pain and crouch down while holding his head.

“WHY IS THERE A BOTTLE OF WINE IN YOUR POUCH!!?” [Dogur]

Apparently, the cause was because he noticed the bottle of liquor that Malur was carrying.

“H-HUH?! I FORGOT TO LEAVE IT HOME!” [Malur]

“YOU IDIOT! DON’T DRINK ON THE JOB! YOU’RE HERE TO LEARN, SO LEARN PROPERLY!!!” [Dogur]

Dogur snatched the bottle from Malur and, despite what he just said, drank its contents in a moment.

“YOU BETTER TELL ME IF YOU’VE GOT ANYMORE STASHED!” [Dogur]

“DAMMIT, DOGUR! THAT WAS ELVEN HONEY WINE!!! MY LAST BOTTLE!!!” [Malur]

“*BUUURP* I KNOW! IT WAS GREAT! GAHAHAHA!” [Dogur]

“NOOOOO!!!” [Malur]

The other dwarves then started complaining to the laughing Dogur, telling him that he should leave disciplining the wailing young man to them. However, their real motive, which was to snatch some free liquor under the guise of punishment, was pretty obvious. Seeing this, Malur hurriedly returned to his work in a panic. But, he had time to squeeze in one last glare at Ryner, to which the human replied by waving at him in a carefree manner, though it also looked like he was shooing him away. Malur really wanted to shout at him, especially since the hateful human was just yawning away his animosity as if he wasn’t important. But, he chose to protect his booze over exacting his anger. After all, booze was more important.

“Now, where were we before that lad showed up?” [Dogur]

“The power ston-.” [Ryner]

“IT’S CALLED MITHRIL, DAMNN IT!!!” [Dogur]

“Do you even get the ref-?” [Ryner]

Dogur slammed the table, interrupting him.

“Did you find it?!” [Dogur]

He asked, both angrily and anxiously, as he intently gazed at Ryner.

“Find it? The lost city of Atlantis or El Dorado? If it’s the first, I sunk it by accident. The other one got crushed by a giant golden bal-.” [Ryner]

“Not that! The elves let you enter the Forbidden Tomb, didn’t they?! You went inside that ruin, didn’t ya?! That means you were looking for one, right!” [Dogur]

The dwarf leaned closed to Ryner, though he was smaller, so he had to look up. His sharp eyes full of incredulity and hope strongly gazed at his sleepy face. It also felt like the air in the room turned still as everyone focused their attention on them.

“You… Did you find an Artifact?” [Dogur]

“Huh? You brought me all the way down here for that?” [Ryner]

“Why else would we let a human enter our city!?” [Dogur]

He hammered the table with his huge fist. The surface looked like it was about to crack.

“We want to study those magic weapons in the ruins!” [Dogur]

“Then ask the elves to buy one for you.” [Ryner]

“They don’t want to because of their crazy beliefs! And only a fool would sell one for gold!” [Dogur]

“Why not? You’d be instantly rich and set for life.” [Ryner]

The dark brown-haired dwarf, who got worked up, slammed the table again. This time, cracks really did appear, but no one paid it any attention.

“Listen! There are weapons forged from materials that can absorb and conduct mana more effectively, making them deadlier than your run-of-the-mill steel sword! We’ve got orichalcum, mithril, adamantium, hell, I even made a dragon fang sword before! But, not one, NOT ONE, can hold a candle to those Artifacts! No matter how hard we try, even with every dwarf working day and night, we can’t make a true magic weapon! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?!” [Dogur]

“Yeah, sure, whatever! Now stop shaking me!” [Ryner]

While Dogur was violently shaking Ryner by the arms, the other dwarves present in the room just wholeheartedly nodded their head.

“A WEAPON THAT CAN CREATE FIRE?! CREATE ICE!? LIGHTNING!? AND HOW THE HELL DOES HOLDING ONE MAKE YOU STRONGER!?! IT MAKES NO SENSE!!!” [Dogur]

Just like Dogur, many had bitter expression. The screaming dwarf wasn’t mad, but frustrated that none of his works were a match to the Artifacts. His race had gotten ahold of an Artifact before, but it was lost during the time his people were persecuted. Still, it didn’t serve much purpose since his ancestors apparently couldn’t understand how the magic weapon was forged. They couldn’t replicate it and that greatly wounded their pride as blacksmiths. Dogur, and many like him, wanted to achieve what their ancestors couldn’t.

Forging a magic weapon that was on par with an Artifact.

