Chapter 144

Chapter 144
Chapter 144
To the Roselia Cathedral (1)

Clang—! Clang—! Clang!

The rhythm of striking metal reverberated steadily through the room thick with blistering warmth.

Sizzle—

Shaping, cooling, hardening…

The intricate and rigorous procedures advanced flawlessly without a single pause.

“Whew…”

And at last, when every stage had reached fulfillment,

The exact instant a sword was brought to life by joining a prepared grip to the sharpened edge after grinding,

《The individual gains enlightenment through repeated training. You have acquired the skill “Metallurgy”.》

…Dwarf Howard was at last acknowledged as a ‘blacksmith’ by the framework.

“Oh ho, it’s finally here! Uhuhut—!”

The reality that an ability transformed into a ‘skill’ through practice indicated that the force accumulated in that deed had surpassed a specific threshold.

It stood as one of the benefits of an awakened entity who had traveled from an alternate world, providing extra rewards whenever they executed corresponding duties, assisting them in developing more fluidly.

And he had accomplished it in a mere matter of weeks while simultaneously managing the duties of Hubert’s Trading Company.

Howard gazed at his hand gripping the tool and slowly digested the feeling.

A delicate shift in his hold was identified by the Dwarf’s perceptive senses.

And he could naturally perceive that he was now capable of managing equipment more accurately, productively, and effortlessly.

‘Hmm, good. The harmony with “Craftsmanship” is also substantial. And this is additionally an ability that expands with gathered experience, so the impact will turn out even more potent as time moves forward.’

The timing of obtaining the ability was also highly convenient.

Tomorrow marked the day he would be presented to Dwarf Zaonic through Harley, who had journeyed back to Tarak.

‘And unlike before, the conditions at the Iron Fortress have settled down.’

The Iron Fortress, which had been in a perilous state immediately following the insanity occurrence, was at last able to breathe a sigh of relief as reinforcements began to show up one after another.

And they even possessed unforeseen leisure because the beast onslaught had drastically fallen, perhaps owing to the impact of the Rohan Duchy occurrence.

So he was intending to handle everything he had been delaying all at once.

‘Before Harley departs for the Roselia Cathedral, I must present Howard to Zaonic and claim the new axe.’

Count Aonia had pledged him a fresh instrument previously.

Zaonic raised no objections when he learned that it was an instrument for Harley and instantly relocated to his studio in Tarak to begin production.

And now, after several weeks, he had at last gotten word that the axe was finalized.

Initially, Zaonic was intending to personally convey the instrument to the Iron Fortress…

‘But since there was also word from the temple, we resolved that Harley would personally journey to Tarak tomorrow to claim it. And present Howard as well.’

That’s the reason he was even more delighted to have secured “Metallurgy” now.

At the very least he wouldn’t be informed that he lacked even the fundamentals.

And so, a day rolled by with eager awaiting.

Howard, who had concluded his duties at the firm as customary, made his way toward the central workshop owned by Tarak City with Harley.

‘It’s only a few days until Hubert comes back. It was quite a holdup because I had to shift Hans around.’

Naturally, he would have to devise security measures to avert identical occurrences from happening in the future, but for the moment, he was content that matters were reverting to normalcy.

Murmur, murmur—

“Hey, glance over there.”

“Ah— It’s Harley, the celebrated guy these days. He’s back in Tarak?… Huh? But what’s that…?”

“A Dwarf?”

Looks were pulled toward them as they boldly paced down the main avenue.

Harley, who stood over two meters tall, and Howard, whose stature didn’t even reach his midsection, pacing side by side, drew substantial notice, but they were no longer troubled by this degree of curiosity.

They reached the workshop and were immediately ushered inside in accordance with their pre-arranged meeting.

And Harley was at last able to reconnect with Zaonic after a lengthy separation.

“Hahaha! It’s been a while, Zaonic! How have things been?”

“…Huh? Oh! Yes, it’s been a while. I caught wind of your deeds. I’m pleased you’re well!”

But his demeanor was peculiar.

More accurately, he had been displaying a delicate response since the instant he observed Howard, whom Harley had brought along.

“…Right, is this the Dwarf you wished to present? He’s certainly a very youthful fellow.”

And his attention, which had been drifted while speaking to Harley, shifted back to Howard.

As though he couldn’t prevent himself from being intrigued.

“Ahem! Pleased to meet you, sir! I’m Howard.”

“…Yes, pleased to meet you. I’m Zaonic Steelstone.”

The disparity was unbelievable for a dialogue between two figures with dense, heavy facial hair, but it was an entirely ordinary dialogue from the view of fellow Dwarves.

To Harley, who belonged to a different race, they merely appeared like hairy figures of comparable maturity, but to Howard, Zaonic appeared like a seasoned, good-looking middle-aged figure.

In contrast, Zaonic would view him as a young, green youngster.

‘He’s been behaving peculiarly since earlier. It doesn’t appear critical, but it’s delicate.’

His response wasn’t simply because he was encountering a fellow Dwarf after a lengthy gap.

It was more close and sentimental…

“Ahem, it might sound peculiar if I suddenly state this…”

At that instant, Zaonic cleared his throat and carefully uttered.

“…Have you ever observed me before?”

“Hmm, I’ve been traveling about since I was young, but you’re the first of our kind I’ve encountered.”

“Then your guardians…”

“Yes, they passed away when I was little, and I’ve been solitary ever since. Until I met Harley.”

At that juncture, Harley was about to commence recounting the chronicle of ‘Harley’s Great Adventure’, Act 5, Scene 2, ‘Meeting with the Wandering Dwarf’, but…

“…I see. That’s… that must be it.”