“WHAT’S THE PRINCIPLE BEHIND IT!!? THE FORGING PROCESS!!? DAMNNIT, I DON’T KNOW!!! BUT WE DWARVES WILL SUCCEED IN MAKING ONE TOO!!! WE WILL, YA HEAR!!!” [Dogur]

“Yeah, but I seriously don’t care so let go already!” [Ryner]

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YA DON’T CARE!!? THIS IS ABOUT OUR PRIDE AS THE BEST BLACKSMITHS!!!” [Dogur]

“Turn into a beauty and I’ll at least pretend to listen!” [Ryner]

“THAT’S ALL YOU CARE ABOUT!!? WHERE’S YOUR PRIDE AS A MAN!!?” [Dogur]

“Ah, also, be rich and support me for life.” [Ryner]

“OI!!! WE NEED TO FIX THIS BASTARD’S ATTITUDE! SOMEONE!! BRING A BARREL OF ALE!!!” [Dogur]

“““ALRIGHT!!!””” [Dwarves]

“HUH?! YOU ALL CAN DRINK BUT I CAN’T!?!” [Malur]

After Dogur finally stopped screaming, which was mostly caused by Ryner, and the ale was drunk, which was mostly done by the dwarves, they finally got down to business.

“IT’S AN ARTIFAAAACT!!!” [Dogur]

Dogur screamed as he held the spear Ryner passed him in his hands while trembling from excitement.

“LET ME SEE! Hmm, it doesn’t look like it’s made of mithril…” [Dwarf]

“PASS IT HERE! I don’t think it’s adamanti-.” [Dwarf]

“NO, OVER HERE! I’LL TELL YOU HOW TO MAKE IT!” [Dwarf]

“SHUT UP AND WAIT YOUR TURN, AMATEUR!” [Dwarf]

“WHO YOU CALLING YOUR MOTHER?!!” [Dwarf]

“WHAT’D YOU SAAAYY!!?” [Dwarf]

The other dwarves scrambled to get a good look at it as they shouted at each other. A few threw some punches as well, but the others ignored them and only focused on the spear. Having lost to Dogur’s annoying pleas and expectant eyes, Ryner showed him the magic spear that he acquired a few days earlier. Although it was weird how he pulled out a weapon from behind his back, the dwarves mostly forgot about such a trivial detail the moment they saw the magic spear.

Dogur, under the sparkling and slightly bloodthirsty eyes of the other blacksmiths, wielded the Artifact and tested out its capabilities.

“I can feel it. My body feels lighter thanks to this spear’s enchantments. DAMN IT! HOW DOES IT WORK!? Ohhh! The air feels cold around the blade and… Ohhhh! There’s a layer of ice on the table where I stabbed it! DAMN IT! I DON’T KNOW! I DON’T KNOW HOW THIS SPEAR WAS FORGED!!!” [Dogur]

He looked both happy and frustrated as he muttered and shouted to himself alternatively. His fellow comrades shared his feelings and exchanged their opinions and ideas after examining the Artifact. Everyone was bent on making a weapon with similar properties. Ryner watched them all without really caring if they succeeded or not. That was also why he showed them the Artifact. It didn’t mean much to him, unlike the Heaven’s Blades.

And more importantly, the dwarves agreed to give him something in return.

“You guys better keep your word.” [Ryner]

“Yeah, yeah, now let us work! It’s a long awaited magic weapon! Just how advanced was the civilization before us? Was it a team of blacksmiths? Or a never before seen prodigy forged all these Artifacts? Or MAYBE, they’re really gifts from the gods?!” [Dogur]

“Don’t know.” [Ryner]

“I wasn’t asking ya!” [Dogur]

Dogur praised the creator of the Artifacts, not knowing that he was standing in the same room as him with a sleepy expression.

After a while, the dwarves, having come to some sort of conclusion, started moving instead of crowding around the magic spear. In the middle of the room, where the furnace stood imposingly, a dwarf grabbed the lever sticking out on the side. After waiting for one blacksmith to grab the wheel on the opposite side and another one to stand in front of the furnace with large, metal tongs in his hands, he pulled the lever down. The furnace’s roar explosively rose and the air itself shook in response. Everyone in the room was overwhelmed by the sound of flames raging inside. Still, they patiently waited and endured until the dwarf in charge of the lever pulled it up after a minute or so, which caused the flames’ roar to subside.

Then, the dwarf on the other side turned the wheel and the thick, heavy lid covering the furnace’s mouth was lifted up. Intense, blinding white light leaked out and the bearded man standing by in front of it squinted. However, he didn’t flinch and, with experienced hands, stuck his heavy tongs in the blazing heat, pulling out an ingot that was glowing white. A moment later, he tossed it behind him, letting the ingot tumble on the floor. His tongs were already red hot from the short exposure to the furnace’s heat.

Like an unending chain, another blacksmith quickly picked up the ingot with large tongs and placed it on a black anvil where two dwarves with hammers were waiting. These two men swiftly began to hammer the heated ore alternatively in a constant rhythm. The ingot was quickly losing its shape and taking a new form by powerful dwarven hands.

Before Ryner’s eyes, they were forging a weapon like a well-oiled machine. Despite the shouting and quarreling from earlier, all of the dwarves were moving as one without uttering a word, displaying their teamwork and prowess as blacksmiths.

A dozen minutes later, they brought the finished product, which was the blade of a spear, next to the Artifact and compared them. Although the two tips looked identical, the dwarven forged one possessed a beautiful silver luster to it that the magic spear lacked. However, its appearance didn’t matter since, in this case, it was an unsatisfactory result.

“IT DOESN’T COME CLOSE TO IT!” [Dogur]

Dogur roughly scratched his head and looked beaten.

“I TOLD YOU THE SECRET’S IN THE SHAFT!” [Galur]

Galur loudly suggested with his arms crossed and glared at the magic spear.

“HUH?! OF COURSE IT EXCEEDS A RAFT!” [Dogur]

But, it doesn’t seem like his fellow blacksmiths could hear him properly.

“WHY THE HELL SHOULD WE MIX IN A CALF!?” [Galur]

Nor could he hear them well.

The dwarves, who were now all shouting, once more exchanged ideas and opinions while being grumpy and discontent at how inferior their prototype was. Even though it was great enough that royalties would beg to buy it at a high price, their pride as blacksmiths saw it as a failure. Creating magic weapons was still a task too difficult for them.

Ryner quietly watched them from a corner of the room. As they delve into the secrets behind making one of his weapons, the sleepy-looking man was more preoccupied with something else.

“(Maybe this is why the first dwarf was always shouting.)” [Ryner]

He thought to himself while rubbing his ears that were ringing from the roar of the furnace.

“(My ears hurt.)” [Ryner]

“OI, RYNER! YOU GOT ANYMORE ARTIFACTS?!!” [Dogur]

Luckily, he could read lips, so he understood what Dogur was rudely saying to him, but he pretended not to.

“SHUT UP, I CAN’T HEAR YOU!!” [Ryner]

“WHAAT?!! WHAT’D YOU SAY!!?” [Dogur]

“YOUR ASPARAGUS FURNACE NEARLY BLEW MY EARS OFF!!” [Ryner]

“THERE’RE TWELVE MONTHS IN A YEAR! WHY?!!” [Dogus]

“HOW THE HELL DID YOU INTERPRET THAT?!!” [Ryner]

“SPEAK UP, DAMN IT! I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” [Dogur]

“WHATEVER!!!” [Ryner]

Having left Jadistro, a caravan was steadily advancing on the beaten path. Wagons were carrying food, water and other items neatly packed in boxes and wrapped in cloth. Except for the guards, the men and women riding aboard the vehicles were dressed ordinarily. They also looked like ordinary travelers. However, every single one of them was a skilled and experienced fighter. Furthermore, they were each chosen for the mission that they were currently undertaking.

Among them, sitting in a carriage was Gerard and Lovel.

“Ham, stop running and ride a carriage normally.” [Gerard]

The dark grey-haired man said to Hames, who was running next to their carriage.

“It’s Hames! And I’m training, master.” [Hames]

“You’re needlessly tiring yourself out.” [Gerard]

“Listen to Gerard, Ham.” [Lovel]

The short blonde-haired woman wearing glasses spoke up next to him.

“You’ll be even more useless than usual once we reach the swampland.” [Lovel]

“Hames, I said! And it’s because of your bad attitude that you’re still not married, Lovel-gwah!!” [Hames]

The young man with black hair suddenly got hit by a shard of ice in the face and tumbled down. The one who instantly conjured such magic, Lovel, adjusted her glasses and huffed.

“Training and he can’t even avoid something like that? Despite his large mana pool and talent, that idiot’s still lacking. We should have kicked him off this mission.” [Lovel]

“Pouting because he hit the mark?” [Gerard]

Lovel turned her face away from Gerard’s teasing smile.

“I don’t care about such things.” [Lovel]

She muttered in a sulking tone. The man sitting beside her laughed before putting his arm over her shoulders and pulling her into his chest.

“We’ll have time for that later.” [Gerard]

“… Stop it. People can see… And your stubbles itch.” [Lovel]

The tanned-skinned woman, who was nearly a decade younger than her companion, calmly pushed him away, though her cheeks were slightly flushed.

“At any rate, unlike Ham who’s being an idiot like always, we can’t let our guard down. Even with all our men, the new weapons and the help from our guide, there’s no guarantee that the mission will succeed.” [Lovel]

“It’ll be fine. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?” [Gerard]

“ACHOO!!!” [Ryner]

“RYNER, WHY ARE YOU SNEEZING IN THIS BLASTED HEAT?!” [Dogur]

“MAYBE BECAUSE THIS PLACE SUCKS! CLEAN IT UP!!” [Ryner]

“THIRTY DAYS IN A MONTH! QUIT ASKING ME THESE DUMB QUESTIONS!!!” [Dogur]

“FREAKING WEAR EARMUFFS, DAMN IT!!” [Ryner]