Zaonic was still trapped in reflection, whispering to himself.

“Ah, I ask for leniency. I just don’t perceive you as a stranger. It’s… yes, it’s like a male offspring or grandchild who went on a lengthy voyage has come back. Naturally, I’m unattached! Hahaha!”

“Ah, I see. Uhuhut!”

“Hahaha! I assumed you had relatives you were torn from!”

Zaonic offered a forced chuckle, perhaps sensing that the environment had grown somber owing to him.

Howard and Harley also chuckled along so he wouldn’t feel uneasy, but they were rapidly examining the environment internally.

‘Don’t tell me… is it Elinne’s pull?’

Elinne, the divine instrument of pickaxes, which Dwarf Zaonic had meticulously forged and valued like an offspring for a long duration.

It was the agent that structured the basis for Howard’s creation.

‘Reflecting on it that way, he’s essentially his grandchild.’

As an artisan, it appeared like he perceived something toward Howard, who was linked to the handiwork he had formed.

“Whew— I ask for leniency. I got lost in my reflections. Ah! I should hand over the axe first. Move this way.”

But he shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts, softly tapped his cheeks, and then escorted them inside to pass over the instrument.

And ‘it’ was stationed in the studio.

“This is the axe I constructed with all my soul. As you requested, I converted dark steel to elevate its longevity, and I even layered the edge with adamantium! It’s a masterpiece!”

He gestured to a colossal axe constructed completely of dark metal.

“The sole drawback is that it’s too massive to be functional. Most figures wouldn’t even be capable of raising it, let alone rotating it… But that doesn’t signify to you, correct?”

A massive axe edge and spike fitting the long, dense grip that was over two meters long, and a pointed hook on the opposite end.

It appeared more like a ‘halberd’ than an ‘axe’, but it also possessed an exceptionally immense edge, so it couldn’t be basicly categorized as such.

“Oh— This! It’s so massive and stunning!”

And that intimidating instrument, which appeared like something a colossal brute in a game would employ, was flawless for Harley’s inclination.

He instantly bounded to where the axe was positioned and cautiously hoisted it with a thrilled heart.

Whoosh—

He could catch the heavy noise of air shifting just from raising it off the floor.

It was far more massive than it appeared, but…

“It’s quite massive! This is what an instrument should be like! Hahaha!”

Naturally, it was just the correct heft for Harley.

Whoosh— Whoosh—!

A freezing noise reverberated through the expansive studio, and a blast of wind stirred as he casually rotated the axe with a single hand.

“I dubbed it ‘Giant Killer’ for the moment, but you can alter it if you don’t approve of it.”

“Ah, that’s more than sufficient! It’s a flawless title! Hahaha!”

He couldn’t avoid laughing as he secured the instrument he favored.

As anticipated of a Dwarf-crafted instrument, this axe was also visually striking, radiating an elegant presence that could fulfill his pride simply by holding it.

Naturally, those who actually confronted it would probably weep in submission rather than praise its artistry.

“But… are you truly alright? I heard about what occurred after I finished forging. It appears like a great deal has transpired.”

Zaonic, who had been nodding with approval, observing Harley’s joyful look, suddenly uttered with a concerned tone.

“Not only did the Immortal King who struck the cathedral bring down the Rohan Duchy, but he also ruined Tobea in the Empire recently, correct?”

It was a tale about the continental conditions that not just anyone could grasp, but he was capable of securing this amount of data because he was practically one of the leader’s near confidants.

And it wasn’t even a mystery, it was a prominent matter that was being discussed throughout the land.

“And to be suddenly put forward for the campaign… Of course, it’s not that you’re deficient, but it feels a bit abrupt.”

The reality that he was put forward meant that someone had proposed him.

It was data that wasn’t openly accessible, but Harley recognized exactly who they were.

‘It was the Mercenary Guild and the Tribal Federation.’

It wasn’t odd for the association to propose him because they recognized him well, but it was a bit unpredicted for the Tribal Federation, which was situated in the south.

Even though he was mimicking a southern fighter, they hadn’t even properly interacted with each other…

“Hahaha! Well, it doesn’t matter! I’ll just smash the heads of anyone who gets in my path with this axe!”

Harley snorted, his hands eager to test out his new axe.

He desired to instantly rush into the Northern Mountains, but unluckily, it wasn’t the moment yet.

“Regardless, Zaonic, have you pondered about what I requested of you? What do you think now that you’ve observed him in person?”

“Hmm… you’re stating you desire me to instruct him?”

Zaonic peered at Howard with a solemn expression and dropped into reflection once more.

He couldn’t avoid being careful about instructing him correctly, not just offering him a few words of guidance.

‘The Dwarf’s Secret’ wasn’t something that was uncovered to all Dwarves.

After all, there was no way an artisan would hand down their expertise to someone devoid of merit.

Naturally, they weren’t as guarded as alternate heritages, but there was a feature of their expertise being passed down through lineages or clans.

It wasn’t expertise he could hand down to someone he had just encountered, even if it was Harley’s plea.

But…

“…Well, I can’t just retain what I’ve gathered to myself indefinitely. Encountering him here in the Ion Continent must be destiny.”

Zaonic’s reply was an invigorating agreement.

“And topmost, this fellow… he doesn’t feel like a stranger. It’s peculiar.”

“Ha, hahaha! It’s all destiny! Yes, truly!”

Harley, the one who had taken Elinne, awkwardly dodged his look.

And so, Howard was at last able to properly master the ‘Dwarf’s Secret’ from Zaonic.

And Harley, having concluded everything, advanced toward the Roselia Cathedral with an unburdened spirit.